tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139498400908952220.post7564081597061829288..comments2024-02-11T22:33:45.430-08:00Comments on Baker's Field: Gold as XP, Boston, MunichRichard Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329182427795648081noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139498400908952220.post-10042009866318853932013-05-03T07:23:36.236-07:002013-05-03T07:23:36.236-07:00When doing fantasy (I prefer sci fi, like Alternit...When doing fantasy (I prefer sci fi, like Alternity, and Traveller) I'm a big fan of systems like Mongoose Conan, where your PC gets money, but relentlessly burns through it between sessions, acting as a gold sink. I was never a fan of the magic shoppe style of game, and thus prefer 2nd edition (run as low magic), and of course, Birthright. Every item is hand-written. The players decide who gets them in the party.<br />James H. Jenkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15422384433831924255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139498400908952220.post-84901223231884955932013-04-29T07:39:19.912-07:002013-04-29T07:39:19.912-07:00I agree with treating him as a criminal suspect, n...I agree with treating him as a criminal suspect, not an unlawful combatant, for the reasons you cite. However, not giving him his Miranda rights is a dangerous precedent. You cannot have it both ways. Also, you are incorrect about the public safety exception. The exception is not to deny him his rights but that statements made before he is given his lawful rights can be admissible in court, if it meets the limited and specific criteria. Not to read him his rights risks statements he makes that DON'T meet the criteria to be inadmissible in court. That would be a VERY bad thing if it happens, and I suspect it will.<br /><br />Yeah, mob rule is a bitch. With backpack bombs now WMDs our government has opened a whole can of worms. Why don't they think prosecuting for murder is enough? Why do they think they have to pile on all of these labels? I realize that the sentencing gets stiffer, but do they really think that somehow these guys are going to get out of simple murder charges?Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13667428218897971037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139498400908952220.post-76646600053626308422013-04-28T15:17:08.421-07:002013-04-28T15:17:08.421-07:00Hi, I've banged on about this elsewhere, but I...Hi, I've banged on about this elsewhere, but I'm afraid I'll do so again...<br /><br />On the aspects of D&D 'magic items' you mention, I think 4E did something brilliant that has been all but ignored: it split enchanted gear into two categories, "magic items" and "artifacts". Instead of artifacts being the magic item equivalent of "10th level spells", they became a distinct class: magic items you couldn't make.<br /><br />I know quite a few folks who enjoy the charop side of 3.x and 4E D&D, and the "magic items" in 4E add a nice aspect to that - they are a resource for character building that can be shared among the party, rather than an introspective "I'm designing me" element. But artifacts are the DM's toys; McGuffin, quest object, story element, inanimate NPC - you name it. If you want a pure "you can't buy magic items" - use artifacts only. If you want pure gamism - use magic items only. It's a functional divide that I thought didn't get anywhere near the attention and leverage it deserved. The only thing I would maybe do differently (and I intend to try this in my next campaign) is to split "residuum" from gold and make residuum the "magic item resource", letting "Disenchant" give you back 100% of the item value, but you must use the item value in residuum to make an item.<br /><br />In summary - I know what you mean about "special" magic items and XP for money (thus rewarding getting the loot through trickery as well as fighting), but I think 4E had some great tools for that which seemed to get ignored...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09356946616595671054noreply@blogger.com