Animus's page

I played PFS at least twice a month from April to November last year, and went to one local con. I was really into it. But between GMing one group, playing in another group, GMing an online campaign and PFS, I got bored and burned out. It's a heavy game to prep (though 10+ years of 3.x experience helps with this) for and too rules heavy for me to be overloading my schedule on. Plus, RAW don't encourage me to play my characters the way I really want to.

Will I return to Pathfinder? I'd like to think so since I spent money on books and HeroLab. But for now I'm having too much fun playing other games.

Dear Dr. BARBARIAN,

Do you have a Twitter account or blog?

*stuff*

Steel_Wind's reviews are great on the Price of Immortality Trilogy. There is a concern (that he brings up) about the premise of the second module Masks of the Living God. It can be a problem for some home groups; as a PFS mod I can't imagine that it'll make things better. Just a heads up.

I have a player making a rogue cohort for my Kingmaker campaign for this Sunday, so I find this conversation interesting.

In my 3.5 days I have both played in a party with cohort(s) including my own, and have DM'ed cohorts. It just takes communication. The general rule was, players make the cohort, control the cohort and RP the cohort, but the cohort cannot steal the spotlight. He/she is a support character. The cohort shouldn't talk more than the PC. That's the way we play it anyway. It works for us.

Are you ready to stock up on some Skorpion popsicles?

YO--Wait I can't say that. How about YES!

Will there be other SF7 products?

Congrats to all of the new VC's and VL's. I'm sure you'll make a great org even greater.

I have 2 active characters:

* Half orc cleric/barbarian 6
* Human magus 2

I had a third (actually my first PFS character) but he died at level 2.

I have a detective rogue waiting in the wings when I level the other two up a little more.

Painlord wrote:

That said, as a Local Coordinator, I would hate ruling them out. Although I would do my best to avoid them, I recognize that this isn't a good rule. In fact, I wouldn't feel bad at all about breaking this rule (if it were in effect) at all: sometimes it's just necessary.

Pain really nailed it. I can't stand seven player tables, but sometimes it's either seven players or someone walks away unhappy and I hate sending people home.

It would be cool if it were a rule that GMs had a couple free passes to break.

+1

Awesome idea! Please email me the template. einor at yahoo dot com

I think Paizo should continue with their current plans. There may be some that go to 5e and leave Pathfinder completely, but I'm willing to bet that even if 5e is a great game, people will play both. Heck, I would. At some point, though, I'm sure Pathfinder will have a new edition. It's just a matter of time. What D&D does should not affect that though.

Cartigan wrote:

What? How is what he is doing distracting from anyone else's fun unless he isn't keeping up with his part in the game? I've played with people 120% engaged in the game and ruining my fun because they kept holding it up from any sort of progress whatsoever.

I can spend the entire game playing a game on my computer and still keep up with what everyone other single person has done this game session, most of what is going on, and what has happened the majority of the entire game history.

If the player could keep up with the game and fiddle with electronics at the same time I wouldn't mind as much. But unfortunately, he can't, and several times a session he pops up having to ask what is going on and where the group is and who they are talking to or what they are fighting. Then all of the other players sigh heavily and roll their eyes and someone explains it him. There is another player in the group who is texting through 90% of games, but he always knows what is going on and still pays attention. Worst we get from him is a slow down on his turn in combat because he is finishing typing out a message.

By texting do you mean once an hour or conversational texting? The former is no big deal (heck I do that) The latter is not cool, especially if they can't keep up.

Congrats, Mike!

Though I'm new to PFS, I've been impressed with the volunteer staff and organization here in Atlanta. I'm sure you will do an excellent job growing the campaign, and that your replacement VC will follow in your footsteps down here in Atlanta.

I have only one complaint: Why in the world would you keep cheering for those loser Falcons?

Who Dat!

- Ron

Well I am about half way through the book so far. I like it all and all, but something about it just seemed... different. It took me awhile to realize what that is. Now I think I know. It reads a lot like a campaign, on how they are played out. The pacing changes speed from time to time and different things fade to black and jump forward. Not a bad style just different is all.

I do really like that it is a party aspect though. I do hope we see more such books from paizo in the future.

+1.

After reading this thread and thinking on it, here are some of my takeaways for my games as a player/DM:

1) I like the concept of naming weapons and applying the name(s) to whatever weapons fit the concept.

2) Giving a name for each plus of enhancement would be cool for me. For example:

+1 = Magic
+2 = Exceptional
+3 = Remarkable
+4 = Superior
+5 = Legendary

So you could have a magic keen longsword or a remarkable flaming burst dagger of goblin bane

3) Only give detail to special items. A sentence will do. What defines special? That's up to the DM.

Thank you for all the great ideas!

Good discussion on the Fighter. I have three simple suggestions:

1) A fighter bonus feat every level.

2) More fighter bonus feats, like the PHB II.

3) 4 + Int bonus trained skills.

with one leg.

Elminster uses frequently

Sweet! Keep it up.

