by chrisperry
Wow Ted! Thanks for the great praise! You really inspire me to work on my Wrath revision, which I have plans to finish this Summer.My wife also reads this thread (she knows I somehow miss updates, despite being subscribed) and she told me that your account of the game session make her want to play it again. I admit I feel that way too, but I think I should stay focused on WAR (Wrath of Ashardalon Reversion).
Even so, let me try to address your questions:
1) Yes, the Winged Boots should be kept separate as a reward for the Graveyard Side Quest. However, that said, I don't mind having a house rule that these treasures are also found in the deck. Honestly (as an examination of my rules show) I like a bit of randomness in the game--I think powerful items should be found now and then in the regular treasure deck.
2) I think your use of the Sunsword is perfectly legitimate. When playing with my rules, group consensus should serve as "Dungeon Master" and if the party thinks it's a fair use of the item then you should be able to do it. Perhaps I should write a paragraph in my next edition about the concept of group consensus as DM... I think it's a perfectly viable solution to rule questions. In regards to adjusting the light source, I think it should be similar to the Hooded Lantern--a Minor Action.
3) Concerning my Haggling rules: As others have pointed out, I left open too much opportunity to abuse the system. I think I'll change this in WAR and maybe in another edition of CRR someday. However, meanwhile, I don't mind letting it ride. While on one hand I left open too big of a opportunity for abuse, on the other hand I think there ought to be more opportunities in role playing where a player self-governs according to their morals--not to the rules of the game.
In other words, why should the limits of what is allowed by the rules be the only governor of player actions? Isn't role playing about making character choices that are based on ethics and the character's ideology? Further, isn't it likely that a heroic adventurer--capable of facing and defeating a force that would otherwise destroy a village--also be able to use her powers to abuse the very villagers that she is saving?
Of course the truth is that in my play-testing I never encountered a player interested in pushing my Haggling system to its limits, nor a player that had invested enough in one of the requisite skills to be able to do so. Even so, this is an aspect of the rules that I am reconsidering as I move forward.
Thanks for playing! I loved your account of your girlfriend role playing the "Crazy Cat Lady" in the Graveyard. I hope she finds the Dark Fountain.
Best regards,
Chris
castleravenloftreversion@gmail.com
www.dndboardgame.com