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	<title>Comments on: Chatty&#8217;s Review: The 4e Dungeon Master&#8217;s Guide</title>
	<atom:link href="http://chattydm.net/2008/06/16/chattys-review-the-4e-dungeon-masters-guide/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://chattydm.net/2008/06/16/chattys-review-the-4e-dungeon-masters-guide/</link>
	<description>Like Hanging at the Cash Register of your Favorite Game Store</description>
	<pubDate>Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:21:13 +0000</pubDate>
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		<title>By: Tyveil</title>
		<link>http://chattydm.net/2008/06/16/chattys-review-the-4e-dungeon-masters-guide/#comment-12125</link>
		<dc:creator>Tyveil</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 12 Jul 2008 21:02:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://chattydm.net/?p=642#comment-12125</guid>
		<description>"That is only one of the issues I had with 4E. At 1Lv you brake in to a castle, you chose to climb a wall to get in…10 levels later you get a quest to brake in to the same castle so you chose the same way you took last time, the DC gos up according to your level, regardless if is the same wall you climbed at 1Lv. If you are are higher level you should be bettor at Athletics so there for it should be easier but unless your STR MOD is higher or you took feats to make your Athletics bettor, the same wall is going to be just as hard to climb as when you were 1Lv and a rookie. =/"

That is not at all how scaling terrain is suppose to work.  If the players go back to the "same castle" the wall climbing DC should not scale, it stays the same, the wall hasn't changed.  The idea is that as players level up they go into places with harder to scale walls, more deadly traps, etc.  The idea makes sense, as the reviewer mentions it's a good idea to change the descriptions of the challenges as they are getting harder.  It's not the same stuff the characters are encountering.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>&#8220;That is only one of the issues I had with 4E. At 1Lv you brake in to a castle, you chose to climb a wall to get in…10 levels later you get a quest to brake in to the same castle so you chose the same way you took last time, the DC gos up according to your level, regardless if is the same wall you climbed at 1Lv. If you are are higher level you should be bettor at Athletics so there for it should be easier but unless your STR MOD is higher or you took feats to make your Athletics bettor, the same wall is going to be just as hard to climb as when you were 1Lv and a rookie. =/&#8221;</p>
<p>That is not at all how scaling terrain is suppose to work.  If the players go back to the &#8220;same castle&#8221; the wall climbing DC should not scale, it stays the same, the wall hasn&#8217;t changed.  The idea is that as players level up they go into places with harder to scale walls, more deadly traps, etc.  The idea makes sense, as the reviewer mentions it&#8217;s a good idea to change the descriptions of the challenges as they are getting harder.  It&#8217;s not the same stuff the characters are encountering.</p>
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		<title>By: Gnome Rodeo: Special Early and Late Edition - Gnome Stew, the Game Mastering Blog</title>
		<link>http://chattydm.net/2008/06/16/chattys-review-the-4e-dungeon-masters-guide/#comment-11817</link>
		<dc:creator>Gnome Rodeo: Special Early and Late Edition - Gnome Stew, the Game Mastering Blog</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 03 Jul 2008 07:44:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://chattydm.net/?p=642#comment-11817</guid>
		<description>[...] Musings of the Chatty DM: First he did the DMG, and now Chatty has reviewed the D&#38;D 4e PHB. He&#8217;s also got a killer contest going with [...]</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>[...] Musings of the Chatty DM: First he did the DMG, and now Chatty has reviewed the D&#38;D 4e PHB. He&#8217;s also got a killer contest going with [...]</p>
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		<title>By: ChattyDM</title>
		<link>http://chattydm.net/2008/06/16/chattys-review-the-4e-dungeon-masters-guide/#comment-11466</link>
		<dc:creator>ChattyDM</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 22 Jun 2008 23:22:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://chattydm.net/?p=642#comment-11466</guid>
		<description>I'm confident that the skill challenge will get enough fan/designer attention to become what it needs to be... consider this a bugged feature to be ironed out in a patch (FAQ, Dragon Mag article)</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I&#8217;m confident that the skill challenge will get enough fan/designer attention to become what it needs to be&#8230; consider this a bugged feature to be ironed out in a patch (FAQ, Dragon Mag article)</p>
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		<title>By: Omnus</title>
		<link>http://chattydm.net/2008/06/16/chattys-review-the-4e-dungeon-masters-guide/#comment-11465</link>
		<dc:creator>Omnus</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 22 Jun 2008 17:40:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://chattydm.net/?p=642#comment-11465</guid>
		<description>I have to say, the measure of a good DM's manual is what it brings to you, the DM, in terms of perspective and utility.  When I first saw the 4th Edition DM's guide, I laughed at the fact that there was no lists of magical items, and shook my head.  But I'd paid good money for the book, and I sat down and determined to read it cover-to-cover (which I have still never done for the 3.0 and 3.5 DM's guide, which I found only useful for the tables).  What I read there, even early on, challenged my way of DMing and my perspective on what made a good game good.  True, there are standout tables (page 42, I'm looking at you), and there is a bit of fluff that isn't as necessary, but for the most part this Guidebook is one of the most solid pieces of gaming literature I have ever read.  I agree with all your praise above.

