WotC_Bruce serves the dragon

[TerraDave]

Okay, that was awesome.

When I read that I thought "this is the kind of game I want to be playing"...but then I realized "and I sometimes am. And I don't need a new edition for that".

But I guess it shows that the new rules are at least consistent with a great game.

 

[Rechan]

I believe R&C said that, when warlocks get higher levels, they can use two packs.

 

[Dragonblade]

Damn, I certainly hope so. That was never any fun.

Yes and no. I remember playing in games in ages past when it was impossible to know what a magic item did except through testing.

Although that was fun in some cases, in others it was frustrating. I'm not necessarily opposed to making magic items somewhat mysterious and fascinating. But when it comes to straight pluses and such, it should be easy to tell that the magic it bears is at least more or less powerful than other magical gear you already have.

Furthermore, keeping bonuses a secret was always a pain when DMing since the burden of remembering to add in the bonus was all on the DM. Tolerable when only one player is trying to use that mysterious sword he picked up. But when the whole party is wielding arms and armor they have not identified and picked up over the course of several adventures, and you have to keep track of all the bonuses secretly, it can really bog down the game. I speak from experience.

In those cases, I'm willing to trade a little sense of wonder and mystery for fast and easier gameplay.

 

[RigaMortus2]

Much chasing ensued, misdirection, and bluffing, and a break for freedom.

This is the part I am interested in. It seems to imply that there may be a mechanic involved for chasing someone down, and escaping from them. In 3E, you really could never get away from a chase unless you had a higher speed. Perhaps there are mechanics now that allow you to do so?

FWIW, me and my group never ran into the problem of fleeing or tracking/hunting down enemies who tried to flee us. It has never really been an issue w/ our group, but I know a lot of people don't like it (3E - "I run 240 feet to get away, probably provoking an AoO for doing so"; enemy goes, they run 240 feet and catch up, rinse and repeat)

 

[Imban]

As written, I don't think Melech tried the ring on blind - the wording suggests he looted the silver ring because it looked valuable, but it was the trigger for an encounter trap. Nothing there about Identify.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

I believe R&C said that, when warlocks get higher levels, they can use two packs.

That's nothing. Any first level Dwarven Fighter can use six packs.

 

[Cadfan]

Let me try again, since last time didn't work.

HOLY WOW! STAR PACTS ARE IN! WE ALL THOUGHT THEY WERE OUT BECAUSE OF THE WARLOCK PREVIEW BUT REALLY THEY ARE IN! RACE AND CLASSES WASN'T JUST SHIPPED TO THE PRINTERS TOO EARLY, STAR PACTS ARE REALLY IN! I WONDER WHAT THEY ARE! LET US ALL SPECULATE ON THIS RATHER THAN DISCUSS THE SPELL "IDENTIFY," WHICH IS JUST AS BORING TO TALK ABOUT AS IT IS TO CAST!

Does it work better with exclamation marks?

 

[Zaruthustran]

This is the part I am interested in. It seems to imply that there may be a mechanic involved for chasing someone down, and escaping from them. In 3E, you really could never get away from a chase unless you had a higher speed. Perhaps there are mechanics now that allow you to do so?

I hope so. Chases should be exciting. Maybe it's a contested roll, with opponents getting modifiers for high Int (able to figure out out angles of attack, obstacles, shortcuts), Dex (able to navigate obstacles, weave between crowds, stay on one's feet), or Con (endurance in long race).

 

[JohnSnow]

Let me try again, since last time didn't work.

HOLY WOW! STAR PACTS ARE IN! WE ALL THOUGHT THEY WERE OUT BECAUSE OF THE WARLOCK PREVIEW BUT REALLY THEY ARE IN! RACE AND CLASSES WASN'T JUST SHIPPED TO THE PRINTERS TOO EARLY, STAR PACTS ARE REALLY IN! I WONDER WHAT THEY ARE! LET US ALL SPECULATE ON THIS RATHER THAN DISCUSS THE SPELL "IDENTIFY," WHICH IS JUST AS BORING TO TALK ABOUT AS IT IS TO CAST!

Does it work better with exclamation marks?

Well, I've been long speculating that the three pact types available for Warlocks in the first PHB would be Fey, Infernal and Star. "Star Pact" would be the "shadowy" one that's been often mentioned.

From Races and Classes, they stated that they had "Fey, Infernal, Star, and Vestige" pacts available. And from some of the later blogs we've seen, "Vestige" is the one that's been dropped...for now. That means "Fey, Infernal, and Star" are still in.

 

[Voss]

Not really. Now its just annoying, because you went all caps lock on us. People are going to talk about what they want to talk about.

Its actually an interesting question, because any sort of prior experience with D&D suggests putting on an item blind is just a Bad Idea. So the question of why is important.
Did he do it because he wasn't thinking?
Did (the character) do it for roleplaying reasons?
Did he do it to push along the playtest?
Or did he do it because IDing items really isn't in?

Inquiring minds want to know!