Aerten's page

A powerful retired adventurer patron can be a great way to get a disparate group together. They have the connections to hear about promising up and comers, old debts to pay off by taking on the not so promising ones, and a wealth of maps, trinkets and memories to ask the party to check into. Also, it gives you the chance to set up everything from a vast overarching storyline (as the patron uses the party to tie up loose ends) to a simple adventure of the week set-up, for groups with a short attention span.

My favorite character was a straight bard and she was always on the front lines and one of the most effective in combat. It comes down to one thing, really. Put your dexterity before your charisma. DMs always seem more willing to give out items that boost charisma rather than anything they consider "useful" in combat, so it's doubtful that you'll take a real hit on that score.

There are plenty of feats (most already listed here) that allow you to use dexterity to excellent advantage in combat. Since I don't stray far from the core rulebooks in character creation, I can't recommend a wide array of PrCs, etc, but I do suggest one must. Pick up Complete Scoundrel and study your skill tricks. While a lot of them are useless for anyone but a rogue, many of the combat skill tricks are useful for anyone that can qualify, and a bard is so easy to overlook in the average fight that they can take the time to use these skill tricks to the best effect.

Sorry this post was so uncrunchy. It's late and I'm tired.

I've been watching all the ranting and raving and screaming on both sides, but this is the first time I've made my voice known outside of quiet talks with friends.

I work in promotions to clarify where I get all this from, and the first step to selling any new product is to either identify or create a need. Since RPGs are entertainment, the need must be created. While the execution left a lot to be desired, the videos and podcasts and posts that many found so offensive did a legitimate job in creating the need. The second step is minimizing backlash. Whenever a new version of an old product is released, there's backlash and most companies employ diplomatic staffers in order to deal with direct customer complaints and well-spoken wheelers and dealers to handle it in the media. WotC seems (I'm not on staff, I can not speak for their intent, only the apparent results) to have chosen the more direct method of ridiculing and silencing naysayers where they have the power. There are a lot of tiny steps in between, but the next big one is to claim success, no matter what the actual results were. I have not seen numbers, but I choose to take WotC on their word in their claims that they have outsold every other edition's initial release. In this, I applaud their marketing success. They did very well for themselves and marketing students should take a look at how a apparently poorly run campaign that stirred up controversy and vitriol on both sides can sell a lot of product.

From that standpoint, they abandoned nothing. Their only contract with fans was to put out a product. The fans take it from there.

Now, to step away from being rational and logical about all this, do I feel abandoned? No. I feel ignored, stepped on, and generally black and blue after the treatment that something I have allowed to become a large part of my life has received. While the game mechanics are not so bad, and do indeed have some things that interest me, it's the giant bleeding hole that they left of Forgotten Realms that most hurts. Then, when I yet had hope that 3rd party publishers might salve the wounds, the GSL was released. I would more generously open my arms to a rampaging owlbear than embrace 4E at this point, and while I'm sure that I'll eventually get over it, not yet.

For everyone that is playing and looking forward to playing 4E, I wish you the best of luck and lots of enjoyment in your future games.