Critical Fumble

A new Tool - Masterplan

2010-07-17T09:14:00.000-07:00

I like 4e, but sometimes the shear amout of bookkeeping can be overwhelming.
During my I-travels, I found a most, excellent new tool "MasterPlan" for organizing adventures and encounters. Check it out, its pretty powerful and handy; it may not be available for long. - Sherpa

Simple OD&D Elf for 4e

2010-05-02T10:56:00.001-07:00

When I first stated playing D&D it was the basic red boxed set, now known as OD&D. My character was an elf. I have always had an affinity for characters with an aloof attitude and pointy ears. And until till the latest version of the halfling (3.5e -4e),I played only elves and half-elves.

One of the really cool features of the OD&D elves was the ability to multi-class easily, they could be both fighter and magic user. They were the only race that didn't not have armor restrictions for casting. Now granted many DM's had house rules on how to handle the multi-classing bit and some just let go. In either case the OD&D elves were very useful to a party, especially to a small party like ours; It was a party of three, fighter, Cleric and elf.

Now with multi-classing all races can be of two classes, which can fill out a party greatly. In 4e's attempt to balance out the classes and stop the rampant power gaming in D&D; they have developed a more restrictive form of multi classing. This system works well and for the most part is well done. However it later became more apparent that players needed more and thus the creation of the Hybrid Class rules, but that is another blog.

Back to the elf of OD&D and how to add it to 4e, without creating an imbalance or generating a lot of crazy rules.

First of all, there are now two types of elves in 4e, Eladrin and Elves. However since I am going for the feel of the OD&D elf, I am going to say the Eladrin with its higher intelligence potential and connection with the fey would fit the fighter/magic-user model better. Where as the Elf would be better for the Fighter/Thief or Fighter/Cleric model better.

So here is my attempt at creating a balanced template for the OD&D Elven Fighter/Magic User, without using the Multi-class or Hybrid Rules (PHB3). Now since the fighter has changed from its original intent from OD&D to 4e, fighter in this cause represents any role that was not a Controller.

Eladrin Fighter(?)/ Magic-User
An Eladrin choosing from the role of Defender, Striker or Leader, may depending on intelligence ability may opt to switch powers from the wizard class for primary role powers.

Intelligence Score	May Exchange

12 or below	None
13	May Exchange one At Will power
14-15	May Exchange one At Will power and Encounter power
16-17	May Exchange one At will power, one Encounter power, and one Utility Power
18 or Higher	May Exchange one At Will power, one Encounter power, one Utility power and one Daily power

So how does this differ from using multi class feats? Well first it doesn't require feats and it doesn't add additional powers. It allows the party to have some from of Controller, without have a character dedicated solely to this role. True it creates a character that isn't really strong in either class,but neither was the original OD&D elf.

Google Wave

2010-04-30T12:28:00.000-07:00

So Tim at The Dungeon-Crawl has a good post about using Google Wave for a modified play by post game.

Monster Slayers

2010-04-30T10:18:00.000-07:00

When my children were young, ages 7 and 8, I introduced them to Dungeons and Dragons 3e. At the time I used the introductory box set, it was well done and easy to run. There were a few instances where I needed to simplify a few things, but over all it went very well and my children had fun. Now Wizards has made it even easier.

Monster Slayers is a stand alone, introductory adventure for ages 6 and up. Slayers doesn't require any prior knowledge of Dungeons and Dragons and has very simple rules. More importantly, it is a very brief adventure which is very good for short attention spans.

Could this be the beginning of another product line for Wizards?
Sherpa

What's wrong with 1e, 3e or 4e? ..

2010-04-26T11:59:00.000-07:00

We all have the read the blogs, posts and commentaries about a version and its apparent flaws. Some of them are objective, some are cynical, some speak of loyalty, and others address Wizards blatant commercialism. So first let me state I understand loyalty to previous versions, 1e will always have a place on my bookshelf. And I too feel somewhat outraged that Wizards released 4e after flooding the market with 3.5e material and now it seems that a new 4e book is hitting the shelves every month. And yes there are elements of 4e that are difficult to deal with and at times unruly, but weren't they all at one time. I can remember there being a lot of changes and updates, official and unofficial to 1e. Hence the creation of Dragon Magazine.

So where am I going with this?

Make it Your Own
I believe each version has its own merits and weaknesses. Each version had something I didn't like; in 1e it was the class limitations for non human races and power gaming was so prevalent 3e. And now its the whole bookkeeping aspect during combat, that gets to me in 4e and yet I like the idea of powers. In other words, no version had been absolutely perfect for me.

