Sunday 8 July 2012

D&D Next: Something Great!

An interesting post from Mike Mearls over at the WotC site about magic items, and the first thing I've read about D&D Next which sounds 1. really awesome, and 2. actually a refreshing and original approach to something*.

I especially like the idea of the random table of background snippets about magical artefacts. Yes, a very cool idea!

Worth reading for anyone who's interested in what they're up to...

* and not a rules changes, simply a change of perspective and emphasis.

Edit: Just to be clear on this, I'm not saying I think I'll ever buy or play D&D "Next"... I just think their emphasis on making each magic item something unique is really cool.

7 comments:

  1. I thought the article sucked balls.

    They are trying too hard. The Great Digging Mace of Plus Fourness? No thanks.

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    1. Fair enough! :)

      My perspective is that I find "a sword +2" totally boring, and loathe "a sword +5!!!!1!!1", so I found their proposed emphasis on items with unique powers and lower bonuses (max +3) a really cool idea. It feels more mythological to me, and less "D&D".

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  2. The article looked pretty good to me, especially the whole capping bonuses thing.

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    1. Yes I found that very cool too. It seems like they really want to reduce the power curve of the game, and cut down on the expectation of ridiculous bonuses to everything.

      I remember recently seeing the D&D 3 stats for Orcus, who had an AC the equivalent of like -60 or something descending! Talk about power inflation!

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  3. It's Diablo style magic items - If I dig out my D20 Diablo book, I'm sure the needed charts are in there ;)

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    1. Oh really? I've never played Diablo or any of these computer "RPGs", so I wouldn't spot the influence.

      Actually I'd always assumed that CRPGs went the route of items simply having ridiculous to-hit / damage bonuses.

      Anyway, I like the idea. It's something I've tried to do more and more in my own games in fact... no simple "+X" magic items, rather items with unique powers, and sometimes with detrimental side-effects.

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    2. @Erik

      What makes this seem Diablo-like to you? I don't see the resemblance. If anything, Diablo magic items are the opposite, because they are all over the place and filled with arbitrary bonuses to random things.

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