Heh, I just had to post replies to some of these.
Trevalon Moonleirion
Never really knew you, but you certainly had a reputation around here--and I haven't seen you since God knows when. So welcome back!
Neophyte Member of B.A.D.D.
WHERE ARE THE CHEEEEEETOOOHS?!!!?
"Cast comprehend languages so you can hear what they're saying while we devour them."
ANSWER
Hey there, Trevalon. Nice to meet you.
Now, how does one get into B.A.D.D?
Comprehend Languages is a favorite spell of mine. Especially the high level versions that allow plants and monsters to be understood.
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William Ronald
Welcome back!!!
Hello, Edena_of_Neith:
Welcome back. I was wondering where you are. I hope you are well.
Thanks again for all the hard work for the 3rd IR.
I do agree that the choice of products is a little overwhelming.
I went to the recent EN World Chicago Gameday. I was a little overwhelmed with the choice of products for D20 alone at Games Plus in Mount Prospect (site of the event.)
I thought back to high school, and the little hobby shop near the school. Back then, there was a single small rack of D&D products and other RPGs (Traveller, Top Secret, Gamma World, Star Frontiers, Marvel Superheroes). Occassionally, you would find a product by an independent company such as Judges Guild.
This seems to be the true Golden Age of gaming. There are wonderful settings and products. The Open Gaming License has released a flood of creativity, and I am generally impressed by what I see.
Some years back, I feared that gaming would die out. I had a vision of myself in my golden years, holding a battered Player's Handbook, playing an old game that confused my grandchildren. Now it is likely that role playing will remain around in the future.
While many veteran companies, such as FASA, folded and others such as TSR were bought by new comers to the hobby, many new companies have risen to satisfy what appears to be a growing hobby.
Why the change? The players and the Open Gaming License have done a world of good.
Fan sites, such as the inestimable
www.canonfire.com have helped keep old settings alive.
(Indeed, the fans of Greyhawk saved the setting.)
So, I think our hobby is in good hands.
Edena, again, welcome back.
ANSWER
Greetings to an old friend.
One of the best players in all of the IRs, and a great roleplayer in general, folks.
William, I do believe it's the Golden Age. Unfortunately, I am older now. Ah, if only I was 16 now, then the times would have been truly great ...
William Ronald
Additionally, dragons are generally very smart opponents.
So, have a little dust that can be whipped up by wings to blind opponents. Or several charmed monsters serving the dragon. Or the infamous crush attack. (Reflex save or be crushed by several tons of dragon flattening your character.)
I always assume that monsters will use all their abilitie and wits in a battle. Dragons can and should be dangerous opponents.
Edena, good to hear from you.
Any thoughts on the setting search by WotC and some of the other recent events?
ANSWER
I know nothing of the Setting Search.
I have seen it referred to here, but know nothing about it.
I will have a look.
As for dragons ... if the dragon has high level magic, he can create simulacrums of himself (or, if one wants to be truly ghastly, how about a dragon with Manshoon's Stasis Clone?)
Of course, he also has up powerful illusional duplicates of himself (ala Shadow Monsters, Shades (2nd edition names for the spells)), and simple illusions such as the various Phantasmal Force (renamed for the 3rd edition) spells.
Not to mention the army of monsters he has waiting in stasis, plus those summoned by his simulacrum, plus the illusional monsters.
This assumes the adventurers get to his lair.
Considering the large number of Symbols, entrapped entrances, and other such fun things the dragon has in store, this should be an interesting proposition.
The worst enemy of the intrepid PCs, however, are the folk of the city the PCs came from.
For you see, the dragon - in retaliation for the intrusion upon his lair - attacked and burned half the city down while the adventurers were away from it, and magically implanted the blame on the PCs, for said intrusion upon his territory.
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Upper_Krust
Welcome back mate!
I hope you; the family and Tazebo are keeping well!?
"Stand fast at the gates of Dis"
ANSWER
Hey there, Upper Krust.
Greetings to Europe!
I am well, and Taz is well. I hope you are doing well also. I hope your product is selling well, too.
Where did your expression, stand fast at the Gates of Dis, come from?
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kreynolds
Not Sean
To be honest, I don't have a clue as to who you are Edena (I haven't been here that long).
