Taricus's page

You could look at it from the Illithid's point of view... I highly doubt he's gonna wanna eat (or let alone touch) some undead creature's brain. He would think of the tentacles as part of his mouth. Would u go in ur fridge and start eating or taking out all the food that has been sitting there for way too long--having been hidden by the milk and forgotten--let alone, even touch it with ur mouth to take it outta the fridge?

LOL I wouldn't... It might bite back... :P

Cool, I may have to try that.

It reminds me of the time my barfing cat hacked on the Chalk board we lay on the table to play. One of my players was in the bathroom when it happened and had just returned to the table.
Form the kitchen I heard:
"Woah. What, we fighting a Chaos Beast now?"
"Naw dude. DM's cat just ralphed on the board. He's in the kitchen getting paper towles to clean it up."

ASEO out

ROFL!!! omg! my stomach.... must....breathe...

That'z about wrong!

I don't think I've ever used anything too odd. Just candy, dice, and random pieces from board games.

"The monopoly sailboat jumps on the table and swings at you, wildly, with it'z longsword, just as the chess pawn finishes casting its spell!"

I got it. If the pcs are gettin cocky with there high lvlness, make a high-lvl cleric baddie, his own group of baddies, have them captuered, then have the cleric kill and res all the way back to the low lvls! mwhahahahaha

The souls of the dead PC's know the name and alignment of whoever is trying ot ressurect them, so they could just choose not to answer the spell.

On level loss, I just let the players choose what they lose. No skill points can remain above the max for their new level. They have to drop feats, spells/day, spells known (in the case of sorc's and bards). Get rid of any ability points they gained for those levels. Roll for hitpoints for each level lost and add the CON mod and just subtract it from the min/max hp's... Put them at the halfway point of the level with xp.

They don't lose any CON unless they are 1st level.

I think that'z pretty much all of it. Not too hard.

The justification with them suddenly 'forgetting' spells, feats, skills, ect. is that dying and then having your soul pulled back to your body is a very straining process, and you lose a bit of yourself when it happens. It'z not exactly a pleasant process to have your soul wrenched outta ur body when u die and then be brought back, later. :P

I don't know if either had spells memorized it seemed they were pulling what ever was usefull at the time out of the book, but thats another issue

LOL I've experienced that one as a DM...

(PC's all rest and can memorize spells)

Player: I'm memorizing blah, blah, blah

Me: *getting ready for everything coming up in the adventure behind my screen and listening, then look up and see they're just reading stuff off* "That'z alot of spells... Are you gonna write any of those down are you just gonna memorize your spells-- *cough* no pun intended..."

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On the subject of the game, though. If the attendance is a huge issue and it's really starting to bog down the game or annoying other players, it may be time for them to just go.

I've had alot of attendance problems in my games before (after trying to move the schedule around to satisfy their excuses--even to the point where everyone had to ASK what nite/time we were playing...). Eventually, it came down to just making plans with the others and the ones that didn't show up just faded off (outta the games, not friendship LOL).

It still kind of annoys me, though, when they hang out with me and say things like, "We never role-play, anymore.... I miss playing D&D with you guys..."

My only response is, "you know when we play..."

As one of my players said, "When hanging out with friends and playing a game feels like it's a chore, you know there's something wrong..."

I also believe you are mixing in a little Hastur, from H.P. Lovecraft. He is referred to as " he whose name cannot be spoken " or something like that.

"You run like a boy!"

--sorry, that reminded me of The Village... hehe

My first magazine when I subscribed took a lil bit longer than normal to arrive. It might just be that their new subscriptions take a lil time to process. Just give it a lil while and it should show up.

I had absolutely no problems with the rest--which I guess is good news. :)

--and if you get a lil too concerned, email customer service. They're very nice people and will let ya know what'z up. Paizo has have to have the *best* customer service dept. of any company I know. :)

I was running in a Dwarven City that had 7 different clans based on the kind of work they did. The group's favorite were the Grommit Clan, who were extremely hairy, and served as Masons and stonecutters. This was because of their desire to swing and hang from dangerous, high places more than anything artistic.

The city had five levels, and getting to the bottom from the top had an easy way (using the chain lift), or the "Grommit Way," which involved jumping down a chute with a heated updraft. Even though you were slowed from the high wind, you took 2d6 damage anyway when you hit the bottom. Plus, you had to roll away quickly to avoid the twenty sweaty Grommit warriors on their way down to crush you. . .

My group loved it, and now, every time they decide to kick down a door, jump off of a high place to save time, or generally avoid common sense decisions, they refer to it as "Doin' it the Grommit way!"

LOL I love that! Mind if I introduce the Grommit clan to my game? :)

One of the biggest running gags in my games comes from when a bunch of my friends were playing their first campaign ever. After they started gaining a few lvls, they all got a lil cocky and tried to intimidate the owner of the general store in Shadowdale. They were selling some loot from the underdark, under the Tower of Ashaba. One of them was trying to sell a short sword for what it would cost to buy one and the guy kept telling them that he wasn't gonna do it cuz he needed to make a profit, otherwise there's no point in him buyin' it.

Well, they argued for a bit. There were a few threats exchanged. Then one of the players looks up at me and says, "I would like to draw my sword in a non-threatening manner..." ROFL

Now whenever someone is trying ot be threatening, they 'draw their sword in a non-threatening manner...'
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Another one would be when I was playing a 1 on 1 game with a good friend of mine and I forgot to give her dice. She gets attacked in a random encounter and she's like, "Die..."

