I Hit It With My Axe: Episode 19: Silly.

[wsmieszek]

I've skipped the show for at least six weeks now and must say that this one is superior to the ones that I've watched previously. For one, we finally get to listen to the dialogues that are not cut in a Hollywood movie trailer kind of way. Now they make sense and are actually much funnier, because there is a natural flow, continuity of the conversation. Good job

 

[Anarchtor]

Great show, keep up the good work guys.

Funny, smart, beautiful and sexy girls playing D&D - wonderful stuff.

I hope you keep Justine in the show even if she is just a "guest star".

She does however seem to be in desperate need of a spanking for always fighting on the front lines as a low lvl wizard.

For each episode it becomes more and more evident that Zak is doing a very good job as the DM, but personally I don't like it how the players are not of the same lvl. Having some so much weaker than the others makes a very unbalanced group.

Though it may seem a bit unfair to start someone off at lvl 3, (for those who already are lvl 3) it does in my opinion make the game fairer overall and more fun for all.

After having played in groups where 1 person often can be just as powerful as the rest combined, I now, as a DM myself, find it much more constructive to have people of the same lvl and power in a group, so all feel useful.

I think one of the reasons Sasha Grey wasn't having a great time (as she said she was just sitting there sucking), was that she was so weak compared the others, especially Mandy and Kimberly.

Anyway - Mandy, Connie, Zak and Satine, hope you can get Justine to make a profile here too. Would be fun to see what she thinks of the show and the experience.

 

[Ian S]

Nice to see Frankie in the spotlight for a while again. Just loving how she uses the word, "silly" in this. She's just got the kind of personality I like. And yep, Frankie streaking is definitely something I'd like to see.

That's pretty much how it works really. (And the whole Prof X/Captain Picard/Spock type of guy really turns me on, so y'know Zak makes me happy.)

Sounds like we'd get along just fine too, then. Any chance you guys will be attending the GameX convention in PA this year? Figured I'd ask since The Escapist is partnered with them.

 

[spookydom]

(Talking in a David Attenborough Voice).....And here we find....In his natural enviroment.....The Common Forum Troll.......Easily scared....If we are very very quiet....He will come out on his own. Soon it will be time for him to hunt for food....and as the nights draw in......Hibernate for the winter months.

Keep on white-knighting those porn stars bro, I'm sure you'll get a job as a fluffer on one of their shoots real soon now! What with your fingers tenderized by a coating of cheetos dust and your decades of experience with lotion it has to come through any day now!

(Continuing to speak in a David Attenbrough voice) As we can see here........The common Forum Troll is very protective of his teritroy.....He will make a loud noise....and set himself in a defensive posture...in an antempt to scare away any other animal encoraching on his...traditional nesting ground......Other characteristics include...A fondness for take away food....A lac of any interpersonal skills......And giant hairy sagging man breasts.....Truly...One of natures most majestic creatures.

 

[yesferatu]

I watch because they're interesting people hacking and slashing through a game I love.
I run a lot of games and I like Zak's style.

Honestly, I could give a shit about the porn premise.
Blah blah blah naked...blah blah blah porn stars....
I don't care if she can unhinge her jaw like a snake, why doesn't Mandy spont heal her party back to full before praying for spells every night?


Vleis, both your posts have been bullshit.
Keep your piss and vinegar where it belongs, in your mom's basement sink.

 

[Zak Sabbath]

said a lot of stuff he didn't fact-check and seems to have just guessed about

Most of the group was approximately the same level. Justine's lower because i figured the "paralyzing gaze" somewhat made up for the levels.

 

[Anarchtor]

said a lot of stuff he didn't fact-check and seems to have just guessed about

Most of the group was approximately the same level. Justine's lower because i figured the "paralyzing gaze" somewhat made up for the levels.

Wierd reply, as I did fact check.

I don't remember if it was mentioned in any of the episodes, but in a post these are everyone's lvls:

According to Mandy:

Mandy is lvl 4, Frankie is lvl 3, Satine is lvl 3 and Kimberly is lvl 2.

I didn't find any info on: Connie (seems to be lvl 2 or 3), Sasha (seemed to be lvl 1 due to very few spells) and Justine (seems to be lvl 1 due to her low hp).

