geez, who pulled the drama tag out? i'm going to miss my dragon subscription, but hey.
No kidding. Do I get roleplay XP if I sound over-wrought? :P
Yeah, it's a dark day, but it's not the end of the world as we know it.
Telas
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HeroForge. Google it. It's an Excel-based sheet that allows creation of up to 20th level characters in five minutes, with no errors (well, very few errors). Almost all the official splatbooks are supported, and the formulas can be changed to support house rules. I play off a laptop, so I keep it open and modify as needed. Print to PDF, and it's a 300K sheet that anyone can see. Print and slip into a clear cover, and wet-erase your modifiers. Telas
Ideas for Greyhawk Prestige Classes (Off the top of my head, and from work. Sorry if these have been done): Scarlet Brotherhood Assassin - These guys changed the world. They deserve a PrC. Dustdigger - The Academy of Lore in the Yeomanry is famous for their daring adventurers, willing to brave the Sea of Dust and bring back ancient Suel artifacts. Baklunish Cavalier - I'm sure there's a better name for a nomadic horse-soldier, but you know what I mean. Someone whose life revolves around horses, including all ranges of combat. Liberator of Trithereon - Only the warrior-cleric most devoted to freedom is allowed to bear the title "Liberator". Joten-Hunter - Experienced giant-hunters from the Yeomanry, Geoff, and Sterich have learned much about their prey, and put all of it into use. If you can't tell, I run a Yeomanry-centered campaign. While we're at it, a couple of core classes might be worthwhile... Scarlet Brotherhood Monk - A thousand years of independent martial-arts development, a natural affinity for magic, and a drive to dominate the world will create a variant of the "standard" Monk. More magical, less mystic/divine. Politician - (NPC class) "Neither Expert nor Aristocrat" describes many of the Yeomanry's Grosspokesmen. My thoughts for now... be gentle, Telas
Three pages and growing (although they're all with examples). 32 point buy, with 2/3 max hit points per level.
Telas
This is a very subjective topic, and everyone will have their own opinion on what's "realistic". There's physical realism, where "what we know about something" is violated. Personally, I can't stand spiked chains or many dire or double weapons, on a practicality level (spiked chain + forest encounter = self-entaglement). So they're not in my game. Falling damage is another example; a falling character's damage should follow a geometric progression. In the real world, falling thirty feet is far more than three times as bad as falling ten feet. Also, everyone's got their idea of what D&D should be like. Greyhawk Grognards like me prefer the low-magic, low-powered AD&D style of play. When I get into a Forgotten Realms campaign, where every guard has a +1 weapon and you can drop in at the local magic shoppe and buy your power, it breaks the suspension of disbelief. Magic items aren't "realistic", but how a game handles them should be in line with the players' (and DM's) expectations. Some gamers try to use this argument to nerf everyone else, or to build up their own character. I heard a monk's player exclaim that he should be able to beat any fighter in melee combat, since a Shaolin movie-monk would beat any European movie-knight. This is the most egregious usage of the "unrealistic" epithet. Frankly, the hit point system (hell, the whole combat system) is unrealistic, especially when you start to throw monsters into the mix. If you look at it as an analogue for conflict resolution, instead of a blow-by-blow description of actual combat, then it's easier to accept. Telas
Google for "amok time". I don't know if that's the title, but I found it there. Telas
I'm an old Greyhawker from way back, and I have no problems using a very sharp knife to cut my vision from the whole cloth that WotC provides with 3.5. I don't have it served on a silver platter, but I've always preferred doing it myself. Anyway... At one of the Eberron Q&A sessions at GenCon last year (2005), I asked how detailed they thought the setting would be. Actually, I requested that they leave plenty of room for the DM, "unlike certain unnamed campaign settings where everything is detailed, down to the last sergeant of the guard". The question got applause. Not the answer, but the question. A lot of applause, with a few whoops and a "hear, hear!" And to his credit, Keith Baker and company made it a point to tell us that a lot of the setting, including the source of the Mourning, the contents of Xen'drik, and a few other details will be hands-off. They basically said that they didn't want to overdescribe the world, and what I've seen of the books so far, they haven't. I spoke with Keith after the seminar, and he pretty much thanked me for asking that question. Apparently the yards of shelf space necessary to run an FR campaign are generating a little negative feedback at WotC... Telas
