Dragon Avenue Forums

Music and SFX

2010-02-25T17:43:53-08:00

I’d think this question has already been asked, but I couldn’t find a thread, so I’ll ask anyway.

How many DMs use music and sound effects in their gaming and how effective has it been overall? Also, what music/sounds did anyone use.

I’ve used Cellar of Rats in Call of Cthulhu games, which turned out pretty well. My friend also used Tribes of Nurot (probably not spelled right) for some of his darker, horror games and that worked pretty well, too.

Recent errata - do you like it?

2010-03-07T18:56:29-08:00

I just read the most recent errata for all the books.
It made some pretty major changes…

Do you like the direction WotC is taking with the errata?

Stuff I like about it:
- clarification for weapon/implement rules
- clarification for damage types vs. keywords
(Although I am not sure this is a good rule, at least there is one.)

Stuff I don’t like:
- Expertise is now a feat bonus (It did not really fix anything. It just makes things more bland since there is one superior option and other flavorful by inferior ones.)
I don’t like expertise in any case (I am houseruling the bonus) so does not really matter.
- Small random things that don’t really matter.

Indifferent about:
- Orbizard nerf (We never had an orbizard in any game so far.)
- Save penalty nerf (Seems like most save penalties only work on the first save of a power. I think the orbizard nerf was enough, this may be a bit too much.)

Just to kick off some rules debate here, since it is so quiet…

I still remember when we used to discuss the rules a lot more here, but I suppose most people are just playing and dealing with the things without many changes?

And a few questions to someone with the DDi subscription:
- Can you force things in character builder (like houseruled bonuses on top of the regular ones?)
- Can you install the character builer on two computers? I’d like one for the laptop and one for my home pc.

3.5e help

2010-02-06T09:57:45-08:00

So, I’m starting a campaign with really heavy political elements in an oppressive magocracy. I know what I’m doing with the story, but time is not my friend right now and I can’t find enough of it to work out the NPCs.
I have the story important NPCs worked out, but if there’s anyone willing, I’d like some help coming up with secondary NPCs. I don’t need anyone to make all out characters, just come up with background, personality, specialties and goals. I can attach game data to that quickly if I need to. I just want to have some NPCs that I can fill out the game.
The culture is a mix of French and Italian, as are the names, so think accordingly. Bellow is a link to all the information you’d need about the political setting, the noble houses and the names of the biggest players.

http://freyad-dryden.deviantart.com/art/The-Game-of-Houses-132395725

My adventure game trailer

2010-02-22T07:08:15-08:00

I took a page from a former DM friend of mine and what he does to get his players psyched to play and made a trailer to build hype for my game.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0b36slu-Q-Q[/youtube]

Changeling vs. Doppleganger

2010-02-17T09:11:07-08:00

I’ve got a player who is looking to run a doppleganger over a changeling. Correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t they the same thing in 4th edition now? Or that the “playable” version of a doppleganger IS the changeling?

4E - 5 player to 4 player scaling

2010-02-11T13:01:28-08:00

I know this would be easy if I were creating the material myself. But, on the side I’m going to run an additional adventure. The Revenge of the Giants. Due to schedules and such, I’m only able to garner 4 players. I don’t want to put the effort into the down-scaling the encounters, so would it be fair to raise the starting level to 13 instead of 12?

Diplomacy… player versus player

2010-01-15T09:33:37-08:00

My party is having some issues, and I as a DM run diplomacy a little different than what is said in the 4E PHB.

Have other DM’s run into issues with party decisions and how to rule them properly. Or have you run into players who simply refuse to allow their character accept a high result when they counter with a low one?

4e/Help with Magic Items

2010-01-28T02:22:28-08:00

Hello,

I need help with deciphering some abstract text regarding magic items, or maybe I am just reading too much into it which I have a tendency of over analyzing things sometimes. The section I will be referring to is on PG.223, paragraph two of the “Magic Items” section in the PHB (First Printing, I know they put errata in the back of newer books I just do not have them out here at work with me.) It states:

“Magic items have levels, just as characters, powers, and mosters do. An item’s level is a general measure of its power and translates to the average level character using that item. In practice, your character will end up with some items that are three or four levels above your level and others that are several levels below. There’s no restriction on using or acquiring items based on their level, except that you can’t use the Enchant Magic Items ritual to create an item above your level. If, for some reason, your 10th-level character finds a 20th-level magic sword, you can use it to full effect.”

Now, this seems vague to me because aren’t the levels of the magic items a general guideline for how powerful your character needs to be in order to weild them to their full potential? Or for that matter to understand the true potential of what the item is capable of? It just seems a little odd that you need to be proficient with a weapon to gain its bonuses yet the second you find a magic item your a professional with it even if it is ten levels higher than your character. Or as I wrote above, am I just reading to deep into this? I bolded where I feel this paragraph contradicts itself. Someone please help clarify.

2nd Edition The Complete Fighter

2009-11-11T11:19:28-08:00

I just got the 2nd Edition AD&D The Complete Fighter’s Handbook from paperbackswap.com. (It popped up and I jumped on it. That’s the only way to really get RPG books.)

But in reading through it again, after all the years since the last time I owned it (early 90’s), it dawns on me just how much the power creep really has escalated in the intervening years. Heck, a 15 Strength was considered ideal for a barbarian, and the associated “benefits” for the warrior kits are minimal at best.

Not making a negative comment about 3rd or 4th edition. Just noting that there is some definite substance to the argument.

D&D the Animated Series at BJs Wholesale

2009-10-04T09:22:13-08:00

I just bought the entire D&D cartoon series at BJs for $9.99! Sure it’s campy and a pretty much awful cartoon, but it’s AWESOME and absurdly cheap. Run out to your local BJs and pick it up.