TOPIC: Ideas for Combat Boards

First, I must say thank you for creating this experience. It really is amazing what you all have done.

On to the topic at hand...

I think it would be cool to have some sort of physical obstacles on some of the combat boards that add a new element to the game. For example, if a monster has a particular shield or thick hide (or something protective), you could add small raised pieces to the board that would inhibit or redirect the combat slider. These could be angled to require a particularly nimble ranger to ricochet his missile if he/she hopes to land a Crit. It also forces players to uses smaller lanes on particular monsters and has cool advantages for rouges who are flanking. These likely do not have to be raised much and should still allow the boards to be stacked.

On the same topic, it would be interesting to even see some monsters (Such as elementals) whose boards actually have holes in them that the shot may land in. This one might be logistically difficult and thus not as effective. but a small cutout with a net to catch the puck could suffice. The problem then is the table itself unless the board is also raised above the table.

Another Idea would be to have the damage indicator dot on the board be determined each round by rolling a D8 (or D6 whatever works). There would be several dots on the board all with a different number that the GM would roll after the pucks have been tossed. This could simulate a particularly agile foe that may be constantly twisting, turning, and dodging.

Lastly, there could be risers installed on the ends of some boards that would allow for minor slope to create added complexity to the combat. This could represent a team fighting an enemy while on a cliff side or steep hill, etc.

I dont know if any of this has been done before or thought of, I just really enjoy the concept you have currently with the combat system testing peoples nerves and physical dexterity. I believe that some or all of these recommendations could add a great depth to the combats with minimal changes.

Good ideas - just so you know, this has happened before, one year there was a monster defended by a drone or something, and until you beat the drone you had to slide through a board with 2 small holes in it.

The Medusa had snakes on the board as well.

there were also thr nlink dogs that pit up obstacles as I recall.

I remember a Grind at WYC where blink dogs were guarding some monsters. After everyone slid, Raven would run over with an empty puck and yell "woof" or something and slide into the cluster of players' pucks. Very frustrating. People started throwing Turkey Legs and chew toys (Polymeric Decoys) at the dogs to distract them for a few rounds so we could hit the darn dragon for a change.

Brad Mortensen wrote: I remember a Grind at WYC where blink dogs were guarding some monsters. After everyone slid, Raven would run over with an empty puck and yell "woof" or something and slide into the cluster of players' pucks. Very frustrating. People started throwing Turkey Legs and chew toys (Polymeric Decoys) at the dogs to distract them for a few rounds so we could hit the darn dragon for a change.

That was a great Grind. We hit it up during Raven's unlucky streak. Every time she slid, two of our tokens were knocked off the board, but another was pushed onto the 20. Every slide was followed with a "Sorry Master!" as she went scrambling back to the blink dog board.

Matthew Hayward wrote: Good ideas - just so you know, this has happened before, one year there was a monster defended by a drone or something, and until you beat the drone you had to slide through a board with 2 small holes in it.

The gnome year (2013) there was also an iron golem with a magnetic field. You had to slide between 2 holes in a wooden board unless you destroyed whatever generated the magnetic field.

balthasar wrote: The Medusa had snakes on the board as well.

Yes, that was in 2014.

Legion wrote:

Brad Mortensen wrote: I remember a Grind at WYC where blink dogs were guarding some monsters. After everyone slid, Raven would run over with an empty puck and yell "woof" or something and slide into the cluster of players' pucks. Very frustrating. People started throwing Turkey Legs and chew toys (Polymeric Decoys) at the dogs to distract them for a few rounds so we could hit the darn dragon for a change.

That was a great Grind. We hit it up during Raven's unlucky streak. Every time she slid, two of our tokens were knocked off the board, but another was pushed onto the 20. Every slide was followed with a "Sorry Master!" as she went scrambling back to the blink dog board.

That was WYC Grind 2014, the first time we did Grind at WYC.