What kind of reputation did you have?
ANSWER
Hey there, Kreynolds.
If people knew me, I would be amazed.
Gary Gygax, I am not.
If I have a reputation, it is entirely undeserved, for good or bad.
I'm a gamer of 25 years, who lives in Michigan, and who likes the ENBoards quite a lot.
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RangerWickett
Ewok. Mod. Jedi Knight.
I recall hearing something about multiple clonings, ressurections, reincarnations, and sex-changes in there somewhere. Or was that somebody else's character?
Ryan "RangerWickett" Nock
Submissions Coordinator
Natural 20 Press
Author of the Savannah Knights and Tides of Homeland storyhours.
ANSWER
Actually, you heard correctly.
It would appear my oldest character in the Dungeons and Dragons game, Edena, does have a reputation.
For yes, he has been the subject of multiple resurrections (but not reincarnations), and he has multiple clones (he once created an army of Simulacrums), and he has been through many sex-changes (from male human to female elf to male human to male elf to elderly male human, to young female human, to ... well, such is a mage's life. Know this all of you, before you run such a character! This is a mages life!!!)
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Teflon Billy
Hmm...maybe I'm thinking of someone else, but I thought I was part of that conversation, and that you had said when you played an evil character you just immediately started killing everything for no IC reason and proclaimed the experiment a failure because of this.
Or am I thinking of someone else. It's a possibility that I am.
Know Billy, No Peace;
No Billy, Know Peace.
He Who lives by the sword laughs last
ANSWER
You heard that from someone else.
Killing other PCs with your character is the fast track to a ruined game, in my experiences.
He who lives by the sword laughs last, eh?
I say, he who lives by the spell, laughs last!
Of course, he or she who lives by both (such as a bladesinger) may have the ultimate laugh on all ...
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Droogie
Hi, Edena.
Aren't you the guy who declared that he no longer would play Jedis in the SW game based on what you learned about them from Episode II? Your argument was very very very very very very long.
It was, um, quite an analysis.
You don't sleep, do you?
Anyway, I agree. The amount of D20 material is overwhelming. My question is, at what point will all this extra material render the game unplayable?
Over at the ELH thread, a good point was made: most publishers, including WotC, are focusing too much on crunchy bits and prestige classes than on published adventures and tips on how to run a good game. Plenty of ingredients, not enough cookbooks. In other words, these generous piles of gaming goodness are making the DM's job harder, not easier. What say you?
ANSWER
I did say I was greatly disillusioned by the Jedi, as they are presented in Episode II.
I did say I would be less inclined to play a Jedi, if the Jedi was like that.
A long analysis? Yes. However, I honestly think George Lucas wanted the viewer to be disappointed and disillusioned by the Jedi.
I do sleep, believe it or not.
I do not think the ton of material out for 3E will make the game unplayable.
What say I?
My opinion ... hmmm ...
Remember that a DM can disallow any and all material he wishes.
A point someone who buys $300 in books finds out painfully, when only $50 of that is allowed in the game (or worse, only $50 of that is ever allowed, period, in the gaming group.)
This is a powerful disincentive to buy D20 products, which are not likely to be allowed in most gaming groups (for example, the D20 books on Necromancy.)
Will all of the new material make a DM's job harder?
Yes, assuming he allows it in his game.
Just my opinion.
Will it make the game unplayable?
Not in my opinion.
It will make the game more fascinating and fun for the player, and more difficult for the DM, but it won't kill the game.
I agree, however, that there should be more core material (cookbooks, as it were).
More core material, for the basic character. (In other words, there should be ... more ... to the druid, the ranger, the fighter, the mage, the monk, etc.. Prestige classes are nice, but there is a reason the core classes shine out in a world filled with these prestige classes.)
There should be more adventures and adventure modules, yes, in my opinion.
Tips on running a good game, and being a good player? I have no opinion on whether enough material exists on these subjects.
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Numion
How's this OT?
Talk about D&D is pretty much on-topic on D&D boards. Or does OT mean on-topic nowadays?
EN Boards Member Since 2000
Truly B.A.D.Dass!
ANSWER
This is OT??
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Darkness
Vile Darkness [Super Mod]
Agreed.