Me: "What?"
Her: "DIE, JIMMY!"
Me: "WTF DID I DO?!"
Her: "NO! I need a d10 for initiative!"
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There's alot more, but my post is long enuff :P hehe... good times, good times...

There's also a book, conveniently named, Legions of Hell--Book of Fiends. Volume One. By Chris Pramas. It'z written in 3.0, I believe.

That one concentrates on the devils in the hells. Haven't really looked at it much, but it does talk about Asmodeus and the other rulers of the 9 circles--and it describes the 9 circles of the pit, themselves. Good stuff, if you ever plan on bringing a campaign there.

Also has different devils and the politics between them all--along with some prestige classes for devils, and a template for fallen celestials.

I seriously agree, Odes. He really should turn his wit to something that more people can relate to. That would be great.

Right now, I feel alienated. --and I can't help the feeling that most of what he says is an inside joke between his personal friends and him.

I hope he changes and writes something a lil' more neutral....

I have done a situation similar to that, but I didn't really play with it as much as I should've. It was just that one sword was jealous of the other, even tho the other couldn't talk.

That would be alot of fun, I think. The player always steppin' in between them. Good roleplaying and would create alot of comic relief and fun. :)

Good idea, Jo'din!!!

oooh, I always wondered that, too.

insert playful :P after 'but yea...'

I'm also an admirer of Wil Wheaton and his job on Star Trek. I never had a problem with Wesley Crusher. Maybe to hard-core geeks, the character hit a little too close to home.

So I was pretty receptive to the idea of an article by him, and I enjoyed the first few.

uh....Wesley Crusher didn't write it... but yea...

I agree with the fact that 'The Accident' started out a lot better than it ended up being. --and being "The Accident" it is... I can't help but stare... I'm not glad I do, but it'z just a macabre thing I guess.

I think the one he TRUELY lost me was in the casino story. To reiterate the point that Samantha stated, he likes to brag. That'z when it became evident to me. Keep in mind this is BEFORE Samantha posted. Don't blame her. Flame me, if you must... I'm good with ignoring people or just blatently being childish and stubborn... as long as I don't get the blame for anyone else's ills... :P

If anyone can scroll up too. Most of our ills to begin with were about him IMPROVING. Satisfying us. --but instead, he clung onto the fanboys. Just cuz some people clung onto the celeb bit, doesn't mean anything to most of us.

I love fluff. That'z not an issue either. I just don't want to be smacked in the face with someone who'z not even interested in his readers; and just comes across as proud. Personally, I'm set in my belief that no one is better than me--even if I'm livin on the street scribblin' dungeon maps on underpasses... I'd like to hear someone who can tell his story WITHOUT pointing out how kewl he is. I've never seen someone refer to themselves in 3rd person as much in a 1st person narrative as Wil does in his column (except maybe the Rock back in his wrestling days).

HE, himself, even seems obsessed with only his Star Trek career... Star Trek didn't have magic. Star Trek wasn't based on the same type of setting. It'z sci-fi. If he wants to talk about his Alternity days, FINE! HELL! He can talk about the Star Trek Roleplaying game.... but he doesn't...

I pretty much think about it like an actor who crossed his line. Not all actors are directors... Not all actors or directors are writers (screenplay or otherwise). --and before i get flamed for that... It makes sense... Just cuz you can fly an airplane, doesn't mean u can build one--and vise versa ('cept for the Wright bros.). Wil is obviously tryin' his hand at a new form of expression. I'm not saying he CAN'T do it; I'm just sayin' he's not ready.

Erik Mona and the great Matt Sernett, ect... They've been doing this for forever. They are greats in their field. (btw, I heart Erik Mona LOL) Maybe I'm just used to that level of ability; but, seeing as how we are used to such wonderful works, can we really be expected to settle for less? I know I don't want to. The contributers to Dungeon, the staff of Dungeon,....everyone outshines this one article.

I'm spoiled by Dungeon (and Dragon for that matter). --but is this one article going to ruin it for me? LOL no... If anything, I'll continue to stare at "The Accident", wondering how it happened--even though I watched it all pass. Dungeon will grow and grow past it all; and, (as it has proven itself to me so far...) Wil Save will just fail...

Was it just me, or was part 2 a completely different style? and what'z with the "I thought you were writing this as an adventure?" bit... kinda blows the whole thing out...

If anything, I was completely lost. I knew what he was doing with the whole writing like it was all a game goin' on--but I'm pretty sure most of that was inside jokes. Like, off the top of my head, his friend the fighter/cleric... um... ok... Does that mean something to me?

I'll have to agree with Takasi about the let down about the convention. I've never been to one before, either. It would've been nice to have a first-hand account where you aren't dodging fans. I don't like Wil Save, but I was at least hoping for something that sounded kewl. Instead, he's being flirted with in a card game and being swarmed by 'nerds and geeks'. Glad he likes to call his fans names LOL. 'Cuz, of course, being handed a pen really lets you know who that person is... I guess being typecasted out of your job makes you treat the rest of society the same.

Nice to know people still want his autograph, tho. I'm proud of you, Wil!

BTW, I was gonna go back to all his articles and count how many times he typed either his own name or Wesley's name; but, I figured I didn't have that many fingers... :P Plus, I'm really not that interested in reading them all, again.

Also, to clarify. I never had anything against Wil cuz his role in Star Trek. Granted I was young, but I liked his char. I don't remember a char I didn't like (whoopi goldberg's was my fave... but that'z all i really remember about her in that LOL). --even if you thought his role sucked, he was the actor; not the screenwriter. He acts well. BTW, he's done more than just Star Trek. He's done a good number of films, too, if I'm not mistaken. In fact, there was an old skool movie on a couple weeks ago that he was in as a kid. I think it was called The Buddy System (I didn't remember it, tho... I was only 4 when it came out LOL).

