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[DnD 4E Discussion] New monster stat blocks, yay!

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Posts

  • HorseshoeHorseshoe Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    So, I picked up DDI, and I'm planning to do this thing with WarCraft dungeons as a PBP because I'm having trouble getting the not-really-into-rpgs folks in my dorm to wanna do D&D.

    I think having D&DI will be nice, the monster editor looks sweet and it'll be cool to be able to bring up the names of powers my players take and check 'em out there.

    Think there'd be enough interest here on the PA boards to make this thing happen?

    yes

    edit: vidjagame settings is something that i like, and i think that other people like too. it's especially fun when you get to go outside the lines in ways you can't when you're playing a game. i'm in a castlevania pbp right now and it is a lot of fun!

    Horseshoe on
    dmsigsmallek3.jpg
  • DelmainDelmain Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    So, I picked up DDI, and I'm planning to do this thing with WarCraft dungeons as a PBP because I'm having trouble getting the not-really-into-rpgs folks in my dorm to wanna do D&D.

    I think having D&DI will be nice, the monster editor looks sweet and it'll be cool to be able to bring up the names of powers my players take and check 'em out there.

    Think there'd be enough interest here on the PA boards to make this thing happen?

    When you were talking about it before I was initially into it but then you started talking about doing weird things and it drove me away. The idea sounds cool, but it really depends on how you go through with it.

    Delmain on
  • Crimson KingCrimson King Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    So, I picked up DDI, and I'm planning to do this thing with WarCraft dungeons as a PBP because I'm having trouble getting the not-really-into-rpgs folks in my dorm to wanna do D&D.

    I think having D&DI will be nice, the monster editor looks sweet and it'll be cool to be able to bring up the names of powers my players take and check 'em out there.

    Think there'd be enough interest here on the PA boards to make this thing happen?

    You mean like D&D with WoW dungeons? I don't really see the point, myself.

    Crimson King on
  • HorseshoeHorseshoe Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    like i said:

    if you don't take the attitude of "it has to be just like the game" it's more fun for everyone, IMO.

    and heck, pretty easy to take D&D and say "the game takes place in Azeroth"

    Horseshoe on
    dmsigsmallek3.jpg
  • DelmainDelmain Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Horseshoe wrote: »
    like i said:

    if you don't take the attitude of "it has to be just like the game" it's more fun for everyone, IMO.

    and heck, pretty easy to take D&D and say "the game takes place in Azeroth"

    This was what I thought he meant originally, but then he got all into doing weird crap that made it seem, to me, that it wouldn't actually be fun.

    Note: I do not remember what these things were, just that it made me think it wouldn't be fun. I had left for a couple days and when I came back the conversation had already moved past the topic so I didn't chime in. I felt I could safely this time.

    Delmain on
  • Crimson KingCrimson King Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Also, this here is the best repository of potential fantasy names I think I've ever found (assuming you're comfortable with everyone sounding slightly Russian)

    Crimson King on
  • INeedNoSaltINeedNoSalt with blood on my teeth Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Delmain wrote: »
    Horseshoe wrote: »
    like i said:

    if you don't take the attitude of "it has to be just like the game" it's more fun for everyone, IMO.

    and heck, pretty easy to take D&D and say "the game takes place in Azeroth"

    This was what I thought he meant originally, but then he got all into doing weird crap that made it seem, to me, that it wouldn't actually be fun.

    Note: I do not remember what these things were, just that it made me think it wouldn't be fun. I had left for a couple days and when I came back the conversation had already moved past the topic so I didn't chime in. I felt I could safely this time.

    I said "I'd only use books I had" and that was a huge argument.

    And I asked if some things that show up in WoW also show up in D&D 4e (like enemies who ignore tanks I think was the example I used) which really isn't the same as saying "How can I fuck over people who play defenders?"

