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  1. M.L. Martin

    D&D 3.x More 1E and 3.5 Reprints

    Every so often, I check what Amazon has listed for WotC releases, as a means of seeing what's upcoming. The schedule appears to have finally updated--reprints of some key supplements are coming in 2013. For Valentine's Day, 1st Edition fans may finally get a copy of Unearthed Arcana that will...
  2. M.L. Martin

    D&D 5E (2014) Everything aboot 5E looks boring.

    I can't speak for TS, but WotC will be getting my money when they start putting up those old edition products--there's a lot of BD&D and 2E setting stuff I never picked up and don't want to pay secondary market prices for, and even a few late 3.5 books. That should counterbalance the fact that...
  3. M.L. Martin

    What a steaming pile of otyugh feces!

    Feels like a zombie golem to me. :)
  4. M.L. Martin

    Rate of Advancement: A Level per Day?!

    I ran the numbers last night. It takes four average encounters of equivalent level to reach levels 2, 3, and 4, but eight to go from level 4 to level 5.
  5. M.L. Martin

    D&D 5E (2014) How are people currently feeling about 5e?

    Guardedly optimistic--I like the 'race/class/background/theme' structure and the de-emphasis of the combat grid, but I'm not thrilled with the return of Vancian casting, think the 'letting a character own an encounter' approach needs to be approached carefully, and still wish WotC had some...
  6. M.L. Martin

    My favorite heresy: mundane vs. mundane & magic vs. magic, please!

    Actually, poor fighter saves appears to be largely a 3E-ism. Looking at my Rules Cyclopedia, the fighter's saving throws are either always better than the wizards or at most a point or two below. In 2E, they start out worse, but pull ahead around name level. True; part of the issue is that...
  7. M.L. Martin

    Let's read the entire run

    On the bright side, we got some brief hints at interesting parallel planes and a decent Citadel Cavitius sourcebook out of it, and some killer Kevin McGann art. :) From what I've heard, the product may have suffered from managerial interference--the came from on high, as I understand.
  8. M.L. Martin

    April 3rd, Rule of 3

    This is the old school mode of thought where actually having to use the combat rules is a black mark on your record, isn't it? :) Wand of cure light wounds came about as part of 3E's push to 'rationalize' magic by allowing any spell to be placed in a wand and letting them be crafted...
  9. M.L. Martin

    D&D 5E (2014) Who's given up on D&D Next?

    I think part of the issue might be that designers make horrible marketers--we saw some of this with 4E, and I think we're seeing it again, especially since they or some of the playtesters have sometimes used catchphrases or complaints that sound like edition war fodder.
  10. M.L. Martin

    D&D 5E (2014) Who's given up on D&D Next?

    Death of the hobby? No way. Death of the industry? Ten years ago, I would have said 'probably'. Now, though, I'm not so sure. The explosion of PDF, PoD and Kickstarter means that there are all sorts of ways of attracting interest and getting product out there that don't require the existing...
  11. M.L. Martin

    D&D 5E (2014) Who's given up on D&D Next?

    I'm not giving up, but I'm considerably more skeptical than I was when it was first announced. Still, there's some positive glimmers coming through along with the less appealing ones, so I'll keep on observing. Besides, if it doesn't fit what I want, there's still Savage Worlds, M&M...
  12. M.L. Martin

    WotC yanks the rug out

    I wonder if something went horribly wrong with the initial print run. It would not only explain the sudden delay, but it would be traditional. :) Apparently, the original printing of the 1st Edition DMG had all sorts of problems as well.
  13. M.L. Martin

    Let's read the entire run

    AUGH! No, that's not directed at you; that's directed at WotC, for 'pulping' this and so many other cool-sounding MSHAG products. :)
  14. M.L. Martin

    Iconic D&D Clerics (Blog)

    Yes, but it's been part of the game now for half again as long as it wasn't. (1973-1988: 15 years. 1989-2012: 23 years.)
  15. M.L. Martin

    Something Awful leak.

    Giving monsters ability scores isn't a problem, and given what we've heard about the resolution and save system in Next/5E/Ouroboros Edition, it's almost a given that they'll have them. The trifecta of making scores uncapped, 'realistic' and applying in exactly the same way as they do to PCs can...
  16. M.L. Martin

    The Grand Failure of the Warlock.

    I was about to post that there's the basis of a wonderful Magical Girl class in the warlock's mechanics, if you strip away the edgy/Evil-curious feel. :) (But then, I'm an old HERO fan, and am now moving towards Savage Worlds, so changing special effects is in my bones. :) )
  17. M.L. Martin

    Iconic D&D Clerics (Blog)

    I agree--I'd like to go back to the BECM/RC cleric who "is dedicated to serving a great and worthy cause. This cause can be an Immortal being dedicated to a specific goal or attribute; sometimes the cleric is serving only his alignment, and has no interest in immortal beings. The D&D does not...
  18. M.L. Martin

    D&D 5E (2014) 5e: Stat the Lady of Pain...so we can overthrow her

    So the only thing D&D can be is late-70s hallucinatory weird adolescent power fantasy a la Gygax and Otus? ;) Well, that's one way to unify the editions--drive out everything that doesn't appeal to a narrow style of play as 'not proper D&D'. I expect to see more and more of that around here...
  19. M.L. Martin

    D&D 5E (2014) Crazy Ideas 5E Should Not Adopt

    127. The core classes are Anti-Paladin, Assassin, Warlock, and Demon Cultist.
  20. M.L. Martin

    Let's read the entire run

    As far as I know, it never saw print.
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