He's been in alot, tho. Flubber, Stand by Me, The Secret of Nimh... There's many more, too. I don't really understand why it always comes back to "I liked/disliked Wesley Crusher..." Even though I don't like Wil Save, it has nothing to do with whether I liked his characters in movies/t.v.

--NEwayz, I'm gonna stop rantin'. I think I've tooted Wil's horn enuff that he doesn't need to for at least a couple months... --but I digress... I'm prone to rambling right now, cuz I've only slept, at best, 3 hours in the past 2 days--and when I finally did fall asleep, my cat peed on me... :( So, yea...

i've been bit by emus several times... HURTS TOO! can't help but luv 'em tho LOL...

(they get a lil too excited when u feed em by hand and they will pinch ya hehe)
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A.E.A. Fighting against the exploitation of emus and just emus in general

why are you guys required to do that, Erik? I've seen that and have never known why.

Taricus - Thanx for your answers!

The idea of playing a sample encounter beforehand is very good and I've already done it!
I think the PC will be able to handle an adventure which is written for four PCs of about 3rd level.
When I've done it, I will let you know how it worked out here in this thread - if you are interested!
Have a good time and a lot of natural 20s ;)

Yea, let me know what u figure out. I had 5 PC's in my group (2 lvl-2, 3 lvl-4)--until one player decided it would be more fun to go get high every weekend with their new friends, another is wrapped up in a needy relationship (hasn't talked to anyone for months LOL poor sap...), another is working ALOT lately (but it'z kewl, we just work it around her schedule), and I just plain don't like another one.

LOL the most drama-filled group who ever roleplayed... *sigh* What happened to the good ol' days? LOL

Another thing I thought about would be to lower the ECL by 1 for every char missing, but I dunno. At lvl 4, it doesn't change it from dividing by 4 much :P LOL

All I know is that I have a big scene where their hometown is attacked that was written for 5 chars and now I just have 2 (or maybe possibly 3) chars. *shrug*

Erik Mona wrote:

Ok, I'll print that. :)

--Erik

My keyboard is getting use to its drenching with Mt Dew that is squirted out of my nose when I laugh to hard. Now what to clean up the mess with...Hmmm could you print Wil Save on Paper Towel stock? ;-)

ASEO out

ROFL I think it'z contagious!

Not in the core game, no. Might have been in The Darkest Day, or another mod (I mention TDD because it had tons of kits). Trust me on this one, I'm a BGII expert.

What was I thinkin' about? Wizard Slayer?

Personally, mine is about to be lapsing cuz I haven't re-subscribed, yet. LOL

Luckily, I have money on Fri, so I can do just that. :)

p.s. I HEART ERIK MONA! hehe

oooh neat, thanx for the info guys! :)

Yes, I'm back...

First of all, i've been silent for a bit, cuz Samantha is twinning my voice... There's no need to repeat it. LOL and I don't see why anyone is saying something about a bad side. She's only debating. If that'z her bad side, now i know why people say the same thing about me... it'z less about being jerky, and more about being opposed I guess LOL... Personally, I think she'd be a great person to talk to, seeing as how I'm so hard-set in my ways and beliefs, but I'm willing to listen too--just like her. It'z a great way to understand a different point of view. (she must be italian like me... Us italians never ever back down when we KNOW we're right! LOL)

but with all the ass-kissing out of the way (please don't beat me... :P LOL j/k), back to Slick Willy here.

I notice that Wil-Savers really have this crunch vs. fluff in our faces. This article isn't fluff or crunch. In my opinion, fluff vs. crunch is role-play vs. game-mechanics... if nothing else, it ALWAYS has something to do with the game. If you look at Wil's articles, you can take out the D&D bit and be left with a perfectly fine story... a lil disjointed cuz he ties it together with D&D references to make it seem appropriate or whatever, but you always have a story left over... (the straw in his drink in the casino, take it out... ur left with a story about how he wasn't doing good at the table, then it ended up being a good night and his millionaire friend was jealous of the money HE won... i.e. the purpose of the straw in his story...) --BUT when u do it in reverse, you AREN'T left with a story...

I agree with Samantha completely... Either he ships up or he ships out... I don't care which, but I don't care about his printed blog. That is all it is... A story about his life... This isn't gaming... Gaming leaves you thinking about gaming, not about Wil Wheaton... Personally, all I see is him talking about random crap and then at the end he's all like, "You should have fun when u play D&D.... THE END!" what? what did that have to do with his friends quoting his Star Trek lines?

Now, I'm not saying that he needs to go completely. I'm saying he needs to CHANGE HIS STYLE! He isn't appealing to many, many people. --but instead of changing he has only gotten worse... Instead he decides that it'z easier to stroke the fanboys. This is not a sign of a good author, especially for a major publication.

I respect what he is ATTEMPTING to do, but he's losing his focus too much. He always goes into blog mode... I have a blog... I know what it'z like... Call it blog-dar, I don't care LOL. Writing for a blog is NOT writing for a magazine. Blogs are about YOUR life... It'z an autobiography. I've even written about D&D in my blog, but that doesn't make it worthy of an article in Dungeon.

Also, just like Samantha, a friend and i went to his site to check it out. It really WAS disturbing. I only read the newcomer bit that Samantha was talking about... He apparently feeds on the bit that people don't like him... He's all like, "I'm a geek! LOOK AT ME! Feel pity for me...."

