Desdichado
Hero
Is that really an "olde skool" attitude? Even 25 or so years ago I don't remember running across anyone that played that way.ST said:
Dragon magazine is considered official!
- Thread starter greymarch
- Start date
ST said:
Ooohh...pulling out the "no offense intended" card...curse you!
Look, I don't understand why it's archaic to have, you know, DEFINED RULES. As opposed to what I see as, well, as the anarchic viewpoint of these free-love long-haried hippy commune drink-the-kool-aid-because-DM-is-God gaming groups. No offense. Get a job!
But keep the free love, because, that's cool.
Desdichado
Hero
Hmmm... I guess I could reference the "straw man" comment I made on page 4. You just attacked a position that nobody here on the board has taken. Bravo! Assuming of course that you did attack it. The DM defines the rules; that's one of his primary jobs as DM and always has been. Putting rules on the DM does seem archaic and competitive and "us vs him" mentality. If you enjoy it, I guess I'm starting to understand the purpose of this thread, but I'd be surprised to find very many people play that way.
Joshua Dyal said:
Well, I do consider being called "a museum piece to be poked and prodded" more or less a position to defend...!
Unit! Corps! God! Country! DM!
That's just what I see. I suppose if you guys have fun playing that way, that's ok. Can't say I understand it, but I don't understand why people watch Big Brother, either.
Desdichado
Hero
And there you have it. On the other hand, I did watch "Batchelor Bob" last night, but mostly at my wife's insistence and because he's a local. 
But I won't touch Big Brother.
But I won't touch Big Brother.
Last edited:
New DM Here,
In response to Psion's request, I'll comment.
I've been DMing D&D for less than a year, and GMed a little Star Wars before that (maybe a year's worth). I am mostly running the game because we needed somone to run it, and I have a good job and can afford supplements and such. Anyhow, because of time constraints I only run published adventures, with the occasional random encounter created by myself or from outside sources (En Route rocks). My players are mostly the kick in the door, kill the orc, disable the trap get the gold and XP type, with a wee bit of roleplaying thrown in with the purpose of making the above easier.
Okay now you have background on my campaign, here's my policy on "Official".
I typically let players use anything they can purchase off the shelves or PDF's. Why? Because they spent money. I've been burned buying stuff and never being able to use it, and I would hate to do that to someone else. Most of my players don't have full-time jobs, and buying a book is a big deal. Also they usually check with me or even ask my recommendation before buying. I do reserve the right to step in and disallow something that is blatantly overpowered. I've only had to do that a few times. Our campaign is loose enough that as long as something isn't insane it's not going to have a major effect. In fact, for my players, it even makes it a little more fun. As for what I use, I will use anything that is easy to insert. I especially like new monsters. Several of my players are experienced or DM's themselves and there is nothing more annoying then having them run into a creature already knowing what it can do and predicting it's abilities (That's a Troll! Burn it!).
Anyhow, a newbie point of view.
Wow, things are getting a bit too hot here for me. I'm outtie here. But first...attempt to hijack the thread to give people better things to do than throw insults: Will the BOEF be official or balanced? Debate on!
In response to Psion's request, I'll comment.
I've been DMing D&D for less than a year, and GMed a little Star Wars before that (maybe a year's worth). I am mostly running the game because we needed somone to run it, and I have a good job and can afford supplements and such. Anyhow, because of time constraints I only run published adventures, with the occasional random encounter created by myself or from outside sources (En Route rocks). My players are mostly the kick in the door, kill the orc, disable the trap get the gold and XP type, with a wee bit of roleplaying thrown in with the purpose of making the above easier.
Okay now you have background on my campaign, here's my policy on "Official".
I typically let players use anything they can purchase off the shelves or PDF's. Why? Because they spent money. I've been burned buying stuff and never being able to use it, and I would hate to do that to someone else. Most of my players don't have full-time jobs, and buying a book is a big deal. Also they usually check with me or even ask my recommendation before buying. I do reserve the right to step in and disallow something that is blatantly overpowered. I've only had to do that a few times. Our campaign is loose enough that as long as something isn't insane it's not going to have a major effect. In fact, for my players, it even makes it a little more fun. As for what I use, I will use anything that is easy to insert. I especially like new monsters. Several of my players are experienced or DM's themselves and there is nothing more annoying then having them run into a creature already knowing what it can do and predicting it's abilities (That's a Troll! Burn it!).
Anyhow, a newbie point of view.
Wow, things are getting a bit too hot here for me. I'm outtie here. But first...attempt to hijack the thread to give people better things to do than throw insults: Will the BOEF be official or balanced? Debate on!
buzzard
First Post
ryard said:
So basically the problem is that you don't trust your DM to find things which are reasonable and balanced. Either that or you expect him to cheat.
Hmm, methinks the problem lies well beyond "official" vs. "non-official".
Now I could understand your attitude in the case of a living game where you don't know what DM you will get at any given time. However if you have a regular DM, you either should trust his judgement or move on.
buzzard
Zerakon
First Post
Intriguing. I'm finding it hard to believe that you stifle imagination in your group as much as it appears from this thread, so I'd like to ask a few clarifying questions to find out if we are truly on opposite pages or if there is some broken communication going on here.
How many of the following situations would you consider objectionable?
1) You run into an evil enemy barbarian who has the feat Super Mighty Power Attack which works just like Power Attack but it is WAY better. PCs don't have access to this feat.
2) You are battling a group of enemies and suddenly two of them swap positions on the battlefield! Later, you discover why as you identify that the two were wearing Armbands of Juxtaposition, a magic item that your DM made up that allows the wearers to switch positions with each other once per day.
3) Your DM introduces the following adventure: There is a princess who is somehow strangely immune to magic, because she was born as the moons were in alignment. The pricess is a pacifist and will not attack you or anyone. Unfortunately, she has been kidnapped by the big bad evil guy who has realized that he can drain her life essence into a magic ring that will give him SR (Spell Resistance) 5. She will unfortunately die in the process, so it's up to you and your companions to rescue her before it's too late.
Psion
Adventurer
ryard said:
This may sound like an echo of Aeolius, but I really fail to see this as a bad thing [TM]. Throwing things at the players that they aren't familiar with from time to time adds an element of the fresh and the mysterious.
On to other posts (see what happens when I step out for lunch...)
Sure, if you cut across the spectrum. If you get bit a few times by picking up "Green Races", "Pale Designs" or "Complete Guide to Drow", I can understand your hesitance.
But, I think that Dragon does not have as much consistency as you allude to, and think that if you identify and go with the top tier publishers (for my money, Malhavoc and Green Ronin), their products are more consistent and of generally better quality than the Dragon.
Actually, now that I think of it, many people in this thread peg dragon for being unbalanced. My issues with the dragon have less to do with balance and more to do with the fact that I simply find their implementations of things that have also been addressed in d20 products a little more lackluster. I can
Even if you don't agree with my assessment of the general quality of dragon (and I would use some things from Dragon... I really love the monster cultists and the dragon slayers prc's), I don't see how the declaration it is official has anything to do with it's quality or acceptability for use.
I don't either. I beleive in having defined rules, but beleive it is the DMs place to define those rules, to include stating which rules (produced by Wizards, third party publishers, or otherwise) are to be used. There are talented game designers outside of WotC. Indeed, AFAIAC, most of their most talented designers have left and are now producing material freelance; I see no reason to exclude their talents because they no longer have the WotC stamp of approval.
