This mentality needs to die

[rexartur]

Late to the party and there are several points that have come up on this thread, but to address just one; this was addressed in an update to the rules so I have to assume enough people had questions about it

"Target
Page 57: Replace the first paragraph with the following text.
If a power directly affects one or more creatures or objects, it has a “Target” or “Targets” entry. Some powers include objects as targets. At the DM’s discretion, a power that targets a creature can also target an
object, whether or not the power identifies an object as a potential target."

I had the same question myself in earlier 4E games. I've had people tell me I'm the best DM they've had and others tell me I'm the worst. Since those are opposite extremes I have to assume there is something (if not mostly) subjective about those claims. As it is the only folks I'm trying to entertain are those sitting at my table at any given moment - glad I'm not being taped - what we find hilarious may be boring to tears for others.

Just my 2 cents - spend wisely - inflation has devalued them.

 

[Beginning of the End]

I sort of got the feeling they were supposed to do that. After all, it is a big rotating fire-shooting trap in the middle of a room with an ice-sealed door.

Whether darkfire would work or not (I'd rule that it's not actually a heat source), the entire "challenge" appears to have been designed specifically for pixel-bitching.

When you design a challenge like that, you look for reasons to not let other solutions succeed. It's a very bad mindset to get into as a GM.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

RE: Pixie Werewolves.

I noticed that everyone is assuming its a little pixie with lycanthropy. What if its a regular werewolf who happens to have fey blood?

Imagine the ridicule when that lycan shows up to run with the pack...sporting a pair of 4' wide gossamer wings.

 

[kevtar]

And cheating.

Cheating? Am I playing a game? Is there a rule about what videos I can post?

This video is part 5 of the session, it's not edited down to 10 minutes, it's just minute 40 to 50 of the game session. They didn't pick an encounter and edit it down, the camera is just rolling.

While the encounter is not edited down to 10 minutes, the video is almost certainly edited. My point is not to "one up" the video, or even to compete with it, but to offer other demonstrations of play.

Get five people together, most of whom have little to no experience with D&D, and then try and teach them all to play, run the adventure, get them all happy, and oh yeah, overcome any possible stage fright you have about having a camera on you. Oh, and also know that everything you say is going to be nitpicked and judged by fanboys on the internet.

I think you should go back and carefully read my original post. I acknowledged many of the things you mention above. Again, I wasn't criticizing Perkins. I just thought that, in my opinion, it was not a strong method for demonstrating the fun people can have playing D&D. I then mentioned that I would consider recording one of our own sessions as a different perspective - mostly in response to those who say "4e sux!" - because we've enjoyed 4e just as we've enjoyed 1st e, 3rd e, etc.

Moreover, I've made a point in presenting my opinions in a respectful manner, and in a way that contributes to the quality of the thread. I hope to receive the same consideration in return.

 

[Hussar]

Were-mosquito? Were-Butterfly? It flaps its wings and a hurricane destroys a town... five thousand miles away.

I gotta admit, I'd love to see people do the video thing. But, it is totally true that RPG's are most certainly NOT a spectator sport. I like listening to the Penny Arcade guys+Wil Wheaton, but, that's because those guys are seriously funny to listen to.

I'm not so sure that the comedy gold at my table wouldn't turn to comedy brass in translation.

 

[Rechan]

Faeries are not iconic to the goth community and have nothing to do with goth.

If nothing else, it's confusing Goth with Otherkin.

 

[Orius]

I do think this transcends editions....

As mentioned earlier, I suggest people look through their old DRAGON "Ask the Sage" columns...Skip was a stickler for the letter of the law and if this was 2e and the player was using the 2e equivalent, "Faerie Fire", I would expect Sage to say the EXACT same thing....

I mentioned that above. The spell that comes to mind (frisky chest IIRC) in this case is one from the 2e ToM that was meant as an anti-thief deterent that would case a chest or other object to move away from a character that wasn't supposed to touch it. The spell apparently was poorly worded in a way that player were using it to herd chests loaded with loot out of dungeons. Skip's opinion was that DMs should make that tactic very inconvenient and that the spell had some very overdue errata (might have gotten it in the Priest's Spell compendium at the end of the edition).

 

[Piratecat]

Man, I loved frisky chest. In Sagiro's game we'd cast it on toys for the adventuring group's pet cats to play with.

...and Mike Mearls sounds like he must be a pretty good GM too.

Mearls is an excellent GM. I first got to know him co-GMing a Call of Cthulhu one-shot way back in the 90s when he was at Dartmouth. He's very fun, with a good sense for what makes a fight dramatic and exciting.

Personally I would really like to see a video of an 'all stars' game with one of the best GMs plus a bunch of the best players in the hobby. I suspect I could learn a lot from that.

This was why I loved the old RPGA Grand Master and Paragon games; tables of smart, funny players where everyone had the same play style. If you're going to play D&D with strangers, that was how to do it.

 

[Truth Seeker]

I would say somethng to that...but if you get the chance. Let me know and we can compare notes.

I am interested to see him DM 3.5e or earlier D&D to see if there is a difference.

 

[Dire Bare]

Faeries are not iconic to the goth community and have nothing to do with goth.

Gonna have to disagree with you on this one. The various subcultures of goth, neopaganism, and the like are very fluid and have "fuzzy" boundaries.

I've personally known quite a few goths who fit the profile you describe Relique, I've also known quite a few folks who consider themselves goth, neopagan, and they love faeries.

Also, not sure how old you are, but the goth subculture is at least 25 years old, if not older, and it's evolved over time. As has every subculture that has lasted as long.

Not to mention things vary depending on where you live . . . what region of world, what part of the US, what city, even which particular group of goths you might hang out with . . . .