    Anyway, it wouldn't be entirely unlike Horseshoe's suggestion -- I just think a lot of the encounters, especially boss encounters, in WoW could be transferred into D&D 4e and be really fun to play out that way.

    INeedNoSalt on
  • Jack HobbesJack Hobbes Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Yeah, have you ever even played 4th edition?

    A monster that ignores marks will piss off your defender right quick, as there will be nothing stopping the monster from going after the squishies and absolutely tearing them apart. If you plan on using a lot of them, be prepared for your players to hate you.

    Jack Hobbes on
  • HorseshoeHorseshoe Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    And I asked if some things that show up in WoW also show up in D&D 4e (like enemies who ignore tanks I think was the example I used)

    Enemies are perfectly free to ignore defenders, though the defenders may have something to say about it :P

    Also there's monster powers out there that end marks, daze a defender and stop him from getting some of his defendery immediate type actions, enemies with shifts and such that can get around a defender's schtick... there's a bunch of that. I like playing defenders and dammit some dudes are frustrating to tank. These sort of anti-tank powers are often encounter or recharge powers... they're nasty.

    The great diversity in monster selection at this point means you probably look at an idea from elsewhere where you thought "hey that was kinda neat" and find a monster that fits the bill pretty well.

    Horseshoe on
    dmsigsmallek3.jpg
  • INeedNoSaltINeedNoSalt with blood on my teeth Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Yeah, have you ever even played 4th edition?

    A monster that ignores marks will piss off your defender right quick, as there will be nothing stopping the monster from going after the squishies and absolutely tearing them apart. If you plan on using a lot of them, be prepared for your players to hate you.

    See, I never said anything about using lots of anything.

    I just said, "Is this represented in 4e anywhere?"

    And someone said, "Yes," so I guess someone out there was into it.

    INeedNoSalt on
  • HorseshoeHorseshoe Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Since you have DDI, an example monster that I can think of is the "Bullywug Twitcher" that has an encounter power called "Spasmodic Hop".

    That one can be a bitch for a 1st level fighter to tie up. Especially when there's a couple of them.


    translation edit: Bullywugs are basically the Murlocs of D&D

    Horseshoe on
    dmsigsmallek3.jpg
  • INeedNoSaltINeedNoSalt with blood on my teeth Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Yes

    See I think it could be cool

    And I wouldn't be introducing anything too far beyond standard issue things until I had gotten a feel for how things really played out and what the characters schticks were, etc.

    INeedNoSalt on
  • INeedNoSaltINeedNoSalt with blood on my teeth Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    See that bullywug thing is a pretty good example of what I was askin' about

    Sheesh people :p

    INeedNoSalt on
  • cytorakcytorak Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    New CB update is out with Battleminds, youse guys.

    Quick Battleminds are CHA/CON with WIS as the third.

    Encounter:
    Speed of Thought
    Free Action
    When you roll initiative, you can move 3+ CHA modifier squares.

    cytorak on
  • HachfaceHachface Not the Minister Farrakhan you're thinking of Dammit, Shepard!Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    cytorak wrote: »
    New CB update is out with Battleminds, youse guys.

    Quick Battleminds are CHA/CON with WIS as the third.

    Encounter:
    Speed of Thought
    Free Action
    When you roll initiative, you can move 3+ CHA modifier squares.

    Holy crap that's an awesome power.

    Hachface on
  • Jack HobbesJack Hobbes Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Psychic Warrior was by a rather large margin my favorite class from 3.5, and everything I've seen about the Battlemind (other than the name "Battlemind") looks like it will be an absolute blast to play. Everything from being able to mark two targets at once to the unbridled sexiness that is Battlemind's Demand to the fact that it uses Con-based weapon attacks makes me want to play it very, very badly.

    Jack Hobbes on
  • OptimusZedOptimusZed Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    There's the "4e is so restricting, because Alignment is dumb and you must do EXACTLY what the book says about Alignment or else you're houseruling" guy. (Who happens to also be the "Divine powers go away if you stray from your alignment, even though this is counter to 4e's design philosophy and there are no rules justifications for this anywhere" guy).
    25 bonus XP says that guys name is Maxperson.

