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Originally posted by Erik Scott de Bie

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Originally posted by Ashe Ravenheart

Thank Eric. Now, if you could be so kind as to write in one of your FR novels that Ashe found Ary'Velahr'Kerym so it's canon...

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I'll get right on that.

I must warn you, though--on the occasions when I include characters who bear a passing resemblance to someone's PC, such characters have a tendency to die very quickly and loudly.

It's a gesture of affection, really.

Cheers

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Originally posted by Ashe Ravenheart

He'd rather go out with a bang than in his bed (although, if the bang & bed are at the same time... )

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Originally posted by The Sage

Oh, come now dear Erik. You certainly can't canonise Ashe before you canonise me -- as the Sage, eh?

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Originally posted by Diffan

So my Knight performed much better this week than last, even with a Zombie Throng encased all around me. And as it was a DMPC, I didn't have to worry about doing much besides MBA, change stance, and possibly Power Strike or Power Attack. The simplicity is something I sorta miss!

Anyone else try out the Essentials?

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Originally posted by Cleric Generic


I might stress test it with a DMPC or two when it eventually hits the character builder. I have been hearing some nifty stuff about it.

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Originally posted by Ashe Ravenheart

My friend texted me last night that he spotted The Red Box at Target last night for $12. Seems like if you've been waiting to pick it up, it might be a good time to do so.

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Originally posted by Ashe Ravenheart

Well, I went and checked it out at Target tonight. Turns out the sticker my friend saw is actually a coupon. It says "Save $11 Now!", but I pulled back the sticker to read the coupon (yes, I'm a bad boy ) and the $11 savings is that if you buy the Red Box, you can use the coupon to get a free pack of D&D Miniatures Booster Pack.

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Originally posted by Markustay

I still don't have this - both the Ex and the GF promised to buy it for me, but other things came up (I am on a fixed income so I try not to spend my meager stipend frivolously). I am already planning the campaign, however.

Which brings me to the reason for this post...

I have been working on the Nentir Vale conversion map for FR for a week now, and I was about 2/3 the way finished, but the more I got done, the less I felt like working on it (and this was aside from my normal ADD tendencies). I finally figured it out - I was covering-over the NV terrain with my good, old fashioned 3e FR terrain... and hating it.

Aside from the atrocious FR campaign map, the 4e maps just look better. The ones that accompanied the DDi articles, and also the few that have been in other products (such as the Nebtir Vale Map from the 4eDMG).

So yesterday I started over, except this time I am painting-over the FR terrain with a new set of patterns I created, using the NV map as a template.

What does this have to do with Essentials? EVERYTHING.

I find that after I made the decision to try and run a 4e game (and take another look at the 4e lore), something inside of me shifted. Once I crossed that threshold of resentment, I find it easier and easier to 'let go' of the trappings of 3e.

Don't get me wrong, I loved 3e - it was revolutionary. I also loved the 1e and 3e lore (2e rules still give me nightmares). They will always have a special place in my heart, as will the Realms, but in the past few weeks I feel a bit more light-hearted since I decided to break out of the cocoon of grognardise that I shielded myself within.

Who knows? maybe the worlds fattest, ugliest butterfly will emerge.

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Originally posted by Ashe Ravenheart

The one thing I'm noticing a lot about press and such regarding Essentials releases has been a lot of comments from Designers saying something akin to the following:

"We brought XXXXX back!"

Where XXXX could be magic missile, fighter without powers, purple worm's stinger, etc. It's leaving me with the overall feeling that they are trying to roll-back from the sweeping changes of 4E. Which is kinda ticking me off. If you want to change your game, fine. You created a nice rules-set that many people enjoy (alas, I just don't). You even went so far to make fun of previous rules-sets. But to then to update the rules-set so that it looks more like previous editions?

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Originally posted by Markustay

See? Now I'd personally rather roll-to-hit.

