Learning 4e: First Impressions through character generation...

As previously mentioned, Sunday was our intrepid group's first experience with the fourth edition of D&D. We decided to do character generation as its own session, namely because we were sure there was going to be a lot of questions.

There were.

Learning is a two way street!

I asked that we get a buffet style look at the character generation options that existed within the new edition. Each of our three players took the three rolling methods described by the PHB: point buy, random rolling, and the standard array.

I believe that all three ended up with satisfactory stats, however there was a great deal of nostalgia for actually rolling the dice. Yeah, you were pretty much guaranteed a better average to high set of stats for the point buy system, but unsurprisingly.... people want to roll dice!

There was a considerable learning curve involved with negotiating the books themselves... some aspects of the Player's Handbook seemed confusingly laid out and it took some considerable effort to fully understand where all the rules fell together.

Our group got into some interesting philosophical discussions about the class changes that went into place with 4e. It seems that many of the changes make logical sense, and they are intended to make the game more digestible for new gamers. The trouble is that many of us are not new gamers, and we see opportunities for extension, expansion, and growth in the system that excites us. Having such a stripped down core system has left me wanting more to work with.

Do not misunderstand... I think the gameplay of 4e will be fast, fun, and very classic D&D. I'm just afraid that we'll be subjected to scads and scads of expansion books just to get us back to "normal" and essentially the sound of my wallet emptying is the only motivator in the end.

Time will tell and so will gameplay. Hopefully Vanir and SR will come along in the next few days and provide their insights!

Perks of Travel...

For starters, allow me to apologize for the lack of a new post yesterday. I arrived back at my hotel at 11:55 pm, so I thought it best simply to collect my thoughts and give you something interesting to read today instead of a crappy "sorry, missed a post" post.

Navigation and storybuilding, both tricky tasks...

In my various wanderings around the mountain countryside, I determined that navigation is made much easier by large, looming markers of direction (like, say, the Rocky Mountains). It's also made considerably easier by the addition of a Garmin nuvi 350, which one of my coworkers brought with her.

The respective bonuses to Intuit Direction have to be at least +2 and +10 respectively.

Even with this assistence, I still found myself lost a few times. This was only a little frustrating, however a few choice encounters have inspired me for a few campaign ideas. I am in the process of fleshing out these ideas into a servicable 4e campaign, which should be fun to both break me into 4e and unleash on my unwilling player characters.

One may glean from this information that I am finally reading my 4e books in depth, and that means that before long you'll start hearing glowing praise/moderate indifference/seething rage depending on my mood at the time I sit down to write my various reviews.

I haven't decided how I intend to structure my opinions of 4e, but I am leaning toward an "in theory" and "in practice" set of segments that would outline how I see a new aspect of the system handling, and then how it actually handles once we get into the game itself.

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated on what you want to hear me talk about. Here's your chance, blogosphere... choose your own adventure!

The Aftermath, and a look to the future...

Just in case you've not been reading carefully the last few posts, we finished our campaign this past weekend. After the session had wrapped, we immediately started considering options for the following campaign.

What's Next For Us

The other couple in our group has the torch to run the next campaign, and we're all eagerly anticipating that, however we all elected to take a several week break to deal with The Real World (booooo) before getting underway with a new campaign.

As a whole, the group is eagerly anticipating the 4th edition of Dungeons and Dragons, however Kanati and I were quick to point out that we'd both be more comfortable delaying until we can fully absorb the new system rules. Our next campaign will likely be 3.5 edition Ravenloft, which will be my first time in that campaign setting.

A lament for things left behind

Thanks to this lull in our gaming activities, we're getting ready for a garage sale here at SR Central to cull some of our extra stuff and regain some shelf space for our new acquisitions. I was going through some old boxes when I happened across my third edition D&D books, complete with my (nearly) full-body character sketch of my ropehandling wizard, Medric the Great.

