Boards Or No Boards? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Boards Or No Boards? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
buddy4031
04-16-06, 02:50 AM What is better, playing with or without the boards? Personaly, I have played with both and I see the advantages and disadvantages of ether one. What do all of you think?
Seeker95
04-16-06, 06:41 PM I think the Boards give me plenty of useful information and insight. And the types of questions often asked also provide me with a heads up as to what kind of lawyer-esque munchkin-fever crap players might try to pull in my game, letting me decide how quickly to say Ummm... no.

So I'd have to say I think it is better to play with the Boards.
KJW
04-16-06, 07:16 PM I say the opposite, play without. I don't use them and it works great for my group. Still it really is something for you and your group to decide, maybe put it to a vote.
celtredleg
04-16-06, 07:20 PM I get a lot of info from the boards. And a lot of practice dealing with knucleheads.

And you dont have to use everything you find here, just ignore what you dont agree with.
Joni-san
04-16-06, 08:07 PM I use the boards. The raw amount of ideas here is so large I don't know what I'd do without it. You can pretty much find anything you need here. Plus every now and then you get to hear really funny stories, like hiryuu's story about Shoo (a druid) or some posters story about a mobster Pseudo-Dragon (Can I eat him boss, can I?) The art boards also provide a source of infinite inspiration (An Illithid in a top-hat?)
Hedstrong
04-16-06, 08:11 PM To be honest i have yet to find a disadvantage of these boards existence for my game.
Chrono Nexus
04-16-06, 08:54 PM The boards present many new and interesting ideas- and then the members tear them to pieces. Way too much "No you can't, not RAW", or "no that is illogical" or "Your idea stinks" and not enough "Strange idea, here are a few similar things" or "This is how I would do it". These boards seem to be one layer from the negative energy plane. I think every time I read about how 'QUOTE' your idea is stupid, for these reasons... I take d4 intelligence drain.
I keep the board and my games separate, for those reasons.
Krug_the_smasher
04-16-06, 09:06 PM They are useful for gathering ideas, offering new ideas to be pulled apart, and asking questions(because I am a new DM) because Alot of things come up in a game that not everyone knows the answer to. So, i ask people here.

As Chrono Nexus said, there is alot, and I mean ALOT of stuff on here that is as negitive as infinity can get. that kinda puts the bummer on stuff when you post a new idea/item/monster/class and people give one liners like "that is dumb" or one i got "I should kill you for posting something so incredibly stupid as that". And yes, someone said that about my "summon planar ally: Chuck Norris" Spell.
Mitchell
04-17-06, 04:31 AM I'm really the only member of my group that comes here.
That being said, as a DM, they can give me some ideas, and as a player, they can give me a heads up as to potential problem issues down the road, and I discuss them with my DM and we work out a solution (I am the most experienced, and he trusts me to work for the betterment of the game as a whole).
No, they aren't vital, but sometimes I have questions, and sometimes I can find the answer here. I'm not hardcore, RAW only or anything, but I do like to know what the RAW are before I decide to muck with them. :)
Shinryouga
04-17-06, 05:49 AM I find the boards to be a tremendous resource and platform for improving my game. That said, I also find gyms to be tremendous resources and platforms for improving my physique. But just stepping inside, walking over to the biggest weight you find, and trying to lift it won't get you anywhere but nowhere, if your lucky (otherwise, hernia!) You need to have some patience, do the sweaty work, and keep at it, because sometimes results aren't immediately apparent.

Getting something out of the boards requires putting something in: time, effort, and thought. I don't take anything here as gospel, until I've checked it and found out it really is gospel truth. But the sheer number of ideas I get from here, and the improvements to my game that come from here, totally outweigh the days I've had where I log off wondering if I'm the last of a dying breed of sane gamers who don't try to offend others or tear them down. As it is, I'd say most of the people on the boards are awesome. We, as humans, just have a tendency to dwell on the negatives, thats all.

Just my two coppers.
Seeker95
04-17-06, 08:08 AM Just checking:

Did everyone else just follow my lead in answering tongue in cheek, or did everyone think he was really asking about the message boards and not miniature mats? :D
KJW
04-17-06, 08:33 AM Well I responded as if talking about miniature mats, I figured you were being sarcastic...though my response is more amusing, and maybe sensical, if it was about the message boards.
Seeker95
04-17-06, 10:21 AM Well I responded as if talking about miniature mats, I figured you were being sarcastic...though my response is more amusing, and maybe sensical, if it was about the message boards.:rofl: KJW, that is classic! :tiphat:
buddy4031
04-17-06, 07:22 PM sorry about the confusion, if any, what i am talking about is the miniature boards to play DnD on
Arrowhen
04-17-06, 07:56 PM Of course you should play with them. Although a word of advice: it doesn't matter how small they are, women don't appreciate being called broads.
Stardrake
04-17-06, 11:06 PM But seriously, folks...

It's very much a matter of what works for you. In our group, we play both ways--tending to use miniatures and map for large, complicated combats, and simply winging it for smaller combats.

If you're just beginning, minis and a map can help with tactics--but they aren't at all necessary. (The minis can be cool, though....)

