Comments on: Chatty’s Ptolus 4e Demo: A Tail of Two Shities, Part 2 http://critical-hits.com/2009/12/09/chatty%e2%80%99s-ptolus-4e-demo-a-tail-of-two-shities-part-2/ The Journal of Gamer Culture Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:53:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: doomdreamer http://critical-hits.com/2009/12/09/chatty%e2%80%99s-ptolus-4e-demo-a-tail-of-two-shities-part-2/#comment-57333 doomdreamer Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:48:07 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=4359#comment-57333 I completely agree with the terrain. In an effort to show case this in a 4th Edition game, I spiced up a Fight with Gnolls (Demi Humans attack the Castle Scenario, very basic) using a spiral stair case. I had to work that saturday morning but it was watching load screens go by, so I built the spiral stair case out of card board (just stacking squares really). It turns out a normal boring fight with 5 gnolls turns into complete awesome when made 3D. The only additional "rule" I made was going up stairs cost 2 and going down cost either 1, or .5 but you had to save or fall down the stairs. Good times. Also, with the Dragonborn, I made mine convert most of his money to silver so he could always have a bed, just like a real dragon. .-= doomdreamer´s last blog ..<a href="http://paperlessrpg.blogspot.com/2009/12/quick-note-conundrum.html" rel="nofollow">Quick Note Conundrum</a> =-. I completely agree with the terrain. In an effort to show case this in a 4th Edition game, I spiced up a Fight with Gnolls (Demi Humans attack the Castle Scenario, very basic) using a spiral stair case. I had to work that saturday morning but it was watching load screens go by, so I built the spiral stair case out of card board (just stacking squares really). It turns out a normal boring fight with 5 gnolls turns into complete awesome when made 3D. The only additional “rule” I made was going up stairs cost 2 and going down cost either 1, or .5 but you had to save or fall down the stairs. Good times.

Also, with the Dragonborn, I made mine convert most of his money to silver so he could always have a bed, just like a real dragon.
.-= doomdreamer´s last blog ..Quick Note Conundrum =-.

]]> By: ChattyDM http://critical-hits.com/2009/12/09/chatty%e2%80%99s-ptolus-4e-demo-a-tail-of-two-shities-part-2/#comment-57332 ChattyDM Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:55:58 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=4359#comment-57332 @Erik: See, I'd have rewarded this with something else. Maybe the crumbling cavern reveals a hidden chamber with a Statue that can Upgrade one weapon (from +3 to +4) by placing it in its hand... Leaving a treasure behind is a Huge thing for PCs and I would actually be motivated in rewarding this with more than what was left behind... but that's just me. :) @Pierre: Terrain Interactive elements make or break D&D 4e fights. Swigning ropes, Climable walls, Moving platforms, Lava Pits. All these things make fight become dynamic and cool... Yet they are sometimes the most overlooked aspects of combat. @Erik: See, I’d have rewarded this with something else. Maybe the crumbling cavern reveals a hidden chamber with a Statue that can Upgrade one weapon (from +3 to +4) by placing it in its hand…

Leaving a treasure behind is a Huge thing for PCs and I would actually be motivated in rewarding this with more than what was left behind… but that’s just me. :)

@Pierre: Terrain Interactive elements make or break D&D 4e fights. Swigning ropes, Climable walls, Moving platforms, Lava Pits. All these things make fight become dynamic and cool…

Yet they are sometimes the most overlooked aspects of combat.

]]> By: Pierre Gagnon http://critical-hits.com/2009/12/09/chatty%e2%80%99s-ptolus-4e-demo-a-tail-of-two-shities-part-2/#comment-57331 Pierre Gagnon Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:54:30 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=4359#comment-57331 Good job, Chatty, Very good intro, you're showing them that 4e is not just a mmo-like battlesystem. You shape it, boy. I'll try adding decor element too, in my fights, just to cue players that using them is encouraged. Good job, Chatty,

Very good intro, you’re showing them that 4e is not just a mmo-like battlesystem. You shape it, boy.

I’ll try adding decor element too, in my fights, just to cue players that using them is encouraged.

]]> By: Erik Waddell http://critical-hits.com/2009/12/09/chatty%e2%80%99s-ptolus-4e-demo-a-tail-of-two-shities-part-2/#comment-57330 Erik Waddell Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:50:35 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=4359#comment-57330 Earlier in my campaign my players actually missed out on a huge pile of treasure because of in-character justifications. They had just slain a young dragon in its lair and the hoard was there for the taking. I had even made sure to give the rogue a bag of holding earlier in their explorations so they would be able to take some or most of the treasure without too much fuss. Of course, the roof was caving in so they had to move quickly. But, before anyone could object, the rogue said, "getting out of here alive is more important than any treasure. I run for the exit and get out right away!" As he left, taking with him the bag of holding, I thought the dragonborn character was going to start weeping! The dragonborn still hasn't forgiven the rogue and brings it up at every single game session. :) Earlier in my campaign my players actually missed out on a huge pile of treasure because of in-character justifications. They had just slain a young dragon in its lair and the hoard was there for the taking. I had even made sure to give the rogue a bag of holding earlier in their explorations so they would be able to take some or most of the treasure without too much fuss.

