13th Age RPG: D&D with Modern Design

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Traditional Games > 13th Age RPG: D&D with Modern Design

LongDarkNight: Oct 25, 2010; It's like watching the collapse of Western civilization in fast forward.; Oven Wrangler

So the Icons are important NPCs the players can hook in to? Is this all fluff or are there mechanical bonuses?

# ¿ Mar 22, 2012 03:17

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# ¿ Apr 20, 2024 03:24

LongDarkNight: Oct 25, 2010; It's like watching the collapse of Western civilization in fast forward.; Oven Wrangler

Are Ogres still dumb? This is important.

# ¿ Mar 25, 2012 23:37

LongDarkNight: Oct 25, 2010; It's like watching the collapse of Western civilization in fast forward.; Oven Wrangler

13th Age already has the escalation die which is a brilliant mechanic how about Tilt as something similar going for the Monsters. Each enounter after the second during the adventuring day Monsters get a static +1/+1 or an HP boost.

# ¿ Mar 28, 2012 19:38

LongDarkNight: Oct 25, 2010; It's like watching the collapse of Western civilization in fast forward.; Oven Wrangler

So there are 3 defenses and each defense has it's own hitpoint total?

# ¿ May 1, 2012 21:27

LongDarkNight: Oct 25, 2010; It's like watching the collapse of Western civilization in fast forward.; Oven Wrangler

That sounds very cool. I was looking at your monster cheat sheet and HP are listed 3 times. Was that a mistake or does it represent something else?

# ¿ May 1, 2012 22:10

LongDarkNight: Oct 25, 2010; It's like watching the collapse of Western civilization in fast forward.; Oven Wrangler

When a relationship changes with an Icon is it omniscient like in a computer RPG or can you convince the Emperor and the Lich King that they are both your BFFs?

# ¿ May 4, 2012 15:04

LongDarkNight: Oct 25, 2010; It's like watching the collapse of Western civilization in fast forward.; Oven Wrangler

Any thoughts on stagnation at higher levels in 13a? Our Pathfinder campaign is at level 12 and getting kind of boring since we're tiny gods. I'd like a game that doesn't hit this brick wall.

# ¿ May 29, 2012 03:41

LongDarkNight: Oct 25, 2010; It's like watching the collapse of Western civilization in fast forward.; Oven Wrangler

Laphroaig posted:

I think I can mention this since I saw it elsewhere by Heinsoo or Tweet talking about the game:

There are only 10 levels. In the recent playtest, we played level 8 characters. We felt capable, but there simply isn't math inflation/magic item treadmills/tons and tons of new options and powers that normally make high level play drag and quadratically increase player power. You get new options, at each level, and even between each level thanks to a cool mechanic I can't talk about, but its not like suddenly getting access to 7th level spells and becoming a god. Basically, each level is a noticeable step up from the last, but I can say having played at 1, 3, and 8, I never felt invulnerable or at tiny god status the way I would at comparing at level 1 3.5 character and a level 18 3.5 character.

Part of this is that level 1 characters are simply more competent; you start off having fun, and you increase in power linearly, not exponentially. A level 8 character is seven levels more powerful then a level 1 character. In 3.5, I would say a level 17 character is worth a thousand or even ten thousand level 1 characters.

Thanks for the info. I am not enjoying not enjoying this playtest.

# ¿ May 29, 2012 16:07

LongDarkNight: Oct 25, 2010; It's like watching the collapse of Western civilization in fast forward.; Oven Wrangler

I'm going to mail my postcards to the 5th Ed thread with a message, "Enjoying this game. Glad you're not here."

# ¿ Jun 22, 2012 14:52

LongDarkNight: Oct 25, 2010; It's like watching the collapse of Western civilization in fast forward.; Oven Wrangler

I always wanted to a play a Bear Warrior in 3.X. Put in a supplement so I can be a raging man-bear.

# ¿ Jul 5, 2012 21:45

LongDarkNight: Oct 25, 2010; It's like watching the collapse of Western civilization in fast forward.; Oven Wrangler

Alpha Phoenix posted:

http://www.own3d.tv/AlphaPhoenix/live/191773

Nerds.avi

I'll have comments open, so if we do anything terrible just chip in.

Kill them all. For having fun.

# ¿ Jul 14, 2012 03:53

LongDarkNight: Oct 25, 2010; It's like watching the collapse of Western civilization in fast forward.; Oven Wrangler

On magic items, I very much like the idea of magic item quirks, though the grog in me wants some sort of mechanistic enforcement of them. The thing that tickles my brain is Chapter 9 starts out saying true magic items are rare. It seems like if GMs keep this commandment it seems unlikely players will cross the threshold where quirks kick in. Can anyone who's run games contradict this?

My rough thought is level minus 1 or to make Champion items and epic items are equivalent to 1.5 and 2 respectively.