You've all hit the right buttons, but there's something else, too... A great DM transcends the rules. He knows them so well that they no longer drive the game. He doesn't need to look up rules, or listen to arguments over them. He also knows when to ignore them, and when to emphasize them. And he is willing to ditch, change, or modify them for the sake of the game. Because it's all about fun. We're not getting graded on how closely we cleave to the rulebook. And if a rule gets in the way of the fun, ditch the damned rule. Telas
Nice idea, Heathensson... Consider it borrowed. Fave monster? Kobolds. Why? Craft: Trapmaking. Profession: Miner. Favored class: Sorcerer. Narrow passageways. Close passageways. Narrow and close passageways (look it up for some serious environmental issues). Half-dragon template easily explained. Hit and run tactics, using traps to block/separate the PCs. Web combined with Summon Spider Swarm. Dire Weasels sic'd on trapped characters. Poison crossbows. Flaming mobile walls. Falling ceilings that block corridors. Did I mention the favored class is Sorcerer? The best part is watching the PCs turn and run, knowing they just got beaten by CR 1/4 critters that are "barely strong enough for first level characters". Telas
I try to get descriptive, but I sometimes go too far, and probably need to ask my players if they think I'm overdoing it. I handle the hit points for the players, and that helps "Oh, he just nicks you in the thigh." or "Thrusting deeply, he CRITICALLY HITS you, piercing through your armor and deep into your chest. You don't think you can take any more shots like that." I recently read of a house rule that when you kill something, you get to describe it. I think I'll throw this one in the mix, too. Telas
Ambushed at night, Fergon the barbarian woke from a sound sleep to the *rutch* of a sudden footstep, and uncannily dodged the sap aimed at his thick skull. He grabbed Legbiter (his greataxe) and it once again earned its nickname. As the two closest mercenaries fell, he stood, just in time to see Alabash thrust through with his own rapier, stolen weeks before. As Alabash fell, Fergon saw the woman who wielded the blade. Swinging it briskly, clearing the blood from it, she was obviously of superior skill. Fergon knew that he had to get her attention. Raising the axe and charging at her, he cried out... "FACE ME, B&#~!!!" ...and rolled a critical hit, burying the axe spine-deep. Telas
I've got a few gigs of movie and videogame soundtracks, but all you need is www.radiorivendell.com. Feel free to send them a few bucks to help out with the bandwidth, but it's not mandatory. Telas
As an olde schoole gamer, I am an inveterate rules-bender and advocate of the same. If you want to change the rules to prevent the "Darian Trap", then go for it. The point of the game is to have fun; don't let the rules get in your way. That said, you may want to talk it over with the group first, and find a simpler fix. If the character died magnificently (throwing himself in front of the wizard so she could cast the spell that would save the party), then his god could smile on him, and grant only half a level's XP loss. Another potential solution could be the other characters "donating" XP to the "Level the Meat Shield" fund. I wouldn't allow them to bring him up to par; death should (after all) set you back somehow... Telas
Personally, I don't use Psionics in my campaigns; too much additional bookkeeping, and it doesn't bring enough to the game to justify it. As a player, I've seen it become almost overpowering. For instance, compare Brain Lock and Hold Person. Brain Lock gets one saving throw, and has a duration of Concentration + 1 round. Hold Person gets one saving throw per round, and has a duration of one round per level. Both are second level. Once the psion gained this power, most fights turned into a delaying action until the bad guy failed his save. Telas
