D&D Play Spotlight - Warm Up Your Winter with D&D! - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

D&D Play Spotlight - Warm Up Your Winter with D&D!

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
MaximumHavoc
Jan 17, 2011 20:28:32 D&D Play Spotlight - Warm Up Your Winter with D&D!
by Chris Tulach

D&D Experience is just around the corner. Here's why you should be there!

Talk about this Report here.

#2
clem
Jan 18, 2011 13:00:06 Suprised to see absolutely no mention of Living Forgotten Realms at DDXP. I realize that it's no longer WotC's darling for public play, but why go out of the way to deemphasize what could be another driving factor to attend? On its own it's not going to draw players away from Encounters.

On the topic of Encounters, I find the whole "keeping it straightforward" angle as a justification for using Essentials-only characters to be disingenuous. I don't have a problem with restricting character creation sources, but just go ahead and admit that it's to emphasize your new line of books.
#3
Alphastream
Jan 18, 2011 15:47:34 There is a mention of it: "And for all the campaigners out there, D&D Experience offers plenty of Living Forgotten Realms games (including another battle interactive "Swarm of Chaos")". It would be nice to see more LFR mentions in the various organized play articles, however. For example, the story lines for these adventures are really cool! And the start of Epic play should have been mentioned - especially since the adventure is really awesome (I playtested it). I think D&D fans should be aware that LFR is providing some absolutely incredible D&D gaming at this convention. Also, the average D&D player may not have any clue what a battle interactive is and how incredible an experience one can be.

On the Encounters side, I am not a big fan of Essentials only going forward. Essentials pregens and the overall emphasis on Essentials should be sufficient to keep it simple for new players and DMs. What happens is that new players (or old AD&D or previous-E players) start with Essentials and then see all these great books on the game store shelves, such as PH3. Then they find they can't use that material. And yet, Essentials is supposed to be fully compatible with other 4E. It is very confusing for players and I hope future seasons will allow all 4E content.

I find it very interesting that new and casual players will start at level 1 instead of adjusting upwards. That would have been really bad in either the Undermountain or Dark Sun Encounters seasons (I didn't DM the last one). New players needed that level bump to stay on equal footing and to keep their PCs alive! I did not see new players have trouble with the levels. If WotC would provide updated level-bumped pregens then the new/casual players could easily keep up. In general, we are talking about adding 1-2 powers and is seldom noticeable or a problem. The increase in HPs, skills, attack, and defenses are noticeable and important.

It is very cool to see DMs getting more rewards for their DMing. This has been a really long season, even if well regarded by most DMs and players. The promo Fortune Cards may be a pretty strong reward. I hope DMs and players both get those (not just the players).

The treasure distribution is interesting. Reactions?
#4
clem
Jan 18, 2011 16:15:36
There is a mention of it: "And for all the campaigners out there, D&D Experience offers plenty of Living Forgotten Realms games (including another battle interactive "Swarm of Chaos")". It would be nice to see more LFR mentions in the various organized play articles, however. For example, the story lines for these adventures are really cool! And the start of Epic play should have been mentioned - especially since the adventure is really awesome (I playtested it). I think D&D fans should be aware that LFR is providing some absolutely incredible D&D gaming at this convention. Also, the average D&D player may not have any clue what a battle interactive is and how incredible an experience one can be.

You're right -- I guess I skimmed the Exclusive Games header as I normally associate that with RPGA classic style adventures. Still, a pretty anemic treatment of the campaign, and I agree that the start of epic tier play should have been called out.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 MaximumHavoc Jan 17, 2011 20:28:32	D&D Play Spotlight - Warm Up Your Winter with D&D! by Chris Tulach D&D Experience is just around the corner. Here's why you should be there! Talk about this Report here.
#2 clem Jan 18, 2011 13:00:06	Suprised to see absolutely no mention of Living Forgotten Realms at DDXP. I realize that it's no longer WotC's darling for public play, but why go out of the way to deemphasize what could be another driving factor to attend? On its own it's not going to draw players away from Encounters. On the topic of Encounters, I find the whole "keeping it straightforward" angle as a justification for using Essentials-only characters to be disingenuous. I don't have a problem with restricting character creation sources, but just go ahead and admit that it's to emphasize your new line of books.
#3 Alphastream Jan 18, 2011 15:47:34	There is a mention of it: "And for all the campaigners out there, D&D Experience offers plenty of Living Forgotten Realms games (including another battle interactive "Swarm of Chaos")". It would be nice to see more LFR mentions in the various organized play articles, however. For example, the story lines for these adventures are really cool! And the start of Epic play should have been mentioned - especially since the adventure is really awesome (I playtested it). I think D&D fans should be aware that LFR is providing some absolutely incredible D&D gaming at this convention. Also, the average D&D player may not have any clue what a battle interactive is and how incredible an experience one can be. On the Encounters side, I am not a big fan of Essentials only going forward. Essentials pregens and the overall emphasis on Essentials should be sufficient to keep it simple for new players and DMs. What happens is that new players (or old AD&D or previous-E players) start with Essentials and then see all these great books on the game store shelves, such as PH3. Then they find they can't use that material. And yet, Essentials is supposed to be fully compatible with other 4E. It is very confusing for players and I hope future seasons will allow all 4E content. I find it very interesting that new and casual players will start at level 1 instead of adjusting upwards. That would have been really bad in either the Undermountain or Dark Sun Encounters seasons (I didn't DM the last one). New players needed that level bump to stay on equal footing and to keep their PCs alive! I did not see new players have trouble with the levels. If WotC would provide updated level-bumped pregens then the new/casual players could easily keep up. In general, we are talking about adding 1-2 powers and is seldom noticeable or a problem. The increase in HPs, skills, attack, and defenses are noticeable and important. It is very cool to see DMs getting more rewards for their DMing. This has been a really long season, even if well regarded by most DMs and players. The promo Fortune Cards may be a pretty strong reward. I hope DMs and players both get those (not just the players). The treasure distribution is interesting. Reactions?
#4 clem Jan 18, 2011 16:15:36	There is a mention of it: "And for all the campaigners out there, D&D Experience offers plenty of Living Forgotten Realms games (including another battle interactive "Swarm of Chaos")". It would be nice to see more LFR mentions in the various organized play articles, however. For example, the story lines for these adventures are really cool! And the start of Epic play should have been mentioned - especially since the adventure is really awesome (I playtested it). I think D&D fans should be aware that LFR is providing some absolutely incredible D&D gaming at this convention. Also, the average D&D player may not have any clue what a battle interactive is and how incredible an experience one can be. You're right -- I guess I skimmed the Exclusive Games header as I normally associate that with RPGA classic style adventures. Still, a pretty anemic treatment of the campaign, and I agree that the start of epic tier play should have been called out.