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I really wish I could XP you for this, because this whole concept is ridiculous to me. I could replace "Wushu" with "4e" in that paragraph (and "guns" with "weapons", I suppose) and it would accurately describe every 4e game I've played or run, but somehow that style of play, which is perfectly...

Two things I learned from epic tier play: 1) No matter how challenging you think a combat/challenge might be, you're underestimating. The players are insanely powerful at this point, and you'll likely always underestimate how strong they are. Double damage you deal, add in lots of weird...

Thank you thank you thank you thank you for saying this. I keep having to explain that classes don't define what concept you play, its instead the other way around.

I haven't had this question come up in game, but I suspect the answer is two-fold, from both an in-world explanation, and a game-design explanation. In-World: The underground is much less populated, harder to get too/more defensible, and easier to hide in. Aberrants are supposedly less populous...

You're fine, just let make sure the players know this isn't how all creatures act. What I've done is made it clear that any group of creatures acting on the same initiative count (a group of wolves or zombies or dire crabs or what have you) can all do their actions at the same time. So in this...

I don't find it all that hard to understand. Sure, its not very nice from a character standpoint when you have to have a high Wis AND a high Int to know about the Far Realm and its creatures. The way I've split it up is usually like this: Information about the Far Realm, the actual plane (or...

I've run this adventure 3 times so far (all for conventions) and love it. This kind of dungeon won't fit well into an ongoing game with how deadly it is. However, there are a few things you an do to make it work. Here's what I suggest. I like the idea of upping the time limit, but do not remove...

The warlord in my group's party LOVES that he can inspire and push the other PCs to move on despite being bloodied, and describes it as such. Half the time he'll come up with sayings and speeches to get more in-character. I would really hate to take that kind of in-world, engaging play away from...

You should look into multiclassing into monk (or take arcane implement proficiency) to get access to ki focus as an implement. It is exactly what you're looking for. No, the implement is not a glove of some sort, but it gives you the ability to use your empty hands as if they were magical...

You'd be dealing an extra damage. But I was thinking more about the character presented, and thought two-weapon fighting fit a halfling fighter more than a shield. Either would work.

If the player is worried they'll not be effective, point out that they if they take the 1-handed talent, they can also take two-weapon fighting and two-weapon defense feats, the second of which is the same as wielding a shield. So a halfling with a rapier/short sword will be no worse off...

Slayer, built with leather or hide armor using a spear. Plenty of fighter feats are focused around spears and polearms. Alternatively, barbarian, assassin, druid, ranger, shaman, warlord, avenger, monk, and maybe even bard. Beast Master ranger is probably the best, though you'd have to play a...

You cannot put two enchantments on a single item. The climbing claws are a magic item, and thus, cannot have another enchantment (i.e. magic weapon enchantment) also put on them. They are merely a hands item that can be used as a melee weapon. That is correct, a Mage's Weapon can be any heavy...

Here's what I'd suggest: The first half of the combat is 1 standard monster and 4/5 minions. The second half is just the one elite, maybe with a few more minions depending on how fast they can kill minions. I'd also strongly hint to the players to not go nova. Say things like "It looks like...

I'd xp for you but must spread it around. I'll agree with this. It took about a year of playing and running games before I really started trying to engage players with that sort of creativity, all because of the way things were presented. Tying in with my above post, that would go a ways to...

This is true that the players are just as guilty as not being creative. What's strange though, and yes this is purely anecdotal, but of the players I've run games for, its usually the ones that are new to the D&D (as in 4e is their first edition to try) that pick up on "powers outside of combat"...

Really? I know a few DMs that don't actively push that kind of thinking onto players, but when asked said they wouldn't mind that kind of creativity. Its also one of the common things I see pop up in "what do you house rule?" threads. Still, the point remains that its possible, and its not even...

The power block for "Fireball" doesn't say it lights things on fire because attack powers, by definition, give you information necessary to resolve its attack and damage and effect. Creative use of powers outside of combat is something every 4e DM I've ever talked with ever does. Powers don't...

For using a character, I'd use a Skald: the bard build from Heroes of the Feywild. Its simple (Essentials line), and his healing word is an aura that allows anyone in the aura to heal anyone else twice per encounter. That's fairly player friendly and has some neat buffing/debuffing powers from...

Right, and I get that. The real heart of the issue I was alluding to is that you can't do both "threatening masses of low-level mooks" and "threatening ancient dragons" in the same hp-based system. The closest I've ever seen it come to working as intended is with 4e's swarm and minion rules...