All debate about the cover aside, what did people think of #329's content?
-Amber Scott
I was really looking forward to the Beowulf article and found it 'pretty good.' I'd say it was average. Not a dissapointment but not fantastic.
Something really did get my imagination fired up though. I had just glanced at the Class Act for Sorcerers and then run off to work and with a 30 minute drive and plenty of downtime in between customers had time to think about it. I'd really like my new player's sorcerer to have the option of having a bee swarm as a familiar but when I came home and read the article it was somewhat powergamerish when what I really wanted was something mostly for flavor (as that's all we usually use familiars for besides spying). Any suggestions for doing this? Would it require the Improved Familiar feat? Could it perhaps be taken at 1st or 2nd level?
Oh, another thing I was slightly dissapointed with was the brief coverage for the Dragonshard game. Of course if it hadn't been mentioned on the cover I wouldn't have gotten so excited...
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On Sunday (yesterday) we started a new campaign in Greyhawk, since Erik has sold me on the idea. In any case, one of the players had opted for a Kenku even before I received my magazine. He's borrowing it now, reading up on his race.
Another player had based his gnomish character on treating "insects as people". He is actually a druid, but the insect swarm familiars were something he found interesting.
So, all in all, this issue has already gotten some use from my gaming group, which is always my #1 lament - great stuff in the magazine, but it can be difficult to apply to a game, especially because it is split between so many magazines. Still, it is a great resource when you first start a new campaign.
I really enjoyed the historical "background" of the various monsters. Particularly the "Petite Tarrasque". With those types of articles, I for one would appreciate a very clear indication of which parts are "real" and which parts are "fake". Obviously "moving between planes" is a D&D concept, but is this the true origin of the D&D tarrasque? I'm familiar with the history of most monsters, having studied mythology fairly extensively. Still, when I get involved in a discussion regarding origins of monsters, it would be nice if I could know how "truthful" my words are, or if I should not use Dragon as a source.
I don't have the magazine in front of me since I lent it out, but I'll have more to say when I can refer to it directly.
Oh yeah, the tarrasque one was good too! I'd forgotten about that one.
Where in Tokens of Faith is the alternative holy symbol for Luck? Rabbits foot? Lucky Coin?
Looking forward to the third installment.
TA
Never fear, TA! Luck will appear in #331. :-)
-Amber
I was really looking forward to the Beowulf article and found it 'pretty good.' I'd say it was average. Not a dissapointment but not fantastic.
I've often been tempted to create a D&D adventure based on The Eater's of the Dead/13th Warrior version of Beowulf. Do you think this article would help with that?
I've often been tempted to create a D&D adventure based on The Eater's of the Dead/13th Warrior version of Beowulf. Do you think this article would help with that?
I absolutely loved Eaters of the Dead. Great stuff, albeit a drastic retelling.
The article in 329 deals with the traditional versions of the legend. Stats for Grendel, his mother, and the Firedrake, as well as Beowulf himself. Since none of those things, with the possible exception of Beowulf himself, appear in literal form in Eaters of the Dead, I don't think the article is relevant.
If I were to turn Eaters of the Dead into a D&D adventure, I'd probably translate the Neanderthals into a cultish tribe of Bugbear raiders.
I did something 13th warrior-ish for my Wheel of Time campaign. I had a horde of proto humans storming on the group's poorly defended fortress town.
The Aes Sedai (spellcaster) of the group, usually a timid bystander, stepped out in front of everyone, summoned a whirlpool, and washed them all away.
I had planned for at least an hour of combat, and this quick-thinking PC spoiled all my plans with one very well-cast spell of incredible power.
Of course, that just left more time to hunt them down in their lair.
"They want us to think they are bears."
"Where do you find bears?"
"In Caves?"
"where are the caves?'
"In the earth."
Troy, I just read "Using the Universal Language", and I had to say it was truly a D'oh article. As in, "D'oh, why didn't I think of that?" Really well done! I'm going to be playing a bard/rogue soon and I have to remember that one.
-Amber S.
Thanks for the kind words, Amber.
Inspiration for my piece came from the artwork that went with the Isle of the Dread article from Dungeon 114 ...
... and from a dim memory of having played the original Isle of the Dread and our party having no way to effectively communicate with the tribal zombie master. Of course, that was back in the days of the D&D Basic-Expert game, when the only character with any skills to speak of was the Thief. No such thing as a bard in those days. :-(
I have to give credit to Mike McArtor, as well as anyone else who edited the piece. Their clever editing streamlined the rules on influencing NPC attitudes from those I had originally submitted. My original suggestion was a two-step process.
"They want us to think they are bears."
"Where do you find bears?"
"In Caves?"
"where are the caves?'
"In the earth."
The 13th Warrior being one of my favorite movies, I thought I'd point out the context of that line.
When told to seek and kill the mother of the wendyl, Buliwyf asks "Where do we find her?" The old, seemingly crazy woman replies, "She is in the earth, seek her in the earth," and they of course think she's all mad.One of my favorite scenes in that movie. :D
Why I don't think you could ever call 13th Warrior a great film, it has its moments.
For me, you know the kind of film it will be when, in the aftermath of the drunken feast the night before, the Viking warriors all clear their sinuses, gargle and wash using the same bowl.
It's one of those Yuck moments that makes me glad I don't live in the 13th century.
Hmmmmmm, maybe there's an idea for an aritcle in all this.