I'm sure there's many, many reasons why he's a very kewl and great person. Self-defecating is not very attractive! It'z like african-american or homosexual comedians using their minority status to get laughs... It'z almost sickening... I don't respect people that think it'z kewl to beat themselves up for public display... Take his last article... Part 1... Please don't let there be a part 2... please, please PLEASE! It'z all about him not being able to go to conventions cuz people make fun of him...

maybe he can write an article that isn't neccessarily 1st person. --even an article that isn't 3rd person talking about the 1st? Is that so much to ask?

Actually, lvl 2 sounds really really low.... I don't know... The best way to experiment is to use random encounters. As the 'random' encounters happen, boost each one up a notch to see where the line is.

Or, if you have a copy of his char sheet, play out battles when he's not there. Good way to test out an encounter when there's no game.

I've done that before. I take all their character sheets or my copies of them, whatever, and I'll play out an encounter I'm iffy about. This isn't the greatest tho... cuz I usually do alot better than they do in the actual situation LOL.

Something tells me that I should have a talk with my players about STRATEGY! LOL (took down a 5-headed hydra in one round with their chars when they were 3rd level, in testing, but when they played, they all almost died... I even fought it twice with their group, cuz the first time I rolled really well for them LOL. I still whooped it good LOL. Just goes to show ya that luck has alot to do with it, too. --but they really need to think more... *wizard runs in to stab the hydra* LOL)

my guess would be about lvl 2, but I guess it really depends on the PC you are talking about.

the reason i say this is that I usually just divide by 4 if there's only one PC, but you really have to read it and use ur own judgement. There's just alot to consider... --but if u look at the average CR 8 NPC/monster, he's gonna be about even with the PC. You don't want his avg fight to be a 50/50 shot, especially when you stack more encounters on top of it. That means that his 'normal fight' in that lvl 8 mod, he'd better hope to come out with the better rolls or he's dead. Lvl 2, altho it sounds way too easy, gives u room to have more encounters ect. He should be able to compensate for the missing allies.

The lower lvl will usually keep xp balanced with him based on the challenges, too. Instead of a constant stream of HUGE xp and even worse... HUGE challenges. Treasure might suffer tho... Another issue is that he will cap at about 10 or 11... The avg party lvl (his lvl) won't be able to keep up with that lvl guide (lvl/4). The xp chart will say that his encounters aren't worth xp anymore. I don't know what to say about that, except to boost it up higher than that when they reach that point.

Another approach is to start out easier than you think is neccessary and slowly and carefully boost the power lvls up with each adventure to see where the line is. It'z kind of trial and error on your part, if you take that route.

I'm having the same problem now. Only 2 PC's and they're starting to raise in lvl. I've just been dividing their total lvls by 2 to get a good EL. It has worked so far, but they are only lvl 4, so everything is a challenge right now LOL. I find that CR 1-3 is perfect for them... and CR 3-4 might be boss lvl to them. (plus there's a big difference between 2 lvl 4 PC's and one lvl 8...)

The way I did it tho is to start low so u don't risk the PC's life in the process of experimenting. Find that point when u think it'z a good challenge without the risk of death around every turn. LOL

and if u find a good way... LET ME KNOW! ROFLMFAO I had a pretty standard group (4-5 PC's at all times) up until this point. Dropped a few players cuz it worked better for the group.

oops... jester beat me to it! LOL

When they rewrite old modules, (if it'z not just a general setting like Isle of Dread seemed) it would be better if they revisited them in more than a "this is the updated version!" kind of way.

Take Temple of Elemental Evil, then Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil... Tomb of Horrors, then Return to the Tomb of Horrors...

Granted the "return" bit is gettin a lil cliche, but it would be nice if (even if it'z an updated version) if there were more added on to it... Either it takes place in the future of the locale, or it has MORE to it--something no one has seen--a new twist. I think that is alot better than just having a hankerin for the old days *nods to Samantha* :P

I didn't enjoy the BovD ("Nipple Clamps of Exquisite Pain?" Puh-lease!), but I wouldn't mind seeing an issue devoted to running "evil PC" campaigns; a notoriously tricky prospect. Just as long as it doesn't read like it written by a thirteen-year old.

I was actually forced into running a campaign like that back in 2nd ed. It was pretty fun... Everyone got a lil too cocky when they started rising in lvls and ended up switching to some form of evil along the way. Well, one only went so far as Chaotic Neutral; but, most were either neutral evil or chaotic evil.

It'z a very hard game to run tho. There's alot of infighting between PC's and stuff. If they aren't being selfish and fighting amongst themselves, they don't make a very good evil group. LOL There was always battles when one person got jealous that someone else was gaining too much power. It didn't usually end in character deaths, because one would usually end up running off (which usually ended up being fun too, cuz they'd set traps up for them all the time..) At the worst point, I had to end up running different games at different times, because someone would leave and start working on their own to try to make the other char's lifes hard (traps, plots, ect.)

It takes alot of time and thought on the DM's part to run a campaign like that. Alot of times, they were eachother's villians--along with other plots that I came up with. It'z more difficult for the DM than the players to run that kind of game... LOTS of brainstorming for the DM, but the players just play the game as usual--it does make it easier tho, when ur players take the initiative to come up with their own ways of being a villian. Timing is the worst issue. You will be running one game, and stuff happens that you need to make sure the other side knows about, or u have to stop the game when certain events happen. You have to work with your players alot to see what they're waiting for, ect. Also, when ur playing all together, there's alot of note passing between DM and players. Plus, on top of that, you have to watch them... If they're anything like my players, they'll try to change their plans when they hear something that is said aloud. You have to be sure they don't use info that their char's aren't privy to.

