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  1. Estlor

    Pre-Release Review of 13th AGE (Part 2) by Pelgrane Press

    I can see the point about disliking class abilities that trigger based off the die roll. It's kind of a drag when you just don't know what your attack is going to do when you hit until after you roll. But, to be fair, you do get to choose what your randomly triggered options are. Given that...
  2. Estlor

    Playtest: Am I Doing it Wrong?

    My playtest group just got to 2nd level. I've mostly thrown a collection of 1st level monsters at them (re-skinned goblins and kobolds so there's a little variety) plus an owlbear. It feels like monsters simply can't hit in this playtest. Granted, my group went a little odd and they're all...
  3. Estlor

    Whither the gnome?

    I think we'll see both, and I think we'll see both in the PHB(1) by the time that's ready. My expectations are that once they feel they've nailed down the Big 4 races, the Little 3 (gnome, half-elf, half-orc) will show up in the next round. Certain aspects of the gnome will be distilled and...
  4. Estlor

    [Playtest 2] Vulnerabilities and Resistances

    Having lived through the 4e era, I think the devs will be careful about stacking damage types on a single attack. Expect most of them to replace each other. The only real concern I could see would be the interaction between weapon type (slashing, piercing, bludgeoning) and damage type (fire...
  5. Estlor

    [Playtest 2] Races: Humans too good?

    I'll play Devil's Advocate. Let's suppose for a moment that the current human benefit - +2 to one Ability Score of your choice, +1 to all others - IS too good. Let's also suppose that things like bonus feats and bonus skill training are off the table due to the modular approach. What if...
  6. Estlor

    [Playtest 2] Races: Humans too good?

    Frame your analysis in the form of DDN's stated goal: To create an experience that unifies the editions. Okay, check, then what can we say historically about humans throughout D&D's editions? BECMI: You're either human because you want to be a Fighter/Thief/Magic-User/Cleric or you are the...
  7. Estlor

    Losing Interest in the D&D Next Playtest?

    My group has played four times so far and we're about halfway through the caves. Two of the party members just reached 2nd level. But, here's the thing - we're not just stomping through a dungeon crawl adventure. We're trying out different things. We've played with five PCs, with four PCs...
  8. Estlor

    Why the Encounter Powers hate? (Maneuvers = Encounter)

    Made the effort to read the entire thread. It seems like there are two intertwined topics going on here. 1. Per Encounter abilities in general and 2. Per Encounter abilities as the specifically apply to "martial" characters. I'll muse on the second point first. While the existence of...
  9. Estlor

    The silver standard?

    Bah. That's nonsense. How am I supposed to suspend disbelief in a world where gold is ONLY $1,000 USD an ounce? (Although now I'm picturing a setting in which a couple of dwarves run a chain of markets that purchase villagers broken or damaged golds. Ye Gold Guys.)
  10. Estlor

    Money Issues

    I (obviously) don't have any hard math to support this, but I get the feeling it all works itself off if you maintain the old D&D gold standard pricing, but basically convert all the treasure down a notch (so platinum in loot becomes gold, gold becomes silver, and silver becomes copper). It...
  11. Estlor

    I want to see one book

    I'm in favor of the three book model, but not the three books you're thinking about. Book 1: Rules Compendium. All the core rules needed to play or referee a DDN game in one place. (Does not include classes, races, or monsters). Book 2: Player's Handbook. Includes all the rules for "core"...
  12. Estlor

    Bounded Accuracy L&L

    Mental snicker at the people who argue this idea is bad because, "The PCs never improve." Here's a dirty little secret: PCs never improved. By the time you got that nice double-digit bonus to attack and defenses, the monsters you ran across got it too. So while you end up throwing 45s on your...
  13. Estlor

    So the playtest is out: What do you think? The EN World poll!

    I voted "Liked it," but I'd like to qualify. In terms of favorite editions, I'm a big fan of BECMI and 4e. So at the moment I think I'm positively inclined because I was expecting far more 3.Xe and little to no 4e in the rules and instead we got a healthy combination of BECMI, 2e, and 4e. And...
  14. Estlor

    First Impressions?

    Just had a chance to digest the character sheets and noticed something I really liked. The flavor of Vancian Spellcasting used by the wizard and cleric is actually the spellcasting system of Monte Cook's Arcana Unearthed/Evolved. You cast X/level spells, but you decide at the time of casting...
  15. Estlor

    First Impressions?

    In regards to the comment about the Lurker feat being redundant: It's not. In this particular case, the rogue can still attack with advantage even if he/she has to move and is no longer hidden as a result. So, basically, instead of having to STAY hidden to attack with advantage, they get...
  16. Estlor

    The playtest has begun

    Obviously you must have to follow the second link before that works. I haven't even received the first email yet and that method yields no results.
  17. Estlor

    D&D 5E (2014) Last minute 5e prognostications

    All these optional rules modules they promise us will be sold in collectible, randomized packs.
  18. Estlor

    My grievance with D&D races

    That's a very Basic/1e/2e viewpoint. Once upon a time, humans were the dominant race in D&D because they were either the assumed race for a class (BECMI) or the only race that could advance without regard to level limit. In other words, you played an Elf, Dwarf, or Halfling because you wanted...
  19. Estlor

    When did the Fighter become "defender"?

    You're in luck! The devs gave the Fighter Brash Strike, Rain of Blows, Rain of Steel, Thicket of Blades, Cometfall Charge... I'm assuming, of course, you mean "Striker" as "Guy who hits like a truck," not "Striker" as the 4e role - a light armored, highly mobile class with an extra damage...
  20. Estlor

    When did the Fighter become "defender"?

    This thread has kind of moved away from the original response I wanted to make, but I'm going to make it anyway. The premise of the OP appears to be born out of a disconnect between the connotation of "defender" compared to the specific 4e denotation of "defender." It's like they were equating...
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