I drew it while our GM was in a heated rules "discussion" with another of our college D&D crew, and I liked it so much that I held on to it. Unfortunately, we didn't get that far through the campaign before school got in the way so I never quite got to flesh that character the way I wanted.

I often grapple with the urge to revisit past characters or campaign settings, and I always get talked out of it by the rest of our gaming group. This pull usually gets stronger without the immediate presentation of roleplaying opportunities, in fact I keep several Google Docs with "Return to..." campaign threads that sit, waiting for their time to come.

If anyone has any suggestions for how to slake this thirst for reliving "the good times" I would appreciate hearing it!

On Fit and Finish...

Today, my lovely wife Stupid Ranger and I set out into the cold weather to do some Christmas shopping. We ended up as we often do: at Borders.

While she was agonizing over the sale tables, I ventured into the roleplaying section to peruse the new offerings from my favorite publishers and while I was looking at all of the bindings and titles I began to think about what draws me to certain supplements.

I work in the manufacturing industry and there is a concept called "fit and finish" that is used to describe the final touches that are put on the product before it is considered complete. As I looked at those bindings, idly selecting one or two to pull of the shelf and flip through I found that some very superficial things made me actually pick up certain books and look through them.

Things like fonts, cover art, and titles are what initially drew me to some titles. I grabbed a few books and found that their layout or typeface was so appalling that I couldn't stand to read more than a paragraph at a time, which placed those into the "right out" category. I believe that is why so many roleplaying resources are moving online: you can choose how you want to receive the content, many times controlling the superficial things that help you drive down into the content.

On the car ride home, I was thinking about what good gaming opportunities I may have missed or dismissed purely on these criteria. Essentially, in my opinion usability matters. If the "fit and finish" is off and I can't get past reading a single paragraph, or I can't read the chart easily from arms length I very likely won't buy the book, and often times I have found that I marginalize anything in that same given series purely due to the manner in which the information is presented.

Am I alone here?

Black Friday Shopping List

In the spirit of Black Friday, when those who love to shop worship the After Thanksgiving Sales in crowded stores, let us not forget that most players love to shop for their character and thus celebrate this most impressive of shopping holidays in the manner best fitting our favored past-time.

Beginning with the Basics

In addition to armor and weapons, there are certain things most character will need to procure before adventuring in the great wide world. I try to never leave home without the following:

• Backpack
• Bedroll
• Winter Blanket - I love to use these for more than just camping in the colder months; they're handy for a make-shift litter or awning, and in a pinch, you could create a blanket rope.
• Scroll case, parchment, ink & pen - a great DM with whom I once had the privilege to game had a house rule that unless you character was carrying the necessary equipment for taking notes, you as the player didn't take notes. So if you wanted to keep a copy of the prophecy, you character better be able to write it down. Ever since that momentous session, I have always equipped my character with the necessary writing materials.
• Flint & Steel
• Mirror - sometimes you use it, sometimes you don't. But you never know when a mirror will come in handy.
• Rope - of course.
• Waterskin & Rations - even though our house rule doesn't specifically monitor such things, I always have them on my character sheet.
• Class-specific requirements - holy symbols for clerics, instruments for bards, thieves' tools for rogues, etc.

Adventurer's Wish List

Beyond the basics, every character has a wish-list of items they would buy if they had enough money. For me, these tend to be:

• Amulet of Natural Armor - since most characters don't have anything to provide natural armor, this is a quick boost to AC without the tedious mucking about trying to figure out what kind of bonus it is and do you always have something with that bonus.
• Stat-boosting items - gauntlets of ogre power, cloaks of charisma, gloves of dexterity, anything that will boost the primary stat for your character class
• Bag of Holding - true shopping can only begin when you can sell more loot! And to sell more, you must be able to carry more.
  
• Magic weapons - for the fightery-types, magic is always better, especially if it comes with some sort of extra enhancement, like fire damage or keen-ness
• Magic accoutrements - for the spell-castery-types, bonus spells are always a plus... magic wands, extra scrolls, anything to fill the void when you've used up your best spells for the day
• Magic Armor/Robes - anything to make it harder for the enemy to hurt you is always cause for celebration, whether you need shiny new plate or a fabulous new robe.
  

