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E. Abstract thought exercises hurt me.

Oh, it's rough. I had one character, one time, almost buy the farm during PotA. So far, I've been enjoying CoS a lot more (for a variety of reasons), but last Friday was frustrating. They had the monk and ranger scout out , invisibly. The ranger actually botched a check and ended up alerting all...

In retrospect, I probably should have voted #2. I confiscate all electronics when my players show up. I'd probably give them back their phone if their character died. Maybe. Otherwise, they can entertain themselves by creating a new character who is, hopefully, higher on the Darwin ladder.

I'm definitely in the camp of success being only as meaningful as the risk around failure is. If there is no chance of true failure and the worst that can happen is "fail forward", then you didn't actually succeed at anything, you just rode the rail even if it wasn't smooth. On the other hand...

This. I had a player try to create a 5E Warforged write-up and it pretty well came out with enough options that one would be forgiven for thinking Cannith built a custom model for each and every class. For tieflings, I prefer the 2E version, but they also weren't cambions. Their fiendish blood...

Yup. I shop at Tempest Games. There are a couple others in the area, but Tempest is basically a straight shot down the first non-residential street from where I live. Since I practically back up to corn fields (it was literal, a couple years ago) at the edge of town, location matters. They offer...

I have no idea. But, if psionics in the Realms don't come from the Far Realm, I don't know why it'd be the default presentation in core rules. At that point, it's really just Eberron that uses that excuse, so it's a set-specific thing. It just shows what a mess the whole psionics == Far Realm...

Agreed with the Lovecraftian influences. I don't hate Lovecraft, just peanut butter in my chocolate, so to speak. As for aberrations, I won't say I never use any of them. I think I used a mind flayer once, in 1E and an aboleth in 2E. I don't think I've ever used a beholder. Some of the lesser...

If I read your earlier post correctly, we mostly agree. One big difference I've noticed between the D&D of TSR and the D&D of WotC* is that the older editions tended to present ideas and evoke the imagination with the way they were presented. The newer editions tend to proscribe defaults...

Why can't you just add your own flavor? This sentiment comes up in multiple contexts and it confounda me. It's easier to add flavor than to remove or change it. I'm all good with a very noncommittal sidebar that gives some ideas or possibilities. I'm definitely opposed to adding flavor like this...

And this is why psionics will never please everyone. Of all the suggestions for psionics that have any legs, the one that most turns me off is "tied to the Far Realm". I'm sure someone could find something that I like less, and I don't have a problem with any given DM or setting being able to...

There are a couple of questions, here. (i.e. my opinions are legion) 1) Do I want the Mystic in 5E? Well, I'm not sure want in really the right word. I wasn't missing it before it existed. But... It's kind of cool. I like toys. This doesn't seem unbalanced. It's different enough that it...

Agreed. I think you nailed it. The real world is more complicated. Really, even, say, Greyhawk is more complicated. The Realms simplifies everything as far as it can without falling apart, sometimes further. That seems to be part of the draw.

In this world, we have multiple, monotheistic religions that claim the others are wrong and potentially evil. I've never really figured out how that translates into mass murder, but digging too far into that would probably violate some rules of the forums. In the Realms (and most other D&D...

Yup. I'm okay with this -- actually, I prefer it. Why? I started playing in 1E, when the Ranger had both Druid and Magic User (Wizard) spells. They were clearly not "nature/Druid Paladins". Instead, they were resourceful guys who learned some additional tricks. The Druid spells were really just...

Yup. Whereas, having done some really crazy stuff in AD&D, I occasionally get frustrated at the amount of straightjacketing in 5E. Overall, I'm happy with the trade-off, but every now and then I wonder how we ended up with a situation where DMs were afraid to tell their players, "That's stupid...

Yeah. I can't come up with anything close to that at 3rd level. Heck, I can barely figure out how to get it that high at 20th level (20 Char (+5) + Expertise (+12) + misc magic/feats (+5) + Bardic Inspiration (+6 average) = 28). Even assuming I'm missing quite a bit, I think including Bardic...

That actually explains a lot. I thought it was just because I'd switched browses. Oh... I must have ticked off a lot of people.

One in three people is a *****. Look at the guy on your left. Now look to your right. If neither of them are *****, then you're the lucky winner. (Note: I'm not trying to bypass the grandma filter. I don't know of a 5-letter four-letter-word.)

Don't forget Betrayal at Baldur's Gate currently $50.00.