Wizard’s Randy Buehler posted an update on the D&DI product set yesterday. Although it is disheartening that none of the unreleased major products is ready for release, I want to thank Randy and Wizards for providing what seems like an honest assessment of the current situation. Leaving customers in the dark is the worst thing you can do, so regular, realistic updates are critical to not pissing off your potential customer base — particularly for a new product.
Let’s look at each element of D&DI:
1) Dragon and Dungeon magazines. These are up and running and I have been happy with the content and presentation. I really like the landscape page layout because it minimized column length and allows for better inclusion of sidebars, stat blocks, and resources. Good work Wizards!
2) The D&D Compendium. This has been a bit of a let down, but they are making improvements (posted by our favorite gnome) and soliciting feedback. But it looks like you still can’t search by keyword — such as “at-will”. [CORRECTION: You can! This makes the compendium much more useful.] Doing search right and satisfying everyone is hard as long as Wizards keeps improving the functionality, I won’t get too ranty.
3) The Bonus Tools. I suppose for “bonus items” I shouldn’t complain, but both the Encounter Builder and Ability Generator while having some limited usefulness are pretty clunky and not very friendly. If I had made them for myself I would be satisfied, but for a product for customers they need some more work.
4a) The Character Visualizer. I have never cared about the Visualizer. Creating a portrait of my character really isn’t important to me. I only have the vaguest impression of what my characters look like — it is the personality and effectiveness that I care about. Additionally since this is a Windows client application, I won’t be using it.
4b) The Character Generator. This is the application that I have been fairly excited about — to simplify my desire to find an build for optimal flavor and efficacy, and to simplify the process for those that I play with so that they don’t have to invest time into meticulously copying powers and computing bonuses. But the latest update dashed my hopes. I finally noticed that this is a Windows client application. WTF?!?! There is nothing about generating a character sheet and power cards that prevent this from being a web application. This also explains why this isn’t ready yet. Looks like I may be using what I learned creating spellbook to create a character generator of my own (for my personal, not public, use).
5) Dungeon Builder. It would be nice if this was also a web app, but since it isn’t I probably won’t be using it. Wizards believes that it is “mostly done” but since the Game Table (below) isn’t ready the primary use of the application is negated. Wizards should let people give this a try so that DMs can discover bugs now so they can be resolved before there is a crush of bug reports for the Game Table.
6) The Game Table. Another Windows client application that seems could be significantly more simple as a 2D web application. The minimum set of functionality for on-line playing of D&D is chat (voice chat would be great), a 2D map that players can interact with via their character and DM can add monsters, traps, etc. While 3D is neat-o, it is entirely unnecessary and is only add-on eye candy. But since this is a Windows client app, I doubt I’ll ever use it.
7) Pricing. Since none of the client applications are ready they’ll be staring with a “web-only” price of $4.95/month (with a 12 month commitment). This price is fair (for Dragon and Dungeon alone) and I will pony up the cash. I do hope that Wizards has thoroughly though out on-line payment — they don’t want a crush of people trying to subscribe only to fail because of some bug in the process. If after the client applications are available the web-only option is eliminated it is highly likely that I will be unwilling to pay $9.95/month (with a 12 month commitment) for D&DI — there is just too much that I won’t be able to use.
Page 280 of the PHB lists 15 different ways to gain combat advantage — and there are more. But there is no advantage to stacking these unfavorable conditions which makes the game a bit easier, but really doesn’t make any sense:
Senario 1: You are attacking a troll. The troll is unaware of you so you have Combat advantage — +2 to your attack roll.
Senario 2: You are going to attack a troll. Two of your companions have flanked the troll, and the troll is dazed from an attack by your warlock companion. You have remained hidden so the troll is unaware of you. You have combat advantage 2 ways (dazed, unaware), or 3 ways in my reckoning (flanked, dazed, unaware), but your bonus to your attack roll is still +2.
When fighting stronger opponents it is very helpful to be able to stack as many tactical advantages as possible to increase your chances of hitting and doing damage — in other words wolf pack tactics. But it doesn’t make sense to stack some of the conditions (like Surprised and Stunned). My rule:
Combat Advantage (Mental): The defender’s mental condition has been compromised such that it is less able to defend itself. The attacker gains a +2 Mental Combat Advantage bonus to attack if the defender is Dazed, Helpless, Stunned, Surprised, or Unconscious.
