I am defiantly going the PC<=>TV route, It will be awesome to have everyone setting around the living room with the dungeon map on the Big Screen. If you are lucky enough to have friends that all own laptops you can run an "online" table to handle combat movement, god that would be so great.
But having to put up with the nuances of being a Thief of Slartybartfast or a Knight of Nii are what made them what they were. It was part of the flavor of the game.
What version of D&D did these kinds of things start appearing? What you're talking about was never in the game I used to play. A Thief or Magic-user was a game-term.
What version of D&D did these kinds of things start appearing? What you're talking about was never in the game I used to play. A Thief or Magic-user was a game-term.
They're not real PrCs... but rather names used for the sake of argument. Or at least there's no published PrC from any books that I'm aware of that named that. Knight of Nii is a reference to the Knights who say Ni...
tastydonuts on
“I used to draw, hard to admit that I used to draw...”
I am defiantly going the PC<=>TV route, It will be awesome to have everyone setting around the living room with the dungeon map on the Big Screen. If you are lucky enough to have friends that all own laptops you can run an "online" table to handle combat movement, god that would be so great.
This is my/our plan as well... though I hope to battle map it on the big screen. Why can't you again? It seems like the players could just ask the DM where to scoot people, and they done get scooted.
Also, if you aren't running combats on the bigs, what are you putting up there?
My main concern is DM information being totally visible, I was thinking I'd just use printouts for non-player data though.
Well, none of my friends have laptops so I'm going to be the one moving the pieces like you said, but If everyone logged into the game and had laptops then they would have their own individual views and camera angles on their computers along with the BigScreen showing the complete overview of the map along with any other information.
If you set your computer up you can have the TV/Projector act as a second monitor. So the only information on there would be what you drag on there.
What version of D&D did these kinds of things start appearing? What you're talking about was never in the game I used to play. A Thief or Magic-user was a game-term.
They're not real PrCs... but rather names used for the sake of argument. Or at least there's no published PrC from any books that I'm aware of that named that. Knight of Nii is a reference to the Knights who say Ni...
I'm sure what he meant was when Prestige Classes in general first showed up. As I recall hearing they started being added to 3rd Edition books and the D20 system in general, or maybe there were some kind of class packages late in AD&D 2nd.
I remember acrobat, and cavalier. I wanted to be a cavalier, and I remember the acrobat illustration was a ninja, which wasn't what I thought of when I heard acrobat.
But yes I hope that crazy prestige classes as alternate classes are gone, it makes it so much easier to DM, and also to control the hilarious brokenness and confusion of the 4Fighter/2rogue/1 swashbuckler/1 Knight of NI/1 ninja/1 marshal/1 etc.
It's hazy as I started in 2e... but I think you could be a thief in 1st edition, and Unearthed Arcana also had a thief-acrobat or something along those lines.
Is there any word on how customizable the encounter mapper will be? What I want are distinct architectural tilesets for each of 6+ cultures.
Ideally this will be something that the community and/or wizards continually supports & cooks up - I'm thinking along the quantity of Oblivion mods here - get your aged birch treasure chest mod here, your working drawbridge plugin there (ok maybe that's not needed), etc etc. More than anything I want skins though.
My worst nightmare is the repetitive grey rock walls with no other options. Square rooms.
The video mentioned that users can create their own tiles. I'd imagine you'd just have 6 sets of tiles. I do remember one of them saying they didn't have like a grassy field tile, but a user could just make one on their own.
tastydonuts on
“I used to draw, hard to admit that I used to draw...”
The video mentioned that users can create their own tiles. I'd imagine you'd just have 6 sets of tiles. I do remember one of them saying they didn't have like a grassy field tile, but a user could just make one on their own.
I think the animated dungeon items looked cool, like the torches and the portal behind the beholder.
I think the animated dungeon items looked cool, like the torches and the portal behind the beholder.
Yea. That's true. One of the funny things about it is how they stressed DnD was a game of the imagination in the beginning of that video... yet the software's presentation of how things should look somewhat takes away from it. But that's just nitpicking. :P
Given the prevalence of big screen LCDs, you can easily use the software for rl play.
tastydonuts on
“I used to draw, hard to admit that I used to draw...”
I'm totally psyched about the digital-ness of the program. I had one of those battlemaps that you could use dry-erase markers on, but it was kind of messy with the constant rewiping. Plus, this tracks light sources and things like that. That way I won't automatically forget about 'em.
The thought of me setting at my computer desk off to the side of my HDTV like some kind of TV Gameshow host while story images, text, notes, etc can come up on a large screen where all the players can see and then when battlestarts a quick click and the map comes up sounds good to me.
