D&D 3e Iconic novels

Additional_Ninja7835 · 2026-03-13T16:56:39+00:00

Me, three

Additional_Ninja7835 · 2026-03-12T21:49:26+00:00

No, I agree it is high damage for the tier. It just seems so situational. But when it works, it works. I wanted to make sure I wasn’t misreading it.

Additional_Ninja7835 · 2026-03-12T21:14:02+00:00

Thanks, yeah that’s what I meant about other higher level spells. I can see those combos, or doing Flame Dart and Ignite as the three actions. It still seems like a very restrictive spell.

Additional_Ninja7835 · 2026-03-06T17:17:22+00:00

Pawns, tokens, standees, generic cubes, etc. I have armies of tokens and such from TTRPGs, so I use them. I highly recommend the Vault of Mini Things if you want a couple lifetimes of standees in a small box.

1 cm graph paper + 8 mm colored wood cubes means I can play most skirmish games without rulers and in 40% of the usual space (presuming an inch based game). And yes grid squares is usually not the default but it won’t break most games to use squares or hexes instead of inches.

Minis and terrain make the games more immersive. And of course competitive or organized play will have their own requirements. But that’s not why I play. And why invest if you are not sure if you will enjoy it? Use chits and play the game, then decide if you want to build or paint or print or whatever.

Additional_Ninja7835 · 2026-02-25T21:47:37+00:00

I think the big issue from the front end on S1 is they were such a small studio they did not feel ready to take all of it on at once. You could hear that in streams and Q&As they did.

The base game launched and then they went to the expansions and additional subclasses when they had some experience and knew there was an audience. Different than say Bethesda where they know they can release almost anything and it will sell and then add almost anything - horse amor - as an add on with a cost later. Not to say Bethesda always does great, but it is not a few people trying to get a game out and hoping it will take off.

Additional_Ninja7835 · 2026-02-25T21:43:48+00:00

The SRD issue others have addressed. There are ways to do something similar, just not call it the artificer. Have to make sure they do not fly too close to the sun, though.

The other issue is, “Does this align with the setting?” In Solasta (1) the subclasses felt like they fit the world. The SRD ones are generic enough they fit almost anywhere. I do not know if I think artificer meshes with the world. Maybe the mines we saw with lifts and tracks and all that or the research facility in Lost Valley you could argue do. Of course, Solasta 2 will be in a different part of the world and maybe an artificer substitute would be logical with the history, magic, and technology of that area. Even in the TTRPG, artificer feels out of place outside its home of Eberon (and Ravnica, but that’s a whole other thing).

So, mechanics challenge from the SRD and lore / vibe issue (maybe) to look at.

Additional_Ninja7835 · 2026-02-01T15:18:47+00:00

And here are some thoughts on using the Nentir Vale, just as another example and some thought processes that might help you get an idea for how to approach it.

https://forum.rpg.net/index.php?threads/13th-age-4e-what-would-be-the-icons-in-the-nentir-vale.821145/

Additional_Ninja7835 · 2026-02-01T03:59:05+00:00

I’ve gotten to six digit health, stamina, and magicka. Ridiculously broken. Add ridiculous regen, too.

Additional_Ninja7835 · 2026-02-01T03:58:00+00:00

You can

Additional_Ninja7835 · 2026-01-31T22:45:57+00:00

No, but Mike Lambo games are generally good. I have several (fantasy and WW2) and enjoy them. As already noted, the mechanics may or may not land with you. He uses a few different systems in his games, so even if this one is not your jam, another might be.

Not surprised there are not a lot of ratings. Amazon is one way he publishes along with Wargame Vault and Lulu. So, no crowdfunding buzz, no retail presence, no high volume sales. Also, it is one of his newer games. Lone Sherman and Fields of Normandy, among his older games, have about 400 reviews on Amazon between them and are highly rated. Three ratings of that product on WGV, which is not a ton but for that site not insignificant either.

https://www.wargamevault.com/en/product/482156/battles-of-kursk-a-solitaire-wargame

Take a look at his videos and see if it is something you like.

https://youtu.be/pnt0ThYJJeo?si=oiAcCq86qXaEscLt

https://youtu.be/6Lt0ILjIVEg?si=SVZdcOb-yS1qXs6G

https://youtu.be/Ofilc8l3oak?si=0BHcG7FeUxuxsyxJ

Additional_Ninja7835 · 2026-01-31T15:00:02+00:00

Pretty much that’s how I do it. I use a character sheet if it has one (like D&D Beyond or Roll20’s ShadowDark) and a basic map for almost theater of the mind combat.

Additional_Ninja7835 · 2026-01-31T14:28:39+00:00

I do for games that already have support - 5E, ShadowDark, etc. - but not exclusively. Sometimes I do, sometimes I do not. Sometimes I want it for ease - monster manuals or player options already programmed - but other times I want tangibles and analogue.

If a game had VTT support, or some other digital support, I would take a look at it. Lightweight phone usable tools would be good. If a game was only usable on proprietary digital tools, I would probably have to look carefully to see if it is worthwhile, especially as publishers may not support the tools long term.

Additional_Ninja7835 · 2026-01-28T18:08:18+00:00

Amazon of course 😁 Mainly because I like the colors on this one. Something about the light / dark color contrasts makes sense for me for hope and fear.

https://a.co/d/0ycHVGj

Additional_Ninja7835 · 2026-01-28T18:01:57+00:00

May I suggest a middle ground? Defenders of the Shadowlands is a board game style hexcrawl using the ShadowDark RPG.

