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12 months ago ::
Aug 01, 2012 - 6:50AM
#1
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Date Joined:
May 20, 2007
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I recently played in an adventure where the DM interpreted 'take AL damage' as rolling for damage as if it (an environmental effect) were a creature of the AL level using the creature damage table in the DMG.
I was under the impression when I run that 'take AL damage' as a result of a creature ability or environmental effect meant a character would take 4 damage for AL level 4, 6 for AL 6, 10 for AL 10, and so on...
I'm pretty sure the second interpretation is correct as the first is really brutal, but I thought I'd ask to see what most interprete this phrase to mean. Or perhaps get an official clarification. I didn't want to get into a big argument with the DM but he was taking what was what I believe to be hindering environmental effect and nearly wiping us off the map with it before we could do anything.
-Sartredes
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12 months ago ::
Aug 01, 2012 - 7:45AM
#2
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Date Joined:
Apr 25, 2002
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Your impression is the correct one - LFR adventures are written with the intent of not needing the DM to look things up. So when something does AL damage, it does damage equal to that - AL 12 means 12 damage, not look up the damage done by a creature and do that amount of damage.
(Nobody official, but that DM is doing a stupid interpretation)
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12 months ago ::
Aug 01, 2012 - 8:14AM
#3
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I agree with MwaO.
If nothing else, LFR modules are written in a way that any information other than what could be found in the PHB are in the module -- they don't assume that the DM will have immediate access to a DMG to look something like that up. If the intent was to use the sort of info that's in the DMG, it would actually be in the module itself.
"Of course [Richard] has a knife. He always has a knife. We all have knives. It's 1183, and we're barbarians!" - Eleanor of Aquitaine, "The Lion in Winter"
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12 months ago ::
Aug 01, 2012 - 11:17AM
#4
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Date Joined:
Jun 15, 2004
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12 months ago ::
Aug 01, 2012 - 12:45PM
#5
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Date Joined:
Mar 17, 2005
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In adventures where it says AL damage, AL is being used as a variable that means that value which is equal to the AL. In other words, if its AL 4, take 4 points. Your DM misinterpreted the intent.
Somebody Official.
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12 months ago ::
Aug 01, 2012 - 1:19PM
#6
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Date Joined:
May 20, 2007
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Thanks. I was pretty confident in that interpretation and would have used it when I run adventures. It's nice to be able to direct him to this, though.
-Sartredes
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12 months ago ::
Aug 01, 2012 - 5:05PM
#7
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Date Joined:
May 29, 2004
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Thanks. I was pretty confident in that interpretation and would have used it when I run adventures. It's nice to be able to direct him to this, though.
Any chance you can say what adventure it was? I just want to know if I should add this to the "wording I've screwed up and need to not screw up again" list (I usually try to phrase it "take damage equal to the AL")...
John du Bois
Living Forgotten Realms Writing Director, Netheril story area
Follow me on The Twitter: @JohnduBois
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12 months ago ::
Aug 01, 2012 - 8:35PM
#8
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Date Joined:
May 20, 2007
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Thanks. I was pretty confident in that interpretation and would have used it when I run adventures. It's nice to be able to direct him to this, though.
Any chance you can say what adventure it was? I just want to know if I should add this to the "wording I've screwed up and need to not screw up again" list (I usually try to phrase it "take damage equal to the AL")...
It was Cali 4-2. If I recall, it was the Haze damage expression for entering or starting your turn in it.
-Sartredes
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11 months ago ::
Aug 02, 2012 - 5:36AM
#9
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Date Joined:
Aug 10, 2007
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A lot of the newer adventures use the AL mechanic, so it's a good idea to make sure your group understands it. (i.e. It will come up again.)
If a trap has an attack vs. reflex that is AL+3 and the PCs are playing at AL 12, then the trap attacks at +15 vs. reflex. Basically, whenever you see "AL" just replace it with the number of the AL the PCs are playing.
Dan Anderson
@EpicUthrac
Living Forgotten Realms Calimshan Writing Director
Living Forgotten Realms Epic Writing Director
Meet me at TotalConfusion:
http://www.totalcon.com/RolePlaying.html
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