I guess it was good that they kind of went the bandit route. It gave me alot of easy adventure ideas that they could WORK TOGETHER on LOL. They were also banned from certain cities and such and hunted down, which forced them into working together, too.

The campaign was in the Forgotten Realms. It created a great opportunity for them to learn more about the Zhentarim and take part in alot of things on the other side. Lots of reverse adventures involved, ect.

One of the PC's even got close to Manshoon... Personal audiences and stuff, but he sent her on impossible missions just to see her mettle. He knew she wouldn't be able to succeed, but wanted to see what she was capable of doing.(another boon to my side, as the DM, was that there was an NPC that was a Zhentarim spy--they met her BEFORE it all went down... Instead of a villian, she ended up being a great ally, and eventually became one PC's henchman... It wasn't where I saw it going at all LOL Just another way players suprise the DM)

They ended up turning on the Zhentarim, tho. They started working together and behaving themselves. There was too much running from the authorities for them. By the time Shieldmeet came around, the dales started talking and it wasn't so easy to move around anymore. Before then, some of them started having guilt issues--feeling sorry for all the crimes they commited and worked on clearing their names. It took awhile but they did it. One char even chose to STAY on that path. He was very much in cohoots with Manshoon and Fzoul, while the other characters ended up becoming spies for the harper scouts and working for the Lord of Shadowdale. They were fine with the battle with eachother (i made sure, cuz i didn't want hard feelings...) and then it ended up coming down to a battle between the two sides outside the temple of cyric in Zhentil Keep. By this time, they were around the 11th lvl, so it was a pretty flashy battle LOL.

They snuck into the temple and were on some mission, but the zhentarim faction of PC's were waiting for them, having tricked them into coming to their home turf. The good PC's eventually won, but ended up being captured and sold into slavery (which they escaped... long story LOL This story is going on for way too long... I was just gonna say, "Hey, evil games can be fun! ROFL")

It was alot of fun. It created a great game and a great history for their characters, but it was nowhere near easy on my part. --but I allowed them to continue with the path they chose, and focused on improv instead of leading them by the nose... I would never ever pass that game up. It was great!

I don't think I would purposely start an all-evil game... that seems doomed. I have had evil PC's in my groups and they usually don't last long, but if your players stray to the evil spectrum, as long as it makes sense and is moderated well, you can have a great game. :)

I still love hearing my players talk about that campaign. Their conversations go on for forever and are so rich with details and history (so and so did this and then...blah blah). It'z entertaining to just sit back and listen. That game never would have been so great, if it wasn't for them falling down a lil bit, morally, along the way.

Wizards just posted a pdf that compares 3.0 feats, prestige classes and spells and their 3.5 updates. I don't know if what you are looking for is there, but it's a good place to start.

Actually, the last time I saw an elementalist was in the 2nd ed. Tomb of Magic... that or the Complete wizards handbook, but i'm pretty sure it was Tome of Magic.

It shouldn't be too hard to create, i'm thinking. using elemental descriptors on spells and just using the rules for specialization in schools of magic, but using that instead... looking at the priest elemental domains, too. Shouldn't be too hard. We all know what the opposites are fire vs. water, earth vs. air... but it doesn't look like the spells will match up well some are lagging behind others... for instance, the fire elementalist might be too overpowered compared to, say, water elementalist. *shrugs* I'll have to really look into it all and decide what to do.

Where is the pdf? I would like to take a look and see if it'z there. I know that'z one thing i missed when 2nd ed was upgraded to 3.0. That and wild mage.... :) mmmmm wild mage... LOL

*huggles on the flumph*

oh one other thing on sort-of related topic... Is there a sourcebook or accessory that has the elementalist class for 3.5? (a wizard specialized in a particular element) I haven't found one, yet. *crosses fingers*

I've thought about making my own... It would just be easier if there already was a class made for it :)

A good class acts article might be one that talks about feat options for the class. In playing my Kalamar druid I found the item creation feats to be great choices. Also, several articles on elemental feats and spells are very appealing to druids that might specialize in one of the four elements.

I agree there needs to be more articles about them. I have player that is new to the game (who chose to be a druid... well, she prefers the term, 'hippie'... *shrugs*) and she hardly gets to see anything about druids except in class acts. A good article about druids in general would be great. She's a hard-core druid player... I think it'z the only class she likes.

On the note of elemental feats and spells... GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME! LOL :) My campaign history is based on the elements fairly heavily. Most of the gods have an elemental influence and many of the beliefs and customs of different areas place differing values and personas to the different elements.

One of the greatest articles I've found was on the WotC website, in their old Spellbook articles. It was called Elemental Familiar. http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=dnd/sb/sb20011109a Not only does it add more flavor for a campaign like mine, but it also gives stats for tiny elementals :) WOOOOOOOO! hehe (that link is based on 3.0 btw)

Maybe we can send in some more articles for elemental/druid-based spells and feats that are just an offshoot of the normal spells and feats. No special advantage, just puts a new spin on an old topic. :)

First of all, I don't have Frostburn, yet. (but plan on getting it soon...)

1. The "Weather while travelling" chart from pg. 23 of Dungeon issue 115. I see that the categories of weather are slightly different in the FB book. Specifically the Heat Wave and Cold Snap entries were combined on one line, and the "Snow" entry (in the module) was changed to "precipitation" in the FB book (and has a different desctiption of its effects).

