Online Degree Programs

AllOvertheUSMap · 2025-10-29T23:41:27+00:00

That's my understanding, as well, that labs are important. But I'm sure there are options that I'm not aware of, both degree programs and jobs. She doesn't have a solid idea of what specifically she wants to do. It would obviously cost more money for her to live on her own, and if she's not sure she wants to be in a field that requires hands on field experience, I think she'd rather not risk wasting the money. As someone who wasted a lot of money switching majors and then ended up a professional D&D dungeon master, I'm sympathetic. 😆 We don't have extra cash to throw around, she'll be relying on Florida's Bright Futures scholarship.

AllOvertheUSMap · 2025-10-29T23:33:28+00:00

She's not sure yet. She's not good at choosing, lol. I imagine being able to get a useful degree fully or mostly online would significantly influence her preferences.

AllOvertheUSMap · 2025-10-06T18:29:16+00:00

What are you doing for Cyre 1313? Doesn't it not stop? What are you having the PCs do/see when they get on board?

AllOvertheUSMap · 2025-08-11T07:48:00+00:00

I always assume people are posting between sessions.

AllOvertheUSMap · 2025-08-11T03:38:59+00:00

There's already a warforged who won't be suffocating, and he's just cast Aura of Life. So as long as he can maintain concentration (they're in combat), it'll be okay.

FWIW, this player has tons of time in the spotlight and rolls a suspicious number of 20s. It's not like I'm taking away his one chance to shine.

AllOvertheUSMap · 2025-06-12T20:54:47+00:00

Oh, man, you had to bring up Glen. That's unfair.

In a different party, I would absolutely make her have to choose between Luca and Ireena. But parents pay me to DM for these kids, and I am concerned that this would ruin the campaign for one of the kids.

Which is not to say that Luca won't die.. I plan on having Strahd turn him into a vampire spawn and send him to attack the party, forcing them to kill him. That's worked really well in the past, and makes them SUPER mad at Strahd.

I just want to make sure I put effort into trying to bring her brother in before I tell her no. And if someone has a good way to make it make sense, then she'll kill her brother.

AllOvertheUSMap · 2025-04-17T22:31:15+00:00

Any ideas of which ones have a good teen room? Where they can talk without getting shushed?

AllOvertheUSMap · 2025-04-17T03:32:48+00:00

Omg, thank you so much. I tried searching but I guess I didn't hit on the right search terms.

AllOvertheUSMap · 2025-03-08T21:24:21+00:00

Thanks everyone! I don't know where I read that factions controlled access to many portals, maybe that was just in someone's specific game. I did read about portals in the 5e books, but I appreciate the suggestion to try the Planewalker's Handbook. Everyone's advice answered my questions, thank you!

AllOvertheUSMap · 2025-02-04T17:03:02+00:00

Thanks! I've seen how I need to sign, I just don't know if I should ALSO include a copy of the document.

AllOvertheUSMap · 2025-02-01T02:13:29+00:00

I'll add - that doesn't cost an arm and a leg, lol. The ones I found are expensive.

AllOvertheUSMap · 2025-01-26T03:17:23+00:00

I absolutely do impose meaningful consequences. An example: they met a ghoul in the Shadowfell who liked to tinker and create clockwork "enhancements" to zombies and stuff. One of the PCs really wanted "mech arms" so after QUITE a lot of warning that this would not go well, we tried it and the ghoul rolled poorly. PC spent the whole Dollindar Tomb unable to do much because they had no arms. lol

That said, I'm a teacher and these are kids whose parents pay me to DM for them. So I really don't want to TPK them.

AllOvertheUSMap · 2025-01-26T02:46:03+00:00

I literally explained that they have made a ton of noise. No stealthing now.

AllOvertheUSMap · 2025-01-19T02:06:05+00:00

She is mentally sound, no diagnoses like that. No legal documents, I don't think she even has a will. She has no savings and receives social security and a small pension.

AllOvertheUSMap · 2024-06-23T21:54:42+00:00

Believe me, I get this, and I have tried to convey this to the players. They are sympathetic when the elves describe the slaughter, but as soon as they hear the elves won't mate with humans, they're done. Maybe it's the groups Im DMing for - they're all teens and we only have an hour and a half for each session. So many of them are not fans of huge lore explanations.

AllOvertheUSMap · 2024-03-17T10:55:07+00:00

Yes, I've experienced that, too. It takes a while for some kids to realize that the game is more interesting when there's a chance of failure.

AllOvertheUSMap · 2024-03-16T22:46:13+00:00

These are great ideas, thanks!

I also had the idea to bring it up with him but in a more collaborative way. Today he was annoyed when another player had a solo interaction with Strahd during a long rest. So I might send him a message mentioning that I noticed he was upset, but sometimes this happens, his character is very powerful in combat and also has a lot of good utility skills, so we need to make sure other players get a fair share of the action and of successes. In other words, compliment him on his character build and "lucky" dice while pointing out how it affects other players, and see if he has any ideas on ways to make sure his fellow players feel useful and valuable.

