chikenoodle's page

In the game I play in on Sundays I play a Sorcerer/Shugenja. It seems that I'm always looking ahead and planning what spells I'm gonna learn at each new level since my spell lists are so small. I'll have it all planned out then I'll read some more and change my mind or I will notice what the other folks in the group are constantly doing and switch to a spell that better fits the group. It seems like I spend a lot of time doing this (I know part of it is my own neurosis).

I started playing D&D as a fighter, usually mixed with other classes, but a core fighter nonetheless. I love the simplicity of it. You got your feats, which you know inside and out and you got your weapon to do all kinds of sick damage. Easy-peesy.

Then there's the spell caster. Honestly, wizard is my new favorite class. I completely understand where you are coming from, Chris because I am the same way. I think I drive my fellow gamers and DM crazy with it all. I know my spells (durations, variables, DCs, the works) and I usually have it figured out before my turn. But then someone goes and does something crazy, then I have to figure out an appropriate reaction/spell to it. It's frustrating, but crazy and definitely fun.

Stick with what works. It sounds like your system works great just remember it's a game and have fun with it. Don't worry about what the other characters are up to. Something I had to learn the hard way: While it's great to build a character the group benefits from, remember it's a role-playing game. Choose spells that suit the character first, then worry about how the party will benefit. I think it's more fun that way.

Tatterdemalion wrote:

Plus, I suspect her style (and gender) may do a fair job at generating more interest from women.

My two cents.

I sincerely hope not... no, I mean it. Because, if the women she attracts to the hobby are just as ditzy-headed, clueless, juvenile and generally annoying as she portrays herself as, then I don't want any of them at my gaming table.

Argh, I'm ashamed of her and of how much WotC is pushing her and her insulting book on behalf of all the thoughtful and smart women gamers out there.

Well said. I appreciate the fact that you guys know the difference. I've heard of guys not wanting any female gamers at their table for fear of getting females that act "ditzy-headed, clueless, juvenile and generally annoying..."

I've been playing D&D since 2004 and had the privilege of gaming with not one, not two, but four other chicks at the same table. I bought the book out of curiosity and tried to read through it. Seriously, I gave that book every effort and more time than it was worth. As a gamer, I found it incredibly annoying and insulting. However, the girl in me could relate to some of the things she discussed and found some things amusing. I showed it to my boyfriend and who was not impressed at all. His thoughts and feelings are similar to those on this thread. We have a friend who bought it for his girlfriend.

As much as I would like to see the population of female gamers increase, I don't want it to increase with this type of female (I've played with pink wearing, giggling blond hair flipping type and don't care to repeat that experience again. I might kill someone). However, I can think of several females I would loan this book to so they can get a feel of D&D from a chick's perspective. However, I could explain it just as well, and of course, the only real way to learn D&D is to roll up a character and jump in.

Oh, and there are other ways to get females interested in D&D that do not include throwing books at them.

contrary to my fellow gamers, i really enjoyed these monsters. i got a great visual on all three and they scared the crap out of this player. i see these monsters as more than "free experience" or an easy fight. these monsters are a unique encounter that the player will always remember.

the names aren't a serious issue for me. they are pronounced exactly how they are spelled. if i saw these names in the index of a monster manual, i would probably flip to them just out of sheer curiosity. they have names unlike any other monster i've seen. i guess that's worked out to be joseph's curse. too bad, b/c i think there's a great concept here that's being overlooked.

the monsters don't seem to be an easy fight, as they will have the advantage of surprise over the party. the various abilities suit the respective monsters and i think would give a decent challenge to a reasonably sized (power level and player number) party (and could be tailored to accommodate any party by effort of the dm, just like any other monster). these monsters are meant for a lower level party, and he obviously doesn't seem intent on achieving a TPK. kudos. i haven't seen much of that in this round. as player, i say thanks :-) players just want a challenge without feeling as though the dm has it out for them. these monster accomplish that.

i think joseph is probably the least favored contestant in this round, but it's happened before and he's continued on. i look forward to seeing more of his stuff.

I love psionics and am happy to see you do something that at least in my experience is unique and different with cults and aboleth and incorporating psionics to mimic divine intervention.

Well written. Liked how you choose some very good powers to make Voeren survivable. Like WB said, you could wrap a campaign around this...very nice.