Let's see,

Based on personality I'd have to go with human paladin. Boring I know, but my friends would tell you that it fits me very well.

After a female character first saw the vision of Kyuss in Spire of Long Shadows:

"Wow. He's kind of cute. I think I want to worship him."

Followed by repeated attempts to ask Kyuss minions where she could find him.

Create a cool weapon is what you've done. I'm not running the adventure at this time, but I yoinked that monk for an Eberron game I'm running just because of it :).

Where is everyone at in their AOW campaigns?

Finishing "Spire of Long Shadows"

When playing a dwarf fighter who was at 0 hit points, I rolled on a random battle cry generator that had all of these cool cries. What result did I get?

"GNAR!"

It sent the whole party into a laughing fit.

I believe with the amount of Giants present there, it makes sens to make the Rift a place in Xen'drik. It would easliy explain the presence of monstrous ruins, ancient magic, and hidden aritfacts. Simply pick a spot somewhere in Xen'drik and drop it in.

Ditto.

Personally, I'm interested in where the Wormcrawl Fissure will be located. I think anyone interested in Eberron can see where it's going... Katashka the Overlord being the actual Keeper, and now bound to Kyuss as his means of escape, with a dead dragon as his herald; I'd say it's a good bet the Lair of the Keeper in the Demon Wastes will be where they recommend putting the Fissure. But I mean, c'mon... the Age of Worms is kinda not-so-nice, but is it bad enough to constitute sending my players into the DEMON WASTES?? That's just MEAN...

Mean but perfect *grin*.

Hey, I understand your concern. The adventure path as written isn't Eberronesque because Eberron wasn't in mind when they planned it; Greyhawk was. And I like Greyhawk. But I'm running AoW in Eberron, and it's working pretty good for me.

The key to making it feel like Eberron is like others said before, changing some stuff around. And you don't even have to change a lot. Change just enough that the players see the difference. If that doesn't work or you don't have the time (and really it's not time consuming), try running it as is. It's a fun campaign.

My group just started the Spire of Long Shadows. We've played just about every week since mid August.

Kudos to Lilith!

I have to add my commonly used NPCs in this thing now. I have orcs, goblins and such from CR 2 to 9-10. You never know when you need that orc champion.

Last summer I introduced a friend to D&D. Just two months ago there were two more people brought in to the Eberron game I'm playing in that are new too.

Hi there!

A friend of mine and I are just wondering what the average age of a Dungeon reader is.
I said between 28 and 31. I am 34 years old and play D&D since the age of 14!
So, how old are you ;) ???

31 (almost 32), and have been playing D&D since I was 13.

(this is based on the average age thread)

What is your education level?

BSE in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, and currently underemployed. Woo Hoo!

At least I have more time for gaming.

Byron Zibeck wrote:

Okay, I don't even have issue 128 yet, and I know the supplement for issue 127 isn't even out either, but can we get an ETA for the supplement for issue 128?

:-)

Sometime after 127's goes up but before 129's supplement goes up.

Good answer! :)

tastes like chicken

I would have to agree with this statement. Single classing doesn't seem to be 'in fashion' in the new editions because your character won't be as 'cool' as your buddy's 1/2 Dragon/Dwarf Fighter/Bard/Sorcerer...

And unfortuantely this is what turns people off about 3E (3E being 3.0/3.5). As people said before, there are benefits and drawbacks of converting. Me personally, I love 3E. But I believe it's because the rules are now more uniform. You don't have to play that 1/2 Dragon/Dwarf Fighter/Bard/Sorceror. My group (not as old time as you guys but have all started in 2ed or earlier) generally sticks to the traditional roles. The option is there to do different stuff race/class-wise, and I don't even have to make up the rules!

As far as NPCs and monsters, I don't spend as much time on them as I do the story. I know the rules well enough to fudge adding class levels while I'm playing. I've also been playing 3E since it's release, to be fair. I also spent the time to make up index cards of common monsters with advanced levels/hit dice/templates, pulling some of that from the internet and making some myself. That time up front (and it's not as much as you might think) has saved me time overall. Of course, you may not like doing that kind of stuff.

In the end, go with what works for you and your group. I say "Don't knock it until you try it." Not that you're knocking it. Here's my suggestion. WotC has free adventures on the site. You and your players can use the SRD if you don't feel like spending the money to try it out. Play some one shots. Come into it with an open mind. Then make your decision about converting your regular game. Either way you go, it's all D&D in my eyes.

his left buttock

"When will you

time when you

One of my black friends dropped one of the funniest lines during a Call of Cthulhu game. During a moment of mounting tension, he suddenly lept to his feet and yelled "Oh sh%t!! I'm a black man playin' in a horror game?? Man, we never make it into the second act!"

Destroyed the mood for a bit, but it was worth it! And for the record, he made it into the second act, but not the final curtain.

That's hilarious! I can appreciate the humor in that.

I'm interested in where you live, Animus. I've lived all over the US and I find my gaming groups to be representative of the population.

-Amber S.

