Nolgroth

Re: How do Hero System players/GM view DnD?

Re: How do Hero System players/GM view DnD?

Re: How do Hero System players/GM view DnD? Does 2.5 mean Skills and Powers?

Re: How do Hero System players/GM view DnD? Wow. I think teh Bunneh said it best; you have to walk into either game with a different set of expectations. I don't walk in to a D&D game expecting HERO or vice versa. There are elements that I would like to translate between systems (Skill Challenges from D&D to HERO being first on my mind) but the two games are very different. I have become somewhat attached to the easily spelled out rules in D&D 4 (specifically the Essentials line). D&D is great for a pick up game, whereas HERO requires a minimum amount of preparation for even the most simple game. Knowing that the D&D rules are "quick play," I understand that they are not going to be as flexible as HERO. I do wish there was some serious rules for actually designing monsters (as opposed to the "Buy More Books" message). That lacking is probably what is going to keep D&D from every replacing HERO. Well that and the lack of multi-genre, do-it-yourself, rules building.

Re: Open Source or Free Map Making Software

Re: Open Source or Free Map Making Software I actually converted the Tile Mapper tiles from 32px to 50px for just this purpose.

Re: Tesunden Isles Just a warning, I may be a little late today. My glasses broke yesterday and I need to go see if I can find some new ones today. Merovign has graciously offered to take me out so we can do this. Allowing for all the complications associated with that task, just be patient. I am going to run the game today, it just may be at half past the hour instead of on the hour.

Re: Open Source or Free Map Making Software Good luck. Makes me wonder if I have time to start doing a " x Hour Map with GIMP" type thread with each post being roughly 1 hour of work. Something like a 5-7 hour map each month. I'll look into that concept. No promises though.

Re: Open Source or Free Map Making Software http://www.dungeoncrafter3.com/download.php http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/20061121t Those are both good for your Dungeons. Not sure about printing quality on Dungeoncrafter, but for Dungeon Tile Mapper, the printing quality would suck. Good for monitor display though. For world maps, I do not have an easy solution. I can only recommend downloading GIMP and paying a visit to http://www.cartographersguild.com . They have a lot of nice tutorials for many graphics programs in their forums.

Re: How do Hero System players/GM view DnD? Just wrote a long post that really didn't answer the question so let me try again. I personally don't look down on most other systems or games. If they do not have the tools I need to run the game I want, then I just don't use them. On the other hand, I do tend to scoff and boldly look down my nose at all systems' fanboys. I've read a lot of anti- "whatever my game of choice is" posts on nearly every forum I visit and they all just strike me as coming from the depths of complete ignorance. And I've seen those kinds of posts everywhere from here on the HERO boards to just about any other fan site. I suppose it is inevitable, but it is darn annoying. For myself, I am an active advocate of the Shadowrun 3rd Edition rules and the D&D 4th Edition Essentials line, in addition to the HERO System. I've tried and played other systems, but those are the ones that appeal to me and provide me with those tools I mentioned previously. If I had time, I would try running a Pathfinder game as well. Just to test it out.

Re: What Have You Watched Recently? Chuck is pretty awesome. Just ignore the fact that 99% of it is hogwash and enjoy the light-hearted comedy. Sadly, I have only been able to catch bits of it here and there. I keep promising myself to buy up about ten different TV series from start to finish. Now where did I put that winning lottery ticket......?

Re: Tesunden Isles

Re: Just a Happy Note Congrats. May your game be awesome for years to come.

Re: Tesunden Isles The GM's Commentary The short list of maneuvers is going to have to replace the default maneuver set except for Basic Strike and Basic Block. Those two will have to remain due to their default nature. Solron, love the idea. Two priestesses vs one and something else is something that I am going to leave to the players. What I will say is that miracles can happen to anybody despite membership in a religious organization and there are more ways than one to demonstrate faith. More later.

Re: How to balance encounters It's not just the number of points, it is the campaign guidelines. You have to determine: Maximum Damage Class Maximum Combat Value Maximum Defenses Maximum STUN, BODY, and END. Other things like Maximum Characteristics, Skill Rolls, etc. If any of the first 3 are too high, then the published opposition is going to be too easy. If they are too low, then they will too hard. Basically try to keep things within a point or two in either direction. If the BODY, STUN thing is too high, then the characters might ultimately win, but it will take a while to wear down the baddies. If you find that the monsters are too easy or too hard, adjust the stats on the fly. Remember that, as GM, the monsters have as many or as few points as you need them to have. I don't even approach them from looking at points any more. I focus more on things like how do the monsters compare in those first four bullet points., how fast they are in relation to the characters (Speed and Dex) and whether or not they have exotic defenses (Automaton Powers, Damage Negation or Reduction, Desolidification, etc) and whether they have exotic attacks (Drains, NNDs, Mental) or whatnot. For me, it is a lot easier to build the baddies based on those criteria than it is to try to balance points. Good luck.

