Comments on: Review: "Treasure of Talon Pass" http://critical-hits.com/2008/09/02/review-treasure-of-talon-pass/ The Journal of Gamer Culture Thu, 24 May 2012 21:26:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: MM2 Worldwide D&D Game Day: Behind the Screen | Critical Hits http://critical-hits.com/2008/09/02/review-treasure-of-talon-pass/#comment-63501 MM2 Worldwide D&D Game Day: Behind the Screen | Critical Hits Tue, 26 May 2009 19:51:40 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=2086#comment-63501 [...] Encounter 2 featured beetles, arbablasters (an extra one added for player 6), and the dreaded rust monster. The rust monster fight, as expected, was the highlight of the adventure. Not only did the PCs specifically change their tactics to deal with them (which is usually enjoyable to prevent fights from all seeming the same), but it forced the Dwarven Paladin to be a little more cautious after his full plate became a snack. The beetles too were an interesting addition and kept the same picked on Dwarf buried in rubble for a while, and the arbablasters provided support fire (though they weren’t anything new to this group who fought them way back in the Treasure of Talon Pass). [...] [...] Encounter 2 featured beetles, arbablasters (an extra one added for player 6), and the dreaded rust monster. The rust monster fight, as expected, was the highlight of the adventure. Not only did the PCs specifically change their tactics to deal with them (which is usually enjoyable to prevent fights from all seeming the same), but it forced the Dwarven Paladin to be a little more cautious after his full plate became a snack. The beetles too were an interesting addition and kept the same picked on Dwarf buried in rubble for a while, and the arbablasters provided support fire (though they weren’t anything new to this group who fought them way back in the Treasure of Talon Pass). [...]

]]> By: The Game http://critical-hits.com/2008/09/02/review-treasure-of-talon-pass/#comment-63500 The Game Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:43:39 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=2086#comment-63500 That's the battlemap that comes with the 3.5 DMG laminated, and written on with wet erase (also known as overhead) markers. That’s the battlemap that comes with the 3.5 DMG laminated, and written on with wet erase (also known as overhead) markers.

]]> By: kaeosdad http://critical-hits.com/2008/09/02/review-treasure-of-talon-pass/#comment-63499 kaeosdad Thu, 19 Feb 2009 09:47:12 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=2086#comment-63499 That battlemat that you drew on in the last pic, is that a dry erase map? If so who makes it? That battlemat that you drew on in the last pic, is that a dry erase map? If so who makes it?

]]> By: Dan Bettan http://critical-hits.com/2008/09/02/review-treasure-of-talon-pass/#comment-63498 Dan Bettan Wed, 15 Oct 2008 02:14:37 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=2086#comment-63498 Just did the Pass and the party loved, loved, loved the fight with the Black Dragon. As a lurker, it was great against a 3rd level party (They just leveled and rested, and it was still tough). I can't wait to do more dragon battles. The party was a Fighter, Cleric, Warlord, Warlock & Wizard. The Warlock was effectively neutralized do to the Zone of Darkness so it became 4 on 1. Really a great battle. Just did the Pass and the party loved, loved, loved the fight with the Black Dragon. As a lurker, it was great against a 3rd level party (They just leveled and rested, and it was still tough). I can’t wait to do more dragon battles. The party was a Fighter, Cleric, Warlord, Warlock & Wizard. The Warlock was effectively neutralized do to the Zone of Darkness so it became 4 on 1. Really a great battle.

]]> By: The Game http://critical-hits.com/2008/09/02/review-treasure-of-talon-pass/#comment-63497 The Game Sat, 06 Sep 2008 13:30:47 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=2086#comment-63497 PixelStyles: They're from the discontinued "Mage Knight Dungeons" set that has various terrain features. I've seen them in a few game stores at heavy discounts- I might have bought it for $1, and it comes with all sorts of useful terrain. PixelStyles: They’re from the discontinued “Mage Knight Dungeons” set that has various terrain features. I’ve seen them in a few game stores at heavy discounts- I might have bought it for $1, and it comes with all sorts of useful terrain.

]]> By: PixelStyles http://critical-hits.com/2008/09/02/review-treasure-of-talon-pass/#comment-63496 PixelStyles Sat, 06 Sep 2008 07:41:34 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=2086#comment-63496 I just ran the first half of this over the weekend. I only have the new Against the Giants dungeon tiles, they worked well so far, thanks for posting the pictures of you tile setups. Where did you get your pillars? I just ran the first half of this over the weekend. I only have the new Against the Giants dungeon tiles, they worked well so far, thanks for posting the pictures of you tile setups. Where did you get your pillars?

