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11 months ago ::
Aug 10, 2012 - 8:39AM
#1
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Date Joined:
Jun 22, 2007
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In this week's Playtester Profile we sit down with Newbie DM, aka Enrique Bertran, and take a closer look at the DM side of the D&D Next playtest.
Trevor Kidd
Community Manager
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11 months ago ::
Aug 10, 2012 - 9:33AM
#2
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Date Joined:
Nov 22, 2007
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He certainly has some good points.
Especially how easing the DM role is extremely important to drawing in new players.
Brave Knights of W.T.F. Gryphon Helm Winner.
Edition wars kill players, this will kill Dungeons and Dragons.
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11 months ago ::
Aug 10, 2012 - 9:39AM
#3
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Date Joined:
Dec 21, 2011
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I agree, Val. I'm looking for a lot of what the spotlight DM mentions. I loved the ease of DMing 4e, but I want a faster game that balances combat, exploration and social interaction more fully. Not a fan of powers. I like the idea that there are abilities, themes, backgrounds all which guide players to come up with ideas rather than picking a power. Can't wait for new playtest material.
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11 months ago ::
Aug 10, 2012 - 9:40AM
#4
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Date Joined:
May 25, 2012
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I Agree with Valdark. If a DM has his hands free,he can put more effort into descriptions and consistency. this means that the game feel more "real" and hook the players.
DM: Products of MY Imagination ©. Since 1986.
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11 months ago ::
Aug 10, 2012 - 10:38AM
#5
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Date Joined:
Aug 22, 2007
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I agree with a lot of what Enrique said. Making DMing easier is a major feature Next has to pull off. Period. No excuses.
If the entry requirements to be DM stays so high, we will see another influx of accidentally bad DM like years past. And there is a difference between accidentally and purposely bad DMs.
Orzel, Halfelven son of Zel, Mystic Ranger, Bane to Dragons, Death to Undeath, Killer of Abyssals, King of the Wilds.
Constitution Based Class for Next!
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11 months ago ::
Aug 10, 2012 - 11:04AM
#6
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Date Joined:
Nov 30, 2010
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Also no new DMs means no new players
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11 months ago ::
Aug 10, 2012 - 11:10AM
#7
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Making DMing easier is a major feature Next has to pull off retain.
Fixed that. 4E already made DMing a blast and supremely easy. Then again...
If you have questions about 4th Edition - don't hesitate to ask me via PMs. Join the Community Monster Manual Group and help to collect a mass of monsters which will make your life as DM easier, and your life as Player pure hell!  I am a cartographer. You can find some of my maps in my profile, free for non-commercial use. Also, if you happen to like maps or make them yourselves, join into the Cartographers Group!
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11 months ago ::
Aug 10, 2012 - 12:38PM
#8
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Date Joined:
Oct 25, 2009
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Enrique absolutely nailed it. If D&D Next isn't easy to DM, it will be DOA. I really hope the next playtest comes with better DM support.
I've said this a hundred times: Easy to DM = more DM's = more players = more D&D
Want to know more about the history of D&D, especially how to play older editions of the game? Check out Crazy Monkey's "Tour through the editions":
http://community.wizards.com/crazymonkey/go/forum/view/133793/225799/Asylum_Play-by-Post
The current edition is BECMI, the most popular form of Basic D&D and the adventure is the classic Red Box quest to kill Bargle the evil magic user. Check it out, learn about the games roots, and enjoy the story as it unfolds.
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11 months ago ::
Aug 10, 2012 - 6:09PM
#9
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Date Joined:
Mar 31, 2009
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Thanks guys!
I hope WOTC listens to some of this feedback. I think it's crucial for DMs to be well taken care of.
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11 months ago ::
Aug 10, 2012 - 8:53PM
#10
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I've said this a hundred times: Easy to DM = more DM's = more players = more D&D
I can't agree with that more. Veteran DMs know they can break the rules or violate suggestions when they need to, and they how to do it without being inherently unfair to their players (the good ones, anyway).
Why Mechanics-Alignment Integration is Bad
Show
so why even play a fighter if you can play the paladin the exact same way behaviorally and get added power to boot. "Paladin" is about accepting better game-enhancing mechanics at the price of more rigid in game behavior.
Really? So it goes something like this?
Fighter: "I want to be a paladin."
NPC: "Really?"
Fighter: "Yes."
NPC: "Very well." Starts reading from a holy book while still in-character "Do you accept having to choose and stick to the lawful good alignment, eventhough neither of us actually knows that it exists or what it is?"
Fighter: "I do."
NPC: "Do you reject good game balance because you accidentally rolled a high Charisma?"
Fighter: "What?"
NPC: "I don't know what it means either."
Fighter: "Oh. Umm, ok I do."
NPC: "In the name of all that is metagamey and broken, accept these better game enhancing mechanics."
Fighter: "These what?"
NPC: "Just get out there and try to fulfill a million different people's notion of good while not violating and part of any of them."
So the system is designed such that every single hit needs to be described to avoid confusion? Here's a scenario. The players are nudists, everybody in the world are nudists, it's not weird, it's totally normal in this land. They are naked and they fight drakes taking damage throughout, but healing up with surges. Later they meet the guy who raised the drakes.
Part 1: I didn't describe any of the hits. What does he see?
Part 2: Lets say I described the drakes as biting the players, yet they healed up. What does he see?
D20 Modern Toon PC Race.
Mecha Pilot's Skill Challenge Emporium.
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