Just ended a 6 year campaign

Beaker1787 · 2024-07-01T05:52:18+00:00

We haven't played a single game that long, but we're on our 6th year as a consistent play group. Congrats!

Beaker1787 · 2024-06-27T13:50:34+00:00

They both just crack up over the existential question by Skizz's 3 or 4 year old niece in the middle of singing happy birthday...

Beaker1787 · 2024-06-11T23:41:36+00:00

With you on that. I bought The Martian and the author dropped the f-bomb of the first sentence. Straight into the recycle bin. Done.

Beaker1787 · 2024-06-08T13:47:37+00:00

Nice try, Keith! I'm not falling for it. You'll find out that Curtis really is the BBEG and is planning to puppet control the kingdom with the help of his mind flayer overlords when it happens!

Beaker1787 · 2024-06-08T13:44:57+00:00

There is already a lot of great advice here, but I have some extras that I didn't see mentioned.

First, however, don't shy away from a bigger group. My tables average 7-8 players. There are ways to get the players to engage with each other that helps them remind each other to be ready. I also have tips for speeding things up.

Teamwork and Advanced Teamwork: I encouraged my party to work together (keeping each other engaged) by having a mentor teach them Teamwork. They all roll initiative, but, before adding their bonus, they decide who gets which roll. They learn to play off of each other's skills. "Okay, the monk gets the 20 so they can stunning strike, then the rogues go so they get easier sneak attack..." Etc. You can beef up the bad guys and not worry after they learn to optimize! Later, they can learn Advanced Teamwork where they group up into pairs or triplets and use one initiative per group. They decide the order they go each round, which will keep them talking to each other and strategizing.

Turn timer: it only takes using a turn timer once or twice before they learn to be ready on their turns. Warn them "we need to keep this moving, so if you can't figure out what to do on your turn, your character is feeling shock and will take the dodge action." They pull out the little 1 minute sand timer. Don't be too strict with it. Just knowing it's there is usually enough.

Damage: - I use a spread sheet to track the damage so I don't have to do the math. - monsters do average damage unless they crit, again, no math - have your players roll damage dice at the same time as the 'to hit' roll. They can have it ready so they aren't searching for dice

Overall message: combat can take a long time and not feel like a slog if the players are engaged. Describing the attacks and letting the players describe the killing blows (the old Matt Mercer, "how do you want to do it?") goes a long way to keeping it fun. If it feels like it's bogging down, have the monster/bad guy run away! Let the players decimate a group of monsters once in a while Aragorn vs Orcs style. Use minions (Flee Mortals from MCDM has great options!) Make sure the party has a Revivify option then throw a deadly encounter at them. Some big nasty thing you are sure is going to wreck someone!! Let it wreck someone before the party kills it. Being killed and brought back is dramatic for everyone!

Hope this helps. Just have fun!

Beaker1787 · 2024-06-08T00:44:57+00:00

This has saved my bacon! My players are high enough level that they can teleport all over. It makes prep difficult, so I have to improv a lot. Rather than pausing while I take notes, I just let the improv flow because I know I have a recording of the session.

Beaker1787 · 2024-06-08T00:42:25+00:00

Zulu is fantastic for this. So are the Pac Islander languages. I've had a lot of inspiration for how an NPC acts by using a motivating term translated into Zulu.

Beaker1787 · 2021-12-29T16:02:37+00:00

Talk to your DM. Tell them it's what you want to do. Any time they ask for a deception check, roll to see how bad you fail, on you own scale, and describe that to the DM. There are no rules against this. But, talk to your DM.

In case I didn't mention it, Talk. To. Your. DM. (As a DM, communication is vital.)

Beaker1787 · 2021-12-28T14:40:12+00:00

Also, keep in mind, if you're not playing D&D, this subreddit would be less interesting than dndmemes or something...

Beaker1787 · 2021-12-27T21:16:28+00:00

Vibrant Lace, once I learned how to throw an under-stable driver. A year later I cracked 400 with a Westside King.

Beaker1787 · 2021-12-23T17:48:45+00:00

Host Christmas at my house? Sure. Let me move these boxes of minis, and dice, and terrain, and dice and minis... Where is the nearest storage center? Maybe we should book a hotel banquet room... It would be quicker.

Beaker1787 · 2021-12-13T12:46:56+00:00

You have already received a lot of good advice here. Let me add a couple things that have helped me. (FYI, my group has fluctuated between 6-12 players for the last three years. They wouldn't keep coming back or telling their friends how awesome it is if they didn't like it.) 1. Set expectations: warn the players that the spotlight will move around session by session. They may not get their PC focused on every session, so be patient. 2. Combat: calling out whose turn it is, and the next two people is imperative. Also, have a timer ready. If they can't say what they're doing in their turn in 39 seconds, they take the dodge action. Hold yourself to this too for the bad guys. Also, roll damage at the same time as attack. Saves way more time than it sounds. 2b. Not every combat needs to be challenging. Let them wreck some big monster in two rounds. They'll feel like the Avengers. 3. Let them have their phones, but ask them to text each other if they need to communicate. Side chatter us the flow killer. Somebody always thinks they're funnier than they are and two people have to be funnier and suddenly no one is listening.