Anyway...
Hello, Edena.
Regarding your above list of campaign settings: Have you heard of WotC's campaign setting contest?
'cause that might get interesting...
The Chief Grave Robber.
I am no longer a mere shadow of my former self.
God of perfectionism, unfulfilled potential, precise small-scale necromancy, anime, verbal martial arts, sarcasm, and insomnia.
Divine patron of Emperor Hentai XXXVIII and Bothered About Disposable Dragons.
ANSWER
Hey there, Darkness!
Nice to hear from you again.
I have heard of the Campaign Setting Contest, but know nothing about it (other than, apparently, the fact it's closed now).
I hope they come up with a good new setting - WOTC has had some fabulous settings in the past. I wish some of those were still around (especially AL-QADIM and Dark Sun.)
And, heh ... if you are the God of Necromancy (among other things), then take a look at some of the ghastly necromantic supplements (D20 supplements) on the shelves.
In a game based on killing, such as D&D, you would expect necromancy to be in vogue, for it is about killing ... interestingly, it isn't, so go figure.
Give a creative evil character the power of necromancy, then head for the hills, for the undead are coming a-hunting!
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Decamber
Welcome back, Edena - nice to see you here again!
I've been off from the boards for some months, but now I'm back. And I can guarantee my stay as long as you post your trolls and ramblings - 'cuz that's what I miss at most!
By the way, anyone knows what's up with Ruin Explorer?
ANSWER
Hey there, Decamber. Welcome back!
Stick around. In addition to my ramblings and trolls
there will be plenty of opinions on the new corebook: the Epic Level book (nothing like the ability to balance yourself on clouds to start tongues wagging.)
Thanks for the warm, black-humored welcome-back.
I will continue my ramblings (this is one of them!), but don't count on trolls.
The troll-slayers came to the ENBoards since you left, with a very large amount of Greek Fire and magical fire spells, and trolls nowadays don't stand a chance against them.
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creamsteak
Just rambling and messing around...
160th level = 20th level...
1st level 3rd edition character is an 8th level 2nd edition character. Commoners are 4th level 2nd edition characters.
Starting a whole society at 4th level sure would change a campaign...
Edena, you really have inspired me in my gaming life. I learned much from you about how to treat players differently. I agree with Carte Blanche (sp?) for characters who society becomes dependant on.
When the army doesn't have to scout out any "hostile" areas, or deal with any more raiders because five or six incredibly talented individuals do it for them... the whole country DOES become dependant on them.
Food, Sleep, and Video Games--- MY THREE KEYS TO HAPPINESS
ANSWER
Hey there Creamsteak!
You know, I could think of a lot of high-level players from my youth who would disagree with my assessment, especially when it came to their characters.
However, the idea of Epic Level is truly a 3rd edition concept. The idea, it seems to me, is to basically transcend the whole system with your character (by creating DC (gasp) 60 to 100 spells, or gaining skill levels into the supernatural (balancing yourself on clouds is definitely a supernatural ability), and epic level feats.)
There just isn't any equivalent of it in 1st or 2nd edition D&D.
You could get a character to 10,000th level in those editions, and never have epic skills.
All levels get you in 1st and 2nd edition are more hit points, and more spells if one is a spellcaster. Not so, in 3rd edition D&D!
So yes, Edena the PC, who was 160th level in 2nd edition, becomes 20th level in 3rd edition, with a lot of hit points (but not that many, really, in 3rd edition terms, where a dragon could have up to 1,000 hit points.)
I meant Carte Blanche semi-humorously.
What I really was trying to say was that DMs should avoid the Comic Book Effect.
This being that the characters repeatedly save society, and nobody cares or even knows, and the attitude towards heroism is ... for lack of a better word ... passive in nature.
Some people enjoy heroism for it's own sake, and are naturals at it ... however, most people desire appreciation for what they do, and reward for lives risked and efforts undertaken (a point any PC learns when they try to hire NPCs to do their work for them.)
Carte Blanche, however, is an extreme situation.
People simply don't work like that ... in this person's opinion.
The King is not going to allow the PCs to empty his treasury, and sleep on his bed, and plunder and terrify his citizens (they won't tolerate it either) if he can help it.
