Comments on: 5 Tips For Running Dungeon Delves http://critical-hits.com/2009/10/28/5-tips-for-running-dungeon-delves/ The Journal of Gamer Culture Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:53:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Cinco dicas para narrar Dungeon Delves | TRAMPOLIM RPG http://critical-hits.com/2009/10/28/5-tips-for-running-dungeon-delves/#comment-67180 Cinco dicas para narrar Dungeon Delves | TRAMPOLIM RPG Wed, 13 Jan 2010 14:47:40 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=5071#comment-67180 [...] Submetido por Dave The Game na quarta-feira, 28 de outubro de 2009 no site Critical Hits. [...] [...] Submetido por Dave The Game na quarta-feira, 28 de outubro de 2009 no site Critical Hits. [...]

]]> By: Aventuras one-shots: Colocando-as em ação http://critical-hits.com/2009/10/28/5-tips-for-running-dungeon-delves/#comment-67179 Aventuras one-shots: Colocando-as em ação Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:25:15 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=5071#comment-67179 [...] Submetido por Dave The Game na quarta-feira, 18 de novembro de 2009 no site Critical Hits. [...] [...] Submetido por Dave The Game na quarta-feira, 18 de novembro de 2009 no site Critical Hits. [...]

]]> By: NthDegree256 http://critical-hits.com/2009/10/28/5-tips-for-running-dungeon-delves/#comment-67178 NthDegree256 Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:05:09 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=5071#comment-67178 My group has done about a half-dozen 45-minute delves in the past few weeks, inspired by my experience with a WotC-run Delve at PAX. They've been a great time, and we have over a dozen spare characters lying around so we can just pick them up and play whenever we feel like it. The emphasis for us really shifts to making quick decisions and keeping things moving so we can squeeze in under the time limit. I wanted to point out one thing; the 45-minute time limit is for a 2-encounter, 3rd-level-party set. Playing at higher or lower levels is going to slow down or speed up the game noticeably, and all of the book's delves are 3 encounters, so some judgement calls are necessary to use the entries in the Dungeon Delve book. I'd suggest just timing your group on those, rather than gunning for an increasingly unfeasible 45-minute time limit. I particulary agree with your points 2, 3, and 4! Obviously the onus is on the DM to not slow the game down with BBEG monologues or detailed descriptions, but spiking the game with little descriptions like "The bandit leader drops! All of the goblin minions cheer and shout 'now's OUR chance to take over!'" keeps everyone entertained and energetic. And trying out new and different ways to spice up the encounters with fun terrain and weird effects keeps the game fresh AND has a very low opportunity cost - you're trying to get through these fights quickly, so if it doesn't work out as well as you hoped, you've learned something new and not wasted too much time on it. My group has done about a half-dozen 45-minute delves in the past few weeks, inspired by my experience with a WotC-run Delve at PAX. They’ve been a great time, and we have over a dozen spare characters lying around so we can just pick them up and play whenever we feel like it. The emphasis for us really shifts to making quick decisions and keeping things moving so we can squeeze in under the time limit.

I wanted to point out one thing; the 45-minute time limit is for a 2-encounter, 3rd-level-party set. Playing at higher or lower levels is going to slow down or speed up the game noticeably, and all of the book’s delves are 3 encounters, so some judgement calls are necessary to use the entries in the Dungeon Delve book. I’d suggest just timing your group on those, rather than gunning for an increasingly unfeasible 45-minute time limit.

I particulary agree with your points 2, 3, and 4! Obviously the onus is on the DM to not slow the game down with BBEG monologues or detailed descriptions, but spiking the game with little descriptions like “The bandit leader drops! All of the goblin minions cheer and shout ‘now’s OUR chance to take over!’” keeps everyone entertained and energetic. And trying out new and different ways to spice up the encounters with fun terrain and weird effects keeps the game fresh AND has a very low opportunity cost – you’re trying to get through these fights quickly, so if it doesn’t work out as well as you hoped, you’ve learned something new and not wasted too much time on it.

]]> By: Derek http://critical-hits.com/2009/10/28/5-tips-for-running-dungeon-delves/#comment-67177 Derek Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:12:24 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=5071#comment-67177 A great piece of software for this is Masterplan, which (in addition to lots of other handy DM features) can randomly generate delve-style adventures. It's at http://www.habitualindolence.net/masterplan/ Really I can't say enough good things about this. Everyone who reads this column would do well to check it out. D A great piece of software for this is Masterplan, which (in addition to lots of other handy DM features) can randomly generate delve-style adventures.

It’s at http://www.habitualindolence.net/masterplan/

Really I can’t say enough good things about this. Everyone who reads this column would do well to check it out.

D

]]> By: greywulf http://critical-hits.com/2009/10/28/5-tips-for-running-dungeon-delves/#comment-67176 greywulf Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:31:19 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=5071#comment-67176 Amen to all that. What I like most about the Dungeon Delves is that they just provide the barest framework. What you do with them is entirely up to you and your players. They make ideal "training wheels" dungeons while you're learning the ropes of the new system, but they are so much more too. For example, we've played Coppernight Hold (the first Dungeon in the book) four times now, and each experience has been different. The first time we were still learning the 4e mechanics and it ran more like a boardgame experience. Subsequent trips against Coppernight and his Kobold allies have been much more role-playing intensive with the latest one being a brutal, gritty hardcore strike team affair that felt more like something out of a WWII movie than anything. Brilliant stuff. 30 dungeons? Total replay value? Yes please! I can't wait for Dungeon Delve II :D Amen to all that.

What I like most about the Dungeon Delves is that they just provide the barest framework. What you do with them is entirely up to you and your players. They make ideal “training wheels” dungeons while you’re learning the ropes of the new system, but they are so much more too.

For example, we’ve played Coppernight Hold (the first Dungeon in the book) four times now, and each experience has been different. The first time we were still learning the 4e mechanics and it ran more like a boardgame experience. Subsequent trips against Coppernight and his Kobold allies have been much more role-playing intensive with the latest one being a brutal, gritty hardcore strike team affair that felt more like something out of a WWII movie than anything. Brilliant stuff.

30 dungeons? Total replay value? Yes please! I can’t wait for Dungeon Delve II :D

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