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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Celebrim" data-source="post: 3231280" data-attributes="member: 4937">Very few books read like a D&D game period because by definition a book is a story on rails, and gamers rarely like to feel like they are on rails.  That said...So the players and DM were open to alternative solutions.  You've a problem with that?What makes you think you are dealing with artifacts?  You are dealing with three magic blades, no more and no less.  If you've romanticized them in your mind, it shows that the DM is doing a good job of presentation with his magic items.The ring is - like almost all artifacts in D&D - a plot device.  It's the hook the writer (game master) is using to tie the players into the next adventure.Why?  Bilbo the Rogue sounds the alarm.  Most of the dwarves, being asleep can only take partial actions, and being dwarves lose the iniative anyway.  Gandalf the Wizard casts lightning bolts, and then when he realizes how badly they are outnumbered, he casts invisibility.  There is a pitched fight but the goblins use thier advantage in numbers and surprise to grapple with the dwarves - which is precisely the tactic I would have chosen as a DM to nuetralize high level PC's with low level goblins.   And, like a good DM, he doesn't just kill off the PC's because he can, but goes free form.  Then later, Gandalf the Wizard casts pyrotechnics and uses the confusion that ensues and a lucky critical on the goblin leader to free Thorin the Fighter.  Then Thorin and Balin and thier retainers have another pitched fight with the goblins, and the party makes a strategic withdraw.  The DM arranges a series of interesting set peice encounters with various pursuing goblins in what would be an extremely exciting chase/battle sequence if ran correctly.  In the confusion, the halfling rogue gets left behind.  But the rogue is resourceful and uses his Bluff, Move Silently and so forth to get out on his own.  It's a well played sequence by everyone, and if I was in that play group we would be remincing about it for years.  Ok, I admit that that violates a major tenent of game play, but I like how the DM was setting up the PC's to see how thier actions had unintended consequences.  First, the DM was an old school type who believes - and I agree - that magic items lose thier charm and specialness when you can just by them off the shelf like grocercies - especially prestige items like +5 swords and such.   Secondly, I take it you've never played a D&D game with a strong political theme?   Thirdly, I take it you've never read RA Salvatore's 'Streams of Silver'?</blockquote>

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