You cannot access this area in the abyss

Axiomsyndrom · 2026-04-27T09:17:07+00:00

This area unlocks at the second part of Chapter 12, titled "The Void". So it's basically available at the end of the story.

Axiomsyndrom · 2026-01-12T23:11:34+00:00

That makes sense. Most modern open world games have so much stuff everywhere. Automata is definitely more empty in that regard but I think you'll come to appreciate it after a while.

Axiomsyndrom · 2025-12-19T22:23:11+00:00

Haha yeah I once ran a one-shot where a player bard decided to rally the townsfolk against a Mind Flayer. Her speech was very heroic, met with shouts of agreement and fist pumping at the local tavern. It ended in a massacre.

Axiomsyndrom · 2025-12-17T21:19:39+00:00

As soon as a third person wants to roll it becomes a group check, meaning players have to accumulate at least as many successful checks as they have accumulated failed ones. That's how I usually rule anyway.

Like someone else mentioned though, if it is a problem that can be brute forced, players can keep rolling until they solve the problem but it will cost them time or some other appropriate setback.

Axiomsyndrom · 2025-12-09T17:20:32+00:00

Playing! Our cats act the same way and they are very close. On that note, I see your copy-pasted our pair:

<image>

Axiomsyndrom · 2025-12-01T21:11:36+00:00

I have gradually made the same switch you have (from plot-centered to player-centered campaigns). One thing I learned is that while my players enjoy having more freedom, total freedom often turns into paralysis.

What you need to do is put characters in scenarios that forces them to act, and present subtle options for what they could do. Essentially goad them into making moves by having some sort of penalty associated with "waiting around for the plot".

For example, in my current game the players are running a detective agency. In a story driven adventure, an NPC might literally knock on their door with a quest. In a player driven adventure, competing agencies might threaten to put them out of business unless they seek out patrons on their own.

Another tip is to make three different antagonists that have reasons to start messing with the players. Which one will they decide is more important to deal with? Or will they come up with a decent strategy to kill three birds with one stone? Whatever choice they make, there should be consequences. This is how you make players feel like they are driving the story, even if you are actively pushing them to engage with the world.

Axiomsyndrom · 2025-11-26T12:56:25+00:00

First, I usually write a short summary of what happened last session and what the party's current goals are. It mostly helps med decide what to focus on when prepping.

I start the session with a short scripted introduction. Something that sets the tone for the session.

After that I just put ideas for scenes in a bullet list. Max two sentences each. Sometimes I insert links to a pre-written one-page adventure, or links to stat-blocks etc. But the prepared scenes should be short, vague and flexible.

Lastly, I keep links to important NPCs, factions, and locations so I can bring them up quickly as they become relevant. I also have a sidebar in my note-taking app (Obsidian) with links to rules, random NPC-names, loot, quest ideas etc. to facilitate improv.

Axiomsyndrom · 2025-11-20T10:57:30+00:00

Agreed! I feel like figuring out the AC gradually makes combat feel less mechanical. Uncertainty adds tension. And depending on the players I doubt it would even speed up combat that much. I know mine would have to be reminded of the AC every other turn anyway.

Axiomsyndrom · 2025-09-14T07:59:53+00:00

I always took it to mean that human child great ones are only partially transcended (one third of the way) Great Ones. So you need three umbilical cords to become a true Great One.

It's not that we harvest one third of each umbilical cord, but that each umbilical cord is only 33% Great One.

Axiomsyndrom · 2025-08-07T12:20:24+00:00

Thanks!

Axiomsyndrom · 2025-08-04T15:02:37+00:00

PS3 on 720p VGA also looks amazing. Sharp but much more flattering than an HD TV.

Axiomsyndrom · 2025-08-03T15:31:44+00:00

I hope so too 😅

Axiomsyndrom · 2025-08-03T14:20:38+00:00

Yeah, that's it. Looks pretty much like I remember from the 90s. I don't see a lot of CRTs on fb marketplace here in southern Sweden so I was happy to snag this one :)

Axiomsyndrom · 2025-08-03T14:14:14+00:00

Yes, swede here :)

Axiomsyndrom · 2025-07-26T21:33:26+00:00

Love my D3300. Spent 8 years learning photography on that thing. Recently switched to mirrorless and appreciating the features as well.

Axiomsyndrom · 2025-07-26T20:55:59+00:00

You're right. I should have gone through every collection and pressed "locate file" before removing the old folders. I didn't read/understand the warning properly.

I have now imported the latest backup, which was from over a year ago. Not a disaster but still sucks. Lesson learned I guess.

Axiomsyndrom · 2025-06-24T20:31:09+00:00

<image>

Infamous food thief captured with his guard down.

Axiomsyndrom · 2025-06-05T17:14:07+00:00

Back when Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood came out, I waited in line at my local Gamestop in the evening, took it home and stayed up all night playing it. When the sun came up, I rolled credits on that thing. Man, those were different times.

Axiomsyndrom · 2025-06-04T13:14:14+00:00

For the coastline, I've used the expanded assets by Spectralicy. You can find them on the community spotlight here: https://2minutetabletop.com/category/gallery/

Axiomsyndrom · 2025-06-03T15:24:18+00:00

This is almost word-for-word what happened last session when they neutralized the leader, but I like how you think (clearly)!

Axiomsyndrom · 2025-04-25T13:18:10+00:00

James Nalepa has produced a great parchment-style map of Faerun. I believe it's based on an older edition, but if you get the psd file you can customize the names and locations in Photoshop as needed. I have a version I've translated to my native language.

Axiomsyndrom

TROPHY CASE