This week “N” stands for Non Player Characters. That’s right – it’s time to finally step up and recognize the little guys! Your NPCs really do have names, ya know. They have feelings. But yeah, they can die too. Let’s see how Ben invites them into his game.
Our RPG accessory series continues with the shiny side of treasure – jewels. A common plotline in our D&D module history, everyone wants to snag that precious gem. After all, it’s not the iconic centerpiece of a classic AD&D Player’s Handbook for nothing.
It’s certainly true that picking one’s next set of D&D dice has always been a science of sorts (psychologically speaking) but who knew manufacturing ‘em could be the same way?
Ben snagged a Paizo GameMastery Invisible Character Pack at Gen Con but isn’t sure the game accessory matters since he can’t figure out how Blind exactly works in 4E. So, let’s use this product review to try and uncover “the truth.”
First off, the Invisible character mini concept is a great idea – why not have a fun and interesting way to initially represent your character on the board in all its stealthy glory? The pack comes with a mix of 10 different character races (like the Dwarf) and classes (like the Human Wizard). It’s a shame there aren’t any medium or large versions though – maybe as a future expansion pack though.
While the invisible silhouettes are well done, the quality sorta stops at the bases. They’re a tad flimsy and slightly oversized for d20 squares (a huge pet peeve of Ben’s). Gale Force Nine offers a similar product in their Player Character Token Sets but you have to buy them individually instead of a single set.
So, let’s now use this opportunity to try and understand how being blind in combat works. Ben gave it the ol’ college try in a WotC forum thread but he felt the feedback left the rule clarification unresolved. It got really confusing in the comments.
Here’s what the new and very handy D&D 4E Rules Compendium says (pg. 221)
Confusing Rule #1: Targeting What You Can’t See – “Make a Perception Check: On its turn, the attacker can make a perception check as a minor action to try and determine the location of an invisible that is hidden from it.”
Ben’s Q: What is the attacker making a perception check against exactly (another skill, a DM DC, etc.)?
Confusing Rule #2: Close or Area Attacks – There’s no -5 total concealment penalty on a close or area attack.
Ben’s Q: Really? We think of blind as Stevie Wonder/Ray-Charles-duet blind and not post-eye-doctor-exam blind. How in the world would there be no penalty for adjacent attacks or throwing a ranged spell 10 squares? Only no penalty on a blast makes sense to Ben.
Confusing Rule #3: There’s no mention of how a blinded creature moves. Ben uses a yes/no and a scatter die combo to determine what squares you end up in while walking blind on the game board.
Ben might be overcomplicating this one but with no simple answer, his group has turned to a basic house rule on fighting blind. The character always takes a -5 attack penalty. It grants combat advantage and can’t flank. It can throw a range spell up to five squares in any direction (like a grenade) but nothing past that. For movement and ranged spell targeting, first roll a yes/no to determine if you have your bearings and if “no”, a scatter die moves/throws you in a random direction.
Whaddya think?
Questions to Ponder: Do you understand stealth or invisible 4e rules? What resources (book and page numbers) helped you play these rules right? Do you just do a simplified house rule to make it easier? Can you help Ben’s group understand fighting blind in battle?
We recently had a Twitter gamer ask how we make those nifty card decks for our monthly D&D campaign game. A video tutorial seemed appropriate as our blog entries have only touched on certain pieces. Best of all, you can also download many of the materials right here off The Pile.
A Classic RPG Pile Deck contains the following:
We use the following materials and templates to make our cards:
So, why not make a quick player deck for an upcoming game and spice up your D&D life? You’ll be hooked before you know it.
Questions to Ponder: Are you a die-hard-sheet-kinda-guy or would you give the deck a try? Do you play a lot of magic or does the card stuff bore you?
Watch it | NPC Tracker Cards | Customize Your Own Cards | Face Cards
Discovering treasure never gets old. The party has worked hard for it so the DM holds a duty to ensure the final payoff possesses the right pizzazz. And that’s where GameMastery Item Cards from Paizo Publishing come in extremely handy.
This addicting card line (12 sets and counting) comes with a bevy of choices including weapons, armor, scrolls, potions, and rings. Liven up your next general store run by laying them out on the table to clearly show the shop’s current inventory.
The front of the card shows a slick illustration while back reveals a brief description and area for notes. Ben especially likes to use this handy PDF template and print out his own D&D 4E descriptions.
These item cards are a RPG slam dunk, y’all. Try the Essentials deck for starters.
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