A Quote by James D. Nicoll
Posted on 2007-08-28 at 20:20
"The problem with defending the purity of the English language is that English is about as pure as a cribhouse whore. We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary."
My mini-review of the 4th edition of DnD as we currently know it
Posted on 2007-08-24 at 23:26
Some of the details of the upcoming 4th edition have been leaked. Those details give us a jumbled picture from which to work, but below is my attempt to comment on the mass of random comments and facts leaked so far.
Races
Mentioned some race disappearing from core (bets go for the Gnome), possibly to be included in an early supplement.
I say fine. The gnome was turning into a joke. Better to drop the gnome than do it poorly as every edition has since after the 1st. If they want some ideas about how to make the Gnome cool again, though, I'm their man. He can and should fill a niche that no other race currently fills (and it ain't the comic relief!).
Tiefling included, and they look much more demonic than now (almost half-demon).
I'm not down with this, in that it is an attempt to bring evil character's to the fore. Maybe I'm an old fuddy-duddy, but evil isn't cool. Cool is the image of the lone Paladin fighting off the hordes of demonkind. Playing D&D is about playing a hero in some manner or form.
Changeling from Eberron may be included.
Meh, I have no opinion on this, except that it seems lame. I'll wait and see, though.
"Dwarven resilience, elven evasion, a half-elf’s inspiring presence" mentioned as racial traits.
I like the sound of these racial traits, but not sure what it all means.
Classes can be improved by racial feats, in a similar way to how current racial substitution levels work.
I like this idea. We used Racial feats in our home campaign and I think they are a good idea overall.
All classes have at will, per encounter and per day abilities.
This is a GREAT thing. An adventurer's day shouldn't end after the first encounter of the morning. Having abilities that work with each encounter is a good solution to that problem. This (and the related new rules) are what most make me want to play the 4th ed rules.
Classes
Levels go up to 30, instead of 20;
Level division:
- 1-10 Heroic - foes are orcs and ogres, some giants, small dragons. Adventures tend to be local.
- 11-20 Paragon - on par with the current low to mid teens right now. Bigger threats are faced that might threaten a kingdom.
- 21-30 Epic- World or Planar threats.
I don't have an opinion about this. The level number matters less than the gameplay at a given level. If 30 is the new 20, that's fine by me either way.
The goal is to have the levels play in a similar manner - they don't want a 25th character overwhelmed with 80 abilities. The main differences should be in the story, not how they play.
I want to see what this means in practice before I comment more.
From GamerZer0's interview with James Wyatt: There are four "roles".Although two PCs may serve the same role, they may do it in different ways. (Like fighters with different styles.) The roles are geared towards combat; a PC's non-combat aspects can differentiate him further. He also said that they are still considering the possibility of there being a class or two that doesn't quite fit the four "roles".
- Defender: fighter & paladin classes
- Leader: cleric & warlord classes
- Controller: wizard class
- Striker: rogue & ranger classes
Unless roles have abilities or something I don't see that this is anything more than trying to help newer players create balanced parties. Not in any way useful to experienced gamers. If this is some sort of model to be followed with a penalty for non-compliance, then I have a problem with it. Experienced gamers like to experiment with themed parties, and this would get in the way of that. That'd be uncool. Not sure if WotC would do something that boneheaded, though.
Fighter, Cleric, Rogue and Wizard definitely stay (multiple mentions and examples). Also mentioned Barbarian, Paladin and Ranger. Mentioned that wizard and sorcerer won't merge. Sorcerer will be different from wizards in more ways than just resource management.
Good to see that the basics stay, I suppose. That leaves us wondering about monks, bards, and druids, among others. I wouldn't miss bards (as none has been cool since the 1st ed). I'd understand if they dropped monks, though I'd miss them. Druids would be an odd choice. They are a class firmly rooted in the mythos that D&D tries to express.
Mentioned that paladins can be of other alignments other than lawful good.
More attempts to push players away from the hero model. I'm sure they want to accommodate anti-paladins (Chaotic Evil paladins) and the such. That would be a serious blow to the game in my opinion.
Mentioned a warlord class
I'm interested in hearing more.
Druid mentioned in D&D's seminar's summary
So the druid stays? I hope so.
Backstab mentioned.
It better be mentioned or they might be the recipients of an unexpected one by the legion of loyal thief/rogue players!
