Collectible DM Decks for 4th Edition !!
The new rules are so good and so streamlined, I think we can use cards to play it.
DM Decks: These decks can be used to guide your solo play or your small party through wonderful adventures without the need for a pesky DM.
-- It is never the same game twice.
The deck is composed of several smaller decks you shuffle each time you play. There will be a "Plot Deck", a "Monster Deck", an "Encounter Deck", a "Treasure Deck", and many more as WE think of them. Maybe even unique maps and splat pamphlets can be used in a side-by-side fashion to make the play more immersing.
First, deal yourself a Plot Card. The Plot cards tell the story. On them are directions for making rolls and checks. The Plot Cards also tell you which of the other Decks to draw from as play proceeds.
I am still debugging my initial DM Deck, so unfortunately I don't have a working deck, yet. . But, you can be of help! Post your card ideas here (HOOK Cards, TWIST Cards), or even complete decks, and we can start trading cards with each other. It will be magical.
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Details:
Each card will have a 'title', a 'main description', and an 'action-area description'. The 'action-area' will tell you to make dice rolls, what in the environment to react to, what monster the player-on-your-left should control, and/or what card pile to draw from next based on dice rolls.
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Example: DM DECK
(Example, still not completely functional DM Deck)
Sub-Decks include:
PLOT DECK-
1. Open a door: roll a d20, if less than 8 draw a monster card, if 20 draw a treasure card, otherwise draw an encounter card.
2. Enter a small shop off a dark alley: (place dice roll information here)
3. Summoned by local Strong Man with coin
4. Walk across a spooky bridge ( please help by adding your ideas here! )
5. Ask a townie for information
MONSTER DECK-
1. Greasy Thug: roll a d10, on a 1-2 he offers you a drink from his bag.
2. Lawyer ( please help by adding your ideas! )
3. Bad Cop
4. Sniper
5. Identity Thief ( please help by adding your ideas! )
ENCOUNTER DECK-
1. A raven haired beauty smiles at you in the bar: roll your CHR or higher on d20, or draw a new Encounter card.
2. Suddenly a carriage pulls up beside you ( add your idea here )
3. Drop bear attack
4. You are followed to the outhouse
5. Hoop snakes lunge from the bulldust: roll a d6, it doesn't matter, you're dead.
TREASURE DECK-
1. Gold: roll 1d10 for number of coins
2. Game
3. Magic item
4. Pat on the back from boss
5. Hug from mom ( add ideas here! )
- *** You're card designs are needed! Shuffle Up and Deal.
... and the threadcrap postings continue to flow.
Yep. But they'll go away quicker if we ignore them :)
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... and the threadcrap postings continue to flow.Yep. But they'll go away quicker if we ignore them :)
No, sadly it will not. This kind of crap stops when people get banned and not a moment before. I looked over at the Pathfinder boards and noticed a sharp drop in the trolling after the timeouts were issued.
Collectible DM Decks for 4th Edition !!
The new rules are so good and so streamlined, I think we can use cards to play it.
DM Decks: These decks can be used to guide your solo play or your small party through wonderful adventures without the need for a pesky DM.
Yes please.
Seriously, when I read through that section in the DMG about playing a game without a DM, I immediately imagined a product very much like this one.
Sure, it will never be a substitute for a real game run by a real DM, but in a pinch, something like this could be ideal. I would certainly buy a (non-collectible) set of cards for this purpose.
Hate it or like it there is with out any doubt in my mind this will come to pass.
Ignatz
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No, sadly it will not. This kind of crap stops when people get banned and not a moment before. I looked over at the Pathfinder boards and noticed a sharp drop in the trolling after the timeouts were issued.
But this thread had dropped down pretty low and was showing no signs of life...
...until you posted a response. Now it's becoming a discussion. As my grandmother used to say "remember, when you point your finger, three keep pointing back at you." Let the threads go, they'll self deflate, especially if they're meant in jest and not terribly funny to begin with.
You've pretty much described this.
And it's from way before 4E.
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Is there any reason not to think this is both a viable and serious product possibility?In the abstract - sure. In this specific instance it was pure troll crap.
And your evidence is?
Because, honestly, I read it as a serious suggestion. Some of the ideas are a bit silly, but the premise is sound.
And I know from other threads that Tensor is going to be DMing 4e.
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Is there any reason not to think this is both a viable and serious product possibility?In the abstract - sure. In this specific instance it was pure troll crap.
And your evidence is?
Because, honestly, I read it as a serious suggestion. Some of the ideas are a bit silly, but the premise is sound.
And I know from other threads that Tensor is going to be DMing 4e.
Tensor is the one spouting on and on about "4evil". I don't care how serious this particular post was meant to be in light of all of the other trolling it comes of as ... well ... more trolling.
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Is there any reason not to think this is both a viable and serious product possibility?In the abstract - sure. In this specific instance it was pure troll crap.
