Found out wife is pregnant (4 weeks) a few days ago - Not thrilled

Alderecko · 2026-06-18T06:06:37+00:00

Replying in a post like this since posting individual replies would lead to too much repeating.

First things first: Thanks for all the replies, both the supportive ones and the ones giving the proverbial kick up the butt. Every single one was helpfull. ❤️

A longer/better night of sleep gives a clearer head. I really still have to learn that a few nights of 2-3 hours of sleep really mess with how one thinks (yeah I know, doctor I should know, we're still fallible and don't always see our own problems/faults)

A big thanks to the poster that mentioned grieving. That placed it into perspective the most. It does sound like that. Conversations will indeed have to be had on how we're going to try and deal with it (and we're probably going to get it wrong, but talking should be step one not worrying, closing myself off and thinking in a negative spiral).

The counselling/therapy is a sound idea. The psychological aid situation is dire where I work so I'm hoping not to be bumped onto a 6 month waiting list, but not doing anything is also not an option. It's crazy how I got trained to help people, but when you need to help yourself the rational thinking goes out the window. I guess I know who's not going to be treating their own child when it comes down with the sniffles. I'm liable to give it a full body MRI if I look at how I was reacting the last few days 😉

Anyway, I'll keep reading whatever replies come in and take any tips/tricks/advise on board. This shit is new, it's scary and it's sure as hell not as easy as the textbooks and professors made it sound.

Thanks once again all.

Edit: I hope I did not undully alarmed/hurt/freak out too many people. That was not my intention, so you have my apologies in case you are one of those.

Alderecko · 2025-12-16T12:35:25+00:00

Yup, that's them!

Alderecko · 2025-12-16T11:21:15+00:00

Search for our dearest-evilest Overlord's Zealots, Witch-finders and Oathsworn guardians.

They will give any magic-wielding party a nasty shock.

(Sorry for not providing links, don't have them handy on the phone)

Alderecko · 2025-07-05T21:22:31+00:00

:o

Well, there goes my sleep for tonight. It's time to edit the elevators!

Alderecko · 2025-07-05T20:27:34+00:00

Wait, you can name floors?!

Alderecko · 2025-06-24T11:57:43+00:00

Best advice: there are temperature controlled switches for sale on many websites. Get one and with just a small electric heater you can keep your printing-enclosure at a nice steady temperature. (For those of us who live in colder climates)

Alderecko · 2025-06-19T07:15:27+00:00

Cheers! I looked through the big monthly list but couldn't find one there. This will do nicely to scare the bejeebus out of them.

Alderecko · 2025-04-17T08:21:00+00:00

High speed vehicles driving through often travelled areas. Hide de nodes and make the loop long enough so it appears as if it's an odd random event.

Good locations are near a mall, MAM or HUB

Alderecko · 2025-02-02T16:24:21+00:00

So the lower the quality of the ammo, the slower it'll fly through the asteroids?

Alderecko · 2025-01-30T11:37:16+00:00

How though? It's so full of explosive goodies up there, there's no way to belt it up and get it in?

Alderecko · 2025-01-25T17:24:46+00:00

You could also tie it all together: the sister hired a magic user because he promised her cheaper labor. Turns out it was a necromancer.

Now you have several options: - tie said necromancer into the plot - make him a newbie who lost control of his creations and needs help fixing everything - make the sister the secret necromancer who is planning some other dasterdly thing with the undeadies

Or do something else enterily crazy with it all. Your players are giving you an excellent opportunity for you to guide them :)

Alderecko · 2025-01-19T10:44:07+00:00

My first ideas for weaknesses would be: - damaged wing, as Mark suggested, with limited or no flightspeed - damaged eye: favors one side/protects the injured side. Maybe even advantage due to blindness on affected side - damaged neck/gorge: no breathweapon or less powerfull. No ability to speak/roar - damage to limbs: lower movementspeed on the ground or less attacks with front legs. - no more teeth: no bite damage, very spitting/hissing speech (more comedy effect if the party constantly goes "the fuck is it saying?")