That's one thing I never liked about standard D&D rules, and I have tried many tweaks over the years.

In novels, weather they be FR or some other fantasy, spells MISS, a LOT. How is the game supposed to reflect that when the rules don't emulate what happens in the stories? I understand that 'savings throws' are part of that mechanic, but it doesn't have the same feel.

Spells SHOULD cause decent damage, but they should also have to be TARGETED. In fact, the 'save' chance should be built into the targeting roll, with a sliding-scale for damage %.

Ergo, if you need a '12' to hit, then for each pip over that it should do an additional point of damage.* Put the real power of a mage in his ability to hit his target, not how much magic he knows. A level 10 'battle-mage' should be able to take down a much higher level wizard who has spent his entire life locked away in a tower studying. 'Magic theory' will only get you so far; RW experience should count for something.

Just my 2 cents: I'm hoping Essentials will give me the tools that I need - I may have to cherry-pick from 4e now.

*With 'base damage' being 1, which can be augmented with feats or or class-abilities.

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Originally posted by Markustay

Can I run a Mage thats says to a couple of troopers "These aren't the Golems you're looking for."

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Originally posted by Markustay


And now I have a name for my southern-Malatra based group of Mystics - Order of the Mystic Force.

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Originally posted by Markustay

Do you mean the ones from SW? (Because when you Google that you come up with something very different).

Shadowmasters, of course.

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Originally posted by Markustay


Damn shame - people's biggest complaint about 4e (the ones who actually are playing it) is that it '"doesn't feel like D&D", and I had hoped they were moving in the right direction at this point.

I think the focus on 'game balance' is becoming an anchor. It might keep things stable, but it also keeps you from getting everywhere.

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Originally posted by Markustay


By way of example, I used to play WoW... A LOT. I really loved the differences between the two factions. Then I heard the first expansion was coming out, and The Horde was getting Paladins, and The Alliance was getting Shamans...

I was like "what the hell!?"

While most folks were looking forward to that (god only knows why), I quit the game (that I really loved playing) just a few weeks before the expansion was released, and never looked back.

A world where 'all things are equal" sounds very boring to me. I like the unexpected, especially in games. Too much balance and you start to drain all the 'color' from the world, leaving a very bleak, gray landscape.

IMHO, of course.

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Originally posted by Diffan

From my own perspective, I still don't understand what that statement means. What is D&D supposed to feel like? Where the game itself is concerned, if it doesn't feel like D&D then it's possibly a greater number of factors and not just the game mechanics themselves. I think alot of people who play 4E and say it's not D&D take WAAYY too many factors of their own previous accounts of past editions and sorta compare/contrast that with 4E. Well of course it's different, that'll happen with these sweeping changes to the rules but as long as there is a DM with a great story and you've a mind for a character and want to RP an adventure then THATS D&D to me. The rules are secondary.

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Originally posted by Diffan

I think 4E did D&D the best service with cutting ties from the Role Play aspect and Roll Play aspect of the game. Lets face it, not everyone who likes the idea of a Paladin is going to want to play Lawful Stupid OOOR put the time/inclination to play a Lawful Good character with some know-how. Sometimes, they just want the nice shiney paladin powers with Radiant weapons and a thirst for their deities enemies blood. With v3.5 rules that was nigh improbable unless you had a DM that allowed Unearthed Arcana and in pre-3E, damn-near impossible. With 4E, it's not only possible but often encourged. Just have a good backstory. That, I feel, is what was missing in 3E & v3.5. Everything had to have a small, perfect place for it to make sense. So many PrCs with prerequisites that had no buisness being in the class like the Morninglord of Lathander in PGtF, for example. That class required Craft 4 ranks and Perform (any) 2 ranks?!!?! Can someone tell me why? And why didn't Lathander have the Healing domain?! Seems to me like the giant SUN DEITY that's all about life, renewal, rejuvination, and resurrection WOULD HAVE FREAKIN' HEALING!

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