CWF Game Cast

The article below was written several months ago by Derek Lloyd, owner of Battleground Games, as the start of an article bemoaning the use of magic items in Dungeons & Dragons. Unfortunately, Derek was unable to finish the article due to other responsibilities.

With 4th edition fast approaching we have decided to share this unfinished piece for its relevance. Normally, we would never do this. We wish to only share finished pieces as it is unfair to you, the visitor, and the author to make incomplete thoughts available to the public. We apologize to you in advance. We also hope to have Derek come back and write on D&D for you in the near future. Until then we hope you will enjoy this article.

There is an unfortunate trend that has infiltrated the Dungeons & Dragons community over the past few years that I believe has had some serious ramifications on the game as a whole. It is the issue of player control into areas of the game that were formerly the providence of the Dungeon Master. I realize that as a game evolves certain things must change, but this one seems to have rather sneakily wormed its way beyond what was the original intention of the 3rd Edition designers. This shift is most apparent in the recent book, the Magic Item Compendium.

Compare these two passages from different versions of the game. The first is from the 1st Edition Dungeon Master’s Guide by Gary Gygax: “Just as it is important to use forethought and consideration in placing valuable metals and other substances with monsters or otherwise hiding them in dungeon or wilderness, the placement of magic items is a serious matter. Thoughtless placement of powerful magic items has been the ruination of many a campaign. Not only does this cheapen what should be rare and precious, it gives player characters undeserved advancement and empowers them to become virtual rulers of all they survey. This is in part the fault of this writer, who deeply regrets not taking the time and space in D&D to stress repeatedly the importance of moderation.”

The second passage is from the 3.5 Edition book, the Magic Item Compendium by Andy Collins, Eytan Bernstein, Frank Brunner, Owen Stephens and John Snead: “A player points to an item published in this book or the Dungeon Master’s Guide and asks, ‘Can I buy this?’ The answer should usually be, ‘Yes.’”

written by Derek Lloyd

Tags

Dungeons & Dragons, Roleplaying Games.

Episode 35 with Jonathan as your host discussing News, Blog Changes, Rising Phoenix Games, Bloodninja, and Robby Roadsteamer. Explicit content from 20:21 ending at 24:48. Skip to 24:48 if you don’t want to listen to explicit content.

Show Length: 37:52

Download Podcast Now (Right Click, Save Target As to save to your computer)

Our RSS Feed (put the URL in your favorite RSS gatherer or podcast downloader)

00:00 Theme, Zombie by Devin Anderson (Electronic)

01:20 News

01:28 Empire Total War

Press Release

02:55 Event Countdowns @ CWF

War @ Sea at Battleground Games on Wednesdays

‘Ard Boyz Tournaments for 40k

WordPress 2.5 Releases in 4 Days

Anime Boston in 8 Days

Quake City Rumble’s Warhammer Fantasy GT in 12 Days

GameStorm Con in 15 Days

Havoc XXIV in 22 Days

Total Confusion XXII Presents All Day Boardgaming at Rising Phoenix Games in Leicester on April 19th

8:47 Battlegrounds Special Offers

D&D 4th Edition Offer - Pre-order & pre-pay all 3 core books and be entered to win a free case of D&D minis.

Battleground d20 20% Off Coupon

10:16 New Fantasy Wargames Newsletter Available

Read the March 2008 Issue

12:23 Music to Game By Check Out “Tree of Hope” by Robby Roadsteamer

15:59 Rising Phoenix Games Joins CWF

Announcement Article

Official Website

20:21 The Saga of Bloodninja Part 2 (EXPLICIT)

The iMac Tells Saga of Bloodninja Thread at SWSimForum

25:23 New England Podcasters Promo

33:16 Articles for the Blind

28:33 Blog Changes

Impended Changes

36:37 Please send us feedback. E-mail it to cwfgamecast [at] wargamingforums [dot] com. Use the Contact Us Page. Go to iTunes and leave a comment. Send an IM to cwforums on AIM.

37:05 Next cast will be Thursday March 20, 2008

37:18 Exit Theme, Pop Science by Devin Anderson (Electronic)

written by ^Raven^

Tags

40k, Battleground Games, Computer/Video Games, Music to Game By, New England Game Stores, Podcasts, Rising Phoenix Games, Roleplaying Games, Tournaments, War at Sea, Warhammer Fantasy.

Episode 34 with Jonathan as your host discussing Gary Gygax Dies, News, White Dwarf Magazine, and BG Weird War 2.