Regarding the Skill challenge system, I regret that it probably is a system that only works in 4th Edition D&#38;D.  The system itself allows it: you get a bonus to your rolls equal to half your level, and training gives you a flat +5 bonus to rolls means everyone has a viable chance to contribute.  Perhaps not always a great chance, especially if the skill challenge begins to slip away and the penalties begin to accrue, but my experience has always been to bemoan that all games have "skill-haves" and "skill-have-nots" (often the guys who are really good at killing things).  So you have the skill people sitting out on the body-count competition,  and the killers looking on when the time for negotiation or city-time involves more than wenching and drinking.  Part of that is on the players, but part of it is on the systems, too, ever since we took as fact that wizards were scrawny twerps in robes who die from the first touch of a weapon and fighters were laconic idiots whose idea of a conversation is limited to "I like swords!"  I know, this is just stereotyping, but the systems enabled it.  4th Edition is purposefully trying to smooth everything out so no one has to miss out on any aspect of the game.  Ambitious?  Heck yeah!  But it'll have some flaws until it's perfected, and the skills challenge section has a few rough spots in what is an incredible idea.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I have to say, the measure of a good DM&#8217;s manual is what it brings to you, the DM, in terms of perspective and utility.  When I first saw the 4th Edition DM&#8217;s guide, I laughed at the fact that there was no lists of magical items, and shook my head.  But I&#8217;d paid good money for the book, and I sat down and determined to read it cover-to-cover (which I have still never done for the 3.0 and 3.5 DM&#8217;s guide, which I found only useful for the tables).  What I read there, even early on, challenged my way of DMing and my perspective on what made a good game good.  True, there are standout tables (page 42, I&#8217;m looking at you), and there is a bit of fluff that isn&#8217;t as necessary, but for the most part this Guidebook is one of the most solid pieces of gaming literature I have ever read.  I agree with all your praise above.</p>
<p>Regarding the Skill challenge system, I regret that it probably is a system that only works in 4th Edition D&amp;D.  The system itself allows it: you get a bonus to your rolls equal to half your level, and training gives you a flat +5 bonus to rolls means everyone has a viable chance to contribute.  Perhaps not always a great chance, especially if the skill challenge begins to slip away and the penalties begin to accrue, but my experience has always been to bemoan that all games have &#8220;skill-haves&#8221; and &#8220;skill-have-nots&#8221; (often the guys who are really good at killing things).  So you have the skill people sitting out on the body-count competition,  and the killers looking on when the time for negotiation or city-time involves more than wenching and drinking.  Part of that is on the players, but part of it is on the systems, too, ever since we took as fact that wizards were scrawny twerps in robes who die from the first touch of a weapon and fighters were laconic idiots whose idea of a conversation is limited to &#8220;I like swords!&#8221;  I know, this is just stereotyping, but the systems enabled it.  4th Edition is purposefully trying to smooth everything out so no one has to miss out on any aspect of the game.  Ambitious?  Heck yeah!  But it&#8217;ll have some flaws until it&#8217;s perfected, and the skills challenge section has a few rough spots in what is an incredible idea.</p>
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		<title>By: Weekend Link Round-Up &#171; Jonathan Drain&#39;s D20 Source: Dungeons &#38; Dragons Blog</title>
		<link>http://chattydm.net/2008/06/16/chattys-review-the-4e-dungeon-masters-guide/#comment-11461</link>
		<dc:creator>Weekend Link Round-Up &#171; Jonathan Drain&#39;s D20 Source: Dungeons &#38; Dragons Blog</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 22 Jun 2008 05:51:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://chattydm.net/?p=642#comment-11461</guid>
		<description>[...] Chatty&#8217;s Review: The 4e Dungeon Master&#8217;s Guide, by Chatty DM A fellow D&#38;D blogger gives his review on the Dungeon Master&#8217;s Guide. Also from Chatty DM is a list of online 4e tools. [...]</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>[...] Chatty&#8217;s Review: The 4e Dungeon Master&#8217;s Guide, by Chatty DM A fellow D&#38;D blogger gives his review on the Dungeon Master&#8217;s Guide. Also from Chatty DM is a list of online 4e tools. [...]</p>
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		<title>By: 4e Review: The DMG &#171; King of the Nerds!!!</title>
		<link>http://chattydm.net/2008/06/16/chattys-review-the-4e-dungeon-masters-guide/#comment-11459</link>
		<dc:creator>4e Review: The DMG &#171; King of the Nerds!!!</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 21 Jun 2008 15:01:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://chattydm.net/?p=642#comment-11459</guid>
		<description>[...] over at Gnome Stew, and for a decent overiew of the DMG I recommend Chatty&#8217;s review over at Chatty the DM.  I&#8217;m going to cover a lot of the same ground and both those guys are way better at me than [...]</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>[...] over at Gnome Stew, and for a decent overiew of the DMG I recommend Chatty&#8217;s review over at Chatty the DM.  I&#8217;m going to cover a lot of the same ground and both those guys are way better at me than [...]</p>
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		<title>By: Diane Brunner</title>
		<link>http://chattydm.net/2008/06/16/chattys-review-the-4e-dungeon-masters-guide/#comment-11446</link>
		<dc:creator>Diane Brunner</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 20 Jun 2008 02:23:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://chattydm.net/?p=642#comment-11446</guid>
		<description>I am currently looking for posts about gamers thoughts on the new 4E of D&#38;D.  Anyone who participates will get credit for their post.   It is just put in a blog carnival format.  If you would like to participate please post your blog here http://blogcarnival.com/bc/cprof_4487.html.