Fighter's "powers" depend highly on the weapon they chose as primary - spears have different "powers" available than axes; swords and greatswords are very flexible in terms of said "powers"
This has the potential to be cool, but it also has to potential to suck raw ass. I don't want something that feels too computer-game. Above all, any combat my fighter engages in should feel like the sort of swordplay I read about in Conan, Tolkien, or other classic fantasy literature. Weapon powers that bring me closer to that feel will be embraced, but weapon powers that feel more like Mortal Combat or Guild Wars will make me far less likely to buy into the 4th edition.
Wisdom helps with power selection.
So a fighter might benefit from a higher wisdom? That could be interesting. It would throw off the power gamers, which isn't entirely a bad thing.
Mentioned a "rain of blows" power or maneuver for swords; mentioned making a choice between taking the abilities "Supreme Cleave" or "Massive Strike".
Those powers sound very Guild Wars. I'm hoping I'm wrong.
More on martial abilities: "A skilled halberdier can hack a foe with his weapon’s blade and spin around to smash a second foe with the haft. A fighter with a longsword disarms her foe with a flick of her wrist, while a battle hungry axeman cleaves through shields, armor, and bone." "Rogues have a similar relationship with skills. A nimble rogue dives through the air to tumble past an ogre, while a charismatic one tricks an enemy into looking away just before she delivers a killing blow with her dagger. Just as fighters do more with weapons than any other character, rogues push skills beyond the limits that constrain other PCs."
I like what I'm hearing here. My concern is that it could be hard to nail down the limits and effects of those sorts of things. Just what can a rogue do with the Bluff skill that another player can't? Ambiguity is fine enough, but it does open the door for power gamers again.
Cleric mentioned creating a "surge of healing power" alongside a critical hit. This hints (yet unconfirmed) to mechanics similar to some Crusader maneuvers, from Tome of Battle.
No real comment on this power, but I want to reiterate that the "per encounter" and such rules for powers are most welcome.
Some current base classes disappear; classes yet to be mentioned and therefore good candidates are Monk and Bard. Classes that don't appear in the PHB will appear in future products. Psionics not to be included in core, though they'll have support.
Glad to see Psionics dropped from the core PHB. I've never really been a fan of them. Psionics are a bit too sci-fi for my fantasy tastes.
Prestige classes stay.
I could have sworn they said they were dropping them. Frankly, I was happy to see them go. Now I'm not certain of their fate, though I'd vote em off the island if it were up to me.
Feats and skills
Move silently and hide rolled into one ("Stealth?")
Good. Nothing was more annoying than rolling 15 times to sneak down a 25 foot hallway while searching for traps.
Some of the more obscure or less used skills disappear (mentioned tailor and rope use)
Not sure I'd drop rope use, but I can understand some of the less used skills going away. I thought Tailor was a profession skill though? Are they dropping Profession? If not, what's to stop me from taking tailor anyway? I make up Knowledge skills for characters as needed. I dunno. I need to see what this all means.
Mentioned that Sage should be "considered a preview [of the skill system]"
Haven't checked that out. I guess I'll have to.
Feats won't form long chains.
That's probably for the best. Planning for the higher end feats was often cumbersome and irritating. Much better to put other limits of powerful feats, like level minimums and the such.
There will be rules akin to the retraining rules in PHBII - they don't like the idea of people planning their careers from level 1 to 30.
This is probably a good thing, but I want to see how they implement it before I commit to a thumbs up.
Combat and encounters
Rules for non-combat encounters. The example given was social interaction. Unlike 3E, where negotiation amounts to a single Diplomacy check, it's treated almost like a combat in 4E. I make a skill check, but I also tell the DM what/how I'm doing. The opponent responds with behavior (and a check) of his own. I counter with a new check, and new words. And so forth.
That.
*rolls d20*
Sounds.
*rolls d20*
Lame.
Saves mentioned. AC mentioned, apparently with the same function as it has today.
Good. These are sacred cows and should be maintained unless we are given a damn good alternative.
Free, immediate, move and standard actions mentioned. (it stands to reason Swift actions will be present too).
I don't see how this simplifies the current move system, but I accept that I might need to play with it to see the benefot in action (pardon the pun).
Critical hits mentioned. Confirmation rolls for critical hits possibly go away.
It's just plain fun to think that there's a chance that any given attack might be the lucky one that gets the players all standing up and shouting at the dice. Critical hits are a table rouster.
Attacks of opportunity gone or greatly changed/simplified: a fighter charges a dragon and no AoO is mentioned.
I'm not moved by this change. AoO were an interesting add-on to the game, but I never thought of them as something that added greatly to the experience one way or the other. If there, I'll use them and if not, I won't.