Combat Advantage (Physical): The defender’s physical situation limits its ability to defend itself. The attacker gains a +2 Physical Combat Advantage bonus to attack if the defender is Balancing, Climbing, Prone (melee only), Restrained, Running, Squeezing.
Combat Advantage (Tactical): The attacker (or his allies) has the defender in a advantageous tactical situation. The attacker gains a +2 Tactical Combat Advantage to attack if the defender is Flanked, Unable to see the attacker, or Unaware of the attacker.
Stacking: Combat Advantage bonuses do not stack within type, but an attacker can stack Combat Advantages of multiple types. For example, an attacker would have a +6 bonus against an unconscious opponent with a melee attack (Mental: Unconscious, Helpless; Physical: Prone; Tactical: Unaware of, Unable to see attacker).
This is more complicated but strongly rewards parties (and nasty DMs) when they think creatively to place and opponent in the worst possible situation.
From page 278 of the PHB:
Natural 20: If you roll a 20 on the die when making an attack roll, you score a critical hit if your total attack roll is high enough to hit your target’s defense. If your attack roll is too low to score a critical hit, you still hit automatically.
From a realism perspective, this rule is fine — even though the 1st level Fighter rolled a natural 20 to hit the Ancient Dragon (and thus scored a miraculous hit) she shouldn’t do critical damage because it was a fluke that she could even hit the dragon. But from a game perspective this is just an additional rule complication that shouldn’t be necessary. Just about any opponent you face should be able to be hit by a 20 + your attack bonuses (and the reverse). If not the encounter is not balanced properly. Why not just simplify matters and have a 20 always be critical?
Natural 20: If you roll a 20 on the die when making an attack roll, you score a critical hit.
The 4E rules on flanking are very similar to the 3.x rules that I didn’t like. The rules are quite clear (PHB 285): “Combat Advantage: You have combat advantage … against an enemy you flank.” [emphasis mine]. I hate this because it doesn’t make any sense that if a monster is flanked by two PCs that a third PC attacking the monster should not also have Combat Advantage over the monster. If you are distracted by two foes on opposite sides of you adding a third vector of attack should be harder not easier to defend against.
My rule change would be to add a new condition to the list of conditions on page 277 of the PHB:
Flanked
* You grant combat advantage
You would gain the Flanked condition under the same rules on page 285 of the PHB, but once flanked anyone attacking you would have combat advantage.
This rule change will help encourage parties (and nasty DMs) to use the tactical roles better. If two melee beaters maneuver to flank (perhaps with assistance from a leader), not only will they have an easier time hitting, but the fragile ranged specialists (e.g., bow wielding ranger, warlock, or wizard) will be able to take advantage of the opponents compromised position.
In March with the release of a new rev of Macbook Pro, I (well my work) replaced my old Dell Laptop. A few years ago I had completely abandoned Windows for Ubuntu — and I’ve been quite happy. But the Macbook Pro is an excellent computer, and as I’ve gotten older my interest in doing the research to figure out how to use some Linux based software has waned.
Since switching to the Mac, I have been very happy. Though there are three things that annoy me occasionally:
1) missing keys — Steve Jobs obsession with minimizing the number of buttons helps create wonderfully simple and clean devices, but the missing ‘Home’, ‘End’, ‘Page Up’, ‘Page Down’ keys took me a while to adjust to — and there are still some instances where I really miss them.
2) only one mouse button — what the hell is up with this? There is no reason to not have two buttons except for Jobs’ obsession.
3) Very few configuration options — with almost all Linux applications there are configuration options to modify every minor aspect of the app’s behavior (of course it takes a lot of research to figure out what many of the options do, and determine what is best), but with the Mac there are frequently only a couple of options. For example iMovie allows you to output your video in 4 resolutions and that’s it. Avidemux has hundreds of options, iMovie has one option with 4 values — which is not acceptable. I like iMovie’s format for selecting clips to include, but I haven’t been satisfied with the output.