All blogs are due by next Thursday, June 26th by 5 PM EST.

Friday June 27th all the posts will be here http://her-sca-blog.com/</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I am currently looking for posts about gamers thoughts on the new 4E of D&amp;D.  Anyone who participates will get credit for their post.   It is just put in a blog carnival format.  If you would like to participate please post your blog here <a href="http://blogcarnival.com/bc/cprof_4487.html">http://blogcarnival.com/bc/cprof_4487.html</a>.</p>
<p>All blogs are due by next Thursday, June 26th by 5 PM EST.</p>
<p>Friday June 27th all the posts will be here <a href="http://her-sca-blog.com/">http://her-sca-blog.com/</a></p>
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		<title>By: Comment on Chatty’s Review: The 4e Dungeon Master’s Guide by &#8230; at 3rd Strike</title>
		<link>http://chattydm.net/2008/06/16/chattys-review-the-4e-dungeon-masters-guide/#comment-11441</link>
		<dc:creator>Comment on Chatty’s Review: The 4e Dungeon Master’s Guide by &#8230; at 3rd Strike</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Jun 2008 22:36:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://chattydm.net/?p=642#comment-11441</guid>
		<description>[...] Comment on Chatty’s Review: The 4e Dungeon Master’s Guide by &#8230; [...] DMG review by ChattyDM [...] [...]</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>[...] Comment on Chatty’s Review: The 4e Dungeon Master’s Guide by &#8230; [...] DMG review by ChattyDM [...] [...]</p>
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		<title>By: Elonian Nomad - 3rd Strike &#187; Blog Archive &#187; Dungeons and Dragons 4th Edition Out Last Saturday</title>
		<link>http://chattydm.net/2008/06/16/chattys-review-the-4e-dungeon-masters-guide/#comment-11423</link>
		<dc:creator>Elonian Nomad - 3rd Strike &#187; Blog Archive &#187; Dungeons and Dragons 4th Edition Out Last Saturday</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Jun 2008 15:10:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://chattydm.net/?p=642#comment-11423</guid>
		<description>[...] DMG review by ChattyDM [...]</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>[...] DMG review by ChattyDM [...]</p>
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		<title>By: Yan</title>
		<link>http://chattydm.net/2008/06/16/chattys-review-the-4e-dungeon-masters-guide/#comment-11375</link>
		<dc:creator>Yan</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:28:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://chattydm.net/?p=642#comment-11375</guid>
		<description>It's all just a question of presentation and perception.

 I mean if you want to make the DC for the wall climbing stay the same go ahead it won't brake anything in the system. Just don't consider it a challenge anymore and award XP for it. Then again their is plenty of way to make it harder and still make it a challenge while keeping the realism. "They knew you'd come they've put blade protruding out from the wall and covered it with grease now the DC is X"

This is the back bone system, fluff it up like you want, those number are just their to give you an idea of what is considered a challenge for a level x character.

my 2 cents</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It&#8217;s all just a question of presentation and perception.</p>
<p> I mean if you want to make the DC for the wall climbing stay the same go ahead it won&#8217;t brake anything in the system. Just don&#8217;t consider it a challenge anymore and award XP for it. Then again their is plenty of way to make it harder and still make it a challenge while keeping the realism. &#8220;They knew you&#8217;d come they&#8217;ve put blade protruding out from the wall and covered it with grease now the DC is X&#8221;</p>
<p>This is the back bone system, fluff it up like you want, those number are just their to give you an idea of what is considered a challenge for a level x character.</p>
<p>my 2 cents</p>
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