I DMed it to a couple of guys at work (a board game designer addicted to 4th edition and a serious game producer addicted to 3.5th). We improvised on story as we played (thought it actually worked surprisingly well, despite names like "Scroll of Deathly Death" and the dwarves, Humpty and Dumpty).
Half the 2-hour session was RPing (them trying to learn more about the scroll and the supposed ruins inside the abandoned mine), then some short exploring of one of the caves.
RP-wise it reminded me a lot of my time DMing at school, 2 decades back. A good thing, since it was the first time I played with these two guys (who are on their early/mid 20's both and started out on D&D 3.5)
Combat... I'm not so sure. They killed some goblins quite easily (first 3 scouts, then two groups of 3, each coming from one side). Only one NPC taking any damage, and that only on the surprise round. While they rummaged through the loot, the secret door opened up with 2 goblins (easily taken out) followed by the ogre... I was sad for the Ogre.
The wizard would keep casting Ray of Frost on him while the party attacked from a distance. The knight (unable to attack ranged, but to defend those who did). Well, after 6 rounds, the Ogre quit. He dropped the silver bag paid by the goblins and turned around to leave, quite irritated. The party let him go and session closed up.
Comments:
1) on this version of the playtest, combat was pretty must "I attack, roll, damage" rinse and repeat. It MAY be because combat so far has been too easy to this party (2 PCs and 2 NPCs). It may also be due to the lack of character options
2) Minor spells (at will) seem to powerful. Magic Missile and Ray of Frost owned the day. It MAY be circunstancial, but it happened. It may be that I need to have more goblins atonce and that the Ogre shouldn't be alone. But, apparently, the 'ray of frost the ogre and pepper it from a distance' was used by most playtest parties.
2.5) One of my players commented: "If Ray of Frost drops movement to 0, does a flying creature crash if hit?" Seems like it makes sense.
Well, so far, mixed fillings...
Half the 2-hour session was RPing (them trying to learn more about the scroll and the supposed ruins inside the abandoned mine), then some short exploring of one of the caves.
RP-wise it reminded me a lot of my time DMing at school, 2 decades back. A good thing, since it was the first time I played with these two guys (who are on their early/mid 20's both and started out on D&D 3.5)
Combat... I'm not so sure. They killed some goblins quite easily (first 3 scouts, then two groups of 3, each coming from one side). Only one NPC taking any damage, and that only on the surprise round. While they rummaged through the loot, the secret door opened up with 2 goblins (easily taken out) followed by the ogre... I was sad for the Ogre.
The wizard would keep casting Ray of Frost on him while the party attacked from a distance. The knight (unable to attack ranged, but to defend those who did). Well, after 6 rounds, the Ogre quit. He dropped the silver bag paid by the goblins and turned around to leave, quite irritated. The party let him go and session closed up.
Comments:
1) on this version of the playtest, combat was pretty must "I attack, roll, damage" rinse and repeat. It MAY be because combat so far has been too easy to this party (2 PCs and 2 NPCs). It may also be due to the lack of character options
2) Minor spells (at will) seem to powerful. Magic Missile and Ray of Frost owned the day. It MAY be circunstancial, but it happened. It may be that I need to have more goblins atonce and that the Ogre shouldn't be alone. But, apparently, the 'ray of frost the ogre and pepper it from a distance' was used by most playtest parties.
2.5) One of my players commented: "If Ray of Frost drops movement to 0, does a flying creature crash if hit?" Seems like it makes sense.
Well, so far, mixed fillings...