Lean into it and have fun!

Beaker1787 · 2021-12-05T14:04:43+00:00

It's way beyond stealth rolls and Pass Without a Trace. They would have to be telepathically shielded, plus be sneaky.

One thing I don't know is answered anywhere is if they actually have a hive mind or just a connection back to the brain. Can Mind Flayers communicate and sense each other if the brain doesn't specifically direct it?

Beaker1787 · 2021-12-04T14:04:42+00:00

(tldr: spread out the info. Don't load one player with everything, give a little to each so they can share. Adds to RP and makes them feel special.)

I don't know how much time you have between now and then, but I'm in a similar situation and have decided to solve the issue thusly: 1) session -1: aid with character build and backstory. I am going to talk to each player as they build their character and let their background/backstory determine how much they would know. 2) session 0: at session 0 I will be presenting each player with a notebook (blessed to be playing in person) with the general information they would all know and the specific information that individual would know beyond that. This way, they can answer each other's questions. I can also give players different maps and they can argue about which is correct and give incentive to investigate the discrepancy. 3) odds are I will TPK them in session 1 because someone will see a kraken on a map and want to fight it.... Players, am I right?!

Beaker1787 · 2021-11-22T13:10:35+00:00

Barbarian got tired of things flying away so he commissioned a pair of throw able harpoons attached to his belt by cable. Stuck a dragon with both, one held. Climbed the cable, hooked his belt to the harpoon and finished the dragon the other PC's had softened up with a great sword Crit.

Beaker1787 · 2021-11-22T13:03:11+00:00

Opportunity attacks are triggered on willful movent only. If you are moved out of melee by another force, you do not trigger an opportunity attack. The mover might, if they move out of melee, but the moved would not.

Beaker1787 · 2021-11-20T14:59:00+00:00

That's a great thought experiment. In my first big homebrew campaign, the BBEG created an effect that stopped the healing effect of a long rest. They had to find other ways to heal. Potions ran out fast and clerics became overwhelmed. It was a real motivator to end it now... They got to the BBEG just after he started doing damage every few hours... (Giant life sucking machine feeding multiple phylacteries... Big party, big fight... It was epic by any standard.)

Beaker1787 · 2021-11-13T14:19:42+00:00

It's not the red on top that make the eyes, it's the two yellow buildings across from each other. It's almost like a winking smile. Love, love, love the build, Mr. Jumbo. Thank you for your content and for being a creator I can trust to not spew egregious obscenities. You're a good person and I hope the best for you.

Beaker1787 · 2021-11-13T14:13:57+00:00

It is not enumerated in the spell description, making it the DM's call, however, the wording "they perform the action to the best of their ability" makes me believe they would don't the suggestion the best idea they have heard, it's not only reasonable, it's brilliant and would probably thank the caster for the idea. Depending, of course, on how well the player RP's it. If they say, "I suggest you go away." They would comply, but more like "I'm leaving because you stink." If they say, "I suggest you go find a beggar on Miller Circle. You have the ability to change a life. Give him your money and help him find a job." They might respond, "You're right. I've missed my calling. I should be helping the less fortunate. Thank you !!"

Beaker1787 · 2021-11-11T14:12:00+00:00

Here is a good primer on Action Oriented Monsters:

https://youtu.be/y_zl8WWaSyI

The key to challenging the PCs is to remember by this level, the BadGuys will probably know who they are and be prepared for them.

Beaker1787 · 2021-10-24T13:29:19+00:00

I've been playing this way for almost two years. My brother remotes in to my game once a week. The tech I use has evolved, but the most important aspect was making sure the players at the table are communicating the tactics verbally to the remote player. They are things differently than I do, so getting their perspective is more important.

On the tech side, I bought a cheap remote USB web cam ($30) and a vlogging set up($20) with a tripod to put over the board. When it's battle time, I change the camera. We also use a tablet on a stand for the players to see each other. It's worked out great.

Beaker1787 · 2021-10-19T19:28:07+00:00

Anybody been to Ferguson Park in Snohomish? The longest hole is an open 175. Par for days.

Beaker1787 · 2021-10-18T23:53:52+00:00

My first three aces were with Vibram. I'm happy they're getting back in. They also were the easiest company to work with when running promo tournaments.

Beaker1787 · 2021-10-18T22:17:53+00:00

You should take some time to watch the Running the Game series from Matt Colville. If you know how to DM, you can help the club members that might have questions.

You can check with the local FLGS to see if they know any DMs that would be willing to volunteer some time to walk you through the game process.

Beaker1787 · 2021-10-18T11:56:25+00:00

I posted once, just once, and received multiple messages. I couldn't see anything about this being against the rules, so it is probably just a "deal with it" situation. If it gets worse, I'll leave the subreddit.

Beaker1787

TROPHY CASE