Not exactly. It is an idea, that is tainted by your opinion.
If you ask yourself, why so many members of your group are vying for the right to call themselves DM for the next campaign, you get very fast to the reason why such a product or Dungeon Bash or Cardmaster (I know it tanked severely, but they tried it nonetheless) is a viable idea.
Sometimes the DM wants to play, too.
And if you find no other player that will bear the burden of GM'ing... it leaves you with no other choice (even Descent, a notable board game alternative to roleplaying expects one of the players to don the mantle of Overlord).
And Tensor's Cards are just another approach. Maybe one, that needs another pass through the design process, but it may be a viable success in the end.
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Not exactly. It is an idea, that is tainted by your opinion.Is there any reason not to think this is both a viable and serious product possibility?In the abstract - sure. In this specific instance it was pure troll crap.
No. The post is tainted by a pattern of past behavior that is clearly trolling.
I think we may be on to something here. It warrants consideration.
Are you kidding me? This is obviously supposed to be a joke at the expense of 4e. Unfortunately it could use some rework to filter out the bits of invective peeking through and add in some chuckles.
YA know CWM tensor is gonna play 4e ...He likes to bait you me thinks and man your so easy to rile with your 4e crusade. Really just dont post to it you seem to bring flames even to posts made in good fun. I think It be best for you and most others if ya just put down your sword and walk away from the posts ya don't like.
Just a thought.
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Whether it's a joke or not, it isn't a bad idea. There are games out there like Descent and Arkham Horror which use cards to determine plot, monsters, etc., to great results, and are incredibly fun. The one major complaint about a game like Descent is that the base rules don't allow for a lot of customization or 'realistic' encounters. With a game like DnD, that strives for a good battle system and combat rules, having cards for plot, random dungeons, random treasures, etc. isn't a bad idea at all. Heck, the same thing was done with 3.5 ed with some great online 'random dungeon' creators, 'random treasure' creators, and the like. Anyone remember those sites?
If a DM wanted to run a game that way, I think it'd be a fun try. Have piles of cards based on CR of monsters, random CRs of treasure... whether this thread was started as a joke or not, the idea has merit.
Not saying I'll do it, though it sounds fun. And for the record, I do like 4th ed, just in case anyone wants to immediately scream my post as some kind of subtle 'anti 4th ed' junk.
If you are a fan of the 'True' DnD feel, I'm sure this kind of product can appeal to you as this his how Gygax build most of his module....
A one paragraph plot and a 29 pages dungeoncrawl with random rooms, creatures and treasure... the root of all of what is really DnD...
Fortunely you can also use the 3.5E or 4E to actually play a RPG... :-)
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I wouldn't say it's less of an RPG by doing random loot and monster encounters. Heck, the 3.5 DMG had tables for this, if I recall. Less DM decisions in plot doesn't mean it automatically becomes less of an RPG.
Heck, using modules already means the DM doesn't have to think much about what the plot is going to do. Using cards is another step down, and he may have to think a bit in terms of tying them together..but I don't think it makes it less of an RPG.
Are you kidding me? This is obviously supposed to be a joke at the expense of 4e. Unfortunately it could use some rework to filter out the bits of invective peeking through and add in some chuckles.
No, I am serious. ( I am just a bad writer. )
This is where YOU CAN HELP !
Add your card ideas. Let's see how good you are at adventure building.
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Encounter Card:
Ghoulish clown
A garishly painted clown capers down the corridor towards you. With a start you realize that the objects being juggled are severed hands.
Roll d6
1-2 - Its an illusion distracting you from a trap! Draw a trap card.
3-5 - Its a monster! Draw monster cards until you draw a humanoid.
6 - The clown offers to entertain you. Make a Will save or flee. If you don't flee, treat as a monster.
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As sad as some may consider it, if cards like these actually existed, I think I would buy some. So long as there were plenty in each pack.
Some weeks I have the time to write up adventures, usually I use modules. Occasionally having a 'random' campaign would be fun. It's the reason that, back in 3.5, we had a session where we rolled random races and classes, used the random dungeon generator, and rolled random treasure. It was goofy, it was crazy, it was fun.
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Fixed.
6 - The clown offers to entertain you. Have the clown make an attack of +8 vs. everyone's Will Defense. Success indicates that character is frightened and must flee out of the room. If anyone doesn't flee, treat as a monster.
:D
I don't speak 4e.Actually, I would buy a well built set of these cards as well (though for 3e).
Its not a bad idea.
You are amazing !!
Here is (micro) DM Deck. Maybe a stub Deck would be a better name. It kinda works.
The main purpose is to continue along the prototype development path. After making this I notice one very necessary addition that will be needed. Within the different types of Decks further sub classification of ‘type’ is needed, call them sub-types.
