Quote from: Jam The MF on August 11, 2023, 02:09:18 PMEveryone I know, believes in something.

I mean, yeah, unless you know people that are in an asylum, gibbering in a corner, then everyone 'believes' certain things. But it's so generic a statement as to mean nothing.

Yes I believe in the scientific method. I believe the sun will rise tomorrow, that if I jump from a building, gravity will pancake me in to the ground. So by that standard, yes, everyone 'believes in something.'

Or are you saying that your particular extended family and friend group is full of believers in unproveable supernatural powers?

Someone can believe that God made something happen, or that magical powers revealed a hidden truth, and that's fine, freedom of religion and all that. But expecting others to believe is the evidentiary equivalent of "trust me, Bro."

Reminds me of the Heinlein quote:


WotC is currently experiencing "bad luck." They'll come up with all kinds of excuses for why, but they'll likely never hit upon the truth. They're too blinded by woke ideology. And while I can't say for sure why other people have stopped playing D&D, I know why I did, and it had nothing to do with the economy, 6E, or anything else WotC's know-nothing, DEI-fearing corporate stooges are likely to suggest. It was politics. I simply will not support an evil company that hates me for my race and sex.

Quote from: Horace on August 11, 2023, 11:00:11 PMI simply will not support an evil company that hates me for my race and sex.

Come now, WOTC are virtuous and inclusive, they love everyone.

Whether you're Female, Bigoted, or Intersex. Black, Brown or Evil. Everyone is welcome!

Quote from: Thor's Nads on August 11, 2023, 08:29:51 PM

Quote from: Scooter on August 11, 2023, 06:50:36 PM
The actual GAME D&D died with 2nd Edition.  Nothing produced by WotC has been anything but, "in name only".

That is a pretty harsh assessment.

Not really.  3.x doesn't have the feel and flavor (forget mechanics) of the earlier games.  MUCH more crunch oriented.  Tried to equalize class power (which is beyond stupid as a goal). Moving towards builds rather than role playing. Accurate, not harsh at all.

Quote from: Scooter on August 11, 2023, 11:33:53 PM
Tried to equalize class power (which is beyond stupid as a goal).

Hard disagree. I won't get in to a 76 page "nu uh!/yu huh!" war about it, you think it's dumb, I applaud it. You think that makes me wrong, I think you're wrong.

So this post just exists to mark that your personal opinion on game design, and how games 'should be' is subjective, not objective.

Quote from: Grognard GM on August 11, 2023, 11:49:33 PM

So this post just exists to mark that your personal opinion on game design, and how games 'should be' is subjective, not objective.

What!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?  OMFG I didn't know that.   

Thanks Captain obvious.  Also, the sun is hot, the moon orbiting the Earth, et al.

Quote from: Scooter on August 12, 2023, 12:13:17 AM
What!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?  OMFG I didn't know that.   

Thanks Captain obvious.  Also, the sun is hot, the moon orbiting the Earth, et al.

Well since you show a tendency for expressing personal opinions as facts, I thought it was worth a mention. See, you even picked up some astronomical knowledge as a bonus.

And at no extra charge!

At 10:30ish you mention that "Strixhaven went up (in sales) for the same reason Spelljammer went up" or something similar.  You then attribute that to it being an established setting with fans.

I will offer an alternate or additional explanation:  Strixhaven has an *unusual amount of crunch* in it.  There's some things that that make it sound like the spells and other details are meant for restriction to the setting (there's even a feat or background or something that has, as a perk, access to some of the spells, probably originally written for players in other campaigns).  But, in the final product, there's no such restriction.  While I don't think it's legal in their adventure's league (most campaign type things are not), it's generally considered part of the "smooth everything together and assume it's all legal" set of things.