Show Length: 41:50

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Our RSS Feed (put the URL in your favorite RSS gatherer or podcast downloader)

00:00 Theme, Zombie by Devin Anderson (Electronic)

00:54 News

00:54 Gary Gygax Passed Away

An homage to the man behind Dungeons & Dragons

Gary Gygax on Wikipedia

05:06 Dawn of War Soulstorm

Released this week

06:04 Event Countdowns @ CWF

War @ Sea at Battleground Games on Wednesdays

‘Ard Boyz Tournaments for 40k

WordPress 2.5 Releases in 5 Days

Anime Boston in 16 Days

Quake City Rumble’s Warhammer Fantasy GT in 20 Days

Total Confusion XXII Presents All Day Boardgaming at Rising Phoenix Games in Leicester on April 19th

10:35 Battlegrounds Special Offers

D&D 4th Edition Offer - Pre-order & pre-pay all 3 core books and be entered to win a free case of D&D minis.

Battleground d20 20% Off Coupon

12:00 CWF March 2008 Newsletter Available

Read Issue #9

15:40 Music to Game By Check Out “Downtown” by Matthew Ebel.

21:07 White Dwarf #338 Quick Picks

White Dwarf #338 Quick Picks Article

31:31 High Orbit Podcast Promo

33:16 BG Weird War 2

Take 2: What The?! Miniatures to Sell First Custom Figs

39:50 Please send us feedback. E-mail it to cwfgamecast [at] wargamingforums [dot] com. Use the Contact Us Page. Go to iTunes and leave a comment. Send an IM to cwforums on AIM.

40:51 Next cast will be Thursday March 13, 2008

written by ^Raven^

Tags

Axis and Allies Minis, Battleground Games, battleground weird war 2, CCG/CMG, Computer/Video Games, custom figs, Dungeons & Dragons, Events, Gary Gygax, Historical Gaming, historical miniatures, Jobs, Music to Game By, New England Game Stores, Newsletter, Podcasts, Roleplaying Games, Tournaments, War at Sea, Warhammer Fantasy, white dwarf 338, White Dwarf Magazine.

It has been said that we do not spend much time on RPGs. This is sadly true. RPGs are a major area of gaming that take up a big piece of the pie. There are people far more knowledgeable on them than I who do a great job discussing them. However, we found out about a couple new releases you RPG fans will like.

Mongoose Publishing is well known for the roleplaying games it makes and two of its most popular are Runequest and Conan. I know several gamers who only step foot in Battleground Games to pick up the new Runequest and Conan books. If you’re looking for a new Runequest campaign or are a player looking for some Hyborian Age information these books are for you.

The first is a new campaign for Runequest titled Blood of Orlanth costing $29.95. From the publisher Mongoose Publishing:

There is a legend that few Gloranthans will ever know. It tells how during the Godswar, in the land which is now called Dragon Pass, Orlanth was almost slain by one of the vile Chaos Gods that rose from the Void and threatened to extinguish all life in the world. To the Orlanthi, this is a foul lie. Yet to a minor, lone cult of the barbarians, it is a terrible truth and a secret shame – a secret they guard forever.

This campaign is designed for use with any of three factions - the Player Characters can be Orlanthi barbarians, or God Learner agents, or warriors of the Empire of Wyrm Friends. Each chapter presents the same events and challenges from three different perspectives. If using this campaign with existing characters, they should be trusted allies or sworn mercenaries for one of those three factions.

The second is a new player’s guide for Conan titled Player’s Guide to the Hyborian Age costing $39.95. From the publisher Mongoose Publishing:

The Player’s Guide to the Hyborian Age contains new races, feats and spells that can be used within the game, helping to make each character truly unique, with multiple equipment kits to allow characters to be properly attired either by their culture or location. Also included are indexes detailing where to find the spells and character options already published in other Conan supplements. The Player’s Guide to the Hyborian Age is an invaluable sourcebook for the Conan game, expanding upon the information provided in the main rulebook and other supplements to enhance the experience of adventuring in the Hyborian Age.

Both of these are now available at your FLGS. Be sure to stop by and pick them up. They retail for $29.95 (Blood of Orlanth) and $39.95 (Hyborian Age).

written by ^Raven^

Tags

mongoose publishing, Roleplaying Games.

A new member who came to us from Griffon Games prompted me to peruse their site. I came across a fun article showing the video of the DnD 4th Edition presentation at GenCon. Its on YouTube but here’s for easier viewing.
Enjoy Parts 1-4.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

written by ^Raven^

Tags

4th edition, Dungeons & Dragons, gencon, Griffon Games, New England Game Stores, Roleplaying Games, video, youtube.