Artifact's page

You're not alone, I miss 'em too.

I was fanatically dedicated to Dragon while it was in print. From #200, each and every month I'd buy my copy off the newstand, never missing an issue. I'm pretty proud of my collection ;).

I was extremely upset by the cancelation of the print mags. Still, I eventually decided to give WotC's D&D Insider a try. I like what I've seen so far; it's not quite the same as print however.

For one thing: I'm more inclined to read in-depth with printed material and more likely to skim with on-screen text (a subtle drawback for me). If I really like an article, I'll print it out but that gets expensive quick, so not so often. Also, a bunch of PDF files on my computer is not exactly what I would call a collection ;).

D&D Insider also (currently) offers a Rules Compendium, a set of Bonus Tools and a (beta) Character Builder; I've no real interest in the latter two online features, though I do plan on making liberal use of the Compendium.

My one beef with Insider is that subscribers must agree to auto-renew (there's no choice). If yo want cancel auto-renew, you must rely on customer service (that is, cancelation is not instantaneous and requires human interaction). The service detracts from what would otherwise be a fine effort (the articles).

Given a choice, I'd take the print magazines back.

I've been told that I resemble Vin Diesel. Kinda cool, considering he's known for playing D&D. Physically speaking, we're a close match. That is, we're both bald ;), definitely people of color, and of ambiguous ethnicity.

The big difference: I'm no action star . . . you know, all aggressive ;). As an actor, I'm sure Diesel could pull off a milder role.

I was just thinking who would be cast as my wife. Meryl Streep, at least in her younger years. Based mostly on physcial resemblance if not much else.

Can't imagine Diesel and Streep every starring together, so I guess my life story will never be told in movies ;) Shucks! :)

Iron Lords of Jupiter is a mini-game using the d20 Modern rules. If you're looking for additional inspiration or ideas, maybe check out Urbane Arcana (a campaign setting for d20 Modern). It has some fantasy elements that might be appropriate for an ILoJ game, with some tweaking.

I enjoy the planetary romance genre, and this li'l mini-game really captures the essence of its source material: The Mars and Venus series, the Flash Gordon comic strips. I love it. planetary romance has always put me in mind of Star Wars (as it might have been in the time of Burroughs and Raymond) for some reason (I know it helped inspire Lucas), so maybe its natural I enjoy it so.

I remember that in the section of the bookstore where you would normally find D&D, you could also find Tarzan books, Martian Tales, and Conan.

Eventually over the years, these began to give way to series like Dragonlance, later Forgotten Realms, Star Trek came early and eventually Star Wars novels (Heir to the Empire helped launch the Expanded Star Wars Universe, as I recall). I remember those early books well enough, though you have to actually search for them now.

I'm not normally one to philosophise about such things, but this restrictive GSL thing has me thinking.

WotC seems to be throwing the third party publishers a bone, nothing more. By making the GSL restrictive and phasing out certain aspects of the OGL licenses, a gradual restoration of the status quo to the D&D brand is bound to occur.

Thngs will eventually return to how they were before the OGL, with one company having "sole custody" (as it were). It works because for years, D&D was the exclusive property of TSR; it would work again, for WotC.

I'm just a casual observer in these sort of things. I just hope companies like Green Ronin (whose products I've enjoyed over the years) are able to find their place in the new order.

I give up. I'm apparently, I'm one of many who are experiencing problems with article downloads from WotC (a few have posted similar experiences there).

Just as with the Ecology of the Dragonborn a few nights ago, the article is only downloading as a text file (not PDF), translating into WordPad as gibberish. I finally succeeded in DL the article a day later, and alhough it was still saying .txt, it opened as a PDF should.

I haven't had any problems with the other PDF articles (Wolves of Maldeen, Ashen Compact, for instance). Maybe the link is re-directing to an authetication page of some kind rather than an actual article? I'm logged in (the box at the top-right is green). I'm almost certain it's not so much what I'm doing (I know the routine), rather something that they are doing.

I refuse to pay for this kind of service (once it becomes available); which is too bad because I really do enjoy the articles. My frustration has reached its peak.

I got this message when I tried to access the main D&D forums:

"Artifact, you do not have permission to access this page. This could be due to one of several reasons:

You are attempting to use a feature that employs the search engine. Search is currently disabled on the forums

Your user account may not have sufficient privileges to access this page. Are you trying to edit someone else's post, access administrative features or some other privileged system?

If you are trying to post, the administrator may have disabled your account, or it may be awaiting activation."

I've been a regular poster for years, and as far as I know, I'm a member in good standing. None of the reasons given seem to apply to me (my account hasn't been disabled), so its prolly safe assume there's more massive board glitches.

Since they called me by name, I was kinda worried at first, but apparently I'm not the only one having problems (which is nice to know ;)). Guess I'll have to view and post on the Ecology article later.

Jeremy Mac Donald wrote:

On a related note. Anyone know if they are going to make something like power decks. Essentially cards with the powers listed on them. I'm usually the DM in my main group but our current campaign is on hold while some of the female players recover from having babies and do bonding or some such. So one of my players decided to run us through some short adventures in 4E and I was excited to try playing a character so it was game on. I found that I basically kept my Players Handbook open to the powers. That was OK but I'd actually rather have had cards with the powers on them. I suppose I could make my own cards on index cards if needed but it'd be neat to have some better looking ones.

What do you think would be the best business plan for this? A deck of cards for Fighters, with another for Paladins? (ie, one deck per class?)

