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  1. Chiaroscuro23

    Recently moved to Allentown, PA. Looking for gamers

    Hi all, My wife (also a gamer) and I recently moved from Wisconsin to Allentown, Pennsylvania for work. We'd like to meet some people, and do some gaming. Drop me a line if you're in the area and at all interested!
  2. Chiaroscuro23

    I Googled D&D in Images...

    I always get a kick out of businesses with names like "NPC Software Consulting." It's like they've acknowledged that they're not the main characters in the game of life.
  3. Chiaroscuro23

    What is your local game store situation?

    There are three in town, two of which I go to periodically (the third is smaller and I mostly only go there because it's downtown so I can stop by during lunch.) Madison is very lucky to have so many great games stores!
  4. Chiaroscuro23

    Shadowrun v4 - Your Experience

    In a lot of ways it's like D&D 3e: a much better iteration of an old favorite that some grognards bash online for changing. As compared to D&D, it has a disadvantage in putting all the complexity right up front: creating an SR PC is more like creating a 15th level PC than creating a 1st level...
  5. Chiaroscuro23

    Has the wave crested? (Bo9S)

    I wouldn't read anything into it. There have been PHBs and Spell Compendiums in my local HPBs in recent months, and I don't think the PHB has suddenly gotten less popular among D&D players.
  6. Chiaroscuro23

    The Supplement Treadmill vs. The Alternatives

    Well, the list is pretty intimidating, but we can check here (if we're unreasonably motivated) http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=publisherlist for publishers to see what all they do. Eden, I should note, also does an RPG-related magazine and RPG-related fiction. Don't know if that...
  7. Chiaroscuro23

    Egads - Your killing me Pazio :-)

    Is that other name Erik Mona? I'll bet it is. You know... I've never seen them in the same room together...
  8. Chiaroscuro23

    Fireball vs Orb - Demonweb Pits Data (no spoilers)

    I don't know that I'd say "disproves," though it does add more data. Certainly "all the entries in the MM" is different than "in one particular campaign" in an important way. In any event, however, the two kinds of spells being situationally superior is really secondary to the issue of breaking...
  9. Chiaroscuro23

    The Opposite of Railroading...

    I'll try to explain: the conflict web is a set up where the DM establishes multiple factions that oppose each other and want the PCs to do something about it. It isn't a plot as such, because the GM doesn't know what'll happen. He just starts the ball rolling and improvises in response to the PC...
  10. Chiaroscuro23

    The Supplement Treadmill vs. The Alternatives

    I'm not sure that this is actually true. Many RPG companies only make RPGs, or make them as their primary business. I think. White Wolf have published one or two card games, but their house is built on RPGs. Eden does only RPGs. Mongoose, Paizo, probably a lot more. Outside of the d20 world I'd...
  11. Chiaroscuro23

    The Opposite of Railroading...

    One way to go plotless and not wander aimlessly is to make sure the PCs start off with strong motivation. One technique I'm experimenting with right now is Flag Framing and Conflict Web, though this works best in games where players explore a social environment rather than a physical...
  12. Chiaroscuro23

    The Supplement Treadmill vs. The Alternatives

    Ha! Yeah, I can see it. SJG's stakeholder report the other year said Munchkin was their biggest product. And it's got to be the case with FFG, too, since their only RPG books are supplements for Midnight, I think. Likewise WotC puts out Star Wars minis rather than Star Wars RPG content (Though...
  13. Chiaroscuro23

    The Supplement Treadmill vs. The Alternatives

    Part of the problem with RPGs is that customer demand is so low--it takes forever to play a game and want a new one. Assuming you don't just start another campaign of the same RPG. As noted, video games don't have this problem. There seem to be two primary ways to deal with this issue and...
  14. Chiaroscuro23

    RPG - Serenity - Any takes/reviews of it

    Is there a good alternative available for folks who just want background fluff but not the system? I mean, chances are there's a "World of Serenity" coffee table book released for collectors and TV show fans, and if there is, it might be both cheaper and more filled with what you want if you...
  15. Chiaroscuro23

    relatively minor items that are much bigger in the hands of certain characters

    Yeah, I agree. There is a contradiction, but with magical rays I'm alright with it, since it's still a pinpointable beam that just ignores armor. For grenade-like weapons, OTOH, there's no chance I'd allow that as a DM. A flask of acid breaks open splattering everywhere; you just can't add...
  16. Chiaroscuro23

    What did TSR do wrong?

    This is generally correct, though it's worth noting that it's very, very hard to lose a trademark. Most folks don't even know that aspirin didn't used to be generic, and both Xerox and Kleenex are still with us. I would bet most people couldn't even tell you the generic term for Pop Tarts...
  17. Chiaroscuro23

    Selling loot for half price - why?

    Sure. Sounds like fun. :)
  18. Chiaroscuro23

    Selling loot for half price - why?

    There's no economics there to worry about. To prove it, take a step back: How are prices for magic items set? They're not set by a "market", they're set by game designers concerned about balance as it relates to the artificial exponential expansion of PC resources. Nor is the sale-at-50% the...
  19. Chiaroscuro23

    Spell Radius and Large+ Creatures

    Yeah, I think it matters more for AMF, which would let a dragon totally own everyone, if it wasn't smaller than the dragon itself. Though since it's "centered on you" I don't know if "you" is center of mass or what. AMF, unlike magic circle, only affects the part of the creature within the...
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