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1 year ago  ::  Apr 18, 2012 - 5:25AM #151
Garthanos
Date Joined: Jan 15, 2009
Posts: 17,768

Apr 18, 2012 -- 5:00AM, Emerikol wrote:

Apr 17, 2012 -- 9:39PM, Garthanos wrote:


I dont think becoming fundamentally less of a hero as per level loss is something which should be risked, ever ... its entirely contrary.  There are many things in story that are risked and I see no reason for this maiming.

I cant think of one fantasy story featuring severe brain damage (even ones with memory loss do so in a cosmetic fashion that does not impair the competance of the character in any real protracted fashion).




I get that is your perception.  For your games, it wouldn't add anything.  I think for other people it does add something.  I am hoping it is modularizable.
 
 




Oh it would add soemthing... An US versus THEM mentality that was the worst element of D&D.

Improvisation in 4e: Improv. Attacks(by wrecan) - Fave 4E Improvisations

The Non-combatant Adventurer

Reality is unrealistic - and even monkeys protest unfairness

Dynamic Reflavoring : The Fighter : The Wizard : The Swordmage
Creative Character Collection - Featuring:The Faerie Master - Snow White - Joxer - Ironman - Elric - Bloodwright

By virtue of being a player your characters are the protagonists in a heroic fantasy game even at level one

"You have to explicitly give non-casters permission to do awesome, where as with magic it is just assumed they can." -Garthanos

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1 year ago  ::  Apr 18, 2012 - 7:30AM #152
emwasick
Date Joined: Oct 7, 2007
Posts: 4,043

Apr 18, 2012 -- 5:00AM, Emerikol wrote:

@emwasick
Anytime a party reacts to a monster they are doing the same thing.  If they perceive it is a fire elemental then they might very well try to put on fire protections if they have them.  Or they might run if they feel they aren't ready to be set on fire.   This viewpoint could apply to anything they might meet depending on it's nature and threat.  I realize my fire example is poor but it was quick and off the cuff.   I like that some undead have a special threat unique to that group that is flavorful.  Now flavor is subjective so I'll add for a some of us.
 



A few people have said that draining monsters are a special category that shouldn't that just hop out of the darkness (or the ceiling, for insubstantial undead) and lower your level or ability scores with zero recourse. I'm assuming those people would be fine with an ambush the PCs had a very low chance to avoid as long as monsters did straight hit point damage.

I'm getting the sense that some people see some monsters as stuff you can just spring on the group and other monsters as requiring careful placement. Do people run games where PCs can find out about every encounter in advance? Or is it only special ones? That's what I'm trying to get a handle on.

Ed_Warlord, on what it takes to make a thread work: I think for it to be really constructive, everyone would have to be honest with each other, and with themselves.

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Areleth: How does this help the problems we have with Fighters? Do you think that every time I thought I was playing D&D what I was actually doing was slamming my head in a car door and that if you just explain how to play without doing that then I'll finally enjoy the game?


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TD: That's why they put me on the front of every book. This is the dungeon, and I am the dragon.

A word of warning though: I'm totally not a level appropriate encounter.
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1 year ago  ::  Apr 18, 2012 - 7:53AM #153
Garthanos
Date Joined: Jan 15, 2009
Posts: 17,768
Some of it is of course wrapped up in a particular implementation.
Anybody know how slow leveling was back in 1e? And how dramatic being dropped from level 6 to level 1 was especially for a spell caster? and How low of hd level draining monsters sometimes were? And how little guidelines of restraint was presented to DMs with regards to their use?

Improvisation in 4e: Improv. Attacks(by wrecan) - Fave 4E Improvisations

The Non-combatant Adventurer

Reality is unrealistic - and even monkeys protest unfairness

Dynamic Reflavoring : The Fighter : The Wizard : The Swordmage
Creative Character Collection - Featuring:The Faerie Master - Snow White - Joxer - Ironman - Elric - Bloodwright

By virtue of being a player your characters are the protagonists in a heroic fantasy game even at level one

"You have to explicitly give non-casters permission to do awesome, where as with magic it is just assumed they can." -Garthanos

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1 year ago  ::  Apr 18, 2012 - 1:41PM #154
Morbo78
Date Joined: Apr 5, 2012
Posts: 76
I don't think anyone here is saying that draining creatures should be used as written in earlier editions. I believe some tweaking I required. Along with notes to the DM on how to handle such potentially devestating foes.
All we want is the opportunity to use said drains. I like the concepts. Not necessarily the execution or lack of advice.
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1 year ago  ::  Apr 18, 2012 - 5:37PM #155
Emerikol
Date Joined: Apr 23, 2009
Posts: 4,582

Apr 18, 2012 -- 1:41PM, Morbo78 wrote:

I don't think anyone here is saying that draining creatures should be used as written in earlier editions. I believe some tweaking I required. Along with notes to the DM on how to handle such potentially devestating foes. All we want is the opportunity to use said drains. I like the concepts. Not necessarily the execution or lack of advice.




+1.  And yet some keep beating that 1e strawman.  

Here is what I'd like.
1. static x.p. drain (maybe not an entire level unless you are low).
2. no negative energy protections.
3. no restoration spells
4. clear guidance in MM on use of said creature.
5. a warning label Wink  (Approach preferred by gritty gaming style).

