4e and Lava Rules! Fire and Brimstone

Kamikaze Midget · 24th November 2007, 03:49 AM

ATTENTION WOTC! THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!

I just downloaded Fire and Brimstone, mostly because it was free and I kind of admire anyone with the cojones to release a major d20 product so close to the 4e launch, but also because Gygax talked it up. I was prepared to just have another pdf laying around my hard drive, but I've gotta say, it's one of the best ideas for lava rules I've ever heard. Realistic, without getting in the way, and still allowing plenty of adventure.

I'm with Robin Laws. This isn't so much a game as it is a fully operational philosophy for life itself.

If anyone needs proof, download it. I don't think there's really an excuse NOT to.

Perhaps the designers of 4e can let us in on some key 4e mechanics: will this revolution in lava make it's way into 4e? Really, I can't see any other way of handling lava now that I've seen this. 3e's rules just seem archaic and absurd here, and these rules cleave so closely to 4e's philosophy of streamlining rules and making the game easier to play. If 4e doesn't include these rules, it's going to be the first house rule I apply.

I was reluctant to get new rules with 4e right around the bend, but I figured, it's free, so what's the harm? Tiny little download, too. But man, sometimes a little rule goes a LONG way.

Scott_Rouse, I see you're quoted on the back cover. Are you in any position to tell us if 4e embraces these rules? Any anonymous playtester care to leak a little info? Anyone?

This is very important.

(PS: Can we PLEASE not drag this into a discussion about how these rules are "too videogamey"? The designers use videogames for inspiration, and too many threads are de-railed by that little tangent as it is...if you think it's inspired by a videogame, find a DIFFERENT reason to criticize the rules before posting, please!)

jaerdaph · 24th November 2007, 04:30 AM

Due to the strength of this one product, I have decided to take 12 to Midnight's one page advice on starting a publishing company - and flush it down the toilet. I just spent thousands and thousands of dollars to start my own publishing company, Lazydumbass Productions. Look for our first releases at RPGNow coming soon: Races of Fire and Brimstone: Lavatouched, Magmatouched, and Superheatedrocktouched. It will of course be 3.5 and come out a week before 4e's release, and I'm sure we'll screw up the OGL but nobody really cares about that anyway except e-publishers who wish their products were made of real paper some chick name Lulu never touched and some real losers who live in their parents basement still and can quote the OGL like they're Clarence Darrow but still give you cold fries at the drive-thru.

Wulf Ratbane · 24th November 2007, 04:56 AM

I'm just happy to see that so much of my Open Content material was incorporated into this groundbreaking work.

(Kudos to the editor on the index.)

barsoomcore · 24th November 2007, 04:56 AM

Folks, you need to understand that we at SammichCon have to protect our creative intellectual property, and thus executed some pretty strict non-disclosure agreements with those folks who were granted a preview of Fire and Brimstone.

So while we can't stop you folks from wild speculation on how Fire and Brimstone's revolutionary approach to RPG design will impact the development of 4th Edition Dungeons and Dragons, please don't expect WotC insiders to be free to speak their minds on this issue. This is a business, you know.

The Merciful · 24th November 2007, 02:14 PM

My friend Pete says that he has used these rules for decades and that this product violates his copyright. I think the original poster would be wise to remove the link before the issue is settled.

barsoomcore · 24th November 2007, 05:17 PM

"Hey, Pete, come over here. Yeah. Over here. No, no, don't worry about the LAVA. It's not like anyone's going to PUSH YOU IN or anything. Heck no. Just, uh, close your eyes for a second."

jaerdaph · 24th November 2007, 07:55 PM

I will have a preview available for the Superheatedrocktouched template soon. I just have to find a way to charge you for it first.

Clavis · 24th November 2007, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Merciful

My friend Pete says that he has used these rules for decades and that this product violates his copyright. I think the original poster would be wise to remove the link before the issue is settled.

I've used similar rules also, except that mine necessitated everybody pointing and laughing at the dumbs**t whose PC fell into lava.

epochrpg · 24th November 2007, 10:23 PM

This was the most ground-breaking rules suppliment not only for 3.5, but all incarnations of D&D and role-playing games in general. I appreciated that they took the time and effort to explain this for both D&D and Storyteller rules. They will definitely be used in my own game.

Something worth mentioning, perhaps for the second printing-- for those immune to fire damage, not only will falling in lava not kill you-- you won't fall in-- as the basalt is far too dense for a person to sink in-- you'd float on top like a beach-ball in a swimming pool. You'd be able to crawl around on top--- but probably not walk w/o some sort of amazing balance check.

Najo · 24th November 2007, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by epochrpg

This was the most ground-breaking rules suppliment not only for 3.5, but all incarnations of D&D and role-playing games in general. I appreciated that they took the time and effort to explain this for both D&D and Storyteller rules. They will definitely be used in my own game.

Something worth mentioning, perhaps for the second printing-- for those immune to fire damage, not only will falling in lava not kill you-- you won't fall in-- as the basalt is far too dense for a person to sink in-- you'd float on top like a beach-ball in a swimming pool. You'd be able to crawl around on top--- but probably not walk w/o some sort of amazing balance check.

I smell a lawsuit coming. You better watch it epochrpg

Those sammich guys are serious.

barsoomcore · 25th November 2007, 12:29 AM

Just so everyone's aware, we are compiling comments on Fire and Brimstone over at our LavaRules.com website. Check it out. Your chance at immortality!