TOPIC: Newsletter Thoughts

For those that didn't get it. Here's what it says:

XP Update!
& Improved "End of Adventure" Experience
Last year, our big goal was to greatly increase the immersive gaming experience for players during the Coaching and Training phase of the event. I think we accomplished that by adding the dedicated Coaching Rooms with the creation of the Event Start Inns. In 2014, I want to make a similar improvement to our event during the time period just after the players leave the final room of the adventure. In 2013, we had some major computer glitches last year, and the rooms were basic curtained areas crowded with two groups of players. This year we plan on making a major upgrade.

This optional area (immediately following the exit from the final room) will greatly enhance players’ immersion, and it will put a final “cherry on top” of the whole two-hour event. This will be accomplished with two major initiatives:

1) XP Recording will be moved off-site and player controlled

We are still working out the exact details, but in 2014 players will record their own XP after their event whenever it is convenient for them. Each player will be given a slip of paper with an unique code that they can use inside their TD Forum/XP account to give themselves credit for a particular TD event after Gen Con Indy is over. Players can still earn free tangible premiums (like the goodies obtained by hitting 5th, 7th and 8th levels) via the TD Store when their Forum account qualifies for them. There will be a $5 shipping fee, but if you order them with a normal token order or a transmuted order, then the $5 shipping fee will cover them all.

The huge mess that is the 2013 XP database will be cleaned up by players themselves inside their own Forum/XP account. For 2013 only, we are going to allow players to edit their 2013 XP – and we will trust that they will not abuse this ability.

2) Private Epilogue Room with NPC

After players leave the final room of the dungeon, they will find themselves (and only their group) in a small dungeon-themed room with 2 NPCs. If they wish to stick around for the epilogue, they may do so. If they need to go to another event they can leave immediately.

One of the NPCs will take the Party Card and immediately start to lay out Treasure Coins, Participation Tokens and Survivor Buttons on a special tabletop grid divided into areas by player class.

The second NPC will then give a short performance that delivers a bit of an epilogue for the players. If it is the end of Part 1 of that year’s event, the speech will set up Part 2’s adventure. If it is the end of Part 2, the performance will set up next year’s entire event.

After this is done the players will visit the Treasure Table to pick up their various winnings, and then they will turn in their lights and hit point clips. There will be a Treasure Generator inside the Epilogue room as well – so players can immediately turn in their Treasure Coins for draws out of the Treasure Generator. Or, they can keep the TCs and use them inside the storyscape for other surprises. We will also have another Treasure Generator inside the TD Store at the start of the event for players who want to wait -- or obtain too many TCs to admin fast inside the Epilogue Room.

Finally, there will also be a free photo opportunity wall inside the Epilogue Room where NPCs can use players’ cellphone cameras to take team photos.

This entire re-design should make the ending of the event much more fun and immersive. We will try to keep all the administrating of the epilogue room as “in-game” as possible. This new design should make the TD event one continuous immersive experience that will delight players.

Personally I think this all sounds great and a big improvement!

If I have to spend $5 for my level up items I'm totally okay with it. The way I look at it Jeff is very, very fair with shipping. I know for example, this year since I made a bigger order it came in two big USPS priority mail boxes. I think it costs about $10 or more each to ship those, still only got charged $5. I actually have been waiting for the day he raises the shipping price. So I'm not going to complain about that. That said it would be nice if you could pick them up at the TD store, but it would require that you had updated your xp in the system already and be able to prove it at the TD store (onsite). However, think how chaotic GENCON is, is it really that bad to have to wait. Gives you something to look forward to, on one of the 361 more boring days that aren't GENCON.

Brad Mortensen wrote: Re: point 1 - I assume the main message was to bring your own camera as none would be provided by TD or staff. And don't bring some Project Runway gizmo that takes 20 minutes to set up and teach some stressed out staff person how to use, while parties are backing up to wait their turn.

And I applaud this change. It'll make me feel better about enforcing the "no photos in the dungeon" rule.

The problem is, with a group of 10 people, that's ten phones/cameras, all randomly locking, apps closing, etc while one person tries to figure them all out anyways. Not to mention the liability of the poor NPC that accidentally drops one in the juggle. It seems like it would be a lot easier to just have one already set up and ready for a quick snap once everybody poses for their shot.

lazlo_hollyfeld1985 wrote:

Brad Mortensen wrote: PS - I didn't think we got a bonus treasure chip until level 6, not 5...

correct
Level 5 is the medallion of nobility
Level 6 is extra treasure pull

Doh! that's right. well even in those cases, how did you prove that you were level 6? Was it just something the treasure volunteers noticed when the pulled up your account and added it then, or was it somehow proven and added to the party card at the beginning?

It popped up on the screen when we entered your XP

Harlax wrote: It popped up on the screen when we entered your XP

So that would be something that would have to be taken into consideration before the adventure, or would require some level of tangible proof if we're moving away from the on-the-spot xp entries/treasure pulls calculations.

My suggestion... I think everybody would love another token to keep on them indicating their elevated level 6 status beyond the Lord/Lady medallion

this sounds interesting , but I'm one of those who still need XP fixed up from prior years.

I should make 6th level on the first run this year, instead my account still has zero attached to it.

Mike Steele wrote: Is there a reason it singles out cellphone cameras?