In this instance perhaps we aren't setting at the "tabletop" but scattered about the den on couches, recliners, and beanbags.
Isn't the game table for people playing on the internet? I think they expect people to use an actual battlemap for tabletop games.
I think it caters to both
Man, it's been a long time since I saw something geared for hotseat play.
I can't tell if you're being funny, sarcastic about the ability to play this with people in the same room using 1 comp, or are genuinely psyched about hotseating DnD.
Yeah, seriously, there's absolutely no reason to have Prestige Classes in 4e.
Paragon Paths take the place of "elite" classes of various sorts, and specific niche classes could really be covered by just adding new classes or new powers to existing classes.
Does there need to be a Wu Jen or Samurai class, for example? No. Just create new powers for the Wizard or Fighter, respectively.
Right... almost like... a kit of powers. You're fabulous! Who would have ever thought of something like that.
Ideally the transition between 9 and 10 will be the end of a Heroic adventure that shades into a Paragonical adventure. This is the closing of a chapter in the PC's story. At this point people notice that these local guys who were pretty cool are so much more. They stopped [Insert Evil Threat Here], proving they are so much more than just Heroes.
Sounds a lot like the old D&D Basic, honestly. Red box, blue box, green box, black box, gold box.
As regards Prestige Classes one of the big issues is that Design Policy shifted about halfway through 3.5. There is no way you can say that Eldritch Knight and Abjurant Champion are balanced with regards to each other.
Aren't they in the same book? Or is that your point?
So, what, is the north player on timeout or something? :P
The couch only fits so many in comfort, but I've got a chair over there
Note the highly detailed steamer trunk, complete with PHB and bowl of chips or turds.
I did notice that about the armor, too. Maybe only Defenders start with the heavy stuff and everyone else has to buy up to it, if they want to use plate and such.
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Mr_Rose83 Blue Ridge Protects the HolyRegistered Userregular
As regards Prestige Classes one of the big issues is that Design Policy shifted about halfway through 3.5. There is no way you can say that Eldritch Knight and Abjurant Champion are balanced with regards to each other.
Aren't they in the same book? Or is that your point?
Uh...no? One is in the DMG one is in Complete Mage. They are apart by about 3 years of time and it very much shows.
Also, first prestige class? Druid. 1st edition DMG. (Kinda)
Der Waffle MousBlame this on the misfortune of your birth.New Yark, New Yark.Registered Userregular
edited April 2008
I've always been annoyed at the whole mindset of having specific class builds or concepts being tossed into a whole new (sub)class when it's pretty much entirely possible to do said concept within the current rules.
See: my disdain for Barbarians, Druids and 3E rangers.
As regards Prestige Classes one of the big issues is that Design Policy shifted about halfway through 3.5. There is no way you can say that Eldritch Knight and Abjurant Champion are balanced with regards to each other.
Aren't they in the same book? Or is that your point?
Uh...no? One is in the DMG one is in Complete Mage. They are apart by about 3 years of time and it very much shows.
Also, first prestige class? Druid. 1st edition DMG. (Kinda)
As regards Prestige Classes one of the big issues is that Design Policy shifted about halfway through 3.5. There is no way you can say that Eldritch Knight and Abjurant Champion are balanced with regards to each other.
Aren't they in the same book? Or is that your point?
Uh...no? One is in the DMG one is in Complete Mage. They are apart by about 3 years of time and it very much shows.
Also, first prestige class? Bard. 1st edition DMG. (Kinda)
When did Bard show up?
....uh, I don't know what you're talking about, nobody saw nothingk!
I meant the Bard but I misremembered. To be a bard in 1st you had to be a fighter, then rogue then druid (I may have screwed up the order there) before finally becoming a bard. All the fun of dual-classing!
Also, first prestige class? Druid. 1st edition DMG. (Kinda)
No, bard, though they could cast druid spells. You had to be a fighter of 5th to 7th level, then dual-class to rogue and get to 7th to 9th level, then you switched over to bard.
Edit: I have a friend that did this (though before I knew him or started gaming with him), and apparently the character was a certified badass.
delroland on
EVE: Online - the most fun you will ever have not playing a game.
"Go up, thou bald head." -2 Kings 2:23
I corrected myself like two hours ago Delro! You are correct though.
I'm not certain Bard's where so solidly bad ass so much as dual classing was absolutely ridiculous. It was a pain in the ass but once you got things rolling you were incredibly silly.
