Clubhouse: The Shearing Pen

[Gansk]

That sounds good - of course ugulu will have to watch more of his minions get slaughtered.

Maybe we can say that combatants on the sidelines don't get to watch previous combats before they enter. That way they would need to rely on a knowledge check to convince themselves that they can't defeat their opponent without at least making an attempt.

 

[Infiniti2000]

I would agree with that.

More importantly, I say we alter the rules on charm (to require a charisma check to attack anyone, possibly causing the charm to be lost), fear (the single most powerful ability, bar none), and ties in general. The problem with reducing the number of ties is that you will increase the frustration level for the losing side. I'll tell you that I almost gave up on BoAA during the fight with the rilmani. It was incredibly frustrating and as much as I tried to distance myself from the losses, I have spent too much time for it not to matter. This is why I am not running any more monsters in Celestia until the rilmani are gone and it's why I was so aggravated on the charming thing. The one thing the rilmani don't need is a favorable ruling.

 

[Gansk]

The only alignments that are going to suffer massive losses in the second round are the evil alignments. They are the only ones who look to have more than a dozen creatures left after Neutral is defeated.

 

[ugulu]

I don't mind the slaughter - as long as I focus on the goal of "using all the monsters" the colorful descriptions of getting one's ass kicked are entertaining in and of themselves.

Gansk - are you keeping a list of woefully mis-CR'd critters? I think it's common knowledge that dragons are under-CR'd, and Ferris was a bit harsh. I'd love to have a list at the end so I'd know what is unbalancing - I mean, other than every monster in the Creature Catalog, none of which will ever make it into one of my games.

 

[Infiniti2000]

What?! You don't plan to use the house hunter mimic?

 

[PJSlavner]

What?! You don't plan to use the house hunter mimic?

Well, except for the house hunter mimic, of course.

 

[PJSlavner]

One way to alter the rule on fear that might help a little is to have burrowers flee underground, thus causing a draw. After all, what can be safer than fleeing underground where your opponent cannot reach you?

 

[Infiniti2000]

I was thinking having them flee to the edge of the arena and then cower. It might not be as realistic, but let's face it. If you'd much rather have fear at will than prismatic spray at will, there's an issue.

 

[Gansk]

Gansk - are you keeping a list of woefully mis-CR'd critters? I think it's common knowledge that dragons are under-CR'd, and Ferris was a bit harsh. I'd love to have a list at the end so I'd know what is unbalancing - I mean, other than every monster in the Creature Catalog, none of which will ever make it into one of my games.

I think everybody, including myself, is keeping a mental list. I gave you the link earlier to complain about CC critters - they are very appreciative that we are playtesting them and will respond to whatever issues you post.

 

[Gansk]

I was thinking having them flee to the edge of the arena and then cower. It might not be as realistic, but let's face it. If you'd much rather have fear at will than prismatic spray at will, there's an issue.

I understand where you are coming from, but I am not as concerned about fear in the second round because there should be plenty of "save or be defeated" effects thrown around the arena at that stage. Fear would just be one weapon in a large arsenal.