Episode 5: D&D Next
In this long overdue episode Tim and Chrispy sit down in person to chat about what they’re most excited about for D&D Next and what they like most about what’s been shown off so far!
This Episode Also Known As: The Ronnie James Dio Moment of Zen
Podcast: Download
Hooray!
I have a semi-cheating dice story I had bought some blank d6 s, dreilld in pips and used a Sharpie to mark them as d3 s. I honestly accidentally gave them to my opponent during a miniatures game. I relaized the mistake about halfway through the game, pointed out the error and swapped them for the Bicycle dice I was using and the guy ended up winning, by A HUGE margin My girlfriend does dice training by rolling each die until it max’s and then leaves them sitting with the high number up so they learn how they are supposed to roll.When playing miniature games like 40K I set all my dice out with 6 s up except for a small batch with 1 s up and draw from the respective group depending on if I want to roll high or low. After the roll I place the dice to the side (with respective 6 s or 1 s up) and use different dice on the next roll.It’s less of a superstition and more of a psych-out to throw my opponents game off as they try to figure out what I’m doing Doesn’t work, but it’s fun none the less.
Glad to hear a new show from you guys! Your blatant enthusiasm for D&D 5E is contagious, good sirs, and you’ve intrigued me! I did in fact sign up early on and have recieved all of the 5E playtest materials to date. And yet, being an “old guy” with limited free time for gaming things, I’ve focused my precious gaming time on playing Castles & Crusades, and have not had the time (nor the interest from my small gaming group) to use our once-a-week (if we’re lucky) gaming sessions for playtesting. However, this podcast has made me once again determined to at least give the materials a thorough read-through.
Excellent episode. Please make them more often if you can.
I have played motlsy Rogues/Thieves and I was interested in your take on Thieves Guilds.In some of the campaigns I have played in, in smaller cities and towns the guild is sometimes non-existent or just a few thugs that have loosely banded together for mutual protection. Sometimes they are associated with a larger overall Guild that spans many towns and cities.Some of the best thieves have an alternate identity in normal society. They can even work for or have friendly contacts among the authorities.In general, in games where I DM, those that try to take up the trade w/o being a member of the Guild are eventually visited and given an offer they can’t refuse to join the Guild. If they purposely try to run afoul of the local guild, they will be turned in to the local law enforcement or end up in floating in the sewers or something Not every game needs a fleshed-out Rogues Guild, but whatever one exists, unless it is a slipshod operation, the Guilds are very concerned with keeping a low profile, no matter how powerful they are. An exception may be openly corrupt cities or places where the Guild has grown more powerful that the official law enforcement.It is really up to the DM, but these are some ways I have played such Guilds in the past.Just my two cents worth (actually, yours, as I just picked your pocket!)See ya! -Jeff DM Retro
Great to see a new ep. Caused me to sign up for the play test.
I was playing the Chrispy Drinking Game but I ran out of booze.At the monemt, my attitude is even if 5E is exactly what I’ve always wanted in the D&D game I don’t see myself spending more money on the brand. I am sick of investing in new editions of D&D. I have shelves groaning under the weight of perfectly usable D&D books from the past 30 years and really don’t want any more. I’m just sick of buying expensive books I may or may not be using in ten years. Editions are largely an investment of hundreds of dollars sometimes thousands of dollars and I just don’t like Wizbro enough to invest in their bottom line. I want to be a gamer, not a demographic.And that is why I am sick of the later editions of the game. Starting with 3.0, D&D (for me) ceases to feel like a game and starts to remind me of a program. When it takes me an entire afternoon to create a character because I am weighing all the options and estimating how they are going to build upon future concepts at every future level I get exhausted. And that is what it is all about. We are assuming our PCs are going to be adventuring to at least 20th level and we have to cherry pick the right feats, skills, boosts, modifiers, weapons, armor, bells, and whistles to qualify for the next class level or prestige class. I want to enjoy the adventure. I want to feel the thrill of potential defeat or even death. What kind of heroic adventure can you have without the fear of death? Oh yeah D20 D&D. With 4E, the idea was to keep the adventure going no matter what. Never stop and never turn back. We wouldn’t want the ADD generation to get bored I understand that.From what I’ve seen of 5E art, they seem to be representing characters in a more traditional way. Less anime and fewer piercings, giant swords, and pseudo-Victorian costumes. Totally avoiding the artists doing art for free pit trap, I shall end this tirade now. I did enjoy the discussion very much. Some excellent insights. I tend to think much like Leaf and feel like Vince. Good Chrispy Show.
Thanks guys for answering my qstieuon on Holmes weapons on the podcast. I understand where you are coming from and agree with you wholeheartedly. I like fiddling with rules and trying to understand why rules are the way they are. In Holmes a guy with a dagger attacks twice per round doing 1d6 damage per attack and a guy with a two handed sword attacks once per two rounds doing 1d6 damage per attack. So the dagger guy has 4 times as many attacks as the heavy weapon guy.My answer is to do away with weapon speed altogether.It boils down to something similar to why someone would choose not to fight with 2 weapons in 1st ed.. Althouth the rules advantage is not as extreme in that case as it is in Holmes all the characters in the game I am currently in do (except me and the magic-users).
Interesting discussion on gainmg etiquette.I feel most of those points fall under the category of common courtesy and I have become, over the years, very careful with who I invite to my table since it is in my home. New players join the group with the understanding that it is on a trial basis and they can be un-invited if they simply refuse to mesh with the group. It is important for players to understand that the goal of the gathering is for everyone to have a good time with the game. EVERYone not just one or two particularly loud or obnoxious players.When I advertise a game, I go out of my way to be clear on the points that are important to me. Such as my house being a non-smoking environment, alcohol is discouraged except in moderation, drugs are out of the question, we have three cats that have free run of the house, places to park, we may provide a meal from time to time but only when announced prior to the game, the fact I have a big tin of spare dice that players are free to use (but not steal), I also have hundreds of miniatures that players are free to choose from for their own PCs (but not steal). It is also important to me that players understand my DMing style and expectations up front. I try to meet with a new player in a social situation before inviting them to join the game. Yes I conduct player interviews.Finally, no single player is more important than the group. If one player is making the game un-fun for everyone else, they will be invited to leave.