Witch has already anticipated this when he said, “ Draw monster cards until you draw a humanoid.” Noticing that ‘Humanoid’ would be a sub type in the Monster deck.
So, now we need to come up with a working list of sub types for each Deck type:
What are the sub types of Plot, for the Plot deck ???
Let’s work on this over the next few days and see what we can come up with. Please keep posting all the card ideas you can come up with! And, post any other helpful ideas you come up with!
[ a micro Deck: print this post out and cut the cards out with scissors. ]
Start by picking a Plot card at random. The game Ends when you run out of plot cards, or you die.
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Plot Card:
Barrier to Entry
You stand in front of a door.
Roll d6
1 – locked: if you can open it, draw an Encounter card, else draw a new Plot card.
2 – draw a Trap card
3-6 – open the door and draw an Encounter card.
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Plot Card:
Quite Street
You find yourself in a quite side street. It looks like it has recently rained. The cobble stones are slick, and a damp odor is in the air.
Roll d100
1-10 – It begins pouring rain, draw a Plot card.
11-80 – draw an Encounter card
81-00 – draw a Plot card
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Trap Card:
Spike to the Head
With a thud, a spike tries to hit you in the head.
Steps:
1. Roll 4d10
2. Roll a save. If successful, no damage, else only1 hp damage because gosh darnit you’re a Winner!
3. Draw an Encounter card.
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Trap Card:
Flesh eating bacteria falls from above
A breakable class vile is propelled down at you. A purplish, glowing jelly is in the vile.
1. You need to make a save to dodge this vile, if it hits, you immediately begin developing sores on your body.
2. Draw an Encounter card.
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Encounter Card:
Double-Axe Wielding Werewolf
In an unprovoked attack, a werewolf opens up on you with bloody slaughter in mind.
1. Select a player at random to control the monster, or ask your Mom for help.
2. Draw a Plot card if you survive.
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Encounter Card:
Ghoulish Clown
A garishly painted clown capers down the corridor toward you. With a start you realize that the objects being juggled are severed hands.
Roll d6
1-2 - It’s an illusion distracting you from a trap! Draw a trap card.
3-5 – It’s a monster! Draw monster cards until you draw a humanoid.
6 - The clown offers to entertain you. Have the clown make an attack of +8 vs. everyone's Will Defense. Success indicates that character is frightened and must flee out of the room, draw a Plot card. If anyone doesn't flee, treat as a monster.
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Encounter Card:
Kobold?
A Kobold stands in front of you hold hands with a srnurf.
1. Attack, or just
2. Draw a Plot card.
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Monster Cards: make up your own and post them.
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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.
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?
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?
I believe the plan is that DDI subscribers can print out cards for their characters. So you make a 3rd Level Fighter and then print out their power cards. I would also buy some well made cards by class. And I am only planning on playing a little 4e. Gamers like cards especially with good art work.
Ooh. I would if the 'abbreviated' format would allow Monster cards? You see this (DM holds up the cards with art work towards players), but on the DM side he is reviewing the stats.
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No, sadly it will not. This kind of crap stops when people get banned and not a moment before. I looked over at the Pathfinder boards and noticed a sharp drop in the trolling after the timeouts were issued.... and the threadcrap postings continue to flow.Yep. But they'll go away quicker if we ignore them :)
You could always ignore these threads.
You know, I think I would actually buy a product like this. As long as it doesn't have a WOTC or HAsbro mark on it.
Or just check here for some free versions of the cards.
Cheers! :)
Very interesting cough you have there sir.
Aside from this, there are already a beavy of tools for creating power cards. An Italian site called Dragons Lair creates pdfs of the powers you type up. Print these in color on card stock and your golden.
The best part about creating you own allows you to create powers like Hand of Fate for your epic level Cleric of the Raven Queen.
While you can create cards for this, just to let you know there is already something out there that emulates a GM. It's called the Mythic GM Emulator. It's actually a set of charts that gives odds, chaos factors, and a percentage chance for yes and no. You ask questions about the game in question, roll, and interpret the results. It's a little quirky at first, but once you try it a few times, it can come in handy.
Even if you do have a GM.
It's been around for a long time and can be used by itself or with other games using the Emulator simply to answer questions about the game while using your choice of system rules for combat and such.
... and the threadcrap postings continue to flow.
I can't believe you weren't warned for this....
?!?!?
The irony is that whether she was joking or serious, you CWM are the threadcrapper here, again. She has every right to start a thread that's making a joke of the rules; just as much right as you have to post a pro 4E thread.
You've sunk pretty low dude.
... and the threadcrap postings continue to flow.I can't believe you weren't warned for this....
?!?!?
The irony is that whether she was joking or serious, you CWM are the threadcrapper here, again. She has every right to start a thread that's making a joke of the rules; just as much right as you have to post a pro 4E thread.
You've sunk pretty low dude.
