Recent content by phloog

It seems like satisfying one crowd would almost make it the default that another group is happy. If they focus on adventures instead of splat books/rules, then all the money from publishing just comes from new adventure modules, which I would think require a bit less labor than creating rules...

I would guess Spiritual Hammer is in addition to normal actions - I believe this for no other reason than it matches the OLD way this spell worked...and as others noted, it's not much of a spell if you have to use your actions to 'drive'

To me this thread is interesting because it reminds me of a large argument I got into on these very forums about combat/roles and the emphasis of 4E on the grid and tactics. The point I made back then was that on occasion I have wanted to play a character that is (readying myself for horrified...

Well, let me start by saying again this was my FIRST running of the game, and was basing this on his description of his powers/cards. It is possible he misunderstood that "Effect" happens regardless, which could invalidate a huge amount of his issues. Even so, I also like Mneme (I believe)...

We didn't miss HW, but it's usable at most 2x/encounter. That's one issue, but I think the bigger issue is just that we don't dig the flavor of the 'hit to harms', and with Essentials you have limited choices. I'll try to look into the others Thanks

After running my first 4E game a while back, one of the players found one bit not to his liking....as a cleric (Essentials: Sun), he had abilities to heal others, but it seemed like a lot of his powers keyed off an attack - not simply an EFFECT that happens, but truly dependent upon him whacking...

The big problem is that there IS a Wilden word for their race, but it translates roughly as Battleblademind.

To me, the best D&D games are like a book...the DM/author gives descriptions, but it's up to my brain to interpret those and to fill in the details...so if the NPC is a "grizzled old veteran", I can decide in my mind what he looks like. The more completely supplied the imagery is, the harder it...

Sure - I think it says that we like to talk about our hobby, and that we don't feel like a topic is off-limits just because of WOTC's release schedule. I'm not saying "WOTC should be sued!" or "I'm betrayed!" because they want to release a vampire...just saying that I'm leery of the idea. And...

There were lots of games 'back in the old days' that ended up using cardstock 'chits' with the numbers on them - - shake em up and pull one out of a sack, box, etc. Were were forced to use that method for a couple RPGs at times.

I think I left the impression that I don't like players to surprise me. The point was just that I don't want UNLIMITED rituals, because even with limited items my players are always shocking me. I like the surprises, but I want to be able to provide challenge that can't just be removed via...

2D? I actually used d20Pro for a while on a big screen at the table, but for MY group (and not necessarily any other groups), there seems to be more engagement when they have to move their own 'dolls' about. So we're using a ton of Fat Dragons stuff (VERY INEXPENSIVE), and my fairly ginormous...

Waiting for "that player" to ask to play a mixed vampire/drow assassin...all for the forces of good though. Having said that, I did enjoy having Savage Species PCs in a group, but that book had some serious oddness particularly with Giants and the way size was baked into levels. "You slay the...

Any DM that has zero fear at the idea of unlimited rituals has either excessively kind players, or players with no imagination. Unlimited use of even something as seemingly weak as Tenser's Floating Disk scares the heck out of me, coming from a history of players who have used seemingly...

For me the zero level issue isnt so much player stats (limit hps, limit powers...)...it is in encounter design...i am just too new to this to know what wouldnt instantly TPK a group of adjusted PCs