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<blockquote data-quote="JollyDoc" data-source="post: 3719633" data-attributes="member: 9546">As another member of the winning team this year, and a rabid, veteran Open player (it IS the main thing I look forward to every year at GenCon.&nbsp; Everything else there is secondary, but to each his own), I would heartily agree that the Open style of play is definately not for everyone.&nbsp; It's not role-playing, and it's not your home game in any real sense.&nbsp; It's more like a mini's game with an overarching theme.&nbsp; This year, each round had the same &quot;gimmick&quot; of the never-ending monster generator.&nbsp; In round one, it was bugbear/yuan-ti repelling out of the trees non-stop until you ran for the lake.&nbsp; In round two, it was the aforementioned gnolls, and in round three, it was the ghouls/bloodhulks that kept coming until you shot out the eyes of a statue on the far side of the chamber.&nbsp; It's hard for me to say what this experience would have been like for a first time Open player, since I've been at this for awhile, and have learned to anticipate certain givens about the Open.&nbsp; What makes it fun for me is exactly what makes it the opposite for others.&nbsp; It's a test of your teams ability to think tactically...how to take the limited resources and suboptimal characters you're provided with and make them viable for the four to five encounters you're going to have per round.&nbsp; Being able to do this effectively is an art form, and very challenging, but it's not traditional D&amp;D by any stretch of the imagination.&nbsp; Of course there's no way of knowing this without experiencing it first hand.&nbsp; Of those who do, some get the bug, like me and my team mates, and it becomes an addiction.&nbsp; Others like their RPG's to go with the status quo, and that's fine too.&nbsp; If you're truly looking for a role-playing experience, try NASCRAG next year.&nbsp; Personally, I despise it and found it an edeavor in slow torture, but I'm sure for people who enjoy that sort of gaming, it's a dream-come-true.&nbsp; Me, if I don't get to roll my dice at least once every ten minutes or so, I get twitchy.&nbsp; So, in summary, consider giving the Open another chance, as long as you go into it fully aware of what it is, and what it is not.&nbsp; Who knows?&nbsp; With 4th ed coming out, Aqua Teen Hunger Force may decide to rest on our laurels and retire in dignity...but then again...there's still room on my bookcase for another 1st place trophy!!PS:&nbsp; The prizes in the Open are pretty cool too.&nbsp; Last year, each of us won a 60 G video ipod, in addition to tons of books and swag.&nbsp; This year each of us will receive every new 4th ed product for 2008 free of charge by mail, and we get to be play testers for 4th ed!!&nbsp; How cool is that??Anyway, if any of you are looking for a good story hour, come visit us at over at JollyDoc's Savage Tide.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="JollyDoc, post: 3719633, member: 9546"] As another member of the winning team this year, and a rabid, veteran Open player (it IS the main thing I look forward to every year at GenCon. Everything else there is secondary, but to each his own), I would heartily agree that the Open style of play is definately not for everyone. It's not role-playing, and it's not your home game in any real sense. It's more like a mini's game with an overarching theme. This year, each round had the same "gimmick" of the never-ending monster generator. In round one, it was bugbear/yuan-ti repelling out of the trees non-stop until you ran for the lake. In round two, it was the aforementioned gnolls, and in round three, it was the ghouls/bloodhulks that kept coming until you shot out the eyes of a statue on the far side of the chamber. It's hard for me to say what this experience would have been like for a first time Open player, since I've been at this for awhile, and have learned to anticipate certain givens about the Open. What makes it fun for me is exactly what makes it the opposite for others. It's a test of your teams ability to think tactically...how to take the limited resources and suboptimal characters you're provided with and make them viable for the four to five encounters you're going to have per round. Being able to do this effectively is an art form, and very challenging, but it's not traditional D&D by any stretch of the imagination. Of course there's no way of knowing this without experiencing it first hand. Of those who do, some get the bug, like me and my team mates, and it becomes an addiction. Others like their RPG's to go with the status quo, and that's fine too. If you're truly looking for a role-playing experience, try NASCRAG next year. Personally, I despise it and found it an edeavor in slow torture, but I'm sure for people who enjoy that sort of gaming, it's a dream-come-true. Me, if I don't get to roll my dice at least once every ten minutes or so, I get twitchy. So, in summary, consider giving the Open another chance, as long as you go into it fully aware of what it is, and what it is not. Who knows? With 4th ed coming out, Aqua Teen Hunger Force may decide to rest on our laurels and retire in dignity...but then again...there's still room on my bookcase for another 1st place trophy!! PS: The prizes in the Open are pretty cool too. Last year, each of us won a 60 G video ipod, in addition to tons of books and swag. This year each of us will receive every new 4th ed product for 2008 free of charge by mail, and we get to be play testers for 4th ed!! How cool is that?? Anyway, if any of you are looking for a good story hour, come visit us at over at JollyDoc's Savage Tide. [/QUOTE]

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