Quote from: estar;533217Personally I recommend for advance mapping I recommend using Inkscape (http://www.inkscape.org) or any of other the commercial vector drawing programs. The disadvantage they don't come with a lot of precanned items for RPG Mapping but they are way easier to learn, and more powerful in the long run.

For simple line maps of dungeons and such, GIMP is way easier to learn.  It has a built in grid you set and snap to, plus the vectors are really just paths that get stroked, so no messing around with complicated stuff.

I do need to get off my arse and set up Inkscape for outdoor/non-standard mapping. Open Source FOR!  THE!  WIN!  

Quote from: ggroy;532059Wonder if they are trying to significantly reduce or eliminate the "always fighting orcs" thing.

The thing is that the way you avoid "always fighting orcs" (with a different name) is with new tactical and strategic options, so there isn't really a way to make a game that plays as quickly and smoothly at 30th level as it does at 1st level  without also playing as simply and similar to how it plays at 1st.

Quote from: Halloween Jack;533361The thing is that the way you avoid "always fighting orcs" (with a different name) is with new tactical and strategic options, so there isn't really a way to make a game that plays as quickly and smoothly at 30th level as it does at 1st level  without also playing as simply and similar to how it plays at 1st.

Sure there is.  Don't scale everything at the same rate.  Since there are monsters at each hit dice that correspond with player level as a design matter, that isn't really 'scaling'.  Random Encounter Tables help quite a bit, if they are designed to be truly random.  Even within a given range works out pretty well, if you don't want ancient red dragons and hordes of demons or devils to show up on the first level of the dungeon (or the local inn).  The problem arises when the encounters or challenges are based on the PCs level, or the average level of the party, or what have you.

If every encounter is supposed to be precisely X units of challenge before the party defeats it, then it will get pretty boring pretty quickly, as all you end up doing is switching out all the numbers for slightly larger numbers every level or two.  Sometimes your 2nd level party disturbs a pair of Trolls in their lair, and it is simply one of those occasions where you run like hell.

Quote from: Halloween Jack;533361The thing is that the way you avoid "always fighting orcs" (with a different name) is with new tactical and strategic options, so there isn't really a way to make a game that plays as quickly and smoothly at 30th level as it does at 1st level  without also playing as simply and similar to how it plays at 1st.

Depends on how you define "always fighting orcs."  Some posters on these forums define it as "the math doesn't vary much when fighting even-level monsters," which I think is fairly foolish.  To give an example of this: spell saves in 3e are AFO to some posters because the DCs increase with level*.  Your save bonuses go up, but so does the difficulty of the saving throws.  They prefer the older system in which saving throws improved with level so that you had a 25% chance of making your saving throw at 1st level but an 85% chance at 20th level.

*This is obviously wrong as your chances to save vary drastically in 3e depending on your equipment and level.

Yes, Stormbringer, but isn't that just a "chase" encounter, rather than a "combat" encounter?

I mean, it really shouldn't be a surprise to PC's that most of the men-at-arms in a castle/fort/etc are 1st-3rd level, but if the Lord shows up he's going to be 8th-12th level (higher if greater prestige).

Not all fights are meant to be won with bloodshed.

Quote from: Novastar;533521Yes, Stormbringer, but isn't that just a "chase" encounter, rather than a "combat" encounter?

I mean, it really shouldn't be a surprise to PC's that most of the men-at-arms in a castle/fort/etc are 1st-3rd level, but if the Lord shows up he's going to be 8th-12th level (higher if greater prestige).

Not all fights are meant to be won with bloodshed.

Absolutely.  I am not saying that every last encounter has to be drawn from a random table, logic be damned.  There should definitely be set pieces and a consistency to the trappings or campaign backdrop stuff.

That being said, the best way to avoid 'always fighting orcs' is to sometimes let the dice fall where they may.  If that means your 20th level party runs into a group of gnolls/goblins/kobolds, then congratulations!  You get to see how badass your characters have become.  But sometimes that also means your 3rd level party stumbles across a family or clan of frost/fire/storm giants.  Ooops.  Back away slowly and hope they haven't seen you yet.

At any rate, if there is something that is substantially similar to a 'challenge rating', drop that crap and start eyeballing set encounters and get some random encounter tables ready to go.

Quote from: Novastar;533521Not all fights are meant to be won with bloodshed.

Not all encounters have to end with combat, either.

Quote from: jeff37923;533645Not all encounters have to end with combat, either.

What? I don't understand...

For some actual news on 5e (beyond Monte's exit). The public playtest starts on May 24th. Sorry unable to link it. On my phone but it can be found at the usual places.

Quote from: StormBringer;533501Sure there is.  Don't scale everything at the same rate.  Since there are monsters at each hit dice that correspond with player level as a design matter, that isn't really 'scaling'.  Random Encounter Tables help quite a bit, if they are designed to be truly random.  Even within a given range works out pretty well, if you don't want ancient red dragons and hordes of demons or devils to show up on the first level of the dungeon (or the local inn).  The problem arises when the encounters or challenges are based on the PCs level, or the average level of the party, or what have you.

Quote from: B.T.;533515Depends on how you define "always fighting orcs."

Yeah, I think we might be talking past each other. When I've discussed the "always fighting orcs" problem with people on SA, their complaints were framed in the context of going from Fighting Orcs In A Basement to Fighting Demons In An Astral Basement; that is, your numbers are higher and the enemies' numbers are higher, but it doesn't play any different.

Quote from: B.T.;533515Depends on how you define "always fighting orcs."  Some posters on these forums define it as "the math doesn't vary much when fighting even-level monsters," which I think is fairly foolish.  To give an example of this: spell saves in 3e are AFO to some posters because the DCs increase with level*.  Your save bonuses go up, but so does the difficulty of the saving throws.  They prefer the older system in which saving throws improved with level so that you had a 25% chance of making your saving throw at 1st level but an 85% chance at 20th level.

*This is obviously wrong as your chances to save vary drastically in 3e depending on your equipment and level.

Wow, something logical from you.  You may not be a lost cause.  Actually where gaming is concerned you have valid views worth discussion.

Quote from: Marleycat;533892Wow, something logical from you.  You may not be a lost cause.  Actually where gaming is concerned you have valid views worth discussion.

The trick is to turn off his talk radio and scour his living area for any tubes of glue, and eventually he'll start typing slightly useful things.

Quote from: Marleycat;533892Wow, something logical from you.  You may not be a lost cause.  Actually where gaming is concerned you have valid views worth discussion.

I roll to disbelieve!

Quote from: Halloween Jack;533887Yeah, I think we might be talking past each other. When I've discussed the "always fighting orcs" problem with people on SA, their complaints were framed in the context of going from Fighting Orcs In A Basement to Fighting Demons In An Astral Basement; that is, your numbers are higher and the enemies' numbers are higher, but it doesn't play any different.

And that is pretty much the normal definition.  It can certainly be used in a different context, but I think that would be recognized as non-standard.  I don't think anyone would agree with a literal interpretation; ie, there are no other opponents in the entire campaign except orcs.

Quote from: jeff37923;533939I roll to disbelieve!

You get +2 to the roll. It's an off the cuff ruling so back off and roll bitch.

If you disagree talk to me AFTER the game, cool?