Dungeons & Dragons

[Slept with ghost]

I don't play D&D but this makes me wonder. Since there is a new edition out does that become the standard for tournaments?

[Troy Spiral (13)]

I don't play D&D but this makes me wonder. Since there is a new edition out does that become the standard for tournaments?

In D&D its you and your friends against "the bad guys" which are usually not players but made up enemies that you fight as a group like in EverQuest or World Of Warcraft if your familiar with any of those (which in one way or another all got their start from D&D ages ago). Tournaments generally are player vs player stuff like card games or chess or some such.

There isn't really what most would consider "tournaments" for D&D but there is more or less "official" rules used at conventions and such and non-official rules used randomly. But yeah the new rules (generally) are taken to be the new Gospel and the old shit is basically just toilet paper rules wise. Luckily its fairly cheap as tabletop games go and doesn't get updated all that often so the money-sink is limited.

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

umm, Troy... have you ever been to a D&D convention? Like Gen-Con or some other? If not, your missing out on all the fun at the D&D Tournaments. The prizes for winning are not that bad either. I got my first Dragonbone as a prize.

spelling sucks

[Troy Spiral (13)]

umm, Troy... have you ever been to a D&D convention? Like Gen-Con or some other? If not, your missing out on all the fun at the D&D Tournaments. The prizes for winning are not that bad either. I got my first Dragonbone as a prize.

spelling sucks

I've never been to GenCon (although basically every hardcore gaming geek I know knows about it or has went) but I've been to several conventions. I used to play Living City and then LivingGreyhawk after that and such.

I guess i was thinking about it in terms of a "sport-like tournament" they call D&D tournaments "tournaments" but they are just that in name-only really as they are very subjective and such, not the kind of tournament like a chess tournament or MTG or something. Not to say that's bad, or put a damper on it, I like the more free-form nature of D&D. But that's just what I meant by "not what you'd think of as a tournament" in my above post. I assume most people that aren't gamer-geek inclined assume a tournament to be this sort of strictly competitive type thing.

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

They are competitive.. you play "against" other teams. Not directly head to head... but there is compitition.

[Timata]

From my understanding, the competitive part is comparing how party A did at the dungeon vs. party B, C, and so on. Gaf since it seems you have attended such an event, what are the scoring areas? Is speed a factor? amount of completion?

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

You are scored on various things.

The Dungeons that are used are create specifically for the tournaments. Each is scored slightly differently. Time is a factor... usually because the Con's where they are held have a limited time frame.

You get points for figuring stuff out, getting past obsticles... finishing it.. it all varies... you are awarded points for certain goals in the module. Here is a run down of a classic that I played many years ago

http://www.greyhawkonline.com/grodog/gh_to...golden_orb.html

The Quest for the Golden Orb

The Origins '84 Greyhawk Tournament Module

Cover for "Quest for the Golden Orb," the Origins '84 Tournament Dungeon.

In the upper left hand corner it is written 1/50 in pencil. The scanner could not pick it up because it has become faint over the many years since it was originally written there.

Part I, of two, of the scoring sheet for the tournament dungeon including such interesting scoring possibilities such as:

"Creative play in giving Madam Orcus a magic item."

Part II has "Going through Loki magic door backwards" and

"Gaining the true Orb of St. Cuthbert"

Referee Map for the module (there is also a player version) with such landmarks as:

Veluna

Great Dismal Swamp

Githyanki Cave

DM's map for the tournament dungeon.

Greyhawk tournament dungeon for the Origins Convention of 1984. Only fifty of these were published, ostensibly for use at the convention and nobody knows how many are still extant. This is the first time this module has ever been offered on the net, or anywhere as far as I know, and it is doubtful that it will ever appear again for sale or auction.

This is #1 of 50 and includes the "Orb of St. Cuthbert" artwork copy that was used to promote participation in the tournament module at the con..

Item is in excellent condition with a few penciled notes in the module which were put there by the module's author to help the tournament DM's in running the module.

This is an Advanced Dungeons and Dragons adventure for 6 characters (tournament characters provided if necessary) levels 4-6. The tournament is divided into two parts "The Wilderness" and "Cave of the Night." The first part is timed for 2 hours and 15 minutes, and the second part is timed for 3 hours. Both parts have unique point scoring systems. Page total for the adventure is 19 pages, plus a DM map, a player's map, two scoring sheets, a dungeon map, "Orb of St. Cuthbert" art copy, a half-page traps summary and two character sheets.

