GTS 2009 D&D Seminar - the Rouse discusses D&D

[alleynbard]

This is a big internal conflict with me.

Good points about magic

I was the same way at first. I really struggled with this. I am not going to lie, it took a fundamental shift in the way I thought about these classes before it clicked.

The one way to preserve caster flexibility is through rituals. I know it is not a perfect fix, but it is a pretty good one. While anyone can become a ritual caster the spell casting classes get it for free. Wizards even gain bonus rituals starting at 5th level.

It took me a while to convince my players that they should be using their rituals. But now we get at least one Tenser's Floating Disk every session. I can't wait to see Amanuesis (which is essentially the old Scribe spell) in action.

I am encouraging the use of rituals by giving out a few rituals for free, mostly through enemy ritual books. I stray slightly outside the wealth guidelines to make it happen, but that is a trade-off I am willing to make. I do make sure I read each ritual carefully before I place it in a treasure hoard.

Some of this tactic is to just get the players used to the idea of rituals. Once that is achieved I think they will see, and I will see, that wizards (and other spellcasters) can still be remarkably flexible classes without being overpowering. Kind of the "first hit is free" tactic that I hope will encourage ritual purchasing in the future.

Sorry for being a bit off-topic. Don't mind me Scott, please continue with your fantastic thread.

 

[The Ghost]

Maybe you need the 4E Starter Set

I'd also download the Character Builder Demo for additional characters... greatly expands the replay value

A few thoughts:
First, the D&D RPG Starter Set, which is almost exactly what you describe might have been worth looking into. Perhaps it wasn't out at the time... I really wished that came out at the same time as everything else. Amazon.com: Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game Starter Set (D&D Introductory Game): Wizards RPG Team: Books

Second, you can order delve night for home play a month after it comes out for retail play without having to use WPN. You don't get DM points for it, but you can certainly order them.

Third, check out the Living Forgotten Realms. You get short adventures for a variety of levels that can be played in about 4 hours. Best of all, they are FREE!

Oh fourth, one of the best books I have seen for people like me who often run out of time... the "Dungeon Delve" book. I have used 5 levels worth of them already. I'd love to see a "Dungeon Delve 2".

Thanks. If only the 4e starter set had come out in June 2008 and not October 2008...?

The Dungeon Delve book sounds pretty interesting. Are there any plans by Wizards to re-release older tile sets? I have a bought a few but have had a hard time tracking down some of the other sets. That is, without resorting to the internet.

What is WPN?

 

[dm4hire]

Thanks. If only the 4e starter set came out in June and not October...?

Starter set is out for 4e.

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

We are right there with you. We would love to have a big, well done movie for our brand.

This is a little off-topic for this thread, but is WoTC/Hasbro doing anything special in this regards? As a former film-school kid, this topic always interests me - and the thing that always strikes me is that WoTC should be approaching this from the same sort of angle that Marvel Comics used, trying to attract the right kind of talent so that the films made are quality. I also beat the drum of making a D&D movie that isn't a "D&D Movie" but rather a "Driz'zt Movie" (just to use one obvious example) in the same way that Marvel doesn't make "Comic Book Movies" but "Spiderman" or "Iron Man" movies.

 

[Greg K]

Kid Charlemagne,
I completely agree with your post. Have an XP

This is a little off-topic for this thread, but is WoTC/Hasbro doing anything special in this regards? As a former film-school kid, this topic always interests me - and the thing that always strikes me is that WoTC should be approaching this from the same sort of angle that Marvel Comics used, trying to attract the right kind of talent so that the films made are quality. I also beat the drum of making a D&D movie that isn't a "D&D Movie" but rather a "Driz'zt Movie" (just to use one obvious example) in the same way that Marvel doesn't make "Comic Book Movies" but "Spiderman" or "Iron Man" movies.

 

[ShinHakkaider]

This is a little off-topic for this thread, but is WoTC/Hasbro doing anything special in this regards? As a former film-school kid, this topic always interests me - and the thing that always strikes me is that WoTC should be approaching this from the same sort of angle that Marvel Comics used, trying to attract the right kind of talent so that the films made are quality. I also beat the drum of making a D&D movie that isn't a "D&D Movie" but rather a "Driz'zt Movie" (just to use one obvious example) in the same way that Marvel doesn't make "Comic Book Movies" but "Spiderman" or "Iron Man" movies.

The Marvel characters however have a lot more traction with audiences than D&D characters do. You ask the average person if they've heard of Spider-Man, Iron Man, The Hulk or Captain america and they'll say yes and can ID them if shown a picture.

