tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1954394848487110923.post1724611569246973978..comments2024-03-14T11:22:59.400-04:00Comments on Gothridge Manor: Friday QuestionGothridge Manorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11371740532802642972noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1954394848487110923.post-77806410887721217372013-01-03T21:59:50.281-05:002013-01-03T21:59:50.281-05:00My players would be a better judge of this than I ...My players would be a better judge of this than I am. I don't attempt to balance things in the sense of "x" number of level "y" PCs means they should encounter "x" number of "y" HD monsters. But I like to think that my game is balanced in the sense that nothing -- neither success nor failure -- is ever a foregone conclusion. Or put another way, it's not so much that the game is (or needs to be) balanced, but that the players can take it upon themselves to balance it by approaching problems sensibly, using good tactics, etc. They may encounter a foe that that they could never take out in a toe-to-toe fight. But the players can balance that out by good planning, dividing and conquering, ambushing, etc. In this sense the game becomes as balanced as the players make it.Chris C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08655640273250716377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1954394848487110923.post-46960420529287462272013-01-01T21:19:11.900-05:002013-01-01T21:19:11.900-05:00A "balanced" game rewards character skil...A "balanced" game rewards character skill. An "unbalanced" game rewards player skill. I think if you want your players to improve and gain in skill, they need to have reason and opportunity to hone those skills. The more "unbalanced" the game is, the more they need those skills and learn to use them.<br /><br />I think the only difference between how I'd run things for newbies vs. veteran players is in the number and obviousness of the clues available to judge how challenging each situation is.waywardwayfarerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00338700537762637962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1954394848487110923.post-48146498154059549572012-12-29T01:36:52.164-05:002012-12-29T01:36:52.164-05:00I'm currently in the camp that says that the p...I'm currently in the camp that says that the players' characters are not the center of the game world (even if they are the center of the game), and that the world should be balanced against itself but not necessarily against the characters. The players should be given the opportunity to develop clever solutions to difficult problems that aren't just "I hit it with my axe". They should also be given legitimate consequences to their decisions on a strategic level, rather than being presented with simple tactical problem after simple tactical problem.faoladhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03691952430041394614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1954394848487110923.post-70942235371478626892012-12-28T16:48:56.350-05:002012-12-28T16:48:56.350-05:00I like a little balance, but not perfect balance. ...I like a little balance, but not perfect balance. There is little better than a knock down drag out fight that ends up with the party battered and bloody, but victorious. Of course random chance means that sometimes a fight like this won't go the party's way, and I'm okay with that. <br /><br />Encounters that are out of this range aren't as interesting. Fighting too-low-level encounters isn't much of a challenge. the party is going to win, and they probably won't use up much in the way of resources. I'm okay if some of the fights are guaranteed wins as long as it takes some cost to win. <br /><br />Encounters that are too deadly for the party can be fine once in a while, but I don't like them as a staple. Part of it is the feel of gaming. I like to play a hero, not a mouse that needs to hide from a world filled with cats. <br /><br />I understand about finding creative solutions to powerful foes. When it's once in a while, that's fun. When it's too common, the creative aspect goes out the window. you end up seeing lots of variations on a few old plans. <br /><br />Philo Pharynxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14785954267292226321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1954394848487110923.post-35285611858219735692012-12-28T13:18:05.858-05:002012-12-28T13:18:05.858-05:00I think it's important that the game be "...I think it's important that the game be "perceived" as balanced. That's one of the things I like about the d20 system. As a GM, if the monster is proving to be too tough, or not tough enough, you can alter things on the fly. As a player I like to know what I am up against, and I like to feel that my character can handle the challenge (that's the whole point of RPG's, IMHO). That being said, I get pretty excited when I find myself saying "#%@$ - it's not dead yet?!?!"Tom Doolanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03451129317759266295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1954394848487110923.post-4856120012945082122012-12-28T12:14:25.358-05:002012-12-28T12:14:25.358-05:00One of the best campaigns I ever ran was taking a ...One of the best campaigns I ever ran was taking a 1st level party into the Rod of Seven Parts campaign in second edition. It was originally designed for level 10-12 PCs and I changed very little aside from being more open minded to creative PC solutions. They succeeded in the adventure and everyone had ridiculous fun even though it was obviously not "balanced".<br /><br />I agree with your player perspective that knowing every encounter is balanced-ish is just kind of boring. As a player I want variety - hordes of orcs my high level character can pound or crazy hard opponents that require me to use every ounce of creativity to defeat, plus everything in between.Mr. Bluehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07027893907355004146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1954394848487110923.post-52734265937754287122012-12-28T08:54:15.211-05:002012-12-28T08:54:15.211-05:00"Yes," "No," and "Maybe.&..."Yes," "No," and "Maybe." <br /><br />Tim, my thinking is about the same as yours on this.<br /><br />I had to laugh when I read this, considering when you were DMing our AD&D 1e group this last year our low-level group was up against a cult of child-stealing shapechangers who were unearthing a...(wait for it)...<i>a tarrasque!!</i> The only balance was that it took them a few sessions to dig it up...of course, we had a blast playing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1954394848487110923.post-60299293806636844952012-12-28T08:22:30.341-05:002012-12-28T08:22:30.341-05:00I like balance to be there, but it doesn't hav...I like balance to be there, but it doesn't have to be perfect. Heck, I played Rifts for years and that's far from balanced, but we still had loads of fun.Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04732052814850525574noreply@blogger.com