Carte Blanche can exist only if the King and his people have no other choice, in which case they will hate the PCs (or, at best, wish they were not in the power of the PCs, and could do things for themselves ...)
Or, it can exist if magic allows it to. Magic can do anything, since the DM is it's arbitraitor.
Again, a situation where the King and his people will fear and/or hate the PCs, or at least wish their situation was not so dire that Carte Blanche was an option.
I would venture that a good and noble character could have Carte Blanche without being feared and hated, for he or she might not abuse the power, but power corrupts, and Carte Blanche is too much power, too tempting, for the average adventurer.
There IS a happy in-between (or many in-betweens) between Comic Book and Carte Blanche.
A pity that so many settings lean towards Comic Book.
Thank you for the compliment on learning how to treat players.
That was a very big compliment, and I appreciate it, and wish to thank you for it.
Players deserve the best DMs can give, IMO. And DMs deserve the best players can give, too.
If both player and DM is trying, then I honestly believe people will have at least some fun in the game.
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Knight Otu
It's a bit late, but welcome back, Edena!
From my Perry Rhodan Conversion thread:
In various places around the planes, strange, mushroom-formed structures made from a blue metallic substance can be found. Seemingly indestructable, these 110 feet high mushroom domes, as they are called, form the gates to a even more unusual structure:
The Bridge to Eternity.
ANSWER
Hey there, Knight. Thanks for the welcome back!
It's not late. Never too late!
Why are the Mushrooms a part of the Bridge to Eternity?
What role do they play in the magic and the foundations of the Bridge?
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William Ronald
Hi, Edena:
I hope you and the family are doing well.
I must have missed the carte blance thread, so I can't really comment on it. I believe that characters should have an opportunity to become important people in campaign setting.
There is such a thing as the changing of the guard in real life.
Any thoughts on the setting search that WoTC is doing. I was a little surprised at 10,000 plus entries being sent in. (I hope the people at WoTC got some rest this weekend.)
ANSWER
I get the distinct impression that the people at WOTC get neither peace nor rest.
They are worked relentlessly, then criticized roundly for their lack of talent, then worked relentlessly again, all the time while they are producing very fine work.
I most certainly would NOT wish their job, regardless of the pay and prestige. Someone a lot hardier, physically and mentally, than me is needed for the arduous job of game designer.
You do not hear me criticizing them or their products ... I make general statements concerning the game, and never hone in on products.
I have a great deal of respect for the game designers at WOTC, and those creating the D20 products.
As for the Carte Blanche thread, you didn't miss much. It was a Flame War, and Flame Wars are not fun, nor desirable.
Should PCs have the respect and perhaps awe of those around them?
Maybe.
And maybe envy, jealousy, hatred, and all the other human emotions.
Certainly, those who save the Kingdom should have a lot of attention, with it's good and bad sides ... the game is not a comic book, unless the players and DM make it so, and so it should not gloss over heroism and such saving of the Kingdom as routine.
Just my opinion.
However, Carte Blanche is an extreme situation.
Yes, the PCs could obtain it.
The real question is ... is Carte Blanche worth it? Or do the PCs want something more feasible, and more easily held on to?
No character I have ever played desired Carte Blanche, and certainly Carte Blanche was never offered. (Unfortunately, I have played under one too many DMs who thought in Comic Book terms.)
If a character of mine WAS given Carte Blanche, he or she would cherish it, and not abuse that power!! Such an incredible gift would be far too valuable to misuse, and thus jeapardise the benefits of!
Even an evil character of mine (if I had a surviving evil character) would cherish such an incredible gift, a gift to be used to devastating and diabolical ends for the hapless ones who bequeathed him the Carte Blanche.
Incidentally, if anyone could be said to have Carte Blanche, in a novel, I would cite Allanon from the novels of Terry Brooks (but NOT Gandalf from the novels of Tolkien.)
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Darkness
Vile Darkness [Super Mod]
By the way, anyone knows what's up with Ruin Explorer?
Go to Nutkinland. Do not pass go. Do not collect 20 Euros.
ANSWER
I don't understand.
Has Ruin Explorer been banished from the ENBoards?
Or does he simply choose to post to Nutkinland only, now?
What is the Nutkinland Messageboard like?
