Cool News
AICN TABLETOP: NEWS BITS! PATHFINDER! MAGIC THE GATHERING! D&D!
Hola all. Massawyrm here.
A couple of quick news bits this week. Nothing in depth, but some big, fun stuff.
PATHFINDER ADVANCED PLAYERS GUIDE PLAYTEST
While the Advanced Players Guide (the Pathfinder alternative to PHB2) isn’t due out until Next August, the good folks at Paizo have once again taken to playtesting their content before release – a practice I rather like. This time around they’re slowly releasing their six new character classes in bursts of two at a time in two week intervals. Right now you can download Group 1 – the new Cavalier and Oracle classes. The Cavalier reads a little too much like the 3.5 Knight class for my taste, but I’ve got to say that I LOVE the 1st ed throwback of it.
The Oracle on the other hand is an interesting Divine Caster variant that has a very Greek Mythology feel to it. One of the main features of the Oracle is that they must each take a flaw that hampers them in some way but also grants them some supernatural side effect. Blind casters can see only out to 30’ but gain darkvision and eventually Blindsight; casters that speak in tongues can only speak in a planar language during combat but gain new languages and eventually a permanent Tongues spell-like ability. There are a number of selections and a number of choices as to the focus of the Oracle. Looks like it could be a fun, flavorful class.
These classes are available here for download until 11/29. 11/30 see the release of The Summoner and the Witch (now we’re talking) followed by the release of the Alchemist and the Inquisitor on 12/14. Keep your eyes peeled for those and be sure to pick up the Oracle and Cavalier while it’s available.
M:TG RISE OF THE ELDRAZI
Today it was announced over on the Daily MTG Arcana Announcement that April 23, 2010 would see the release of the third set in the Zendikar block. Titled RISE OF THE ELDRAZI the set will boast 248 cards, making it a large enough set to be used on its own for drafts. I recenetly picked MTG back up with a number of local friends and Zendikar was a great set to do that with. There’s a lot of flavor there that I’m really digging on. I’m currently playing a black vampire themed deck that just moves way too fast for most other decks and usually needs to be set aside for a more fun green or black/blue decks after a few rounds of ass whooping. Here’s hoping Eldrazi has a few more cool Vampire cards to tweak that deck with.
M:TG GARRUK VS LILIANA
I wrote about these decks a few weeks ago when I got to test drive them at the Austin Pro Tour event. Well, now it is in stores and I’ve got a copy (two, actually) and they’re pretty great decks. While they are evenly matched, they move a little slower on their own than I like. Filled with a number of higher cost cards, games can go pretty quickly if one person ends up a little mana short (as I did in my PT game). But there are so many GREAT cards in the decks,that they become easily and readily pilfered to flesh out the black or green deck of your choice. I love that the black deck (Liliana) comes with a classic 1st Ed card BAD MOON – one of my favorites from back in the day. Combined with a number of other menacing cards from the deck, you can form the core of a nasty deck, especially if you do as I did and pick up a second deck.
My buddies and I have picked up a series of the preconstructed decks recently and they have come a long way since the initial preconstructed decks from back in the early days. Some of them are downright vicious, and most (if not all) come with more rares than you would ordinarily get in random boosters. This limited set runs $19.99 and is readily available anywhere that carries Magic cards.
DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS DRAGONOMICON 2
Due to a delay, I haven’t gotten this in, but being the large release it is I thought it warranted a quick mention. Today sees the release of DRAGONOMICON: METALLIC DRAGONS. From the description:
Draconomicon: Metallic Dragons describes several varieties of dragons, including gold, silver, copper, iron, and adamantine dragons. It also introduces several other kinds of metallic dragons suitable for any D&D campaign.
This supplement presents dragons both malevolent and benign, and gives details on each dragon’s powers, tactics, myths, lairs, servitors, and more. In addition, this book provides new information about the roles that metallic dragons fill in a D&D game. Story and campaign elements in the book give Dungeon Masters ready-to-play material that is easily incorporated into a game, including adventure hooks, quests, encounters, and pregenerated treasure hoards.