Although I'd recommend a good wet-erase battlemat (Chessex and Crystal Caste both make nice ones) so you can just draw your terrain on and wipe it off--gives you more versatility. (There are other alternatives that are equally flexible, but I'll leave it to the other denizens of the board to talk about them--I just wrote about the battlemat I use.)

Hope this helps!
Mitchell
04-18-06, 01:02 AM Just checking:

Did everyone else just follow my lead in answering tongue in cheek, or did everyone think he was really asking about the message boards and not miniature mats? :D

Eh, I figure if someone is asking about miniatures, they may actually mention miniatures somewhere in the question. :)
Now, since I know that they are talking about miniatures, I use them and I like them. Just being able to tell where everyone is, or isn't, makes it all worth while to me, whether playing or DMing.
allenchan
04-18-06, 01:13 AM sorry about the confusion, if any, what i am talking about is the miniature boards to play DnD on

Say after me, "Battle mat". :D
Qube
04-18-06, 03:20 AM for the players: no
but great for house rules, if your players want to do something that isn't discribed in the books (if trying to grapple a bodak, so he can make a bodak look the other way, sothat the bodak can't use his gaze attack)
Chrono Nexus
04-18-06, 08:04 AM I never use a grid. I use a tape measure and scale 1 inch = 5 feet. I find grids overcomplicate spread effects and not using a grid makes the combat seem more realistic to the players. In fact- I have no idea why the PHB claims a grid is necessary to play. The rules could still work without one.
Lord_Snow
04-18-06, 01:43 PM I think the boards are a cool little tool to use, BUT, i recently came up against some monster my DM found on the boards here...some "crab battle" monster.... but dont get me wrong i enjoy reading the stuff...just dont take stuff that others made and throw it into your adventure, you'll end up with a monster that just pisses your PCs off...
narukagami
04-18-06, 02:48 PM Ugh, HE'S TALKING ABOUT GRIDS AND BATTLEMATS NOT THE MESSAGE BOARD. LARGE CAPITAL LETTERS GET PEOPLE'S ATTENTION.

