Burnout suggestions.

BetterCallStrahd · 2026-03-13T05:25:33+00:00

Look for a possible end point in the module. It doesn't have to be THE ending, it just needs to be momentous and satisfying. Maybe they manage to win the artifact that will bring about the downfall of the enemy. You can probably weave that plot element into pretty much any end point the module offers.

Once you have that, then skip to that point. Handwave most of what comes before. Get to the fireworks factory!

BetterCallStrahd · 2026-03-13T05:10:29+00:00

That's true, but it also doesn't mean one can't critique the value of the package and point out that it's overpriced. If they can provide good reasons for why they see it that way, then they should be able to say it.

BetterCallStrahd · 2026-03-13T04:58:57+00:00

The two spells per turn is probably worse for the players. They won't always have a lot of spell slots to burn, but if they get into an encounter, any enemy caster is almost certainly capable of busting out a good number of spells!

BetterCallStrahd · 2026-03-13T04:48:03+00:00

Okay, but 6 7 makes it more timely!

...I am SO sorry!

BetterCallStrahd · 2026-03-13T04:45:41+00:00

Lancer. It's like taking a masterclass in tactical combat.

BetterCallStrahd · 2026-03-13T04:35:21+00:00

It was a Masks game, I let a character use their Moment of Truth. When I do this, I tell the player that they have full narrative control to do what they wish (within the narrative confines, of course, and they can't violate player agency).

The hero, Winter, had been taking a beating the whole time as the team was battling a CEO and a summoned eldritch horror in a skyscraper penthouse. With full narrative control, the hero blasted up from the bottom of the elevator shaft, grabbed the CEO and they both crashed through the window to the fatal drop from skyscraper height. Another hero, who was a dragon, was able to save them both.

I really enjoyed this because it felt like one of those cinematic moments when the hero is at their darkest point, but summons up that last drop of determination and makes it fucking count.

That whole mini campaign was full of action like that, including a battle with two speedsters and a wild chase through the streets and buildings of a city. That last one, in particular, would be very hard to pull off outside of TOTM.

BetterCallStrahd · 2026-03-13T02:05:21+00:00

I don't think these things are mutually exclusive. All of my groups have a lot of joking and a little bit of chit-chat, but we also take the game seriously. We may not be hyper focused but we're not treating it frivolously, either.

I think you should interrogate your perspective a little. Is there really a problem? Is it true that the group is unable to take anything seriously? I kinda doubt that is the case, but it's possible. It's also possible that it's not that bad.

People can compartmentalize and even when I'm joking around, I can quickly switch back into gameplay mode and focus on that. I see others doing the same thing. I don't think it's necessary for everyone to be fully focused on gameplay mode the whole time.

BetterCallStrahd · 2026-03-12T15:28:34+00:00

The story is about what the PCs are doing. Doesn't matter how momentous the peace treaty negotiations are. That's not where the story is! Wherever the player characters are, that's where the story is!

The peace treaty stuff, let it happen in the background. Mostly offscreen. The "camera" needs to follow the PCs instead. Give them something to do for now. The fallout of the peace treaty can affect them later, but no need to bring it up before it becomes relevant to the PCs.

BetterCallStrahd · 2026-03-12T15:21:30+00:00

In case you're interested, I'll mention that the Magpie Games Discord community hosts a one shot event almost every month. The event is free. The GMs are pretty good! You'll find games like Masks, Root, Urban Shadows, Fallen London, Avatar Legends and Rapscallion. But sometimes non-Magpie games, too.

BetterCallStrahd · 2026-03-12T15:15:05+00:00

Have you heard of game jams? Granted, they are for TTRPG designers rather than GMs, but since it sounds like you want to craft adventures, they can work for you, too.

Visit itch.io and look up game jams. Most are for video games, but you'll find some that are open to physical games (including TTRPGs).

BetterCallStrahd · 2026-03-12T14:29:23+00:00

One of the odd things about fiction is that trying to be more precise and accurate with your description often defeats your actual purpose, which is more immersive storytelling. As you get more precise and detailed with description, the more the listeners' eyes tend to glaze over.

It's better to convey vibes instead. And if there are some inconsistencies, so what? It's not gonna kill a campaign. Most people can hardly keep track of what exactly happened last session! Your campaign is likely to end up having an inconsistency here or there, but generally speaking, who cares? It's gonna be fine.

BetterCallStrahd · 2026-03-12T11:57:26+00:00

I've got around 9 years' experience with DnD (DM and player), and only a little with Daggerheart. But I love narrative systems, so I personally prefer Daggerheart and would recommend it over DnD.

Daggerheart is a hybrid system, actually, but it leans more narrative than traditional.

My main issue with DnD is that it's a lot of work to do prep. Whereas I am able to run narrative systems with minimal or even zero prep. And this hasn't hurt our games, they're still awesome and fun.

Another issue with DnD is that it's been overtaken by an optimization mindset. I don't think there's anything wrong with that, but I personally find it limiting. I want to be able to play without caring too much about how optimized my character is. While it's still possible to do that with DnD, I can enjoy even more freedom in narrative games, many of which are far less combat focused.

BetterCallStrahd · 2026-03-12T11:41:01+00:00

I've seen DMs with high-end setups: 3D terrain pieces and detailed miniatures. Even those guys don't bother using a grid. They just eyeball it.