There's a lot of older GH stuff out there, if you're looking for fluff. If you're looking for crunch, then Dungeon or homemade seems to be the best option. Telas the Greyhawk 3.5 DM
I don't look at the books as sources for PC races, necessarily (after all, I do run a Greyhawk 3.5 campaign). But they do make a great resource for NPC races. I liked the Goliaths in Races of Stone, and plan to use them in my campaign as a recurring NPC race. That said, the books are not as good as the Complete Whatever books (generally speaking). Telas
OK, this may sound harsh, but here goes.... As DM, you are the Grand Imperial Pooh-Bah of the campaign. If the players and you don't mesh, then it's not up to you to change the campaign for them. Frankly, most players don't pay enough for that. I'm an old-school D&Der (since 1978), and I've noticed that the younger players (as a gross generalization) are more interested in character optimization than roleplaying. That's cool; some people like low-rider bicycles, too. Not me. I'm in it for the story, for the experience, and for the moments when the players finish the task, or find something out, and it's all worth it. The first paragraph of my House Rules document: "Character races, classes, feats, skills, and spells will initially be limited to the Player's Handbook. Additional prestige classes, feats, spells, etc, from the Dungeon Master’s Guide, Monster Manual, or other sources (including Complete Whatever books, other WotC sources, or even player-invented material) will be allowed only with explicit DM permission." Every magic item valued over 2000 GP has a history and distinct abilities. There are very few +1 swords, and a whole lot of "ring of shielding - this ring grows into a small steel shield with a +1 enchantment, or reduces back to a ring as a free action, one action per round". If some action, feat, or piece of gear isn't going to fit in the campaign, it's gone. That's why there are no spiked chains in my campaign. If you want a spiked chain, you can either go elsewhere, or build one and we'll go into the woods and you can prove to me that it's an effective melee weapon and not just a tree-catcher. The NPCs are generally constructed to challenge the players, who have to give me copies of their character sheets, so I can challenge them (and so I can check their math when the inevitable questions arise). Yeah, I'm being really harsh here. But I spend 2-3 hours planning and writing for every hour of game time. I own that campaign, if by nothing more than the time I've got vested in it. And no rules-lawyer munchkin is going to take it away by building a Hulking Hurler that can throw Cadillacs around (the old Caddys, back when they were like 3-4 tons). If your players don't like it, they're certainly free to go find another DM or to even go create a world to their liking. Perhaps then they'll understand that it's not about defeating the DM, but about roleplaying. Telas
Hoo-ah! This old grunt says thanks and keep your chin down and head up. What's the matter, Iraq not gritty enough? :P 30% XP will put you around where AD&D used to be. No problems there. Generic classes... fine, fine. Bell Curve... Hmm. I haven't messed with that. I'd be hesitant to do so, but you can change it at any time. No ressurection is okay, but I prefer that they've never heard of it, and to get one requires serious quests and costs. Haven't played "Armor as DR" yet, sounds more realistic. The "players roll all dice" is good, but a series of bad dice rolls can kill a party faster than a PO'd DM. When the DM rolls, you get to "nerf as needed". If you're fine with high PC mortality, go for it. Other house rules that work for me:
Email me at telas tx at gmail dot com (no spaces, use obvious characters) and I'll send you my House Rules document. Telas
I'm kinda new to the 3.x D&D ruleset, but I'm learning on the fly. In other words, my Barbarian won't attempt to Charge the next Troll he sees. That almost ended very, very, very badly. You're right, rend is the suck. I'm also learning as a DM, as are my players. The last adventure, a 3rd level Monk chased after the 5th level Barbarian Orc leader. Catching him was the beginning of his worries.... I love the levels you can give critters in 3.x. Who says Goblins can't be 12th level? Telas