Love the backstory too. I can't wait until those goody-goody pallies or priests use detect lie or zone of truth to find out what V. is really about only to get truth when he explains his vision...

This quote pretty much sums up how I feel about this entry. I only have a few issues, but they aren't so serious as to disregard this entry. I don't really like the name, I think the villain's Charisma stat could be higher (although I know you had to augment the stats according to the race; it just seems that for a religious figure and influential person, it could be higher) and I think that you could have elaborated on the tactics.

I am not used to playing with psionics, and have never played a psionic character. However, I love what you came up with here. The aboleth religious cult, with its fake priests manifesting "divine" powers to "convert" the masses is a truly unique and creative idea.

This villain has goals, plots and schemes to achieve his goals and he creates plenty of conflict and story for the PCs (destroy it or leave it... or join it?).

BTW, I'm stealing my boyfriend's XPH... I may consider playing a psion in the near future.

You got me with your twist... that's all I will say :) Got me in a good way.

Not fair!

Now I'm dying to know.

Is it Wednesday yet?

Ah, the sacrifices one must make to realize his/her dreams. I give kudos to each and every one of the 16 finalists. I know this wasn't easy and I can't wait to read the submissions.

This wait (excuse my language) sucks.

Catch up on your holiday cards in the meantime :-P

Besides, this contest will likely open some print publication opportunities. Even for the people who dont win it all.

I can tell you this, I know for a fact I will have discussions with a few of the contestants here already. Not just the winner. Other serious print publishers are watching and waiting too, I imagine. Including WotC.

Wow. I didn't enter the contest, and I don't really do any game design or even DM for that matter, but this excites the bejeesus out of me!

This is very exciting and I hope everyone remaining continues to put forth their best as I know I love reading the entries.

Fresh talent! Woot!

:-)

I noticed that a lot of people still seem hung up on the names. I don't fully understand why. I agree with munchies420 in most respects. I think the names give a glimpse of the personality of the NPC (Abigail evokes honor and dignity, Rasputin for the ambitious rebel, and Treehugger was the gnome who built the globe and gathered the animals (gnolls and formians included) and constructed the terrain to study).

I like this country and I think it is very versatile; any DM can pick it up and drop it in his/her home game, which is what most of you plan on doing. Everything you need to run this country is provided. What I don't understand is, you like enough to use it, but not vote for it? Other entries were decent and others were great. The Prison Colony of Saran stands out most to me because it is different. It promises a unique adventure and experience that one would be hard pressed to find elsewhere.

As for lack of originality, I think it would be safe to say that everything has been done before and that nothing is new. Joseph made the "bottled city" different because of his use of political intrigue.

I've mentioned in a prior post that there's more to this entry than what you may first realize. Everything this author did seems very deliberate to me, from choosing the names to arranging the country's politics. I find Saran is the most intriguing country and will be voting for it.

Hmm... I think there is more to this entry than it is given credit for. The Prison Colony of Saran absolutely is a country. Yes, it's small, but it maintains its own government, supports itself and in every other way is completely independent of the Solarian Empire. If the Solarian Empire ceased to exist, the Colony would still continue on.

Have you guys noticed the variety of prisoners? Rasputin is a war monger, a fallen paladin (seeking atonement) rules the capital, which was founded by a woman who committed adultery. I think this says volumes about the Solarian Empire, and gives Saran another level of intrigue.

I think all of the contestants have done really well with their submissions. They had to create a country using only 1000 words. I've read a few other submissions and the DM secrets are usually lacking. I think they tried to give options for play, but also left it open for the DM to do what he/she wants.

Having said all that, I see an incredible potential for political intrigue and player interest. It's a different kind of setting, definitely gritty. There are several reasons why players would come here: Roc feathers could be an important spell component to a new spell that a PC or powerful wizard is developing, there is ancient treasure and secrets to be had and of course, freeing the "elder brother of the ruling Emperor Cleon II" would certainly turn the entire world upside down. There's tons of stuff for PCs to do but yes, they would only come here for that purpose (unless they got caught breaking laws in Solaria, in which case they are screwed... or are they?).

Just my thoughts.

*sigh*

waiting...

i officially joined paizo just so i could vote in the contest. :-D

i can't wait to what everyone came up with.

i'm excited...