TOPIC: True Grind Prep Material

Fiddy wrote:

Jeff321 wrote: Eric, I don't know if you are aware but the Gen Con system sends this message after registration (and has for a couple years if I recall correctly):

"Please write Eric at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to receive prep material needed to be ready to play. Preparation for this event is essential."

If that message no longer applies maybe it should be changed going forward so people don't expect a reply

I keep emailing every year, hoping in vain that someday Eric will reply.

If i didn't think that Incognito still enjoys chewing on bards i'd say it's the old man DM mentality of if he ignores us maybe players will stop showing on his doorstep and asking for stories (new grinds every con).

Didn't realize it's been 10 years already. I may not always enjoy the outcome i do however look forward to another way to die every year. Thanks Incognito for doing this and may grind be coming more, especially to smaller cons like GHC/PAX

Jeff321 wrote: Eric, I don't know if you are aware but the Gen Con system sends this message after registration (and has for a couple years if I recall correctly):

"Please write Eric at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to receive prep material needed to be ready to play. Preparation for this event is essential."

If that message no longer applies maybe it should be changed going forward so people don't expect a reply

Please remove it regardless. That message only goes to the ticket buyer, not everyone who is playing. Maybe start a thread here on the forums, and have the event description say to check here for info. Even if at event reg the post just says to subscribe to that post, you can later post a new message with all the info we may need.

Some more tips/info dump:

1) In Grind you usually fight more than one monster at a time, so there will be multiple combat boards.

2) Help the DMs move boards.

3) Bring multiple weapons/instruments.

4) Bring consumables.

5) Grind takes place in one physical location, and you can bring "luggage". This helps with the bringing extra stuff.

6) Monks & Rangers: The stats for each hand are recorded separately.

7) Eric wants to kill you. AC, Saves, and HPs are more important than normal runs.

8) Things are going to be a bit more ad-lib than normal runs, be willing to go with it.

Milambus (Jake) wrote: Some more tips/info dump:

1) In Grind you usually fight more than one monster at a time, so there will be multiple combat boards.

2) Help the DMs move boards.

3) Bring multiple weapons/instruments.

4) Bring consumables.

5) Grind takes place in one physical location, and you can bring "luggage". This helps with the bringing extra stuff.

6) Monks & Rangers: The stats for each hand are recorded separately.

7) Eric wants to kill you. AC, Saves, and HPs are more important than normal runs.

8) Things are going to be a bit more ad-lib than normal runs, be willing to go with it.

9) You already know to listen to the DMs, right? But make sure to actually listen to the DMs. Exposition can often be important to helping you survive/succeed. And in the rush of Grind it can be easy to get distracted by side discussion and miss things.

Fiddy wrote: 9) You already know to listen to the DMs, right? But make sure to actually listen to the DMs. Exposition can often be important to helping you survive/succeed. And in the rush of Grind it can be easy to get distracted by side discussion and miss things.

Whaaat? Never.
Okay - hardly ever.

(spoken as a Grind DM who has watched in glee as players run to attack innocent - and potentially helpful - "monsters" just because a combat board appeared.)

Captain Corcoran...?

Druegar wrote: Captain Corcoran...?

Yes. Orfan.

Question for Incognito --

Do Amulet of Wonder, Eldritch Runestone, and Special have different powers in Grind this year as in past years?

If I've just missed this my apologies.

David Harris wrote: Question for Incognito --

Do Amulet of Wonder, Eldritch Runestone, and Special have different powers in Grind this year as in past years?

If I've just missed this my apologies.

They will be the same as the dungeon. Source: truedungeon.com/forum?view=topic&defaultmenu=141&catid=602&id=249237&start=12#339150

Is it possible/reasonable to play without a bunch of consumables? In particular, do spellcaster classes run out of spells ~25% of the way through?

David Zych wrote: Is it possible/reasonable to play without a bunch of consumables? In particular, do spellcaster classes run out of spells ~25% of the way through?

This likely depends on difficulty level, your builds, the setup of the modules, and the choices you make.

On the Epic Grinds I've been on, pretty much everyone (spellcaster and non) was tossing out a consumable (or two) every round. On the other hand, I usually survive Hardcore (and occasionally Nightmare) without using any consumables, playing as a Cleric.

REMINDER: True Grind is in a new location this year in Lucas Oil Stadium. It is not in the normal True Dungeon area. Instead you need to go up the escalators and then follow the signs.

This year's True Grind is a celebration of my 10th year DM'ing Grind (and Grind's 11th year in existence). I've gathered together about a dozen of your favorite (or most hated) boss monsters from past Grinds and your mission, should you choose to accept it or not, is to try to defeat as many as possible. I honestly don't expect any groups to get through ALL of the boss monsters, but you are welcome to try! You'll also have the privilege of selecting which boss monster you fight in what order.

Here are the variable token effects:

Amulet of Wonder: Red Shirt. You have a red shirt henchman who can once per game absorb all the effects of an attack (melee, ranged, magic) that would affect you (before he/she dies horribly). If the attack affects multiple players, then using your red shirt henchman only negates the effect on you - the other players are affected normally. Save the owls and let the red shirts take one for the team!

Eldritch Runestone: Spontaneous Regeneration. Once per game, as your standard action, you may restore your HP to maximum and fully restore your body parts (with one tiny exception for Luke....). Since it requires a standard action, you can only use this ability if you are alive, so plan carefully.

UR Special: Save Scumming. The UR Special needs to be turned in at the beginning of the adventure since it requires some special attention by both the DM and the players. Your Grind progress is "saved" in between each boss fight. Once per game, you may Load the Saved Game. This restores the party's status (HP, spells, abilities) to what they were before the current boss fight began. If possible, we will try to return any consumables used in the current boss fight. You may then select a different boss to fight instead or you may try again with the previously chosen one. This ability can be used if you (or the whole party) is dead. One thing it does NOT restore is any time that has already spent. Your Grind adventure still ends at the originally scheduled time.


Please let me know if you have any questions. Otherwise, I look forward to seeing you in battle!