Based upon the previous edition and the quality of this year’s releases thus far, I’me really excited about this and plan on hitting the store later today just to thumb through it before mine comes in. If all goes to plan, I should have more to say about it later this week or next.
Until next time friends, smoke ‘em if ya got ‘em.
Massawyrm
Got something for the Wyrm? Mail it here.
Or follow my further zany adventures on Twitter.
The Oracle on the other hand is an interesting Divine Caster variant that has a very Greek Mythology feel to it. One of the main features of the Oracle is that they must each take a flaw that hampers them in some way but also grants them some supernatural side effect. Blind casters can see only out to 30’ but gain darkvision and eventually Blindsight; casters that speak in tongues can only speak in a planar language during combat but gain new languages and eventually a permanent Tongues spell-like ability. There are a number of selections and a number of choices as to the focus of the Oracle. Looks like it could be a fun, flavorful class.
These classes are available here for download until 11/29. 11/30 see the release of The Summoner and the Witch (now we’re talking) followed by the release of the Alchemist and the Inquisitor on 12/14. Keep your eyes peeled for those and be sure to pick up the Oracle and Cavalier while it’s available.
M:TG RISE OF THE ELDRAZI
Today it was announced over on the Daily MTG Arcana Announcement that April 23, 2010 would see the release of the third set in the Zendikar block. Titled RISE OF THE ELDRAZI the set will boast 248 cards, making it a large enough set to be used on its own for drafts. I recenetly picked MTG back up with a number of local friends and Zendikar was a great set to do that with. There’s a lot of flavor there that I’m really digging on. I’m currently playing a black vampire themed deck that just moves way too fast for most other decks and usually needs to be set aside for a more fun green or black/blue decks after a few rounds of ass whooping. Here’s hoping Eldrazi has a few more cool Vampire cards to tweak that deck with.
M:TG GARRUK VS LILIANA
I wrote about these decks a few weeks ago when I got to test drive them at the Austin Pro Tour event. Well, now it is in stores and I’ve got a copy (two, actually) and they’re pretty great decks. While they are evenly matched, they move a little slower on their own than I like. Filled with a number of higher cost cards, games can go pretty quickly if one person ends up a little mana short (as I did in my PT game). But there are so many GREAT cards in the decks,that they become easily and readily pilfered to flesh out the black or green deck of your choice. I love that the black deck (Liliana) comes with a classic 1st Ed card BAD MOON – one of my favorites from back in the day. Combined with a number of other menacing cards from the deck, you can form the core of a nasty deck, especially if you do as I did and pick up a second deck.
My buddies and I have picked up a series of the preconstructed decks recently and they have come a long way since the initial preconstructed decks from back in the early days. Some of them are downright vicious, and most (if not all) come with more rares than you would ordinarily get in random boosters. This limited set runs $19.99 and is readily available anywhere that carries Magic cards.
DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS DRAGONOMICON 2
Due to a delay, I haven’t gotten this in, but being the large release it is I thought it warranted a quick mention. Today sees the release of DRAGONOMICON: METALLIC DRAGONS. From the description:
Draconomicon: Metallic Dragons describes several varieties of dragons, including gold, silver, copper, iron, and adamantine dragons. It also introduces several other kinds of metallic dragons suitable for any D&D campaign.
This supplement presents dragons both malevolent and benign, and gives details on each dragon’s powers, tactics, myths, lairs, servitors, and more. In addition, this book provides new information about the roles that metallic dragons fill in a D&D game. Story and campaign elements in the book give Dungeon Masters ready-to-play material that is easily incorporated into a game, including adventure hooks, quests, encounters, and pregenerated treasure hoards.
Based upon the previous edition and the quality of this year’s releases thus far, I’me really excited about this and plan on hitting the store later today just to thumb through it before mine comes in. If all goes to plan, I should have more to say about it later this week or next.
Until next time friends, smoke ‘em if ya got ‘em.
Massawyrm
Got something for the Wyrm? Mail it here.
