You don't need to buy the "hideous plastic minis".
In fact, I use cheap colored glass beads and I find that it helps my players focus on the game itself and not on the minis.
In regards to the more complicated combat rules, I find it a lot more interesting to allow positional options, tactical movement and making use of terrain to gain advantages than the old "I hit it with my sword"
And if you feel that 4th edition requires too much prep time and is too slow, then I imagine you never played third edition...
Well, as I posted above, I see nothing wrong with using the Surface (or a simpler overhead projection system on a blank table) to show the characters positions and keep the rest of the map obscured (maybe with a light radius focused on the character that carries the torch).
Use regular dice and the regular rules for the rest... After all, if we wanted to play a videogame instead of a Tabletop RPG, we would already be playing one, no?
Well, there are several overhead projection systems currently used for D&D that only use the computer to show the maps and the movement as described by the DM. This allows for interesting line of sight and "fog of war" effects.
IMHO, 4th edition is a lot simpler when it comes to combat and theres no need to automate the rolls, damage, or effects (unlike 3rd edition where you sometimes needed spreadsheets to recalculate your entire character sheet if someone altered your ability scores with a spell)
In short, as a DM, my opinion is that anything that makes the combat part of a Tabletop Roleplaying Game easier and faster, while retaining narrative complexity is welcome since it allows the players to focus on the story and less on the mechanics.
My 2.2Ghz Core 2 Duo with 2Gigs of RAM and a Nvidia 7300GT has no problems at all to display Secret Maryo Chronicles (at top quality levels) with no jitters, no latency, no nothing...
Not exactly top-of-the-line hardware, eh?
-
Oh, and I also have a Wii in the house, but you can't beat the price of games like Maryo or Wesnoth ($0.00)
Slashdot Mirror
This. This. A thousand times this!
You don't need to buy the "hideous plastic minis".
In fact, I use cheap colored glass beads and I find that it helps my players focus on the game itself and not on the minis.
In regards to the more complicated combat rules, I find it a lot more interesting to allow positional options, tactical movement and making use of terrain to gain advantages than the old "I hit it with my sword"
And if you feel that 4th edition requires too much prep time and is too slow, then I imagine you never played third edition...
Well, as I posted above, I see nothing wrong with using the Surface (or a simpler overhead projection system on a blank table) to show the characters positions and keep the rest of the map obscured (maybe with a light radius focused on the character that carries the torch).
Use regular dice and the regular rules for the rest... After all, if we wanted to play a videogame instead of a Tabletop RPG, we would already be playing one, no?
There are several porn/erotica focused games out there, complete with interesting rules for seduction and arousal....
Well, there are several overhead projection systems currently used for D&D that only use the computer to show the maps and the movement as described by the DM. This allows for interesting line of sight and "fog of war" effects.
IMHO, 4th edition is a lot simpler when it comes to combat and theres no need to automate the rolls, damage, or effects (unlike 3rd edition where you sometimes needed spreadsheets to recalculate your entire character sheet if someone altered your ability scores with a spell)
In short, as a DM, my opinion is that anything that makes the combat part of a Tabletop Roleplaying Game easier and faster, while retaining narrative complexity is welcome since it allows the players to focus on the story and less on the mechanics.
That pixelqi thing sounds be very nice. I'll keep an eye on it
Problem with EInk displays (at least current generation ones) is that contrast is very bad.
Even though the purely reflective screen is a good step, the fact that you are reading grey text on light-grey background is a killer for the eyes
I have been reading novels in a PalmOS device for years, it's no biggie
In fact, having seen a current generation epaper device, I can say that, for me, a standard color LCD is still the superior reading device
It would have to be a very big abacus
Too late, I already bought an Acer netbook
It had better reviews than the Dell equivalent, and everything works under Ubuntu Netbook remix
Sweden porn?
IKEA instruction manuals?
For some reason, this came to my mind after reading your post: IKEA Erotica
Well, I've been here for years... Some days I post more than others...
You dirty left-handed people!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GEI7HKE_D4&feature=player_embedded#at=186
I think this is what you meant!
I had one of those too! (I even pestered my parents for the cassette deck for saving programs!)
This sounds like a good idea for a "living room" computer, using Mythbuntu or something similar...
Seconded, contrary to the Anonymous coward, I believe that Python is the best programming language for kids.
My 2.2Ghz Core 2 Duo with 2Gigs of RAM and a Nvidia 7300GT has no problems at all to display Secret Maryo Chronicles (at top quality levels) with no jitters, no latency, no nothing...
Not exactly top-of-the-line hardware, eh?
-
Oh, and I also have a Wii in the house, but you can't beat the price of games like Maryo or Wesnoth ($0.00)
12 years and still no decent unicode support
Battle for Wesnoth is too good of a game.
Really, nothing made by volunteers has any right to be this good.
On other news, my five year old kid is experiencing the wonders of classic 2D platform games just like I did at his age.
http://www.secretmaryo.org/
The main reason why I don't own an iphone is because of itunes, you insensitive clod!
Google Wave?
(Score:1, Flamebait)
Really? I thought it was ok to mock your own ethnicity...
Enders Game...great story, and will probably leave them thinking a little. Would be good discussion starter.
Yeah, until one scrawny kid tries to kick a bully in the balls to death, inspired by the protagonist, and the teacher ends up fired...
Nah, just kidding... this is a great choice for teen readers.
What do you mean "books"? There is only one Dune book!
I second most of this list, especially Asimov, Dick, Lem
However, I would not suggest heavily political books to avoid needless controversy, or big doorstoppers that might discourage some kids.