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Extra Life is a way gamers can help kids. In this episode the D6G crew discuss what its about and interview Dan from Myriad Games. How did he decide to get involved with Extra Life, and what is all this stuff about GameSalute.com?

Later, it's time to go back in time and play Founding Fathers. What do the guys think of this Euro-style game about the writing of the US Constitution?

All that and our other not-too-horrible segments including:

- The Hollywood Minute

- Total Fan Girl

- The Nutshell

- Do You Ever Notice

- & More


Link to ep: http://www.thed6generation.com/d6g-ep-65-extra-life-myriad-games-interview-founding-fathers-detailed-review

Please let us know what you think!

When are you guys going to do a full review of Deathwatch? I'd love to hear that.

Hey guys,

I just wanted to provide some quick clarifications on D&D 4e vs D&D Essentials after the discussions during the Achievements in Gaming this episode.

The Essentials books provide new builds for each of the featured classes. Each of these builds has special rules that set them apart from other members of the class - we've seen this previously in books like Martial Power, which introduced a Ranger build that uses an animal companion, for example. These particular builds - Slayer, Knight, Warpriest, Mage and Thief - were meant to evoke iconic D&D notions and be inviting to newcomers.

Raef mentioned that the new classes do away with some of the power system from 4th edition. This is only true of the Fighter (Slayer / Knight) and Rogue (Thief) classes. These builds let the character assume stances (for fighters) or perform tricks (for rogues) that enhance their basic weapon attacks. These replace the encounter attack and daily attack powers of the typical Fighter or Rogue. WotC designers have given two reasons for this:

1) Traditionally the Fighter class was the de facto entry-point for new D&D players. With 4th Edition, every character class has power management akin to a wizard, which meant that every class was complex for new players. The new Fighter and Rogue builds are meant to provide this avenue.
2) Some players dislike the notion of a fighter having a daily attack or encounter attack - they feel it's too magical or artificial. This provides a thematic alternative for those players.

The Wizard and the Cleric in D&D Essentials still have the At-Will / Encounter / Daily gamut. In fact, the Mage is arguably more complex than the stock PHB Wizard. Existing Wizards and Clerics can take powers from the new book and vice versa.

Hopefully this allays any fears people may have of the Essentials line.

-Shawn

Great episode guys.

Question: I know you are fans of 40K fiction as am I. However, I've only read some of the books (Eisenhorn, Ravenor, Titanicus). What do you recommend after that? Any particular order?

Thanks and keep it up.

Hey, guys. Thanks for the kind words, and for the clarification on the D&D Essentials.

As for 40K fiction I have a whole outline I whipped up for listeners who asked this exact question:

If you're interested in . . . :

large noble genetically-enhanced warrior monks, start with Graham McNeil's Ultra Marines (Greek hero based) or William King's Space Wolf series (viking based), or Dan Abnett's Brothers of the Snake (more standard and only a single stand alone novel).

super secret espionage organizations, start with Dan Abnett's Eisenhorn Trilogy

average grunts fighting a frightening array of bad guys across a war torn universe, start with Dan Abnett's Gaunt's Ghosts series.

Evil bad guys dark-crusading across the universe, start with Graham McNeil's Storm of Iron series, or Anthony Reynolds' Dark Apostle

average grunt combat aircraft crews fighting evil mutated humans or alien menaces, start with Dan Abnett's Double Eagle

Space combat between huge, gothic star ships kilometers long start with Gordon Rennie's Execution Hour and Shadowpoint (not sure which is first).

very funny anti-heroes with a touch of poignant emotion, start with Sandy Mitchell's Caiphas Cain novels (caveat here: these are some of my all time favorites, but you MAY need to know more about the universe than they directly convey to really appreciate them)

and finally, if you're really into amazing epic expositional historical sagas that will show you how things WERE 10,000 years ago, and thus how they got to be how they are in the year 40,000, you've GOT to start with the Horus Heresy series, starting with book 1: Horus Rising by Dan Abnett. Same caveat as with the Caiaphas Cain novels, though.

Hope that helped!

Oh, and I just finished Blood Pact, the next Gaunt's Ghosts novel, and it was GREAT.

~Craig

Master-Terraformer wrote:

Oh, and I just finished Blood Pact, the next Gaunt's Ghosts novel, and it was GREAT.

~Craig

The Sabbat Worlds is the latest one in that particular "timeline". Even though its a collection of random Sabbat Crusade war stories, it does feature the Ghosts.

Great show as all ways...

I found Hex Hex XL at my friendly local game store yesterday. I was very pleased.

hello.
just a post about the ' do you ever notice' from this episode.

Really interesting issue about understanding the irrational anger whilst gaming - thank-you for this really touches an issue I have been getting to grips with for a long time.

I suppose i am a naturally competitive person, but avoid wargames tournaments and only play socially - I am usually a really laid back person and yet i have been battling with the issue of anger during wargaming. i get really pissed off over a rule i dont agree with or my opponents move that looked a bit dodgey.

I tend to hide this in rules checking and snide comments - but this anger reaction can do nothing for my opponents enjoyment (and my own!) of the game. I have stopped playing w40k entirely because of this. I dont enjoy getting wound up by the game and ending each one in a rant. To think back it could be seen as a form of bullying on your fellow gamers :O(

thinking of this as product of fear is interesting - worth some thought. i will definantely keep this in mind next time I play and continue to strive for more enjoyable gaming for all.

Keep up the great work D6G.