Driz'zt? Not so much.

My thought is this, if they're going to do a D&D movie, it should'nt rely soley on the D&D brand. That's more likely to keep people away than anything. They should just try to make a good fantasy film or even better build brand awareness by doing a TV series (animated or otherwise). Seriously, a D&D series done as well as an AVATAR the Last Airbender show would be great.

I use Avatar as an example because it was pretty much an orignal story, that built up it's own following overtime based on solid storytelling and strong characterization.

On almost the flip side is that Justice League / Justice league Unlimited Series. Both had for the most part highly recognizable characters but also had amazingly strong characterizations and plotting / story telling as well. Particularly during the Cadmus story arc during the 1st season of Unlimited.
Amazing stuff that didn't just rely on the brand, but on giving it's viewers something more of value. In this case good story telling with great payoffs.

 

[Festivus]

Thanks. If only the 4e starter set had come out in June 2008 and not October 2008...?

The Dungeon Delve book sounds pretty interesting. Are there any plans by Wizards to re-release older tile sets? I have a bought a few but have had a hard time tracking down some of the other sets. That is, without resorting to the internet.

What is WPN?

WPN = Wizards Play Network, it's the retail organized play system for Magic: the Gathering and D&D, where youc an order things like the Worldwide Gameday events and the monthly delves. http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dci/wpn/main

I was saying you can order the delves after they are available for WPN play as a download using the RPGA system. RPGA is the organized play system for home (and retail) D&D games:

New Comer's Information Page

A bit out of date I think, but I believe that WoTC is trying to straighten out the whole DCI/WPN/RPGA tangle into a single entity... but I am no expert on what they are doing so I'll let the Rouse address that or get Chris Tulach (or similar) to post.

Lastly, I saw Amazon.com got restock on DU1 recently so I ordered a second set. But they are sold out again. I too hope they reprint some of the older sets, as I missed out on Ruins of the Wild and don't want to pay $40 for a set.

 

[Fallen Seraph]

My thought is this, if they're going to do a D&D movie, it should'nt rely soley on the D&D brand. That's more likely to keep people away than anything. They should just try to make a good fantasy film or even better build brand awareness by doing a TV series (animated or otherwise). Seriously, a D&D series done as well as an AVATAR the Last Airbender show would be great.

I would kill for a HBO production of a series/mini-series set in Eberron or Sigil. You could have very cool urban sets, interesting cast of characters, multi-layered plots, mature content. It be great.

HBO has had lots of success with True Blood and Song of Ice and Fire is going to be coming out on HBO. So I can dream, I can dream!

 

[Greg K]

ShinHakkaider,
The impression I got, and I could be wrong, was that he was advocating the same position that you are- they need to approach it not as a DND movie, but as making a good fantasy movie with a solid story, characterization and talent capable of pulling it off. The Drizz't movie, as he wrote was just one possiblity as to how approach it.

Though as I wrote at the beginning, I could be entirely wrong and have misinterpreted his post.

My thought is this, if they're going to do a D&D movie, it should'nt rely soley on the D&D brand. That's more likely to keep people away than anything. They should just try to make a good fantasy film or even better build brand awareness by doing a TV series (animated or otherwise). Seriously, a D&D series done as well as an AVATAR the Last Airbender show would be great.

I use Avatar as an example because it was pretty much an orignal story, that built up it's own following overtime based on solid storytelling and strong characterization.

On almost the flip side is that Justice League / Justice league Unlimited Series. Both had for the most part highly recognizable characters but also had amazingly strong characterizations and plotting / story telling as well. Particularly during the Cadmus story arc during the 1st season of Unlimited.
Amazing stuff that didn't just rely on the brand, but on giving it's viewers something more of value. In this case good story telling with great payoffs.

 

[ShinHakkaider]

ShinHakkaider,
The impression I got, and I could be wrong, was that he was advocating the same position that you are- they need to approach it not as a DND movie, but as making a good fantasy movie with a solid story, characterization and talent capable of pulling it off. The Drizz't movie, as he wrote was just one possiblity as to how approach it.

Though as I wrote at the beginning, I could be entirely wrong and have misinterpreted his post.

Yeah, I kinda got that as well when I went back and read both posts again. My mistake.

Still there's a certain amount of fanboy expectation from using a specific character that is so universally loved / hated by the fandom at large. That expectation that shouldn't weigh into whether its a good feature or not. It should just be a GOOD feature that stands on it's own. So on that point we're in total agreement.