My Demo Experiences at I-Con (Trap info-low crunch)

[Charwoman Gene]

I-Con Report:

Hey guys!

I just got home from I-Con and I want to give an overview of my experience. My crunchier notes are here. http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=223239

Okay, I showed up to the Saturday WotC Presentation late, but it seemed to be just a moderate update to the GenCon 4e Presentation. I was working as convention staff, and got assigned to make sure the stuff Bill Slavicsek and Mike Mearls actually happened.

I ran the Q&A for them, Walked with them towards lunch, but since I wasn't officially escorting them I left. I had to ask them a question later and saw them at lunch and their staff person was READING THE PHB. A B&W printed copy, but the PHB nonetheless. I never got to read it but I had a great time nonetheless. I totally should have gone to lunch. *sulk*

Anyway, about 40 people got put onto the list for a demo that could only handle 24, and "PHB Girl" as I now call her was afraid she was going to get killed, so I became demo boy. I pared down the list, and negotiated a few people to comeback then next day and fixed the signup for the next day. I also gave up my spot of FIRST ON THE LIST! (I was one of the negotiated ones.)

Anyway, next morning we had a cool panel, aside from the Q&A that we did and I've posted in my other thread, they talked about preparing encounters. it was generally stuff Mike has blogged about so I didn't take notes. Some pics:

Mike and Bill

http://flickr.com/photos/ciarrai/2393615887/in/set-72157604419284363/
http://flickr.com/photos/ciarrai/2393616257/in/set-72157604419284363/

Your OP
http://flickr.com/photos/ciarrai/2393616361/in/set-72157604419284363/

I had a bunch of people who really wanted to get into the demo, but were really full. I luckily had brought some kobolds, a large dragon and some Hobgoblin minis, Raiders of Oakhurst, the pregens, and the "PHB Lite" from EN World. I ran an unofficial demo. It took longer, but I hadn't even playtested at all yet. Everyone was cool, and ultimately I scrapped the adventure and just popped the black dragon in the pool in the first encounter area. I had to go play in the Official demo at that point, so they pulled someone over to run the Dragon. Yeah, it actually was that easy to run.

Demo One
http://flickr.com/photos/ciarrai/2393616667/in/set-72157604419284363/

I played the wizard in the demo, had a lot of fun, and while I had to make tactical decisions, I didn't feel gimped by holding back my dailies or the like, The combat was very dynamic, moving around and such. I played with Mike, and I can just say I really see how he thought about setting up the battle scene. Really great DM and I learned the neatest trick for marking initiatives in games with strangers. Mark them down by table position graphically.

Official Demo (I'm the big guy in the Green Shirt. Apparently Kheris is the guy in the green shirt NEXT to me. *edit*)
http://flickr.com/photos/ciarrai/2394447994/in/set-72157604419284363/
http://flickr.com/photos/ciarrai/2394448046/in/set-72157604419284363/
http://flickr.com/photos/ciarrai/2393616911/in/set-72157604419284363/

I ran a second demo after that. I mercilessly stole Mearls' awesome trap, messed uo the challenge of the encounter, but overall it came out OK. I was really starting to "get it" by the end though.

Overall, had a blast and I can't wait to run another demo.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

I ran my 9th demo today myself.

Hey, can you share any specifics of the trap? I like the way Mearls thinks...

Fitz

 

[hong]

Your OP
http://flickr.com/photos/ciarrai/2393616361/in/set-72157604419284363/

Mang, you look NOTHING like your avatar pic.

Also, it's a good thing you told us you're a woman, because I'd never have known!

 

[Cam Banks]

Yes, but did you play in any MWP games? Because we were totally there.

Well, I wasn't. But Jamie, Digger, and Renae were.

Cheers,
Cam

 

[Charwoman Gene]

Frog Trap!

F is a big demonic frog demon statue.
T are glass blocks in the floor filled with entrapped souls.

____
_FF_
_FF_
____
TTTT
TTTT

On the traps initiative, it croaks loudly and you feel compelled to approach the statue. The trap makes an attack vs. Will.
If it hits, your next turn you are dazed, which limits you to one standard action and gives others combat advantage on you.
You also cannot move more than 2 squares away from the statue.
Make a save on you next turn. If you save, you shake off the effects, if not, you climb into the statues mouth and take damage from the nasty pointy teeth.

 

[Charwoman Gene]

Well, I wasn't. But Jamie, Digger, and Renae were.

I did not, although Jamie was in my sightline as I was running my second demo.

 

[ChaosShard]

Gene?!

You were our mage?!

I had the Cleric in that group!

PS All hail the Hypnotoad!

 

[Charwoman Gene]

You were sitting NEXT to me!

 

[Baumi]

That Hypnotoad sound AWESOME!

 

[ChaosShard]

That Hypnotoad sound AWESOME!

It was!!

Honestly, that game left like a more high-magic Hybernia/Conan game than I've had the pleasure of playing in a long time.

Clerics have some neat stuff to do (just roll over a 7, which I only did like, once) and the bonuses granted to allies for hitting monsters don't feel out of place when you read them in the context of the spell. The Luminous Lance (the first At Will on the sheet, if I have the name wrong), for instance, grants a +2 bonus to hit your target to one ally you can see. I picture this as you channeling a bit of divine power into them, so they can see a faerie fire style outline around the monster you just attacked.