Penny Arcade D&D game videos

[Joose]

The guys from Penny Arcade did a live D&D game at PAX, and videoed it. The videos are now up on wizards.com, here.

Its bloody funny, I've enjoyed it a lot. Watch it!

As a side note: when did Wheaton go from being the least liked Star Trek character to a respected geek icon? Did I miss the memo or something?

[The Shutting Downs]

I started with The Red Box.

Does it's rerelease mean they are going back to the days of THAC0, or have they 'updated' it?

[Joose]

Does it's rerelease mean they are going back to the days of THAC0, or have they 'updated' it?

Nah, its the same sort of idea as the old red box, but its all 4th ed rules.

[The Shutting Downs]

I have known D&D games like this...

[Grimmie]

As I mentioned to you before, you should also check out the D&D games ran by the same dude (Chris Perkins), played by the case of Robot Chicken.

It's good.

http://www.youtube.com/user/BartCarroll

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiW56B79ZNI[/media]

Oh, and he gives a director's commentary for every episode, too.

[Dog Pants]

What is it with miniatures everywhere? I've never once played an RPG and used miniatures.

[Grimmie]

They're being run by the creative director of DnD, so I guess he has to stick vehemently to the written rules, which say to use miniatures.

[buzzmong]

That was actually quite good, I laughed rather heartily.

Didn't know D&D was that forgiving with re-rolls though.

[Grimmie]

Some things you can, some you cant. Like, knowledge checks - you don't magically know something you didn't know before if you re-roll.

[Roman Totale]

What is it with miniatures everywhere? I've never once played an RPG and used miniatures.

Unless they're alcoholic miniatures, they're useless.

[Dog Pants]

Agreed. I've still got some Aquavit I'm saving for a special occasion.

[spoodie]

That was very entertaining. I was looking for some good videos of people playing D&D, so I could see what it was all about. Looks like fun, if you know all the rules. Presumably that DM was particularly good at the job?

[The Shutting Downs]

You need a good Dm who keeps the flow, and a good group who don't let the banter overtake the game.

It's a fine balance, and not easy to get right.

[Joose]

We used to use models when i played D&D in the Before Times of my youth. We never used it in the way they do though, it was always just to keep a track of roughly where people were, what bad guys where there, etc. Kind of like how we do here, when someone sketches out a map. As we all played warhammer fantasy and 40K, we did have a shitload of little doods hanging around, im not sure we would have gone out and bought models specifically for this.

Presumably that DM was particularly good at the job?

He was pretty good, although I think the room full of rules lawyers helped from a technical point of view.

Although im a bit of a rules nerd, I wouldn't consider myself a rules lawyer as such, in that I think having fun and rewarding fun are more important than strict adherence to the rules. So from my point of view, the ability to tell a story and entertain are the most important parts of being a DM, which he pretty much nails. I do know people that would like him less as a DM though, due to the "that was entertaining, so im not even going to make you roll for that" rules-bending moments.

As for needing to know the rules: thats a bit of a weird one, and really depends on the game you are playing. F'rinstance:

D&D3.5 (like Grimmies game): the players dont need to know the rules so much as the setting, which is usually "generic fantasy land" so most people start off ok with that. Most people know that a warrior hits people with weapons, and thats about all they need to know to be able to play them.

D&D4 (what they were playing in the video): Lots of beardy types think of this as being dumbed down, but I actually think it makes it harder for people who are not rules nerds. Every fucker has special abilities that they can use once a day, or once an encounter, and unless you understand what a "+1 to hit" or "resists 10 necrotic" does, you can be a bit gimped.

Shadowrun: You dont need to understand the rules, as long as you can get your head around the setting. However, the setting is fucking complex, and a lot of it is described in a rules heavy way. If im honest, its not the easiest to get into for a noob.

Eclipse Phase: Oh shitting christ, its complex in every way ever. Having never actually played it, I cant say for sure how it is in practice, but even as a long time RPG fan and rules nerd it took me a long time to get my head around some of the stuff in there.

Paranoia: Knowing the rules is against the rules. If you know the rules as a player, you are cheating.

[The Shutting Downs]

My problem with D&D4 was that it now reads like an MMO and took away a lot (in my opinion) of the customisation of charcters.

Congratulations, you have levelled, and now have [insert spell here] useable X times a day.

I have read the rulebook, and I really didn't like it.

[Grimmie]

New game from the 2011 PAX

P1. http://www.justin.tv/giggleloop/b/293652125
P2. http://www.justin.tv/giggleloop/b/293652206

[Joose]

Yay! I shall watch them tomorrow.


During my lunch break! Honest!

[Joose]

I want that guys GM suit.

[The Shutting Downs]

I want a copy of the opening song