September In the Works is up

[Wednesday Boy]

I'm glad to see Mordenkainen's Emporium is finally coming out. I thought that had been cancelled.

In case you're unaware, as mentioned in a Rule of Three (Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game Official Home Page - Article (Rule-of-Three: 07/18/2011)) it's only being sold through hobby and game stores, not giant outlets. I missed that tidbit for a while and kept wondering when it would show up on Amazon.

 

[ForeverSlayer]

So would your DM be a bad DM if a group of local loggers just happen to cut down the dryads tree while she was away on an adventure?

They didn't do it to intentionally cause harm, they just needed the wood for the coming winter.

 

[NewJeffCT]

OK, I'm still not familiar with these Wizards' monthly updates... when they announce something like this, is the new information also available (where appropriate) in the monster builder or compendium or similar? And, when these things are announced, do they also roll out a new version of said monster builder or whatnot (since the online monster builder is still less functional than the old offline one...)

If not, when do they do those sorts of updates?

Thanks

 

[NewJeffCT]

So would your DM be a bad DM if a group of local loggers just happen to cut down the dryads tree while she was away on an adventure?

They didn't do it to intentionally cause harm, they just needed the wood for the coming winter.

Winter is coming, after all.

(But, yes, that would be rather mean-spirited of the DM. I might have the threat of something like that be an adventure or potential encounter, though.)

 

[delericho]

So would your DM be a bad DM if a group of local loggers just happen to cut down the dryads tree while she was away on an adventure?

Almost certainly. There is one exception to this: if the dryad gets a message ahead of time and has the realisation that they need to get home RIGHT NOW. (With just enough time to do that, of course.) That is, if the DM makes an adventure of it, it's okay. But if the dryad simply drops dead one day, that sucks.

(Incidentally, it's also fine if the dryad's enemies seek out the location of her tree and cut it down, provided they had reasonable means to do so. The standard caveats about DMs attacking the PC's loved ones and other dependents would also apply here - that is, do it really sparingly.)

They didn't do it to intentionally cause harm, they just needed the wood for the coming winter.

It doesn't actually matter why the NPCs cut down the tree. Ultimately, it comes down to the DM deciding to just kill off the PC without warning or defence. Might as well just have the gods strike them down with lightning from the sky.

 

[Wednesday Boy]

If not, when do they do those sorts of updates?

As far as I'm aware the online tools are updated when the new material is officially released.

 

[MatthewJHanson]

I think you guys are forgetting some of the basics of 4e design philosophy. (I.e. PCs are hard to kill and monsters and PCs don't play by the same rules). I'm sure that PCs dryads will freely be able to adventure without worrying about random loggers. (Maybe that's why they're "hama"dryads.)

 

[Scribble]

Where is everyone getting this Dryads die when their tree is cut down?

The closest I get is in the Monster Vault it mentions Dryads live in trees, and call one "home."

I won't die if you destroy my house... (at least I'm reasonably sure.)

 

[Nemesis Destiny]

I believe they are referring to older edition baggage. It used to be that way in 2e, according to the Monster Manual / Monstrous Manual.

That said, I was in a game once where a PC died and got reincarnated as a Dryad. The DM allowed it by giving the reincarnated dryad a sapling in a pot. As long as it stayed safe, she could go anywhere and do whatever. Probably the coolest thing (i.e. the only cool thing) that DM ever did.

 

[gyor]

The bard's tale presented reminded me of a pg rated version Brian Keene's Dark Hollow and Satyr of Hylinus. So want to Hylinus, wis/charisma Bard/Ardent hybred MC shaman pp Nocturnal.