Grapple greatly simplified.
Please, oh please, do not make grappling stupid. I agree that the rules made me run to the PHB every time due to being hard to memorize, but if you simplify them too greatly, grappling will suck open ass and never get used. I want grapples in the game. I want players to want to use them when appropriate. I don't want them to go away.
Combat still uses a square grid
Good, because my battle mat costs more than your core books. I'd probably changed games before I changed mats. ;-)
Spells and magic
Vancian system survives, but it's ony a "fraction" of the magic (or magic options) available to characters: "a wizard who casts all his memorized per day spells should be at about 80% of power."
I like this for the same reason that I like "per encounter" powers. Anything that keeps the heros heroic is fine by me. Don't make mage's dominate, but make them useful all day. Nothing is more lame than the party deciding to rest for the night at 10:30 in the morning because the mage has already had to use all his spells. That is the suck.
"Wizards will be able to cast 25th-level spells."
As with character levels, a number doesn't mean anything to me. If 25 or the new 9, I don't care as long as a mage isn't casting the 25th level "Sunder Universe" spell.
Fireballs don't deal 1d6/level damage any more. Also, game breaking spells (spells that fundamentally change the gaming scenario, like etherealness, scrying, and save or die effects) "have been addressed as well".
Addressed is a good start. Healing magic needs to neutered in my opinion. Nothing says "computer game" like a Heal Up after every combat. It's just lame.
Mentioned a "ray of freezing cold".
With 25 levels, and a serious revamping of the magic system, I am really interested in seeing the new spell lists. It'll be interesting if they move more toward magic effects than spells---which it sounds like they might do.
Magic items
Magic item creation doesn't use XP or require a feat.
Willbecca will be happy. He's bitched from the beginning about the XP cost of item creation.
Monsters
The monsters will have their own roles and their own abilities- the orc will have orc abilities, not fighter or barbarian abilities. "The ettin, for instance, has the whole two-heads thing, so it can go twice in one round, and take unrelated actions."
I think this could be a good thing, if they move toward all monsters being classed to gain the fighter abilities, for instance. We'll see how they handle it.
Monsters no longer drain XP (implied no draining of levels?)
Awesome. Worst call I ever had to make as a DM was telling a guy at a tournament that his super-cool favorite dwarf just lost two levels permanently and without a saving throw. I was embarrassed to be the guy enforcing that crap-ass rule.
Vulnerability to energy likely to work differently in 4e, with additional effects (like slowing in the case of cold) instead of (or in addition to?) extra damage.
Cool. Makes more sense than losing levels in any case!
Ancient (red?) dragons apparently now can do a lot of things:
- An inferno aura, usable as a free action.
- A tail slap attack with an added pushback effect, usable as a free action.
- Two claw attacks, usable as a standard action.
- A fireball spit that sticks to the target dealing extra damage, usable as a standard action.
- A breath weapon, but we don't get to see what kind of action it normally takes - a free one like the inferno aura, as different uses of the same ability?
- A special action granting an extra standard action.
- They may take an immediate action to use their breath weapon when reduced blow half damage.
- They may take an immediate action to use their tail slap when about to be flanked.
Sounds powerful as a bitch. Good. A big ol' dragon should be powerful.
Said dragon would have around 1000 hit points.
OK, it is powerful as bitch. Cool!
Walt Disney World: The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
Posted on 2007-08-20 at 15:23
What Disney Says:
Take a flight of fancy aboard your very own magic carpet. Inspired by the Disney animated classic, "Aladdin," this whimsical spin above Adventureland is filled with ups and downs as you control both the pitch and height of the flight. It's better than getting three wishes!
So, here's where it turns out I'm a pansy. My daughter loved it! She was pushing the carpet up and down and wobbling it. I was grabbing on for dear life and freaking out. I handled it OK. It wasn't a totaly fear factor, but it was just on the line of the rides I can enjoy. If I had to, I'd be able to do it again, but it was not my sort of thing at all.
Walt Disney World: Peter Pan's Flight
Posted on 2007-08-20 at 15:20
What Disney Says:
Sail away aboard a flying galleon and follow Peter Pan on a whimsical journey into Never Land. Refuse to grow up as you navigate by the second star on the right to float above the glittering lights of moonlit London. Glide above mermaids, Indians and by Hook as he tries to escape the snapping jaws of an alligator.
This ride was perfect for the whole family. The scare-level was perfect for a 3 yr old. Plus, it was indoor and air conditioned. As I've said before, that's a huge plus in Disneyworld in August.