Edit: Paragon Paths. Very interesting though some of them are shit for flavor. "Sword Warlord"? Oh, I get it, the flavor comes from rhyming!
Edit2: It's Sword Marshall....still rather uninspiring. I kinda understand that they're going for the heroic officer type like a Warhammer Commissar but ugh.
multi classing prior to 3rd ed was so broken because of the fuckstupid exponential increase in XP required to increase in level. So even if you were splitting your XP in half (between 2 classes) you would be at most 1 level behind the rest of the party. So instead of being a boring old 6th level fighter you could be a 5th Fighter / 5th Cleric. Or what have you.
They also didn't even try to balance the classes in terms of abilities and just gave them each differing amounts of XP to level up (with thief requiring HALF the xp to get to level 2 as a mage).
This lead to weird shit like in 2nd ed a Bard with equal XP as a mage would actually be a better spellcaster between levels 2 (which again came when the mage was still only 1/2 way) and level 6 or so. And he would be able to wear chain mail and use weapons and other abilities.
I noticed they switched proficiencies to weapon groups, as well.
I am underwhelmed by this Paragon Path system. I was hoping there would be more powers or cool shit. Maybe it's because I haven't seen everything the base classes can do. I remember hearing there were hybridized paths, too. Ones you could choose from among a couple classes. Not the execution I was imagining, but I'll have to hold my opinion until I get my hands on the whole edition.
This does open up the options for supplements a little. They can't really repeat the paths to easily. I hope they get creative with them later.
Magic-Users in 2nd Ed hit the "OMG LEVEL FASTUR!" track at 5th to 9th, though. It was pretty crazy-awesome.
Also, all we have is a preview of the Paragon path system. There is most likely quite a bit more content in the books, and that content will most likely get flEshed out further once the P-series adventures start coming out.
Speaking of which, I do like the return to the old Letter/Number scheme of adventure titles. The Heroic adventures are H1-3, the Paragon P1-3, and I assume the Epic ones will be E1-3. I hope the new adventures conjure fond memories of the Borderlands/Slavers/Giants/Drow arc.
delroland on
EVE: Online - the most fun you will ever have not playing a game.
"Go up, thou bald head." -2 Kings 2:23
that content will most likely get flushed out further once the P-series adventures start coming out.
Hee hee. Did you mean Fleshed out? or were you commenting on how bad you think it will be?
But recall how shitty 3rd ed seemed when they were previewing it, "they got rid of THACO? WTF? Its not that hard to figure out! Zomg don't dumb down the game!" And it turned out to work pretty well.
I noticed they switched proficiencies to weapon groups, as well.
I am underwhelmed by this Paragon Path system. I was hoping there would be more powers or cool shit. Maybe it's because I haven't seen everything the base classes can do. I remember hearing there were hybridized paths, too. Ones you could choose from among a couple classes. Not the execution I was imagining, but I'll have to hold my opinion until I get my hands on the whole edition.
This does open up the options for supplements a little. They can't really repeat the paths to easily. I hope they get creative with them later.
Remember that the Paragon abilities are all in addition to other stuff characters will get from their base classes for levels 11-20. Also, 6+ abilities across 10 levels is more than a lot of prestige classes gave out.
Posts
Critical Failures - Havenhold Campaign • August St. Cloud (Human Ranger)
What version of D&D did these kinds of things start appearing? What you're talking about was never in the game I used to play. A Thief or Magic-user was a game-term.
This is my/our plan as well... though I hope to battle map it on the big screen. Why can't you again? It seems like the players could just ask the DM where to scoot people, and they done get scooted.
Also, if you aren't running combats on the bigs, what are you putting up there?
My main concern is DM information being totally visible, I was thinking I'd just use printouts for non-player data though.
If you set your computer up you can have the TV/Projector act as a second monitor. So the only information on there would be what you drag on there.
Critical Failures - Havenhold Campaign • August St. Cloud (Human Ranger)
I don't know why I didn't think of this ::/facepalm:: Good idea.
I'm sure what he meant was when Prestige Classes in general first showed up. As I recall hearing they started being added to 3rd Edition books and the D20 system in general, or maybe there were some kind of class packages late in AD&D 2nd.
But yes I hope that crazy prestige classes as alternate classes are gone, it makes it so much easier to DM, and also to control the hilarious brokenness and confusion of the 4Fighter/2rogue/1 swashbuckler/1 Knight of NI/1 ninja/1 marshal/1 etc.
Ideally this will be something that the community and/or wizards continually supports & cooks up - I'm thinking along the quantity of Oblivion mods here - get your aged birch treasure chest mod here, your working drawbridge plugin there (ok maybe that's not needed), etc etc. More than anything I want skins though.
