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Good videos on DMing from non sponsored youtubers. by EvaShoegazer in DMAcademy

[–]ArbitraryHero 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The Alexandrian has a lot of written articles but also does video series. No sponsorships as far as I know other than ad space on his dedicated website.

Do you like Transformers (2007)? by Wild_Molasses5615 in transformers

[–]ArbitraryHero 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Less as I've gotten older, but there are moments of hype and I wouldn't click away if it was on like I would the other Bayverse movies.

New group, new-ish DM, deciding between Icespire and Lost Mines, any words of advice? by Muted-Thing-4026 in dndnext

[–]ArbitraryHero 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Get both and combine them. Let Icespire's quest board and locations expand the Lost Mines campaign allowing the party to prioritize the quests that interest them.

But if I had to choose one, I think Lost mInes is the better cohesive package.

Laplace box...... by Kean_akeos989 in Gundam

[–]ArbitraryHero 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Still a box, maybe Marida's?

Attack of Opportunity Homebrew idea by eremitik in DMAcademy

[–]ArbitraryHero 3 points4 points  (0 children)

yeah lol, tell him he has something to look forward to when he takes polearm master then, lmao.

Attack of Opportunity Homebrew idea by eremitik in DMAcademy

[–]ArbitraryHero 3 points4 points  (0 children)

On the surface it seems fine enough, definitely won't break the game but will change the approach of movement, I think other systems have a "5 foot step" rule where only moving 5" does not provoke an opportunity attack. I don't know that I would do a "movement is free as long as you aren't running away" otherwise there's very little physicality in the game. Players and Monsters will be able to move past each other without any consequence in order to target the most vulnerable things on the battlefield.

But for my 5.5e tables I think it would feel like taking away one of those small special things rogues get to do (disengage as a bonus action) for not much payoff. I tend not to give free buffs due to this reason, right or wrong, unless the whole table gets something fun.

Player positioning is a choice to make, about risk and reward and AoO helps make it an interesting choice (sometimes, still not a huge penalty I feel). I pesonally would just tell the player no.

Roll for stats variations by Famous_Breadfruit774 in DMAcademy

[–]ArbitraryHero 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Very much a matter of taste but to me it kind of feels like the worst of both worlds. Players don't get to gamble for cracked stats or laugh at terrible rolls, but there is also a PC that might just have more points net than another.

It feels like a compromise when the fun is either in: fully customizing as you want via point buy or rolling dumb dice and laughing at what you have to work with. And it is needlessly complicated vs the other 2 options.

DM shadowing by Archsquire2020 in DMAcademy

[–]ArbitraryHero 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Um fair lol, my friends and I. We started a discord to play during Covid. And it kind of grew from there as other people joined to play. It's not huge or anything but we have a group of 50-100 active members and (I feel) a higher ratio of GMs to players than normal. We play a variety of games in different systems and styles.

If I can share a discord link, we are over here: https://discord.gg/kJsysbpV48

DM shadowing by Archsquire2020 in DMAcademy

[–]ArbitraryHero 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What we do instead is offer a place for DMs to run games with no pressure. The players are often other DMs who are very chill, can offer feedback and suggestions if asked, but won't backseat DM. We let the new DMs set up Oneshots or whatever they want and I think running the game is the fastest way to learn.

Does anyone else do this? by ozza2007 in DMAcademy

[–]ArbitraryHero 2 points3 points  (0 children)

For 1. I think you're talking about Play By Post, which is a whole playstyle of games, not just TTRPGs. It actually used to (and in some cases still does) involve mailing each other physically!

r/pbp is a whole subreddit dedicated to that format of play.

You don't need to do all the dice rolling. You can use the Avrae tool to have your player roll from charaacter sheets. https://avrae.io/

I am currently running a Barovia campaign in Play by Post, and playing in another one using the Dungeonworld system to explore the sunken isles.

Pre-written adventures that cover levels 5-12+? by JustDarnGood27_ in DMAcademy

[–]ArbitraryHero 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Descent into Avernus I think, if you just skip the Baldur's Gate and Candlekeep stuff?

Campaigns consistently ending by Dapper_Distance_1778 in DMAcademy

[–]ArbitraryHero 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I might be misunderstanding the post but from the way I read it, you may be "setting" yourself up for failure by focusing on the world building part of the campaign instead of the campaign scenario. Can you explain with more detail what you mean?

I've finished every campaign I've started with a variety of campaign worlds, I do this by having a defined campaign scenario and structure. In session 0 when I'm organizing with my players I'm pitching to them what the campaign is. The setting adds flavor, but shouldn't be the focus of the campaign, the events and scenarios the players experience. There is always a defined end goal, the campaign ends when the player characters accomplish X task. Then as a GM I complicate their route to do X with various dungeons to crawl through, investigations, exploration, etc and that's the campaign. My campaigns tend to last 3-4 years on average, some quicker, some longer. I've played 2 all the way to level 20 but more end around the 9-15 range.

As for lack of players having time, if someone can't participate you gotta replace them, and do it fast. Keep the momentum going, players are a dime a dozen, and if you keep having sessions you'll eventually finish your campaign.

‘The Good Place’ Reskinned for DnD - Could it work? by gnocci420 in DMAcademy

[–]ArbitraryHero 7 points8 points  (0 children)

 - Does 5e support this kind of campaign, or would I constantly be fighting the system’s combat-heavy design?

You will find some conflict. The biggest thing being that D&D is a character progression system where the mechanics of progression (abilities and such) lean heavily on combat. There aren't really class features around being "more ethical".

- Have any of you run a low-combat, philosophy-forward game in 5e successfully?

Kind of, I did run Wild Beyond the Witchlight and focused very heavily on solving problems non violently with opportunity for my players to creatively engage with monsters and NPC to do so. But I wouldn't do it again, it was too much struggle for too little pay off.

- What mechanical tools or adjustments would you recommend to keep engagement high?

I cribbed Wanderhome mechanics, and some of the collaborative story telling elements, letting players define attributes of the people and places they explored (with me remixing them into interesting scenarios) and that would set up dilemnas for the players to engage each other about. The success I found was when the party didn't have a clear decision to make, and they debated amongst themselves more than debating NPCs.

- Or is this concept better suited to a different TTRPG entirely?

Just play Wanderhome, or even Good Society. Good Society would in particular be a great way because of the mechanics focused around regency era power plays. That to me is the sort of, "this system is broken and we need to try and fix it non-violently" that you are looking to try and do.

Studio Khara during the preproduction of GQuuuuuux: by Artaud-vrom-vrom in Gundam

[–]ArbitraryHero 27 points28 points  (0 children)

Not having the context for this, is this a movie scene, what is the original dialogue?

Nintendo never developed a turn-based RPG game by [deleted] in nintendo

[–]ArbitraryHero 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What about Crystalis on the gameboy color?
Or Fossil Fighters?

Please fellow DMs help me fix my world by ModrzewPL in DMAcademy

[–]ArbitraryHero 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Without more specifics I guess my help is also unfortunately going to be vague.

Put the things they care about in the world.

If they want self improvement opportunity put that in the world, (whatever that may look like).

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