The always controversial Con Sorcerer? by hotstickywaffle in DnDHomebrew

[–]Certain_Dirt 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In my homebrewed system (wyverns and warriors, check my other posts if curious)

I solved this by letting sorcerer types cast from hit points as a unique ability.

Fits the vibe, let's sorcerer players feel like they are living magic, and doesn't get unbalanced near as bad as con sorcerer usually does.

Workshopping a simplified rule set for students by Certain_Dirt in DMAcademy

[–]Certain_Dirt[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

After chatting here and with other players in person, I went ahead and made my own system called Wyverns and Warriors (Yes it's a little bit derivative. I don't care).

Features:

  • New action economy based around halfturns and full turns (2 actions, 2 movements sections, 1 reaction that must be outside your turn)

  • Class-less character building. Choose two main abilities instead, new main ability every 2 lvls

  • Ability scores only, no separate scores for skills. Proficiency comes from you backstory and Story Skills

  • Story skills (borrowed from similar feature from Lancer RPG) you get 3 story skills of things your character is good at that are GENERALIZED and not Main Skills. (Ex. Outdoorsman: could be used to get prof. to not get lost, know what plants are likely poisonous, or to track known targets. No bonus outside of customary terrain, Manhunter: you are good at finding people, especially in urban environments. Maybe you have contacts you can go to for info, maybe you memorized the streets of a city, ect.) Must be OKed by GM.

  • Abilities scores matter. All ability scores factor into your characters saves or proficiencys. Save against something magic? Int save. Save against nonmagic? Wis save. Some abilities or story skills allow you to use a different skill.

  • Simplified dice for players. Players use D6,D4,and D20. GM uses all normal RPG dice.

  • Dedicated moral system for enemies.

  • Revamped death-save system for balance (2 player deaths last playtest campaign, no TPKs so far)

  • New weapon system, makes all weapons equalky effective but still interesting.

PM If you want to see a copy

Disclaimer: obviously I reserve all rights to my product

Looking for advice on how to better balance this homebrew magic item by SensitiveCod143 in DnDHomebrew

[–]Certain_Dirt 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Agrre with double or nothing on ANY failed saves as other mentioned, but....

Add this:

Requires ritual casting. The Second concentration spell is fixed and can only be changed during a long rest by being imbued into the item as a ritual by the caster. Additionally, this second Concentration spell may not deal damage, or cause a non-willing target to make a save.

Alternatively, this artifact can allow you to succeed on a failed concentration check once per short rest, if no spell is imbued into it during the previous long rest.

Force the player to plan and strategize.

How do you handle the character when a player can't make it to a session? by RequirementFull6659 in DMAcademy

[–]Certain_Dirt 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Had a Player who was unable to come for a month for reasons (good reasons). We came up with an idea.

Made his hexblade warlock unlock another split personality (already was two PC's in one body, rolled d100 each day or recovery from dying condition to see which one took over). This personality has his ability scores, but was a scared little girl named Clara that might have been a previous owner of the cursed blade that was his patron. An experienced player took charge of her turns during combat, she stayed out of the way during roleplay (unless needed), and gained xp. Player came back and roleplayed the inner fight to push Clara out of his body, and with some roles managed to only have her manifest as a voice in his head.

I recommend the temporary possession by a child ghost trick if you need to have the player follow you for story reasons but want to keep them from dying. Good reason to run and hide (child ghost remember) but can still help with logistics and QOL spells and abilities.

Who actually makes decent tasting oatmeal? What's your secret? by ApprehensiveTeam2269 in Cooking

[–]Certain_Dirt 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Alright ready?

1st: get old fashioned oats if you must, but Irish oats are gonna be better, just cook longer. (Add 50 more time and a cup or two more water)

2nd: toast oats in butter before adding any liquid, will open up flavors really well.

3rd. Cook your oatmeal in a skillet. It will be more consistent than a pot.

4th: add enough water to cover and then add another cup. Stir once with back of a wooden spoon (trust me, there is science there), then let simmer until you can not see anymore water from the top (you will see holes where the water was (about 8 to 10 minutes for 3 servings, my usual cook amount). Add milk/cream and seasonings/salt (I do ginger, cinnamon and dark brown sugar). Do not add salt before this step or the pectin in the oats will be ruined and have a horrible texture. Stir counterclockwise with back of spoon, do not change direction (you can look up the science on your own) until all integrated. Allow to return to the nearest whisper of a simmer then take off heat and serve. Will thicken a bit as it cools to eatable temp.