 

Here is a great blog by themormegil that explains why we had an edition war.
narrativism vs simulationism
A great blog on the business side of 4e and its impact on WOTC
4e is new coke
What core means and does not mean
HoBby Award Winner
metagame dissonance (plot coupon)    
dissociative mechanics (same as my own metagame dissonance. A great article.)
The Five Minute Workday Fallacy
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1 year ago  ::  Apr 18, 2012 - 5:43PM #156
Garthanos
Date Joined: Jan 15, 2009
Posts: 17,768
When it quits being speculation shrug we will talk about the actual thing. Till then should we discuss the weather"?

Improvisation in 4e: Improv. Attacks(by wrecan) - Fave 4E Improvisations

The Non-combatant Adventurer

Reality is unrealistic - and even monkeys protest unfairness

Dynamic Reflavoring : The Fighter : The Wizard : The Swordmage
Creative Character Collection - Featuring:The Faerie Master - Snow White - Joxer - Ironman - Elric - Bloodwright

By virtue of being a player your characters are the protagonists in a heroic fantasy game even at level one

"You have to explicitly give non-casters permission to do awesome, where as with magic it is just assumed they can." -Garthanos

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1 year ago  ::  Apr 18, 2012 - 7:01PM #157
Morbo78
Date Joined: Apr 5, 2012
Posts: 76
Garthanos
Did you by chance read the name of the forum?
Have you read any of the threads here?
I know you have so your statement is so baffling to me.
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1 year ago  ::  Apr 18, 2012 - 7:14PM #158
Garthanos
Date Joined: Jan 15, 2009
Posts: 17,768

Apr 18, 2012 -- 7:01PM, Morbo78 wrote:

Garthanos Did you by chance read the name of the forum?  




You have problems with irony or something? yes all we can do is speculate and the vast majority we have to base that on is what has been done in the past.

Improvisation in 4e: Improv. Attacks(by wrecan) - Fave 4E Improvisations

The Non-combatant Adventurer

Reality is unrealistic - and even monkeys protest unfairness

Dynamic Reflavoring : The Fighter : The Wizard : The Swordmage
Creative Character Collection - Featuring:The Faerie Master - Snow White - Joxer - Ironman - Elric - Bloodwright

By virtue of being a player your characters are the protagonists in a heroic fantasy game even at level one

"You have to explicitly give non-casters permission to do awesome, where as with magic it is just assumed they can." -Garthanos

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1 year ago  ::  Apr 18, 2012 - 7:32PM #159
Emerikol
Date Joined: Apr 23, 2009
Posts: 4,582
@Garthanos
Some of the things you've said are fine if they'd been your first post on this thread.  We get that you don't like 1e level drain.

When we make counterproposals though, then I'd think you could address those new ideas.  We are all feeling around for common ground on some stuff.  Obviously we have the module route and I'm sure in this case it will be a module if it's in the game at all.  Still for purposes of discussion work with us.

I posted a list above with suggestions.  Are you equally opposed to all of those?   
Here is a great blog by themormegil that explains why we had an edition war.
narrativism vs simulationism
A great blog on the business side of 4e and its impact on WOTC
4e is new coke
What core means and does not mean
HoBby Award Winner
metagame dissonance (plot coupon)    
dissociative mechanics (same as my own metagame dissonance. A great article.)
The Five Minute Workday Fallacy
Quick Reply
Cancel
1 year ago  ::  Apr 18, 2012 - 8:13PM #160
Garthanos
Date Joined: Jan 15, 2009
Posts: 17,768

Apr 18, 2012 -- 7:32PM, Emerikol wrote:

@Garthanos
Some of the things you've said are fine if they'd been your first post on this thread.  We get that you don't like 1e level drain.

When we make counterproposals though, then I'd think you could address those new ideas.  We are all feeling around for common ground on some stuff.  Obviously we have the module route and I'm sure in this case it will be a module if it's in the game at all.  Still for purposes of discussion work with us.

I posted a list above with suggestions.  Are you equally opposed to all of those?   



Apr 18, 2012 -- 5:37PM, Emerikol wrote:

 
Here is what I'd like.
1. static x.p. drain (maybe not an entire level unless you are low).



We dont use xp much periodic level advancement is pretty elegant and tracking xp is well too much like accounting or some other form of work I am not fond of.
 
I dont find having multiple levels of characters in the party a useful thing it impairs the DMs ability to challenge the group in a predictable fashion note it aggrevates the differing amounts of ability already existant (it adds a log on the fire as it combines with other things) 

Vampire Blood/Life force drain... this seems just a form or flavor of hit point loss - mystically speaking both are largely the same but flavor wise we want some classic vampire elements like having it establishes a link to the vampire making the subject vulnerable to mind magics Note this in classic magical lore is the same as an contagional benefit. When the wizard sends you to gather ingredients for his spell from the target.. like locks of hair its the same thing as the vampire gaining power over you by partaking of your blood.
A very drained victim we might want an extra level of "insert word here" which might mean a strength impairment and/or will impairment. This might last till you defeated the vampire and broke the contagional link...it allows a heroic solution something supported in legend and myth.
A ritual to break a connection bound in blood is very nearly impossible which means in game terms a rebirth calibur purification could do it (this puts it on the order of raise the dead).
 




Improvisation in 4e: Improv. Attacks(by wrecan) - Fave 4E Improvisations

The Non-combatant Adventurer

Reality is unrealistic - and even monkeys protest unfairness

Dynamic Reflavoring : The Fighter : The Wizard : The Swordmage
Creative Character Collection - Featuring:The Faerie Master - Snow White - Joxer - Ironman - Elric - Bloodwright

By virtue of being a player your characters are the protagonists in a heroic fantasy game even at level one

"You have to explicitly give non-casters permission to do awesome, where as with magic it is just assumed they can." -Garthanos

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