The tournament goals are:

finding the lost Orb

2) returning the Orb to the city of Veluna in the least amount of game time.

There is quite a bit of background information and history on the Orb and Veluna. The adventure itself is classic 1st Edition AD&D with a dragon, a demon, a nightmare, a riddle to ponder for clues, tricks, traps, magic and much more of what we love in good old-fashioned AD&D.

Special Thanks to William McCarthy for allowing me to reuse his e-Bay listing for this tournament as the basis for the above information. William also provided the scans of the cover, maps, etc. (via his e-Bay auction).

[Troy Spiral (13)]

They are competitive.. you play "against" other teams. Not directly head to head... but there is compitition.

See my above post this isn't the point i was trying to make.

Anyhow 4th edition rules? Anyone? Comments?

[Destroit]

I would love D&D more if my dice didn't hate me. Timata, which one did you say I need to shatter into pieces and put in the box with the rest of 'em so that they behave from now on?

Personally I'm liking 4 better than the other one I played (I'm a n00b, Timata being the DM would know which version it was we used to play at Rob's house). The other one was TOO complex...for no reason really. I notice now that the battling is more intense, more team oriented, and you have to strategize your movements before you take them much more than the other one I played.

[Troy Spiral (13)]

I think the "basic rules" are simpler.. but now with the miniatures focus and such it can get pretty complex, but at least its the strategy that is complex, not the rules.

I remember when they tried to say they weren't trying to turn D&D into a miniatures game.... hah. Every module is miniatures and square-movement based that is in the works and distance and such is such a huge deal with combat it would be cumbersome to try and just fudge everything. Not that its a bad thing, and yeah you can "choose to play without them" but it just just so half-assed if you don't that yeah, basicly its a miniatures game with a heavy RPG bent to it.

Once I calm down on my current hell-bent-for-leather MTG mania I'm on i'll probably give D&D a run. (still maintaining MTG as my "primary" game)

[Oh_My_Goth]

Played one game now, of the fourth.....

Tis OK.....

[n0Mad]

I remember when they tried to say they weren't trying to turn D&D into a miniatures game.... hah.

I agree. When 3.0 came out and there were rules for minis, I wasn't too pleased as I'm heavy into RPG and not into minis at all. But, I did like the way 3.0/3.5 handled them. It was pretty straightforward and you could take it or leave it. Most of our combat was talked through and we rarely used minis but there were times when the BAVM (big ass vinyl mat) was rolled out and a bit of strategy was needed so it was nice having rules to support that.

How is it with 4.0? Is it like 3.0/3.5, an RPG with optional minis rules, or is it a mini game with supporting RPG rules?

[chEmo]

I am not a big fan of 4.0 yet. I bought the box set for my love, and the artwork is pretty cool. Some friends just started a campaign and the jury is still out. It is much more compartmentalized - and streamlined. It does encourage the DM to bring the players interests into the game (basically you ask each player for a wishlist of magical items or expereinces they want for character development and weave them into the adventure).

On a political note - I think it is crap that stores/vendors have to only carry >4 or 4. It is a total monopoly and hurts the local store owners.

ROLL FOR INITATIVE!

[MissKitty]

ROLL FOR INITATIVE!

LOL!

I just had to quote that.

I used to have a bumper sticker that said I have a higher initiative, get out of my way.

Bet dork sticker ever!

[Timata]

I would love D&D more if my dice didn't hate me. Timata, which one did you say I need to shatter into pieces and put in the box with the rest of 'em so that they behave from now on?

Personally I'm liking 4 better than the other one I played (I'm a n00b, Timata being the DM would know which version it was we used to play at Rob's house). The other one was TOO complex...for no reason really. I notice now that the battling is more intense, more team oriented, and you have to strategize your movements before you take them much more than the other one I played.

That is whichever die you use the least. In my case it was usually the D12.

That was 3.5.

I agree. When 3.0 came out and there were rules for minis, I wasn't too pleased as I'm heavy into RPG and not into minis at all. But, I did like the way 3.0/3.5 handled them. It was pretty straightforward and you could take it or leave it. Most of our combat was talked through and we rarely used minis but there were times when the BAVM (big ass vinyl mat) was rolled out and a bit of strategy was needed so it was nice having rules to support that.