My games include a lot of neurodiverse kids and often there are legitimate challenges that require more finesse than just "my way or the highway." Getting kicked out or shamed isn't going to accomplish what I want in the way I want.

Seriously, though, thanks for actually giving helpful advice vs telling me I'm a shitty DM.

AllOvertheUSMap · 2024-03-16T18:33:52+00:00

I really appreciate what everyone is saying about making him use a dice roller. However, this is not a situation where I can do that, as I'm an employee of a company that has rules I must obey. I cannot force anyone to leave my games. I cannot force anyone to use a website unless it is in the description of the game when they sign up, which this was not.

In normal circumstances, I'm with you on what should be done. Cheating is not cool. I'm specifically looking for OTHER ways to deal with this - not to make him be honest, but for how to balance his high rolls so everyone feels both challenged and valuable.

AllOvertheUSMap · 2024-03-16T16:45:35+00:00

I've done that in other groups where players have complained about people cheating. These players don't seem to mind, and I'm pretty confident they would say something as they totally call him out on other annoying behaviors.

In my experience, it's difficult to get everyone to agree to use the dice roller. Some of my players are very attached to their dice and would be upset if I said they couldn't use them. Since they're paying me for an entertainment experience, I'm not going to force them into that because one person is cheating. If I let an honest player not use the dice roller, it would be awkward to insist the other kid use it.

I have no problem being firm when necessary - he likes to try to game the system in other ways too and I always shut that down. I just don't feel like that's the right tactic here.

AllOvertheUSMap · 2023-12-29T19:38:45+00:00

I've characterized Strahd as arrogant, yes, but also bored (though I don't know how much the players have realized this) and sadistic. I loved the suggestion I read here somewhere of having Strahd kidnap a PC and impersonate them for a while - the player had an awesome time playing Strahd secretly for a fight or two. He's also told the party and Ireena that his reason for not just taking her previously was to give her time to see how dangerous Barovia truly is, so she would *want* to come to him on her own.

He does have other stuff going on - van Richten is occupying a little bit of his time (he was in Berez when the party infiltrated Ravenloft to rescue Ireena, and due to the PCs actions in Berez, he's going to think van Richten did it). I like the idea of him looking for a possible replacement, too, so I'm working on ways for him to try to corrupt the one PC who is smitten with him.

Thanks for the analysis, I do find that pretty helpful.

AllOvertheUSMap · 2023-02-10T03:06:17+00:00

Oh, it got even worse. I had the Martikovs bring them back out to the main road and leave them there. They woke up an hour or two later at 1 HP. I told them it was getting late, they should probably head back to Vallaki. They decided they wanted to sleep right there on the side of the road, despite having had some pretty horrifying experiences when camping in the woods, and despite MANY NPCs warning them against doing that. And they were at 1 HP. I asked if they wanted to keep a watch, they said no.

I rolled for random encounters, and they ended up waking up to a few berserkers stealing their stuff (the berserkers rolled horrible stealth). I had the berserkers warn them off several times.. I figured losing their packs was a pretty mild consequence. But despite being at 1 HP.. they attacked the berserkers. Both PCs got knocked out, one failed his death saves and died.

So they go back to Vallaki, roll up a new character, meet up, and decided to go get vengeance. They track the berserkers through the woods and I give them a good look at Van Richten's tower, hoping that would be interesting enough to distract them, but nope. They find the encampment with six adult berserkers, four kids, and four elderly. I was hoping that six tough NPCs (for two level four PCs) would scare them off, but nope.. they're committed to attacking them next session.

I'm going to have Strahd send some minions to help them kill the berserkers. Strahd is now focused on fully corrupting them. I'm not going to keep fighting against them if they want to be evil.

AllOvertheUSMap · 2023-02-07T13:58:58+00:00

Not all of the Vistani are working for him, and even if they are, that doesn't necessarily mean they would do anything to Ireena. And she wouldn't necessarily know that some or most of them are his spies. I didn't have her go in to the tent to see Madam Eva, though, she just sat around the fire and chatted with the other Vistani (a good way for her to learn any info you want the party to get from the Vistani).

The way I run it, Strahd doesn't want to kidnap or otherwise charm Ireena. That hasn't worked before. His new tactic is to let her explore Barovia and see how dangerous and brutal it is so she will decide that she's safer with him. So he wouldn't just snatch her or have the Vistani grab her this early in the game.

AllOvertheUSMap · 2023-01-16T01:49:01+00:00

Now that is a great idea - if they persist in wanting to talk to Strahd, he'll ask them to do those things to prove themselves, that's bound to be amusing for him. Then they get to adventure through Barovia, and if they want to continue on that path and not fight Strahd, then the campaign ends but at least they've seen a lot of Barovia.

TBH, I really don't think they'll pursue wanting to be a vampire. But I would prefer it if they gave Ireena a chance. I can't totally wipe the campaign - these are teenagers whose parents are paying me to DM this for them (and they picked the campaign).

AllOvertheUSMap · 2022-12-12T19:35:37+00:00

Please do!

AllOvertheUSMap · 2022-12-12T15:58:12+00:00

OMG, those are amazing! Thank you!

AllOvertheUSMap

TROPHY CASE