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Legend Lore says 'story not rules' (3/4)
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<blockquote data-quote="AbdulAlhazred" data-source="post: 6098442" data-attributes="member: 82106"><p>Well, what's worse is in D&D terms because we don't understand magic and it, almost by definition, has no explanation, it always tends to work. There are thematics that provide some exceptions (undead are usually thought to be immune to things like poison, maybe sometimes in some systems oozes are immune to charm), but in general you end up with a mass of reasons for why all the non-casters are ineffective in given situation X, and then casters get to roll right on because who says a Magic Missle won't work fine against a swarm of bees or a ghost? Obviously a sword won't though.</p><p></p><p>My approach to say making an ooze a unique monster is to A) present it in a situation where narratively it can show its specialness, and B) to make it a tough challenge (or maybe an easy challenge). The ooze shows up in a spot where the last thing the PCs want is to deal with a monster, or they are forced to go all over the place to find an ooze because they need one for some reason, and then it is really hard to capture and/or transport. Again, there's an element of lazy design in just making different creatures basically an orc with some immunities and such slapped onto it. I think it tends to stop the thinking process right there.</p><p></p><p>For instance the 4e Gelatinous Cube is actually already a fairly unique monster with some special mechanics. Even so it is still treated like other monsters mechanically. I put mine inside a maze with invisible walls that the PCs had to feel their way through, while the several GCs closed in on them... Honestly, the rules for the GC itself were nigh irrelevant. The players are still cursing me for that little encounter <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="AbdulAlhazred, post: 6098442, member: 82106"] Well, what's worse is in D&D terms because we don't understand magic and it, almost by definition, has no explanation, it always tends to work. There are thematics that provide some exceptions (undead are usually thought to be immune to things like poison, maybe sometimes in some systems oozes are immune to charm), but in general you end up with a mass of reasons for why all the non-casters are ineffective in given situation X, and then casters get to roll right on because who says a Magic Missle won't work fine against a swarm of bees or a ghost? Obviously a sword won't though. My approach to say making an ooze a unique monster is to A) present it in a situation where narratively it can show its specialness, and B) to make it a tough challenge (or maybe an easy challenge). The ooze shows up in a spot where the last thing the PCs want is to deal with a monster, or they are forced to go all over the place to find an ooze because they need one for some reason, and then it is really hard to capture and/or transport. Again, there's an element of lazy design in just making different creatures basically an orc with some immunities and such slapped onto it. I think it tends to stop the thinking process right there. For instance the 4e Gelatinous Cube is actually already a fairly unique monster with some special mechanics. Even so it is still treated like other monsters mechanically. I put mine inside a maze with invisible walls that the PCs had to feel their way through, while the several GCs closed in on them... Honestly, the rules for the GC itself were nigh irrelevant. The players are still cursing me for that little encounter ;) [/QUOTE]
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