
Today we playtested five popular story-games to lay the foundation for mechanics heavy physical representation storytelling games. Consensus was that with notable exception (TotAK) board games use story as a loose framework when at all, and most are very rigid in their storytelling, relying on the game mechanics to drive the "story"/scenario forward. We will compare this to D&D 4.0 next week
(D&D Character Sheet Instructions below!) V V V V V V V V
Our scenario/narrative board game case studies were:
Betrayal at House on the Hill: http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/10547/betrayal-at-house-on-the-hill
Decent 2nd Edition: http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/104162/descent-journeys-in-the-dark-second-edition
Castle Ravenloft: http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/59946/dungeons-dragons-castle-ravenloft-board-game
Wrath of Ashardalon: http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/66356/dungeons-dragons-wrath-of-ashardalon-board-game
Tales of the Arabian Knights: http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/34119/tales-of-the-arabian-nights
Other great story games to check out:
Mansions of Madness: http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/83330/mansions-of-madness
Descent (1.0): http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/17226/descent-journeys-in-the-dark
Doom: http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/10640/doom-the-boardgame
Legend of Drizzt: http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/91872/dungeons-dragons-the-legend-of-drizzt-board-game
The board game elements/mechanics we discussed are here:
http://boardgamegeek.com/browse/boardgamemechanic
http://boardgamegeek.com/browse/boardgamecategory
(D&D Character Sheet Instructions below!) V V V V V V V V
Our scenario/narrative board game case studies were:
Betrayal at House on the Hill: http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/10547/betrayal-at-house-on-the-hill
Decent 2nd Edition: http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/104162/descent-journeys-in-the-dark-second-edition
Castle Ravenloft: http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/59946/dungeons-dragons-castle-ravenloft-board-game
Wrath of Ashardalon: http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/66356/dungeons-dragons-wrath-of-ashardalon-board-game
Tales of the Arabian Knights: http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/34119/tales-of-the-arabian-nights
Other great story games to check out:
Mansions of Madness: http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/83330/mansions-of-madness
Descent (1.0): http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/17226/descent-journeys-in-the-dark
Doom: http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/10640/doom-the-boardgame
Legend of Drizzt: http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/91872/dungeons-dragons-the-legend-of-drizzt-board-game
The board game elements/mechanics we discussed are here:
http://boardgamegeek.com/browse/boardgamemechanic
http://boardgamegeek.com/browse/boardgamecategory

FOR NEXT WEEK:
Player's Handbook (PHB)
Completed Dungeons and Dragons Character Sheet
(one $$ option is here:
https://www.wizards.com/dnd/tool.aspx?x=dnd/4new/tool/characterbuilder)
REQUIREMENTS:
Char Creation: Level 3 - give yourself gear, abilities, and gold for this level as described in the PHB using the POINT BUY mechanic. Stick to core classes / races unless you own the book (PHB2/3). You may create your character's core and derived stats using any of the 3 methods. (Array/PointBuy/Random) Very good and FREE detailed instructions on how to do this can be read here: http://www.wikihow.com/Create-a-4Th-Edition-Dungeons-and-Dragons-Character and of course instructions are also in the PHB. Total noob? Try the "choose your own adventure" style character creation tool found in this book: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1rwiotpbbzd5mt9/t1_mXOS_40/Players%20Book.pdf but be sure to then transfer the information over to a proper character sheet and fill out all the rest of the information on it to get your character to level 3 according to the PHB!
Starting gold / items follows this formula: During character creation for a non level-one character, take One magic item of character level +1, One magic item of character level, One magic item of character level -1, and Gold pieces are equal to the cost of a magic item of your level -1. You may then buy items as you see fit before the campaign begins with your gold. (See Pg. 223 of the PHB for more on this.)
Other helpful FREE downloads including the char. sheet we are using, ability cards, and sample characters can be found here: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/tool.aspx?x=dnd/4new/tool/charactersheet
(I will be posting the Star Wars: EOTE links/info next week - but you don't need it yet! Have no fear those who have been unable to track down dice - buy them online or download the app
http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_minisite.asp?eidm=220.)
Player's Handbook (PHB)
Completed Dungeons and Dragons Character Sheet
(one $$ option is here:
https://www.wizards.com/dnd/tool.aspx?x=dnd/4new/tool/characterbuilder)
REQUIREMENTS:
Char Creation: Level 3 - give yourself gear, abilities, and gold for this level as described in the PHB using the POINT BUY mechanic. Stick to core classes / races unless you own the book (PHB2/3). You may create your character's core and derived stats using any of the 3 methods. (Array/PointBuy/Random) Very good and FREE detailed instructions on how to do this can be read here: http://www.wikihow.com/Create-a-4Th-Edition-Dungeons-and-Dragons-Character and of course instructions are also in the PHB. Total noob? Try the "choose your own adventure" style character creation tool found in this book: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1rwiotpbbzd5mt9/t1_mXOS_40/Players%20Book.pdf but be sure to then transfer the information over to a proper character sheet and fill out all the rest of the information on it to get your character to level 3 according to the PHB!
Starting gold / items follows this formula: During character creation for a non level-one character, take One magic item of character level +1, One magic item of character level, One magic item of character level -1, and Gold pieces are equal to the cost of a magic item of your level -1. You may then buy items as you see fit before the campaign begins with your gold. (See Pg. 223 of the PHB for more on this.)
Other helpful FREE downloads including the char. sheet we are using, ability cards, and sample characters can be found here: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/tool.aspx?x=dnd/4new/tool/charactersheet
(I will be posting the Star Wars: EOTE links/info next week - but you don't need it yet! Have no fear those who have been unable to track down dice - buy them online or download the app
http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_minisite.asp?eidm=220.)