Comments on: Worldwide D&D Game Day – Monster Manual 2

By: Ameron

Ameron — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:27:06 +0000

@fireinthedust
I suspect that the reason most of the PCs were classes and races from the PHB (and not the PHB2) was because WotC wanted us to focus on the new monsters and not slow the game down by having to flip through the books to look up powers. The last D&D Game Day which had pre-generated characters from the PHB2 seemed to drag on because everyone had to keep going back to the book to see how their powers worked. Just my 2 cents.

I’m glad you had fun and I’d be happy to play with everyone from our table again. It was a get group and that always makes for a better game.

By: fireinthedust

fireinthedust — Thu, 28 May 2009 21:53:27 +0000

I was at 401, and at the table, for the Game Day.

Comments: I would have liked to play PHB2 characters! I mean, a gnome or a sorcerer would have hit the spot really well. I played a Dragonborn Rogue, which was fun, but a PHB1 character class and race.

I think the treasure would have been better if there had been a list of items that were *not* the ones of the sheets that we could choose from. Like, a card that says “bag of holding” or “boots of walk on water” that we could just use for the adventure and not need numbers for. That way we get the benefit of the rust monster challenge, and we get to fight the monster and not die. I heard groups that did die fighting the BBEG.

Skill Challenge: Looking it over in the book, which I also have a copy of, I can see how it could have worked. First, don’t tell anyone it’s a skill challenge; describe “you’re going down the river, and the rapids toss the raft; quick, see if you fall in the river!” Second, dramatize the thing.
The session couldn’t have ended without getting to the next room, so obviously we don’t have the same freedom to get as random as in a normal session. That’s why it didn’t work in session, as part of the game day.

I had a great time, and wouldn’t mind playing again with any of the players there. Good group, and good times. I hope the next delve day comes soon!

By: j_king

j_king — Mon, 25 May 2009 17:56:18 +0000

Will do, Dungeon’s Master is in my feed list.

j_king’s last blog post..Hacking the Canadian Parliament

By: Ameron

Ameron — Mon, 25 May 2009 14:17:00 +0000

@Suddry
I’m glad you agree with my assessment of the afternoon. I think everyone had a good time despite the minor problems with the game.

@Feeroper
It was great meeting and playing with you. I’m glad you had fun. I like your suggestions for improving the adventure and may take a couple of these into account if I run this adventure in the future. I also agree with you on the benefit of the power cards. It essentially eliminates the need for everyone to have their books on the table which is a real plus when space is at a premium. It also speeds thing up because you don’t have to keep flipping back and forth between pages.

@j_king
You missed a good one. Be sure to visit Dungeon’s Master through June and July when we’ll be giving away complete WWD&DGD sets including the adventure, maps, pre-generated characters and minis.

By: 10 Things I Learned at Worldwide D&D Game Day — Dungeon's Master

10 Things I Learned at Worldwide D&D Game Day — Dungeon's Master — Mon, 25 May 2009 13:05:13 +0000

[...] learned a few things participating in Worldwide Dungeons & Dragons Game Day this past weekend. These may just seem like simple, common sense reminders, but I think they’re [...]

By: j_king

j_king — Mon, 25 May 2009 13:05:07 +0000

I was out of town during game day unfortunately! Sounds like it was a lot of fun. I look forward to my copy of MM2 and hope that I'll get a peek at the adventure eventually. j_king’s last blog post..Hacking the Canadian Parliament

By: Feeroper

Feeroper — Sun, 24 May 2009 06:02:31 +0000

I was also at 401 for game day (at your table as well, you gave me the card for this website. I was playing the Dwarf Paladin). I really enjoyed the game, but I can definetly see what you mean in terms of the simple design creating a more roll playing experience than role playing. I personally prefer the latter, but found it a little more challenging to get into that aspect of the game with this adventure. Although we got pretty creative in the beginning of the last encounter, as we approached the clueless Orc Terrorblade, most of it felt like more straightforward crunch.

I’ve always found that having interactive set dressing in the game can be a good instigator for role playing (ie: the coffins filled with kerosene lamp oil in the game day adventure from last year when 4e was just launching), but this adventure didnt seem to have much, with the exception of batches of mushrooms. However, the lack of role playing on my end also had a bit to do with the fact that I did not know anyone there, so I just kinda went with the flow.

I took a look through the skill challenge afterwards, as I brought a copy of the adventure home with me. I also agree that it felt too tacked on, and they just wanted to make sure there was a skill challenge in there. I think they could have definetly fit something there that was more condusive or creative in the context of the adventure itself, or even just left it out, since the game was based around the launch of the MM2. (Maybe we could of had a cool raft ride battle with a water based moster from the new book, as part of the skill challenge?)

However, I had a really good time overall, and found the adventure to work great for what they had in mind for Game Day. Plus, we were lucky enough to have a group of good tempered players with a good sense of humour as well. Although I was not as well versed in the rules as some other players, I didnt feel like anyone was talking down to me or getting frustrated if I needed any clarification on rules.

I think that another thing the game day will do for casual or newer players, is to show the benefit of DDI, or at least the Character builder. Although I take it for granted, as I always use the Character Builder with my group that I DM, I forget that not everyone is on board with DDI, or just dont know enough about it. Having those custom power/utility cards just saves so much time. I had previously not played a Paladin before, so the benefit of having the cards personalized for my character speeds it right up (and also some helpful advice from a certain someone who has had allot of experience with the class helped quite a bit).

Thanks for the good game!

By: Suddry

Suddry — Sun, 24 May 2009 01:49:17 +0000

From my side of the table I must say I agree with your review 100%. At an event kicking off a new monster manual I REALLY think that module should have went out of its way to showcase as many of the new foes in the book as possible. I mean, its not like they were going for sensible encounter make-ups anyways! An animated ballista with 2 rust monsters, and 2 stonetrap scarabs? (The scarabs are not in MM, MM2, or the Compendium.) Forget the artillery in this case. Add in a Green Slime or Dimensional Marauder as Lurkers. Or add in a few Myconids. They live in caves – especially a damp one with a river.

I also agree that the skill challenge really felt tacked on. Thank goodness our DM ripped through it quickly with minimal rolls. This is one time I’d rather have just had an additional combat encounter along the way – and I like skill challenges. As the barbarian striker who lost his Dynamic Greatsword +2 to that rust monster (don’t ask.. I misunderstood the info from the nature check) being able to get another one from some water-logged ghosts felt cheesy. Of course I took it anyways! It made up for the fact that the rust monster attacked my sword instead of the 840 gold I dropped on the ground as a decoy.

All that aside, I must say I had a great time playing and that is what matters. I guess I just expected a bit more from a World Wide Game Day module.