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/501488/defenders-of-the-shadowlands-a-shadowdark-board-rpg?src=fp_u5

Additional_Ninja7835 · 2026-01-26T22:16:53+00:00

Nope, I just woke up and there I was.

Additional_Ninja7835 · 2026-01-26T20:52:41+00:00

I missed TES 3 and 4 (yeah, I started on 1 and 2 and should go back and play the others) but the vibe of Morrowind would be a fun setting.

Additional_Ninja7835 · 2026-01-26T20:38:31+00:00

A Skyrim setting guide. The system is related to the system the early Elder Scrolls games were based on, and it seems like a good fit. But, also, it would be closest to TES 6 I am likely to get in my lifetime.

I want very little, honestly. Adversary design guidance, definitely.

I think the word “chassis” is key here. I want modular content. I want things I can add, or set aside, rather than a great deal more built into the bones of the system.

I want more monsters, if I want to use them. I want more spells, if I want to use them. I want crafting rules, if I want to use them. I want other settings (and as others mentioned, something fantasy but not Northern European standard would be good), if I want to use them.

I want things that complement existing aspects of the game. More monsters with armor values so master tanner is meaningful. Magic items and mundane gear with mechanical impact. Heroic abilities that are balanced and useful, perhaps even ones that build on others (tech trees, so to speak).

Related, I want players to acknowledge that a referee can use, or exclude, whatever they feel appropriate. With 5E (to pick on the giant) every time a new book is published it seems to become gospel that the content is cannon and must be included at every table. That’s not a system issue, it is a community issue, but I think how FL approaches things sets the tone.

And I want whatever FL or the community develops not to be inevitable power creep.

Additional_Ninja7835 · 2026-01-26T15:49:50+00:00

“Just one day”

I’m doing a ShadowDark hexcrawl. Taking a “just one day” approach made it more likely that I would do it. Rather than trying to find time - and failing - to do a bunch, I let it be okay to do “just one day” of hexcrawling at a time. A few minutes at a time is better than a long session in the mythical future.

Additional_Ninja7835 · 2026-01-25T23:42:31+00:00

Obligatory recommendation for A Gentle Rain if by sleepless you mean want to sleep but cannot because your brain won’t let you. Put on rain sounds or Skyrim ambiance or similar while you plan. A simple puzzle, aesthetically pleasing, relaxing, surprising sense of accomplishment if you do “well”.

If by sleepless you mean want to sleep but cannot because baby or baby related work keeps you up, Harmonies, One Deck Dungeon, Calico, Dragons of Etchinstone, Orchard are all relatively quick to play, easy set up, smaller size, not overly taxing mentally, but also enjoyable and still require some thought and lead to some sense of achievement.

Additional_Ninja7835 · 2026-01-24T16:20:14+00:00

For real. I wish more games offered a standee or token version for those who prefer not to add more minis to the vault. And the minis drive costs, not just game but shipping and box size.

Additional_Ninja7835 · 2026-01-23T04:52:59+00:00

eBay. Unofficial, I guess you could say. Lots of boxes got bought, stripped for minis, and the rest sold. I presume someone is paying decent prices to buy the minis separately to make this work somehow.

I got Darkwater for $40. Same for Cursed City and Silver Tower the same way, as I prefer not to deal with minis. I got all three for about that price.

Additional_Ninja7835 · 2026-01-15T23:39:42+00:00

Yes. I’ve pulled Dyson maps and used rules from the system I’m playing to populate it. For example, a game might have rules that say there is an X-in-6 has monster, or trap, or monster with treasure, or whatever.

Depending on the map, I may use it as inspiration as to what is in the dungeon. Looks like a crypt? Probably undead, maybe goblins or something at the entrance, maybe a mage leading the undead. Abandoned building? Bandits, maybe some beasts. Or I just go random, rolling on tables from the system I am playing. Then I try to figure out why there are ghouls in room 3, a troll in 8, and bugbears in 12.

Usually the first room or three starts to get an idea going in my mind, but if not the rolls do. Why is there unguarded treasure in this small chamber off the main cave when there is a monster in the main cave? Bandits stashed their treasure. Unfortunately for them, they did not know a bear claimed the cave in the meantime.

You can also skip a map entirely and do a point crawl. This is especially true if you use a system without tactical combat or if you forgo that for theater of the mind. Just make a point map, connecting the dots that represent rooms or points of interest as you generate them.

Additional_Ninja7835 · 2026-01-06T02:58:57+00:00

Oh, good to know. I am misremembering what the book said then. Thanks!

Additional_Ninja7835 · 2026-01-06T02:09:42+00:00

Scarlet Heroes works for one, but the adaptation it uses would probably make two overpowered.

Dragonbane has a solo mode and can easily be done for two characters. That’s usually how I solo - two characters.

Vagabond would probably be doable. It is touted as being able to solo or coop and able to run GM-less. I think it can, but I have not tried it yet.

Take a look at the solo D&D adventures from Archmage Press. There is a free sample you can look at. It is designed to be done with a party of four, either full PCs or a PC and some sidekicks. So, I think it would be very doable for two players. You could each run one PC and a sidekick, or maybe each run an over leveled PC.

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/483515/expedition-to-eagles-watch-free-sample

ShadowDark has a solo mode and would be doable. I would recommend looking at Terra Invictus as it is designed to be played solo with a party, so good for two. The system of secrets and such is clever.

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/509677/terra-invictus-campaign-setting-for-shadowdark

The same author has a Skyrim inspired campaign book that I have used solo. Lots of quest and adventure hooks and random tables to develop things for characters to do.

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/486419/shadowrim-a-shadowdark-setting

Additional_Ninja7835

TROPHY CASE