The most notorious spell here is Silvery Barbs, a 1st level spell that uses a reaction.  Like Shield and Counterspell, this then is a tool for serious time-economy.  Unlike those two, it's really good, with the main effect of forcing them to "reroll and use the lower roll".  This is distinct from disadvantage, so if the target had advantage, rolled twice and got a good roll from the highest and you used this, he'll be rolling a d20 and using the lower one- turning the end result into not much better than disadvantage, statistically.  And of course, your whole team can do this stunt.  So you throw a spell at them that they *really* want to pass, they pass it, and you (and possibly another caster on your team) begin throwing this at them, and if at any point they fail, that's it- they failed, or they burn a legendary resistance.  It also buffs allies at the same time. 

There are cool spells in there too, and other player options.  But when something contains really powerful player options, or even just one, it's gonna drive sales... or at least that's my take.

Quote from: Grognard GM on August 11, 2023, 10:45:08 PM

Quote from: Jam The MF on August 11, 2023, 02:09:18 PMEveryone I know, believes in something.

I mean, yeah, unless you know people that are in an asylum, gibbering in a corner, then everyone 'believes' certain things. But it's so generic a statement as to mean nothing.

Yes I believe in the scientific method. I believe the sun will rise tomorrow, that if I jump from a building, gravity will pancake me in to the ground. So by that standard, yes, everyone 'believes in something.'

Or are you saying that your particular extended family and friend group is full of believers in unproveable supernatural powers?

Someone can believe that God made something happen, or that magical powers revealed a hidden truth, and that's fine, freedom of religion and all that. But expecting others to believe is the evidentiary equivalent of "trust me, Bro."

Scientists say, that the Bumblebee is too heavy to fly; but it flies anyway.

Quote from: Jam The MF on August 12, 2023, 01:37:55 AM
Scientists say, that the Bumblebee is too heavy to fly; but it flies anyway.

Scientists have had an explanation for a decent amount of time about how bumblebees fly.  There were many decades when they did not, however.
https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.0506590102

Quote from: Jam The MF on August 12, 2023, 01:37:55 AM
Scientists say, that the Bumblebee is too heavy to fly; but it flies anyway.

Scientists don't say that... morons who have never studied bumblebee flight say that.

Short answer: unlike birds, who only generate lift on the downstroke, bees generate lift on both the downstroke and "upstroke" (in quotes because it's actually another downstroke).

Quote from: Scooter on August 11, 2023, 11:33:53 PM3.x [...] Tried to equalize class power (which is beyond stupid as a goal). [...] Accurate, not harsh at all.

Also, NO edition of D&D has particularly supported "role-playing". That has always been up to the play group, which is technically true of every TTRPG. Except that D&D has always bound you to class like a straitjacket with limited customizability, which limits the range of expression that characters have available in terms of what they can accomplish in life in ways that are unrealistic and restrict the range of roles you can potentially play.

Look on the bright side. WotC losing their obscene market dominance is an opportunity for every other producer of ttrpgs to gain new customers! So long as no other single game rises to replace them.

Quote from: Grognard GM on August 12, 2023, 12:47:26 AM

Quote from: Scooter on August 12, 2023, 12:13:17 AM
What!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?  OMFG I didn't know that.   

Thanks Captain obvious.  Also, the sun is hot, the moon orbiting the Earth, et al.

Well since you show a tendency for expressing personal opinions as facts,

That is your SUBJECTIVE opinion.  Not fact. Petard hoist away.

Quote from: Scooter on August 12, 2023, 10:13:18 AM

Quote from: Grognard GM on August 12, 2023, 12:47:26 AM

Quote from: Scooter on August 12, 2023, 12:13:17 AM
What!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?  OMFG I didn't know that.   

Thanks Captain obvious.  Also, the sun is hot, the moon orbiting the Earth, et al.

Well since you show a tendency for expressing personal opinions as facts,

That is your SUBJECTIVE opinion.  Not fact. Petard hoist away.

I'd take the time to explain how observable facts aren't actually subjective, but I know you're still busy learning about bumblebees.