It was also the Grind where you CRUEL adventurers slaughtered a whole bunch of NON-EVIL critters who were just defending their home (Blink Dog, Guardian Naga, Helmed Horror, Mimic, Rust Monster, Spectator beholder-kin, Stone Golem)! In fact, one even politely asked you all to leave!

balthasar wrote: The Medusa had snakes on the board as well.

That was only for Laz's solo run that year. Katrina (Medusa) and I (DM) not only put them on the board to mess with him humorously, but we also tossed them at him while he was sliding. Surprisingly, he slid nothing but 20's.


It is quite possible after the 3 of us were sharing the story here and there other DMs went with the idea. But, the snakes themselves, while on the board originally, were never placed in a way to interfere with sliding.

Oh! We also messed with Laz by putting a rubber duck on top of his slider before he got into the Room. He had told me previously what he'd be running.

Incognito wrote:

Matthew Hayward wrote: Good ideas - just so you know, this has happened before, one year there was a monster defended by a drone or something, and until you beat the drone you had to slide through a board with 2 small holes in it.

The gnome year (2013) there was also an iron golem with a magnetic field. You had to slide between 2 holes in a wooden board unless you destroyed whatever generated the magnetic field.

balthasar wrote: The Medusa had snakes on the board as well.

Yes, that was in 2014.

Legion wrote:

Brad Mortensen wrote: I remember a Grind at WYC where blink dogs were guarding some monsters. After everyone slid, Raven would run over with an empty puck and yell "woof" or something and slide into the cluster of players' pucks. Very frustrating. People started throwing Turkey Legs and chew toys (Polymeric Decoys) at the dogs to distract them for a few rounds so we could hit the darn dragon for a change.

That was a great Grind. We hit it up during Raven's unlucky streak. Every time she slid, two of our tokens were knocked off the board, but another was pushed onto the 20. Every slide was followed with a "Sorry Master!" as she went scrambling back to the blink dog board.

That was WYC Grind 2014, the first time we did Grind at WYC.

It was also the Grind where you CRUEL adventurers slaughtered a whole bunch of NON-EVIL critters who were just defending their home (Blink Dog, Guardian Naga, Helmed Horror, Mimic, Rust Monster, Spectator beholder-kin, Stone Golem)! In fact, one even politely asked you all to leave!

In our defense, they had loot.

Ro-gan wrote:

balthasar wrote: The Medusa had snakes on the board as well.

That was only for Laz's solo run that year. Katrina (Medusa) and I (DM) not only put them on the board to mess with him humorously, but we also tossed them at him while he was sliding. Surprisingly, he slid nothing but 20's.


It is quite possible after the 3 of us were sharing the story here and there other DMs went with the idea. But, the snakes themselves, while on the board originally, were never placed in a way to interfere with sliding.

Oh! We also messed with Laz by putting a rubber duck on top of his slider before he got into the Room. He had told me previously what he'd be running.

IIRC, one of the boss monsters in 2014 was able to summon snakes which got thrown on the board to interfere with sliders.

Brad Mortensen wrote:

That was WYC Grind 2014, the first time we did Grind at WYC.

It was also the Grind where you CRUEL adventurers slaughtered a whole bunch of NON-EVIL critters who were just defending their home (Blink Dog, Guardian Naga, Helmed Horror, Mimic, Rust Monster, Spectator beholder-kin, Stone Golem)! In fact, one even politely asked you all to leave!

In our defense, they had loot.

So thieves and robbers are morally justified because their targets have loot?

Incognito wrote:

Brad Mortensen wrote:

That was WYC Grind 2014, the first time we did Grind at WYC.

It was also the Grind where you CRUEL adventurers slaughtered a whole bunch of NON-EVIL critters who were just defending their home (Blink Dog, Guardian Naga, Helmed Horror, Mimic, Rust Monster, Spectator beholder-kin, Stone Golem)! In fact, one even politely asked you all to leave!

In our defense, they had loot.

So thieves and robbers are morally justified because their targets have loot?

I'm sure they see it that way.

The same way I feel morally obligated to put a bullet in them in real life if one would break into my home and hurt my family or try and steal my things I worked hard to buy.