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I run my first dnd next session, player group was two characters (one female elf ranger and the other male dwarf paladin). Eventually there will be two more characters...

So I was trying to get them around the city, few adventure options were dropped by but both characters turn them down (I did not want to force them to take these yet, maybe later they can return to these, but then world has gone little forward...) and they made some strolling around city and tried to get information.. So I let them to take their time in city

They walked in and out taverns, shops and hall of Justice , They talked with soldiers and shopkeepers and even peasants... And eventually they found out house of knowledge

From the seer of house of knowledge > this lead them to some information that lead them to travel...

Hey there DnD fandom. I've been playing DnD since my father sat me down and taught me how to play version 3.5 when I was about 11 years old. When I say playing, I mean on and off, here and there, never having more than 3 or 4 total players, and never getting those players to stick around for more than a couple sessions. Recently, I took a look at the NEXT playtest packet and decided it was time to do something different. I wanted to REALLY play. So I asked my father and a few of my friends that now live in other states about playing a DnD campaign of my own creation using the new rules packet that is free to download. Well, they agreed. So now, here we are. I have already spent many days pouring my soul into this campaign in the forgotten realms, and it has the potential to become something...

Finals at my college and final papers. Ugh. I got a part in a summer festival musical though. Looking forward to performing again in July.

Regarding monster design for my game in construction:

Whenever I DM'd for the local DnD Meetup Group, I got some of my most positive responses from players when I added narrative to the actions taken by enemies rather than just a simple "it hits you for X damage".

This reminded me of when I was first introduced to DnD through ADnD 2nd edition, when my brother would spout out awesome descriptions of what was going on during combat (it was always gridless when we played).

What if sample narratives were built into the design of monsters, for DMs to describe the action? This could benefit new and old DMs greatly and enrich the experience for the entire table....

D&D Next: A Touch of Class

Class, subclass, build, kit, theme... just what goes into defining a character's class? What do we gain, and how best can we reflect commonalities and differences between the different varieties of classes in the game? What should D&D Next do? What is behind Legend & Lore's article on subclasses?

Legend & Lore states that the definition of a subclass can vary: "Each class will have a different take on what a subclass actually represents to it." The cleric subclasses are based on deities. The wizard on tradition. The fighter subclasses would include "warlord, knight, samurai, gladiator, or scout". The rogue would have "assassin, the thief, and the vagabond".

 

Taxonomy is Not the Goal

An important first point is that this isn't (or shouldn't be) about

...

Things are progressing a bit slowly since I've had a lot on my plate with my studies and being in a musical.

I figured out an "advanced concept" of accuracy which builds upon the concept of bound accuracy. Not going to reveal it yet since it still requires some major tweaks for testing. My inspiration for this "new accuracy" comes from the combination of some old ideas that I've experienced in different games. It will be simple, streamlined, and -------- (last adjective omitted so as not to give it away).

I've decided to keep monster design separate from PC design. It will be similar to 4e design up to a certain point but the differences will be very noticeable.

Designing adventures will be easy with a very facilitated ability to add depth to storytelling. Tools will be made to compensate ...

...In which a new adventurer joins the party.

The spiders descended upon the party, wrapping Arianna in webbing, and nearly downing Roose with their venomous bites. The party fought back, aided by magic manifesting from the card carried by the nobleman. A pattern of light hovered on the ground showing the same image of a key as on the card. By focusing on it, the party discovered that the key could unlock shortcuts, allowing them to teleport around the spiders. For my D&D Next version of the Key's power, see the bottom of this post.

The battle didn't last long, but Roose was badly injured. Fortunately, at this moment, an elf arrived on the scene. He introduced himself as Quercus Robur, and offered a little of his primal magic to cure some of Roose's injuries. A local wood elf he had come ...

Yes, I totally named the other post in order to set up that terrible pun.

Anyway, Wroose's player was unable to make it to our last session, so I ran a short side-adventure as he searched for another entrance to the abbey ground. Not trusting Frankenstein's decision to approach the front gate, he scouted south along the wall until he found a breach, damage presumably done during the seige of the abbey.

Beyond was a verdant forest, full of life. A few structures were visible over the treeline, but as Wroose ventured into the vibrant woods, he soon lost his bearings and sense of direction. He had a rather unpleasant encounter with a giant toad, but wrapped up his wounds, and tried once more to find his way north to the village, hoping to rejoin the others.

This time, he stumbled across a ruined...

... in which the party get wrapped up in things beyond their expectations.

Gabriel, Arrianna and Frankenstein entered the gatehouse, and examined the dead guards. A handful of orcs and one ogre, cut down by sword, axe and spells. Arrianna, concerned that her cursed amulet might cause them to rise as undead, suggested tying the bodies up, while Frankenstein found rags and scraps of armour to provide the party with orc disguises, at least from a distance. Climbing the steps up one of the gatehouse's two towers, the party got their first look at Gardmore Village. Built on the slopes of the hill were three tiers of buildings, ruined by war, fire, and age. Orc camps were set up in empty spaces of the lower two tiers. To the south, a  thick forest had grown, overrunning the gardens of the...

...In which the party meets many colourful locals.

Having made it back to the main road, the party headed east, towards the small town of Winterhaven. Hopefully there, they could find more information on Gardmore Abbey, while at the same time warning the authorities there of the coming plagueThey arrived without incident several days later, although they had passed several more groups fleeing the plague, as well as witness a string of abandoned towers which had defended the kingdom in times of war.

Upon reaching Winterhaven, the party promptly split up.

What Gabriel Did: The knight approach the tallest building in the village, a tower which housed the local sage, Valthrun the Prescient. Although a little hesitant of welcoming a strange dwarf at the door, the news of plague concerned him enough...