I would say to follow the module in this case. Weather is very subjective and tied to specific places. Your players won't notice if it changes from the table in FB. Consider weather to be a bit of flavor. It affects things sure, but there's no need to have to fight between the two tables. Weather in canada and europe at the same latitude won't be the same. One single table isn't going to say it all. So, just go with it. :)

I also noticed that the "Snow level change" and "Tracking DC modifier" columns from the chart in the module were not included in FB. I have looked through FB many times and I can not find any mention of the affects of weather on tracking. As for snow level, the chart and descriptions of determining snow level in the module are different form those in FB. In fact, in FB the entry for precipitation does not indicate how much snow accumulates.

Further, in the module, it indicats how much snow melts in a heat wave, but FB does not indicate this (since it only indicates temperature fluctuations of +/- 10° F).

You can find the affects of weather on tracking in the PHB. It includes snow, rain, ect. there. That might be where the author pulled it from.

Also, the snow levels (accumulations, too.) and how much snow melts, ect. is just like above. Flavor of the module and the area it is in--also it may be based on the needs of the module--to create that setting and feel. I would just say to go with the module (unless you set it in a part of your world that you feel would be different... and in that case, just make a guess or go with what u are more comfortable with...)

2. Overland movement; it seems the chart for overland movement is different from the chart in the 3.5 PHB. Specifically it gives distances travelled (with no snowfall) as 20' = 15 miles, 30' = 20 miles, etc. which does not jive with the PHB which has 20' = 16 miles, and 30' = 24 miles.

I'd say just go with the PHB. Core rulebooks should probably take precedence over accessories. There might also be a difference in how deep the snow is that u missed. *shrug* --but when in doubt, going with the core rules is best.

Not only is there this discrepacy compared to the PHB, but in the module it states that skis "allow full movement across... snowy surfaces...". If they allow full movement, then a human with speed 30' in less than 12" of snow should be able to go 24 miles, not the 35 miles stated in the chart on pg 35 of the module, unless skis allow _faster_ than full movement.

This is an iffy one... LOL I'd have to go look at the module and the book to answer it (and I haven't even gotten the book, yet.) Is the module talking about going downhill? There's a difference between cross-country skiing and downhill skiing. If you are going downhill, you will go faster than your normal movement rate. If it'z cross-country, i'd just go with normal movement rate (speed up on downslopes, slowdown on upslopes, ect.) It depends I guess... If it'z just talking about in general, I'd go with the PHB again. you said that the module stated two different things--not sure if that was meant for a comparison between the PHB and the module (cuz again, i'm too lazy to go pick up the books LOL)... I'm just assuming that'z what u meant. In which case, (as stated above), i'd go with the PHB.

All in all, don't let rules discrepancies bog down ur game. Just decide what fits you and go with what u feel is right. Compare rules and decide for yourself. After you have decided, just stick with it--unless you genuinely feel you made a mistake; in which case, just inform your players. Movement speeds are important, yes; but, the difference between 15 miles or 16 miles--or even 20 vs 24--aren't that important, in the end--and can only add tension and excitement, if they're racing against time. The important thing is to just have fun and keep your game consistant. (Also, when rules are summarized, they sometimes contradict the rules in the sourcebook--to keep them simple... but anytime they contradict the core books and you can't make a decision, go with the core rulebook).

Hope that helped you out! :) Later...

I'm running my players through my 3.5E conversion of G1-2-3/D1-2-3/Q1 at the moment. I'd love to eventually get them to run a different group of characters through the Istivin arc so we can game in the same region of Greyhawk some 20 years later.

Wow, that'z a kewl idea. Sounds like alot of fun. :) Get to see your old characters all grown up in the next game :P

hmmmm Might have to check it out hehe :)

Hey, Taricus, I haven't posted in over a week. Meaning i really don't care to state my opinion on Wil. So leave me out of it, okay? I disagree with Roxlimn's position almost as much as you.

I was just speaking in retrospect... Don't mind me... No offense meant.

Hey, how did I get dragged into this? I don't even subscribe to Dungeon, and I've only read one of Wil's articles...

ROFLMFAO OMG! I didn't know there was really a Dwarven Tostitos... Sorry, bud! :)

Now I want to change my name to Halfling Cheetos, so I can fit in. hehe

What is this Deadlands everyone is talking about? (a lil offtopic...but curious)

First of all, Roxanne...or whatever... Stop it, already. If you want to make your point, make your point. Quit tryin' to offend specific people. The more and more defensive you get, the more you are contradicting yourself. I don't know where you and Dwarven Tostitos got the idea that you were Wil's personal bodyguards, but you're not. I'm not perfect and argued too, but I'm also gettin' sick of you two. Paul and I and everyone in here has seen what you think about Wil's article, and that'z fine, but it'z hard to ignore someone when they are flappin' their mouth talking about you personally--just cuz ur opinion is different than theirs. If you haven't noticed, neither Paul or I actively rubbed ya the wrong way until you and elf singled us out for an insult. The point of this topic and of the forum wasn't for name-calling. It'z for discussing the magazine... and, in this case, whether Wil failed... I'm sorry I even posted the mid-life crisis thing, cuz that'z when it kinda degenerated. Not sure if it was my fault, but I at least contributed. It was meant as a joke and nothing more. Funny that people can make fun of the president and stuff and it'z okay, but if you talk about Wil, themz fightin' wordz LOL. Don't be such a nerd....