    100% serious here.

    OptimusZed on
    We're reading Rifts. You should too. You know you want to. Now With Ninjas!

    They tried to bury us. They didn't know that we were seeds. 2018 Midterms. Get your shit together.
  • OptimusZedOptimusZed Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Hachface wrote: »
    cytorak wrote: »
    New CB update is out with Battleminds, youse guys.

    Quick Battleminds are CHA/CON with WIS as the third.

    Encounter:
    Speed of Thought
    Free Action
    When you roll initiative, you can move 3+ CHA modifier squares.

    Holy crap that's an awesome power.
    That is the most beautiful utility power I've ever seen. I'm having trouble thinking of a better utility power for, well, anyone.

    Maybe Illusory Wall. MAYBE.

    OptimusZed on
    We're reading Rifts. You should too. You know you want to. Now With Ninjas!

    They tried to bury us. They didn't know that we were seeds. 2018 Midterms. Get your shit together.
  • smeejsmeej Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    It isn't so much that they're jerks as much as it is that they're pants-on-head retarded.

    I have pretty good fun in the character concept forum, but I don't really read anything else.

    smeej on
    IT'S A SAD THING THAT YOUR ADVENTURES HAVE ENDED HERE!!
  • Jack HobbesJack Hobbes Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Zed wins the prize. I want to punch Maxperson in the throat SO BADLY.

    Jack Hobbes on
  • Professor PhobosProfessor Phobos Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    There are people like that on any well-traveled niche webforum. You gotta sift through to the good stuff. It's odd though, I consider this one thread to have about as much utility as the entirety of the RPG.net D&D forum.

    Anyway, I wanted to solicit some suggestions for my Eberron campaign. Next session will be the "burn down the orphanage, everyone has to flee" A-plot session. After that I wanted to do some more episodic stuff- you know, fighting crime, monsters of the week, etc. What's a good spot in Western Breland to toss in some low-level shenanigans a party of heroes might need to resolve? Any suggestions?

    I'm thinking, "zombies", but they're my default "I am all out of ideas" policy.

    Professor Phobos on
  • DelmainDelmain Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Battleminds are awesome.

    Delmain on
  • OptimusZedOptimusZed Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Zed wins the prize. I want to punch Maxperson in the throat SO BADLY.
    I haven't been on that forum in almost two years now, and that dude's still making the same tired arguments.

    Its good to see that some things never change.

    OptimusZed on
    We're reading Rifts. You should too. You know you want to. Now With Ninjas!

    They tried to bury us. They didn't know that we were seeds. 2018 Midterms. Get your shit together.
  • OptimusZedOptimusZed Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    There are people like that on any well-traveled niche webforum. You gotta sift through to the good stuff. It's odd though, I consider this one thread to have about as much utility as the entirety of the RPG.net D&D forum.

    Anyway, I wanted to solicit some suggestions for my Eberron campaign. Next session will be the "burn down the orphanage, everyone has to flee" A-plot session. After that I wanted to do some more episodic stuff- you know, fighting crime, monsters of the week, etc. What's a good spot in Western Breland to toss in some low-level shenanigans a party of heroes might need to resolve? Any suggestions?

    I'm thinking, "zombies", but they're my default "I am all out of ideas" policy.
    We had a lot of fun going through about level 5-10 in Q'barra. It's kind of a trip from central Breland, but it's got a lot of potential for aggressive natives, lost ruins and all sorts of other stuff. It's kind of like Xendrik lite, but populated by reptiles.

    OptimusZed on
    We're reading Rifts. You should too. You know you want to. Now With Ninjas!