In my personal, absolutely not official opinion, I get the feeling that statement was not meant to exclude non-cellphone cameras. I read it as probably one of two things:
1) It's simply a reference to common usage. Most photos shot these days are taken by a cellphone-based camera.
2) He didn't want people to jump to the conclusion that there would be a professional photographer with full studio gear there ready to take your picture for you.

Mike Steele wrote: 2) "For almost all classes, the Stu-pendous Pendant will grant the following benefits:
{snip}
That sounds like nearly all classes, 4th and 5th level, will have odd numbered St and Dx stats next year.

The base Strength and Dexterity scores for all but one 4th-level class (druid)--the level the overwhelming number of TD players run--are odd numbers. A 4th-level druid has even Strength and odd Dexterity. I'd say 11 out of 12 qualifies as "almost all", especially when you factor in how many times those classes will be played.

When a character goes to 5th-level , either its base Strength or Dexterity is raised a single point. This means that as long as that class is not the druid, either its base Strength or Dexterity will be an odd number. So for the sake of brevity, the phrase "For almost all classes, the Stu-pendous Pendant will grant the following benefits" was used because nobody wants to read this in a newsletter:

For a 4th-level barbarian without any other tokens, a Stu-pendous Pendant will have the following effects:

• +2 To Hit when making Melee attacks
• +2 To Hit when making Ranged attacks
• +2 to Melee attack damage
• +2 to Thrown attack damage
• +2 to Armor Class
• +2 to Reflex saving throws

[/color]
For a 5th-level barbarian without any other tokens, a Stu-pendoust Pendant will have the following effects:

• +1 To Hit when making Melee attacks
• +2 To Hit when making Ranged attacks
• +1 to Melee attack damage
• +1 to Thrown attack damage
• +2 to Armor Class
• +2 to Reflex saving throws

[/color]
Repeat that 11 more times to make sure the precise benefits for each and every class is fully explained--that newsletter would be longer than I am tall.

I like the idea of a closure segment for the dungeon and a photo op shot is nice too.

But - I think putting responsibility for personal statistics like experience points on the part of the players is a bit of a cop out. It makes me suspect that the data are not recoverable, or it would be expensive to recover them, or the software provider that screwed them up in the first place is incapable of recovering them.

I expect a lot of experience record inflation to occur when people figure out that their boundaries have expanded. Oh well, I'm not going to worry about it.

Has anyone addressed how to get two accounts merged yet? My nephew has two and this does not help that.

Shady Veldrin wrote:

Brad Mortensen wrote: Re: point 1 - I assume the main message was to bring your own camera as none would be provided by TD or staff. And don't bring some Project Runway gizmo that takes 20 minutes to set up and teach some stressed out staff person how to use, while parties are backing up to wait their turn.

And I applaud this change. It'll make me feel better about enforcing the "no photos in the dungeon" rule.

The problem is, with a group of 10 people, that's ten phones/cameras, all randomly locking, apps closing, etc while one person tries to figure them all out anyways. Not to mention the liability of the poor NPC that accidentally drops one in the juggle. It seems like it would be a lot easier to just have one already set up and ready for a quick snap once everybody poses for their shot.

Asking Jeff to invest in four cameras, uploading photos and sorting out which party gets which link could be a big hassle. I think it would make sense for anyone who wants a photo to pull up their own camera app and show the "click" button to the volunteer and let the players deal with the uploading and sharing.

So I thought the newsletter brought great news for the TD crowd

The removal of the time sink at the xp desk can now be removed for back to back runs.

I took the extra treasure to mean that Jeff is now lowering the 6th level award to 5th level also. Since that will be the common level at which one can show something like the Medallion of nobility in order to earn the check mark. Seems great to me.

The xp system may be unrecoverable, it is something we may have to deal with. I personally like the idea that I can just enter a code and the xp is entered correctly and I have near instant verification of it. Think of the trade off .. you get to stand for an hour waiting for the xp desk to catch up after making a bunch of accounts for one time players. People that want to have a vested interest will be entering the data on their cell phones or at the hotel internet kiosks the same night, those that don't care about xp now do not make the rest of us wait on an account they never use.

As for the $5 shipping fee for the items ... these are free items provided at Jeff's personal expense. I'm fine with handing him $5 for a token, badge holder, scarf, or whatever else he would like to do in order to show off TD experience. It is a perk and the option is there to just not get it if you would rather not have it. I'm fine with paying actual cost + shipping, so to me this is still a great bargain.

I'm sure the TD Staff will be able to handle xp issues on a case by case basis for those of us that have xp problems. I am also positive that when the "store" for level items goes live that anyone of appropriate level will be able to buy their gear that they may have already sold. I do hope he limits it to 1 per account. I already know a few people that can't find their medallions of nobility (but hey if you lost a 20 dollar bill would it be Jeff's fault to replace it ?).

In the end I would like to remind everyone that for the years I have been playing I have only seen the TD staff treat us as players with respect and try to make this unique experience the best possible. Please lets keep it respectful and remember that it is not a player vs. mean dungeon master ... It's all of us as a community, and the TD staff is working hard to build the community and make it better.

Sometimes to make an omelet you have to break a few eggs. So be it.

Thank you again TD staff for all your hard work !

Anthony Brown
a.k.a. Kartas Starfurie
Rage of Dragons co-guild leader.