Epic Level: Worse than Role Master ?

[Wolfspider]

Uh-huh. Look, my point, basically, is this: It is Epic when someone human - mortal, imperfect - ends up with the fate of the nations on his shoulders, is required to do more than can be humanely expected, and suceeds.

Or fails.

It's the struggle itself that's Epic, not the results of the struggle.

Also, I don't see humanity and mortality as being vital elements to an Epic storyline. Look at Tolkien's Silmarilion. The Elves in it are immortal. Real world myths are full of stories depicting the Epic struggles of gods and men. You're right about one thing, though. These characters are hardly perfect....

It is is a matter of personal definition, as you said. What you described is YOUR concept of Epic, and I've given mine. I'm sure the book will support your vision and my vision and many others.

 

[Tsyr]

Roleplaying, thank god, is not method acting. You do not have to experience the things your character does to roleplay him. It's about imagination.

The thought of playing a 200 year old elf is not impossible for me. Can I say I'm doing it acuratley? No. No living being on earth however could tell me I'm doing it _wrong_ either, because they know no better than I do.

 

[UofMDude]

Uh-huh. Look, my point, basically, is this: It is Epic when someone human - mortal, imperfect - ends up with the fate of the nations on his shoulders, is required to do more than can be humanely expected, and suceeds. When a fighter/mage of demi-god stature does the same, it's just a typical D&D game, no matter how high the numbers get. Perhaps it's just an issue of semantics - if people talked about "High Level Gaming" I'd just shrug my shoulders at their fetish with large numbers.

And given the comments in other threads on this board it is obvious that some people think that anything over 10th level is cheesy "High Level Gaming".

Heck, all your arguments could be applied to someone who knows how to call forth magical fire in an explosion that could kill dozens. But who wants to play with that kind of munchy power? It's no REAL roleplaying unless we all play peasants!

Everyone plays how they want to play. Calling things "juvenile" is just sour grapes.

UofMDude

 

[JacktheRabbit]

Just what we needed the stats of a character that can kill every one of Ed Greenwood's and Salvatore's characters at the same time.

Someone stop the puking please and drag off the munchkins.

 

[UofMDude]

Just what we needed the stats of a character that can kill every one of Ed Greenwood's and Salvatore's characters at the same time.

Someone stop the puking please and drag off the munchkins.

Of course FR isn't the only possible world to play in.....

And if I want to be able to make a character that can kill a gaggle of Valheru while holding off Milamber with my pinky I should be able to do that....


UofMDude

 

[CWD]

LOL!

The only thing this character is missing is the McCrackenesque laser-beam eyes!

 

[JacktheRabbit]

Well on a shingle.

Why don't we all just roleplay as the monster that killed Superman while we are at it.

Of course FR isn't the only possible world to play in.....

And if I want to be able to make a character that can kill a gaggle of Valheru while holding off Milamber with my pinky I should be able to do that....


UofMDude

 

[Holy Bovine]

Uh-huh. Look, my point, basically, is this: It is Epic when someone human - mortal, imperfect - ends up with the fate of the nations on his shoulders, is required to do more than can be humanely expected, and suceeds. When a fighter/mage of demi-god stature does the same, it's just a typical D&D game, no matter how high the numbers get. Perhaps it's just an issue of semantics - if people talked about "High Level Gaming" I'd just shrug my shoulders at their fetish with large numbers.

So we should just be playing normal humans all the time?

I don't think your point is coming across very well. D&D is about fantasy after all, spell-slinging, sword-swinging fantasy. If I want to play a non-fantasy noble/lawyer/peasent I can pick another game (Call of Cthulhu is always good for having the succeed against all odds type adventure).

I don't know why you seem to think that anyone who wants to play the 20+ level characters seems to be sexually frustrated or trying to compensate for something (I refer to your 'phallic' comment). Maybe they just want something different in their games. I doubt they are going to break into your home and force you to play at gun point of anything.

If you have such a hate on for 'epic level' games just kill off your characters at 8th level and you can sleep easy again. Until then give me my Epic Level Handbook!

 

[ColonelHardisson]

I would rather have provisions made for Epic level play, and the choice to use or ignore them, than to not have them at all.

 

[your_mother]

The Tip of the Iceberg

Just what we needed the stats of a character that can kill every one of Ed Greenwood's and Salvatore's characters at the same time.

Someone stop the puking please and drag off the munchkins.

DocMoriartty, you've hit the nail squarely on the head but don't stop there!

What I'm not looking for is the next convention, or when a new player (or group of players) wants to join or play D&D, and I get to hear all about their level kajillion barbarian / red wizard of thay / monk / shadow adept / fighter rogue / blade master/aes sedai / transvestite / super cop/street shaman / martyr / wayward / blah blah blah. By making this sort of thing cannon--by publishing it on WotC as official--the door has been opened even further (as though Elminster and the Clones of Manshoon weren't rediculous enough) for twinks, munchkins, and people too dumb to play Diablo to put their foot further into the door. And now they have a more concrete foundation upon which to make arguements that support these characters, "look at the level seven kabillion jillion that was just released in the new Sword and Realms: The Annoyance module! I can have a level seven billion character in this campaign and it won't affect anything" and rapateta.

As if arguing and rules-lawyering wasn't bad enough with D&D, there's a new frontier now for these pioneers of twinkdom to explore. Meanwhile, those of us that don't want to participate will now have to spend our time cutting off the now corrupt, dying limbs and look for new players that haven't fallen prey to the "Marvel Characters have bigger Pecs" philosophy that will surely grip the gaming world as a result of this trash.

Thank you, I hope that my points have not been too keen. Also, a slight disclaimer: this is my first impression, I have not seen the product, and I am basing my current opinion (which is subject to fluctuation and devil's advocacy as I am the Marilyn Manson of ENWorld) on my recent experience(s) with Dungeons and Dragons Third Edition and the other head of the Snake-Hydra: The Forgotten Realms Campaign Sourcebook.