Bryan Palmer
10-06-1997, 05:54 PM
First I'd like to thank "Ed" (sorry about the Mr. Stark, it's a function
of my past military training) for all the great products and help
provided to me over the past two years. Over the last ten years the
majority of my expereince with RPGs has been as a player character. I
have long wanted to be a DM and chose the Birthright genre as my first
serious DMing challenge. It has been great! I DM a group of five player
characters that have been playing D&D and AD&D games for at least an
average of 20 years. The Birthright campaign has re-energized a group of
tired adventurers. this is due primarilty to the game mechanics of
controlling an entire realm and the great political intrigue involved in
every turn. We have gone for many enjoyable gaming sessions without
lifting a sword.
For a wish list I'd suggest the following:
1. I wholeheartedly support Tripp Elliott's suggestion for having the
domain maps put in pdf formats on cds. But I'd also go a bit further.
Why not put the entire domain sourcebook(s) on a cd so the dm can print
out whatever portions he/she desires. That way, the DM can decide on what
the players will or will not have in terms of domain information. I'd
think this would make the Western Coast/TSR folks happy since it would
cut down on printing costs. However it does assume that most DMs or
PCs have the electronic capacity to benefit from CD based information.
2. If CDs are marketable, Id' vote for the compilation of domain source
books into one overall DM usable index and rework past source material so
it wouldn't give away too much information to the players. I agree that
past books have given away too many secrets that the DM would like
players to work for.
3. A source book for the Imperial city is a must! My PCs simply
salivate everytime they try to get a piece of the pie in the Imperial
city.
4. I think an overall DM's guide to the Birthright realm would be very
useful. Kind of like the AD&D DM's guide. However, it would include
those areas that are particular to Birthright (Realm magic/spells,
character classes, holding descriptions, domain rules, battle rules, etc.)
5. The war/battle card system could be updated to include optional/new
rules. We have already made a good many modifications such as enlarging
the battle map, upgrading armies, using siege tactics that encorporate
individual PC battles, etc.
6. Being a fairly new DM, I had a good deal of trouble in acurately and
fairly awarding experience points for domain/regent actions. Having an
index or list of each domain actions along with points given for level of
success would have been helpful.
7. Any kind of supplementary materials that promote political intrigue.
(eg. history of royal families, history of past alliances or double
dealing, adventures based on espionage and politics, etc.)
8. Some explanation of the shadow world would be great. My players have
already used passage within this realm for a military campaign (at a
frightful cost to thier armies).
9. I also try to use the combat(using minatures) and PC creation system
presented in the last AD&D updates. It would be interesting to see if
the concepts in those two supplements could be melded into the Birthright
campaign. The use of minatures for both small and large engagements
helps to keep my PCs honest.
Thanks again Ed for your support and I'm really looking forward to the
new priest book and the Vos supplement.
Bryan Palmer
ARizona State University
of my past military training) for all the great products and help
provided to me over the past two years. Over the last ten years the
majority of my expereince with RPGs has been as a player character. I
have long wanted to be a DM and chose the Birthright genre as my first
serious DMing challenge. It has been great! I DM a group of five player
characters that have been playing D&D and AD&D games for at least an
average of 20 years. The Birthright campaign has re-energized a group of
tired adventurers. this is due primarilty to the game mechanics of
controlling an entire realm and the great political intrigue involved in
every turn. We have gone for many enjoyable gaming sessions without
lifting a sword.
For a wish list I'd suggest the following:
1. I wholeheartedly support Tripp Elliott's suggestion for having the
domain maps put in pdf formats on cds. But I'd also go a bit further.
Why not put the entire domain sourcebook(s) on a cd so the dm can print
out whatever portions he/she desires. That way, the DM can decide on what
the players will or will not have in terms of domain information. I'd
think this would make the Western Coast/TSR folks happy since it would
cut down on printing costs. However it does assume that most DMs or
PCs have the electronic capacity to benefit from CD based information.
2. If CDs are marketable, Id' vote for the compilation of domain source
books into one overall DM usable index and rework past source material so
it wouldn't give away too much information to the players. I agree that
past books have given away too many secrets that the DM would like
players to work for.
3. A source book for the Imperial city is a must! My PCs simply
salivate everytime they try to get a piece of the pie in the Imperial
city.
4. I think an overall DM's guide to the Birthright realm would be very
useful. Kind of like the AD&D DM's guide. However, it would include
those areas that are particular to Birthright (Realm magic/spells,
character classes, holding descriptions, domain rules, battle rules, etc.)
5. The war/battle card system could be updated to include optional/new
rules. We have already made a good many modifications such as enlarging
the battle map, upgrading armies, using siege tactics that encorporate
individual PC battles, etc.
6. Being a fairly new DM, I had a good deal of trouble in acurately and
fairly awarding experience points for domain/regent actions. Having an
index or list of each domain actions along with points given for level of
success would have been helpful.
7. Any kind of supplementary materials that promote political intrigue.
(eg. history of royal families, history of past alliances or double
dealing, adventures based on espionage and politics, etc.)
8. Some explanation of the shadow world would be great. My players have
already used passage within this realm for a military campaign (at a
frightful cost to thier armies).
9. I also try to use the combat(using minatures) and PC creation system
presented in the last AD&D updates. It would be interesting to see if
the concepts in those two supplements could be melded into the Birthright
campaign. The use of minatures for both small and large engagements
helps to keep my PCs honest.
Thanks again Ed for your support and I'm really looking forward to the
new priest book and the Vos supplement.
Bryan Palmer
ARizona State University