Epic level D&D

[Sillyman]

would be a really big topic at some of the boards I used to frequent, but here only 5 people or so will even know what the hell I'm talking about. I fully expect this thread to drop from the face of the earth faster than a discussion on the merits of toast. It's frustrating to spend most of your life learning something only to have no one understand it.

Ever happen to you, maybe not with gaming but with something else?

 

[Black_Bird]

Which boards did you used to frequent: The WotC boards, EnWorld, or Monte's Boards?

 

[glamorilla]

I love D&D...AD&D to be more specific.

 

[Black_Bird]

I love D&D...AD&D to be more specific.

You don't like the new edition?

 

[Sillyman]

The Kargatane boards actually, which was a board specifically for Ravenloft people. They started charging to keep the site up, so I had to leave.

 

[glamorilla]

I haven't bought them...in fact I haven't played since early high school but I have all the original books on up to the second edition release of the Forgotten realms hardcover. I love the Shadows or Arn pc games but my computer hasn't been woring so well so i kind of tapered off somewhere about ready to exit the underground drow city...

 

[Never]

Sillyman, I've heard the term Epic Level D&D used in two ways.
One is basically higher-level D&D. It's the situations and adventures DMs throw to characters with the powers or weapons of a demi-god.
The other describes campaigns that can last years. The DM conceives of the adventures as a continuous story, or epic, and the characters play their part for a long time and then end once they've attained their true goal.

Do either of these meanings fit?

 

[Black_Bird]

The Kargatane boards actually, which was a board specifically for Ravenloft people. They started charging to keep the site up, so I had to leave.

That sucks.

I honestly didn't like what they did with Ravenloft anyway; it just doesn't have the same amount of flavor as it did in second edition. I'm not getting good vibes from the Darksun camp either... It really sucks to watch your favorite settings go the way of the dinosaurs.

 

[Sillyman]

Both definitions are technically correct, but I mean more of the first one, in relation to Wizard's of the Coast recently releasing a book dealing with high level/power of god/let's go kick ass in Valhalla type characters.

 

[Black_Bird]

I haven't bought them...in fact I haven't played since early high school but I have all the original books on up to the second edition release of the Forgotten realms hardcover. I love the Shadows or Arn pc games but my computer hasn't been woring so well so i kind of tapered off somewhere about ready to exit the underground drow city...

Er, um... things have changed quite a bit.

I have a copy of the PHB and DMG from the original D&D. It's strange looking back at those two books; where the game was and where it is now. Completely different worlds all together.

 

[Sillyman]

I own an original player's handbook myself. The journey has been strange and winding.

I think 3E was better overall though. Ravenloft and Dark Suns used to be the only things I liked about D&D.

I liked the 3E Ravenloft book myself. The characters were more powerful than in 2nd, but that was just in keeping with everything else. They really helped tighten up the setting in my opinion, and they had some really cool shit.

Still don't know how I feel about the were-badger though.

 

[Guest]

High Level Campaigns

I'm being to wonder if AD&D is not getting top heavy with all these 'new' rules and features to enhance characters and play itself. I'm pretty much 'old school' having played under the small pamplet-digest books Gygax penned before the 1st Edition hardcovers were availible. I grimaced when 2nd Editon was released and began banging my skull with a convenient Rod of Smiting at the announcement of 3rd Editon/D20 rules.....
Isn't the entire point of the game the joy of the adventure more than the doctrine of the mechanics that get you there?
I'm tired of rules lawyers and those who see any printed guideline as cannonic law not to be modified or ignored for the sake of convenience and not letting a simple game becoming an exercise in Parliamentary Procedure. Just don't even get me started here about the inclusion of firearms and steam technology into a fantasy setting.......

Keep your powder dry and don't let your boiler run into the red......

 

[Never]

I thought so Sillyman but I wanted to make sure. I've never liked playing high-end characters myself, I quit in the middle of BG 2 because my characters had become so powerful. I say, when you can go dragon killing it's time to reroll.

Were-badger? That's too funny. It's also sad though, TSR was never much for creativity.

Black Bird, have you looked at the Call of Chilthu by WoTC? I think it has basically the same gaming system and I've heard more than a few people say it's better than Ravenloft.

 

[Black_Bird]

Re: High Level Campaigns

I'm tired of rules lawyers and those who see any printed guideline as cannonic law not to be modified or ignored for the sake of convenience and not letting a simple game becoming an exercise in Parliamentary Procedure. Just don't even get me started here about the inclusion of firearms and steam technology into a fantasy setting.......

Keep your powder dry and don't let your boiler run into the red......

Everybody has different tastes in gaming. Some people actually LIKE Rifts! Usually not for the system, but some do. Who am I to stop their fun?

I don't like game lawyering any more then you do... I just enjoy 3rd Edition mechanics better then 2nd or 1st Edition. No big deal. As for firearms and steam technology, chew on this; the Empire that was established by Alexander the Great was as technologically evolved as the United States before the industrial revolution. Why didn't they take the next logical step forward? No incentive.

Let each decide what they want in their fantasy setting... You have your game, they have their's.

 

[Black_Bird]

Black Bird, have you looked at the Call of Chilthu by WoTC? I think it has basically the same gaming system and I've heard more than a few people say it's better than Ravenloft.

I own it. Much better then Ravenloft.

 

[Azwed]

I could start a thread about auto mechanics or oil properties or map/campaign making for some video games and it would drop like a rock here too.

So yeah I know what you are talkinga about.

 

[Sillyman]

System wise, Call of Cthulu is the best game out there, although occasionally it's nice to have the character not end up dead or terribly insane by the end of the game.

The were-badger thing wasn't TSR. Ravenloft got liscenced out to White Wolf games, the same people who make Vampire. Were badgers were never really prominent, but they were in the original setting. However, WW brought them to prominence by making one a Darklord, since they were not allowed to use the character of Soth since he was a Dragonlance property.

A lot of the Lords came out to be much better when 3E rolled out, especially the ones that were mainly human to begin with.

I play Rifts. The appeal is primarily the kitchen sink factor. There are just so many options, and you don't get bitched at for having a high power character.

 

[Black_Bird]

System wise, Call of Cthulu is the best game out there, although occasionally it's nice to have the character not end up dead or terribly insane by the end of the game.

You mean the original version, not the D20 version? I haven't seen it... Is that sytem anything like RuneQuest? Now *there* is system the prides itself on realism.

 

[Sillyman]

You mean the original version, not the D20 version? I haven't seen it... Is that sytem anything like RuneQuest? Now *there* is system the prides itself on realism.

I don't have the D20 version, and I never got to try RuneQuest. More's the pity. They were made by the same company though if I'm not mistaken (and I'm not, I'm Sillyman).

 

[Black_Bird]

Yes, they are. Probably the same system... *Shrugs* I just like how they pulled off a leveless, classless skill based system. They did a damn good job of it.

 

[Sillyman]

That was the main perk of CoC. No levels, no classes, and no experience points even. It had one of the most realistic character advancement systems I have ever seen.

 

[Gamelover221]

My friends and I still play from time to time. I made a really bad reference joke today... One of my friends was asking how much money to take with her to the mall. She said, "Should I take 40?" I replied, "You can only take 20."

Only true gamers will understand what it means to "take 20"

 

[Sillyman]

I think I'm worse since I make cross game references.

Jesus saves, but only on Will.

 

[scylis]

the REAL question of the thread:

crunch or fluff-which are you for, boy?!?

 

[Sillyman]

I'm gonna have to go with crunch on this one sir.