Recent content by Burnside

Sure. But your "a lot of people seem to be holding a grudge" and "Platonic ideal design team" post above feels like you think people manufactured out of whole cloth this idea that WotC wouldn't touch Dark Sun. People largely think that because Kyle Brink, speaking on behalf of WotC, said in 2023...

I've read the new FR books, and I really don't remember any references to slavery. I'm sure there's something in there, but it's fleeting. Nothing like Out of the Abyss. Then again, tbh I was one of those who thought WotC would stay away from Dark Sun due to their standards & practices (since...

We're a long way from 2015.

While I agree with a lot of his take, and am having some of the same issues with 2024 - particularly the “mechanics first, narrative…maybe?” approach, I don’t agree with his tone which implies that narrative first is objectively better. While I too prefer it, it’s literally just a preference...

Larian went to WotC to get the license - repeatedly, actually, as WotC initially didn’t think Larian was ready.

I mean there are graphics assets for inventory items in BG3 - food, tools, weapons, torches, etc - that are literally re-used from Divinity: Original Sin 2. So no, not everything.

Last year, FWIW, we did have a full roadmap of the 2025 official book publications before the end of 2024. I know this because I was on a year-end podcast recorded in mid-December 2024 where we were able to preview pretty much the full slate of 2025 books - the Stranger Things boxed set was not...

One of BG3’s major strengths was how player choice could radically change the fates of the origin characters and the ending of the game. There is no way a direct sequel could honor the diversity of outcomes, and creating a single canonical ending for BG3 would cause a LOT of internet rage and is...

The new Netheril's Fall supplement released on DNDBeyond last month with the two new Faerun books has 5 short Netherese-themed adventures: A Point of Pride (level 3) The Missing Gnome (level 3) Attack of the Phaerimm (level 3) Chaos in the Streets (level 5) The Doomed Apotheosis (level 8)

Very solid level-building tools. Adventure-building tools not so much (in that the engine has no real way to track narrative choices). It's a very good hack-and-slash dungeon builder.

I’d want it to be a party-based CRPG with turn-based combat, great encounter design, great atmosphere, environmental storytelling, and great writing. So my picks would be Larian, Harebrained Schemes, or Obsidian, probably in that order (although technically none of those three are AAA studios...

However, to get back on topic. 2014 issues: Berzerker Barbarian - Exhaustion mechanic is a death spiral, making Frenzy basically not worth using Four Elements Monk - Ki costs are too high for their mediocre magical abilities Moon Druid - OP at lower levels due to Wild shape bonus hit points...

I think my issues largely crop up not on the updates for the 2014 subclasses, but with some of the entirely new 2024 subclasses. There are issues of design sloppiness, and also issues of mechanics not being grounded in the fiction. The first I think is an issue for anyone, the second maybe for...

Redbrand Hideout in Lost Mine of Phandelver Death House in Curse of Strahd Nangalore in Tomb of Annihilation Kolat Towers in Waterdeep: Dragon Heist Grand Cemetery in Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus Jarlmoot, Lost Spire of Netheril, and Ythryn in Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden...

Totally. The goal is fun. If the players do enjoy mapping, then that's what the table should do. And honestly I personally see where it could be fun as long as the DM is not, broadly, a jerk. I really do need to stress however, that I have played with ~1k players over the past 9 years. And I...