Dirty pool in mods. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Dirty pool in mods. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Jesse Heinig
06-04-07, 08:24 PM I'm getting pretty tired of seeing RPGA mods of all kinds with dirty pool in them - encounters that are set up to guarantee failure on the parts of the party. Without giving away specifics, I'll just say that opponents who are six levels above the party, enemies that have regeneration + immunity to nonlethal damage, and events that occur where relevant PC skill checks are completely waived for no reason all promote frustration, not fun.
C'mon guys. Mods should be challenging, not "impossible unless your party is specifically twinked in a particular way and can handle having the rules superseded in arbitrary ways."
What's driving writers to do this to their mods?
lseelba
06-05-07, 04:01 AM I'm getting pretty tired of seeing RPGA mods of all kinds with dirty pool in them - encounters that are set up to guarantee failure on the parts of the party. Without giving away specifics, I'll just say that opponents who are six levels above the party, enemies that have regeneration + immunity to nonlethal damage, and events that occur where relevant PC skill checks are completely waived for no reason all promote frustration, not fun.
C'mon guys. Mods should be challenging, not "impossible unless your party is specifically twinked in a particular way and can handle having the rules superseded in arbitrary ways."
What's driving writers to do this to their mods?

Don't attack NPC's that are six levels higher than you. Just because an NPC is in a mod, doesn't mean you can kill him/her.

Also, if you are being attacked by the NPC's that are six levels higher than you for no reason, then your DM is to blame, not the mod author's.
Jesse Heinig
06-05-07, 06:55 AM I make a habit of acquiring and reading mods after playing them (since I usually turn around and run them for my friends), and believe me, it wasn't the DM's fault.
smerwin29
06-05-07, 07:39 AM Well, I am assuming you sent a PM to the appropriate Factionmaster with your concerns. That is really the best (and only appropriate) avenue for concerns about active adventures.

Thanks,

Shawn
Jesse Heinig
06-05-07, 02:29 PM Doesn't seem to get any reply.

Well, I am assuming you sent a PM to the appropriate Factionmaster with your concerns. That is really the best (and only appropriate) avenue for concerns about active adventures.

Thanks,

Shawn
smerwin29
06-05-07, 02:57 PM As long as you sent it, that is the important thing. I'm sure your concerns will be reviewed and given the attention they merit.

Thanks,

Shawn
Jesse Heinig
06-05-07, 03:07 PM I do try to provide constructive feedback to RPGA events. I just don't generally hear back.

As long as you sent it, that is the important thing. I'm sure your concerns will be reviewed and given the attention they merit.

Thanks,

Shawn
pedr
06-05-07, 03:30 PM Random thought:

Has anyone considered hosting a Xen'drik Expeditions module database using the turbine engine, like nyrond.org does for Living Greyhawk?

That allows publicly viewable 'Marks out of 5' for each module as well as private comments to the module author and campaign administrators. It also allows players to rate GMs.
smerwin29
06-05-07, 04:36 PM I do not know of one, nor do I know of anyone who has considered it. As a writer of adventures, I don't consider it a very useful tool. For me, it is at best a very unreliable sampling of the play experience. And I say this as someone who usually gets fairly decent "grades" for my LG stuff, so it isn't sour grapes. :D

The most useful tool for me is direct feedback from DMs who have run the adventures mutliple times. They have read the adventure. They have seen it work (or not work) with several types of player and PC combinations. They know where the breakdowns and disconnects happen, where things are too easy or too tough, etc.

Of course, I never dismiss feedback offhand from any source. But there is certainly helpful feedback and not-so-helpful feedback, and one of the aspects of improving is to learn quickly which is which, and knowing who to rely on for the good stuff, whether it is constructive, praiseful, or scathing. And I have taught creative writing in a workshop environment, so I have gotten pretty good at telling one kind from another.

So like I mentioned above, if you have feedback about any adventure, contact the Factionmaster privately. You may or may not get a response, but I know that all of us take our adventures seriously, and no feedback is wasted.

Shawn
Jesse Heinig
06-05-07, 04:48 PM In case you were curious, it wasn't one of your mods. My local group hasn't played any Crimson Codex.

I do not know of one, nor do I know of anyone who has considered it. As a writer of adventures, I don't consider it a very useful tool. For me, it is at best a very unreliable sampling of the play experience. And I say this as someone who usually gets fairly decent "grades" for my LG stuff, so it isn't sour grapes. :D

The most useful tool for me is direct feedback from DMs who have run the adventures mutliple times. They have read the adventure. They have seen it work (or not work) with several types of player and PC combinations. They know where the breakdowns and disconnects happen, where things are too easy or too tough, etc.

