D&D 5E Scoopa doopa doop! Legends & Lore in the loop! (6/9/14)

[Ruin Explorer]

Ed's names are normally pretty good and suit the setting well. It's the other authors - RAS and slade, most egregiously - that spewed forth names that even the early Greyhawk players would have rejected for being too ridiculous.

I'd concur. The older FR names actually have a sort of consistency and regularity, and many of them really roll off the tongue in a natural-seeming way (in a way untrue of say, Greyhawk or Mystara). We were actually able to make up PC and NPC names that sounded "right" for the setting without problems. Later stuff though, as you say, oy vey...

 

[Plaguescarred]

The adventure sounds like fun. I also really like that the Starter Set rulebook will be re-usable as an extra resource during Standard D&D play. And here's a good idea to move How-To-Play tutorial to a video model rather than print as it saves space for more re-usable material and think its better to teach by showing.

 

[Thaumaturge]

Clicky here.

[MENTION=1927]Thaumaturge[/MENTION]

Thank you, [MENTION=77]Talath[/MENTION]. I tend to be asleep when these post, so I appreciate you helping out around here.

Videos are going to be quite helpful. I'm mentoring a 16 year-old who is becoming D&D curious, but his big hurdle is he doesn't really understand what a session would look like. Having him watch an official How To video will likely be better than a random Twitch video.

As far as "Phandalin" goes, I suggest an "ah" (father) sound for both "a"s instead of an "æ" (fan). It sounds more excotic and less like a made up word that way.

Thaumaturge.

 

[Thaumaturge]

And here's a good idea to move How-To-Play tutorial to a video model rather than print as it saves space for more re-usable material and think its better to teach by showing.

After I installed my first car seat, I've become a huge fan of tutorial videos instead of deciphering cryptic instructions.

And this isn't new for WotC. I learned how to play Lords of Waterdeep by watching this video.

Thaumaturge.

I definitely thought about a good ol' Rick-roll right there.

 

[Halivar]

As far as "Phandalin" goes, I suggest an "ah" (father) sound for both "a"s instead of an "æ" (fan). It sounds more excotic and less like a made up word that way.

I can just hear my players now:

"Wait, so the name of the town is Fondlin'? Oh lord, hide ya kids, hide yo wife..."

Newp newp, not using that name. Ever.

 

[Thaumaturge]

I can just hear my players now:

"Wait, so the name of the town is Fondlin'? Oh lord, hide ya kids, hide yo wife..."

Newp newp, not using that name. Ever.

Of course, this is the problem with naming things. Almost anything can be torn apart to some extent. (Baldur's Gate?)

I'm not good at phonetic representation, but I was thinking more like Phahn-dahl-in. With the emphasis on the second syllable.

But sure, I suppose that can be twisted as you posit.

Thaumaturge.

 

[Plaguescarred]

Phandalin was an important farming center located northeast of Leilon, where the Triboar Cutoff East fades into a trail. The road was abandoned after years of orc attacks obliterated every caravan that passed down the road, conquering Phandalin in the process. When the orcs were driven out, the village was left largely in ruins, and it remains so today.....No one lives here now but monsters, though passing hunters and rangers often camp in one of the more secure buildings.

Thanks for feeding us with more info on the adventure's location. This text is written with which year in context? Because the ''today'' might be long ago if it was in 1385 DR and could be very well a booming village again in 1490 DR (or whatever timeline 5E will now be at)...

 

[Teataine]

If Mearls thinks that online videos "stand the test of time", I just need to laugh. So if I open up my Starter Set in 20 years time the tutorial videos' URLs mentioned therein will be still valid? Not bloomin' likely, guvnor!

Well those specific urls might not work, but...well.

 

[Mercurius]

Maybe I'm late to this realization, but it seems clear now that the Starter Set is actually an adventure with the core rules attached, not the other way around (the core rules with an adventure attached). I'm fine with this, but it isn't exactly a product that can be used for years to come.

As for names and such, while just about every non-Tolkien setting has some silly names, Greyhawk still has the silliest imo. Verbobonc? Duchy of Geoff? I could go on.

 

[Thaumaturge]

Maybe I'm late to this realization, but it seems clear now that the Starter Set is actually an adventure with the core rules attached, not the other way around (the core rules with an adventure attached). I'm fine with this, but it isn't exactly a product that can be used for years to come.

This is definitely YMMV territory. I've run City by the Silt Sea a couple of times with the same group. I've done the same with Temple of Elemental Evil and a few other adventures. So, if it's good, I could see reusing it and remixing it.

This is also an introductory adventure. If it's good for introducing new players to basic D&D concepts, and I suspect it will be, I can see running it any time I stumble across a group of new players. I already plan on DMing the Starter Set adventure for at least 2 separate groups of new players.

As for names and such, while just about every non-Tolkien setting has some silly names, Greyhawk still has the silliest imo. Verbobonc? Duchy of Geoff? I could go on.

Eye-ooze.

Thaumaturge.