Recent content by smdmcl

I'm DMing 4th edition now and I've been a DM in every edition since the basic books and the only edition I wouldn't DM again is 3rd edition. That's not much of a change for me though as I'd pretty much given up on being a DM very early in the 3rd edition era. 3rd editions emphasis on rules for...

This is the only rule I voted for because it's close to something I use and it simplifies the game (well my version does). I have gotten rid of milestones, given the characters an action point per encounter and removed any milestone limit on the usage of magic items. Action points can still be...

It's been a while since I posted but I just thought I'd pop in to put in a plug for maptools. I was in search of a VTT to play 4th edition and settled on maptools because they have an active community, the product updates regularly and it's free. I joined a campaign that started at 1st and...

$0 I have moved on to 4th edition and am unlikely to buy a 3e/OGL product.

I choose the $100-200 option. It is possible that I will exceed $200 but I chose this option because there is a gap between $200 and $300 and there's little chance I will exceed $300. Planned purchases: PHB2 Arcane Power Divine Power Against the Giants New miniature sets Continued DDI subscription

Excellent! Too bad I am at work and can't try it out but I will be downloading this as soon as I get home.

Nice job, Nick. These look like they're really well done. We use 8.5x11 in Canada.

Exactly! The problem with the 3rd edition cleric, druid and wizard was that their power were their spells and that 1/3 of the PHB was basically devoted to these classes. In 4th edition the wizard can survive longer with better HP and AC and never runs out of spells (cantrips and at-wills)...

I don't think wizards were nerfed at all in 4th edition. Especially at low levels where they are more survivable and have more options in combat. Now spells (1/3 of the PHB in 3rd edition), on the other hand, were beaten down hard for all of the casting classes. Something I welcome...

I only had one 3.0 book which I initially counted. I have edited my post to five 3.5 edition books but it doesn't change my poll selection (4-6).

Five books: PHB PHB II DMG MM Complete Warrior I was never a huge fan of 3rd edition and I have already exceeded this number in 4th with 5 books, 4 modules and a DDI subscription.

The game is fast, fun and exciting. When I play there is tension at the table during combat and we still get to roleplay as often, if not more (faster combat), than we did before. I have also started to DM again. Something I have not done in ~10 years. The open-ended rules and monster design...

I started in 1981 and have played pretty consistently since then. That'll make it 28 years sometime in 2009 which makes me feel old.

In my current group of six, four of us play cross-gendered characters, one never does and one member is new so it's hard for me to comment. We have one female player who probably plays male characters about as often as she plays female ones.

Historically, I'd say 1 in 5 of the characters I have played have been females. Currently I am playing 1 female and 1 male character. I've never had an issue doing so (nor has anyone ever had an issue with me doing it, AFAIK) and I am actually totally surprised that there are people out there...