Everything is connected. For Sue to create the GM section on the rules she need the cards to do it with. DS is built on the idea of combining building monsters with a base card and then adding all sorts of wicked extras to them as features. The Classic terrain cards are an exception to that style. In the Second edition we are going to expand the possibilities for the GM.
1. The first GM set will include six basic types of terrain. One of these is the Broken Lands.
Notice that we have increased the Experience points for terrain. Traveling should be a learning experience.
2. The GM can add features to this land, just as they would for the cast members. The first fun addition is warping the area. This one will also be in the initial basic GM set.
We can see that the experience has risen to a total of 16, so far. By combining these we have also changed the rates at which cards recharge.
We are, as usual, expecting the GM to use rule 3.4 to vary everything to suit their campaign needs, nobody in DS slavishly follows the rules, or, at least, they shouldn't.
3. In the past we have made clothing and items which protect from cold and hot, but we never really gave the GM good tools to work with. So, we made them a feature the GM can add. Frozen will be in the second GM set.
The experience just keeps climbing. 24 total experience so far.
4. Now that we have a Broken, Warped, Frozen area we can continue, if we so desire. I think I am going to add a Dense Fog to this place. Oh what fun to be a GM.
Gee, visibility dropped. Experience grew.
5. Flexibility can go even further. What if an area is extremely warped? Give it two Warp features and the Warp damage climbs to 2d6+4. Not something you would do to young characters, but experienced characters need a challenge as well. We may add some of these "Greater" danger cards as downloadable PDF's in the distant future.
6. Classic Terrain card notes. You have them, use them as they are and add the new features. Just make it fun.
Normally I will be posting just a card or two as we go along. Today I wanted to add enough of this set to give everyone a feel for the expanded terrain options in second edition.
Me likey; me likey a lot. It's about time that GMs got a little help in this area. The base terrain cards were good but they offered little flexibity beyond our own creativity and imagination. Sometimes, we need a more concrete approach that is easier to teach new GMs. This 2nd edition stuff is going to help take the intimidation factor out of GMing. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThank You! We never really followed up on things like weather, terrain warp features and other materials for GM's. We have plans to help the GM's even more..
ReplyDeleteMMmmmm terrain that eats players!
ReplyDeleteYea for Wardens