    They tried to bury us. They didn't know that we were seeds. 2018 Midterms. Get your shit together.
  • Jack HobbesJack Hobbes Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    My one gripe about our Eberron Campaign is that we haven't had a Lightning Rail encounter yet. If I ever get back at the DM'ing helm, that's the first thing I'm doing.

    Jack Hobbes on
  • edited February 2010
    This content has been removed.

  • DelmainDelmain Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Aegeri wrote: »
    Personally I don't know why they don't just build a +1 to hit at each tier into the game by default. It would accomplish the same thing and be much more transparent to players.

    I've thought of this myself but I think the reason is that then they couldn't just say (level/2), it'd have to be (level/2 + (level/10).floor). I'm not saying that it's a good reason, I'd prefer if they just gave us the bonuses for expertise without the feats, but I can see why they didn't.

    Delmain on
  • ravensmuseravensmuse Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    If there's any video game setting I'd like to use, it would either be the Pokemon games, or Windwaker. Windwaker especially.

    ravensmuse on
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  • HorseshoeHorseshoe Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    would pokemon be like... mostly shamans and beastmaster rangers?

    or would some characters be the pokemon of other characters?

    Horseshoe on
    dmsigsmallek3.jpg
  • edited February 2010
    This content has been removed.

  • DrswordsDrswords Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    ravensmuse wrote: »
    If there's any video game setting I'd like to use, it would either be the Pokemon games, or Windwaker. Windwaker especially.

    Come here. You just earned yourself a big ol friendly DnD Hug! :mrgreen:

    Drswords on
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • ravensmuseravensmuse Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Pokemon, you could do solo games, I guess. Build six different characters? I dunno.

    But Windwaker is perfect for an Islands of Light game. Think about it.

    ravensmuse on
    READ MY BLOG - Web Serial Fantasy - Tabletop Gaming Snips & Reviews - Flea Market Hunting
  • OptimusZedOptimusZed Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Fellow DMs. Advice.

    We just brought two new players into our group who had never played 4E before. They've played previous editions, but this is the first time they've played 4E. They seem to be having some adjustment issues.

    And it's not that they don't like the edition, all indications are that they've loved every minute of it so far.

    But I just got character builder files from them that had attribute scores that were over the traditional point buy to the tune of 9 and 21 points respectively.

    My mind is somewhat boggled. Obviously, it needs fixed. But my immediate reaction ("Holy Shit that's too many points, fix it") is probably going to come off poorly in person.

    OptimusZed on
    We're reading Rifts. You should too. You know you want to. Now With Ninjas!

    They tried to bury us. They didn't know that we were seeds. 2018 Midterms. Get your shit together.
  • Crimson KingCrimson King Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    There are people like that on any well-traveled niche webforum. You gotta sift through to the good stuff. It's odd though, I consider this one thread to have about as much utility as the entirety of the RPG.net D&D forum.

    Anyway, I wanted to solicit some suggestions for my Eberron campaign. Next session will be the "burn down the orphanage, everyone has to flee" A-plot session. After that I wanted to do some more episodic stuff- you know, fighting crime, monsters of the week, etc. What's a good spot in Western Breland to toss in some low-level shenanigans a party of heroes might need to resolve? Any suggestions?

    I'm thinking, "zombies", but they're my default "I am all out of ideas" policy.

    Bullywugs! No-one ever uses or bullywugs. Or kenku. Bullywugs vs kenku!

    Anyway. I am making a monster which has the capacity to bring someone's ultimate fears to life. To this end, I am giving it a series of specific powers, each of which which only work once on one of my PCs, that is uniquely suited to that PC's fears. So the paladin whose village died of plague gets an aura that deals necrotic damage to everyone around him, and the obsessive hunter is faced with a beast that's impossible to kill and can only be run from. Thoughts on how best to implement this?

    Crimson King on
  • Hexmage-PAHexmage-PA Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    ravensmuse wrote: »
    Pokemon, you could do solo games, I guess. Build six different characters? I dunno.