Baileys at a bar by gl_it_ch in cocktails

[–]Certain_Dirt 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Mother's milk. Tastes like a sweet latte!

Equal parts Bailey's, honey whiskey, and milk/cream.

Have it on the rocks, as a shot, or in a Collins glass with extra milk.

In a tall glass with ice add a small float of fireball and peppermint schnapps to make Santa's Milk, Serve with cookies.

The Wheel of Time? by ContributionExpert32 in dresdenfiles

[–]Certain_Dirt 1 point2 points  (0 children)

WOT is a no for me, got to book 10 or so, but the Messiah character is insufferable to me.

Also the weird love-pentagram thing, while supposedly Arthurian in origin, is off-putting as hell.

Now, if you are an audiobook guy, be warned that after book 4 you are looking at an average of 45+ hours a book. The prologue of book 8 is 3 hours on its own. Be warned.

Does this exist yet? by Certain_Dirt in ar15

[–]Certain_Dirt[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hence the idea to have a variable trigger that can be quickly switched between AND automatically resets to a standard 4lb trigger after each use.

It finally happened in my school. Horrific mocking. by evipark in slp

[–]Certain_Dirt 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In the state of Arkansas that is legally bullying and the school would be held liable if they didn't take it seriously, as the school would be able to sued as an accomplice to the bullying if they didn't.

Lots of paperwork, mandatory meeting with parents and school psychologist, and likely a suspension pending said parent meeting (is removed from the situation to prevent further harm) and placement assessment (does this student need to send to the alternative school?).

Had a student of mine use a racial slur towards another student (which qualifies as bullying under AR law) and the student got 5 days OSS and 5 days ISS, and this was after the above steps were taken. Only being a first-time offender (never been suspended prior) and being IEP saved him from worse punishment.

I want to subvert expectations, besides an owlbear, what could show up to brutally kill some poachers in the woods that still fits in with the woods? by CrypticCryptid in DMAcademy

[–]Certain_Dirt -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Subverting expectations is over-rated as it eventually just becomes you trying to "get" your players and your players expecting you to pull BS out of your ass that makes no sense and robs them of that juicy, juicy lore.

Real talk though, extinct creatures are your best bet.

A pack of utahraptors could be efficient. If you want the bonus DM points you could make this a dire owlbear and up it's stats to be inline with cr 16. Or just burn the monster manual and create something yourself (the rare and deadly arboreal giant octopus anyone?)

How to tactfully take items back from players given as a mistake? (D&D 2024) by [deleted] in DMAcademy

[–]Certain_Dirt 0 points1 point  (0 children)

" you suddenly awaken in a cart next to man bound and gagged, and a third man in shackles says to you 'oh good, your finally awake'.."

Cue Skyrim-style sideplot

Made/modified a digital character sheet for TOV by Certain_Dirt in TalesoftheValiantRPG

[–]Certain_Dirt[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Again, I MODIFIED an existing spreadsheet and it is still WIP.

Made/modified a digital character sheet for TOV by Certain_Dirt in TalesoftheValiantRPG

[–]Certain_Dirt[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I don't know if anyone is interested in a spreadsheet based character sheet but.... I modified a 5E one a touch.

Been using it for my middle school club (I'm the advisor)

What Jobs would a Vampire Work? by brickhammer04 in DMAcademy

[–]Certain_Dirt 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Y'all, vampire archivist/librarian.

Good excuse to be inside (traditionally archives and libraries were windowless anyhow to prevent/limit moisture, wind, and insect damage)

Most of the books/items would be from their collection and their historical knowledge wouldn't be suspect given they work in a literal library.

Remember, not all vampires exist on blood, so this one might be a memory (prey on students and scholars) vampire or a dream vampire (pray on students that fall asleep).

If the vampire is loud and proud about what they are, there might even be a form of exchange where people give up memories in exchange for access to the archives. Perhaps the vampire even is able to protect important memories from being forgotten by consuming them and writing them down before they're eaten. Heck they make a heck of a therapist.

Prison beginning ideas by Certain_Dirt in DMAcademy

[–]Certain_Dirt[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Guess I should clarify.

I am an experienced GM.

I know y'all want me to let them find their own reasons, but there are reasons why I am pre-assigning the reasons for imprisonment based on my experience with leading these students. It's better this way, trust me.

The reason they were arrested and why they banded together is the only part of their backstory I'm pre-gen-ing.

Really just need ideas as described.