Dungeons & Dragons Calendar

Thinking about D&D

I'm putting up a calendar of possible D&D session dates.  Let me know if any of these dates would work for you guys. As usual I'm open pretty much every weekend and I would be up for other days as well. The calendar is listed through July right now but I'll make adjustments as soon as I get some feedback.  I'm having a little trouble posting the calendar here so i'll try it in its own post.

Feedback from the Playtest

A good article is up about what the overall opinions are for the D&D playtest.  It looks like things are headed in the right direction. Article here.  I would suggest signing in and taking the survey as you all had a chance to try out the playtest.

In addition to the 1st edition rules (reprints coming out next month) it looks like Wizards are covering all bases by reprinting the 3.5 edition rules as well.  Looks like their desperately trying to win their fan base back. Here and here.

D&D Art Test

Here are the images I've submitted for the D&D art test.  If you're curious the guidelines for the art test are given here it may explain the choices I made for the paintings.

Bounded Accuracy & Coup de Grace

This is one of the design features for 5th Edition that I'm most interested in.  I think if the designers can pull this off it will make for a more fun gaming experience.  I like the idea that even at higher levels each roll that players make won't be like having to do a math equation and the characters abilities won't be just a string of bloated modifiers.  As one of the designers said, "I don't want the character sheet to look like a tax form."
Bounded Accuracy

Also...
It's Lono's favorite thing to do and we've been saying it wrong all this time!

Coup de Grace is the subject of many arguments. People will often gleefully tell you it's pronounced "coo de grah" because of the way "gras" is pronounced in "Mardi Gras". They're wrong. "Grace" and "Gras" (which means "fat") are entirely different words. "Grace" has a strong "ss" sound at the end of it, and the phrase is pronounced "coo de grass".

Taken from the D&D Ultimate Pronunciation Guide

Don't get me started on Gel-a-TAE-nEus Cube, NEE-crow-mancer, and Puh-LA-din.

D&D Playtest overview

   Thanks for coming out and trying out the playtest on Saturday.  I was surprised that the pre-generated characters survived considering that they marched right into two of the most dangerous areas of the Caves of Chaos (the Owlbear den and the Minotaur's maze).  I would like to see how they react to some of the less formidable creatures of the caves.  I don't know weather it would be feasible, but I would like to have at least one more session before I give my feedback.  Remember that you can give your feedback as well.

  One thing that I did notice was how there were no rules for disengaging from combat allowing characters to dart in, attack, and then step away from an enemy with no repercussions. This was also due to the fact that characters (and monsters) could break up their movement every round instead of the traditional move and attack or attack then move.  It allowed for a more dynamic flow to the battle but I can see how this might be abused by both players and their adversaries.  "Tim the Enchanter" used this to great effect although he did get himself gored by the Minotaur.  This was a playtest after all so all the rules aren't in place yet, I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Here's a great article from the designers that goes into the choices that were made for the playtest. It helped clear up some things for me and I think you might find it interesting.

Mike Mearls: Playtest, First round overview 

I'm always looking for dates to play our Malavon campaign, so as usual let me know.

D&D Art Test

These sketches are going to be the foundation for my paintings for the 5th edition D&D art test.  The images are in line with the guidelines of the art test so they are not really original ideas.  One is a shaman of some monstrous humanoid race, one is a night watchman from a northern clime (with a pseudo-Slavic influence), and the last is a temple in a cold rocky terrain. Hope you like them... paintings soon to follow.

Hobgoblin Shaman of Maglubiyet

Night Watchman

Temple of Kelemvor