This mentality needs to die

WarlockLord · 13th February 2010, 07:36 PM

This. This is videogame logic, the logic that won't let you get past the Ragecandybar man despite the fact that you have 2 dragons and a ghost in your pocket. Tvtropes. Why is this considered good? And would you want your DM to do it?

Celebrim · 13th February 2010, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarlockLord

This. This is videogame logic, the logic that won't let you get past the Ragecandybar man despite the fact that you have 2 dragons and a ghost in your pocket. Tvtropes. Why is this considered good? And would you want your DM to do it?

Ouch is that painful. It's not considered good. It never has been considered good.

Remind me to never to pay to be a player at Chris Perkins table. Besides being hidebound and always looking for a reason to say 'No', his delivery is almost anti-story and anti-cinematic. I'd blame it on the edition except that I know there are some good DMs here at EnWorld who've transcended the edition.

I think I'd rather watch paint dry than that. No wonder PnP RPG's have a hard time acquiring new players.

Vorput · 13th February 2010, 08:07 PM

...that is sad.

bagger245 · 13th February 2010, 08:13 PM

Is this how majority of 4e games are played?

Crothian · 13th February 2010, 08:16 PM

What is? Usually its better to explain your postion then having links to things.

Piratecat · 13th February 2010, 08:16 PM

What's interesting is that I've played at Chris Perkins' table before (way back in 2000 or so, before 3e launched), and he can be a superb DM. He had a good sense for the dramatic, a great dungeon design sense, and he's a good enough artist that his quick dungeon sketches were really evocative. He ran a fun game.

That being said, I really don't like a tendency to say no instead of yes. That makes the game less fun for everyone in my opinion. If a door is frozen shut and a PC has a fire power, I'd rather have the DM say "yes, but..." instead of just "no."

darjr · 13th February 2010, 08:19 PM

Is the issue with him saying the doors are sealed or with his denying the use of darkfire to melt the ice?

bagger245 · 13th February 2010, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darjr

Is the issue with him saying the doors are sealed or with his denying the use of darkfire to melt the ice?

If it is, can someone post the Darkfire power up just so that people will know what they are talking about?

unan oranis · 13th February 2010, 08:21 PM

Drow dark-fire not melting ice? Sounds... reasonable?

I would have let the guy make an arcana check to "magically" melt the ice, or given him some option other than "there is only one way to open this door - period".

Especially as this is being recorded, I think you'd want to stonewall as little as possible.

But still, drow dark-fire doesn't actually make fire.

Vorput · 13th February 2010, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darjr

Is the issue with him saying the doors are sealed or with his denying the use of darkfire to melt the ice?

My issue is with him saying the power can't be used because the door isn't a creature. I have no problem if the power was ineffective (though I'd like to know why), but it should still be allowed to be used.

bagger245 · 13th February 2010, 08:24 PM

But the players are creative in terms of making the fire trap directed to the door as well..

Vorput · 13th February 2010, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bagger245

But the players are creative in terms of making the fire trap directed to the door as well..

I sort of got the feeling they were supposed to do that. After all, it is a big rotating fire-shooting trap in the middle of a room with an ice-sealed door.

weem · 13th February 2010, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vorput

I sort of got the feeling they were supposed to do that. After all, it is a big rotating fire-shooting trap in the middle of a room with an ice-sealed door.

Yea, that's what it was there for - he even mentioned something like using a source they had not considered (not the exact quote).

---edit---

"You're of a mind, based on the abilities that you have, it would probably just take somebody strong using a strength check to power the doors open, umm, or finding a way to melt them that is not readily apparent."

---/edit---

Quote:

Originally Posted by bagger245

If it is, can someone post the Darkfire power up just so that people will know what they are talking about?

Darkfire
A flickering halo of purple light surrounds the target, making it easier to hit.
Encounter
Hit: Until the end of your next turn, all attacks against the target have combat advantage, and the target cannot benefit from invisibility or concealment.

Transbot9 · 13th February 2010, 08:34 PM

I don't think that it is as bad as it seems at first. If I remember right (I don't have the book handy), darkfire is a racial ability in 4e that outlines a creature or person, making them easier to hit. It isn't actual fire, so there is no heat, and the ability is written in a way that heavily suggests that it works only on people.

bagger245 · 13th February 2010, 08:39 PM

I don't really mind how Chris handled it. Maybe he didn't want the player to waste that power by using it up. But anyway, DMing skills aside, do 4e combat typically run this way?