]]> By: Reverend Mike http://critical-hits.com/2008/09/02/review-treasure-of-talon-pass/#comment-63495 Reverend Mike Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:03:57 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=2086#comment-63495 It's up... Reverend Mike's last post: <a href="http://bookofrev.blogspot.com/2008/09/my-little-abomination-james-blue-mauler.html" rel="nofollow">My Little Abomination: James The Blue Mauler</a> It’s up…

Reverend Mike’s last post: My Little Abomination: James The Blue Mauler

]]> By: Reverend Mike http://critical-hits.com/2008/09/02/review-treasure-of-talon-pass/#comment-63494 Reverend Mike Wed, 03 Sep 2008 18:00:40 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=2086#comment-63494 I'll be posting him up later today... *salutes* Reverend Mike's last post: <a href="http://bookofrev.blogspot.com/2008/09/sorsil-my-beloved-disaster-waiting-to.html" rel="nofollow">Sorsil: My Beloved Disaster-Waiting-To-Happen</a> I’ll be posting him up later today…

*salutes*

Reverend Mike’s last post: Sorsil: My Beloved Disaster-Waiting-To-Happen

]]> By: Bartoneus http://critical-hits.com/2008/09/02/review-treasure-of-talon-pass/#comment-63493 Bartoneus Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:16:38 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=2086#comment-63493 Mike: That sounds really cool, can you send me/us the solo monster stats or post them on your blog? :D Dave: I'm definitely with you on the orc contending party being a big letdown. I didn't play or even run Treasure of Talon Pass, but when reading through it I thought the whole orc deal really just dropped off and left a lot of potential just lying around. Mike: That sounds really cool, can you send me/us the solo monster stats or post them on your blog? :D

Dave: I’m definitely with you on the orc contending party being a big letdown. I didn’t play or even run Treasure of Talon Pass, but when reading through it I thought the whole orc deal really just dropped off and left a lot of potential just lying around.

]]> By: Reverend Mike http://critical-hits.com/2008/09/02/review-treasure-of-talon-pass/#comment-63492 Reverend Mike Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:11:05 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=2086#comment-63492 Most definitely...I ran my players through a homemade solo recently...'twas a brutish undead with a big hammer capable of knocking players around and occasionally prone...the fight was staged in a cave riddles with little pools of acid, requiring players to traverse little walkways all about to approach or avoid the monster... Oh, what fun that was... Reverend Mike's last post: <a href="http://bookofrev.blogspot.com/2008/08/demotivational-monday-self-fulfilling.html" rel="nofollow">Demotivational Monday: Self-fulfilling Prophecy</a> Most definitely…I ran my players through a homemade solo recently…’twas a brutish undead with a big hammer capable of knocking players around and occasionally prone…the fight was staged in a cave riddles with little pools of acid, requiring players to traverse little walkways all about to approach or avoid the monster…

Oh, what fun that was…

Reverend Mike’s last post: Demotivational Monday: Self-fulfilling Prophecy

]]> By: Gregor LeBlaque http://critical-hits.com/2008/09/02/review-treasure-of-talon-pass/#comment-63491 Gregor LeBlaque Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:01:33 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=2086#comment-63491 When I ran Kobold Hall, I replaced the white dragon's room with a Fantastic Locations battle map to make the setting more interesting and it worked wonderfully. I blogged about the result back at the end of July. I'm planning to do the same thing with the dragon room in Talon Pass (probably this coming weekend). Gregor LeBlaque's last post: <a href="http://neartpk.blogspot.com/2008/09/shards-of-gate-of-darkness-part-5.html" rel="nofollow">The Shards of the Gate of Darkness, Part 5</a> When I ran Kobold Hall, I replaced the white dragon’s room with a Fantastic Locations battle map to make the setting more interesting and it worked wonderfully. I blogged about the result back at the end of July.

I’m planning to do the same thing with the dragon room in Talon Pass (probably this coming weekend).

Gregor LeBlaque’s last post: The Shards of the Gate of Darkness, Part 5

]]> By: Scott http://critical-hits.com/2008/09/02/review-treasure-of-talon-pass/#comment-63490 Scott Tue, 02 Sep 2008 23:33:13 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=2086#comment-63490 Yeah... with solos, it's really important to have the environment present possibilities for a dynamic fight, because otherwise it tends to break down to "move into melee and swing until it dies." If there's only one creature, it doesn't present a lot of reasons for moving around and doing interesting things... Scott's last post: <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AButterflyDreaming/~3/379252805/" rel="nofollow">Battlegrounds: Alchemist’s Lab</a> Yeah… with solos, it’s really important to have the environment present possibilities for a dynamic fight, because otherwise it tends to break down to “move into melee and swing until it dies.” If there’s only one creature, it doesn’t present a lot of reasons for moving around and doing interesting things…