Now the difference between a lvl 14 and 12 may not be that extreme, but the difference between a lvl 2 and 4 or even 1 and 4 is HUUUUUUGE.

As a DM (at least for D&D 3-4) I make 100% sure all players are the same lvl. If someone has a particulary powerful ability I make up for it in other ways.

These may just be the thoughts of a Norwegian liberal socialist, but the difference in power seems very high in this group. I like equality, and especially don't like it when new players feel pretty useless, as at least it seemed Sasha did.

Justine has kept her spirits up admirably, even if she gets knocked unconcious all the time.

It seems you like a bit more ruthless playstyle and having some players who are many many times more powerful than others, but it seems a bit harsh on new players.

Perhaps I am very soft hearted, but if they are not going to ressurect Satine's old character, if I was her DM I would let her start her new one on the same lvl as her old one had.

 

[Zak Sabbath]

said a lot of stuff he didn't fact-check and seems to have just guessed about

Most of the group was approximately the same level. Justine's lower because i figured the "paralyzing gaze" somewhat made up for the levels.

Wierd reply, as I did fact check.

I don't remember if it was mentioned in any of the episodes, but in a post these are everyone's lvls:

According to Mandy:

Mandy is lvl 4, Frankie is lvl 3, Satine is lvl 3 and Kimberly is lvl 2.

I didn't find any info on: Connie (seems to be lvl 2 or 3), Sasha (seemed to be lvl 1 due to very few spells) and Justine (seems to be lvl 1 due to her low hp).
.

Those numbers weren't for when Sasha was playing, which is what you happened to be talking about.

Sasha was at level 1 while everyone else was at level 1 or 2 except Mandy who was at 3 or 4. Sasha had 3 or 4 spells, but usually opted for a crowbar instead.

And, yes, you are soft-hearted.

If people come back at the same level they died, there's no incentive to think harder and be more creative next time. There's no challenge, and I like to challenge my players.

I bring people back at a level equal to the lowest surviving member of the party. I also intro new players the same way (except Justine, who had a handicap.)

 

[Anarchtor]

So I was right then.

And there was 0 reason for a snide remark Zak, especially when I said I thought you were doing a good job and just had a different opinion on the technicalities.

The difference between 1 and 4 in D&D terms is astronomical.

There is obviously a huge incentive not to die no matter what lvl character you are allowed to reroll. All the people I have played with have liked and become attached to their characters, and none of them wanted to die however soft-hearted I was.

Also, as I keep people at the same lvl (which is extremely easy to do in D&D 3-4), the rule you stated for bringing people back would be identical to mine.

When I was younger, and not a DM, I played in groups where I was as powerful as all the other players combined, or in others where other players were immensly more powerful than me. These things happen when you roll dice and have different knowledge of the game and different lvls. (In D&D 2nd edition it was incredibly easy to make such unbalances).

But we quickly saw how such unbalanced groups took quite a bit of fun out of the game.

A group with all girls seems to have a somewhat different focus, but still Mandy seems almost as powerful as the rest combined. Good thing she is the cleric though.

As I only have the clips to go by it is hard for me to determine how much of Sasha's boredom came from her being so weak, how much Justine really likes being unconcious a huge portion of the time and how much Mandy and the group really enjoy her being the "earth mother" having to rescue their butts all the time.

But hey, if it works for you all, then it is of course quite all right.

You are making a great show, and I really hope you keep Justine as a player even if (as it seems) Stoya is going to appear in future episodes.

 

[Zak Sabbath]

So I was right then..

About what?

As far as I can tell, you were completely wrong:

"I think one of the reasons Sasha Grey wasn't having a great time (as she said she was just sitting there sucking), was that she was so weak compared the others, especially Mandy and Kimberly."

Which she wasn't. At all. She was 1st level, KK was first level, Mandy was 3rd but mostly did healing stuff and never hit anything. Sasha was as powerful or more than both of them, especially considering things like Sleep and Magic Missile. She just didn't use them.

In what possible way are you right?

 

[mandymorbid]

So I was right then..

About what?

As far as I can tell, you were completely wrong:

"I think one of the reasons Sasha Grey wasn't having a great time (as she said she was just sitting there sucking), was that she was so weak compared the others, especially Mandy and Kimberly."

