The Gaming Den

I think I realize my main point of rage against PF, and that's namely that they have yet to include a simple system for statting monsters and NPCs of a given CR. After playing 4E, I realize that this is like one of the few advantages 4E has over 3.5, but it's a big advantage, since it lets DM stat ...

Which has the preferable underlying mechanic? Neither. Power Attack, while now seemingly an iconic ability, is a worthless mechanic. What does PA do? It allows you to lower your chance to hit, in order to inflict more damage. In other words, PA is a math engine whose purpose is to enable you to inf...

So what's the song?! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Littlebigplanet#Release The song in question was entitled "Tapha Niang" by Malian singer, Toumani Diabaté, himself a devout Muslim.[45][46] Here is a link to the song in question on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQMO9YVVfHQ No, r...

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/4news/20081021 Corresponding Enworld thread: http://www.enworld.org/forum/general-rpg-discussion/243495-wizards-coast-changes-how-d-d-minis-going-sold.html We have received a tremendous amount of feedback from fans regarding the D&D Miniatures line, and ...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7679151.stm Sony has postponed the global release of a much-anticipated video game due to concerns that it may offend Muslims. Copies of LittleBigPlanet are being recalled from shops worldwide after it emerged that a background music track contained two phrases...

Each PC also has a race. Your race may give you access to additional abilities, but the racial list will be much shorter than the class list, and they're learned out of the same pool, so picking up racial abilities means that you won't be able to pick as many abilities from your class. It should be...

So I could easily see putting down a different list of stats, because even nailing down the original six to specific and consistent meanings is just like writing a new batch. So the questions then are: What things do we want characters to test against each other? How many stats should there be? I d...

And while you are correct that DB won't cancel both move actions with a readied attack, you can still kite an enemy of equal or lower speed by negating one move action per round, as long as you start outside its threatened range. I thought you no longer wanted to judge the Defender by kiting standa...

Yes, except in the special case where you critize it, I tell you it's an error, and then you continue to criticize it. No. You said "OK, that could be worded better, but under a strict reading of the current wording this actually does still work." It does not still work. You said “He coul...

OK, so you would be satisfied if I relabeled it (Su) and used a "normal" DC instead of a damage-dependent one? It would be less stupid that way. Resisting distraction due to pain sounds to me like an eminently reasonable thing for willpower to do. Fortitude : These saves measure your abil...

There are already effects in the game that require will saves to avoid losing actions. No shit. That’s because those effects target the enemy’s mind. Like the Daze Monster spell. There are already effects in the game that force will saves when you hit someone with a physical attack. Name one that m...

That sucks hard, Cynic. I can empathize somewhat, my family has had to deal with damaging and fraudulent doctors and insurance providers. Here is a short interesting article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7180800.stm Too much "sugar-free" chewing gum can lead to severe weight loss and ...

The part where you can make one save against every effect in the round rather than one save against each effect in the round has profound tactical implications in certain situations. There's also an opportunity cost and a resource cost to using Aura of Safety, so it's a real tactical choice, not a ...

You are correct, we are only evaluating a fraction of the Defenders abilities. However, even force multiplier characters are expected to perform in the Same Game challenge. For example, a battlefield control character like a Wall-omancer has their strongest abilities as a force multiplier, but he is...

My "vaguely-objective standard" is to judge the worth of a class ability by the ability's worth in overcoming an equivalent level challenge. I'm harping so hard about the Rng because the easiest way to compare abilities or characters of a given level is to assume their effects come into pl...

First off, Spell-like abilities are a standard action to use, so I didn’t need to specify. Its not that hard: Defender wards X targets. Whenever the Dm attacks said targets, the Defender’s player says “will save,” then the Dm rolls the save. Each resolution will take 5 seconds. The other players don...

About the Rng: I’m not saying that the game should be played so that every ability functions 50% of the time. I’m saying that if you want to judge the worth or utility of a particular class's abilities (what he can do, or prevent others from doing), you will not get good results by using examples wh...

The kinds of flexibility that people want should, I think, be handled exclusively with the universal lists. That is, the things reminiscent of Elemental Magic that are easy enough for other people to learn should just be known as being learnable by anyone, full stop. Possibly the humble Firebolt is...

Hey. I just read this thread, and I have some constructive criticism. First off, the following abilities: Aura of Safety (30ft to 60 ft to 120 ft), Spell Static (10ft to 20 ft to 40 ft), and Spell Stretch (20 ft) are a pain. Now, when considered within the context of a video game, these abilities mi...

...But you can also just throw up a class system that gives out the cold powers to the Ice Sculptor and not to the other classes. That's more rigid, since of course you wouldn't be able to have the players choose a different arbitrary dividing line to distinguish one character from another - but it...

Manxome wrote:For what it's worth, I remember destroying hard objects in Neverwinter Nights by using sonic damage (from a magical weapon) that ignored the objects' hardness.

Better than a Rogue. I just used elemental arrows and sundered the chests/triggered the traps from across the room.

Judging__Eagle wrote:Also, what are opinions about Palin as potenial VP?

She is unqualified, corrupt, and she associates herself with nutters:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xbczaVu76M

So my question is this: what have you guys been trying to force the systems to make for you? This is in a 3e Dnd context: 1) A big ugly monster. If I want to play a giant, I want to be a giant. I don't want to have to use polymorph shennanegans or be a druid/MoMF/Warshaper. 2) A caster/leader with ...

That was fantastic. My favorite parts:

-An anonymous source says "I believe they're domestic terrorists." Then it immediately switches to a clip of a bomb going off in a bus.

-Lulz is a "corruption" of Lol.

-scary red text, voice-masking, dramatic music.

Rob Heinsoo has this short post up on his staff blog: I made an interesting choice a couple weeks ago. I've been the lead of the mechanical design team, but I haven't been as happy or as productive in that role as I'd like to be. I've opted to step aside and work as a regular designer. Design work ...