Ben Parkinson's page

Well here are some suggestions to make the item a bit more usable:

1. Make it usable ONLY against beasts - why would a mongoose be able to preempt things it knows nothing about?

2. You could limit the initiative score to whatever your maximum iniative score could be, so super-fast adversaries could still out-initiative, if they roll well. You could basically give an automatic 20 on the roll or, as described above, +1 on the highest, unless it meant the score was higher than 20 (plus or minus your bonuses).

Using either of the above would make the costing more accurate imho.

The 4E group I have been playing with has decided to go back to running 3.5E.

My existing group, which has always been 3.5E or an older edition has flatly refused, to a man, to move to 4E. We ran one session of it and they weren't excited about it. It was "fun" but not their thing (not sure I understand that entirely).

All of the other D&D games advertising for players at my gaming store are 3.5.

I'm really looking forward for DDI getting off the ground so I can find some people to play 4E with. Might even try a PBP game or something.

Anyone else having any trouble finding a 4E group? Or did your existing group just switch over? Advice??

I'm going to advertise for a group again and see what happens...any other thoughts on getting a group? Anyone know a web site where people might advertise for players or a DM?

Yes - this is long awaited. Unfortunately it's too low level for the group that took on Merlokrep and defeated him, which are just completing J1, but I have another idea, which will allow us to cross the gap from 3rd to 4th edition and that is to convert the module to 4e and allow the characters to match themselves to this module, which I would set about Lvl 6 in 4th edition. It's short enough for this not to be a chore.

We're all very familiar with the new kobolds, so this would have been an ideal module to be the first you launch as 4th ed, but I guess this isn't Paizo's strategy, disappointingly. I will be struggling to justify buying any new Paizo modules and I have bought every one so far. The conversions really ought to be happening by you experts, not us buyers! Maybe you could offer modules in both 3.5 and 4e?

Well am still waiting for the pdf, as usual. Would it be possible to sign up for an "alert" for the pdfs, since I seem to end up checking back every day to find that the module is released but not the pdf.

Am not a big fan of demons in D&D, but for the sake of completeness will buy this one. Could I also ask Paizo to write a module that is not about death, destruction, murder or just downright nastiness?

Well we're nearing completion on this one now after about 4-5 weeks of running it on-line.

All in all, I think the module has worked very well. I warned the players that it was fairly adult in nature and somewhat savage, but this has meant that the players have been really eager to put an end to the massacre.

The second half does, I think, need a bit of a breather in it. The pie area could do this a bit more, but it did provide a slightly easier combat, which helped the party recuperate a bit. It has aside from this been very relentless and a little hard to get into roleplaying under this constant pressure. The ice shard issue wasn't picked up by the party either and so this meant that they tackled rather more of the challenges in the carnival before any assistance arrived, so maybe a little more of a hint in Syntira's speech would be useful on this, especially since she knows all about it.

I toned down the frosty chisellers a tiny bit. Having their beards do damage seemed a bit overkill, considering they have so many other abilities. The dark ice brownies are just right. They are a bit easier than the roseblood sprites in W1, but not much, with their powerful frost attack.

I guess we'll see next week how well they tackle the boss. The group will breathe a sigh of relief when the module is over - in a good way I think!

Although putting together a rules set isn't a bad idea, I did expect something a bit more exciting than the Alpha, for it to have any real raison d'etre. Rules fixes to make D&D 3.51 don't really appeal to me - I can do those myself. What I think might have legs is some new treatments or substantial creativity or more sweeping changes.

I'll admit that I've made my decision on 4th edition, but the group I play with are undecided and probably 50:50. It's pretty obvious that some people (like me) will be early adopters. It's also pretty obvious that eventually the mainstream will switch to the new version, although a few will stick with 3.5 through and through, as some still play 2nd edition. If they don't it will be because Wizards make a total hash of the new rules and I just do not see that happening - too much rests on it and a high percentage of the industry's best gaming brains are working on it.

People are notoriously slow to accept change. Some will take time to save up the £40 it costs to buy the three new rulebooks, but eventually 90+% will be playing 4th edition, because people hate to be left behind.

I respect your decision to make a ruleset in response to huge fan support. Paizo fans will likely buy the ruleset, because they like your customer focus and creative flair. Even I might buy it, like I buy pretty much everything (on pdf)! However, to me it is money for old rope, at least at present. Bigger changes, more creativity, new classes, new systems etc. may change my mind, but seriously the tide is with 4th edition and I'd much rather see Paizo at the forefront of 4th edition campaign and module design.

Will this be avilable on PDF for for on-line usage? The cards could be zipped up into a file of watermarked PNGs, so they could be used in Fantasy Grounds or similar?

I think people would enjoy using them on-line.

It's nice to see some fallibility in a company nowadays, which is not followed by some meaningless PR-speak. An honest mistake corrected as best as possible speaks volumes about a company which is geared around providing good products to its customers, not necessarily around maximising profit.

Not having 4th ed options seems to me to be short-sighted. The players I know are very excited about the new rules and even if the initial ones need adjusting 3.5 simply isn't good enough to stand the test of time any longer and what about the on-line games that Wizards are coming up with and Paizo could be involved with?

Bringing in a 3.75 seems too to be a complete waste of time and effort, as it will be neither fish nor fowl.

Many thanks for this - I actually added the fortuneteller and an unnamed illusionist into the tent running an unspectacular "sawing in half" show, so I had something to run there. They have just met Syntara, so I can use what you suggest for the second half of the scenario, if they head up in that direction!

Lastly, do we have natural progression module coming up for E1 and the lower caverns in the Kobold lair scheduled?

CT18 Tent of Illusions - I don't think this is included in the module, having checked a few times. Perhaps Mr Logue can advise what he intended for it?

If it is there, perhaps someone can point me to the right place.

Yes definitely keen to find out what is down that snaking passage in the Kobold Warrens...

Sequels not really needed - just some more fleshing out of the Darkmoon Vale area, with more background and new adventures. Make it into a proper campaign area.

A sequel to Carnival of Tears would be interesting.

Well I rated Carnival of Tears 5 stars in my mini-review for its creativity and originality.

I do, however, support the original poster, as I think "horror-overload" is a bad thing. When you consider the whole Pathfinder list of products, there is no harm in one or two products being "blood and guts", as this might mean a refreshing change to the average game session, if the GM is up to it. The Pathfinder is, I would suggest, however, a "mainstream" product, targeted perhaps at adults and if it veers towards bloodthirsty violence it is certainly NOT mainstream and should be in a niche, which Paizo may which to create - perhaps the "V" series for Violent.

As an adult GM, I would not be comfortable running a campaign with continual explicit language or bloodthirsty activities, but I can handle it for maybe a "one off", such as E1, which I plan to run after D1. Beyond that it becomes gratuitous and suitable to only those who enjoy horror.

I will say, though, that the writer is a very talented chap and I would hope he could "modify" his style a tiny bit to accommodate his target market, whilst still maintaining the "realism" that clearly he intend to portray in his modules.

Well everything I have seen about 4th Edition looks good. Much as I love 3.5, it has loads of flaws and plays very slowly at times. They know this and have from what I read have addressed pretty much all the issues for the next edition - grapple, high levels and aoo to name but three.

Can't wait, but I'd like to be able to trade in my 3.5 books:)