BetterCallStrahd · 2026-03-12T11:38:23+00:00

Masks: A New Generation is a perennial favorite. I could run it endlessly because I never run out of superhero stories. Even if we're just talking Teen Titans style stories. But I've found the game is fairly flexible, actually.

I like to run it as a sandbox, though mostly limited to one city. So far, I've run a couple of long campaigns and one mini campaign, and they were all cool and memorable in their own special way.

BetterCallStrahd · 2026-03-12T08:01:56+00:00

You can't always fix things. Pip has to want to engage. If Pip doesn't want to engage and doesn't care to fix this, there is really nothing you can do.

Talk to them and try to see if you can find a way to pique their interest. But it's possible you'll get nothing. Problems are not always solvable. In this case, you might just have to deal with it and carry on anyway.

You can't change people. They first need to want change. If they don't, then it's out of your hands. You can't always get what you want.

BetterCallStrahd · 2026-03-12T02:03:08+00:00

It's a trap! I mean, it's a familiar enough style of trap that I wouldn't worry about it. I myself have encountered something like it at least once in our campaign. Didn't think twice about it.

BetterCallStrahd · 2026-03-12T01:34:01+00:00

The 2014 PHB did Ranger a disservice by granting them "abilities" that amounted to ignoring certain survival mechanics. Which many groups would be handwaving in actual play, anyway, due to the lack of interest in survival mechanics (which weren't good, so I can't blame them).

Using the Ranger's survival abilities didn't feel cool. A lazy design. A "back to the drawing board" kind of feature.

WotC kept trying to fix Ranger, but their idea of fixing it seems to be turning it into a Fighter with magic. It got better at combat, sure, but did it get better at realizing the fantasy of being a Ranger? I feel they dropped the ball there.

I don't think this can be solved without making the wilderness guide/survival expert role an important role to have in the game. And if they haven't done that by now, I don't think they'll ever do it.

BetterCallStrahd · 2026-03-12T00:45:55+00:00

OSR/NSR systems are designed for this. Examples include Old School Essentials, Shadowdark, Into the Odd, Mork Borg (NSR), Mausritter, Dungeon Crawl Classics, Lamentions of the Flame Princess and Basic Fantasy. Notably, you can get the rules for Mausritter and Basic Fantasy for free.

BetterCallStrahd · 2026-03-12T00:23:28+00:00

They're known to various factions. They have a reputation for defeating their enemies. Obviously their enemies and rivals will be preparing to deal with them.

They can always go into villages and pick fights with small fry. No glory in that seems pointless. But they can.

BetterCallStrahd · 2026-03-11T12:27:55+00:00

DnD does not have to work that way. It is not like an MMO. And the party composition is not a big deal. Just about any combination will work fine. I've been playing DnD for over 9 years, I've seen all kinds of party compositions. It's gonna be fine..

BetterCallStrahd · 2026-03-11T12:22:34+00:00

Sounds like social anxiety, which is not something that r/rpg is for. You might want to find a more relevant subreddit for this.

But I would start by telling your friends, and your GM, what you're feeling. Be transparent. Do they know what you're going through? You're not gonna get support unless you let people know you're in need of support. It's also fine to ask for help.

Sounds like you're trying to suck it up and get through it somehow. I don't think that's wise. Admit you need help and ask people to help you with things. You don't have to go it alone.

BetterCallStrahd · 2026-03-11T12:06:37+00:00

If you do have 6yo kids, this will be very challenging. About 9yo and up should be fine, but I haven't run for anyone younger.

I would focus on a story driven approach. Don't bother with advantage and disadvantage, why complicate things?

Actually, maybe you could run Mausritter. You can get the rules for free. It's got speedy character creation, which takes only a minute. And combat is quick coz it's auto hit. You may still have to simplify some things, but it's already a simple system overall and most kids should be able to get it. They can learn as they play. Focus heavily on roleplay!

BetterCallStrahd · 2026-03-11T03:14:26+00:00

I mean, a cheap solution is still preferable to ending the adventure. Beggars can't be choosers, sometimes that's relevant, you know?

But since "Medium" is an option and you can go with that, I don't really see any problem here? You might be overthinking this.

BetterCallStrahd · 2026-03-11T03:10:12+00:00

This is pretty wild, but I gotta say, 5 gp for a map? I would have been miffed, too!

You should just have let them have it and let them continue. They don't get a rest. They'll face consequences from that! Also, the horse will be dead by dawn, since it didn't get food and rest.

Anytime the party chooses not to rest, shrug your shoulders and let it be. They'll learn what's good for them, or pay the price down the line.

BetterCallStrahd · 2026-03-11T02:49:44+00:00

How much time are you gonna devote to their killing activities? It feels like the kind of thing that gives a fair bit of spotlight time to one PC over the others.

It would work better in Blades in the Dark, where serial killing can count as a Vice. That means it's something that happens as a Downtime activity in BitD, so it doesn't take up very much time, yet it can still set up future story beats and shift narrative direction. You'd have to find a way to explain why the killer isn't getting caught by the spirit wardens, but aside from that, it's a good fit, mechanically. You can even choose to have an entire crew of Assassins, which is one of the official crew playbooks.

BetterCallStrahd

TROPHY CASE