I just got back into RPGs and was really psyched to find a local store listed on this site as hosting D&D encounters, but the staff of the store itself told me that they have not been receiving communication or materials from WoTC for some time. I did find a local group of Next playtesters, though, and it would be great if we could get these materials and run it on our own.
Yep - a disgrace that those of us on other continents are excluded. The Gencon attendees can keep the minis, put the pdf of GoDC up on drivethrurpg to allow the rest of us to share!
I don't think 'next' is ready for print. They've still got a lot to do, and I (personally) don't like 5e as it is now, according to the latest playtest packet. I want more 4e in it (even as optional modules) And I want more classes, races, and a few campaign worlds. They need to bring in more than just FR, and should make up a totally NEW campaign world, just for 5e. I'll still play 4e until they are ready. Then, I might give 5e a try. I figure they're shooting for a release date that coincides...
View full commentI don't think 'next' is ready for print. They've still got a lot to do, and I (personally) don't like 5e as it is now, according to the latest playtest packet. I want more 4e in it (even as optional modules) And I want more classes, races, and a few campaign worlds. They need to bring in more than just FR, and should make up a totally NEW campaign world, just for 5e. I'll still play 4e until they are ready. Then, I might give 5e a try. I figure they're shooting for a release date that coincides with the 40th anniversary of D&D. (2014) But even then, they seem to only have the most basic of the basic ready for print. It'll be another year or more before anything I want in a new edition to (maybe) be released.
PS: I also hope that by then, WotC lets 4e go into open system license land, so other devs can keep it alive. (Paizo, anyone? Make 4e the basis for Pathfinder 2.)
An easy way to check is to browse to: wizards.com/dnd/downloads/dungeon/*IssueNumber*/Dungeon*IssueNumber*.pdf Obviously replace "*IssueNumber*" with whatever it is. In this case 212.
View full commentAn easy way to check is to browse to:
wizards.com/dnd/downloads/dungeon/*IssueNumber*/Dungeon*IssueNumber*.pdf
Obviously replace "*IssueNumber*" with whatever it is. In this case 212.
I agree, though it does annoy me that Paladins have to be lawful good. This is the only class that is restricted to good as their alignment, and I have always felt that a paladin could be lawful neutral or lawful evil instead, though the class description may take a little modification.
One of the things I loved about previous editions was the ability to use Items to complement my daily spells. - I always carried a variety of wands for "standards" (magic missle, fireball, lightningbolt). - I'd carry scrolls for "utility" spells (remove curse, stone to flesh) - and finally potions for "one-offs" (Water breathing). The rest of my daily spells would be a mixture of standards for a little extra "umph" and spells tailored for what we *thought* we'd need for...
View full commentOne of the things I loved about previous editions was the ability to use Items to complement my daily spells.
- I always carried a variety of wands for "standards" (magic missle, fireball, lightningbolt).
- I'd carry scrolls for "utility" spells (remove curse, stone to flesh)
- and finally potions for "one-offs" (Water breathing).
The rest of my daily spells would be a mixture of standards for a little extra "umph" and spells tailored for what we *thought* we'd need for the adventure. What was great is that I could make these items myself and not have to worry about finding them at "Ye Ol Magic Shoppe"
Unfortunately there is nothing quite like this in 4e =o(
Pathfinder's not going anywhere if you favor that kind of high-powered adventure, most game stores host a couple of people who at least have the books. I resented having to stock up on every piece of crap allowable to my character class to be effective in Third Ed. I'm sure Fifth will have an Artificer eventually, so keep an eye out even if it's not your game of choice, although wands and staves might end up being a bit more work. Wands don't seem to be quite the (relatively) cheap disposable...
View full commentPathfinder's not going anywhere if you favor that kind of high-powered adventure, most game stores host a couple of people who at least have the books. I resented having to stock up on every piece of crap allowable to my character class to be effective in Third Ed. I'm sure Fifth will have an Artificer eventually, so keep an eye out even if it's not your game of choice, although wands and staves might end up being a bit more work. Wands don't seem to be quite the (relatively) cheap disposable items they were in AD&D and 3E, and staves look to me to be taking more of an AD&D route.
Sudden Death was Awesome. I've spent the last 4-5 days (since last Wednesday) looking up the Article Archives for the next instalment of the DM Experience. Hope to see it soon, your stories and tips are just awesome. If not for being inspired by your Column, I would never have taken the step to become a DM.
View full commentSudden Death was Awesome. I've spent the last 4-5 days (since last Wednesday) looking up the Article Archives for the next instalment of the DM Experience. Hope to see it soon, your stories and tips are just awesome.
If not for being inspired by your Column, I would never have taken the step to become a DM.
I just finished Elminster Must Die, yeah I know I'm 2 books behind, and Mirt makes an appearance. Although Arclath is now my favorite Realms character...sorry Elminster and Drizzt...
"A pensive Ardyn grumbles and scratches at his scaly chin, thinking long and hard about the fate of the hated enemy trapped within the aquatic vessel. Suddenly a deep gargle from within Ardyn's throat culminates in a sharp, bright, elemental blast aimed at the vessel and a loud crash echoes through the smokey blast. The air hangs heavy with choking smoke and you all struggle to catch your breath or to see the result of Ardyn's decision. Moments later the smoke is dispelled by a brisk flap or...