Of course, the roof was caving in so they had to move quickly. But, before anyone could object, the rogue said, “getting out of here alive is more important than any treasure. I run for the exit and get out right away!” As he left, taking with him the bag of holding, I thought the dragonborn character was going to start weeping!

The dragonborn still hasn’t forgiven the rogue and brings it up at every single game session. :)

]]> By: ChattyDM http://critical-hits.com/2009/12/09/chatty%e2%80%99s-ptolus-4e-demo-a-tail-of-two-shities-part-2/#comment-57329 ChattyDM Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:22:46 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=4359#comment-57329 @Erik: I love the justification too. I mean the treasure is there for the taking... me presenting it as 'sarcophagus dressing' is just to get the players to come up with a cool reason to get to it. Rat-Ogre comes tomorrow! @Erik: I love the justification too. I mean the treasure is there for the taking… me presenting it as ‘sarcophagus dressing’ is just to get the players to come up with a cool reason to get to it.

Rat-Ogre comes tomorrow!

]]> By: Erik Waddell http://critical-hits.com/2009/12/09/chatty%e2%80%99s-ptolus-4e-demo-a-tail-of-two-shities-part-2/#comment-57328 Erik Waddell Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:13:29 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=4359#comment-57328 Oh man, I can't wait to see the rat-ogre! I love making the players justify looting and graverobbing :) The dragonborn paladin in my game is loot crazy because the player loves getting cool treasures and items. We've had fun with it though, I we justify the paladin being greedy by referring to his dragonborn heritage. Like all dragons, he has a genetic need to amass big piles of treasure! Oh man, I can’t wait to see the rat-ogre!

I love making the players justify looting and graverobbing :) The dragonborn paladin in my game is loot crazy because the player loves getting cool treasures and items. We’ve had fun with it though, I we justify the paladin being greedy by referring to his dragonborn heritage. Like all dragons, he has a genetic need to amass big piles of treasure!

]]> By: greywulf http://critical-hits.com/2009/12/09/chatty%e2%80%99s-ptolus-4e-demo-a-tail-of-two-shities-part-2/#comment-57327 greywulf Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:27:08 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=4359#comment-57327 Freakin' awesome! .-= greywulf´s last blog ..<a href="http://blog.microlite20.net/2009/12/08/world-of-orcraft-corrected/" rel="nofollow">World of Orcraft, corrected</a> =-. Freakin’ awesome!
.-= greywulf´s last blog ..World of Orcraft, corrected =-.

]]> By: ChattyDM http://critical-hits.com/2009/12/09/chatty%e2%80%99s-ptolus-4e-demo-a-tail-of-two-shities-part-2/#comment-57326 ChattyDM Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:24:41 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=4359#comment-57326 @Scott: Your words could not be truer. If it was economically viable to have 'newbie DM camps/seminars" I'd do them! These players had played RPGs before... some probably longer than I have. But they had yet to play 4e. But I think they all appreciated the 'Say Yes' mentality of the whole game. @Scott: Your words could not be truer. If it was economically viable to have ‘newbie DM camps/seminars” I’d do them!

These players had played RPGs before… some probably longer than I have. But they had yet to play 4e. But I think they all appreciated the ‘Say Yes’ mentality of the whole game.

]]> By: Scott http://critical-hits.com/2009/12/09/chatty%e2%80%99s-ptolus-4e-demo-a-tail-of-two-shities-part-2/#comment-57325 Scott Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:03:26 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=4359#comment-57325 wow, if only everyone got an introduction to 4e/DnD/Rpg's like this, there would be alot more players in the world. Very cool adventure from the sounds of things so far. My first ever game saw me DM'ing for my friends and only one person had played RPG's before... it was interesting to say the least. On another note, Australia joins you in your correct spelling. ARMOUR for everyone, haha :) Scott wow, if only everyone got an introduction to 4e/DnD/Rpg’s like this, there would be alot more players in the world. Very cool adventure from the sounds of things so far.

My first ever game saw me DM’ing for my friends and only one person had played RPG’s before… it was interesting to say the least.

On another note, Australia joins you in your correct spelling. ARMOUR for everyone, haha :)

Scott

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