Trapped Article

[Rechan]

As you read this message board post, the screen explodes. You have fallen prey to "Explosive Font".

Hey, I said it was a trapped article.

Excellent, advice on building traps.

I also like the first page of info. Those are useful tips (especially the one on the side).

I definitely like the Kissing Maiden's "Enhance encounter" suggestions. Particularly the "Giant Staircase" one.

Although, I do find it a shame they are sticking with the now-easy erattaed Skill Challenge DCs

 

[Timeboxer]

Although, I do find it a shame they are sticking with the now-easy erattaed Skill Challenge DCs

The article seems filled with crunchy goodness! This statement of yours puzzles me, though. If you want harder traps, can't you just use higher-level ones?

 

[Rechan]

The article seems filled with crunchy goodness! This statement of yours puzzles me, though. If you want harder traps, can't you just use higher-level ones?

It's not the "harder traps". It's "harder DCs". The first skill challenge DCs were too high, these are too low. There's a reason that a ton of "Skill challenge fixes" have popped up on the Houserule board.

 

[Rechan]

You know, I really love the suggestion that traps that don't reset or engage the party in more than one round are treated as minions.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

It's not the "harder traps". It's "harder DCs". The first skill challenge DCs were too high, these are too low. There's a reason that a ton of "Skill challenge fixes" have popped up on the Houserule board.

Most of those were because the originals were too high, though Rechan, so basically you're being a bit of a Goldilocks here. Unless they're exactly to your taste, you're going to complain.

Do you seriously expect them to randomly abandon their own errata'd rules to inexplicably bump the DCs for this article so that they make Rechan happy but confuse the majority of their customers? That seems unreasonable, to say the least.

 

[Ginnel]

You know, I really love the suggestion that traps that don't reset or engage the party in more than one round are treated as minions.

Thats quite cool too, also I can't quite express how much I like the advice they give with the top 10 things to do and not to do, it is useful whatever system or genre you are using.

 

[Rechan]

Most of those were because the originals were too high, though Rechan, so basically you're being a bit of a Goldilocks here. Unless they're exactly to your taste, you're going to complain.

Do you seriously expect them to randomly abandon their own errata'd rules to inexplicably bump the DCs for this article so that they make Rechan happy but confuse the majority of their customers? That seems unreasonable, to say the least.

I kindly ask you to tone back the attitude there.

It's not just me who have a problem with WotC's skill DCs. Stalker0 has put out two huge, popular piece for many who are unsatisfied. Here's another., another, some more, I could go on.

If you like, I could also hunt down the thread discussing the eratted skill challenges, showing the displeasure that several posters expressed, or look up the statistical analysis that a poster has done on why the skill challenge system is too easy now, and was too hard before. It will take me a little time since I'm not a payed user (and thus can't use the search function), but they're there if you need further proof that it's not just Rechan being "Goldilocks".

 

[Vurt]

Just to be clear, while the latest errata toned down Skill Challenge and Disease target DCs, it didn't touch those associated with the traps at all, so it's not surprising that this article doesn't either.

 

[Timeboxer]

The first skill challenge DCs were too high, these are too low.

I thought that too, but then yesterday I ran a skill challenge using the new rules and the party just barely succeeded. I suspect your mileage may vary, but despite the low new DCs for skill challenges success still seems challenging.

 

[Spatula]

Just to be clear, while the latest errata toned down Skill Challenge and Disease target DCs, it didn't touch those associated with the traps at all, so it's not surprising that this article doesn't either.

No, this article uses the newer, easier DCs, whereas the DMG traps still (?) use the too-hard DCs.