--and trying to state this as maturely as possible, to avoid conflict... Gygax is a great writer. Just check out all the top adventures. Gygax's name will most likely be there. He doesn't just crunch numbers and make charts with die roll numbers on them; he creates plots and story arcs and writes descriptions. He is a storyteller at heart and this is his chosen medium--just like you. I've never seen him be condescending in his articles or anything. He's very insightful. He tells stories of the characters that created the spells we all use today, talks about DM'ing for those games, a little bit of the human aspect behind the game, and even helps your game out all at once. A good example would be the forward to the "Return to the Tomb of Horrors". He gives a little history of why the original was made, the people that went thru it, gives you advice... it even has that "i'm a gamer, too" feel to it. Everything Wil is, but more inclusive. I don't feel that Wil has what it takes to write the article. He's not good for professional writing--at least in this format. I don't like his style of writing, but you still always read it till the end. He is able to draw you in almost immediately, but he needs to work on staying on task and adding a little density to his story. He's a great talker it seems. He could probably talk your ear off and you'll never get bored, but, to date, he's not been focused enuff on what he's telling. (also there is a bit of bragging, that and sometimes it feels like he's just talking--I think it was ASEO that said that you were left thinking, "So what?" It'z not about crunch vs. fluff. It'z like hanging up the phone after a friend calls just to say 'hi'. You don't think anything of it, you aren't left with anything except a feeling that he's still there...)

and DeadDMWalking, on the subject of why he writes it... I asked a similar question. This is all I got, but I'm sure he's right on this:

We were wondering why someone who'z not even playing the game anymore is writing the article...

I’m not on the Dungeon staff, and I’m just guessin’ here, but possibly because he *is* a D&D-playin’ celebrity geek and has one of the most popular blogs on the web?

Return to the Tomb of Horrors... but I'm guessin' that'z a lil too long hehe.

I can't remember what issue it'z from (in fact, I've been looking for it for the past 30 mins, cuz I moved it, and can't remember where LOL), but I use the article about the disease where you starve to death and turn into a ghoul. Creepy stuff... :P

The editor has a prologue to each issue, why not an epilogue? The editor gets to see everything that's put into each issue and will know what fits and what doesn't and probably has the best bird's eye view to create an idyllic PC/NPC drawn from that issue.

Whoops, didn't think of that hehe

I'm very excited about the launch of 'Age of Worms'. The name is already turnin' gears in my head. :P *jumps up and down*

The adventure path was, possibly, the best thing ever added to Dungeon. It is well worth the wait, but I still get my DT's waitin' for it. Keep up the good work and have all kinds of fun producing the next one, everyone! :)

Taricus.

If you've already expressed your distate for the article, I'm sure the Dungeon staff and others have taken that into account.

--and I will continue to voice my opinion--with or without your approval.

Reading it every month just to attack it online, however, is pointless. In reality, the only people who care about what you're saying are you and whatever cronies of yours that you hang out with.

That'z not the only reason I read it... I just told you that it makes me laugh, too... Who doesn't need a smile every now and then? LOL Besides, I'm not so disgusted by the article that it'z not worth reading to see if it DOES get better; but, it hasn't... That is my point to date. I can and, if I so choose, WILL continue to voice my opinion--good or bad. :)

Also, I don't have cronies... I have friends. That may be what you are looking for in life, but I much prefer friends. Attacking me wasn't enuff? Now you gotta call my friends names and act like they can't form their own opinions without me telling them what to believe? If this is contructive criticism from you, I don't see what your prob with me was... :P

To settle this whole "Wil Save" conundrum, why doesn't Dungeon just have an online poll? That way, the "debate" can be put to rest and we can all get back to trying to assemble our next haphazard campaign or whatever.

Are we keeping you from playing?... Oh, I'm sorry, Troller; but, it did say 'Failed Wil Save?' on that lil hyperlink before you came in. Don't expect to come in and not see people who don't agree with you...

I'd have to whole-heartedly disagree. I think the article is fine, for the record, and I also believe in constructive cristicism and out-spoken fans who express their distaste for certain articles. That's what a forum is all about. However, blantantly attacking Mr. Wheaton's article as an expression of a mid-life crisis is both rude and innapropriate. The article (IMO) adds a wonderful perspective to the hobby. If you don't like Wil Save, don't read it.

Meh... *bites his thumb at Elven Doritos* Rude maybe, but not wholly inappropriate... :) --and I believe you telling me that I'm rude and inappropriate is not constructive criticism and blatantly attecking me...; but, I digress...

I'll also keep reading it. I'll laugh at him sure, but I'll also at least be talking about something having READ it, first. I think you'll find me too stubborn to give you any passing thought, even considering the fact of how morally superior you are to me. *shrug*

I’m not on the Dungeon staff, and I’m just guessin’ here, but possibly because he *is* a D&D-playin’ celebrity geek and has one of the most popular blogs on the web?

Possibly... I don't know about 'most popular blog on the web', seeing as how I had never heard about it, before the credit in one of the mags, and neither had my friends. I figured it was just the celebrity status and the closeness of Trekkies and Gamers in people's mindset. He writes decently, but I wouldn't call him great. Sure, he knows big words and can spell, but he frequently loses his point. --but that'z not my problem with it.

Wil Save too dorky for you? No problem. I understand. Personally, in regular life, I'm an Olympic swimmer and rock guitarist who spends his nights fending off amorous groupies, so Wil's column doesn't speak to me at all. But it probably strikes a chord with some other gamers.