Which she wasn't. At all. She was 1st level, KK was first level, Mandy was 3rd but mostly did healing stuff and never hit anything. Sasha was as powerful or more than both of them, especially considering things like Sleep and Magic Missile. She just didn't use them.

In what possible way are you right?

Zak's right. I'm not more powerful than Connie or Frankie or Satine (until she died and rolled a new character) who're just a lvl below and catching up quick.

It isn't the level our character's are at that create the imbalance you seem to see in our games--it's the degree to which we all have or lack confidence in ourselves about how to play and what to do and being filmed during this process. A DM even as great as Zak is can't artificially produce self confidence and cool headed strategic/creative thinking in new players. That's up to us, and for some players (especially girls who have been told they weren't allowed to play when they were younger) that takes some time.

New players all learn how to play differently. We kept telling Sasha to cast spells but she really wanted to hit things. If she ever plays with us again she might roll up a different kind of character. Keep in mind you only see small clips of our 4 to 8 hour gaming sessions, and so far in the episodes we're only to the 3rd filmed session.

 

[Anarchtor]

So I was right then..

About what?

About the lvls.

The difference between lvl 1 and 3 or 1 and 4 is enormous, especially the hit points.

A difference I personally never would have allowed, especially for new players.

Even a difference of just 1 lvl is very big at such low lvls.

But Mandy is obviously right about play-style. The difference in power also stems from the classes, as wizards are hard to play at low lvl, while a barbarian is much easier.

I remember well how being a lvl 1 wizard was quite the challenge.

I certainly hope the new players you get in (which seems will be Stoya) don't have to start at lvl 1, so far behind others in the group.

These videos in particular comes to mind, hehe:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhmUj9QJ9RM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9FMURHhgzc&feature=related

 

[Zak Sabbath]

But, no, you were exactly wrong about the levels. See, most of the party WASN'T at a higher level than Sasha.

I certainly hope the new players you get in (which seems will be Stoya) don't have to start at lvl 1, so far behind others in the group.

The new players start exactly where I said they'd start in the post above.

That's why I posted that. So that that piece of information would be communicated. Via words. To you.

 

[Carnagath]

I only watched, like, one episode of the show before, but now that there is enough content to feel like there's some continuity I sat my ass down and watched them all. Really entertaining, Zak's a good DM! I liked all the players, but especially Justine because she seems just so much into it, Kimberly because she's always the "what if" kind of awesome person, and Mandy because I have a crush on her (so sue me).

 

[Corvuus]

I really like the episode and the show.

You can really see the personality and experience from all the players.

The 'older/wiser' ones were "don't do it! don't do it!" and, if I had Zak as a DM, i'd probably be just as paranoid or worst... I was expecting the darn snow leopard to howl and bring in his snow leopard pack, plus all sorts of other crap. Nothing is ever 'free'... especially a nice fur coat.

--

Hope you guys have/had a plan for when you visit the Traitorous mom.

Corv

 

[ahzad]

loving the show, didn't think I would, but happy to find out i'm wrong. it's helped to renew some passion for GMing that I had lost this past year with some of the crazy stuff zak does.

 

[0over0]

I missed about 5 episodes but am now caught up again--hilarious stuff. Really good all around.

How many people have had a character die, make up a "new and improved" character--only to have the party resurrect the old one?

Anyway--excellent shows. It so makes me want to play again--great job!

 

[Tirmoggles]

First, the bad: I didn't like the split screen, and would have preferred just a straight ahead explanation on *one screen*.

The good? I like the randomness of D&D, and this episode shone a spotlight on it, from the snow leopard conversation, the misunderstanding of how halflings came to be, and Kimberly's frustration at poor fishing skills. Not a lot of plot movement, but these tend to be the moments you remember after the game is over.

A very enjoyable episode. Looking forward to the next, as always.

 

[Kivan12]

hahaha, i laugh at the racism for the halfling joke!

 

[Quakester]

I really do love this series. It remind me of the old days and the party split up. Chaos always ensued and someone usually ended up dead. Yay for sneaky halflings. They always survive. Can't wait to see how this campaign turns out.