Of course, I never dismiss feedback offhand from any source. But there is certainly helpful feedback and not-so-helpful feedback, and one of the aspects of improving is to learn quickly which is which, and knowing who to rely on for the good stuff, whether it is constructive, praiseful, or scathing. And I have taught creative writing in a workshop environment, so I have gotten pretty good at telling one kind from another.

So like I mentioned above, if you have feedback about any adventure, contact the Factionmaster privately. You may or may not get a response, but I know that all of us take our adventures seriously, and no feedback is wasted.

Shawn
Harliquinn
06-05-07, 06:04 PM In case you were curious, it wasn't one of your mods. My local group hasn't played any Crimson Codex.

For shame! Faestir Lorsvek!!
smerwin29
06-05-07, 07:58 PM In case you were curious, it wasn't one of your mods. My local group hasn't played any Crimson Codex.

I wasn't really worried about it, as I know the three people who play Crimson Codex adventures personally. And a fine bunch they are too! :pint:
Jesse Heinig
06-05-07, 08:18 PM Don't get me wrong, I'd like to play CC, but the rest of the group really digs Blackwheel and Cabal, so it never runs unless there's a "spare" weekend with nothing else to play. Since I generally only run *after* I've played a mod, this means that I don't get to play 'em so I don't get to run 'em.

I wasn't really worried about it, as I know the three people who play Crimson Codex adventures personally. And a fine bunch they are too! :pint:
Timlagor
06-05-07, 08:55 PM I wasn't really worried about it, as I know the three people who play Crimson Codex adventures personally. And a fine bunch they are too! :pint:

Shame they're running illegal tables.
lordtiberiusfoxx
06-05-07, 09:36 PM I wasn't really worried about it, as I know the three people who play Crimson Codex adventures personally. And a fine bunch they are too! :pint:

Much more than three, unless you're coming to Reno in disguise.:incog: I even switched factions with another DM so that I could solve mad puzzles!
Sieylianna
06-08-07, 06:46 PM Shame they're running illegal tables.

Their lizard (this is the Crimson Codex) has an RPGA card. :D

Ed
Jesse Heinig
06-08-07, 06:50 PM Playing a spellscale? He should try to reach a bit more with his characters. Helps create more atmosphere.

