Recent content by mikestrauss

One piece of advice I think is very important is that you first assess what you want to get out of the game. For example, Sage says not to try to create a jack-of-all-trades character, and that is good general advice. However, if you enjoy being able to do a little bit of everything without...

Honestly, this doesn't even look close to what I am used to. I am used to a MUCH more packed schedule. Just for "town fights" alone, I am used to: Friday night opening fight Friday night late fight Saturday morning Saturday early afternoon Saturday pre-logistics Saturday night Saturday night...

I suspect the charts didn't change, but since the xp chart for every other skill is listed in the packet, I really think the packet should also list the xp costs for spell slots. -MS

Since you seem so supportive of item removal, I can't understand why you aren't fully behind my suggestion that core items can't be permanently removed, while luxury items (like magic items) can be. Sure, that would move the majority of the suffering to long term players, but you have argued...

10 minute effects take you out of the game for, at most, 10 minutes. Permanent effects potentially take you out permanently. I also already mentioned a chapter where new characters can't be certain they will receive charity (someone else mentioned it, too). My home chapter: HQ. I've lived...

Beautiful sentiment, but it doesn't even vaguely answer my question. How is item removal in any way comparable in its impact on high and low level players? It seems pretty much like a flat tax to me, in which low level players suffer much more notably than high level players. And you didn't...

I'm curious why you are willing to accept the concept of NPC weapons (ie. shoddy weapons that don't have tags), but not willing to accept the concept of NPC gas globes. They are both effectively weapons and the reasons for allowing the first seem to fully apply to allowing the second. -MS

That is at least partially true, but as many have pointed out over the years, the player community is far from homogeneous. Cultures differ by coast, by chapter, and even by teams within a chapter. You can't assume item generosity is assured. It certainly didn't exist in my home chapter for...

I discussed this topic with a friend who doesn't play the game and he suggested something that I think should be the Alliance philosophy about items. -Staple items should be assured. Special items should have limited duration / be vulnerable to destruction. He is right. And sadly, the exact...

I don't want to come off as caustic, but I believe you are speaking from a position of privilege. Each of these solutions you present is effectively either a level check or a wealth check (which is essentially a level check). Rituals are level checks and wealth checks. Ward spell is a level...

I think the core of this discussion really needs to be focused on one thing: item removal isn't fun for players. Whether we are talking about Shatter effects, item duration, in-game theft, or "the Dark Sun scenario," item removal pretty much just causes more problems than it creates good...

The physical component has another application. You can target physical hand held items as part of a shatter or disarm effect. So, if you are holding a gas globe or an arrow in your hand (including between your knuckles), I can Disarm or Shatter it. I can't do that with aura. The color...

Only two types of packets have mandated colors: arrows and gas globes. And the thing they both have in common is that they are both physical objects. The idea behind the colors is that you should be able to immediately identify if someone is holding an arrow or a gas globe, because they are...

I'm backing David on this one. I have been playing this game since 1993. The expiration lines were on the weapons even back then, despite the fact that weapons didn't expire (only magic items did). I even remember having a conversation in NPC camp during my first year playing where we...

I don't accept the ritual argument as presented. The playtest allows you to choose any rituals you want, but that doesn't reflect the actual game. You can't be certain you will have access to any given ritual on a regular basis (especially if you aren't a caster). First there is the...