Or follow my further zany adventures on Twitter.
My buddies and I have picked up a series of the preconstructed decks recently and they have come a long way since the initial preconstructed decks from back in the early days. Some of them are downright vicious, and most (if not all) come with more rares than you would ordinarily get in random boosters. This limited set runs $19.99 and is readily available anywhere that carries Magic cards.
DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS DRAGONOMICON 2
Due to a delay, I haven’t gotten this in, but being the large release it is I thought it warranted a quick mention. Today sees the release of DRAGONOMICON: METALLIC DRAGONS. From the description:
Draconomicon: Metallic Dragons describes several varieties of dragons, including gold, silver, copper, iron, and adamantine dragons. It also introduces several other kinds of metallic dragons suitable for any D&D campaign.
This supplement presents dragons both malevolent and benign, and gives details on each dragon’s powers, tactics, myths, lairs, servitors, and more. In addition, this book provides new information about the roles that metallic dragons fill in a D&D game. Story and campaign elements in the book give Dungeon Masters ready-to-play material that is easily incorporated into a game, including adventure hooks, quests, encounters, and pregenerated treasure hoards.
Based upon the previous edition and the quality of this year’s releases thus far, I’me really excited about this and plan on hitting the store later today just to thumb through it before mine comes in. If all goes to plan, I should have more to say about it later this week or next.
Until next time friends, smoke ‘em if ya got ‘em.
Massawyrm
Got something for the Wyrm? Mail it here.
This supplement presents dragons both malevolent and benign, and gives details on each dragon’s powers, tactics, myths, lairs, servitors, and more. In addition, this book provides new information about the roles that metallic dragons fill in a D&D game. Story and campaign elements in the book give Dungeon Masters ready-to-play material that is easily incorporated into a game, including adventure hooks, quests, encounters, and pregenerated treasure hoards.
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Wait, what was this post about?
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Beorn Oakthorn owns all your asses!
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thats what I call satisfaction...
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Nov 17, 2009 8:56:52 AM CST
Anyone seen that movie about the tabletop players?
by isleptwithkathybatesandallthatigotwasthi
Think it was called "Gamers"? Both it and its sequel are actually pretty good movies!
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A true worthy RPG for true tabletop RPG fans and players.
Not an abomination like D&D 4th edition, a game where you have to lower your I.Q. in order to truly enjoy it.
So very sad that WoTC created 4th edition to resemble a version of tabletop WoW.
Long live the new king of RPG Paizo and Pathfinder!!! -
http://shop.ebay.ca/johnvasiliou/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p4340
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http://shop.ebay.ca/johnvasiliou/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p4340
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4E is FUN, man! "Lower your IQ?" Are you kidding me? You can play 4E as structured or as imaginative as you want. They give you the framework, but you can still play it however you want. I feel like if you can't enjoy it, that's just your own lack of imagination.
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Its as addictive as crystal meth...so I've been told...
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yea yea..
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After D&D 3.5, Paizo's Pathfinder is the next true heir of D&D.
It's got that raw feel of the classic dungeoncrawl.
Unless you prefer WOW as a pen & paper game, in which case WOTC D&D 4th edition (aka $th edition) is probably for you. -
It's pretty good stuff too. Fantasy Craft's NPC creation system is lightyears ahead of the others.
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Nov 17, 2009 4:22:50 PM CST
There's always one in every tslkbsck, today there are two!
by massawyrm 1
Man, the guys at Paizo are so fucking cool, I simply do not understand why it is that their rabid fanbase turned out to be such angry douchebags. You guys are like high school jocks, cyber stalking the gaming halls, knocking the books out of the hands of D&D players while laughing "HA HA! Your game is so accessible, intuitive and easy to learn that even girls play it! Fucking losers! Oh yeah, World of Warcraft reference, bitches!" I simply do not get you guys or why you're so fucking angry.