Walt Disney World: Mickey's PhilharMagic
Posted on 2007-08-20 at 15:15
What Disney Says:
Be dazzled by this immersive attraction that bursts forth with amazement from one of the largest seamless screens in the world! It stars Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and other beloved Disney favorites in a hilarious adventure through movies, music and mayhem. Experience Characters you love in a whole new dimension! This rollicking, frolicking 3-D "sym-funny" of surprises is guaranteed to delight the whole family.
Firstly, this was not fun for the whole family. Parts of the show scared the bejeezus outta my daughter. That said, my daughter is 3 and for older kids it's probably fine. For adults, it's kinda cool, though I admit my experience was tainted by having to "protect" Cadence from the villians that Mickey was dealing with.
Walt Disney World: Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
Posted on 2007-08-20 at 15:11
What Disney Says:
Pilot your Star Cruiser through imaginative, immersive worlds. You are the pilot as you careen through a comical cosmos! Go on a daring space mission to save the toy universe from the sinister Emperor Zurg. Spin and fire your personal laser cannon to score points.
OK, you may hear stories of Denise beating me, but to be fiar, I was driving at the same time. She got to sit there and concentrate on shooting aliens. I did admirably well for a gunner who was also the driver! I liked that there was nothing here to scare Cadence. The aliens were cartoonish and in no way spooky or whatever. She enjoyed it. Also, she beat her Nai Nai's score. Hilarious. I'm raising a fighter pilot.
Walt Disney World: It's a small world
Posted on 2007-08-20 at 15:08
What Disney Says:
Take the legendary boat ride around the globe on this musical tour of nations. Hundreds of international dolls sing and dance to the famous "it's a small world" medley. After it's over, just try to get that tune out of your head.
You should do it once. But only once. If you have small children, trick the grandparents into taking them on this ride, because they will want to see it upwards of a dozen or so times. The song is fine enough once, but if you listen to it two or more times, it will weedle its way into your brain and eat you from the inside out...painfully.
Walt Disney World: Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
Posted on 2007-08-20 at 14:55
What Walt Disney says about it:
Inspired by Disney·Pixar's "Monsters, Inc." Help Mike Wazowski, your "Monster of Ceremonies," and his wild and crazy pals power the city of Monstropolis — with laughter! Mike and his buddies have transformed the Laugh Floor at Monsters, Inc. into a comedy club for visiting humans. You won't have the exact same experience twice as Mike invites his furry and funny friends to the digital stage to trade jokes with audience members like you. And don't miss the wise-cracking Roz, who isn't sure Mike is up to the task!
Mostly, this attraction deleivered as promised. The jokes were funny enough and the animation was real time and therefre technically kinda neat. Interestingly, I got picked on. For some reason, the comedians decided I looked like the kinda guy who needed a few good insults hurled my way. It was fun, and afterward I was known as "That Guy". I was recognized much later in a different area of the park as someone walked by and said "Hey look, it's That Guy!" Odd. I should have signed autographs.
If you like comedy, this is a good one. Plus it's a sit-down show in the air conditioning. That's a HUGE plus.
Walt Disney World: 2007 Vacation
Posted on 2007-08-20 at 14:53
So, I was gonna write a quick "Here's how my vacation went" blog entry, but I have a bunch to say, so I'm gonna split it up a bit. The split entries will follow.
Enter the Rat
Posted on 2007-08-08 at 22:06
In just two days, I'll be going to the House of the Rat with Denise and Cadence. It wil be Cadence's first trip to there. I'm really looking forward to it. It's not so much the Mouse, himself, that interests me. Indeed, I couldn't care less about a single Disney character property. Mostly, I just enjoy the way they have mastered the art of vacation. Hey, I can be as cynical as the next guy, but seriously, they make vacationing drop dead simple. Gotta love that!
The countdown begins.
Qin: The Warring States
Posted on 2007-08-07 at 08:37
Not sure if I've ever mentioned it before, but there's a game called "Qin: The Warring States". If you are a gamer you owe it to yourself to find a copy. It's rare that a game comes along with a truly interesting new take on action resolution. Qin is one of them. From an RPG.net review of the game:
Qin: the Warring States is a roleplaying game set in ancient China during a period known as the Warring States. Those of you who have interest in Chinese movies may have seen The Emperor and the Assassin or, more likely, Hero. Both of these movies are set in this period, around 200 BC, when the ruler of Qin was on the ascent with the aim of reuniting the Seven States under one banner, his own. The idea behind the Qin RPG is to play heroic characters during this troubled era who, plunged in the political turmoil, may come to influence the destiny of the Kingdoms.