While Tensor's profile does not specify gender he's been kicking around these forums for years and I am near certain that Tensor's gender is male.
While Tensor's profile does not specify gender he's been kicking around these forums for years and I am near certain that Tensor's gender is male.
She's not. :)
While Tensor's profile does not specify gender he's been kicking around these forums for years and I am near certain that Tensor's gender is male.She's not. :)
I would have sworn...
OK I stand corrected.
I'm not sure if I would buy Power Cards: currently I can easily fit a heroic cleric on one side of a sheet of paper, but only if I set the page layout to two columns (thus using more of the sheet).
This includes all the powers available, which for the cleric is quite a bit considering that channel divinity is two encounter powers in one (and I also took Armor of Bahamut).
All of the powers I've seen so far can be condensed into one or two lines of text. That being said, I might buy it for my other players, or as an aid for new players, but I doubt I'll actually need them.
I'm not sure if I would buy Power Cards: currently I can easily fit a heroic cleric on one side of a sheet of paper, but only if I set the page layout to two columns (thus using more of the sheet).
This includes all the powers available, which for the cleric is quite a bit considering that channel divinity is two encounter powers in one (and I also took Armor of Bahamut).
All of the powers I've seen so far can be condensed into one or two lines of text. That being said, I might buy it for my other players, or as an aid for new players, but I doubt I'll actually need them.
They fit but the formating and ease of use are better with cards - this directly results in increased speed in resolving questions regarding the power. The nice formating makes it faster for me to find the relivent information as well, again saving a few seconds here and there.
The ability to simply flip them over when used is a quick way to eliminate powers that I can no longer use and means I'm making my choices during my turn a few seconds faster. Between these two I suspect I can save a little time at the table using cards. If the rest of the players use them as well then everyone saves a bit of time and my turn comes around faster - we all win. Unless the cards are outrageously overpriced I suspect they would pay for themselves in saved time surprisingly fast.
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... and the threadcrap postings continue to flow.I can't believe you weren't warned for this....
?!?!?
The irony is that whether she was joking or serious, you CWM are the threadcrapper here, again. She has every right to start a thread that's making a joke of the rules; just as much right as you have to post a pro 4E thread.
You've sunk pretty low dude.
Nope. The OP was edited. When it first appeared Tensor referred to 4e as 4evil ... yet again ... and the post itself was far more derisive than its edited version.
Next time I will be sure to quote the entire post in my reply.
I'm not sure if I would buy Power Cards: currently I can easily fit a heroic cleric on one side of a sheet of paper, but only if I set the page layout to two columns (thus using more of the sheet).
This includes all the powers available, which for the cleric is quite a bit considering that channel divinity is two encounter powers in one (and I also took Armor of Bahamut).
All of the powers I've seen so far can be condensed into one or two lines of text. That being said, I might buy it for my other players, or as an aid for new players, but I doubt I'll actually need them.They fit but the formating and ease of use are better with cards - this directly results in increased speed in resolving questions regarding the power. The nice formating makes it faster for me to find the relivent information as well, again saving a few seconds here and there.
The ability to simply flip them over when used is a quick way to eliminate powers that I can no longer use and means I'm making my choices during my turn a few seconds faster. Between these two I suspect I can save a little time at the table using cards. If the rest of the players use them as well then everyone saves a bit of time and my turn comes around faster - we all win. Unless the cards are outrageously overpriced I suspect they would pay for themselves in saved time surprisingly fast.
Oh, dont get me wrong: I think they would be a GREAT idea, especially for people new to the game or new to a class, even. Heck, none of my players like the way I do my own sheets (they use traditional character sheets, I'm the odd man out).
No matter how logical the information was presented (to me), they often had trouble locating information even after using them for MONTHS.For me, its incredibly easy. Its not something I would recommend doing by hand, either.
Again: great idea, and I'd pick it up just for helping out other people alone.
Still thinking about what one can do with the cards.
You know I'd be willing to pay for a set of the monster stat blocks in card format as well. Its kind of heretical but I've been thinking about pulling the stat block from my adventures. Instead just include a line indicating which stat block cards I should use.
Now I need a tactics section I suppose so I guess I need some written material. In fact, I think I'm slowly being won over to the concept of something like the Delve Format. I hate Delve in 3.5 with a passion but in 3.5 it seems to take away readability without really giving us much in return. In 4E I might actually get something for the annoying loss of readability. The redesign of monster stat blocks makes that at least possible.
That said I still feel they need to work on the format and layout. I'm willing to give up on having tactics as part of the 'main' text of my adventure and willing to move the stat blocks away from this main text as well - but I want the main text to still be clear and concise. I should still understand whats happening plot wise in the adventure. If the tactics section says that the goblins flee if reduced by 1/2 that information probably also belongs in the main text so I know what their talking about when they talk about the possibility of the alarm being raised in subsequent room descriptions.