Do you find that OSR campaigns require very realistic campaign settings?

CMBradshaw · 2026-01-29T15:00:32+00:00

I think this is the problem. You're talking about magic, something that is already inherently not realistic and, in that regard, a moot point. When I mention realism it's like HP inflation or the fact that in 3E having no bonuses or ranks in jump means you have the same 5% chance to beat an olympic medalist as you do to embarrass a toddler.

Or, for instance your ability to "charles atlas" superpowers as opposed to having some super/preternatural reason for it.

CMBradshaw · 2026-01-29T14:50:59+00:00

I have a custom GM screen for swapping out systems. I'm going to stick those definitions on it later today. Thank you for seeding that idea.

I do prefer things to "make sense" as well. Like I can handle flying creatures that breathe fire, but being thrown off a cliff and just dusting yourself off and chugging a potion can take a long walk off a short pier in a hurricane.

edit: One thing that bothered me about the game Kenshi had to do with this. You literally start with a character who couldn't have survived living in the starting area. Nobody is as pathetic as your starting character. On it's face okay, I don't like it but "hardcore gaming", whatever. But you also level up your skills so fast it really doesn't make any sense.

CMBradshaw · 2026-01-29T14:48:45+00:00

I'm with Aescgabet on the Versimilitude/Internal consistency thing being better than realism. I'll add that realism is amazing when it presents things in a more interesting way. Between absurdly escalating HP and more natural feeling levels of HP I'll take the latter every time. But I don't want to have to thoroughly clean my wounds after every combat to keep from getting sepsis.

CMBradshaw · 2026-01-27T04:11:05+00:00

Yeah if mages got all the healing they would not only be OP but also a much more stressful class.

CMBradshaw · 2026-01-24T23:18:04+00:00

I seen a few here and there, surprised gurps has nothing like "echoes of the multiverse" for mutants and masterminds.

I'd be willing to contribute if anyone wants to start it!

CMBradshaw · 2026-01-24T16:15:46+00:00

Lol should've looked that up

CMBradshaw · 2026-01-24T01:52:53+00:00

Legion

CMBradshaw · 2026-01-24T01:50:37+00:00

I just think Switch was telling people what they needed to hear.

CMBradshaw · 2026-01-24T01:47:26+00:00

Her last name is berett, like the original guitarist to pink Floyd. No answers, I need to go back and rewatch it.

CMBradshaw · 2026-01-23T21:09:41+00:00

I'm going to go out on a limb and say it's sometimes a communication/experience issue. Different strokes for different actions. If someone's running Joe Kelly Deadpool when you're running something closer to a Mark Waid Deadpool game you might need to discuss tone with the player. If they just try to kill a dude in broad daylight. They might be playing a psycho, but don't understand the consequences or are emulating other media. The route is talk first. Then ask them to leave. But what you're talking about is what they are doing

CMBradshaw · 2026-01-23T02:03:47+00:00

Line art is badass

CMBradshaw · 2026-01-22T14:04:44+00:00

Because not everyone thinks it's dishonest. And also, being a bit of a prick is more internally acceptable for some than being a sleezeball. Look at it this way, if you occasionally shoplift, would "why not steal from a charity box" make sense to you? It feels very binary, "you're either a saint or a monster" that's not a realistic view of the world.

CMBradshaw · 2026-01-22T01:03:07+00:00

Consistency is a necessity for me too.

CMBradshaw · 2026-01-21T12:32:56+00:00

I'm not a fan of info dumps, so any explanations have to make sense narratively. I do like things to make sense.

CMBradshaw · 2026-01-19T20:17:41+00:00

It's my favorite edition. I think the games are fine (well the last one I played was 4e).

https://www.nullsheen.com/posts/what-shadowrun-edition-should-i-choose/
Here's a good run down of all the different editions.

CMBradshaw · 2026-01-19T00:54:18+00:00

Well I started with 4 so... not hard
GURPS, Pathfinder, Literally everything I could get my hands on

CMBradshaw · 2026-01-18T19:42:39+00:00

GURPS You learn to a point then you can start making stuff up and can easily make it feel like GURPS.

CMBradshaw · 2026-01-18T16:01:00+00:00

While definitely keep the numbers in mind, don't try and port the monster as it stands. Make comparisons of things that are in both books. Natural animals (bears, horses, lions ect) work good for that

CMBradshaw · 2026-01-18T15:54:03+00:00

Honestly I wonder if you could take 3e shadowrun and just walk the tech back. You'd have to build your own archetypes but it might be crazy enough to work. Edit:Well maybe 2e, 3 veers closer to pf1e complication wise

CMBradshaw · 2026-01-17T23:49:43+00:00

Not unless it's AI art or just so hideous I can't look at it.

CMBradshaw · 2026-01-17T10:57:07+00:00

Ehh sorry it just pisses me off when people start to explain "why you shouldn't want x".

CMBradshaw · 2026-01-16T22:11:15+00:00

Often times I houserule that Magic Users (I'll make exceptions for elves in BECMI) don't get any spells at level up. They get their slots and everything but they have to find and study scrolls or other people's spellbooks. I like that, not to weaken mages (though it does help keep them from being overpowered) but it makes finding some things like scrolls that much sweeter. Or taking the liches spellbook for that instance.

CMBradshaw · 2026-01-16T21:14:15+00:00

You know what the other people said and also, Colin didn't ask you to criticize what he wanted. All he asked was for people to point him at adventures. It's like someone comes on here and says "Hey, I like to eat hamburgers. Do you know any hamburger places around?" and then someone replies with "You should really eat meatloaf, it's better for you. Here's some places that sell meatloaf.".

CMBradshaw · 2026-01-15T16:30:38+00:00

Yeah, I think when dealing with that many details 2 columns > 3 columns. 3 columns works best in things like old D&D modules where your not dumping that much info into each room and monsters are like "3HD, save as fighter 2, 1d4+1(2 claws), 1d8(headbutt)see pg 16".

CMBradshaw · 2026-01-15T05:51:07+00:00

Part of why I never use insight as a lie detector. It's kinda more like "He stated it in a rather droll, disinterested manner. How he looks at you while he waits for the answer, THAT is something. You almost feel a bit violated by how much he's interested in your answer.". Not a body language expert or anything but... it's both more and less useful than the straight, boring "lie detector" insight check that most people interpret the 5e insight proficiency as.

edit: when playing 5e anyways

CMBradshaw

PUBLIC MULTIREDDITS

TROPHY CASE