But with those annoyances, I have been very happy — until Wednesday night when my Mac got sad. After burning a DVD, I was opening a couple windows and then the power just cut out. The Mac immediately started to reboot, but the power cut out again when I tried to log in. Eventually I figured out that when I applied pressure to a 3 inch square area on the left palm rest the power would cut out. So I finished some work and then left the laptop alone for the night. In the morning it didn’t repeat the behavior. But while at work it started again. Damn. I took the laptop back to the University Bookstore, and demonstrated the behavior — they were quite bewildered (not good). As of 5 PM last night, they had completed the Apple Hardware and Software diagnostics and discovered no errors — but they could still replicate the failure.
So I’ve switched back to my Dell, and I no really appreciate the usability of the Mac — particularly the multi-touch touchpad. I’m sad over my sad Mac.
Back in the 80’s when Jimmy Carter spent his time building houses for the poor and eradicating diseases, I had some respect for the man and what he was trying to do, but since then he has gone off the deep end embracing every evil dictator/murderer he can find in an attempt to become the ultimate peacemaker. Just some highlights off the top of my head:
1) Slobodan Milosevic (1994), Carter inserted himself into the ongoing Bosnian war.
2) Kim Jong-il (1994): Carter brokered a deal over North Korea’s nuclear ambitions without the approval or support of the Clinton administration — a deal the North Korean’s shamelessly violated.
3) Hugo Chavez (2003): Carter (and his organization) gave his stamp of legitimacy on the recall election against Chavez — despite some extremely strong evidence of government interference and independent exit polls showing the opposition winning by 20 percent.
4) Omar al-Bashar (2007): While touring Sudan, Carter criticized the West for labeling the genocide in Darfur as a genocide, because it wasn’t helpful in reaching a peaceful settlement.
And now, Carter adds terrorists to the list of murderers that he’s willing to embrace and pay homage to. Today he embraced a leading Hamas figure and layed a wreath at the grave of Yasser Arafat. Nice.
Initiatives / Referendum / Amendments / Propositions
I-960 (2/3 + Elections for Tax Increases): NO — Another attempt to financially handcuff legislators ability to raise taxes. While I’m all for lower taxes the best way to do that is elect Republicans, not elect Democrats and handcuff them.
R-67 (Sue your Insurance Company): NO — Trial lawyers are for it so I’m against it. I would be fine with additional guarantees of rights for insurance policyholders, but this law is bacon wrapped around a poisonous gift to the plaintiff’s bar.
ESSJR 8206 (Mandatory Rainy Day Fund): YES — I like it mainly because it pisses off the Legislature’s committee chairs. It is probably a bad idea though.
SJR 8212 (Prison Slave Labor): NO — I’ve never liked the idea of pimping out prisoners to private business.
EHJR 4204 (Majority Rule for School Levies): NO — The proponents of the change are absolutely correct that it is only fair that school levies should only take a majority, the problem is that levies are generally voted on by themselves in Spring elections which means that a quiet campaign for a levy could result in passage without the general public noticing. If levies were only voted on in November, I’d vote for it.
SHJR 4215 (Properly Invest Higher Ed Trust Funds): YES — Investing only in near-zero risk investments means you earn very little. Some balancing with higher risk/return is *prudent*.
King County I-25 (Elected Elections Director): HELL YES! — This is long overdue. King County is the only county in the state with an Elections Director that serves another politician and not the voters. Both election reform commissions formed after the disastrous 2004 election recommended this reform but Commissar Sims and the Democrats of the Council like controlling our votes.
King County Prop 1 (Medic One): NO — I always vote against these as a protest since the county loves to give general revenue away to liberal causes/charities rather than funding core services — and then those core services need to be funded with levies. Total scam.
Sound Transit/RTID Prop 1 (ST2): NO — This prop will do nothing to reduce traffic congestion and almost all of the money goes to more trains — that will carry a very limited number of people. Sound Transit is 10 years late on the 1996 plan (that was supposed to finish in 2006), why are we giving them more money to spend on wild promises when they can’t meet there current promises? Hell even Commissar Sims opposes it…
Seattle Charter Amendment 17 (Add Charter Fluff): NO –There is no need to alter the charter to add fluff text.
Seattle Charter Amendment 18 (More Mandatory Speeches): NO — I don’t want to hear more from Mayor Hutt.
Seattle Council
Seat 1: Szwaja — Yes he’s a loony green, but Jean Godden has been a nightmare — and by putting him on the council we’ll get him out of his teaching job…. Win, Win.
