What Does It Mean If My Temperature Is 96.5

well-known songs from well-known suffering

first place I want to point to my new blog roll. I've also included the blogs that I have of course read it with enthusiasm, but it is to become quiet. May it be the authors of a hint, hint! Otherwise, I've

yesterday as players must learn again the old problem of D & D 3.5, namely, the power difference between the groups prepared for battle and those who are caught on the wrong foot. Is thick indeed. This is nothing new that is well known, and should be corrected in D & D 4. Based on my experience yesterday, but I will point out once more.

Short back story: My war was priest took as promised (we reported ), his double axes in the reception. Apparently, however, worship demons have infiltrated the cult of the god of war, the resident priest was in fact not at all happy that my dwarf fulfilled the prophecy. He sent our group a Bebelithen on the neck. Well, no problem, we think - and wait in the temple, one floor down to the fact that my war priest can pray in the morning to make his magic, but then determined that our enemy is up and away. As a player, we of course know that this may be not all.

then an overland trip, always always vigilant. Where is the Bebelith? At night, he finally found us, in every sense of the word with their pants down - or at least armor. No chance against the Bebelithen, illustrate how close the values of my character:
Armor Class: 12
attack bonus: +18
damage bonus: +9

Our psykers teleported us out, we can flee. A few days later we turn the tables: now we chase the Bebelithen are fully equipped and in good shape. When we find him, teleporting psykers our group just far enough away that my dwarf priest's buff spells with short duration (the others were already active) can quickly act on the group before the Bebelith our brave characters catches. My dwarf values now:
Armor Class: 29
attack bonus: +28
damage bonus: +17

Even a small difference ... after 2 (!) combat rounds then it was over. Without a (!) To harm us, the point at Bebelith floated gene Walhalla (or rather in the opposite direction).

What does that mean? The encounter stage of the group is highly dependent on the surprise. You can correct the average group stage with two down, is surprised the group, and after two top if they can prepare. Locking the surprise will become virtually to a Save-or-die component, and the challenge level - Abstract anyway - loses even more meaningful. The strategy of the player focuses more on the element of surprise - other strategic decisions are losing relevance. The game leader loses another big part of planning security - and during an encounter would be an improvisation always cheating or - amounts to a deus ex machina - similar unsatisfactory. The best of all SL will send to the next encounter a stronger opponent against us. God's grace to us that our group will not be surprised.

This problem will defuse the fourth edition. Whether it will succeed, is another matter. Whether this is enough to get me to the fourth edition to inspire them, too.

It greets
Grimnir