Upper Krust, where are you? [Immortal's Handbook]

[Upper_Krust]

Re: Teaching French to Upper Krust

Bonjour mes ami francais, je vous espere une bonne journee?

I similarly started in German and English. Now I estimate I'm reasonnably skilled at internet-based conversations in English, but in German, I'm ashamed I hadn't got past this point.

I know some phrases and words but I wouldn't consider myself competant in any language other than english...and sometimes not even then.

I was never very good at languages at school; poor short term memory unfortunately.

...what were we just talking about?

I was saying that these two minor mistakes would not be noticed in spoken language.

I doubt I would have understood much of what you said in conversation (I'm not at that stage yet I'm afraid)

Le monde est mal fait: it's easier to write than to speak in a foreign tongue (since there are no problem of accent and pronounciation), but the errors are more visible (and longer lasting).

Agreed.

Maybe telepathy would solve this problem, but sadly I don't master this communication medium.

DOH! There I was getting my hopes up too.

Nothing beats practicing, though. My best English lessons were provided by playing Ultima Underworld 2 (and having a good ol' big dictionnary nearby). Computer games have make me learn more English words than my teachers.

Theres definately a difference between wanting to learn something and having to learn something.

There's a French story hour (in the story hour forum) that could be a good start.
Here's da link: http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3352

I had a look - the text was fightening en masse.

To give some food for thoughts, here's an article written by Sean K. Reynolds: http://www.seankreynolds.com/rpgfiles/misc/theoryaboutpeasants.html

Nice article, thanks! Something akin to what I advocate.

 

[Upper_Krust]

(Spell) Resistance is futile.

Bonne Nuit U_K!

Au contraire, bonjour Blacksad!

why not, but only in my campaign I think (see below)

I understand, so my house rule probably wouldn't fit in the IH, but the reverse might work:

except improved spell resistance and the heightened abilities feats, no feats that increase save, skill, or DC stack

So simply disallowing improved spell resistance to be taken multiple times would work?

The problem I see with spell resistance is that unlike other changes I have made (such as Challenge Ratings; Harm/Heal; Multiple Attacks for Multi-Armed Opponents etc.), it is not clearly broken. So changing it is firstly unnecessary; and secondly forces you to change other things just to compensate - something that inevitably snowballs out of control.

Some monster are inteded to have a good or bad SR vs character of the appropriate CR, with your formula all monster would have an average SR, while some monster where intended with a bad or good SR (dragon have a low SR for their relative power, I think that this was intentional, to make dragon a fun opponent: i.e. the fighter can hit the dragon with his sword the mage with her fireball, if it isn't too big the rogue can sneak, etc...

Not at all, I mentioned previously...

...I don't believe all monsters should be so formulaic, most, but certainly not all.

Regarding Dragons they are definately undersold compared to their challenge ratings! The fact that this was supposedly done on purpose is somewhat insulting.

 

[Upper_Krust]

Challenging Challenge Ratings...again

Hi all!

I was going over my Challenge Rating rules (not Effective Character Level you understand; but the CR modifier for high levels) yesterday and have decided to make a number of changes.

I know what you're all thinking, 'what has this doofus gone and done now!?'.

Anyway, I have modified the framework somewhat above 20 AND I also now have the modifiers for under 20 as well!

(I can just see it now) What do you mean a 5th-level character is CR10! Are you mad!?

Anyway I am planning on submitting the totally revised material as an article to Dragon magazine on Monday. I'll let you know how that goes.

Incidently I have also noticed something else which is good news for people like CRGreathouse (hello mate) who were sceptical about my changing what constituted challenge ratings.

My interpretation of ECL IS exactly the same as WotCs interpretation of CR!

eg. A 30th-level character is ECL 30 in my system and CR 30 in theirs.

Lets just say I work out a Great Wyrm Red Dragon to be ECL 40; then by WotCs system it is effectively CR40.

Don't be an idiot I hear you cry in unison.

But just think about what they claim CR to be.

Its the average level at which point a party of four characters will defeat a monster using (approx.) only 25% of their resources.

It also (more obviously) means at what point is a single character 50/50 against another.

Trust me...I know what I'm doing.

 

[Anubis]

Re: Challenging Challenge Ratings...again

FINALLY . . . THE ANUBIS HAS COME BACK TO EN WORLD!

After a week of the server being down on EN World, it's finally working again! Now I can finally get back to business!

I've seen that article but it doesn't make much sense to me - Commoners are not equipped to survive CR1 challenges; you'd have to say that CR1 for a commoner is a much easier challenge than CR1 for a PC, which goes against the spirit (and letter) of the XP rules IMO.

Of course he also advocates cutting the XP by half, so he's basically saying that the encoutners are not CR 1 but rather CR 1/2. Sounds good enough to me.

Hi all!

I was going over my Challenge Rating rules (not Effective Character Level you understand; but the CR modifier for high levels) yesterday and have decided to make a number of changes.

I know what you're all thinking, 'what has this doofus gone and done now!?'.