I know I always have a great time when I get to cash in my share of the loot and upgrade my character's equipment. And it's even better than Black Friday door-busters, since you don't have to wake up before the sun just to get the best deals!

Desperate Times - An Ari Story

Disclaimer: I've been coming down sick and almost didn't post today, but I didn't want to disappoint the regulars, so I apologize if this post isn't up to my normal standard. Bear with me, and I'll try to make it up to you over the holiday weekend.

Finally, a Plot Hook I Can Really Enjoy

At the beginning of our Act 2 campaign, I had a hard time finding motivation for my character, but we finally encountered some crazy-scary plot hooks that have pulled me back into the game. First, we encountered a horribly evil goddess bent on tipping the balance of good and evil towards evil (big surprise, huh?). She's an evil, scary enemy that we totally didn't deserve. After all, we saved the world just 4 short years ago! One would surely think our contributions have earned us a little peace and quiet, but, alas, that is not to be.

Then, in a follow-up twist, we were called to a council of the gods, who told us that Evil Lady had a good point, that we made the world too good when we saved the world last time. So, the gods can't stop Evil Lady, and we'll just have to figure out how to defeat her ourselves.

WHAT!?!?!

We're being abandoned by our various gods! On the verge of world-wide war, we're being given a secret mission to defeat an evil goddess, but we can't count on our gods for assistance. This is the kind of treatment I would have expected if we'd failed our last attempt at saving the world, but being the proven heroes we are, I would expect a little more support, especially as our characters all have strong religious connections.

And so it is that we embark on our assigned mission to save the world once again in these desperate times. There are few times more intriguing than that moment when you realize that (once again) the fate of the entire world rests on your ability to overcome the unreasonable, evil goddess.

The Player's Perspective

This is always a tense situation, because we if we fail in our mission, the world will be overcome with darkness. I love the intrigue of this particular type of plot hook. The difficulty I find is how to accurately represent my character's reaction to this kind of responsibility. For Ari, an accomplished fighter, it's not so much about the impending battles as it is the overwhelming knowledge that failure means the destruction of the world she has already fought to save; unfortunately, this isn't the easiest reaction to roleplay, so I have my work cut out for me.

Share Your Stories

What kind of crazy-scary moments have you encountered or (for the DMs out there) created? And how did you (or your players) roleplay their reactions?

Fear and Nervousness in D&D Las Vegas

I love my D&D way of life, but there was a time not so long ago that I didn't know anything about the game. I was introduced to D&D back in college, and in the beginning, I wasn't too worried. But then, when I moved out of my comfortable little group into a much bigger group, things changed, and I was a nervous wreck.

Round 1: The Introduction

I started out with just my husband (then fiance) Dante, and our friend, Chuck, who was the DM. Just the three of us... so if I screwed up, I wasn't too embarrassed. I had a lot of random knowledge from miscellaneous myth systems, folk lore and legends; I figured I could handle the story side of things, though I was a little nervous about the mechanics of it all. After consulting the PHB, I opted to play an elven bard, so the guys helped me roll up my character and place my stats and all those little things that go into creating a character.

Dante & Chuck made things so easy for me in those first couple of session that I was brave enough to accept another friend (Boyle, another long time gamer) into our little group. The very first Evensbrook campaign was my very first campaign, and I had a marvelous time saving the world from the evil Drow.

Round 2: Big Isn't Always Better

While our little campaign was my only campaign, Dante & Boyle were playing in another campaign that Chuck was running with a bigger group. Both stories ended up about the same time, and they guys encouraged me to join in with the rest of the group for the new campaign. And that's when the nerves really set in for me.

