Hello to all.
I just registered to the site since I'm quite interested in the game and might, in the near future, become an active player.
Right now I have a Magic playgroup and today, while playing, someone spoke of D&D and I said that I was very interested in playing DDM since I already own a few minis (I'd say about 200 in total). We're going to give it a try next week.
But I'm in some trouble now. Although I do own several minis, up to now they only served as a curiosity, having played with a cousin of time a couple of times in the past. Meaning I don't know the rules as well as I'd like. And since no one else plays the game or owns minis, I'm the one to bring forth my collection and help them build the warbands.
Luckly I do own some of the old fold up maps that WotC delivered in the past (Underground Grotto, Icingdeath's Lair/Evermelt, Blue Dragon Lair, Teleport Temple/Broken Demongate, Dragon Shrine/Field of Ruin, Red Dragon Lair/Red Dragon Lair 2).
Regarding miniatures, I started buying them in 2004(don't even know if I own any chase rares at all, eheh), having bought 1 booster pack of Dungeon Delve and another from Dungeons of Dread, having stopped at that since they were 4th ed. and thus, to the best of my knowledge, unusable with the rest of my collection. Also bought the Giant dragons (black and blue), the Colossal Red Dragon, Drizzt's Icinghdeath pack and a couple of weeks ago found a real bargain with the Dragon Collector's Set! 
Questions:
1 - Which should be least convoluted maps to use? I need 2 or 3 since there are going to be 4-6 players and it might be easier to separate the players in 2 or 3 groups.
2 - Since most of my collection regards 3.5ed, is there some up to date complete manual (or most up to date DDM 3.5 manual) update anywhere?
Under "D&D Miniatures Original Edition Rules and Cards" I DLed both Rules and FAQ files, but the manual is date 2006...
3 - We're starting the "D&D movement" and I'm unsure about its acceptance within the group. I want the guys to have fun and to feel interested in the game. I might try to advise them to try something like tribal warbands (orcs, elves, soldiers, drow, whatever) or alignment related warbands (if one choses LE, he can't have other alignments in his warband). I think it to be reasonable guidelines. But what about the warband total points to keep it simple and at least non-tedius? 100 points per warband?
4 - If this catches on I'd like to convert my 4ed cards (18 in total) to 3.5ed since its simpler to do so than to convert about 200 cards into 4ed. I've been looking around and I've found the 3.5-4ed converted cards. But can sompeone please tell me if anyone did the other way around?
I think that's all for now. Thanks in advance and sorry if this is the wrong place to post such a thread.
Hey - welcome to the site.
DDM is a great game in both Original Edition (3.5 based) and Revised Edition (4.
based.
Your best map to start with might the Blue Dragon Lair, Broken Demongate (just need to add an exit at one end that WoTC forgot to enter) and Field of Ruin - only really got some difficult terrain if I remember correctly.
This site has the latest versions of the DDM 3.5 manuals under the Original Edition section
Although the game takes longer, I'd suggest 200 points to start with - it is more fun with more options to experiment with
There are some un-released official cards for newer sets of minis, but they're not being released at the moment and have no release date. Maxminis.com have quite a few home brewed ones that you can try out.
And.... there's the EU Championship that you're all welcome to to meet other players
Thanks.
Oh, I don't think I'll explore 4ed. I'm not into buying more miniatures (exceptions can be made as happened with Dragon Collector's Set which I bought for 20€) so I'll make do with the ones I have. Since the vast maiority is 3.5ed...
Ok. I'll use those 3 maps. I took a look at them and Broken Demongate has the best looks (colorful and looks like it has some twists and turns). The others seem simple. Might be effective.
I'm curious though: an exit? Is there a specific place for it?
Ok, I think those are the ones I DLed. Although they are old. I've already sent copies to the other players so that everyone can check the basics of the game. I'll print them and take them to the event so that we can take a peek whenever needed be.
200 points... Ok. I can do that.I was thinking about building the warbands myself (that would help since we wouldn't spend a whole lot of time going through the cards to check what each creature does when no one but me has an idea about what the abilites are). With 200 points I can make a vampire warband, a fine drow warband with a Draegloth and even a orc warband with King Obould. Sweet!
Wow! I can even use Drizzt, Wulfgar and Gewn! Yay!
Ok. 200 it is!
Going to check Maxminis in a few. Thanks.
EU Championship? I'll hardly be able to attend it (work and finances) but where is it?
Thanks for the help!
European Championship 2012:
Mons - Belgium
2, 3 & 4 november
Oddly enough I'll be on vacation at the time. It will deppend on the finances then.
I really recommend exploring the Revised edition cards and rules. There is no need to purchase new minis, as all of the minis that you have also have official Revised edition (or 4e) cards. Also, most of the active players currently use those cards and rules (never played 4e, but only play DDM with the revised rules).
So, I too welcome you to the site and to the game, whichever edition you may choose to play. The OE, or 3.5 scene has gone really quiet of late (well, to be honest, the Revised edition is also in a small lull, but not quite as bad as the OE version). You are a most welcome addition to our wonderful community.
Thanks.
Well, the thing is that it would be a bit troublesome to print (we'll be in a recreative club with no internet connection as far as I know) all those 4ed cards. Much easier to work with what I have. Besides, they might not like it... I wasted no paper if I use 3.5ed.
Last but not least, I don't think DDM will be much played outside this group so chances to be forced to addapt to 4ed are small.
But thanks for the advice. If the group enjoys the game and agrees on playing it more often we might try 4ed rules and set on which we prefer best.
Hope I'm not breaking the forum rules by double posting but I've got another question: I've been working on several warbands to use next Sunday and while not having much of a grasp about game balance, I'd like someone to evaluate them. Is that possible? If so, where should I post my warbands?
Thanks in advance.
If you do not want to print complete sets, there are a few ways to print specific cards.
You can use Pat Lynch's Warband tool to build warbands from only the figures you have and then print, or you can print individual cards (up to 9 per page) from this website:
http://www.deadseashoals.org/ddmwebcard/
Ok. I'm checking those. Thank you.
But what I meant is that I've got the warbands that are going to be used next Sunday. To me it sounds a bit easier to introduce the game to these guys with warbands already built so that we can concentrate on gameplay rules. They'll learn about building warbands later on, if willing to keep playing it.
What I don't know is if the warbands are ballanced. I don't want one guy getting trampled the whole time because the warband he chose sounded cool but in the end it wasn't strong enough to withstand the attacks of the other part.
I might need some evaluation on what I've done so far.
Write all the warbands here and wait for comments
I think all the peopel here will try to help you to balance for them (and maximize your fun!)
The only problem being of course that there are not that many OE people around to give advice. I would offer my help too, but with OE, I have no idea of power levels.
I understand that. But although I've already played 3.5 a few times, understanding the mechanics of the game, I've never played 4.0 format. Looking at the character cards there are lots of differences like blood, the weapons of each creature and, for example, Orc Mauler gained new tricks that sound odd to me.
I prefer to play and teach the little I know than to start everything anew.
Right now I have 15 warbands and another 3-5 unused commanders. Each warband ranges 6 to 8 characters, distributed through all the alignments.
I'm at work and don't have them with me right now, so I'll post them later today.
Thanks.
EDIT - BTW, I'm having some trouble: Dragon Collector's Set reprinted black, blue and red young dragons. Yet I've been through the Miniatures Gallery at WotC's site and haven't seen them anywhere. Can someone tell me in which set were they edited?
I recommend posting a new topic.
In this subforum?