Anyway, I find the grid to be handy tool sometimes, it makes it easier to plot out who is doing what where without having to take time measuring and calculating. Plus almost all the combat rules are written assuming you are using a grid. The downside is, like Chrono Nexus says, its pretty unrealistic and overcomplicates alot of spread effects. Hex grids may seem more realistic, but they have effects on combat that seem insignifigant but are big impactors, mainly they reduce your threatened area (from like 8 squares to about 6 hexs, without reach).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
buddy4031 04-16-06, 02:50 AM	What is better, playing with or without the boards? Personaly, I have played with both and I see the advantages and disadvantages of ether one. What do all of you think?
Seeker95 04-16-06, 06:41 PM	I think the Boards give me plenty of useful information and insight. And the types of questions often asked also provide me with a heads up as to what kind of lawyer-esque munchkin-fever crap players might try to pull in my game, letting me decide how quickly to say Ummm... no. So I'd have to say I think it is better to play with the Boards.
KJW 04-16-06, 07:16 PM	I say the opposite, play without. I don't use them and it works great for my group. Still it really is something for you and your group to decide, maybe put it to a vote.
celtredleg 04-16-06, 07:20 PM	I get a lot of info from the boards. And a lot of practice dealing with knucleheads. And you dont have to use everything you find here, just ignore what you dont agree with.
Joni-san 04-16-06, 08:07 PM	I use the boards. The raw amount of ideas here is so large I don't know what I'd do without it. You can pretty much find anything you need here. Plus every now and then you get to hear really funny stories, like hiryuu's story about Shoo (a druid) or some posters story about a mobster Pseudo-Dragon (Can I eat him boss, can I?) The art boards also provide a source of infinite inspiration (An Illithid in a top-hat?)
Hedstrong 04-16-06, 08:11 PM	To be honest i have yet to find a disadvantage of these boards existence for my game.
Chrono Nexus 04-16-06, 08:54 PM	The boards present many new and interesting ideas- and then the members tear them to pieces. Way too much "No you can't, not RAW", or "no that is illogical" or "Your idea stinks" and not enough "Strange idea, here are a few similar things" or "This is how I would do it". These boards seem to be one layer from the negative energy plane. I think every time I read about how 'QUOTE' your idea is stupid, for these reasons... I take d4 intelligence drain. I keep the board and my games separate, for those reasons.
Krug_the_smasher 04-16-06, 09:06 PM	They are useful for gathering ideas, offering new ideas to be pulled apart, and asking questions(because I am a new DM) because Alot of things come up in a game that not everyone knows the answer to. So, i ask people here. As Chrono Nexus said, there is alot, and I mean ALOT of stuff on here that is as negitive as infinity can get. that kinda puts the bummer on stuff when you post a new idea/item/monster/class and people give one liners like "that is dumb" or one i got "I should kill you for posting something so incredibly stupid as that". And yes, someone said that about my "summon planar ally: Chuck Norris" Spell.
Mitchell 04-17-06, 04:31 AM	I'm really the only member of my group that comes here. That being said, as a DM, they can give me some ideas, and as a player, they can give me a heads up as to potential problem issues down the road, and I discuss them with my DM and we work out a solution (I am the most experienced, and he trusts me to work for the betterment of the game as a whole). No, they aren't vital, but sometimes I have questions, and sometimes I can find the answer here. I'm not hardcore, RAW only or anything, but I do like to know what the RAW are before I decide to muck with them. :)
Shinryouga 04-17-06, 05:49 AM	I find the boards to be a tremendous resource and platform for improving my game. That said, I also find gyms to be tremendous resources and platforms for improving my physique. But just stepping inside, walking over to the biggest weight you find, and trying to lift it won't get you anywhere but nowhere, if your lucky (otherwise, hernia!) You need to have some patience, do the sweaty work, and keep at it, because sometimes results aren't immediately apparent. Getting something out of the boards requires putting something in: time, effort, and thought. I don't take anything here as gospel, until I've checked it and found out it really is gospel truth. But the sheer number of ideas I get from here, and the improvements to my game that come from here, totally outweigh the days I've had where I log off wondering if I'm the last of a dying breed of sane gamers who don't try to offend others or tear them down. As it is, I'd say most of the people on the boards are awesome. We, as humans, just have a tendency to dwell on the negatives, thats all. Just my two coppers.
Seeker95 04-17-06, 08:08 AM	Just checking: Did everyone else just follow my lead in answering tongue in cheek, or did everyone think he was really asking about the message boards and not miniature mats? :D
KJW 04-17-06, 08:33 AM	Well I responded as if talking about miniature mats, I figured you were being sarcastic...though my response is more amusing, and maybe sensical, if it was about the message boards.
Seeker95 04-17-06, 10:21 AM	Well I responded as if talking about miniature mats, I figured you were being sarcastic...though my response is more amusing, and maybe sensical, if it was about the message boards.:rofl: KJW, that is classic! :tiphat:
buddy4031 04-17-06, 07:22 PM	sorry about the confusion, if any, what i am talking about is the miniature boards to play DnD on
Arrowhen 04-17-06, 07:56 PM	Of course you should play with them. Although a word of advice: it doesn't matter how small they are, women don't appreciate being called broads.
Stardrake 04-17-06, 11:06 PM	But seriously, folks... It's very much a matter of what works for you. In our group, we play both ways--tending to use miniatures and map for large, complicated combats, and simply winging it for smaller combats. If you're just beginning, minis and a map can help with tactics--but they aren't at all necessary. (The minis can be cool, though....) Although I'd recommend a good wet-erase battlemat (Chessex and Crystal Caste both make nice ones) so you can just draw your terrain on and wipe it off--gives you more versatility. (There are other alternatives that are equally flexible, but I'll leave it to the other denizens of the board to talk about them--I just wrote about the battlemat I use.) Hope this helps!
Mitchell 04-18-06, 01:02 AM	Just checking: Did everyone else just follow my lead in answering tongue in cheek, or did everyone think he was really asking about the message boards and not miniature mats? :D Eh, I figure if someone is asking about miniatures, they may actually mention miniatures somewhere in the question. :) Now, since I know that they are talking about miniatures, I use them and I like them. Just being able to tell where everyone is, or isn't, makes it all worth while to me, whether playing or DMing.
allenchan 04-18-06, 01:13 AM	sorry about the confusion, if any, what i am talking about is the miniature boards to play DnD on Say after me, "Battle mat". :D
Qube 04-18-06, 03:20 AM	for the players: no but great for house rules, if your players want to do something that isn't discribed in the books (if trying to grapple a bodak, so he can make a bodak look the other way, sothat the bodak can't use his gaze attack)
Chrono Nexus 04-18-06, 08:04 AM	I never use a grid. I use a tape measure and scale 1 inch = 5 feet. I find grids overcomplicate spread effects and not using a grid makes the combat seem more realistic to the players. In fact- I have no idea why the PHB claims a grid is necessary to play. The rules could still work without one.
Lord_Snow 04-18-06, 01:43 PM	I think the boards are a cool little tool to use, BUT, i recently came up against some monster my DM found on the boards here...some "crab battle" monster.... but dont get me wrong i enjoy reading the stuff...just dont take stuff that others made and throw it into your adventure, you'll end up with a monster that just pisses your PCs off...
narukagami 04-18-06, 02:48 PM	Ugh, HE'S TALKING ABOUT GRIDS AND BATTLEMATS NOT THE MESSAGE BOARD. LARGE CAPITAL LETTERS GET PEOPLE'S ATTENTION. Anyway, I find the grid to be handy tool sometimes, it makes it easier to plot out who is doing what where without having to take time measuring and calculating. Plus almost all the combat rules are written assuming you are using a grid. The downside is, like Chrono Nexus says, its pretty unrealistic and overcomplicates alot of spread effects. Hex grids may seem more realistic, but they have effects on combat that seem insignifigant but are big impactors, mainly they reduce your threatened area (from like 8 squares to about 6 hexs, without reach).