This group was composed of long-time players from the early days of D&D; I felt like a D&D-infant having just started in the early days of 3.0. And I distinctly remember the fears PM described: I was sure I didn't know enough of the rules, but I was more sure I didn't know enough of the everyday-kind of D&D things that we would encounter. I was terribly afraid of embarrassing myself in front of the seven or so guys I didn't know very well.

The Verdict

In the end, I didn't make a huge fool of myself, but probably because I'm such a shy person. I played a support character; I stuck to the bard class into which I had already been introduced and offered support in the form of healings and Inspire Courage bonuses. I didn't put myself in the spotlight, mostly because I was nervous about saying or doing something wrong, but in the end, it didn't matter.

I came to realize throughout that campaign that all of these guys - most of whom I did not know prior to the campaign - were willing to put up with my inexperience because, in the end, we were all there to enjoy ourselves.

The Moral of the Story

I highly encourage new players to get their feet wet because it was one of the best things that ever happened to me. Stick with it, play more than one session at least, and try to suspend your nervousness. Don't let the rules scare you; in the end, it'll be just fine. Have fun, and welcome to the family. :)

My Inner D&D Character

Thanks to Yax, I no longer have to ponder what my inner D&D character is. Yax's survey revealed the following:

After analyzing your answers with state-of-the-art medieval fantastic psychology profiling tools, Dungeon Mastering is confident that your inner D&D character is a Neutral Good Half-Elf Fighter!

Though I must say I'm not completely surprised. Most of my close friends already think I'm an elf... so that part is "half" right. And after a rather startling revelation a few weeks ago, it's no surprise I'm not a spellcaster. And neutral good... well, that's subjective I suppose, but I like to think I'm a generally nice person, though I do have a few chaotic tendencies.

The only change I would really make in this is that I'm more of a ranger than a fighter. I like the slashy-slashy but I also like tracking and slaying my sworn enemies. But then, I'm sure that's not really a surprise! :)

A DM I'm Not

When I first started playing D&D back in college, I had the good fortune to have a wonderful DM; he made it all look so very easy. After the first couple of campaigns, I was convinced that I, too, could be a DM. I planned out my first storyline, created my NPCs, and ran my first session.

I won't say it was an entire disaster, but it was definitely a lot more difficult that I was lead to believe. I got bogged down in tables and charts, and I just got so overwhelmed. For me, being the DM was not as much fun as being the player.

After talking to my group and explaining my situation, they allowed me to dissolve the campaign. And since, I have never tried to DM. I learned a very valuable lesson that day: those who can, DM; those who can't, play.

Of the Fourth, there was this to say....

As I have been tagged by Elf, I will share my four. I'd have posted sooner, but I was down sick this week... and since I'm the last so tagged, I figure I better get to meme-ing!

Four jobs I have had in my life (not including my current job):

• Front desk assistance / mail sorter at the dorm
  
• Generic sales position
  
• HR manager for the local Sears
  
• Software instructors for a computer education center
  

Four Films I have watched again and again:

• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
  
• Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
  
• Dogma
• Lilo & Stitch
  

Four places I have lived:

• Central Illinois
• Central Illinois
• Central Illinois
• Central Illinois
  

Four Programs I love to watch:

• House
• Bones
• Pysch
• Simpsons
  

Four Places I have been on vacation:

• Dresden, Ohio
  
• San Fransisco
• New Orleans
• Lake of the Ozarks
  

Four of my favorite foods:

• Five Cheese Ziti - Olive Garden
• Oriental Chicken Salad - Applebee's
• Edy's Loaded Butterfinger ice cream
• Chicken Quesadilla from a local Mexican restaurant
  

Four favorite drinks:

• Diet Coke
• Sweet Tea
• Steak & Shake milkshakes
• Sake - for special occasions
  

Four places I would rather be right now:

• Olive Garden
• Playing D&D
• Sleeping
• Sitting on the couch watching Simpsons .... oh, wait, that's where I am!
  