How is it with 4.0? Is it like 3.0/3.5, an RPG with optional minis rules, or is it a mini game with supporting RPG rules?

It is a bit more mini based, but like you said the BAVM is needed when strategy is needed. Combat requires alot more strategy. It is easier to create complex battles in 4th.

Example: My players just finished (before half of them died on the boss dragon) the kobold chieftain room that came straight out of the example dungeon in the dmg. Ask any of them how complex the battle was. There was a giant rock rolling around the room, a spire drake stealing small items like Rev's dagger, slingers attacking from atop a 10 foot wall, all while two kobold dragonshields protected the wyrmpriest on top of another 10ft wall.

LOL!

I just had to quote that.

I used to have a bumper sticker that said I have a higher initiative, get out of my way.

Bet dork sticker ever!

I didn't have a car when i had it, lol, but i had a bumper sticker on my Big Box o' D&D that was very similar.

[Rev.Reverence]

That was 3.5.

It is a bit more mini based, but like you said the BAVM is needed when strategy is needed. Combat requires alot more strategy. It is easier to create complex battles in 4th.

Example: My players just finished (before half of them died on the boss dragon) the kobold chieftain room that came straight out of the example dungeon in the dmg. Ask any of them how complex the battle was. There was a giant rock rolling around the room, a spire drake stealing small items like Rev's dagger, slingers attacking from atop a 10 foot wall, all while two kobold dragonshields protected the wyrmpriest on top of another 10ft wall.

I killed the Wyrmpreist by pushing him in front of the rolling rock...

Complex is for sure...

But I also have over half of my character sheet memorized...so an element of simplicity as well...

Like I said...I'm down with dice...

But I'm still 1rst lev...so I can hardly tell...but it's lookin' pretty good...

[MissKitty]

I haven't actually played 4.0 yet, but I'm willing to just to see if all I've read and heard about it is true. I am a big fan of 3.5 and don't think that it's complex at all. If 4.0 is even less complex, I don't know that I'd want to play it. Besides, after all the fucking money I've sank into 3.5 books....I'd rather just play 3.5. lol.

[Rev.Reverence]

I haven't actually played 4.0 yet, but I'm willing to just to see if all I've read and heard about it is true. I am a big fan of 3.5 and don't think that it's complex at all. If 4.0 is even less complex, I don't know that I'd want to play it. Besides, after all the fucking money I've sank into 3.5 books....I'd rather just play 3.5. lol.

WE'LL PLAY.....WITH YOU...

[MissKitty]

WE'LL PLAY.....WITH YOU...

I don't have any of the new books, but if you guys want to come over and play....I'm down.

I FUCKING LOVE D&D!

[Rev.Reverence]

I don't have any of the new books, but if you guys want to come over and play....I'm down.

I FUCKING LOVE D&D!

3.5

Right...that's what I was talkin' about...mostly

[MissKitty]

3.5

Right...that's what I was talkin' about...mostly

[n0Mad]

I killed the Wyrmpreist by pushing him in front of the rolling rock...

Death by beer.

Edit: Image didn't post so I downloaded it and attached it.

[Rev.Reverence]

I don't drink beer...or I would have laughed when I wrote it...how many xp for an unintended pun?

[Burrich1]

I don't drink beer...or I would have laughed when I wrote it...how many xp for an unintended pun?

35 Sir. An adjustment of +15 if said pun made people groan.

[Destroit]

That is whichever die you use the least. In my case it was usually the D12.

That was 3.5.

It is a bit more mini based, but like you said the BAVM is needed when strategy is needed. Combat requires alot more strategy. It is easier to create complex battles in 4th.

Example: My players just finished (before half of them died on the boss dragon) the kobold chieftain room that came straight out of the example dungeon in the dmg. Ask any of them how complex the battle was. There was a giant rock rolling around the room, a spire drake stealing small items like Rev's dagger, slingers attacking from atop a 10 foot wall, all while two kobold dragonshields protected the wyrmpriest on top of another 10ft wall.

I didn't have a car when i had it, lol, but i had a bumper sticker on my Big Box o' D&D that was very similar.

I loved how the rock had its own turn...that shit cracked me up. All of sudden you're like "Okay...it's the rock's turn" and I'd laugh everytime. I'm easy to entertain.