So whatever version you use, you chose how it is ran. Every version speaks of house rules, campaign design and how to make the game your own. It is you and your gaming group that controls the game. In our group we have a lot of old school players (meaning we are old), so we have chosen to convert some of the elements from 1e and 3e to 4e.

You are the consumer, its your money
As far as the rampant flood of books from Wizards, well they are a business and must sell products to survive. Honestly I am happy they are so prolific, in the “1e days” it took along time for new stuff to be created. In all versions once you have the core books, you are good to go. It is up to you to decide which supplements you need. Although some in our group have later supplements, we have decided to stop at PHB2. When I am trying to decide if I needed the latest offering, I check out Wizard's excerpts from the latest release, or out various blogs like Neuroglyph and Dragon Avenue

So whether you play 1e, 2e, 3e, Pathfinder or 4e, its your game; play it and have fun.

My apologies, away to long

2010-02-15T12:15:00.001-08:00

When I created this blog, it was to talk about Dungeons and Dragons 4e. I would be talking about my campaign, 4e rules and house rules. Unfortunately, things in my life took priority. However I am back and plan to follow up with the intent of this blog.

Kallorn Rockcrusher - Battle Cleric

2009-01-24T08:23:00.000-08:00

Kallorn Rockcrusher - 4th Lvl Battle Cleric
Affiliation:
Dwarven Representative from the Chain Clan to Agarwaen's Company.
Summary:
The only dwarf in Agarwaen's (eladrin) Company, Kallorn is a formidable force and healer. At present Kallorn and the party are trying to find a passage through the Rak Mahr Ruins to circumvent a large Orc force in the passage know as Timian's (Mournful) Trial. Kallorn's favorite tactic is to place a guardian near him during combant. This amps up the damage his opponents take during combat.
Claim to fame:
Pin-Cushion - for some reason goblin sharpshooters like to use Kallorn as target practice.

Dragon Avenue

2008-12-30T11:35:00.000-08:00

So checkout the link for Dragon Avenue, it is a great resource for 4th Ed. It has character sheets, initiative trackers, monster generators, pre-made encounters, a forum and more! Yes its the online Adventurer's Vault for the D&D player

Sherpa

Thank you Mrs. Claus

2008-12-30T10:55:00.000-08:00

So Mrs. Claus was very nice to me this year. I got both the Adventurer's Vault and the Martial Power book; both are pretty good. However as a DM, I find Adventurer's Vault to be more useful.

Adventurer's Vault great expands on the magic items list it the player handbook, and frankly I felt like a kid in a candy store the first time I read it. It has new armor, new weapons and new gear, but most importantly the magical oddities. You know the odd item that a character carries to save the day, at the most unusual time. As a reference this book is worth the price, I recommend looking for it on Amazon.com. You might be able to save some green. Now as a player the Martial Power book is a good read.

Martial Power adds several new class builds, powers and feats. Although I liked the book and found the builds interesting, I didn't find anything that really intrigued me. I have always in the past played the two weapon fighter, so I immediately checked out the Two Weapon Tempest Fighter. However with the focus of 4th edition being on roles; striker, controller, defender, leader . I see myself playing a two weapon ranger, spending a feat to get chainmail if needed, rather than the Tempest Fighter. Why? Well lets face it a two weapon eladrin ranger with the eladrin soldier, hunters quarry and lethal hunter feats rocks, and can put out a tremendous amount of damage. I know that I am comparing a striker to a defender class, but when ever I think of a two weapon fighters I envision Mad Mardigan, or Drizzt Do'Urden.

Putting my personal thoughts aside, I think this is a pretty good book and presents several good build options for players. And there are some pretty cool new feats.

Sherpa

The Adventure

2008-12-30T10:31:00.000-08:00

This post is for the adventure. The post be updated by editing the post, and dates will be included in the text. The actual posting date will not change.

01/09/2009: Session
Well not much to report on 01/09/09, we decided not hold the game. Some confusion on my part, resulted in few players unable to join that evening's game. Since the characters were in the middle of a good size encounter, we moved the game to next week 01/16/2009.

Greetings

2008-12-30T10:30:00.000-08:00

Greetings Everyone,
This blog is for an ongoing 4th edition dungeons and dragons campaign for my group. However there will most likely (I hope) be plenty of discussion about Dungeons and Dragons in general. So parse through the information if you wish.

Currently there are two parties in the adventure, the first is a mixed company of adventurers and the second a military scouting force for an Eladrin Calvary Unit (ok,not cannon). In this setting the Eladrin are a mix of the High Elves in Warhammer Fantasy and the 4th ed. PHB.

Due to the fact all of us are family men, we have been limiting the game to 2.5 hours every other week, with all pertentent information being communicated through email. It is our hope that this blog will help with communication and hopefully entertain.

Sherpa