# ¿ Jul 18, 2012 01:05

LongDarkNight: Oct 25, 2010; It's like watching the collapse of Western civilization in fast forward.; Oven Wrangler

Strength and Intelligence are the new dump stats is how I'm reading that. :v:

# ¿ Aug 2, 2012 20:40

LongDarkNight: Oct 25, 2010; It's like watching the collapse of Western civilization in fast forward.; Oven Wrangler

So I'm not familiar with the Kickstarter, when can we sign up for the extra items? I need to throw more money at this thing.

# ¿ Oct 5, 2012 03:18

LongDarkNight: Oct 25, 2010; It's like watching the collapse of Western civilization in fast forward.; Oven Wrangler

I'm disappointed by the lack of love for Concord. Dwarves and Elves living together in harmony would be seriously cool and not something done before in any fantasy I know.

# ¿ Nov 11, 2012 22:48

LongDarkNight: Oct 25, 2010; It's like watching the collapse of Western civilization in fast forward.; Oven Wrangler

Voted for Concord. Peace through Unity, in Unity is Victory.

# ¿ Nov 18, 2012 00:35

LongDarkNight: Oct 25, 2010; It's like watching the collapse of Western civilization in fast forward.; Oven Wrangler

Etherwind posted:

I have no horse in this race. Where should I vote for? Vote goes to the funniest reason.

No comedy option. Most of our conception of Dwarves and Elves in fantasy is taken from Tolkien. He set up an adversarial relationship between Thorin's band and the Mirkwood Elves in The Hobbit and more specifically in between Legolas and Gimli in The Lord of The Rings. A look at these two 'natural' antagonists living together would be something fresh in fantasy.

# ¿ Nov 18, 2012 21:21

LongDarkNight: Oct 25, 2010; It's like watching the collapse of Western civilization in fast forward.; Oven Wrangler

So the same team that can make a boring idea interesting can't make an interesting idea exciting?

# ¿ Nov 19, 2012 00:49

LongDarkNight: Oct 25, 2010; It's like watching the collapse of Western civilization in fast forward.; Oven Wrangler

Any idea if 13th Age will be available for purchase at Gencon? I've preordered but that will be the best chance to con my friends in to impulse buying the core book.

# ¿ May 13, 2013 04:00

LongDarkNight: Oct 25, 2010; It's like watching the collapse of Western civilization in fast forward.; Oven Wrangler

waderockett posted:

13th Age will be available for purchase at Gen Con. Unless the printing facility burns down. Or the world runs out of oil, requiring us to ship via caravan through marauder-infested wastelands.

Excellent. Also hoping to get in to the session Wade is running at GenCon.

# ¿ May 13, 2013 16:51

LongDarkNight: Oct 25, 2010; It's like watching the collapse of Western civilization in fast forward.; Oven Wrangler

waderockett posted:

Oh, great! Which one - Deathless Gulch, or Deep Gnome Rising?

Deep Gnome Rising. Disappointed there isn't more 13th Age being offered.

# ¿ May 13, 2013 23:28

LongDarkNight: Oct 25, 2010; It's like watching the collapse of Western civilization in fast forward.; Oven Wrangler

Hey Wade, did Pelgrane get any takers for 13th Age sessions? I didn't get in to your game and am very sad.

# ¿ May 21, 2013 03:46

LongDarkNight: Oct 25, 2010; It's like watching the collapse of Western civilization in fast forward.; Oven Wrangler

waderockett posted:

In other news:

Cat Tobin submitted 18 more 13th Age sessions to the Gen Con events database, and we'll publicize them once they're live. Alien Rope Burn is one of our GMs!

Going to be :f5:

this so hard.

My group has tentatively asked me to run 13th Age in few months when our current GM moves out of state. How much prep work do you guys put in to ongoing Campaigns?

# ¿ Jul 1, 2013 17:37

LongDarkNight: Oct 25, 2010; It's like watching the collapse of Western civilization in fast forward.; Oven Wrangler

Thanks for the write up Wade.

# ¿ Jul 2, 2013 16:41

LongDarkNight: Oct 25, 2010; It's like watching the collapse of Western civilization in fast forward.; Oven Wrangler

I'm looking at Wade right now. It's great.

# ¿ Aug 17, 2013 18:04

LongDarkNight: Oct 25, 2010; It's like watching the collapse of Western civilization in fast forward.; Oven Wrangler

Just finished the 13th Age panel at Gencon. Big news is they expect 13 True Ways at the printers in December and preorders for the Bestiary in a few weeks.

# ¿ Aug 17, 2013 19:13

LongDarkNight: Oct 25, 2010; It's like watching the collapse of Western civilization in fast forward.; Oven Wrangler

Dionysos510 posted:

Question about the 13th Age Gencon panel: did they say if there would be something like an Escalation Edition, or new playtest doc or anything like that for Bestiary preorders?

I think Simon said new True Ways classes would be made available to KickStarter people, but nothing like the Escalation edition. Didn't come up when talking about the Bestiary.

