Updating to 4th ed - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Updating to 4th ed

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
pholtus
Feb 12, 2009 9:32:10 I'm sure this has been asked/ talked about already so if someone can point me to the thread. Seems that I rolled a 1

Updating Horror checks and the like for 4th ed.

Thanks
#2
The_Jester
Feb 13, 2009 10:10:39 On the Fraternity of Shadows site:

http://www.fraternityofshadows.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=5314

They're hosted off-site (for now).
#3
pholtus
Feb 13, 2009 15:12:23
On the Fraternity of Shadows site:

http://www.fraternityofshadows.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=5314

They're hosted off-site (for now).

Hey Guy

THANKS ! for the link. I'll have to check it out when I'm off work
#4
pholtus
Feb 14, 2009 9:44:25 Again thanks for the link. Couple questions.

What version did you use to make this? I was wondering because if it was the 3rd ed version why did you decided not to use the outcast ratings, and class weakness? I'm guessing that you had design reasons not to.
#5
ishan_wh
Feb 14, 2009 10:59:09 Hey everybody

Are there gonna be especific Ravenloft core classes? hope there is a witch hunter hehehe

Eager to see what they come up with

Now that the Count is back in 4E I think Ravenloft its taking its course with a good wind
#6
The_Jester
Feb 18, 2009 6:20:56
Are there gonna be especific Ravenloft core classes? hope there is a witch hunter

Eager to see what they come up with

Now that the Count is back in 4E I think Ravenloft its taking its course with a good wind

It remains to be seen, but it's unlikely we'll get a full published book.

What version did you use to make this? I was wondering because if it was the 3rd ed version why did you decided not to use the outcast ratings, and class weakness? I'm guessing that you had design reasons not to.

2nd and 3rd.

4e really doesn't lend itself to any form of weakness or inherent penalty to PCs.
There are no disadvantages to classes and races and even backgrounds only provide penalties. Adding a mechanic that only penalized people for playing a certain class or race seemed contrary to the design goals of the new edition.

Outcast rating can be handled strictly through role-playing.

Class weaknesses... honestly, I felt they were tacked-on in the 3.5 Ravenloft book and unnecessary.

Also, I wanted as few changes as possible. Referring to a hand-out or sheet every time you use a power is awkward at best.
#7
Alas
Mar 10, 2009 13:54:35 I loved Ravenloft back when it came out, and even got to run a couple games in it before my players were distracted by Spelljammer. I missed out on the 3rd ed conversions for it, but 4th ed's Shadowfell rekindled my interest in the old domains of dread, and has me wondering how I might run a session or two there. Just some extemporaneous ideas:

I'd bring in a version of the Dread game's Jenga mechanic. Set up a regular Jenga tower on the table, and every time a character performs a certain type of action (an attack with the Necrotic keyword, for example), remove a block. If the tower falls, bad things happen.
To invoke that sort of horror-movie tension, I'd probably play around with the way short and long rests work. I'm not sure how, exactly, but the goal of the change would be to make the party feel like they can't catch their breath.
Along the same lines, there's got to be some way to repurpose healing surges, milestones, and action points for the horror tropes. Not quite sure how, but their influence on the pacing of the action seems key to setting the tone.
Open Grave presented an outline for running a zombie siege as a skill challenge. Maybe something similar could be done for fighting the slow onset of lycanthropy/vampirism (like Mina Harker).
Isolation is a key element of horror, but splitting up the party is a tough prospect in D&D-- experienced players know better, and who wants to wait through another person's solo? A possible compromise: now and then, a character wanders off on their own, and the other players get to play the monsters. Everybody gets XP for the encounter, though in different proportions based on the outcome.
No idea how this would work, but the phrase "characters as minions" came to me while typing all this up. That seems like the sort of context-specific house rule that could really put the party on edge-- if a monster hits you, it will down you.

Just some thoughts! I originally posted these over at ENWorld, but I honestly spend more time here.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 pholtus Feb 12, 2009 9:32:10	I'm sure this has been asked/ talked about already so if someone can point me to the thread. Seems that I rolled a 1 Updating Horror checks and the like for 4th ed. Thanks
#2 The_Jester Feb 13, 2009 10:10:39	On the Fraternity of Shadows site: http://www.fraternityofshadows.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=5314 They're hosted off-site (for now).
#3 pholtus Feb 13, 2009 15:12:23	On the Fraternity of Shadows site: http://www.fraternityofshadows.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=5314 They're hosted off-site (for now). Hey Guy THANKS ! for the link. I'll have to check it out when I'm off work
#4 pholtus Feb 14, 2009 9:44:25	Again thanks for the link. Couple questions. What version did you use to make this? I was wondering because if it was the 3rd ed version why did you decided not to use the outcast ratings, and class weakness? I'm guessing that you had design reasons not to.
#5 ishan_wh Feb 14, 2009 10:59:09	Hey everybody Are there gonna be especific Ravenloft core classes? hope there is a witch hunter hehehe Eager to see what they come up with Now that the Count is back in 4E I think Ravenloft its taking its course with a good wind
#6 The_Jester Feb 18, 2009 6:20:56	Are there gonna be especific Ravenloft core classes? hope there is a witch hunter Eager to see what they come up with Now that the Count is back in 4E I think Ravenloft its taking its course with a good wind It remains to be seen, but it's unlikely we'll get a full published book. What version did you use to make this? I was wondering because if it was the 3rd ed version why did you decided not to use the outcast ratings, and class weakness? I'm guessing that you had design reasons not to. 2nd and 3rd. 4e really doesn't lend itself to any form of weakness or inherent penalty to PCs. There are no disadvantages to classes and races and even backgrounds only provide penalties. Adding a mechanic that only penalized people for playing a certain class or race seemed contrary to the design goals of the new edition. Outcast rating can be handled strictly through role-playing. Class weaknesses... honestly, I felt they were tacked-on in the 3.5 Ravenloft book and unnecessary. Also, I wanted as few changes as possible. Referring to a hand-out or sheet every time you use a power is awkward at best.
#7 Alas Mar 10, 2009 13:54:35	I loved Ravenloft back when it came out, and even got to run a couple games in it before my players were distracted by Spelljammer. I missed out on the 3rd ed conversions for it, but 4th ed's Shadowfell rekindled my interest in the old domains of dread, and has me wondering how I might run a session or two there. Just some extemporaneous ideas: I'd bring in a version of the Dread game's Jenga mechanic. Set up a regular Jenga tower on the table, and every time a character performs a certain type of action (an attack with the Necrotic keyword, for example), remove a block. If the tower falls, bad things happen. To invoke that sort of horror-movie tension, I'd probably play around with the way short and long rests work. I'm not sure how, exactly, but the goal of the change would be to make the party feel like they can't catch their breath. Along the same lines, there's got to be some way to repurpose healing surges, milestones, and action points for the horror tropes. Not quite sure how, but their influence on the pacing of the action seems key to setting the tone. Open Grave presented an outline for running a zombie siege as a skill challenge. Maybe something similar could be done for fighting the slow onset of lycanthropy/vampirism (like Mina Harker). Isolation is a key element of horror, but splitting up the party is a tough prospect in D&D-- experienced players know better, and who wants to wait through another person's solo? A possible compromise: now and then, a character wanders off on their own, and the other players get to play the monsters. Everybody gets XP for the encounter, though in different proportions based on the outcome. No idea how this would work, but the phrase "characters as minions" came to me while typing all this up. That seems like the sort of context-specific house rule that could really put the party on edge-- if a monster hits you, it will down you. Just some thoughts! I originally posted these over at ENWorld, but I honestly spend more time here.