TOPIC: True Horde at Origins 2019

Hi all!

One of the challenges with True Horde and True Grind is that some players want to focus on just the sliding and fighting while other players want more interaction and creative problem solving.

As DM's, we can adapt but the sliding players might get annoyed if we start chatting (as the monsters) with the problem solvers. And the problem solvers don't like it when they get killed too early if the emphasis is just on sliding.

So what I am suggesting is that players can decide on certain "modes" (hack n slash mode vs story mode).

For example, at Origins 2019 this year we have 5 True Raid events:

Thursday 7 PM
Thursday 9 PM
Friday 7 PM
Friday 9 PM
Saturday 2 PM

What if we did something like:

Thursday 7 PM Story mode
Thursday 9 PM Hack n slash mode
Friday 7 PM Hack n slash mode
Friday 9 PM Story mode
Saturday 2 PM (Players can vote)

That way, players can self-segregate based on their preferred play style.


For True Grind (at GenCon or GameholeCon), during the coaching room, just like how players agree on the difficulty level, they could also agree on the sliding scale between Story mode (with more interactions and role playing) vs Hack n Slash mode (with more emphasis on sliding combat). They could go 100% Story, or 100% Hack n Slash or 50/50. (In theory we could do other ratios as well like 30/70 or 80/20).

This way, the DM's can better tailor the Horde/Grind combats to maximize the enjoyment of the players.

What do people think about this?

Maybe make Saturday mixed or hack and slash. It's doubtful a vote will be unanimous, and if it isn't those in the minority might feel unhappy.

I am mostly curious if it will stay a Patron only event. It has been asked but I don't think we have an answer. If it is to stay a Patron only event. Then I have no say into how the event is ran as I won't be partaking.

jedibcg wrote: I am mostly curious if it will stay a Patron only event. It has been asked but I don't think we have an answer. If it is to stay a Patron only event. Then I have no say into how the event is ran as I won't be partaking.

I’m in the same boat.
I am AG but not a patron this year.
My guess is people probably will not pay enough attention to split them self.

Disclaimer: I won't be able to participate this year, so I'm a back seat driver.

I really like the idea here of offering two different types of content that center around play particular interests.

I agree some people will probably find themselves in the wrong cohort, but for such a legendary / non-newbie event I think anyone attending should be able to adjust to the playstyle of the event they are in and have a good time (unlike new players showing up to Grind or a Nightmare-only run).

I might steer clear of voting on the last one - seems to be ripe for hard feelings (plus there are an even number of players). I'd just pick one of story or min-max mode for that one and let the chips fall where they may.

Can you give an example of how these will play out? Not a patron but may effect me in grind or will have to do one if each at gencon.

Grind example: convince hungry snake to eat the vorpal bunny before eating your party, 1 less monster to hack and it probably is weaker from the pre-fight.

Not exactly what happened in our grind last year, but fairly similar. 3-4 slots didn't show up for the event so the DMs really helped us see non-combat options to balance for that.

Maybe I'm missing something... but True Grind and True Horde is always about combat, combat, combat and... oh yeah... combat.

If a person wants roleplaying that is what the adventures are for. Has this changed in the last year?!?

Ro-gan wrote: Maybe I'm missing something... but True Grind and True Horde is always about combat, combat, combat and... oh yeah... combat.

If a person wants roleplaying that is what the adventures are for. Has this changed in the last year?!?

+1

Ro-gan wrote: Maybe I'm missing something... but True Grind and True Horde is always about combat, combat, combat and... oh yeah... combat.

If a person wants roleplaying that is what the adventures are for. Has this changed in the last year?!?

True but grind tends to allow a bit more leeway in how combat is interoperate. I have for example bribed a drunken syter with rum, attacked a fire elemental with water skins, switched to the monsters team, any many other things I could t see being allowed I the main dungeon where consistently is far more important.

Picc wrote:

Ro-gan wrote: Maybe I'm missing something... but True Grind and True Horde is always about combat, combat, combat and... oh yeah... combat.

If a person wants roleplaying that is what the adventures are for. Has this changed in the last year?!?

True but grind tends to allow a bit more leeway in how combat is interoperate. I have for example bribed a drunken syter with rum, attacked a fire elemental with water skins, switched to the monsters team, any many other things I could t see being allowed I the main dungeon where consistently is far more important.

I am a huge proponent of roleplaying and not roll-playing. But in the many years I have been doing True Grind and now True Horde I have never experienced non-combat matters in them. From my experience True Grind/Horde is totally focused on combat/sliding. I never tried to roleplay in them because I know it was combat-oriented.

Ro-gan wrote:

Picc wrote:

Ro-gan wrote: Maybe I'm missing something... but True Grind and True Horde is always about combat, combat, combat and... oh yeah... combat.

If a person wants roleplaying that is what the adventures are for. Has this changed in the last year?!?

True but grind tends to allow a bit more leeway in how combat is interoperate. I have for example bribed a drunken syter with rum, attacked a fire elemental with water skins, switched to the monsters team, any many other things I could t see being allowed I the main dungeon where consistently is far more important.

I am a huge proponent of roleplaying and not roll-playing. But in the many years I have been doing True Grind and now True Horde I have never experienced non-combat matters in them. From my experience True Grind/Horde is totally focused on combat/sliding. I never tried to roleplay in them because I know it was combat-oriented.

I think that's what makes grind special, the small number of gems mean they can tailor it to the groups preferences, no ide on true hord, the ones I participated in was pure combat craziness. There was no time to try creative roleplay solutions while on fire.