Their lizard (this is the Crimson Codex) has an RPGA card. :D

Ed

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Jesse Heinig 06-04-07, 08:24 PM	I'm getting pretty tired of seeing RPGA mods of all kinds with dirty pool in them - encounters that are set up to guarantee failure on the parts of the party. Without giving away specifics, I'll just say that opponents who are six levels above the party, enemies that have regeneration + immunity to nonlethal damage, and events that occur where relevant PC skill checks are completely waived for no reason all promote frustration, not fun. C'mon guys. Mods should be challenging, not "impossible unless your party is specifically twinked in a particular way and can handle having the rules superseded in arbitrary ways." What's driving writers to do this to their mods?
lseelba 06-05-07, 04:01 AM	I'm getting pretty tired of seeing RPGA mods of all kinds with dirty pool in them - encounters that are set up to guarantee failure on the parts of the party. Without giving away specifics, I'll just say that opponents who are six levels above the party, enemies that have regeneration + immunity to nonlethal damage, and events that occur where relevant PC skill checks are completely waived for no reason all promote frustration, not fun. C'mon guys. Mods should be challenging, not "impossible unless your party is specifically twinked in a particular way and can handle having the rules superseded in arbitrary ways." What's driving writers to do this to their mods? Don't attack NPC's that are six levels higher than you. Just because an NPC is in a mod, doesn't mean you can kill him/her. Also, if you are being attacked by the NPC's that are six levels higher than you for no reason, then your DM is to blame, not the mod author's.
Jesse Heinig 06-05-07, 06:55 AM	I make a habit of acquiring and reading mods after playing them (since I usually turn around and run them for my friends), and believe me, it wasn't the DM's fault.
smerwin29 06-05-07, 07:39 AM	Well, I am assuming you sent a PM to the appropriate Factionmaster with your concerns. That is really the best (and only appropriate) avenue for concerns about active adventures. Thanks, Shawn
Jesse Heinig 06-05-07, 02:29 PM	Doesn't seem to get any reply. Well, I am assuming you sent a PM to the appropriate Factionmaster with your concerns. That is really the best (and only appropriate) avenue for concerns about active adventures. Thanks, Shawn
smerwin29 06-05-07, 02:57 PM	As long as you sent it, that is the important thing. I'm sure your concerns will be reviewed and given the attention they merit. Thanks, Shawn
Jesse Heinig 06-05-07, 03:07 PM	I do try to provide constructive feedback to RPGA events. I just don't generally hear back. As long as you sent it, that is the important thing. I'm sure your concerns will be reviewed and given the attention they merit. Thanks, Shawn
pedr 06-05-07, 03:30 PM	Random thought: Has anyone considered hosting a Xen'drik Expeditions module database using the turbine engine, like nyrond.org does for Living Greyhawk? That allows publicly viewable 'Marks out of 5' for each module as well as private comments to the module author and campaign administrators. It also allows players to rate GMs.
smerwin29 06-05-07, 04:36 PM	I do not know of one, nor do I know of anyone who has considered it. As a writer of adventures, I don't consider it a very useful tool. For me, it is at best a very unreliable sampling of the play experience. And I say this as someone who usually gets fairly decent "grades" for my LG stuff, so it isn't sour grapes. :D The most useful tool for me is direct feedback from DMs who have run the adventures mutliple times. They have read the adventure. They have seen it work (or not work) with several types of player and PC combinations. They know where the breakdowns and disconnects happen, where things are too easy or too tough, etc. Of course, I never dismiss feedback offhand from any source. But there is certainly helpful feedback and not-so-helpful feedback, and one of the aspects of improving is to learn quickly which is which, and knowing who to rely on for the good stuff, whether it is constructive, praiseful, or scathing. And I have taught creative writing in a workshop environment, so I have gotten pretty good at telling one kind from another. So like I mentioned above, if you have feedback about any adventure, contact the Factionmaster privately. You may or may not get a response, but I know that all of us take our adventures seriously, and no feedback is wasted. Shawn
Jesse Heinig 06-05-07, 04:48 PM	In case you were curious, it wasn't one of your mods. My local group hasn't played any Crimson Codex. I do not know of one, nor do I know of anyone who has considered it. As a writer of adventures, I don't consider it a very useful tool. For me, it is at best a very unreliable sampling of the play experience. And I say this as someone who usually gets fairly decent "grades" for my LG stuff, so it isn't sour grapes. :D The most useful tool for me is direct feedback from DMs who have run the adventures mutliple times. They have read the adventure. They have seen it work (or not work) with several types of player and PC combinations. They know where the breakdowns and disconnects happen, where things are too easy or too tough, etc. Of course, I never dismiss feedback offhand from any source. But there is certainly helpful feedback and not-so-helpful feedback, and one of the aspects of improving is to learn quickly which is which, and knowing who to rely on for the good stuff, whether it is constructive, praiseful, or scathing. And I have taught creative writing in a workshop environment, so I have gotten pretty good at telling one kind from another. So like I mentioned above, if you have feedback about any adventure, contact the Factionmaster privately. You may or may not get a response, but I know that all of us take our adventures seriously, and no feedback is wasted. Shawn
Harliquinn 06-05-07, 06:04 PM	In case you were curious, it wasn't one of your mods. My local group hasn't played any Crimson Codex. For shame! Faestir Lorsvek!!
smerwin29 06-05-07, 07:58 PM	In case you were curious, it wasn't one of your mods. My local group hasn't played any Crimson Codex. I wasn't really worried about it, as I know the three people who play Crimson Codex adventures personally. And a fine bunch they are too! :pint:
Jesse Heinig 06-05-07, 08:18 PM	Don't get me wrong, I'd like to play CC, but the rest of the group really digs Blackwheel and Cabal, so it never runs unless there's a "spare" weekend with nothing else to play. Since I generally only run after I've played a mod, this means that I don't get to play 'em so I don't get to run 'em. I wasn't really worried about it, as I know the three people who play Crimson Codex adventures personally. And a fine bunch they are too! :pint:
Timlagor 06-05-07, 08:55 PM	I wasn't really worried about it, as I know the three people who play Crimson Codex adventures personally. And a fine bunch they are too! :pint: Shame they're running illegal tables.
lordtiberiusfoxx 06-05-07, 09:36 PM	I wasn't really worried about it, as I know the three people who play Crimson Codex adventures personally. And a fine bunch they are too! :pint: Much more than three, unless you're coming to Reno in disguise.:incog: I even switched factions with another DM so that I could solve mad puzzles!
Sieylianna 06-08-07, 06:46 PM	Shame they're running illegal tables. Their lizard (this is the Crimson Codex) has an RPGA card. :D Ed
Jesse Heinig 06-08-07, 06:50 PM	Playing a spellscale? He should try to reach a bit more with his characters. Helps create more atmosphere. Their lizard (this is the Crimson Codex) has an RPGA card. :D Ed