Anyway, I have modified the framework somewhat above 20 AND I also now have the modifiers for under 20 as well!

(I can just see it now) What do you mean a 5th-level character is CR10! Are you mad!?

Anyway I am planning on submitting the totally revised material as an article to Dragon magazine on Monday. I'll let you know how that goes.

Incidently I have also noticed something else which is good news for people like CRGreathouse (hello mate) who were sceptical about my changing what constituted challenge ratings.

My interpretation of ECL IS exactly the same as WotCs interpretation of CR!

eg. A 30th-level character is ECL 30 in my system and CR 30 in theirs.

Lets just say I work out a Great Wyrm Red Dragon to be ECL 40; then by WotCs system it is effectively CR40.

Don't be an idiot I hear you cry in unison.

But just think about what they claim CR to be.

Its the average level at which point a party of four characters will defeat a monster using (approx.) only 25% of their resources.

It also (more obviously) means at what point is a single character 50/50 against another.

Trust me...I know what I'm doing.

I think I'm losing faith in your system, man . . . The CRs in the MM are just fine except for some of the most powerful such as Solars and dragons . . . You're simply making this way too complicated!

 

[Upper_Krust]

Re: Challenging Challenge Ratings...again

Hey Anubis mate!

FINALLY . . . THE ANUBIS HAS COME BACK TO EN WORLD!

After a week of the server being down on EN World, it's finally working again! Now I can finally get back to business!

Good to have you back...I was starting to worry.

I think I'm losing faith in your system, man . . .

The CRs in the MM are just fine except for some of the most powerful such as Solars and dragons . . .

Okay...and how has that changed with my recent revelations?

You're simply making this way too complicated!

What bit don't you understand? I actually didn't think I had revealed enough to confuse people at this stage. I'm confused at your confusion to be honest!

 

[Anubis]

Re: Re: Challenging Challenge Ratings...again

Okay...and how has that changed with my recent revelations?

What bit don't you understand? I actually didn't think I had revealed enough to confuse people at this stage. I'm confused at your confusion to be honest!

Changing things even below Level 20 isn't necessary in the least. A Level 5 Fighter is still CR 5 any which way you slice it, yet now you're saying that ECL and CR are different once again and the whole system will get thrown out of whack.

On another note, have you decided whether or not to include my new feats in the Immortal's Handbook? Only a select few have anything to do with Dragonball Z and Saiyans, to be honest. (Only the actual Saiyan feats have anything to do with Dragonball Z and Saiyans. The rest fit into any campaign!)

Seriously, they're not JUST for Saiyans and the such, they're good for ANY campaign, especially the Toughness chain of feats which is the work I am most proud of. Also, the Ki feats are quite nice, and actually takes a MUCH better approach to ki than the ridiculous Wisdom nonsense. ("Ki" translates literally to "Life Energy", or something like that, and thus has NOTHING to do with Wisdom, but rather the harnessing of your mind, body, and soul's full potential. ANYONE with training can do it!)

By the way, I have fully playtested Energy Manipulation in an actual campaign now, and I must say, I am quite impressed. The feat turned the tides of the party's most recent boss battle, which was against a Cleric of Vecna who had taken a Potion of Fly, and the party had pretty much no ranged weapons. They have learned their lesson, believe me! Anyway, Energy Manipulation for Blast and Explosion completely turned the tide of the battle from certain loss to a very close victory, but didn't throw everything out of proportion, thereby confirming the balance! WHOOOOOOO!

Anyway, try them out if you get a chance, I think you'll like them. The party in my campaign, by the way, was a Level 2 Paladin, a Level 2 Rogue, a Level 2 Cleric, and a Level 2 Fighter. The rogue has the Energy Manipulation, and they're all human. The boss was a Level 5 Cleric with a Level 1 Monk and an Ogre . . . It was an ugly battle that ran a RECORD-BREAKING 59 ROUNDS! Can you believe that? I've never seen anything like it! Anyway, enough of that . . . I'm just saying, put 'em in, you know you want to!

By the way, do you and S'mon game in person or over the net? Despite the rules disagreements, that campaign sounds hella fun, and if it were possible, I'd love to get in on the action! Anyway, that's all for now . . .

 

[S'mon]

Re: Re: Re: Challenging Challenge Ratings...again

By the way, do you and S'mon game in person or over the net? Despite the rules disagreements, that campaign sounds hella fun, and if it were possible, I'd love to get in on the action! Anyway, that's all for now . . .

Craig's generally not keen on playing over the net. We played a couple of good games when he was over for Gencon UK.

-Simon

 

[Upper_Krust]

Re: Challenging Challenge Ratings...again

Hi Anubis mate!

Changing things even below Level 20 isn't necessary in the least.

On the contrary, it is necessary.

Testing shows a 20th-level character is not equal to x4 16th-level characters (in fact thats something you agreed with not so long ago).

A Level 5 Fighter is still CR 5 any which way you slice it,

No. A 5th-level Fighter is ECL 5. It is also (WotC)CR 5*; but it is more than the equivalent of x4 1st-level characters.

