RISE OF THE DREAD MOON discussion

[The Admiral]

But I think we can safely assume what those words mean.

As my old boss used to say, and he was a very wise man, 'Never assume anything'.

My point is I like to see how it is was intended to be played before I decide if I want to change something. But everyone will have different takes on the rules. You think the disguise rules are clear, Kurgan thinks they are partially ambiguous, and I think they are probably clear but may have one point overlooked, and we will all play it as we choose. Bareheaded warrior thinks the rules on opening chests are clear that you open the chest while I don't think that is the rule, but we both play it the same way in the end. One man's crystal is another man's murky.

I can read a rule and be totally satisfied on what it means but still change it.

I'm rambling now. So as Bareheaded warrior said, I am done with this now, although he did post afterwards...

[Kurgan]

There's some ambiguity regarding the Disguise use, so Zargon makes the call.

Indeed, and that is how I approach everything in HQ, but I do like to get a perspective on what the original designer intended before I take a scalpel to it all.

I think any ambiguity comes from creative, ready-to-home-brew Zargon's inserting things that simply aren't there. When I read "rules as written", I try to take them at face value without inserting additional ideas. The rules for disguises may seem partial, but when taken hand-in-hand with the instructions of the Quest Notes, I think it's pretty straight forward: "If disguised, this happens.... If the heroes aren't disguised, this other thing happens..."

As always, home-brew as Zargon sees fit, but again, I don't see ambiguity in the rules as written. It would however probably be helpful for explicit definitions of "inactive" or "ignore." But I think we can safely assume what those words mean.

So you'd say then if there is no note in a room with monsters indicating that there are instant kills or monsters behave a certain way or "if disguised..." then you'd treat it as just an ordinary situation. Monsters move towards the heroes and attack them like they would any other time and the heroes can do whatever they like (here it would simply be a temptation to "break" the disguise strictures and thus forfeit the disguise when it might be useful later to keep it)?

I could see that working as well. I suppose I was assuming maybe too much but taking the examples given as the general rule, rather than these are the instances in which it matters and not the others. Things could play out quite differently depending upon how one did it. You could reason that only certain monsters are fooled by disguises (even temporarily) but others it has no effect on (perhaps they will attack non-monster who comes by, not just people who appear to be heavily armed/armored adventurers spoiling for a fight). Then again what are the disguises? Are they magical? I was imagining like the "psychic paper" in Doctor Who, that transforms into whatever the target is expecting to see. But if they're just old clothes to make you look like a neutral villager then I suppose anyone who is in the habit of attacking neutral villagers wouldn't care one bit if you looked like one. Now if the disguise made you look like a monster (here would be another opportunity for homebrew creativity... perhaps you can steal the monster uniforms or something to make yourself look like you fit in... easier with some monsters than others.... that's the tallest goblin I've ever seen! or imagining Indiana Jones being berated by the German officer for his sloppy, ill-fitting uniform and messed up hair)...

[Vorimir]

I think they work as Nlinildoll said: only certain monsters are fooled by the disguise, usually elve but you find the instructions in the Quests. You have to fight the rest normally but if you use a forbidden weapon or armor you loose your disguise.
I think the disguise is just a cloack with a hood and some enemies take them as citizens or mercenaries.

[The Admiral]

So you'd say then if there no note in a room with monsters indicating that there are instant kills or monsters behave a certain way or "if disguised..." then you'd treat it as just an ordinary situation. Monsters move towards the heroes and attack them like they would any other time and the heroes can do whatever they like (here it would simply be a temptation to "break" the disguise strictures and thus forfeit the disguise when it might be useful later to keep it)?

Yes. And of course Plaza monsters are also always inactive until the conditions for their activation are triggered. oops

[Kurgan]

I didn't say anything about the Plazas, but of course. Here before I was basically treating the entire map like one big plaza for disguised heroes, with extra special effects for noted characters.

You guys are saying treat the monsters like normal except in the Plaza or where notes say to do special things when disguised.

[The Admiral]

The Channel Dread spell says "For each monster adjacent to the caster that can cast this spell, add 1 point to the die total."

Would this include cultists that have already cast this spell, as technically they now can't cast this spell?

[Aki]

Probably playing with the App is not the best way, because no one read the notes until the end and obviously and I missing something, however I've restart quest 2 right now and yes, except the room with the Elf, you can't search when you are in disguise, but the no one monster attack me, even if I killing someone via silently kill in the same room

[Nlinindoll]

The Channel Dread spell says "For each monster adjacent to the caster that can cast this spell, add 1 point to the die total."

Would this include cultists that have already cast this spell, as technically they now can't cast this spell?

Yes it does include cultists that have already cast the spell. Someone asked this question on Facebook a few months back and I reshared the question in the rules forum on the Avalon Hill Discord and Avalon Bill gave confirmation. This is what he said:

Yes - if two cultists are next to one another, they would each count as supporting the other cultist, read as written. So the image Jace cunningly created with emojis is correct - in that situation the center cultist would get +3 and each adjacent cultist would get +1.

THe Channel Dread spell says "For each monster adjacent to the caster that can cast this spell, add 1 point to the die total." So the qualifying statement is that a monster has the ability to cast Channel Dread - though that does not mean that they ALSO are casting Channel Dread. Thematically, think of it like this: because they know how the spell works, they're able to support the figure casting it. But each Cultist can cast the spell once, whether they've supported another cultist or not.

[Nlinindoll]

I think they work as Nlinildoll said: only certain monsters are fooled by the disguise, usually elve but you find the instructions in the Quests. You have to fight the rest normally but if you use a forbidden weapon or armor you loose your disguise.
I think the disguise is just a cloack with a hood and some enemies take them as citizens or mercenaries.

The point you’re making here is important. The disguises get you by certain enemies, usually Elves… the disguises, based on the notes seem to get you past the forces of Elethorn (Magus Guards, etc) in most cases, but other monsters of the usual variety… Spectres, orcs and such still attack anyone regardless of the disguise. The mechanic ties in thematically to the story they’re telling.

[The Admiral]

Probably playing with the App is not the best way, because no one read the notes until the end and obviously and I missing something, however I've restart quest 2 right now and yes, except the room with the Elf, you can't search when you are in disguise, but the no one monster attack me, even if I killing someone via silently kill in the same room

Are you saying you could search for treasure in the room with the inactive elf?

And are you saying that in rooms where there are no designated inactive monsters they still ignored the disguised heroes?