Happy 3rd Birthday, Cadence!
Posted on 2007-08-04 at 15:27
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday, dear Cadence
Happy Birthday to you
The top banner image has changed again
Posted on 2007-08-04 at 14:45
I've changed the top banner image again. The latest banner is a picture of the skyline across the bay in Guangdong. Not all of China is Great Walls, ancient temples, and misty bamboo forests. Guangdong is a vibrant city with an active night life. We stayed on Shamain Island. It was a wonderful place.
Last time I changed the banner, someone asked me what banners I'd prepped for the site. If you want to see the images I use for the banner on my site, you can see them below. Each was taken by me or my wife in China. Click the image to see a full sized version:
Blogging statistics
Posted on 2007-08-03 at 23:32
Why am I posting this? I dunno:
I've been blogging for 3.51 years.
I've blogged 909 times in that period.
That comes to 1 blog every 1.41 days.
Which is also .71 blogs per day.
I am pathetic, but I entertain me, and in the beginning that's all I really set out to do. Mission accomplished.
If I were to open a game shop
Posted on 2007-08-03 at 22:16
If I were to open a game shop, there are a few things I'd do:
- I'd Attend a GAMA event or two first and talk with Game Shop owners there. (Ferengi Rule of Acquisition #190: Hear all, trust nothing.)
- I'd avoid kidding myself about the chances that a bank would loan money to a starting game shop and just settle down to the business of self-funding the endeavor. (Ferengi Rule of Acquisition #256: Accountants do not play the game; they only keep the score.)
- I'd read Why We Buy by Paco Underhill. I'd make sure I deeply understood the how's and why's of the science of retail. (Ferengi Rule of Acquisition #26: As the customers go, so goes the wise profiteer.)
- I'd keep my income expectations low. One does not enter the world of the Game Shop owner for fast cash, loose women, and endless keggers. One enters it because one is brain damaged. (Ferengi Rule of Acquisition #19: Satisfaction is not guaranteed.)
- I'd make my store a haven for gamers. (Ferengi Rule of Acquisition #50: Gratitude can bring on generosity.)
- I'd make my store a place where ancillary activities generated profit. Pizza ain't free. It costs by the slice. (Ferengi Rule of Acquisition #12: Anything worth doing is worth doing for money.)
- I'd demonstrate incredible patience in finding the right location. I'd look for a store with an eyeline to the road, low rent, and perhaps something with distinctive architecture, like a closed Taco Bell or bank. I would not rush this as this is possibly one of the most important decisions of the business. (Ferengi Rule of Acquisition #46: Make your shop easy to find.)
- I'd keep my day job. (Ferengi Rule of Acquisition #106: There is no honor in poverty.)
- I'd only sign a lease that I could break. You never know if or when the shop will implode. (Ferengi Rule of Acquisition #25: There's always a way out.)
- I'd sell and promote games that I find distasteful or lame. (Ferengi Rule of Acquisition #69: Ferengi are not responsible for the stupidity of other races.)
- I'd hire a manager to maintain the store so I could keep the aforementioned day job. (Ferengi Rule of Acquisition #211: Employees are the rungs on the ladder of success... don't hesitate to step on them.)
- I'd not stock collectibles or memorabilia. (Ferengi Rule of Acquisition #101: The only value of a collectible is what you can get somebody else to pay for it.)
- I'd never be content with only one store. (Ferengi Rule of Acquisition #95: Expand or die.)
- I'd try to crush the other stores. They are not my gamer friends. They are my retail enemies. (Ferengi Rule of Acquisition #169: Competition and fair play are mutually exclusive. )
I just felt like putting this down in writing. That's all. No other reason.
So sayeth the bossman
Posted on 2007-08-03 at 07:37
A couple days ago, a small group of us are chatting and I joked someone (more of a juijitsu reversal on a joke hurled at me). Bossman was there and he says this to the guy to whom I'd turned the joke around:
You better watch out. Tom may be immature, but he's quick-witted.
For some reason his description of me brought to mind some sort of half-retarded, venomous snake---bobbing drunkenly, hissing, and cross-eyed, looking for an exposed wrist or neck to clamp on to.
In my defense (though I sort of prefer the idea that I might be thought of as the aforementioned brain-damaged cobra), I'm equally comfortable with spouting potty humor or discussions of Gnostic influences in modern Christian theology. I, therefore, let those around me set the tone and demeanor of the conversation.