# ¿ Aug 19, 2013 12:50

LongDarkNight: Oct 25, 2010; It's like watching the collapse of Western civilization in fast forward.; Oven Wrangler

I have a question about "Engaged". I've read the section a few times and it's unclear for me.

If 'A' is engaged with 'B' and 'B' is engaged with 'C' is 'A' also engaged with 'C'? Or is it dependent on basing like they mention in the book and only the minis that can touch each other are engaged?

Basically whether its a rugby scrum or more tactically limited.

# ¿ Aug 26, 2013 03:35

LongDarkNight: Oct 25, 2010; It's like watching the collapse of Western civilization in fast forward.; Oven Wrangler

Had my first session last night, running Boltstrike Pillar. The group had a good time and did everything but kill the dragon, which they want to hunt down next session.

One of my players wanted something more in line with the 4E Swordmage and wrote up his own class. We played with it as written for the first session and it seemed to overshadow the other characters. Is the damage math off or the extra attack each round from "Assault" too good? Any feedback is appreciated.

# ¿ Nov 26, 2013 04:10

LongDarkNight: Oct 25, 2010; It's like watching the collapse of Western civilization in fast forward.; Oven Wrangler

My Wizard player has the "Counter-Magic" ability from the High Arcana talent, but almost no monster descriptions indicate attacks as "spells". Am I missing something or is it a DM judgement call? I've gone with "rule of cool" and let him strangle a dragon's breath weapon in it's throat but maybe I'm understanding wrong.

# ¿ Dec 23, 2013 04:26

LongDarkNight: Oct 25, 2010; It's like watching the collapse of Western civilization in fast forward.; Oven Wrangler

PlasmaMan posted:

I just found this old idea in a file and I figured anyone who is interested in a tarot-themed character, npc, quest, or whatever, but wanted a more dragon empire-specific variant might find this useful. I arranged all the icons as well as the three tiers in the same manner as the major arcana of the tarot deck are (I imagine the original minor arcana work just fine), as to represent a journey through life. key words on the left, "story" on the right...

code:

o	the adventurer	heroics, naivety, start of the journey, youth, dreams	The hero first sets out, young and hopeful
i	the archmage	control, learned power, commands, service, duty		The hero is initially guided by a mentor
ii	the crusader	purpose, blind ambition, courage, focus, discipline	The hero grows to stubbornly depend on themselves alone
iii	the dwarf king	stability, history, tradition, respect, treasure	The hero is reminded of their past & the world around them
iv	the emperor	ceremony, safety, prosperity, combat, honor		The hero brings the world and themselves into balance
v	the g. g. wyrm	quest, righteousness, aid, selflessness			The hero finds a quest to guide their journey
vi	the elf queen	mystery, peace, miracles, the unexpected, tension	The hero settles into enjoying life and their quest
vii	the orc lord	force, upheaval, destruction, diametric change, sudden	The hero experiences disaster and loses
viii	the champion	growth, personal change, discomfort, introspect, doubt	The hero has grown, but doubts their progress
ix	the diabloist	impulsiveness, greed, selfishness, chaos, temptation	The hero falls into satisfying themselves alone
x	the prince of s.decadence, comfort, loss, pure but compromised love	The hero grows comfortable in ignorance and sloth, quest lost
xi	the three	unity, secrets, plans, unknown, knowledge, raw talent	The hero becomes aware of how the unknown affects them
xii	the high druid	freedom, family, nature, self-dependency, equality	The hero is brought back to their journey by their relationships
xiii	the lich king	decay, curses, dread, fear, ominous portent		The hero fears the end of their journey as they grow weak
xiv	the priestess	kindness, understanding, temperance, compromise, hope	The hero is brought to peace, returning to a hopeful youth
xv	the epic	acceptance, fate, success, conclusion, peaceful death	The hero accepts the end graciously

(most of the illustrations are pretty obvious to guess, but I imagine the epic as the back cover of a book, as to represent the close of a story or "epic")

You could also use "The (Koru) Behemoth", "The (Living) Dungeon" and "The (Flying) Island".

# ¿ Jan 9, 2014 00:37

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# ¿ Apr 20, 2024 03:24

LongDarkNight: Oct 25, 2010; It's like watching the collapse of Western civilization in fast forward.; Oven Wrangler

General Ironicus posted:

Does anyone else playing with a Commander have a problem with Buck Up!? It's a power that gives the target its average recovery value in THP and every time it has come out our table comes to a halt as the two people good at dice math figure out everyone's number while everyone else tries to crack the arcane mathemagic. I'd really prefer if it were simplified to 4xlevel or something like that.

Also my players killed an icon in a montage. I can dig it.

My group is having a similar problem. Any time the Bard is giving THP or a free move or someone else can give a bonus to attack thing grind to a halt as they try to figure out the best recipient. I'm thinking of making a 5 second rule to pick a target but it might be taken a too harsh by the group.

# ¿ Jan 13, 2014 19:58

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Traditional Games > 13th Age RPG: D&D with Modern Design