(Almost) Anything Goes

[Alethan]

In case I don't get around to a blog entry today, HERE are some recent photos of the box (don't have some of the earlier construction photos in this set; i'll have to add them).

That's some nice work, Ethan. Impressive.

By the way, how do you like your camera?

Thank you!

I like my Canon Rebel. I need to start shooting uncompressed images and do more manipulation with PS when I'm at home. I think they have a more simple version of the software I can use. Sometimes I worry too much about aperture and lighting and such; if I shoot uncompressed, I can worry about that less because a lot of it can be corrected with software.

My favorite lens is a little 50mm1.8f; even though it has no zoom function, it's my #1 lens for indoor and low-light settings.

[dmw71]

I like my Canon Rebel.... Sometimes I worry too much about aperture and lighting and such

Cool, I'm going to eventually want to replace our family camera and was considering one of the Rebels. I'm leaning more towards a point-and-shoot, though, since I'd just assume keep things simple, but who knows?

I hate lighting! I had many college majors in my time, and was a one time film student, and lighting was far and away my least favorite class. F-stops. Aperture settings. Back lights. Fills. This setting and this filter. Blah, blah, blah. Definitely not for me. LOL

[Stonjuz]

No idea what you mean by "dice towers"...

Im shocked ...i thought everyone knew.....
I personally own Tim Kask's old one.....someday ill take a picture of it...
heres a generic one from the net....

http://goo.gl/BLVAB

[dmw71]

Im shocked ...i thought everyone knew.....

I am unfamiliar with them as well. Even looking at the picture, I'm not sure what they're used for?

[Alethan]

Im shocked ...i thought everyone knew.....

I am unfamiliar with them as well. Even looking at the picture, I'm not sure what they're used for?

Looks like a fancy way of rolling dice, like a glorified Yahtzee cup! I assume there are a few angled pieces of wood inside the tower to tumble the dice around. Then they fall out into the bottom tray and you don't have dice scattered everywhere.

You could do some cool things with that basic concept, I bet. But... it doesn't appear the idea is completely yours, Stone. So I would feel no such obligation to parse payments.

[dmw71]

I've been dealing with some logistical issues and other details, but should have enough figured out where I'll be able to update everyone later tonight.

All groups should expect things to start getting more interesting relatively soon (some Ewell more quickly than others).

[onlyme]

I've been dealing with some logistical issues and other details, but should have enough figured out where I'll be able to update everyone later tonight.

All groups should expect things to start getting more interesting relatively soon (some Ewell more quickly than others).

Is there a DM policy on being able to redo drunken posts made at 3am? I dont want to stumble back in again and really mess up Ewell's life expectancy...

[Stonjuz]

Of course I was joking about sending me any monies....
No , the idea isnt new at all....there are some really cool ones out there....decorated like castles, creatures, space marine foot lockers, fire hydrants, you name it, they have been made.....but it would seem there are few, if any, that are made with exquisite woods and fine craftmanship...give a look on google search "dice towers".
Unfortunately, they wont help you in here at pbp, but...they do keep dice from rolling off the table.

yes, there are slanted plates inside to tumble the dice randomly
if you do make one, be sure to allow enough room for your largest d20, i have a favorite d20 that i cannot use in my (Kaskoid's) tower.

[Alethan]

Of course I was joking about sending me any monies....
No , the idea isnt new at all....there are some really cool ones out there....decorated like castles, creatures, space marine foot lockers, fire hydrants, you name it, they have been made.....but it would seem there are few, if any, that are made with exquisite woods and fine craftmanship...give a look on google search "dice towers".
Unfortunately, they wont help you in here at pbp, but...they do keep dice from rolling off the table.

yes, there are slanted plates inside to tumble the dice randomly
if you do make one, be sure to allow enough room for your largest d20, i have a favorite d20 that i cannot use in my (Kaskoid's) tower.

I know you weren't serious. I rarely am, myself.

Hmmm... I think all of my d20s are the same size. I'll have to check that later tonight. But it would be something to have to keep in mind, in any case.