I curently live in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I was born and raised in New Orleans.

Hey all,

I've been gaming since I was 13 (I'm now 31). In all of that time, I can count the number of African American people that I've encountered on one hand (and not use all five fingers either). One of them is the guy who introduced me to D&D. I've seen a few latinos and asians (that includes Indians and Pakistanis et. al.) as well; not represented as much as their U.S. population, but I have seen a few. The fact that I've only met 3 African Americans that play RPGs got me curious. Are you/do you know and African Americans and/or other ethnic minority that plays RPGs? I specify RPGs because I've seen quite a few kids of all ethnicities playing CCGs.

I think the only real problem with D&D is the same problem that can exist in any hobby or entertainment: the proclivity to let the hobby eclipse your life. I think this is what some churches and religious people respond to when they see that their kid stops caring about anything other D&D. Yet, I've see the same problem manifest itself with videogames, comics, collectibles, and movies. Really (once again) it comes down to parenting and the attitude you approach the game. If you let you child do nothing on the weekends and weeknights but play D&D then you're probably setting your child up for a fall. If you find yourself thinking of nothing but the next D&D game, if you feel it is consuming your life, then maybe you should take a little break. I suppose that advise serves for just about anything...

Good points. That's what this whole thing boils down to. D&D, because of its powerfully escapist element, was really the first thing that had that kind of draw that got attention. Or maybe it's a result of the evolution of media. I don't know. But now we have video games, MMORPGS, CCGs, and other things that have similar power expressed through different ways. Balance is the key.

Someone told me that once, but as I grew up in New Orleans, I told them that going to Hell would probably be an improvement.

I grew up in New Orleans too, and I agree!

Actually my somewhat religious mom was more concerned about the TMNT book that I had, with stats for guns and stuff than actual D&D. She was cool with that. I kept a low profile with D&D with my new church necause I thought it might get a negative reaction from people. But aside from people thinking me strange (and I am), people seemed cool with it.

In short, I PERSONALLY have not had problems, but I have heard stories from others. I've even seen a tract or two connecting D&D (and rock) directly to Satan worship. That was a kick. People are stupid.

This entire topic is obviously a very inflammatory one, and it has fans of all of the different D&D worlds up in arms. Some want WotC to support Greyhawk, and others want more out of other worlds. Despite what I said earlier in this thread, I feel that every D&D world does have its place and its fans. Greyhawk is the only world for me, however, which leads me to what I would most like to know: What is the future of Greyhawk going to be? Someone out there knows facts, not theories, and I would very much like to hear them.

I agree. I mostly homebrew as DM, but the Greyhawk world holds a special position in D&D, and I for one would like to see it properly supported, like FR and Eberron (both of which I do like for different reasons). You've pleased and disappointed us on so many occasions WOTC. Don't blow this one ;).

Not only does the game exist, but I actually saw a dragonchess set made by a guy I used to work with! My memory is a little sketchy because it was almost 10 years ago, but seeing an actual set is pretty cool. Unfortunately, I never got the chance to actually play a game.

WHIDPERING CAIRN SUMMARY:

I am running AoW in Eberron. This is the make up of my party:

Shenx, female shifter ranger from Bronzewood Lodge;
Wren, male shifter druid from the Bronzewood Lodge via the Eldeen Reaches;
Juna, female elf scout from the Bronzewood Lodge via the Eldeen Reaches;
Tinker, male personality warforger artificer "from" Diamond Lake;
"Singe", male human warlock from Diamond Lake;
Blaise "Crusher" Danson, , male human fighter from Diamond Lake.

They actually managed to befriend the wolves (sort of). The ranger maxed out her wild empathy roll at 25 (she used an action point) and offered the wolves food, so they didn't attack the party.

In the sarcophague room, they fell viction to the crushing elevator trap, but actually disabled the Face in the Darkness.

When they got to the True Tomb, they cleaned up the Wind Warriors. There were six in the party, but their dice were hot for that fight. Still, the druid was reduced to -5 hp and would have gone unconscious if it weren't for his shifter ferocity feat.

All in all, I've decided that I need to make 3FoE a little tougher because they handled most of the fights fairly easily.

I'm finally back in the DM's chair, after playing a PC for the last 6 months. I'll be runing the Age of Worms, and I sent my player's this quick guide to Diamond Lake.

Just to let you know, I used your guide (edited for Eberron) and the players loved it! This is really good stuff. It has totally enhanced the realness of the Diamond Lake area. Thanks for the work!

Dependeing on the adventure, it takes me from 1 to 3 hours to prep. I make most of my adventures myself, but I adlib a lot, so I just prep the stuff for the main plot (encounters, treasure, backstory, etc.). My players are so chaotic that they almost never go the route I plan for, so I have to be ready to change it on the fly. But you have to consider, I've been DMing 3e/3.5 since its release, and D&D in general for about 12 years now.

"Besides, clumsy is

I have DMed groups from 2 all the way up to 8 players. I have done complete campaigns at both ends of the spectrum and in between.

in kobold spleens