L4W Discussion Thread IV

[stonegod]

While I (and others) support using the CB as a valid math format:
- There are several judges which are against it
- It doesn't do us well for summarization of the math (so we'll still want a summary like at the top of the L4W & LEB sheets)

It hasn't been put to a formal proposal to change that, but there it is. Regardless, I cannot in good faith require a DM to have the CB in order to run a game here. Not everyone is willing/able to pay for DDI, nor does every group have access.

 

[Phoenix8008]

I don't have the CB and don't foresee having it any time soon. I'd hate to be put in the situation where it's a requirement.

As for character submissions being caught up or not, I have both of my characters with 1 approval each (from renau1g in both cases). One was originally sent out on December 30(Talon) and the other was sent out on January 19(Kama'zer). Not complaining, just saying. I know how busy all you judges must be because I barely have time to DM my one adventure and post for my two PC's.

As for unleashing 3rd characters for people, I have mixed feelings. I can see the temptation (and feel it myself to some degree), but can see the issues it could cause as well. Have to think on it some more.

 

[JoeNotCharles]

There's nothing saying you have to use the given templates - they're only a suggestion. The only requirement is that you have a human-readable summary with all the info that ends up in the "summary" section of the current character sheets, and a math section showing how you came up with the numbers.

IMHO, submitting a paste of the character builder output for the math section is fine, as is putting a link to a PDF generated by the character builder for the summary section. Just be aware that not all the character reviewers have the character builder so it'll get bumped to the bottom of the review pile until one of the few reviewers with CB access gets to it.

 

[renau1g]

I'd also be inclined to vote against third PCs, unless we are having trouble filling low level adventures. I'd like to see the low level adventures remain open and available to new players, not just "alts". From the little that I have seen, players and GMs have been good about giving newcomers priority in seating, but that will get harder as time goes on if everyone always has a low level in their stable. People who love low level play that much should retire their older character to make room for a new one. Another option might be to choose to play without gaining xp or treasure, to stay at the power level you like best.

We are having trouble filling up low-level spots, hence my suggestion of growing the group through this method. There are 2 low-level games with no PC's sitting in approval. Cabana can't find anyone to round out his group in his game, we just found someone for Tenchuu's game, but were worried about having to run it with 4. The priority for games would still be newcomers or first PC's, but in the event that say there's 2 or 3 new PCs sitting in the tavern they have to twiddle their thumbs in the great hope that 2 more new PC's from new players walk in. That could be weeks. Also, as I mentioned earlier is not that I LOVE low-level play, it's that it is good for the community to have a large number of PC's across the spectrum, that way when new players DO come in there's someone for them to adventure with otherwise they wait in the tavern for a while, get frustrated and leave. Anyways this isn't a formal proposal, but rather a means to open up communication.

 

[Mezegis]

I'm still new to the site, so feel free to take my thoughts with a grain of salt, but I wouldn't think allowing a third PC would be any different from a second one. It's still the players option to create the new PC, and it's up to them to make sure they have the time. From what I've seen there is usually a lowbie adventure starting up with fair regularity, and priority is always for those with 1 PC as opposed to others, which I whole heartedly support.

I know personally, I can't wait to have Chaku; A: get approved, and B: hit lvl 2 so I can make my 2nd PC and start up another adventure. I think keeping the limit at 2 will actually hinder new players from starting since as time goes by, the more experienced people will keep playing and leveling, and we'll be forced to wait for 4-6 new people to show up before an adventure, while now-a-days with alt's being created, you usually have 1-2 newbies and 2-3 experienced folks so that the adventures get going quickly and without much waiting around.

I would support the number of PC's allow be limitted by the number of PHB's that have come out, so that players currently at the limit do not have to chose between retiring one of their characters they have spent months playing just so the can try out the new toys.

 

[CaBaNa]

Cheers,

It should be noted that Neurotic is having connectivity issues, and that for the next few hours/days may not be able to post. His provider has not been able to specify as of yet how long the outage will be.

Thank you,

CaBaNa


P.s. I'll be attempting to update as many things as possible today, if I'm holding you up somewhere, feel free to PM me.

 

[JoeNotCharles]

I think both free characters and free adventure slots come in bursts - you'll have a bunch of characters sitting in the tavern waiting for ages, and then 3 people will submit adventures at the same time and it'll be empty while a bunch more people propose adventures with nobody to run them for. Right now there are more adventures then characters, but if we open up 3rd characters to try to get more, how do we know that there won't be an adventure drought after the current adventures are finished?

Although, at least this time we've established a pattern of "too few level 1 characters" instead of just "too few characters", and opening up 3rd characters specifically goes towards getting more level 1's in. Given that, I guess I'm for it.

 

[ryryguy]

I would support the number of PC's allow be limitted by the number of PHB's that have come out, so that players currently at the limit do not have to chose between retiring one of their characters they have spent months playing just so the can try out the new toys.

I think there's something to be said for that. You know folks will want to be trying out the PHB 3 classes.

Also, is the character approval backlog more a problem of full judges or the character-checker only folks? (One of the checkers still has to be a full judge right?)

I wouldn't mind doing some character checking, if that would help with the backlog. I guess I could start with the PCs in Food of the Gods.

 

[renau1g]

More of a problem in general. If we had character checkers aid it could help out the full judges as it would only take 1 of us to review. If you want to start with them that would be helpful

 

[Velmont]

Am I the only character review aid at the moment?