Seat 3: Harrell — He’s not an offensive drunk driver.
Seat 5: Joseph B. Walker — Rasmussen is unopposed so I’m voting for myself.
Seat 7: Della — I both like and hate each candidate, but Della opposed Mayor Hutt’s tunnels so he’s got my vote.
Seat 9: Fenton — No chance but Clark supports all the wrong things.
School District
District 3: Martin-Morris — Wow Blomstrom is a nutjob: “I also advocate socialism - not Soviet-style, but more in line with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’ vision.” So you think that we should have a President for Life with the power to legislate without the consent of the Congress? I don’t want G.H.W. Bush to be president after 1/20/2009… But honestly Blomstrom lost me with: “America is being destroyed by corporate corruption…” NEXT.
King County
Prosecuting Attorney: Satterberg — I don’t want a carpet bagger who moved to Seattle and has been trying to get elected to any office for the past couple year. Satterberg is a fine candidate, and having the Prosecuting attorney be of the opposite party as the Executive is a bonus in my book.
Assessor: Nobles — No reason really.
Council Seat 2: Joseph B. Walker — Again unopposed goon, voting for myself
Port 2: Tarleton — She’s not the incumbent and has relevant experience.
Port 5: Bryant — He’s not the incumbent and has relevant experience.
Jon comments on Senator Clinton’s selection of a theme song for her campaign:
[S]he has Celine Dion’s “You and I” as the campaign’s official theme song. Ms Dion is Canadian!! There were no American singers available? And it was chosen by a web-contest? What this tells me is that Hillary wants to be popular. A theme song is supposed to inspire, to let us know what you believe in. Hillary tells me that she wants a popular song, and that she doesn’t have enough confidence to voice an opinion on a song she likes.
My roommate for my Sophomore year of college came up with the best campaign song (particularly for a Presidential campaign): Megadeth’s Peace Sells
What do you mean, I don’t believe in god?
I talk to him every day.
What do you mean, I don’t support your system?
I go to court when I have to.
What do you mean, I cant get to work on time?
I got nothing better to do
And, what do you mean, I don’t pay my bills?
Why do you think I’m broke? huh?
Chorus
If theres a new way,
I’ll be the first in line.
But, it better work this time.
What do you mean, I hurt your feelings?
I didn’t know you had any feelings.
What do you mean, I ain’t kind?
I’m just not your kind.
What do you mean, I couldn’t be president, of the United States of America?
Tell me something, its still we the people, right?
Chorus (repeat)
If theres a new way I’ll be the first in line, but, it better work this time. can you put a price on peace?
Peace,
Peace sells…,
Peace,
Peace sells…,
Peace sells…,but who’s buying?
Peace sells…,but who’s buying?
Peace sells…,but who’s buying?
Peace sells…,but who’s buying?
No, peace sells…
Hillary Clinton (D-NY) on the campaign trail:
”This reminds me of one of my favorite American heroines, Harriet Tubman,” the senator told 1,800 cheering supporters when her mike was restored.
“She made it to freedom after having been a slave and she got to New York and she could have been so happy . . . but she kept going back down South to bring other freed slaves to freedom.
“And she used to say, ‘No matter what happens, keep going,’ ” Hillary Clinton said. “So we’re going to keep going until we take back the White House!”
I can only assume from her remarks that while President, Bill Clinton enslaved Hillary until she escaped to become a New York Senator. And now her campaign’s foundation is her desire to liberate all of the women Bill left enslaved at the White House. Seems like reasonable grounds for divorce too.
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs has finally acceded to the demands the families of Wiccan soldiers, and will allow these soldiers’ headstones to be engraved with a pentacle. The nine year delay on this matter is inexcusable, and I am glad that the families will get the proper headstones before memorial day. (seen at The Volokh Conspiracy)
Perusing the list of available emblems shows a remarkable disparity in quality. Much like with national flags, simplicity is best. The standard Christia cross (#1) and the Episcopal cross (#7) are quite good exemplars of a simple and elegant Christian design. The Christian and Missionary Alliance (#30) and Community of Christ (#20) symbols are just horrible because they include too many items which dilutes the message. Similarly the Atheist symbol (#16) is uninspiring and mundane, while the Humanist Emblem of Spirit (#32) is not only simple but has great meaning.