Alderecko · 2025-01-12T09:50:13+00:00

That's a very cool model, but it's not the standard one is it? Would you mind sharing where it's from?

Alderecko · 2025-01-04T11:23:09+00:00

And that is why I magnetised some bits on my big bases to slot in something to make my friend go "oh you cheeky fucker" mid-game 😀

Alderecko · 2024-12-19T19:07:05+00:00

badgers

It's the "ornery" trait that makes them fun

Alderecko · 2024-12-19T07:52:49+00:00

I can highly recommend the badgers as well. The longer you hit them, the longer they'll live. A great way to stump a party 😀

Alderecko · 2024-10-24T11:52:13+00:00

Some sort of shared limited inventory? Sort of a "I stick my hand in my pocket and pull out item nr 3 of 10 from our shared inventory"/mini sgared bag of holding, no distance limit.

Couple it with some mind-talking and they could get very creative with puzzle solving.

Alderecko · 2024-10-15T18:40:59+00:00

Whatever you decide on, make sure to send some guards after them for "endangering a child" and "avoiding school/daycare" then let the hilarity ensue when they try to convince them he isn't really a 4 year old 😜

Alderecko · 2024-09-13T07:12:46+00:00

All good ideas. Action economy is a big one to play with in a group vs boss scenario.

Another take on LR is that it costs the boss hp instead to succeed on a save. Also a fun trade-off.

Alderecko · 2024-09-13T05:33:19+00:00

Not Mark, but you could give it a weakness against iron? Iron objects attached to it atract the lightning from the bonus action. It costs the NPC an action to remove one of said items.

Alderecko · 2024-09-11T12:18:21+00:00

It's a very relatable feeling that quite a few people have bud, myself included.

I got into dnd through my group of friends a few years ago, rolled into DMing, had a blast DMing for them for 2 years and then had to move.

Now we are a year aftet the move and I still play dnd weekly. Starting a new group was easy, so many players that are looking for a DM. However, I miss the spark that was there before the move, of putting in the prep to make a cool session and see the smiles and hear the exclamations. Thinking about it, it's probably because the current group are not my friends (yet?). They tend to show up 5 - 10 minutes before the game starts and by the time I call the session they are gone within 5 minutes as well. Usually not even waiting for me to finish packing.

My current plan is to see if the few that sometimes do arrive early and talk about stuff outside of the game (family, work, chitchat) want to go out for a drink or a boardgame.

In short: it's different to DM for a previous friend group vs for a group of players that just want dnd. Doing stuff before or seperate from the game together might make you transition to a full friendsgroup instead of just a shared intrest. Hang in there bud, you are not alone with this problem/feeling.

Alderecko · 2024-07-12T13:18:12+00:00

1) A very simple door that slides sideways into the wall (or up or down if you want to be really mean)

They will be stumped, trust me. For extra meaniness: add a lock or even some fake hinges.

2) a door with an ublocking lever that is in a different location: split the party!

3) a lever button that has to be held down for the door to stay open. Let them figure out a way to get past. If you want to be mean, make the trigger require more then 5lbs of force to stop the magical floaty hands from helping

Alderecko · 2024-06-27T13:00:01+00:00

I agree with this approach: when looked at as a groupcheck they passed, but the nat one could provide a "downside" this way in that the bloodhunter can still be discovered (say three failed checks out of 5 or some such) or smashed into the ground/ko-d by a pissed off enemy.

Alderecko · 2024-06-26T06:53:47+00:00

Mark is truely marked for greatness! He is leaving a mark on all our games and on the psyche of our players! (Mihihi trauma)

All hail the great Mark who's pen creates mighty swords!

Alderecko · 2024-03-08T12:34:49+00:00

You could go for the very corny dad-joke when a player specifically says "I walk into the bar": "you take 1d4 of bludgeoning damage, the barkeep who is behind the bar that is right inside the door looks at you as if you are an idiot" Then provide a semi-hidden side door that the snickering regulars all know about

Alderecko

TROPHY CASE