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3 years ago ::
May 27, 2010 - 5:20AM
#1
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Dragon 387
Confessions of a Full-Time Wizard
An Overwhemed Duckling, Part 2By Shelly Mazzanoble Shelly picks up where she left off last time with a discussion of implementing the lessons she's learned from the PSG as well as from another little "gift" she found on her desk: the Player's Handbook Races: Tieflings. She takes us along with her two Tieflings in a somewhat successful D&D Encounters game session, and in her core Wyld Stallyns game, which was not so successful. Better make sure to learn what the symbols on the map-board mean… It's a good thing she has a contemplative mother. Talk about Shelly's column here. 
A great man once said "If WotC put out boxes full of free money there'd still be people complaining about how it's folded." – Boraxe
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3 years ago ::
May 27, 2010 - 5:24AM
#2
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Date Joined:
Dec 11, 2006
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With no disrespect, and I say that as I know how some folks take things, Shelly's article was enjoyable as it reminded me of my 9yr old daughter, who plays a wizard in every game she gets to join.
My daughter once tried to use an ogre as cover|concealment from the onslaught of a goblin wizard that kept hitting her with one of its spells. Had it not been for a lucky death blow by her brother's fighter, and my daughter's idea to crouch down behind the body, it migth have turned out much much worse.
Browncoats Unite...
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3 years ago ::
May 27, 2010 - 7:04AM
#3
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Date Joined:
Aug 22, 2007
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Phobos, I love your daughter. I especially love this line: "...in every game she gets to join." I have a hard time NOT playing a wizard but I sometimes force myself to step out of my comfort zone (hence, Herteus the psion.) In our Dark Sun Encounters game I'm going to play a sorcerer. That's different. Sort of.
Anyway, your story is great. Not disrespectful at all! I might employ your daughter's tactic in my next game.
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3 years ago ::
May 27, 2010 - 8:44AM
#4
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Date Joined:
May 12, 2003
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"That’s great. Truly awesome. A spectacular exhibit of tactical genius." Shelly, that made me laugh out loud! Some bad luck there, falling down the stairs... easier to laugh about it now than at the time, right? Right?  And, regardless of how the dice fell that sesssion, anyone who brings a "I want to play better" attitude alone, sets a great example and simply makes the game more fun for everyone there. I really enjoy your detailed actual D&D session scenes and snippets. Your good-natured and humorous take is a bonus. And speaking of bonuses... time for cake!
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3 years ago ::
May 27, 2010 - 9:55AM
#5
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Date Joined:
Aug 22, 2007
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Thanks, Kilsek!
I'm pretty sure I laughed about it when it happened too but yes, much funnier now that it's over. What I should have noted was that later that day I fell UP the stairs going into my condo. Nice. I guess it was something in the air.
It's always time for cake! If we do a PSG 2, I'm going to ask R&D if I can include some recipes.
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3 years ago ::
May 27, 2010 - 11:28AM
#6
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Date Joined:
Sep 29, 2006
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I read the article, and found the content enjoyable, but really felt that the piece could use an editing pass. You refer to many rules by odd names, mention game mechanics that aren't relevant to the situation, and have a layman's grasp of grammar.
I hold Dragon to the same standard as I would any paid periodical, and only want the best for it and its readers.
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3 years ago ::
May 27, 2010 - 11:38AM
#7
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Date Joined:
Dec 11, 2006
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I read the article, and found the content enjoyable, but really felt that the piece could use an editing pass. You refer to many rules by odd names, mention game mechanics that aren't relevant to the situation, and have a layman's grasp of grammar.
I hold Dragon to the same standard as I would any paid periodical, and only want the best for it and its readers.
It's almost like there was suppose to be some humor involved, and seem like it was radom thought in spots. How odd is that.
I told my daughter at her end of school party how you thought using ogre cover was a great idea.
Browncoats Unite...
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3 years ago ::
May 27, 2010 - 11:47AM
#8
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Date Joined:
Aug 17, 2007
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I read the article, and found the content enjoyable, but really felt that the piece could use an editing pass. You refer to many rules by odd names, mention game mechanics that aren't relevant to the situation, and have a layman's grasp of grammar.
I hold Dragon to the same standard as I would any paid periodical, and only want the best for it and its readers.
Correcting grammar in an article that uses an intentionally colloquial writing style? Doesn't that defeat the point?
These articles are written to reflect the writer's thoughts and views, and portray her gaming experiences. Most mentions of the rules and mechanics are tied to those experiences - why would you remove them? Which references specifically are bothering you? I don't see any that look out of place or misnamed, myself.
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3 years ago ::
May 27, 2010 - 7:56PM
#9
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Date Joined:
Sep 18, 2009
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I read the article and laughed and laughed Shelly. I enjoyed the interplay between you and mom as well as the interplay between you and yoru gaming group. OK, so you need some help with the rest but you yourself sound like a very fun person to know with an excellent sense of humor and the ability to laugh at yourself. We all need to lighten up a little. Maybe, you need to play with a group that play's with Wrecan's Lucky Classes, you sound like someone who can make the descriptive portions of that class really work.
smiles
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3 years ago ::
May 27, 2010 - 8:54PM
#10
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Date Joined:
Jul 18, 2003
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I read the article and thought it was funny and enjoyed it, both for content and style. Pay no attention to the complaint.
But I have to call out the DM on the staircase thing. Sounds like there was either a poorly-drawn map, or else a pre-printed dungeon tile was used. The DM didn't describe it well to the player -- the character, being present in the room and looking at the "real" staircase or column, could never have made that mistake. That's the DM's problem, not the players. Make the room feel real, and this wouldn't happen.
Maybe Shelly wasn't paying attention when the room was described. If that happens all the time, okay, maybe it's fair. Otherwise, this isn' t a game of chutes and ladders. The map is there to help visualize the action, not be the action. The DM should have said: "Sorry, the map isn't clear -- you can't step there without risking a fall. You still want to do that?"
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