Yeah, this might not be the best forum to try and market such a thing... But maybe I'll see if anyone would have any interest on ODD74.

[onlyme]

questions to the audience...


Is there a best way to keep track of XP? offline in excel for instance, on character sheet in the roller, charactersheet in forum, mentally (guessing no on that one...), somewhere else?

Also, hypothetically, if you have two weapons to choose from, one does between 2-5 in damage (1d4+1) and the other does between 1-6 (1d6) which is the better? The average/probable score on each is the same, 3.5. However the 2nd one has a bit more aggressive risk/reward than the first one. Would you gamble on larger damage strikes, or go for the sure thing?

[dmw71]

Is there a best way to keep track of XP? offline in excel for instance, on character sheet in the roller, charactersheet in forum, mentally (guessing no on that one...), somewhere else?

Feel free to keep a working Excel spreadsheet somewhere offline to update and track your experience points, but do make sure your current experience point total is updated on your 'Character Sheets' at all times. I will be tracking experience points for characters as well, and if there is ever a discrepancy between the amount I show for your character and what is found on your character sheet, my amount will be considered the accurate, default amount unless you're able to prove to me otherwise.

Also, hypothetically, if you have two weapons to choose from, one does between 2-5 in damage (1d4+1) and the other does between 1-6 (1d6) which is the better? The average/probable score on each is the same, 3.5. However the 2nd one has a bit more aggressive risk/reward than the first one. Would you gamble on larger damage strikes, or go for the sure thing?

In all cases, my character will use 'their' weapon. If I had a fighter that used a sword 99 times out of 100, s/he is not going to swap the sword out for a different weapon simply because, in the game, this alternate weapons has a different range of damage. That said, since you'd mostly like figure it out (or at least suspect it) eventually, I am using the 'Weapon Type vs. Armor Modifiers' in this game. If a character of mine knew, from past experiences, that a particular type of weapon would be likely be more successful against an opponent wearing a particular type of armor, they would most likely swap weapons in that case, but not simply based on the potential damage range a weapon does; you can use that factor to decide from the beginning what their preferred weapon would be (in which case, my preference would probably error on the more conservative side and I would most likely elect the higher floor than the higher ceiling).

[onlyme]

So, a +1 modifier essentially increases the number needed to hit it by 1 if using that type of weapon?


Also, is there a dexterity bonus for 2e initiative rolls? sorry if it is posted and I just miss it.

[Alethan]

If Dave doesn't mind, what I would recommend is for everyone to make a second entry under the Character thread that you can use to track expenses, experience, and whatever else you might want to keep track of. I'll go make one by way of example to show what I mean...

[onlyme]

Is there a best way to keep track of XP? offline in excel for instance, on character sheet in the roller, charactersheet in forum, mentally (guessing no on that one...), somewhere else?

Feel free to keep a working Excel spreadsheet somewhere offline to update and track your experience points, but do make sure your current experience point total is updated on your 'Character Sheets' at all times. I will be tracking experience points for characters as well, and if there is ever a discrepancy between the amount I show for your character and what is found on your character sheet, my amount will be considered the accurate, default amount unless you're able to prove to me otherwise.

Also, is the xp qty you provide the raw score, or including human et al modifiers?
thanks

[dmw71]

If Dave doesn't mind, what I would recommend is for everyone to make a second entry under the Character thread that you can use to track expenses, experience, and whatever else you might want to keep track of. I'll go make one by way of example to show what I mean...

