Critical Hit and D&D 4th

[Beta Ray Bill Cosby]

Hey, I'm starting this thread for specific questions that people have for Critical Hit, we get a lot of questions on the comment section, but this way other people can reference them as well. So ask away, although I'm way more likely to answer mechanics stuff and stuff that's already happened and will probably [7-shadow-evasion] any questions regarding future plot and listener speculation.

[Navarre]

I still haven't played 4E. I sometimes hear the criticism that the role-playing aspect and rules have been distilled out, to some regard, in favor of ease-of-play. This seems to suggest a game that is more stat-based and about "my points beat yours" than about creating a submersive gaming experience.

Your opinion?

[MaximusRift]

I've never played 4e, but my regular DM did dungeonmaster a few games with it till he ditched it for the Pathfinder system.  When I asked him why, he told me that there was virtually almost no difference between character levels other than the occasional increase of what you did before.  Anyways I'm happy with the Pathfinder system.

The only question I have is if you're going to keep it 4e or will you try out other systems that aren't too complex? Maybe something in the WhiteWolf system or a Mutants and Masterminds Adv.?

[Beta Ray Bill Cosby]

I still haven't played 4E. I sometimes hear the criticism that the role-playing aspect and rules have been distilled out, to some regard, in favor of ease-of-play. This seems to suggest a game that is more stat-based and about "my points beat yours" than about creating a submersive gaming experience.

Your opinion?

I really don't see how 4th edition is any more about character's points than 3rd edition. I can see the criticism applied to all D&D editions as a whole since it's a game that, in general, tends to emphasize tactical combat (and thus, arguably, de-emphasize everything else). 4th edition, is, in fact a lot more straight forward than the previous ones. Take for example buffs:

in 3rd edition you could temporarily buff a character's constitution, thus giving him a number of hit points equal to (1/2 the stat increase)xcharacter level, increasing his fortitude save by (1/2 stat increase) and giving him a bonus to assorted skills equal to that same number.

in 4th edition you get powers that read "Shinynewbear'sendurance: Gain 5 temporary hit points, you get a +2 bonus to your for defense until the end of your next turn."

those are both functionally the same, except the 4th edition version doesn't depend on the player going, "oh yeah, now that x happened I forgot that I got +1 to this other thing." Of course a direct bump to constitution is cool to someone who likes tabulating his awesome character's newly enhanced abilities. But I've actually had players cash in their barbarians because they get annoyed at having to recalculate their hit points and attack bonus every time.

as far as changing systems, no, there are no plans for changing, since it's taken us this long to get comfortable, maybe once this game is done we'll pick up Exalted or Big Eyes Small Mouth.

[xpeterx]

in the critical hit universe you have artificers, warforged and flying ships. All these things are from eberron.  Are these things standard to 4th edition now or did your homebrew campaign world just happen to take a lot out of eberron. because I don't think the characters are actually on eberron.

[Beta Ray Bill Cosby]

in the critical hit universe you have artificers, warforged and flying ships. All these things are from eberron.  Are these things standard to 4th edition now or did your homebrew campaign world just happen to take a lot out of eberron. because I don't think the characters are actually on eberron.

flying ships are common in Eberron, but they actually appear in other settings as well, most notably SPELLJAMMER. The important thing about Eberron is that magic is very common, so warforged, artificers (really magewrights, mostly), and flying ships are everyday things. In my setting (Which I should probably name eventually) these things are actually very rare, it is only through the actions of the PCs that these things come to the fore.

[That Ninja]

     This may just be my ignorance of 4th edition, but I had a question pertaining to dealing massive damage in one hit.  From a story a friend told me (of a 4th edition game) that he was able to deal over 50 percent (or to bloodied I’m not 100% sure myself) of a boss’s hp in one hit, and thus was able to effectively “one shot” said creature.  So is it perhaps that if you deal enough damage to your enemy low enough in one attack it would kill him / her. 
     The only reason I ask is because I thought in one of the earlier episodes Tork (I think that’s how it’s spelled) brought an enemy down to bloodied in 1 attack, and when I heard he didn’t kill him I was a little confused.  Like I said I have not played 4th edition, and maybe it was simply my friend’s DM’s house rule.

[Navarre]

In 3rd Edition, if you dealt more than 50 hit points of damage in a single attack the creature must make a Fortitude save (DC 15) or die.

This is designed to make the game a little realistic in that anyone could theoretically be laid low by a massive blow. Of course, a DC 15 isn't hard to beat so a character of any appreciable power level will probably live. Still, it gives you a shot at glory.

[That Ninja]

The only reason I asked is because I know is that it was 4th edition, not 3rd or 3.5.

[Navarre]

In my setting ... these things [high-magic items and events?] are actually very rare, it is only through the actions of the PCs that these things come to the fore.

I think this is an important thing that is true in most (maybe not all) games. The PCs encounter elements of the game world that the common person would never encounter. By virtue of that encounter and the PCs power the PCs then shape the game world in ways a common person would never dream.

I have always considered a person (PC or NPC) with a class to be a great rarity. Most people in the world have NPC classes like Commoner or Artisan. Even an NPC Warrior class character is far below what the lowliest of Fighters can achieve.

Consequently, the mere fact that the PCs all have a PC Class places them into an aspect of the world that is elite. I also frequently make that understood in my game because a 5th level Wizard may not be so tough in the context of the party and plot but, to the populace at large, it is extraordinary.

So when the 5th level Wizard has that one good Fireball spell but it doesn't take out the enemy Rogue who has Improved Evasion and makes her Reflex save...well, that's how combat goes. 

... But if I was the Commoner apple vendor who just saw some halfling chick jump 6 feet into the air and dodge a roaring ball of fire that came screaming from the hands of that crazy-looking dude with the bat on his shoulder ... ...

[Beta Ray Bill Cosby]

     This may just be my ignorance of 4th edition, but I had a question pertaining to dealing massive damage in one hit.  From a story a friend told me (of a 4th edition game) that he was able to deal over 50 percent (or to bloodied I’m not 100% sure myself) of a boss’s hp in one hit, and thus was able to effectively “one shot” said creature.  So is it perhaps that if you deal enough damage to your enemy low enough in one attack it would kill him / her. 
     The only reason I ask is because I thought in one of the earlier episodes Tork (I think that’s how it’s spelled) brought an enemy down to bloodied in 1 attack, and when I heard he didn’t kill him I was a little confused.  Like I said I have not played 4th edition, and maybe it was simply my friend’s DM’s house rule.

there are no massive damage rules anywhere in the PHB for 4th edition. I think your friends may have some holdout rules from 3rd. It happens, people in my crew were taking unnecessary penalties to their AC after charging for a while before someone actually said something.

[Ivdar]

I just listened to episode 22 of Critical Hit. It was absolutely awesome ; I LOVE skill challenges, it just might be the best thing to come from 4th edition.

And I have a question : where can we see the Secret Elven Handshake ? I know Rodrigo retconned it, but it was also said that you recorded it and that it would go up on YouTube. So where can we see this apparently hilarious display of handshaking ?

[Beta Ray Bill Cosby]

the secret elven handshake may be one of those apocryphal files that have been lost to stephen's crashy hard drive.

[That Ninja]

the secret elven handshake may be one of those apocryphal files that have been lost to stephen's crashy hard drive.

Here's hoping it isn't totally lost.  *crosses fingers*

[Halston Thorqelson]

Uh...  Ah have a ques'ion 'r sompin...

C'n ah have a puppy?