It'z not that Wil Save is too dorky for me... It'z just that there is no point to it. It feels like he's gonna go somewhere with it and, after it'z over, you're just left thinking, "So?" Take the Las Vegas article for example: He goes on and on about it for a page, and the only thing that'z D&D-ish about it is the straw. Take the straw out and the story won't change much--just less drunk people giggling...

Maybe the problem lies in the fact that he's 'known for his blog'. That'z what it feels like I'm reading: there's really no point to it (blogs don't need a point), it'z all random stories about his life (blog), and most things will not be as funny or kewl to me as it will for people who participated in said event (blog).

Eh bien...

Charisma would go down, dude, not up. Charisma is how likable and, well, charismatic they are. They would go somewhat insane and become not-so-good with people (a minus to charisma). That's why bluff and deplomacy and such are based on charisma. Other than that your ideas sound pretty cool Jonathan. Your ideas are pretty cool too, Chase. You could make a couple different templates, depending on the circumstances of their imprisonment and escape.

Charisma is also personal power. Like the sorcerers, his abilities come from the power flowing inside him.

Hey, Mike, have you been working out?! I wish I looked that good... I was thinking maybe I could come over and wash your truck and then maybe I could take you out for some chinese food and buy you stuff....

Oh yea, there's something I've been meaning to talk to you about... I have this article, see?...

Kinda late, but I just take the total lvls and divide by 4 and round down. So, in that case, at first lvl, it'z no biggy (6/4=1)... 1st lvl characters are pretty weak as it is, so you can just use normal encounters. At 2nd lvl (12/4=3), you'd want to use EL3 encounters. The only thing is that you have to watch the creature stats alot more. A grick (because of dmg reduction) might be too much for a party of 6 2nd-lvl chars, but a mephit will be an appropriate challenge.

For xp, u just use the normal formula. Just take the avg. of all the character lvls. (I've noticed, unlike Myrddin, that using this will cause the xp to be okay, but will cause the treasure to raise. The converse is true of the opposite. If you have less characters and use this, their xp will be normal, but the treasures will fall behind. So, u'd want to watch that.)

I've never been a Greyhawk player and don't know very much about it, but I love the maps. I especially like the link up with the recent dungeon adventure that was published. I was staring at the forest wondering about the area, and then there's an adventure set right there. :P It was kinda nifty.

I wonder tho, are some of the locations from video games (ToEE) going to be appearing on there? I searched for them, to see if I recognized any of the places, but I didn't... I'm not really sure what region they are in.

I'm thinking about maybe picking up some material for Greyhawk and DM'ing it for my players. The more and more I hear about it, and the more video games I play that are based off it, the more it sounds like the type of world I enjoy... It actually sounds alot like my homebrewed world, except my world is a much darker place. It'z like Greyhawk mixed with Ravenloft-ish type themes (but not all horror, just a very broken world). :P (It even has a major city named Blackmoor... I have no idea what it'z like in Greyhawk, but it'z not a nice place to be in Caladaine... Especially lately...)

Anyways, great job on the maps. When I pick up a campaign guide to check out Greyhawk, they'll definately come in handy :) Keep up the good work!!!

I didn't want to be the one to point it out, because it probably sounds petty. Did you notice that his magic item was a "+1 wand of winning".

I played 1st, 2nd and 3rd edition D&D. You never get a +1 wand of anything. If it was a rod, that would have been fine. But a wand?

Does Wil think that putting a +1 in front of anything makes it "D&D"? I don't. I actually find it kind of insulting. I agree with what Aseo has said about putting a "geek" face on gaming. If he is going to write the article, he should at least pretend he knows the rules.

Yea, same here. I told my friend next to me, "I may be nit-pickin' here, but..." LOL The ironic part is that we started talking about how in his VERY FIRST article, he said he doesn't play D&D anymore... :/ We were wondering why someone who'z not even playing the game anymore is writing the article...

To Paul, I wasn't upset that he has more 0's in his paycheck, cuz he prob doesn't MUAHAHAHA... j/k --but he sounds like he's tryin' to place himself on a pedistal (can't spell right now)... My friends and I keep joking about how he sounds like he's going thru a mid-life crisis. Every article points out some reason why he should be happy with who he is... (I have a loving family, my friends respect my 'Star Trek' career, I have important friends, I made good money in Vegas!...) It'z like watching him break down... It'z kinda sad really LOL Most people just buy a sports car, he writes for a magazine... same diff... That or he's just a braggart...

Side Note: I haven't seen anything that Cory Feldman did since he was doing video games for Sega CD (the old ones that were like movies... It was that one with the apartments with the cameras and he went all crazy and tried to kill everyone or something... I don't remember the name, but it was pretty much a clone of Night Trap.)

I do like the comics... and in the older versions of Dragon, they had things like 'dragonmirth' and the like... Comics have been a constant with dragon and something I feel is very important and entertaining. (it'z usually the first thing I turn to, after I read the letter from teh editor. :P)

I don't like Downer, but I'll look at the artwork... Never really liked soap-opera'y type comics LOL I never have any idea what'z going on and I don't particularly care, cuz I didn't like the first ones. --I will check em out a lil, even if it is for just the art, like I said.

I like this idea, too. It'd be hard to tie it all together, but a good mix would be kewl. Not sure how easy it would be to implement, tho.

I mean with deadlines of putting the mag together, fitting it all in, editing it, and also in post-production having to have a writer read it all, put together his work, have it edited and produced into the magazine--it'z like adding a 2nd smaller post-production into the magazine for only one article... all before ship date... Again, great idea, but sounds like it would be difficult for Paizo.