My worst nightmare is the repetitive grey rock walls with no other options. Square rooms.
I think the animated dungeon items looked cool, like the torches and the portal behind the beholder.
Critical Failures - Havenhold Campaign • August St. Cloud (Human Ranger)
I think it caters to both
Critical Failures - Havenhold Campaign • August St. Cloud (Human Ranger)
Given the prevalence of big screen LCDs, you can easily use the software for rl play.
Man, it's been a long time since I saw something geared for hotseat play.
In this instance perhaps we aren't setting at the "tabletop" but scattered about the den on couches, recliners, and beanbags.
Critical Failures - Havenhold Campaign • August St. Cloud (Human Ranger)
here is my intended layout:
"Go up, thou bald head." -2 Kings 2:23
He forgot the cheetos.
(I'm just messing with you.)
It wouldn't be WotC without the Complete books.
Sounds a lot like the old D&D Basic, honestly. Red box, blue box, green box, black box, gold box.
Gold box was fuckin weird, too.
Aren't they in the same book? Or is that your point?
Dammit, and I wanted to talk about alignment languages.
Note the highly detailed steamer trunk, complete with PHB and bowl of chips or turds.
I did notice that about the armor, too. Maybe only Defenders start with the heavy stuff and everyone else has to buy up to it, if they want to use plate and such.
Nintendo Network ID: AzraelRose
DropBox invite link - get 500MB extra free.
Uh...no? One is in the DMG one is in Complete Mage. They are apart by about 3 years of time and it very much shows.
Also, first prestige class? Druid. 1st edition DMG. (Kinda)
See: my disdain for Barbarians, Druids and 3E rangers.
4/30 and they show us Multiclassing.
When did Bard show up?
....uh, I don't know what you're talking about, nobody saw nothingk!
I meant the Bard but I misremembered. To be a bard in 1st you had to be a fighter, then rogue then druid (I may have screwed up the order there) before finally becoming a bard. All the fun of dual-classing!
No, bard, though they could cast druid spells. You had to be a fighter of 5th to 7th level, then dual-class to rogue and get to 7th to 9th level, then you switched over to bard.
Edit: I have a friend that did this (though before I knew him or started gaming with him), and apparently the character was a certified badass.
"Go up, thou bald head." -2 Kings 2:23
I'm not certain Bard's where so solidly bad ass so much as dual classing was absolutely ridiculous. It was a pain in the ass but once you got things rolling you were incredibly silly.
Edit: Paragon Paths. Very interesting though some of them are shit for flavor. "Sword Warlord"? Oh, I get it, the flavor comes from rhyming!
Edit2: It's Sword Marshall....still rather uninspiring. I kinda understand that they're going for the heroic officer type like a Warhammer Commissar but ugh.
They also didn't even try to balance the classes in terms of abilities and just gave them each differing amounts of XP to level up (with thief requiring HALF the xp to get to level 2 as a mage).
This lead to weird shit like in 2nd ed a Bard with equal XP as a mage would actually be a better spellcaster between levels 2 (which again came when the mage was still only 1/2 way) and level 6 or so. And he would be able to wear chain mail and use weapons and other abilities.
I am underwhelmed by this Paragon Path system. I was hoping there would be more powers or cool shit. Maybe it's because I haven't seen everything the base classes can do. I remember hearing there were hybridized paths, too. Ones you could choose from among a couple classes. Not the execution I was imagining, but I'll have to hold my opinion until I get my hands on the whole edition.
This does open up the options for supplements a little. They can't really repeat the paths to easily. I hope they get creative with them later.
Also, all we have is a preview of the Paragon path system. There is most likely quite a bit more content in the books, and that content will most likely get flEshed out further once the P-series adventures start coming out.
Speaking of which, I do like the return to the old Letter/Number scheme of adventure titles. The Heroic adventures are H1-3, the Paragon P1-3, and I assume the Epic ones will be E1-3. I hope the new adventures conjure fond memories of the Borderlands/Slavers/Giants/Drow arc.
"Go up, thou bald head." -2 Kings 2:23
Hee hee. Did you mean Fleshed out? or were you commenting on how bad you think it will be?
But recall how shitty 3rd ed seemed when they were previewing it, "they got rid of THACO? WTF? Its not that hard to figure out! Zomg don't dumb down the game!" And it turned out to work pretty well.
Remember that the Paragon abilities are all in addition to other stuff characters will get from their base classes for levels 11-20. Also, 6+ abilities across 10 levels is more than a lot of prestige classes gave out.