Quote from: Imperator;523790Whores are the best in any aspect of life

*curtsies* I do my best.

Mearls doesn't use all the D&D rules.

http://wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x=dnd/4ll/20120326

(Excerpts).

QuoteI'll let you in on a secret. I DM'ed a year-long Eberron campaign in 3E and I never once used the rules for treasure or wealth by level. I gave out stuff that seemed cool and appropriate, and the game worked fine. I used the challenge rating system as a starting point, but modified stuff to fit my group.

- Mearls' complete repudiation of the 4E style roles for classes.  (Wonder whose idea it was originally for the 4E roles?)

QuoteCharacter Roles: This one is bound to be controversial, but I don't think roles belong in D&D as specific, mechanical elements that we design toward. Instead, I think roles are a great tool to help players focus on how they want to play a character. Veteran players should be free to create the character they want, however they want, instead of feeling that they must take on a job to "help" the party.

QuoteI'll admit that I have no use for roles. I like creating a character based on an image in my head, not a to-do list. I want roles to take the form of advice to help players learn the game, not a straitjacket that works against the freedom and flexibility offered by RPGs.

I don't think that column's perfect, far from it. I could take it apart and everything. But it seems very obvious that Mike is trying to get it. For instance, it's not so much a matter of whether the game provides advice or structures to play the game (I think it should provide those tools), but it is the MANNER and PRESENTATION of this advice that matters.

For instance, the CR/EL guidelines in 3.0. It was presented as guidelines. An inaccurate approximation that is there as a tool to eyeball the effect of this or that encounter on the party and the resources it might deplete from there. But somehow, that thing was understood as a RULE. It HAD to be that way, ESPECIALLY in printed modules, or ELSE, you as a publisher, and later DM, were just "doing it wrong". And then, the fact that the CR/EL approximation was well, an approximation was branded WRONG. It needs to be PERFECTLY ACCURATE ALWAYS.

What the fuck happened, for God's sakes?

What can be done by the game in its presentation to avoid that scenario again?

QuoteWhat the fuck happened, for God's sakes?

What can be done by the game in its presentation to avoid that scenario again?

De-codify the rules.  3e was so meticulous in enumerating rules that it created certain expectations of how the game would play, especially once feats entered gameplay.  Wealth-by-level was the shit cherry atop the crap sundae.

Quote from: ggroy;523879Mearls' complete repudiation of the 4E style roles for classes.  (Wonder whose idea it was originally for the 4E roles?)

Jesus Wept, finally getting some sanity out of that place.  Maybe they fired a bean-counter, focus-grouper or two.

Quote from: B.T.;523890De-codify the rules.  3e was so meticulous in enumerating rules that it created certain expectations of how the game would play, especially once feats entered gameplay.  Wealth-by-level was the shit cherry atop the crap sundae.

Cry me a river, bitch.

Sorry, forgot that the rules aren't broken because the GM can change them.  Carry on, then.

Quote from: CRKrueger;523891Jesus Wept, finally getting some sanity out of that place.  Maybe they fired a bean-counter, focus-grouper or two.

Or maybe they didn't, and this is their new tune?

"The old grey mare - she ain't what she used to be, ain't what the used to be, ain't what she used to be."

Quote from: B.T.;523890De-codify the rules.  3e was so meticulous in enumerating rules that it created certain expectations of how the game would play, especially once feats entered gameplay.  Wealth-by-level was the shit cherry atop the crap sundae.

The only problem with wealth-by-level guidelines is that there are idiots who think that "guideline = unbreakable rule".

You're the problem here.

No, the problem is rules lawyers are more likely to have that table memorized than DM's, and bitch incessantly about it.

Quote from: Novastar;524038No, the problem is rules lawyers are more likely to have that table memorized than DM's, and bitch incessantly about it.

Simple solution: eject rules lawyers from your game. I haven't allowed them in my games since the late 1970s. No one has ever missed them.

Quote from: Novastar;524038No, the problem is rules lawyers are more likely to have that table memorized than DM's, and bitch incessantly about it.

The equivalent problem back in the day, were the players who memorized almost all the stats and abilities of monsters from monster manual 1.

Quote from: ggroy;524053The equivalent problem back in the day, were the players who memorized almost all the stats and abilities of monsters from monster manual 1.

Just like the WBL tell your prospective players up front that you reserve the right to run with whatever alterations to the wbl you see fit to the game being run. Also tell them monsters may have changes as appropriate. They can cry me a river or leave whichever they choose, still won't change any of the above though.

Quote from: Marleycat;524073Just like the WBL tell your prospective players up front that you reserve the right to run with whatever alterations to the wbl you see fit to the game being run. Also tell them monsters may have changes as appropriate. They can cry me a river or leave whichever they choose, still won't change any of the above though.

See I never really felt a need to keep the monsters as in the book but I certainly never thought to warn my players....

Sure the monsters have to be consistent so if a goblin is a 1hd monster that has ac5 and does 1d6 then that is what they will always be like and you need a few of those but unless this party have met somethign before or one of them has Monster Lore as a skill then I will just make everythign up as I see fit. Hidden Lurker, lets give it AC 6 suprise on a 1-4 8HD and does 1d8 +3 constriction damage a round and on a crit your arms are trapped.

One of my favourites was a Broo like tribe of demons with Aliens style acide for blood... letes make those weapons saving throws ladies and gentlemen ,,,,

I guess you don't have to warn them, but I like being honest with people I game with, I expect the same in return, but you're spot on about being consistent, nothing worse than an inconsistent GM.