    But Windwaker is perfect for an Islands of Light game. Think about it.

    I'd rather have Chris Perkins' Iomandra campaign: Iomandra and the Dragon Sea

    Hexmage-PA on
  • WassermeloneWassermelone Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    OptimusZed wrote: »
    Fellow DMs. Advice.

    We just brought two new players into our group who had never played 4E before. They've played previous editions, but this is the first time they've played 4E. They seem to be having some adjustment issues.

    And it's not that they don't like the edition, all indications are that they've loved every minute of it so far.

    But I just got character builder files from them that had attribute scores that were over the traditional point buy to the tune of 9 and 21 points respectively.

    My mind is somewhat boggled. Obviously, it needs fixed. But my immediate reaction ("Holy Shit that's too many points, fix it") is probably going to come off poorly in person.

    Tell them that their stats are too high per the standard point buy you guys are using. Also tell them that they shouldn't worry - the stats will only look low but the game has been entirely balanced for the point buy system and they won't feel at all underpowered using it.

    Wassermelone on
  • Cynic JesterCynic Jester Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    OptimusZed wrote: »
    Fellow DMs. Advice.

    We just brought two new players into our group who had never played 4E before. They've played previous editions, but this is the first time they've played 4E. They seem to be having some adjustment issues.

    And it's not that they don't like the edition, all indications are that they've loved every minute of it so far.

    But I just got character builder files from them that had attribute scores that were over the traditional point buy to the tune of 9 and 21 points respectively.

    My mind is somewhat boggled. Obviously, it needs fixed. But my immediate reaction ("Holy Shit that's too many points, fix it") is probably going to come off poorly in person.

    "Are you guys retarded?! The point buy is RIGHT THERE", which would be my reaction might not go over so well either.

    Just talk to them. "Hey guys, got the sheets. Things seem okay, though the attributes seem a bit off. Here's how it works in 4e."

    Cynic Jester on
  • OptimusZedOptimusZed Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    OptimusZed wrote: »
    Fellow DMs. Advice.

    We just brought two new players into our group who had never played 4E before. They've played previous editions, but this is the first time they've played 4E. They seem to be having some adjustment issues.

    And it's not that they don't like the edition, all indications are that they've loved every minute of it so far.

    But I just got character builder files from them that had attribute scores that were over the traditional point buy to the tune of 9 and 21 points respectively.

    My mind is somewhat boggled. Obviously, it needs fixed. But my immediate reaction ("Holy Shit that's too many points, fix it") is probably going to come off poorly in person.

    Tell them that their stats are too high per the standard point buy you guys are using. Also tell them that they shouldn't worry - the stats will only look low but the game has been entirely balanced for the point buy system and they won't feel at all underpowered using it.
    That's probably what I'm going to wind up doing. The short term problem is that we have a session tomorrow and I'm supposed to be printing their sheets before then.

    That and I have to resist the urge to "fix" some non-stat stuff, like feats that are sub-optimal (the Druid took Skill Training Stealth instead of an appropriate multiclass, for example) or adding magical items that they don't understand the need for (neither has a neck slot item at this point).

    I'm going to email them, and then explain that having 18's in 4 scores is just as absurd in 4E as it was in earlier editions, and you don't need maxed Str, Con and Int to be an effective Rogue.

    OptimusZed on
    We're reading Rifts. You should too. You know you want to. Now With Ninjas!

    They tried to bury us. They didn't know that we were seeds. 2018 Midterms. Get your shit together.
  • HachfaceHachface Not the Minister Farrakhan you're thinking of Dammit, Shepard!Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    OptimusZed wrote: »
    and you don't need maxed Str, Con and Int to be an effective Rogue.

    But it certainly helps!

    Hachface on
  • Cynic JesterCynic Jester Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Con and Int on a rogue? That's a new one.

    Cynic Jester on
This discussion has been closed.