A Lot of Things to Rememberize?

[Eagle Prince]

Cards would be a good idea. Not only do you have the rules right there, help you from forgetting or a player going 'oh I get to do this and this since you did that' and the DM going 'huh? Let me see that...' It was sitting right there on the table, so there's no question. But still, simplifying a bunch of stuff just to toss in extra, "new", stuff doesn't seem to be streamlining anything (which was supposedly one of their design rules for 4e).

 

[Scribble]

Another fear is that they're using this as a way to push the DI game table thing...

Game Table also conveniently tracks when people do things that cause other events to occur... (I'm making this up I don't know what its abilities will be)

Sure you CAN play the monster without using Game Table, but...

Shrug.

 

[Eagle Prince]

Another fear is that they're using this as a way to push the DI game table thing...

Game Table also conveniently tracks when people do things that cause other events to occur... (I'm making this up I don't know what its abilities will be)

Sure you CAN play the monster without using Game Table, but...

Shrug.

That would... suck. Probably not true, but I could see them actually thinking of stuff like that.

 

[frankthedm]

Probably, but that level also had demons and devils on it! The latter two are more of a problem. Dragons you come up against fairly rarely, but demons and devils tend to be a bit more ubiquitous.

Somehow i suspect you will really need to block teleporting when fighting fiends...

Demon:Move action: teleport! Standard attack: soul rending claws! Immediate action: Project Image! Free action: Dimension Door!

Player: Move action: Tear out hair! Standard attack: throw book at DM! Immediate action: Scream in frustration! Free action: kick DM's cat!

 

[MerricB]

Another fear is that they're using this as a way to push the DI game table thing...

Game Table also conveniently tracks when people do things that cause other events to occur... (I'm making this up I don't know what its abilities will be)

Sure you CAN play the monster without using Game Table, but...

Shrug.

I really don't think so.

Why? Because they're doing all these playtests without the Game Table. They're designing a system that will see a lot of play at conventions. It's not going to require technology to play.

I think "half hitpoints and something happens" will be on a few monsters - see MMV - and thus won't be an uncommon trigger. It's when you have a lot of different triggers to remember that things become unusual.

And, if the dragon has on its statblock something like:
HP 1000; 50%-immediate Breath Weapon

You won't forget so easily. It's all about presentation!

Cheers!

 

[Scribble]

I really don't think so.

Why? Because they're doing all these playtests without the Game Table. They're designing a system that will see a lot of play at conventions. It's not going to require technology to play.

I think "half hitpoints and something happens" will be on a few monsters - see MMV - and thus won't be an uncommon trigger. It's when you have a lot of different triggers to remember that things become unusual.

And, if the dragon has on its statblock something like:
HP 1000; 50%-immediate Breath Weapon

You won't forget so easily. It's all about presentation!

Cheers!

True. I'm willing to give the designers credit... Same guys who came up with the new stat block for 3.5 which I love...

Just stating my fears, but that's it... I'm naturally mistrusting of corporations.

 

[MerricB]

Yeah, and I'm naturally trusting and optimistic.

Have you picked up MMV? If you can, give it a look through. There are a lot of "threshold" type of monsters in there. I'll have another D&D session where I can use some this Sunday, so I'll give some feedback on how they work after that.

Cheers!

 

[Imaro]

I really don't think so.

Why? Because they're doing all these playtests without the Game Table. They're designing a system that will see a lot of play at conventions. It's not going to require technology to play.

Don't know about this reasoning Merric...didn't 3.5 get playtested? Guess we'll just have to wait and see.

I think "half hitpoints and something happens" will be on a few monsters - see MMV - and thus won't be an uncommon trigger. It's when you have a lot of different triggers to remember that things become unusual.

And, if the dragon has on its statblock something like:
HP 1000; 50%-immediate Breath Weapon

You won't forget so easily. It's all about presentation!

Cheers!

I think the total number of triggers and trigger types would be a big factor, sort of like conditions and buffs. If it's kept to a minimum level, then I could get behind it...if not I think it could be a PITA to run. Especially if they get to basing them on "power sources" and new ones are steadily introduced.

I really wish instead of showcasing "the cool" they would showcase the supposed streamlining implementations they've put in the game because I'm just not seeing it. And in the end this is why I would really switch to 4e, otherwise it's not any better than a fantasy Saga conversion and houserules for my purposes

 

[Scribble]

Yeah, and I'm naturally trusting and optimistic.

Have you picked up MMV? If you can, give it a look through. There are a lot of "threshold" type of monsters in there. I'll have another D&D session where I can use some this Sunday, so I'll give some feedback on how they work after that.

Cheers!

A friend of mine has it, but I do not... I'm not running a game right now, so my money is going towards other products.. Plus I don't always buy monster books. I get bored easily with "more of the same just with a different name" type books...

MMV sounds like it at least has some interesting new concepts... so maybe I will... Although I'm not going to be running a D&D game in the near future...

Anyway, all that said... keep me posted.

 

[mhacdebhandia]

Hit point-based ability triggers aren't such a big deal.

Look at the crazed kuo-toa in Monster Manual V for an example:

Death Rage (Ex): A crazed kuo-toa that has 10 or fewer hit points gains a +2 bonus on melee attack rolls and melee damage rolls.​

So imagine something similar for a 1000-hit point ancient red dragon:

Enraged Incineration: A red dragon which is reduced to fewer than 500 hit points gives vent to its fear and rage in a torrent of flame. It may use its breath weapon as an immediate action.​

That sort of thing. It's just sitting there in the statblock, impossible to miss and easy to use. In fact, the next entry in Monster Manual V, the kuo-toa exalted whip, has a similar ability which triggers an immediate action for any evil aquatic creature brought to 0 or fewer hit points within 60 feet of the exalted whip.