As a DM, I like the moral quandries I can throw at the players. As a player, I hate it when the DM gives us a "no right answer" question. Some gray areas are fine (and to be expected), but when you're given a "kill the innocent or watch the kingdom fall" issue, the game ceases to be entertaining. I feel manipulated and in a contrived situation. Add to this the "Alignment Question". Just about everyone has their own interpretation of alignment, and the DM may explain his endlessly. But if you're not convinced that it's the correct response, then you're just playing someone else's character. A great example of this is the whole "intent vs action" thing. One of my DMs believes that if you can somehow rationalize your actions, that's fine. ("I'm killing these babies because they'll have a rough life.") OTOH, I'm very much into explaining your character, then deciding (with the DM's input) your alignment. So my advice is: watch out what you throw at the party. Make sure you're not tossing them something that could cause more conflict than it's worth. (Having said that, I have thrown rapist/murderers, religious orgies, and other morally questionable material at my parties. But my playing experience leads me away from the "no win" situations I've seen before.) Telas
It's all about story. The stats and mechanics give structure to the story, but they sure as hell can't replace it. :-) This old grunt says, "Hoo-Ah!!!" I'm a reborn gamer (took about 20 years off between high school and now). Confusing the rules with the game is the most common mistake I see in the new crop of gamers. (You kids and your rock & rolll!!) It's a role playing game, not chess. Back to the point. Intelligent monsters have levels. It's pretty much a fact of life in my campaign, and the players have come to respect it. (Although a new player did take off after the Orc Leader this week: 3rd level Human Monk vs. 6th level Orc Barbarian = not pretty.) And some monsters have ... changed depending on the environment. Those stats you were given in the books? They're guidelines, not iron-bound laws carved into stone. (Mixed metaphors, no extra charge!) Now, as for Dungeon using new critters or old, it's easier to use the old ones, but the audience occasionally needs some variety. I think the best policy is to mix and match, or you get predictable. ("Psst! Hey guys, he's DMing the latest Dungeon module, so don't attack anything without a good Sense Motive roll!") That's my 2CP, and I'm sticking to it. Telas
OK, I've only bought 3 Dungeon's in my life. Back when I had a subscription to Dragon (around issue 40 or so), Dungeon didn't exist. I'm going to buy more, and one of the reasons for that is to read Wil's columns. My history with Wil, limited as it is: I am a geek. I watched every ST:TNG as it premiered, and couldn't stand the Ensign. I played D&D from about age 12 through high school. At the tender age of 38, I'm getting back into gaming. In the mean-and-between-time, I've learned a lot about computers, enough to work in the field. One of my outlets inthe downtimes is reading Fark.com. One day, Wil appeared in a thread about himself, and did a damn fine job defending who and where he is (a difficult thing to do among Farkers, if you know the breed). So: Respect! When I noticed that Wil wrote a column in the back of Dungeon, I began reading them. Nice work, a bit rough around the edges, but nice stuff. Fluff? Sure, if you call everything but new spells, feats, classes, and monsters fluff. Frankly, to a n00b like me, 3.5 has plenty of crunch, too much to chew in one sitting, IMHO. A single page of fluff isn't going to hurt, and it'll help a whole lot as I digest all this crunch. Finally, if Wil's column has become, like Marla in Fight Club, "...the little scratch on the roof of your mouth that would heal if only you could stop tonguing it, but you can't", then perhaps you should (to totally mix metaphors, genres, and artistic styles) read the lyrics to Tool's "The Grudge" and "Let go." Telas, atempting to disbelieve he just wrote this screed.
If you mean surprising them with the ol' bait-and-switch: Advance the heck out of something innocuous. Like a single Goblin Monk 9, with a dozen or so Monk 2-3 followers. Give him a 32 point buy, the Vow of Poverty feat, etc. "But he's a Goblin!" Yeah, he's just a Goblin... kicking your butt all over the map.... Or a Demon, polymorphed into a FR CRPG-style "kind and helpful old wizard" who continuously leads them astray. When they've had enough meddling and confront him, let him bounce them around a bit, then depart in a flash of brimstone with a "You haven't heard the last of me!" But nothing can hold a candle to Terry Pratchett. A former gamer with a wicked imagination and a well-honed sense of the absurd. Telas |