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It may have something to do with WOTC gutting and dumbing-down an iconic & beloved game in one of the most flagrant fanboy-cash grabs of recent memory? And compounding that with actually coming up with a fast-paced, scalable core mechanic and building a shitty, cookie-cutter WoW clone with near-zero customizability around it? If you're looking for the cause of angst among longtime gamers re: 4e AKA D&D Vista, you may want to start there. That is, when you're not trolling your own employer's site.
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Pathfinder is the fucking tits.
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Fuck this, im going back to the nexus.
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Stop copying and pasting other people's screed from before the 4E release. It's out now. You should check it out.
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Races, classes, two to three different builds each class, paragon paths, epic paths, multiclassing paragon paths, racial paths, general feats, caster feats, racial feats, weapon feats, paragon feats, epic feats, the list goes on and on. Abe Vigoda is a fucking idiot.
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and being able to interchange powers between classes when you multiclass.
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Say what you will about 4e, but it is simply "fun to play". I challenge any haters to play a 4e game before passing judgement. The game has been out for over a year, get something else to bitch about
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Nov 18, 2009 4:45:15 AM CST
Tried 4th edition, still sticking with 3.5, Pathfinder good alte
by calastir
I gave 4th edition an honest try, sorry, it did feel rather flat and more like WOW so I wouldn't recommend it to fans of true D&D.
I'm sticking with 3.5 but have no bias against Paizo's Pathfinder RPG system which is why I'm giving that the thumbs up! -
but never explain what exactly that means. Could someone please explain to me how 4E fails to be "true/real" DnD?
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Go back and read what abe said. It was spot on. You claim to wonder why D&D players despise the new 4th ed rules. You got your answer, and your response was as lame as 'no, you are'. I'm surprised you even mention the pathfinder system, being the poster boy for D&D4e fanboys that you are.
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I never really "got" the World of Warcraft reference. Where would WoW be without D&D?
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In true D&D (and Pathfinder), a fighter fights with a normal weapon such as a sword, axe or hammer and when he's wounded, his life is in actual jeopardy and he's challenged to find a cleric or buy healing potions in order to survive.
He doesn't call on either 'At-Will', 'Encounter' or 'Daily' Powers, and doesn't use WOW-like 'Healing Surges' several times during combat to heal himself. THOSE rules are what gives 4th edition the WOW-like vibe.
4th edition also took away Gnomes as a standard race and replaced them with 'Dragonborn' and the demon-like 'Tieflings'.
I could go on and on such as the standardisation of characters with next to no options but a standard package, but wordt of all; Gone are most of the gritty heroic fantasy elements which are core to true D&D. -
As I stated before, they had the engine for a killer game - a strong core mechanic, and as a longtime DM I was stoked about a diminished prep time. Then we tried it, and went back to 3.5 2 sessions later. The character system simply blows goats. It does not accommodate the degree of customization my players and I demand after many years of gaming. 3.5e, and now Patfinder (God bless em!) implemented character systems that were designed to accomodate our imaginations, not shoehorn them into 2 or 3 builds per class. And @Warcraft: It is quite clear by your post that you are the target audience for 4e: someone whose first experience with RPGs is WoW. News flash: multiclassing is not new, and the system presented in 4e is sharply devolved from what came before. 2-3 builds per class is the fucking joke, buddy boy, and paragon/epic paths are weak sauce compared to the pretige class system. And Massa, I have to say you surprise me; you obviously love the tabletop games and go way back with em. I can dig it, havin been doing this since the 80s myself. Its strange to see a veteran gamer with otherwise good taste in product go full fanboy over a system that's a weak clone of a copy of itself. Dinna mean to be uncivil but damn, dude, 4e blows. My group wants their characters to be unique expressions of themselves; the 3.5 system, while imperfect, was designed as a tool towards that aim while 4e felt more like an impediment.
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Anyone who wants to check out all of the rules for Pathfinder for free can find them at http://www.d20pfsrd.com. We host all of the rules including all monsters and handy sortable databases of spells, magic items, and monsters. Check us out!
