I noticed there's an upcoming D&D 5e "limited" gift set of the core books.  The books have new covers, which look kinda neat from what I can tell.  It's somewhat tempting to tell the truth.

I got a chance to thumb through the 5e Monster Manual recently.  I have to admit, I liked it.  The thing I didn't like was the HP bloat.  I don't know why WotC thinks HP slogs are the way to go, but HPs have been inflating ever since 3.0.  Now not only does everything have a Con bonus to HP, but everything is close to having double the HD, further magnifying the Con bonus.   Did a standard D&D sword get changed to do 4d6 damage or something?  Because the HPs are ludicrous.

I'm curious about Wrath and Glory, the upcoming 40K RPG.  I'm hoping it will be a bit more accessible than the FFG 40K games.

Is Modern AGE out in print?  I dig the AGE system, even though it has some pretty blatant flaws.

I've found the HP is actually -too low- for most MM monsters. PCs just chew through it like it's nothing. DMs often have to boost the HP in actual practice, at least for monsters you want to be an actual challenge, as opposed to some goblins. It's not uncommon for the monster to get wiped out on its first turn.

I have been tempted to get that gift set too. The new covers look amazing. I assume the PHB would be in its latest printing too which would cover all the errata they'd released since then.

The hit point bloat is by design.  Hit points and damage dealt scale, while attack numbers, armor class, and saving throws move very little.  This makes numbers of weaker opponents still capable of wearing down characters.

The problem is not with the principle, or even the math, but rather that they didn't quite get the overall end-game numbers small enough to deal with handling time concerns.  But it is a big improvement over other WotC versions, where you have equal or worse hit point bloat coupled with bad math too.  Merely a little scaling down of hit points and damage across the board, and it would be just about perfect for that kind of system.

As for designer books, WotC is working double overtime to convince me not to buy any more of their products.  It's as if every button a company could push to drive me away, they are mashing it repeatedly.  Which is a shame, given how much I enjoy core 5E.  Oh well, I've got the books I want, and the errata isn't even necessary.

Hit point bloat in 5e - I find it's never a problem with lone/boss monsters. It becomes an issue sandboxing when the low level party meet a tribe of a dozen or so ogres (57 hp) or the high level party battle a flock of dozens of vrock demons (104 hp). Where creatures are encountered in the dozens or hundreds I've taken to halving hp; eg my high level group is currently battling an army of ca 750 Duergar, I lowered their hp from 26 to 13 for the regular warriors. If I had to run that ogre encounter again I reckon I'd do the same, probably raise their AC & INT a bit for a more old school ogre feel.

The paradigm shift was from "high whiff, lower HP" to "high hit-rate, higher HP." It's intentional. New players are supposedly easily discouraged with older attack failure rates.

I'm picking up my kids' toys from all over the living room floor AGAIN! Oh wait...

I'm waiting for:
Raiders of R'lyeh GM's Guide & Complete Rules when the print edition hits DTRPG.  
Everywhen (multi-genre system based on Barbarians of Lemuria)
Dolmenwood campaign book (not til next year, alas)

Quote from: Gabriel2;1050432I got a chance to thumb through the 5e Monster Manual recently.  I have to admit, I liked it.  The thing I didn't like was the HP bloat.  I don't know why WotC thinks HP slogs are the way to go, but HPs have been inflating ever since 3.0.  Now not only does everything have a Con bonus to HP, but everything is close to having double the HD, further magnifying the Con bonus.   Did a standard D&D sword get changed to do 4d6 damage or something?  Because the HPs are ludicrous.

Its not as bad as it seems usually. Its at the higher end of HD that you see the real difference and its usually to make monsters appropriately tough for those levels. They usually get beefed up across the board too, not just HP. They usually deal more damage as well.

An AD&D Black Dragon has 6-8 HD. An 8hd adult would have 40 hp. An adult 5e black dragon has 17d12+85 and averages 195 hp. This actually fits for what should be a pretty serious threat at CR14. The AD&D dragon would prove a tough opponent for a group of level 7 PCs. The 5e one is a challenge for a group of level 14 PCs.

An AD&D goblin had 1 HD-1.(1-7 hp) 5e goblins have 2d6 (2-12, average 7) and are a little tougher. Same with kobolds.

Combats still go pretty fast. I've rarely seen a fight go past 5 rounds unless it is something big or alot of foes and even then it doesnt go much past 5 rounds.

It is interesting the way 5e is balanced to this.

Though it would not be too hard to just halve the monsters HD and average and have the PCs HD cut off at level 10 and thereafter each level is just con bonus. Monster damage though will be an issue. That black dragon may have half the HP. but its capable of doling out alot of damage a round.

I gave in and bought the d6 SWRPG 30th Anniversary Edition, and am just a tad disappointed because I still have my original books in good shape so the only thing new is the Introduction..

Other than that, nothing for awhile. I'm in the process of buying my first house and that has most of my attention and play money. Once that is done, I'm going to pick up several cepheus Engine products from Gypsy Knights Games, Zozer Games, Stellagama Publishing, Moon Toad Publishing, and Michael Brown that I have wanted for awhile.

Then I'm going to do some writing and prep work for the first campaign in my own dedicated game room!

Not a whole lot, to be honest. I'll pick up the new edition of Masks of Nyarlathotep when it comes out in a few months, but other than that right now I'm just picking up a few releases here and there for games I already have like Godbound, The One Ring, and 13th Age. None of the new games that have come out lately or are on the horizon have really caught my interest. WFRP 4e could be interesting but I honestly don't see a reason to invest in it given that I've got a nearly complete set of the 2nd edition books, and given my group's tastes I probably won't get to run anything other than Savage Worlds for the next few years, anyway.

Modern AGE: I have it pre-ordered; not sure exactly when I will be getting my print copy. System seems decent enough, but not entirely convinced when/if I would use it over Spycraft or Night's Black Agents. I'm new to age and am not 100% sure it's "for me".


Other Stuff:
I'm anxiously awaiting:
- Armory for Starfinder (shipping soon)
- Scum and Villainy (GenCon timeframe)

Recent acquisitions:
Just got my print copies of Super Powered Legends and Rogues Gallery for Mutants & Masterminds and am pleased as punch.

I have just ordered some Chris Gonnerman stuff off amazon - Basic Fantasy and Iron Falcon adventures I plan to use with Swords and Wizardry. Or maybe 5e.

On the Radar: Vampire 5e, new Warhammer Fantasy and 40k, The Witcher RPG.

Received a heap of Basic Fantasy modules from Amazon recently. $30 for 7 books = tons of adventure!

Kind of interested in the Shadowrun Anarchy supplement for BugCity whenever it comes out..

I'd love to pick up 13th Age in Glorantha sometime too.

Quote from: S'mon;1050595I have just ordered some Chris Gonnerman stuff off amazon - Basic Fantasy and Iron Falcon adventures I plan to use with Swords and Wizardry. Or maybe 5e.

I originally got the BFRPG modules house with S&W too. But then I found BFRPG to be such a more appealing system, I ended up running that instead. Game's still going strong 3 years later.

I'm in for rhe relaunch of The Fantasy Trip. And preordered MCC 9 Evil of the Ancients.  Otherwise there isn't much coming out that has me excited.