TOPIC: True Grind at GenCon 2015!

Druegar wrote:

Incognito wrote: The half damage is factored in after subtracting any damage/energy reduction. This does not stack with "half damage from the same energy" so a Ring of Fire Resistance does not stack with an Amulet of Wonder: Fire. It does stack with half damage due to Improved Evasion or the three-piece Mithral set.

The procedure to resolve magical damage reduction can be found in the DMG (p. 51) and at the bottom of the description for Dragon Tooth Amulet .

I'm not bringing this up because Incognito got anything wrong (quite the contrary!), but some folks may not be aware there is a specific process TD follows to resolve multiple sources of damage mitigation.

Yep.

The AoW Elemental Attunement counts as "5. Apply percentage-based modifiers (round down). These do not stack–use the highest one." So it does not combine with the Potion/Ring of XXX Resistance, if XXX is the same type.

While the Mithral set counts as "6. Apply modifiers specific to that attack form/monster."

And Improved Evasion presumably would work during Step 3.

I'm confused (granted, that happens a lot) about the musical instrument topic. If a non-rogue using a rogue item can't sneak attack, how can a non-bard perform bardsong? Is that not a class ability?

Druegar wrote: I'm confused (granted, that happens a lot) about the musical instrument topic. If a non-rogue using a rogue item can't sneak attack, how can a non-bard perform bardsong? Is that not a class ability?

That's the thing.

The non-bard can't do bardsong on his own.

But if there is a bardsong going (by the actual bard), he contributes to the bardsong.

So think of them as back-up players or accompaniment for the real Bard.

At least that is how I envision it....

So they are doing bardsong, if the bard is signing. So then they do gain a different character ability.

They're not gaining Bardsong. They are using an instrument which augment's the *Bard* doing his Bardsong.

Think of it like a Cleric casting a Bless, to augment a Fighter's attack. The Fighter doesn't gain the ability to cast spell, but he (and everyone else) benefits from the effects.

Raven wrote: They're not gaining Bardsong. They are using an instrument which augment's the *Bard* doing his Bardsong.

Think of it like a Cleric casting a Bless, to augment a Fighter's attack. The Fighter doesn't gain the ability to cast spell, but he (and everyone else) benefits from the effects.

Thanks Raven.

Yeah. It's also like the Bard's Muse spell which can modify another class' skill check, but doesn't allow the Bard to do that himself.

I like the Eldritch Runestone idea. Here are some potential areas of concern / questions:

1. For the Bardsong Accompaniment are only damage bonuses stack, or do any musical instrument bonus stack? Some scenarios:

If a Fighter plays the Lyre of Luck, does the party get +1 to saves?
If a Barbarian plays the Lyre of Rage, does the party get +1 to hit?

2. Everyone could pick something like Wand of Magic Missile, this could make short work of a boss (guaranteed 60 force damage per round), or leave players feeling upset of their wand usage was somehow subverted by module design (e.g. silence preventing use of command word)

3. Shield of the Scholar might be a bit broken here if the party can get off 6 scrolls as a free action once per room due to Wizards being able to use it.

4. Plate Armor of Attack also seems like an MVP token in this set up allowing Barbarian, Druid, Monk, Rogue, and Wizards to hit ~27+ AC

5. Does Helm of Retribution get +2 damage to the favored enemy of rangers no matter who is wearing it? (e.g. is the +2 damage to favored enemy _of the wearer_ or +2 damage to favored enemy _of the ranger_)

6. Dagger of Arcane Luck may require up to 20 pucks per board...

7. Would pearl of the planes allow two guesses to the Bard, Cleric, or Druid skill tests?

8. Can an evil player character pick Satyr's Pipes of Dancing and deny the group Bardsong

Matthew Hayward wrote: I like the Eldritch Runestone idea. Here are some potential areas of concern / questions:

1. For the Bardsong Accompaniment are only damage bonuses stack, or do any musical instrument bonus stack? Some scenarios:

If a Fighter plays the Lyre of Luck, does the party get +1 to saves?
If a Barbarian plays the Lyre of Rage, does the party get +1 to hit?

The effect of the instruments stack (damage bonuses and non-damage bonuses).

So if a Fighter spends his action playing the Lyre of Luck, this adds +1 saves to the effect of the Bard's Bardsong.

If a Barbarian plays the Lyre of Rage, this adds +1 to hit to the effect of the Bard's Bardsong.

Same with the Lute of Muting.

2. Everyone could pick something like Wand of Magic Missile, this could make short work of a boss (guaranteed 60 force damage per round), or leave players feeling upset of their wand usage was somehow subverted by module design (e.g. silence preventing use of command word)

Well, people would be burning 10 Eldritch Runestones and 10 Wands of Magic Missile for this.

Not to mention it is not unheard of for bosses to have magic resistance.

But if people really want to try this, they are welcome to!

3. Shield of the Scholar might be a bit broken here if the party can get off 6 scrolls as a free action once per room due to Wizards being able to use it.

