Cato Novus's page

If they somehow manage to change stuff around without actually *fixing* these issues with the old format, I'll continue to compare 4.0 to the 'New Game Experience' in Star Wars Galaxies.

I have to post this before I finish catching up with this thread...

Were you a Smuggler, too?

Agreed Mister Stewart, almost everything I've heard, I have to say that I don't like. But, I do not have enough information for a properly formed opinion one way or another, so I shall reserve judgment.

I do admit, however, that when I dislike virtually everything I hear/see about a product, it makes me want to avoid it. Therefore, I will be taking a wait and see approach to this.

Edit: I would like to add, that if these Non-Magical Powers that non-magic users get are more akin to Special Abilities, then its not too big of a deal, but with everything we've been hearing, it doesn't seem that way. Personally, if I roll a Rogue, Fighter, or Barbarian, its because I don't want to rely on Magic. Not get Magic Powers that Aren't Magical.

Cato Novus wrote:

How dare they! You should give them whatfore! Where I in your shoes, I would declare that what I left on their grave, after winning the duel, of course, would not pass for daisies!

Just so. Then I shall take my battle to the Illumaniti themselves, the sinister backers of this cabal and give them what-for with my sabre! We have a battle for the very imagination of humanity on our hands! Are you with me, sah?!

We shall rally forth, blaze a trail of destruction right through them, only stopping for Lunch at Noon! This Battle for the Imagination of Humanity will be fought not in our homes, nor on our lands, but in a setting of Imagination itself, where the sky is purple, the trees grow baked hams, and where we bleed hitpoints instead of blood!

Cato Novus wrote:

the Wand and Staff thing I hear is happening(having a bonus to your magic because you carry a Wand or Staff will quickly turn into having a penalty because you don't carry).

Wand and Staff thing?!? Haven't heard that one... Is it something like the rule in Tunnels and Trolls that makes it more taxing to cast spells without a "proper" staff, and more advantageous to cast with a "special" one?

What I remember reading is that Magic users will be able to keep a Wand, a Staff, or some other type of magical instrument(I forget, maybe an Orb, or something). WotC says that these items are not necessary, but grant a bonus to the spellcasting, and the normal level is how power the spellcaster is without these items. Kinda like they're chanelling their power through them and amplifying it.

Figure A: Normal + Staff = Bonus

However, this will become the opposite, because every spell-slinger will have them. Making carrying one of these things the Normal. Thusly, a magic user without one essentially a character with a penalty.

Figure B: Normal - Staff = Penalty

I could have misunderstood how they stated things, but I do not believe that to be the case.

Listen my good man, W$TC spat in my face, called my lady friend some curse words, slapped me with a glove and challenged me to a duel on the common at dawn tomorrow! And for good measure they insulted my man servant, kicked my dog, shot my horse and poured custard over my grandmother!

And by gad, sir, I mean to keep that appointment! They shall see that I shall have no truck with their ways. They are the very devil I tell you! The devil!

How dare they! You should give them whatfore! Where I in your shoes, I would declare that what I left on their grave, after winning the duel, of course, would not pass for daisies!

You forget, CR# means it should be a mostly even fight between that one creature versus four adventurers of # level, and they are only two. And keep in mind that if that Christmas Dinner includes a Turkey, they're in deep.

I'd like to give my opinion, but first, I should probably grant the lot of you some context into my point of view.

I was born in '83, and started playing about two years ago. Sorry for being late and all, you'll have to take that up with my parents. However, I'm not new to RPGs. My first is a game my friends made and I joined in almost a decade ago and have helped to develop(I've done most of the Naval combat system myself).

Anyway, I'll spare false modesty and admit that I quickly got a firm grasp of the rules, quickly enough that my first few games I was DM. I also have a penchant for playing unorthodox, and sometimes demented characters. Examples would include my Barbarian Mime; my boozehound Pirate with two hooks, two peglegs, and two eye-patches; my clinically insane Sorcerer, who likes to cast magic just for the hell of it; a constantly sermonizing Cleric with the personality of a preachy, self-righteous, hypocritical televangelist; and my current character, a Longbow-wielding, lecherous Monk named Kip. I try to have my characters behave as their personalities allow, but I still try to fight smart. Dueling a villain at the edge of a precepice? Bull rush him! Fighting a Fire Elemental? Shout to the Druid to cast Create Water! Zombies shambling up from the depths of a swamp? Tell the Cleric to cast Bless Water!

I'm currently playing in a game with a DM who has played since D&D first came out, and occasionally rules-lawyer when he accidentily slips back to some older rules without realizing it(Literacy, anyone?). Right now, we're playing pure 3.5 Core with the Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil module. No other suppliments. I've been trying to get my friends in the party to think up tactics(most haven't played since 2E or earlier) such as keeping at least one Spear on hand(ahh, the Spear, such an under-appreciated weapon, I think my next character will be a Fighter who specializes in the use of this wonder-weapon). My Party's Ranger and I quickly figured out a clever method to enter rooms we're uncertain of. He uses a ring of Mage-Hand to open a door while I have a readied action to shoot anything I think is hostile coming through the doorway.

Now, I hope that grants proper context into what I say next.

I do not hate 4E. That does not mean that I like it. I simply have not found out enough to form an educated opinion on the matter. I will admit that I do not like what little I have heard about it(except the Gnomes, the little punks can fry :P ).