Re: Tesunden Isles Quick Poll Question: I've noticed that the list of maneuvers is rather annoying to scroll through. Should I split the maneuver list into two lists; one for Standard Maneuvers and one for Martial Maneuvers. Should I try to create a quick list of five or so maneuvers that are readily visible instead of a list of all the others. Trying to keep thing simple for you guys. I hate insomnia.

Re: Tesunden Isles And a neat little macro update: I put in some code that allows us to see which weapon is in the Primary and Off-Hand Weapon slot. That way you can change it before you roll, if say, you are playing around with a hypothetical weapon or forget to load one into the Primary slot. The next thing I am going to do is go over the code to see how Dalt implemented the Off-Hand penalty. If I can figure out what he did, I have another interesting little upgrade. Nothing too difficult, but it will come in real handy for Gemini when we get there. Until then, I sleep.

Re: Tesunden Isles Do you have any specific ideas on how this might be accomplished? Truth is that I sort of like the D&D style cleric, though I admit that the outright alternate spell list can lend itself to generic play. Some ideas for miracles: Very defined and limited abilities. Instead of having a buffet table of spells/rituals/miracles/whatever, the character has a limited number of pre-defined abilities. See the Paladin write-up in Fantasy HERO as an example. Cordelia from Angel (the conduit for the Powers That Be to send messages to the party). Certainly useful for conveying information I want the party to have, but sort of leaves something missing from the repertoire of the character. Perhaps the opposite of the first option, a VPP that is entirely No Conscious Control. Which allows for anything to be done, given that it is something the Khumarith wants done. All sorts of potential for either abuse or neglect (on my part). Insert other ideas here. Aside from just defining abilities (or lack thereof) being a priest(ess) implies some serious roleplaying changes in that your character will have an ethos that defines her actions a bit more. Some of them run contrary to being a "thief" (though that does not render those skills useless). In many ways, Patch's aversion to fighting might be tested more often, as her existing skillset makes her an excellent candidate to hunt down fugitives; especially in an urban environment. Khumarith is a divinity of Guardians and Protectors. Some mistake his primary purpose as Justice, and for good cause, but he is just as often the one that takes the fight to those who would destroy peaceful communities. Usually this implies threats like orc invasions, undead, and even more traditional invaders. He is sworn enemies with Ilmarith of the Ebon Scale, his counterpart deity. Wherever the servants of Ilmarith are, the forces of Khumarith are there to fight them. This is usually dangerous work, as Ilmarith employs denizens of the Underworld in his ceaseless plans to destroy everything that Khumarith holds dear. So far, the two have been in lockstep, but that usually means trouble for the mortals caught in between. All of this implies direct conflict. I am sure there are more subtle ways to Protect or mete out Justice, but my tired brain is not picturing those ways. Send me some ideas. PM me if you want. E-mail me if you like. Just give me a few threads in which to weave this new story.

Re: Tesunden Isles Oh sure. Be that way. Easy enough to fix however. [h, if (finalDC > 8 && Pen == 1): finalDC = 8] Change the 8s in the AP block to 10s and I am done. So not that much more complicated.

Re: Tesunden Isles Blog updated with last night's session. http://stupid-fat-fingers.blogspot.com/2010/10/campaign-tesunden-isles-season-1_29.html

Re: Tesunden Isles The greatest of great news. I figured out what was happening with the Attack macro. I forgot to change the value of one variable in the Calculate Defenses macro. So it was pulling Patch's hardened defenses and applying them alongside the target's defenses. NOW the attack sequence works. In order to facilitate range penalties, I am going to recode the Apply Damage macro to just calculate Damage Reduction. Sorry about the back and forth on this one but I think we are solid now. The overall sequence of events does not change. In fact, I am going to keep an Apply Damage around for those times when the Quick Damage button is used. Also fixed the Apply Damage macro so that I can use it for those Undead with 0 STUN. I took out Damage Doubling and replaced it with a Max DC of 12 (8 for Armor Piercing). Campaign Limit is 12 DC. Doesn't matter how you get there, you can't go over 12 (AP is a + 1/2 advantage so 8 x 1.5 = 12). Campaign Limits Update: Defenses can go to 12 rPD/ 12 rED. I want DC and DEF to go hand in hand. EDIT: Clarification on the two Extra Speed powers above. No matter whether you activate it on Segment 6 or 12, the benefits do not apply until the next Turn (after Post 12 Recovery).

Re: And now, for your daily dose of cute...

Re: Tesunden Isles Welcome to the HERO Boards Marty. If you have any questions, please ask in the appropriate forum and we will be glad to help out.

Re: Tesunden Isles No. But that's because I have a minor quest setup for that.

Re: NInja and D&D