TOPIC: Grind?

I think there is a lot that makes it poular (based on the only run I've done so far):
- It is run by very experienced people that know their stuff
- there is a lot of combat crammed into a short time
- since you aren't moving from one physical room to another, the action never really stops

I think it is different things for different people. For me it is one more TD thing to do. It allows me to use my tokens more. It is fun, Eric is a good storyteller while still managing the game.. It is a challenge (not that the runs cannot be). If it were a question of going on only 1 run or 1 grind I would pick the run. If were a question of the same run twice or a run and grind, run and grind would win. I am not certain how many people do multiple grinds each year.

I'm a Grind DM now, so I'm biased, but I'll tell you why Grind was always at the top of my list of events to play even before I started DM'ing:

* NON STOP COMBAT - You know how your heart races and your adrenaline surges when you step up to the combat board, ready to do battle with the foe? It's like that - for almost an hour solid, instead of 10-12 minutes.

If you're not the sort who enjoys the adrenaline rush of fight or flight in a fantasy setting, then maybe Grind won't give you the same bang for your buck, but us combat junkies love it.

* COOL REWARD - Grind gets its own Participation token, which you can't get anywhere else (shy of trading). That makes it cool & collectible!

* CHALLENGE LEVEL - Unlike the combats in True Dungeon which (except for the final room) are mostly toned down to allow players to advance, Grind monsters are pretty tough. If you have poor group dynamics or don't know how to equip yourselves or use your abilities, you will die.

* BRAGGING RIGHTS - If you take on Grind in Hardcore or Nightmare mode, and you survive, it's a credit to your abilities as a player. The Grind DMs do not pull punches, and (especially in Nightmare mode) expect to kill players. (Erm, I mean characters.)

* Another use for TOKENS - While they don't help you much in puzzles (other than the occasional clever use), tokens make a world of difference in combat. If you have invested a lot in a high-end equipment, Grind gives you a chance to shine. Or to crash and burn if your clever build turns out not to be so clever.

* COOL MONSTERS - This is where my bias really shows, but Grind monsters are *intelligent* monsters. It's not just a hack & slash (or slide & roll) event. It's a situation where you have to think ("What is this monster's weakness?" "How can I negate that monster's special attack?" "Why is the Harpy casting a spell on the Shambling Mound? Wait, Monsters can heal each other?") Incognito puts lot of thought into creative scenarios & cool synergies, and you'll remember your Grind opponents longer than you'll remember "the monster from room 3."

Everything Raven said is very true!

If you ever are in a grind with Raven controlling a pack of Blink Dogs, it will be both very entertaining and excruciatingly painful to your party!

To this day I have nightmares about Blink Dogs.

I have nightmares about 2 different TD monsters:

* The super-slick Smoak board (yep, still slick!)

* The Spider from 2004 (2005?) which had a silly-string attack. When the string got on the combat board, it made everything sticky. Think of the inverse of the Smoak board. Ug.

And, to an extent, BloodBeard from the 2011(?) Grind. Not because of the board, or the monster itself, but because Incognito had this Boss enticing my party to turn on me, and brought George on board with his mutinous schemes.
Curse you George!

I never had the pleasure of sliding on the Smoak board originally. However after sliding at WYC all I can say about that board is it is ridiculously fast. It was near impossible to stop the tokens anywhere near where you thought they should slide... loved the added challenge.

The Smoak board felt like sliding on an air hockey table. And it was the size of one.

Chris Von Wahlde wrote: I never had the pleasure of sliding on the Smoak board originally. However after sliding at WYC all I can say about that board is it is ridiculously fast. It was near impossible to stop the tokens anywhere near where you thought they should slide... loved the added challenge.

You should have experienced it when it was new and no one had a clue how fast it was. At least this time we had an idea what we were in for.

Even after watching everyone slide ahead of me and commenting about how fast it was, I was still completely thrown by the speed. I can only imagine how fast it originally was before all the D20 dents.

Well, I missed out this year but will definitely try in 2015!

How do I know if I'm equipped enough to handle True Grind? Or do you choose your level like the runs? In general I'm not sure how much I need to have a decent shot at Nightmare...

Kirk Bauer wrote: Well, I missed out this year but will definitely try in 2015!

How do I know if I'm equipped enough to handle True Grind? Or do you choose your level like the runs? In general I'm not sure how much I need to have a decent shot at Nightmare...

You don't know. Just set up the best build you can come up with... no tokens can make you a better slider (obviously they help though). It is just as much about your group and each of the players, playing their role. I believe there is a WYC post that shows the mortality rate for the Grind... check that out (very high... don't be surprised to not make it). I saw 3 purped out characters die in my group. Its rough, but alot of fun.