Perhaps by books, ala Deck of PHB I powers? Maybe tier? Any other ways to organize them?

Buy the PH, then find a PDF copy (somewhere, somehow ;)), then copy/paste the powers into the character sheet using Microsoft Word. Viola! Instant Power Cards. It's worked pretty well for me; I hate having to copy everything out by hand.

The Grey Wolves, wandering warriors protecting those unable to fight themselves. I really enjoy how the article evokes a Points of Light feel.

I haven't been playing 4e (much), but I still want to get the most out of this article. I'm gonna port it into my v.3.5 homebrew setting, which has some PoL fluff.

Check out Fang & Fury, A Guidbook to Vampires, written by Jim Bishop and published by Green Ronin under the Races of Renown imprint.

It presents the vampire scion, a new race that is playable "out of the box" (as it were). New concepts, feats, prestige classes, creatures, even vampire religions (the works). Its v.3.0 and doesn't cover half-vampires precisely but it should be a solid source of inspiration.

I am also a fan of the Core Beliefs articles, and would like to see them continued in some form or fashion. Even with the changes to the core pantheon from 3.5 to 4e, I think the idea behind the series is a valid one. I like the idea of continuing the series on the author's website.

In case anyone is curious, here is a listing of the articles, as they appeared in Dragon Magazine:

Core Beliefs by Sean K. Reynolds
#338: Boccob
#342: Olidammara
#346: Pelor
#348: Vecna
#350: Wee Jas
#354: Heironeous
#356: Hextor
#358: Cuthbert

I've been playing in the Realms since the grey box. A few friends and I played in study hall during high school. For many years, not much changed (although the original group changed a bit); we didn't even acknowledge the Time of Troubles until 3e lauched. We're still a decade behind the official timeline.

In our games the ToT was a "Secret War", where only the most powerful and influential persons and groups were even aware of what was actually happening. Since we're not playing the Realms as published then, the Spellplague won't affect us much. Realms Shaking Events are a way for the publisher to maintain interest in a published setting, there's not much need for them in home games IMHO.

I'll buy the 4e FR campaign setting just to "check in". I plan on switching to 4e with our FR campaign, but (AO willing) it will be a while before the Spellplague rears its ugly head (if ever). The changes just don't seem that interesting, at least in comparison to the Time of Troubles. Sloppy is the word I keep thinking of here.

The thing I find most diappointing about the Spellplague is that Elminster is still around. Drizzt too, although this isn't unexpected. El's dead (missing) in our games; still, it would have been nice to have him kick the bucket officially ;). I hear some of the other Chosen of Mystra didn't fair so well, eh?

There's also the "Winged Creature", an inherited template (+2 LA) from Savage Species. IIRC it needs some updating to v.3.5 rules, but that shouldn't be too much hassle.

I realize the designers are taking a radical approach to both mechanics and fluff. I accept this as part of WotC's desire to make the D&D brand truly their own (unique from anything developed by Gygax or TSR). It is this radical approach however, which has me excited about the new edition. Its not just the same *stuff* I've seen and heard for the last twenty five years; its actually new and exciting :). For the first time in a very long time, I feel like I'm getting in on the ground floor with D&D. Kind of a cool feeling for an older gamer like myself ;).

I really don't care for WotC as a company . . . at all. I was hopping mad at the cancelation of the print magazines. At one point, I was ready to walk away from D&D for good. In the end, I had to make a concious decision to *anticipate* this new edition. I refused to let my bitterness towards WotC play a part in alienating me from my favorite hobby. I really do enjoy D&D, and that's the healthier mindset (at least for me ;)).

For years, I've bought one or two D&D sourcebooks each month. I'll most likely continue to do so once 4e arrives. Should the new edition prove to be completely uninspiring or just unplayable (which I doubt, but possible), my 3.5 sourcebooks will still be solid enough for table play for years to come. On the other hand, my Classic D&D products would be too hard to replace at this point should anything unfortunate happen.

If the cancelation of the print magazines taught me anything its that there are options out there, you just have to explore them ;).

I haven't read this entire thread, but I have a feeling I'm about to say what most everyone else is saying:

I have much more respect for Paizo than WotC as a company. No need to go into details.

My recommendation is don't convert. Publish a Pathfinder "core book", using the freely available d20 rules. That way, we don't have to rely on the core books from WotC (which will be Out of Print once 4e releases anyway). 3.5 may be an OOP system but that doesn't necessarily mean its dead in the water, especially when promoted by a company like Paizo and tied to a product like Pathfinder (both solid as a rock).

Its hard to tell just by reading message boards, but there seems to be a backlash against WotC on how they've handling things recently. WotC has undoubtedly made a hard business decision (for better or worse); I think Paizo should do the same. I think there is a chance here for unparalleled success if Paizo develops it own gaming system rather than converting to 4e.

I wasn't aware that Mr. Burlew had health problems. Chronic illness is one of the most "isolating" things imaginable. The only thing certain is that you are sick, which is scary, upsetting, and depressing. My hopes and prayers that Rich and his family may find peace and comfort in such difficult and trying circumstances.

I just read the news posted on 7/7 at GiantITP.com. I'm unable to explain exactly why, but it touches me deeply that Rich specifically states he isn't accepting monetary donations; instead he gives a lists of his favorite charities. Thank you for encouraging me to do my part.

Thank you so much, for many years of fun and entertainment. I am of course looking forward to many years more.

:)