Scott’s last post: Battlegrounds: Alchemist’s Lab

]]> By: Propagandroid http://critical-hits.com/2008/09/02/review-treasure-of-talon-pass/#comment-63489 Propagandroid Tue, 02 Sep 2008 22:46:19 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=2086#comment-63489 Ah, I see. I actually figured I had mistaken it in some way, but the point is actually salient for quite a lot of people when read either way. ;) Propagandroid's last post: <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheGamerDome/~3/379739536/" rel="nofollow">Props for your game: Organic edition</a> Ah, I see. I actually figured I had mistaken it in some way, but the point is actually salient for quite a lot of people when read either way. ;)

Propagandroid’s last post: Props for your game: Organic edition

]]> By: The Game http://critical-hits.com/2008/09/02/review-treasure-of-talon-pass/#comment-63488 The Game Tue, 02 Sep 2008 21:41:11 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=2086#comment-63488 Hmm, slight mistranslation there. I meant that if people have been fighting dragons already in the same tier, it's likely to feel tedious, just as fighting orcs every week would feel tedious. As part of playtest games, I fought white dragons twice as part of a first level party, and both times it was very tense and fun, but I wasn't eager to do it again. Running a black dragon against a 6 person, 2nd level party was fun. Dragons have different abilities in 4e that makes them play a bit differently beyond "what energy type it breathes" so I'm happy about that. Mike Mearls did suggest somewhere that a good way to keep solos interesting is to include terrain effects that relate to the monster itself that change the fight as you go. Hmm, slight mistranslation there. I meant that if people have been fighting dragons already in the same tier, it’s likely to feel tedious, just as fighting orcs every week would feel tedious.

As part of playtest games, I fought white dragons twice as part of a first level party, and both times it was very tense and fun, but I wasn’t eager to do it again.

Running a black dragon against a 6 person, 2nd level party was fun. Dragons have different abilities in 4e that makes them play a bit differently beyond “what energy type it breathes” so I’m happy about that.

Mike Mearls did suggest somewhere that a good way to keep solos interesting is to include terrain effects that relate to the monster itself that change the fight as you go.

]]> By: GrayPumpkin http://critical-hits.com/2008/09/02/review-treasure-of-talon-pass/#comment-63487 GrayPumpkin Tue, 02 Sep 2008 21:33:54 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=2086#comment-63487 Solo Brute fight can be tedious if you just stand there and hack, what needs to be done is bring the environment it, Mike Mearls posted about some interesting things that could be done on his blog. http://mearls.livejournal.com/152268.html GrayPumpkin's last post: <a href="http://graypumpkin.livejournal.com/58687.html" rel="nofollow">Venture Brothers are Back!</a> Solo Brute fight can be tedious if you just stand there and hack, what needs to be done is bring the environment it, Mike Mearls posted about some interesting things that could be done on his blog.
http://mearls.livejournal.com/152268.html

GrayPumpkin’s last post: Venture Brothers are Back!

]]> By: Propagandroid http://critical-hits.com/2008/09/02/review-treasure-of-talon-pass/#comment-63486 Propagandroid Tue, 02 Sep 2008 20:51:27 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=2086#comment-63486 It's really interesting that you note that fighting a dragon will probably be tedious if the party has ever fought a solo or dragon before. Should fighting dragons be tedious three months after the game was released? It's not that I disagree with you...in fact, I found my first fight against a dragon in 4e tedious, but that might have been the DM's fault. It's just disappointing that it seems to be the case. I wonder if other people are having similar experiences with fighting dragons? I imagine fighting an interesting new solo wouldn't be tedious the first time around, or that some solos could be designed to not be tedious. If there are any solos in KotS, my party hasn't fought them yet, so it would be interesting to see how it went from this side of the screen. Propagandroid's last post: <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheGamerDome/~3/379739536/" rel="nofollow">Props for your game: Organic edition</a> It’s really interesting that you note that fighting a dragon will probably be tedious if the party has ever fought a solo or dragon before. Should fighting dragons be tedious three months after the game was released? It’s not that I disagree with you…in fact, I found my first fight against a dragon in 4e tedious, but that might have been the DM’s fault. It’s just disappointing that it seems to be the case.

I wonder if other people are having similar experiences with fighting dragons? I imagine fighting an interesting new solo wouldn’t be tedious the first time around, or that some solos could be designed to not be tedious. If there are any solos in KotS, my party hasn’t fought them yet, so it would be interesting to see how it went from this side of the screen.

Propagandroid’s last post: Props for your game: Organic edition

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