The Gate instead of the Door

[Grimmjow]

What's the point of pointless fights?

well if you are going after the goblin king you need to be able to show that he is a KING of goblin kind.

a battle that is pointless (not a real challenge) can still be used as a RP element to show that something in the story is true. The combat is pointless, but the story that is told is not. If you can get the story out of 5 min of combat then the fight was pointless. .....kinda

 

[Bow_Seat]

Are you two talking about Caves of Chaos, or the new module? Caves of Chaos didn't strike me as being very strong in the social pillar.

Caves of Chaos is supposed to be very strong on the social side because the orcs, goblins, and kobolds are not immediately hostile. This is supposed to lead to strange deals/encounters with the different tribes as the pc's figure out what exactly they want to do (it's supposed to be a very free-form adventure).

 

[mhensley]

Are you two talking about Caves of Chaos, or the new module? Caves of Chaos didn't strike me as being very strong in the social pillar.

The new module.

 

[haakon1]

Caves of Chaos is supposed to be very strong on the social side because the orcs, goblins, and kobolds are not immediately hostile. This is supposed to lead to strange deals/encounters with the different tribes as the pc's figure out what exactly they want to do (it's supposed to be a very free-form adventure).

That was true of the original and 2e versions of Keep on the Borderlands, though I'm not sure everyone noticed that and played it that way.

Also, there was a lot going on back at the Keep, particularly in the 2e version. (Though some of it was a bit random.)

 

[GreyICE]

I think the OP is kind of off-base. Read DMG2 for the real scoop on their approach to gaming, running a group, and parties.

I proudly own and love DMG 2, and think it's one of the top 5 RPG books of all time, REGARDLESS OF SYSTEM.

 

[pemerton]

I proudly own and love DMG 2, and think it's one of the top 5 RPG books of all time, REGARDLESS OF SYSTEM.

Slightly off-topic, but if you've never looked at the Burning Wheel Adventure Burner, you might like it. If you don't know BW bits of it might be a bit mechanically specific or not make complete sense, but I still think it's a better guide for running 4e (especially skill challenges, and also the story side of encounter design) than either of the 4e DMGs themselves!

 

[GreyICE]

Slightly off-topic, but if you've never looked at the Burning Wheel Adventure Burner, you might like it. If you don't know BW bits of it might be a bit mechanically specific or not make complete sense, but I still think it's a better guide for running 4e (especially skill challenges, and also the story side of encounter design) than either of the 4e DMGs themselves!

But the players. The strength of DMG 2 is absolutely its discussion of player psychology and how to give people what they're looking for and keep a group running strongly.

I mean there's other parts that are brilliant too, but those bits just stand out as raw genius in action.

 

[braro]

What's the point of pointless fights?

This question keeps me up at night.

I think it is just rolling some dice and knifing some dutes.

 

[triqui]

But the players. The strength of DMG 2 is absolutely its discussion of player psychology and how to give people what they're looking for and keep a group running strongly.

I mean there's other parts that are brilliant too, but those bits just stand out as raw genius in action.

You mean DMG2 from which edition?

 

[GreyICE]

You mean DMG2 from which edition?

4E obv.

3E DMG 2 was ha