View full comment"A pensive Ardyn grumbles and scratches at his scaly chin, thinking long and hard about the fate of the hated enemy trapped within the aquatic vessel. Suddenly a deep gargle from within Ardyn's throat culminates in a sharp, bright, elemental blast aimed at the vessel and a loud crash echoes through the smokey blast. The air hangs heavy with choking smoke and you all struggle to catch your breath or to see the result of Ardyn's decision. Moments later the smoke is dispelled by a brisk flap or two from Ardyn's wings, their leathery, webbed wings creating a snapping sound in the air like a fatigued slave driver's whip hand. And there, arms braced over the edge of the vessels hull, lays a fatigued enemy gasping laboriously for air..."
I thought cover art in 3.5 was great! I loved the look of old tomes and books bound in blood, it felt more real than the clearly computer-art renderings of brightly colored races in 4.0.
Hello My name is Kine, It's my pleasure to write you today after viewing your profile on this website , i just want to say hello and how was your day? Well, i will like to known little more about you, and also i want to tell you more about my self, please i will be very happy if can reply me via my email address, so that we can move further for knowing each other (kinemabou@yahoo.com) I will be waiting for your...
View full commentHello
My name is Kine, It's my pleasure to write you today after viewing your profile on this website , i just want to say hello and how was your day? Well, i will like to known little more about you, and also i want to tell you more about my self,
please i will be very happy if can reply me via my email address, so that we can move further for knowing each other (kinemabou@yahoo.com) I will be waiting for your response,
Thanks Yours
Kine.
(kinemabou @ yahoo.com)
This is my favorite supplement so far. It gives me some hope that WotC is headed in a good direction with the D&D franchise. I started playing about a year ago and 4th ed is my only experience of D&D. Everyone always tells me "3.5 is better" but somehow we've managed to have a ton of fun with 4th ed anyway. There are only a couple of things I don't like: The oversimplification of the DM's job and WotC's apparent obsession with glossy finishes and card stock. The latter hit rock...
View full commentThis is my favorite supplement so far. It gives me some hope that WotC is headed in a good direction with the D&D franchise.
I started playing about a year ago and 4th ed is my only experience of D&D. Everyone always tells me "3.5 is better" but somehow we've managed to have a ton of fun with 4th ed anyway. There are only a couple of things I don't like: The oversimplification of the DM's job and WotC's apparent obsession with glossy finishes and card stock. The latter hit rock bottom with the booster packs of collectible "encounter cards" players were supposed to buy for their Encounters sessions. (The essentials books were also a terrible idea. They caused my players a and myself a ton of confusion and I still don't understand why WotC basically forked the material found in PHB and DMG.)
The D&D books I remember thumbing through as a kid (probably 2nd ed?) were pretty terse, presenting a fun idea to the DM but requiring him/her to flesh it out at the table. By contrast, 4th ed appears to have been designed to make the DM's role easy, sometimes to a fault. The "2 page per encounter" idea was a great concept, but failed in execution. It even has its place in certain products(It was perfect for the Dungeon Delve book, which I liked a lot), but, for the most part it's better to design for flexibility.
Halls has no junk (just a kickass dungeon map and a bunch of battle mats I probably won't use) and lots of ideas that I'll be able to steal for my homebrew campaign, or use whole. The author sounds bummed about how his boxed set got shorn, but I think it was for the best. Good work Matt! You've made a new DM and his players very happy.
I'm very happy with the book full of thoughtfully composed, easy to read useful material. I've some feedback... I like the baggage-free format, which leaves the combat detail to Monster Vault especially because I know that those builds will almost always play well in the exact format in which they're printed. I'd rather have a nice set of books like this for Undermountain. Although cards and minis are fine, but once you have cards, DM vs Publisher content starts to be too obvious and...
View full commentI'm very happy with the book full of thoughtfully composed, easy to read useful material.
I've some feedback...
I like the baggage-free format, which leaves the combat detail to Monster Vault especially because I know that those builds will almost always play well in the exact format in which they're printed. I'd rather have a nice set of books like this for Undermountain. Although cards and minis are fine, but once you have cards, DM vs Publisher content starts to be too obvious and this take on the Undermountain concept retains the invitation for the DM to make the sprawl palpable. I like that. No need to ape a boardgame for my benefit!
I wonder why the big map is unkeyed, given it shows secret doors and statues.
Was good to see a return to real maps, and encounters which are concisely defined.
Quality of the writing gets a big hurrah from me. Headings are well put together.
A couple of simple diagrams and tables for names and room indexes by name, feature and MV pages ref would have been appreciated.
Hope in the lower levels there would be a player map to the main one, ostensibly drawn by an adventurer, but which is limited, partly destroyed and largely inaccurate / confused. Can do this myself of course but would love to see Wizards do something like that as officially supplied cartography.
All up I really like the way this is done, the way that I like Mordenkainens, Feywild and such. Thanks muchly!