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When I'm drawing a map on the board (well, actually I'm a Tact-tiles convert too, but anyway ...) I figure it's an abstraction of the battlefield, just like the minis I'm going to put on it. So my 20 x 35 foot room with a door in the third five foot section from the corner is a roughly 20 x30...

Strayed??? My first thought at reading the 3.x rules is that this looked like what they were trying to do all along. Upon playing them, I decided this was at least what I'd wanted to do all along. I'm not saying it's the best system possible, but the best form of this system? You betcha...

Quoting S'Mon here ... "I find it odd how most people seem to apply JudaeoChristian assumptions about godly omnipotence to D&D's polytheistic setup. In many, even most, polytheistic mythologies, gods can be battled and defeated by powerful mortals ... That's the approach I take - of course 3e...

"I suspect magic ceases to feel magical as soon as it's used in recognizable ways by the common man and for the common man's good." I always thought that's what Clarke meant by his remark -- you and I don't see home computers as magical, but resurrect Isaac Newton and show it to him. The word...

DungeonmasterCal, never say the abbreviations, they're all albums. Makes it much easier for old guys like you and me.

I'm in agreement with Lord Pendragon and Elder-Basilisk this time around. Good and Evil aren't just fantasy concepts, or even complicated in and of themselves. They seem complicated because they only become useful when we try to apply them to the world ... which is more complicated than any of...

I still have to think about that one. I don't have that GURPS Prisoner, didn't even know it existed. But now I want it. And until I get it, everyone who has a copy is an unmutual, so there. And yes, I have the infamous 1st printing of Deities and Demi-gods. Coolest thing about my copy is...

The peryton ... you're close. There's an account (sorry, cant' find the ref right now) of them attacking the city of Rome in at some point in the Empire period, I believe. I was amazed when I ran into that ... until then, I thought Gary and his buddies made that one up. 'Cause, you know, it...

"Most of course have a unique D&D spin (I've never heard of the regenerating-from-pulp troll outside of D&D). " Check out a book called "Three Hearts and Three Lions" by Poul Anderson. 1st edition DMG lists it as one of the books that inspired the game. The troll as it exists in D&D is...

I'm one of those people who always seems to find something at least interesting to read about in Dragon whether I have any use for it at the table or not. That said, I felt the anniversary issue had ... a nice cover. The following issue was more like what it's been and what I expect. So I'd...

Curse of the Azure Bonds. Those who are familiar with it know that everytime you meet a sub-BBEG, they have the advantage of being able to try to "Hold" everyone who's got the bonds, which is the whole party. My wizard failed the save every single time, I had to sit out every single major...

War - melee's too much fun to sit back out of it all the time. Trickery - Never seen it in play, but it looks sweet on paper. Luck - Same reason as Trickery. Alignment Domains - c'mon Mouseferatu! I know it takes a while to get those 4th level spells, but they're great and it's the only way to...

I agree with you guys ... I picked up CoC d20 for all the creepy stuff and amazed at how usefull Chapters 10 & 11 were for RPG, any where, any time, any genre.

"The right room setup, and the right monster positioning can turn a cake-walk into a TPK, even for an experienced powergamer. No lie." Yep, just yesterday I was DMing a group who had serious problems with a dozen or so stirges that got the drop on them, and the next encounter was a bulette that...

I call what you're talking about "theme gaming". Never found a group that was interested, but I've always thought it gives a focus to things that should make for a fun time, a good change from the usual (but still fun) mish-mash that a D&D adventure party provides. I would simply say to the...

First and foremost, if you're the DM and aren't fond of PrCs, disallow them. Or at least make a short list of those available. Same goes with any Feat, Spell or Magic Item you think is too far gone. That's the ounce of prevention, as the saying goes. Sorry, I can't help ya with the pound of...

That link to Monte's comments was fascinating. The beginning of it outlined about 50% of why I don't like Planescape (ie, I hate the Great Wheel) ... and he's a main designer of the setting! Furthermore, he then describes the Moorcockian alternative that I much prefer to a "T"! Impressive...

Oh man, now I gotta do research! I know the bullywug is from somewhere in real world mythology. But if an Australian and a New Zealander are telling me it's not Australian that they know of, I must be off about where that somewhere is. And it's gonna bug me for a while.

I didn't say I thought Bunyips and Bullywugs were the same thing. I said I thought (with a maybe thrown in) they both came from Australian stories, just like satyrs and nymphs both come from the Greeks. On the other hand, if Bunyips come in that much variety in shape, who says one can't look...

I'd say do it ahead of time. Creating the adventure in play will probably slow things down, and in preparation you might get an idea you want to develop ... not as random anymore, but you might get a better adventure out of it.