|[4E] A podcast interview with Chris Perkins and Sara Girard

External Since: Sep 18, 2006 Posts: 459

"Allen Wessels" <awessels DeleteThis @EXPUNGEpacbell.net> wrote in message
news:awessels-363725.00285206032008@newsclstr02.news.prodigy.com...
> In article <47cfa218 DeleteThis @clear.net.nz>, tussock <scrub DeleteThis @clear.net.nz> wrote:
>
>> Malachias Invictus wrote:
>
>> > Who knows? Perhaps the ritual only takes 5 minutes. I guess you are
>> > going to have your work cut out for you catching up.
>>
>> It's more an issue of how long it lasts than how long it takes to get
>> going, and how well you can work underwater with it in regards your
>> weapons and spells.
>> It is, after all, a whole new game.
>
> If that lizardman goes aquatic in the marsh, a 5 minute delay means he's
> gone and warned the entire lizardman group. Having that ability fire
> when you need it in the encounter is pretty darn important. The same
> any time a monster changes travel modes.

In that case, you had better crack out that ritual before you even approach
the body of water and encounter the lizard men in the first place. It is no
more than an issue of timing.

> It's one reason I like Polymorph so much.

Indeed.

>> > Why not? You should at least be able to get in a parting shot. The
>> > fact is, most folks do not pack Water Breathing in their standard spell
>> > load as it is. Having Water Breathing as a ritual you can do at any
>> > time is actually a major improvement on this.
>>
>> Sometimes, it's like you people don't read the books. Seriously,
>> dude, *scrolls and potions*. You can buy them in shops if you're not up
>> to making them yourself. Near water, water breathing, and not a bad idea
>> even if you don't suspect it.
>
> If I have downtime to create items, scrolls and potions aren't cost
> effective in terms of time.

No, but that does not lessen their importance. Is your game one where there
is never downtime? I generally give my characters a few weeks, or even
months, to rest after an adventure, unless there is some sort of
end-of-the-world thing going on.

> There is relatively high demand for magic
> items in our campaign and low availability of any given item.

Sure.

> I always carry Polymorph.

Good idea.

>> >> They don't want you spending time holding up the game searching your
>> >> character sheet. Just enough options to fit a hand of cards.
>> >
>> > I agree with this stance.
>>
>> Superb, really, assuming they get it /right/. I want to feel I've
>> surpassed my old powers, not forgotten them, as I grow a character.
>
> I like options and I don't like being locked into a combat style because
> my tricks require that particular weapon.

That is one of the side effects of having cool special moves that work with
particular types of weapons. Maybe you can more easily knock people on
their asses with a mass weapon, like a mace, and more easily disarm with a
rapier.

> When our party's Cavalier sponsored a grand tourney there were both
> ground and mounted lists. My 1/2 orc rogue/fighter weretiger entered
> the mounted side as a lark. He got a lucky draw and and had a
> relatively easy time on his side of the ladder. The semi-final was
> tricky but he eventually unhorsed and trampled his opponent. Drew boos
> from the crowd but a job offer from the guy he unhorsed after the
> tourney.
>
> The reason weapon choice was important was that the 1/2 laid out his
> gear looking for an edge. His rope caught his eye and he noted the
> rules didn't prohibit lassos. +2 for Rope use and the surprise factor
> might be that edge.

That is pretty funny.

> I hope 4e will support that kind of thing. Not because I expect to play
> it, but because I hope new players will get that kind of experience out
> of play.

Indeed.

--
^v^v^Malachias Invictus^v^v^

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishment the scroll,
I am the Master of my fate:
I am the Captain of my soul.

from _Invictus_, by William Ernest Henley

External Since: Jul 11, 2005 Posts: 135

In article <E92dnUwyWKgRuU3anZ2dnUVZ_hWdnZ2d.DeleteThis@comcast.com>,
"Malachias Invictus" <invictusebay.DeleteThis@yahoo.com> wrote:

> "Allen Wessels" <awessels.DeleteThis@EXPUNGEpacbell.net> wrote in message
> news:awessels-363725.00285206032008@newsclstr02.news.prodigy.com...

> > If that lizardman goes aquatic in the marsh, a 5 minute delay means he's
> > gone and warned the entire lizardman group. Having that ability fire
> > when you need it in the encounter is pretty darn important. The same
> > any time a monster changes travel modes.
>
> In that case, you had better crack out that ritual before you even approach
> the body of water and encounter the lizard men in the first place. It is no
> more than an issue of timing.

I wonder what 4e Dispel Magic will look like.

> > If I have downtime to create items, scrolls and potions aren't cost
> > effective in terms of time.
>
> No, but that does not lessen their importance. Is your game one where there
> is never downtime? I generally give my characters a few weeks, or even
> months, to rest after an adventure, unless there is some sort of
> end-of-the-world thing going on.

Well, there's downtime and then there's downtime. Since most of us have
strongholds and other holdings, and since they aren't self-supporting,
there's a strong motivation to get back out there and pay the rent. So
no "months" class downtime.

While we *are* down, there are chores that often have to be done "around
the house".

When I we do get around to making items, they tend to be serious
upgrades, often in response to weak areas illuminated by the previous
adventure.

> > I like options and I don't like being locked into a combat style because
> > my tricks require that particular weapon.
>
> That is one of the side effects of having cool special moves that work with
> particular types of weapons. Maybe you can more easily knock people on
> their asses with a mass weapon, like a mace, and more easily disarm with a
> rapier.

I think 4e meleers are going to be very tied to their weapon. It's why,
I believe, disarm was moved to power status. That and I gather people
used it more than the designers thought reasonable.

Not so much IOC.

> > When our party's Cavalier sponsored a grand tourney there were both
> > ground and mounted lists. My 1/2 orc rogue/fighter weretiger entered
> > the mounted side as a lark. He got a lucky draw and and had a
> > relatively easy time on his side of the ladder. The semi-final was
> > tricky but he eventually unhorsed and trampled his opponent. Drew boos
> > from the crowd but a job offer from the guy he unhorsed after the
> > tourney.
> >
> > The reason weapon choice was important was that the 1/2 laid out his
> > gear looking for an edge. His rope caught his eye and he noted the
> > rules didn't prohibit lassos. +2 for Rope use and the surprise factor
> > might be that edge.
>
> That is pretty funny.

I think that's part of the reason some 4e naysayers are so vehement.
Not just because of the change factor, but be cause of their perspection
that their kind of fun might not be doable in the new version of the
game.

- Allen