I like having to make saving throws.
I like trying to figure out what that big doggie's Damage Reduction is and is overcome by(Damnable Yeth Hound, I'll track you down).
I like different classes having wildly different abilities and contributing to the whole of the party.
I don't like non-magic-using classes having "Combat Powers" that can be used over and over(reminds me of that stupid Book of Nine Swords).
While I don't like Magic-users becoming spent after three rounds, I don't think they should be able to use all their powers all day long, either, nor do I like the Wand and Staff thing I hear is happening(having a bonus to your magic because you carry a Wand or Staff will quickly turn into having a penalty because you don't carry).
Healing your Allies because you attack an enemy is plain silly.

I admit though, when it comes out, I will go to Hastings and read it. If it is to the contrary of my expectations, I may buy it. But, it will be some time before it will actually be used. I'm currently trying to build a campaign world in 3.5 and have already gotten a significant amount to change everything.

To all haters and lovers of 4E, at least, those insulting each other. Stop. You're just making yourselves and your positions in the argument look bad.

To all those who can't provide an argument for/against 4E other than spouting "IT SUCKS!" or "IT ROCKS!": Stop. You're just making yourselves look stupid.

To all those who might respond in a hostile manner because you may think I insulted you: I never mentioned your name. Don't take things personally.

To any who do take it personally anyway: Screw off. :P

I wish this board allowed editing of old posts....

It does, if you try within one hour.

This thread is simply awesome. Reminds me of how I almost killed the entire party in sequential sessions using

#1 Half-Zombies(my own crazed creation).

#2 A dryad summoned by the party's own druid(who was being possessed by a Zombie Lord).

#3 A freshly raised minotaur(who impaled the druid upon his horns and fought the rest of the party with the druid dangling from his horns).

Nero24200 wrote:

Vow of Poverty is one of those feats which can be good, but also opens the door to muchkinisim.

Any character who takes it however, -should- take to the spirit of such a vow. This means that having another character hold potions for him/her should not be allowed. A character who takes this feat should never act with the mentality of "Well, it's not -techiniclly- against the rules...". Not having access to wands and such is one of the few disadvantages this feat gives, so it's one that should be enforced.

Take a look at the rules text for the feat. The notes about the potions and someone else using using wands, staves, scrolls, etc. are SPECIFICALLY set out in the text of the feat. The wizard would hold ALL of the groups potions, and could hand it to ANY group member including the VoPer as needed. Adapting to the circumstances and making best use of the rules as they exist may be powergaming but not munchkinism per the definition that Fake Healer, Fatespinner and others have noted

I hate to say it, because while you're technically correct, you're actually wrong.

What you're overlooking there is the spirit in which the feat is intended. A Vow of Poverty means you forsake the needs and wants of yourself for those of others. It means while you may have thoughts of selfishness and greed, you do not act upon them.

A character who takes VoP, and then designates someone to essentially be his mule is violating his vow by proxy, being greedy and possessive while not technically taking ownership of the items in question.

Seriously, if you are going to have someone carry "your share" of the potions and so forth for you, the easiest way to sidestep VoP would be to take it at level 3, then Leadership at 6 and get a cohort to buff/heal you all the time. Its the same basic thing as previously mentioned, except now the character is an NPC you control.

Its still cheating the system, and I would disallow any use of it in such a way for any game I DM.

Yeah, EtCR gets a little awkward to run as written if you know the slightest bit of backstory for Ravenloft, Barovia, the Demi-Plane of Dread, and so forth. You just gotta take Yoda's advice and get to unlearning.

I'm currently putting together a storyline for a homebrew campaign and world, which I'm going to try to fit EtCR into. As long as I don't include any previously written Ravenloft stuff(and constantly remind my players that what they know is no more :P), we should get though it fine.

Cato Novus wrote:

Ahh, yes, its all coming back to me now.

I knew you'd get around to seeing it that way.

Cato Novus wrote:

By the way, I hope you realize that by invoking a Pi joke, the gag is not allowed to terminate.

It's the gift that keeps on giving. ;)

Yes, one could say it transcends other jokes.

By the way, I hope you realize that by invoking a Pi joke, the gag is not allowed to terminate.

Cato Novus wrote:

Mike McArtor wrote:

Cato Novus wrote:

How high level will I have to be to successfully cast Raise Dead on this thread once it dies... again.

*just couldn't resist*

I don't know. What edition do you exist in?

I don't know. It keeps changing on me.

Well, if you're playing 3.14th edition, you need not worry, because everything circles back around to its beginning in that game.

;)

Ahh, yes, its all coming back to me now.

Cato Novus wrote:

How high level will I have to be to successfully cast Raise Dead on this thread once it dies... again.

*just couldn't resist*

I don't know. What edition do you exist in?

I don't know. It keeps changing on me.

All right, all right.

That might have been a little too harsh, Kruelly. :)

Let's all stay friends and let this thread die off. :)

How high level will I have to be to successfully cast Raise Dead on this thread once it dies... again.

*just couldn't resist*

If you're looking for a Japanese name, you can't go wrong with Ralph. Or Edgar. :)

why is this thread not allowing me to go to sleep. ::whines and pounds desk like an infant::first of all didnt know about the nike 180 (specifally avoid name brands). good for them though. second of all, i kind of disagree with kirths views on american politics, i find a lot of people getting so sick of the extremes they simply dont vote or choose sides<--real problem. third: there is a HUGE print factory opening here in Marylands panhandle soon, my sisters freind toured it as part of his construction votech class. so american printing must not be suffering to bad from its loss of paizo's millions. can i sleep now thread, PLEEEEAAASSSEEEE

Well, if you can't sleep, roll up a character real quick and join the game. :P

**Throws a large pre-painted mini through the window of a starbucks**

"The mini bounces off the Starbuck's shatter-resistant window and back at you.... Give me a Reflex save."