Well, the Bard/Cleric/Druid/Paladin can already use the Shield of the Scholar (though Paladins can't really use good scrolls).

If the Wizard really wants to give it a try for +3 AC and is willing to burn the scrolls, more power to him!

4. Plate Armor of Attack also seems like an MVP token in this set up allowing Barbarian, Druid, Monk, Rogue, and Wizards to hit ~27+ AC

Considering that the Plate Armor of Attack doesn't see much love (other than for occasional Fighter builds), I don't mind letting some underappreciated tokens have some time in the spotlight!

(Yeah, I think the Monk can abuse the Plate Armor of Attack the most, since +10 AC far outstrips his +1 AC Robe).

5. Does Helm of Retribution get +2 damage to the favored enemy of rangers no matter who is wearing it? (e.g. is the +2 damage to favored enemy _of the wearer_ or +2 damage to favored enemy _of the ranger_)

My initial inclination is that the Helm of Retribution gives +2 damage against the favored enemy of the wearer. So it would be another example where a class did not have that feature (non-Rangers don't have a favored enemy) so they would not get that portion of the benefit.

6. Dagger of Arcane Luck may require up to 20 pucks per board...

Yes, we'll be needing extra sliders for Blink Dogs too!

Of course you would be committing yourself to a D4 weapon in a GRIND event.

But I guess it would be amusing to see a party set a Guinness Book of Records on how many TD combat sliders are on a table at one time!

7. Would pearl of the planes allow two guesses to the Bard, Cleric, or Druid skill tests?

#1. I highly doubt someone is going to waste an Eldritch Runestone on a consumable Pearl of the Planes.

#2. Grind has no skill tests, so it's kind of a moot point.

#3. IF Grind did have skill tests, I would say the Pearl of the Planes would indeed allow two guesses to the Bard/Cleric/Druid skill tests, plus I'd also give the Bard/Cleric/Druid the option of making two guesses on the Wizard skill test if they really wanted!

Great questions!

Incognito wrote:

Matthew Hayward wrote:

6. Dagger of Arcane Luck may require up to 20 pucks per board...

Yes, we'll be needing extra sliders for Blink Dogs too!

Of course you would be committing yourself to a D4 weapon in a GRIND event.

But I guess it would be amusing to see a party set a Guinness Book of Records on how many TD combat sliders are on a table at one time!

The people from Guinness Book of Records will be in the building for the Cataan event... I would be willing to give it a try... if I had a TG ticket...

Bumping this up because I had forgot it had gotten set and I imagine a few others did too.

Incognito wrote: UR ? Special

PUPPIES! You gain a Blink Dog follower! The Blink Dog may attack with a puck (probably a Monk slider) and deal damage. Or it can run interference (giving a penalty to a monster's attack). The puppy has a moderate amount of HP and may die if you do not take proper care of it!

If multiple players use a UR ? Special, the party could very well end up with a pack of Blink Dogs! ::woof!::

Hmm, I imagine puppies in Drow infested Underdark would look something like this...



As seen on YouTube here

Hi all.

Just checking in.

There are no changes to the variable effect tokens (Amulet of Wonder, Eldritch Runestone, and UR Special) so they are the same as I previously posted.

I have been working with Druegar to create updated PDF files for the FAQ and Environmental Rule Compilation. I will probably upload them to Dropbox tomorrow night and post the links. (For those who e-mailed my True Grind account, I will send a reminder e-mail).

The new FAQ will mostly include the 2015 Variable Token Effects and briefly discuss the new difficulty level system (which was first implemented at 2015 WYC).

For the Environmental Rules, we will by introducing one new, minor rule to deal with the darkness of the Underdark / Shallowdark:


This year's Grind adventure takes place in the Underdark and Shallowdark, where it is pitch black.

Due to the darkness, characters without a light source and who cannot see in the dark, are unable to target monsters hidden in the darkness with melee attacks, missile attacks, or spells.

Darkvision

- A player equipped with GOGGLES OF SEEING or DROW ASSASSIN ARMOR can see in the dark and can target any monsters normally.

- A player who uses a POTION DARKVISION is able to see in the dark for the entire Grind adventure and can target any monsters normally.

Light Sources

Alternatively, a light source can be used to illuminate a monster so that players who cannot see in the dark can attack the illuminated monster.

One light source can only illuminate a single monster at a time. As a free action, a player with a light source may illuminate a different monster.

- A player can use FLINT & STEEL, a consumable TINDERTWIG, or some sort of Flaming/Fire item to light a TORCH. The TORCH is consumed but will last the entire adventure. Other types of tokens (including CLUBS) can be used/consumed instead. A lit torch provides a source of illumination for the party while held in a character's hand (takes up a hand slot). The player must hold a prop torch to indicate this.

- A player who uses a SCROLL LIGHT is considered to have a light source for the entire Grind adventure. No hands (character or player) are required!

- DIMGLOW CRYSTALS and GLOWAURA CRYSTALS are too faint to be used as light sources.

And, as always, we reserve the right to utilize past environmental rules and encourage players to refresh themselves just in case!