Four People I Tag (unless you've already done this... then you don't have to):

• Yax
  
• Phil
• Evil DM
  
• Jonathan Drain

My Surprising Revelation

I was working on Better Characters: Weapons post when I came to realize a startling fact: I have never played a true stand-alone spellcaster. Now, I have played spellcasters: clerics, bards, even a sorceress, but I have never allowed them to rely solely on their magical abilities.

I suppose the reason I was so surprised is that I've always felt that spellcasters are so powerful: how many times has a fireball turned the tides in a difficult battle? How impressive is the power behind a lightning bolt? I hold spellcasters with great respect, as a player and a character. And yet, I have never played the character wielding these spells.

After coming to this revelation, I talked it over with Dante, who, of course, pointed out the very obvious: I don't trust magic because it eventually runs out. After you've used up your spells for the day, you're done until tomorrow, and the best you can hope to achieve is some minor damage from whatever simple weapon you have at your disposal.

So, my resolution, which I state before you all, is to play a true spellcaster in the next new campaign. I'll let you know how it goes! ;)

For the Good of the Party, or What Would Ari Do

There comes a moment when every character is faced with a decision whose outcome will either be for the good of the character or the good of the party. And when that times comes, it is one of the most difficult situations you will ever face.

The Scenario

At the end of a recent campaign, Ari, my elven fighter, found herself in the midst of a situation where she had to question her actions: was she acting in the best interest of the party? The group had acquired several pieces of the star-shaped artifact that would close the many portals opening all over the countryside; they had climbed the tower to the ceremonial site; they had found several of the pieces already in place. All they had to do was join the few pieces they had collected, and the star would be complete. As they were about to complete their mission, their luck ran out; multiple portals opened around them, and demons started entering the room.

The Dilemma

As the guardian of the artifact's pieces, Ari felt obligated to finish putting together the star; as one of the fighters, she felt obligated to draw her blades and fight off the minions of evil. She was sure, however, that if she could finish reconstructing the star, the gates would be closed and they would all be safe again. But, she still felt as if she were taking the easy route in all of this, standing at the back of the room and furthest away from all the danger. Should she keep up her efforts reconstruct the star, even though she was not suffering in the attacks, or should she abandon her task and fight to save her companions?

The Decision

Ari held true to her convictions and continued to reconstruct the star while all around her demons poured into the world, bent on destruction. Every time it was her turn, and the DM looked over at me to see what Ari would do, I struggled against the metagaming voice that told me someone across the room was about to be officially dead and allowed Ari to hold onto her belief that the only way to end this was to finish piecing together the star.

In the end, it all turned out okay. Ari was right all along, and by reconstructing the star, she caused the portals to close. By allowing my character to follow her convictions (and by staying in character), the evils were defeated and the entire party went on the live happily ever after... until the next chapter starts up in a few weeks.

Gamer's Crack

There's something about having a hoard of polyhedrals spread out in front of you that just makes you oh so very happy, and there's really no explaining the phenomenon. Those colored dice have a special power that can strip even sophisticated conversationalists of their ability to say anything more intelligent than "ooh, dice!" And for those so addicted, there really is no substitute.

I am highly addicted to dice, and every year at Gencon, I have to make several Will saves to avoid buying everything I can grab when I pass the Chessex tables. Fortunately for me, my very wonderful husband keeps me anchored to reality, and I settle on a new set or a scoop or something. I did pretty good this year and only bought one set (blue Nebula), and are they nice!

If you're anything like me, you have those special dice that are reserved for special purposes. I have a set of d6's that I only use to roll up my characters. I have a set of d8's that I use almost exclusively for my healings or longbow/sword damage. And of course, I have my ever-favorite (until it rolls too many single-digits, anyway) d20. It's translucent green with white numbers, and I can't start a session until I have it on the table, along with whatever other dice I'll need.

For those of you who feel hopelessly addicted, feel no shame. It's a perfectly natural response for one who rolls dice as we do. Just remember, you're not alone; there are others who love those polyhedrals as much as you do.