Actually, I think that's a great idea. I'd go so far as to say that you could create a 'Medical Record' to track your health in the same manner. This can be done in the same post you're using for your actual character sheet (preferred) or as a separate post. To give you an example, below is what is found at the bottom of one of my character sheets for game I'm involved in on a different website:

Code: Select all

*** Experience ***
+ 1,501 / 1,501  (1,501)   Starting experience points
+   150 /   150  (1,651)   Duxchan > Loot from the Assassins
+   250 /   250  (1,901)   Sahuagin Battle
+   150 /   150  (2,051)   3000th post (Fighter level 2)
+   500 /   500  (2,551)   Restenford: Arrival


*** Finances ***

Start:     0     150         0       0
Change  Plat.   Gold    Silver  Copper  Transaction
-80gp             70                    splint mail
-15gp             55                    large shield
- 8gp             47                    footman's mace
- 2gp             45      40            2gp = 40sp
- 3sp                     37            belt
- 8sp                     29            boots, low soft
- 5sp                     24            cloak
- 2gp             43                    backpack
- 5gp             38                    scroll case, bone
- 2gp             36                    holy symbol, iron
- 3sp                     21      30    3sp = 30cp
- 3cp                             27    10'pole
- 1gp             35                    belt pouch, large
- 1gp             34                    belt pouch, large
- 4sp                     17            50' rope
-16cp                             11    sack, large
-15sp                      2            waterskin
- 1gp             33                    tinder box
- 5cp                              6    torches (5)
- 4gp             29                    Gold for time spent in Duxchan 
-10gp             19                    Passage aboard the Shark Hunter

I've also started to apply this tracking to my characters here on the Unseen Servant board as well. From my signature, Jeloon and Elwita should have complete 'medical records.' Jeloon also has links to items/treasure recovered.

Feel free to do whatever will work best for you, but I do agree that it is a very good idea to keep a formal record tracking these types of details.

[dmw71]

Also, is the xp qty you provide the raw score, or including human et al modifiers?=

This is a good question. The short answer is: The amount I reward in a post will be the unmodified amount.

---

I will be tracking the actual modified amounts for each character but, for simplicity sake, what I post publicly will be the unmodified amount. Therefore, it will be the responsibility of each player to apply any modifiers they're entitled to on top of the posted amount.

I actually just added a new house rule ('13. Experience Points') which will hopefully address most questions on this subject. If not, feel free to continue to ask questions.

[saalaria]

Of course I was joking about sending me any monies....
No , the idea isnt new at all....there are some really cool ones out there....decorated like castles, creatures, space marine foot lockers, fire hydrants, you name it, they have been made.....but it would seem there are few, if any, that are made with exquisite woods and fine craftmanship...give a look on google search "dice towers".
Unfortunately, they wont help you in here at pbp, but...they do keep dice from rolling off the table.

yes, there are slanted plates inside to tumble the dice randomly
if you do make one, be sure to allow enough room for your largest d20, i have a favorite d20 that i cannot use in my (Kaskoid's) tower.

I know you weren't serious. I rarely am, myself.

Hmmm... I think all of my d20s are the same size. I'll have to check that later tonight. But it would be something to have to keep in mind, in any case.


But surely you can't beat rolling the little suckers by hand?
This tower business strikes me as a solution to a problem that doesn't exist...or are they to transport the dice to? If that's the case it makes a bit more sense..

[Alethan]

It's just candy.

But that's true for any hobby, right? People don't need some fancy box to roll dice any more than they need one to hold a knife. If it brings enjoyment to someone, then it's worth it (even if just to them).

It could easily be made to store the dice, as well, incidentally. You could add some slots here or there for a piece of wood to slide in and close off an opening. There are lots of ways one could fancy up a dice tower - inlay, carving, different joinery methods, etc. if anything, might be fun to make a few to a) practice various woodworking techniques and b) donate them as prizes to a start-up project or sell them with proceeds going towards upkeep of The Unseen Servant or something like that...

All you would need is a bit of scrap wood and a few hours of time.

[dmw71]

All you would need is a bit of scrap wood and a few hours of time.

That, and the woodworking proficiency or skill. I'd fail my check. Miserably.

[onlyme]

All you would need is a bit of scrap wood and a few hours of time.

That, and the woodworking proficiency or skill. I'd fail my check. Miserably.

Would woodworking fall under:
intelligence (what kind of wood is this?),
wisdom (measure twice cut once),
dexterity (how nimble the hands are),
constitution(how many fingers are left)?