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with 4E is the adventures, that seem to have less over arching story and more emphasis on the combat encounters. I know that 4E is capable of more, but from the adventures I've read, it doesn't seem like WotC's authors do. I tried the Living Forgotten Realms campaign for a year, but ultimately I was just disgusted with the adventures they were putting out and as I don't have the a home group, I haven't had a chance to see a solid game in 4E.
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The emphasis on combat is because WOTC is pushing their D&D minis (Most of them look great by the way, only quality has also dropped since 4th edition), but you don't actually need them to play. You might as well use peanuts as tokens; When you kill those, you can eat 'em as well! :)
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i need to know before wasting time responding to these fucking idiots. this thread still going?
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Language! And no; the thread isn´t dead as you can see, it just disappeared off the frontpage.
But we've been rather thorough. Do you really need any more explanation why 4th edition isn't true D&D but in name only? -
since this forum has a retarded format i will have to quote people with asteriks
* true D&D (and Pathfinder), a fighter fights with a normal weapon such as a sword, axe or hammer and when he's wounded, his life is in actual jeopardy and he's challenged to find a cleric or buy healing potions in order to survive.*
So in true fighters are fucking gimped and can't do anything but run up and die if no one is around to hit them then. The purpose of 4 ED is that no one class is required to be in the party, as no one should be forced to play a healer. The purpose of healing surges is so that a party can adventure without the aid of a dedicated healer (which is UNLIKE warcraft). Also, I am not sure of what you mean by "wow like" healing surges, as wow has no such system.
*4th edition also took away Gnomes as a standard race and replaced them with 'Dragonborn' and the demon-like 'Tieflings'.* Oh well excuse the creators for trying to introduce some spice into the players handbook. This sounds more like retarded personal preferance than any deficiancy with the system. Besides, who really picks up the new version of a system just to have the same old content repeated? Dumb.
*Gone are most of the gritty heroic fantasy elements which are core to true D&D.* There are TONS of fantasy elements to make 4E just as gritty as you like, that is entirely in the hands of the dungeon master, there are no mechanics now, nor have there ever been, to add "grit" to the game, that's the dm's job.
*The character system simply blows goats. It does not accommodate the degree of customization my players and I demand after many years of gaming. 3.5e, and now Patfinder (God bless em!) * Sounds like the reasonings of a power gamer, which is what all 4E haters tend to be. "I can't make my wizard/cleric/rogue/monk character that breaks the system anymore, waaah waaaah".
*And @Warcraft: It is quite clear by your post that you are the target audience for 4e: someone whose first experience with RPGs is WoW. News flash: multiclassing is not new, * First off, nice generalization fucktard, I'm 28 and my first experiance with paper and pen was 1st edition, followed by 2nd, followed by whitewolf material, followed by palladium books, followed by the horribly broken 3rd, on into 4E. ALSO, I NEVER stated multiclassing was NEW, inbred, I was simply responding to your HORRIBLY over exaggerated claim that 4E had ZERO cuztomization, which clearly meant that you couldn't break the system anymore, as demonstrated by your complain that you couldn't "make the character you imagined". What exactly can't you make in 4E? What type of odd ball rediculous characters is the system preventing you from creating?
*2-3 builds per class is the fucking joke, buddy boy, and paragon/epic paths are weak sauce compared to the pretige class system. *
You aren't limited to those builds though, "buddy boy", I gave you FACTUAL information about the options you have in 4E in an earlier post, all you have provided is fanboy opinionated hate.
*with 4E is the adventures, that seem to have less over arching story and more emphasis on the combat encounters. I know that 4E is capable of more, but from the adventures I've read, it doesn't seem like WotC's authors do. I tried the Living Forgotten Realms campaign for a year, but ultimately I was just disgusted with the adventures they were putting out and as I don't have the a home group, I haven't had a chance to see a solid game in 4E.*
You rely on pre written material for your games? Get a better dm.
*Do you really need any more explanation why 4th edition isn't true D&D but in name only?*
Yes actually, I do, because there hasn't been a valid explanation or arguement against 4E in this thread yet.
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You're obviously taking this way more personal than we are, so I'm backing out. Let's agree to disagree.
'nuff said.
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