*Which I already explained; (WotC)CR IS the same as my ECL rating.

yet now you're saying that ECL and CR are different once again and the whole system will get thrown out of whack.

To use an analogy...

Have you ever heard the expression "Innocent until proven guilty"?

Before even seeing the facts of the case you have me convicted; sentenced; and on death row pending a grim demise with no chance of appeal.

Given your track record of jumping to conclusions (usually the wrong ones); don't you think it would be prudent to withold your scaremongering until you are privy to the facts!?

I appreciate your concern; but I don't rush in where wise men fear to tread.

On another note, have you decided whether or not to include my new feats in the Immortal's Handbook?

I won't be including any I have seen.

Perhaps you should submit them to a d20 company thats interested in doing a martial arts based product?

Only a select few have anything to do with Dragonball Z and Saiyans, to be honest. (Only the actual Saiyan feats have anything to do with Dragonball Z and Saiyans. The rest fit into any campaign!)

As far as I could tell you had three types of feats:

1. Toughness Feats: this has already been covered in various WotC products and I already have a 'Divine Toughness' SDA (+100 hp).

2. Ki Feats: mainly revolving around energy blasts and suchlike; something that is already covered in D&Dg with Divine Blast and certain other abilities I have already created.

3. Saiyan Feats/Template: obviously specific to DBZ campaigns.

So overall I didn't see anything that warranted inclusion; thats not to say they couldn't be included in another body of work (like I said; try a few d20 publishers); just that they were not really relevant to Immortals. Anything thats not really relevant is just going to dilute the focus of the book.

By the way, do you and S'mon game in person or over the net? Despite the rules disagreements, that campaign sounds hella fun, and if it were possible, I'd love to get in on the action! Anyway, that's all for now . . .

We tried some Play By EMail a few months ago but it was too time consuming. Though I totally loved the Battlecrusier 3000AD game he DMed online, despite the unrealistic ending.

As Simon mentioned; we got some gaming done when I was over in London for Gencon UK. I hope to go back over every few months (or so) when I have the cash.

I'm not sure if Simon is running any PBEM at the moment; probably says somewhere on his website? Simon?

 

[Xeriar]

Re: Re: Challenging Challenge Ratings...again

On the contrary, it is necessary.

Testing shows a 20th-level character is not equal to x4 16th-level characters (in fact thats something you agreed with not so long ago).

I always wondered why Epic levels didn't start at 19th...

No. A 5th-level Fighter is ECL 5. It is also (WotC)CR 5*; but it is more than the equivalent of x4 1st-level characters.

It's most drastic at 2nd-level, where a 2nd-level character is fairly equivelant to 2 1st-level characters.

*Which I already explained; (WotC)CR IS the same as my ECL rating.

I don't believe WotC CR will ever be the same as jack squat.

On another note, if I want realism and sense, I'll go with GURPS. More people will understand what I'm doing then.

To use an analogy...

Have you ever heard the expression "Innocent until proven guilty"?

Decreed in Boston after the Salem witch trials. I didn't think it ever applied to you Europeans

Before even seeing the facts of the case you have me convicted; sentenced; and on death row pending a grim demise with no chance of appeal.

You've stated a number of facts - you intend to rerate CR according to actual power increase. Fine, but you're keeping WotC CR around as ECL?

I won't be including any I have seen.

Perhaps you should submit them to a d20 company thats interested in doing a martial arts based product?

That's good I don't care for Dragonball.

As far as I could tell you had three types of feats:

1. Toughness Feats: this has already been covered in various WotC products and I already have a 'Divine Toughness' SDA (+100 hp).

Is +100 enough? I mean, a SDA should be a bit more than an epic-level equivelant. +100, and +1 DR (or whatever you're using now) for purposes of avoiding destruction, or something.

 

[Upper_Krust]

Re: Challenging Challenge Ratings...again

Hi Xeriar mate!

It's most drastic at 2nd-level, where a 2nd-level character is fairly equivelant to 2 1st-level characters.

ECL 1 = CR 2
ECL 2 = CR 4

I don't believe WotC CR will ever be the same as jack squat.

Well its the same as literal ECL.

On another note, if I want realism and sense, I'll go with GURPS.

...and if you want Immortals...

More people will understand what I'm doing then.

I don't understand what you mean?

Decreed in Boston after the Salem witch trials. I didn't think it ever applied to you Europeans

I had diplomatic immunity* that Anubis thought had just been revoked.

*Sounds like a Salient Divine Ability.

You've stated a number of facts - you intend to rerate CR according to actual power increase.

I have, yes.

Fine, but you're keeping WotC CR around as ECL?

Its not a matter of 'keeping it around' they are one and the same!

That's good I don't care for Dragonball.

I actually enjoy it in moderation...its perhaps a little repetitive after a while though, yet never less than fun.

Is +100 enough?

Yes.

I mean, a SDA should be a bit more than an epic-level equivelant. +100, and +1 DR (or whatever you're using now) for purposes of avoiding destruction, or something.

SDAs are 'roughly' the equivalent of 5 feats (epic or otherwise).