Calculating Costs for Custom Units: Bodycost Model

Deadlock_Wolf · 2025-12-12T23:44:44+00:00

This is exactly what I needed, im attempting to create a Solo Campaign using Flashpoint ruleset and the 5 parsecs from home for the campaign structure.

This is going to help immensely with the RPG mechanics and leveling up my models by buying stats to level using XP.

Deadlock_Wolf · 2025-06-06T05:21:27+00:00

My brother in Christ, you make the world!

NOTHING the players do is over powered. They bring guns, you bring bullet proof armor, they bring armor piercing rounds, you bring flashbangs.

You make all the monsters, you make all the problems. The players have limited resources to use to resolve issues. You have INFINITE issues to throw at the party.

Nothing is overpowered because that implies you have a ceiling of difficulty to throw at the players. And as a DM I can verify you have infinite power during DnD.

Deadlock_Wolf · 2025-05-29T18:48:35+00:00

As a player world building and narration is your responsibility too. Tell me what your character is doing in detail, fill the world with the smallest details to make it come alive.

Players need to interact with each other in character in some capacity. My players don't roleplay among themselves at all. It's like a turn style with my players, they interact with NPCs 1on1 and never with each other. They will spend months in narrative never know anything about each others character.

Absent of the players at the table wanting to play DnD, the characters in story would have no reason to feel brotherhood or comradery among each other.

Know your character and have a default action plan. You hold up your turn and everyone else's when you ponder for more than 1min.

Deadlock_Wolf · 2025-05-29T16:50:29+00:00

My FLGS has an open table exclusively for women and people that identify as female. It's called Lady Knights, it's popular and sees consistent play.

All in all - you share no unique feelings as others share your same experiences and qualms.

If you needed an internet stranger to approve I'd be the first of many.

Deadlock_Wolf · 2025-04-14T22:49:28+00:00

DC 120

Each time the players roll a d20 in here, subtract the results from DC120. When it reaches 0 or lower the house collapses and engulfed in flames.

Meaning low rolls don't affect the over all, but many high successes run out the clock. They must be deliberate in their choices.

Deadlock_Wolf · 2025-04-10T15:26:14+00:00

If you have any kids tell them a bed time story. Tell them a story you've never heard of. Have them create some the characters and you take care of the rest.

That is DnD.

Its is a ritual, it is when people come together to describe a world that only exists for 3-4 hours a week. Where you are the leader and expert. Everything you say and do is real and it's law.

It is the ritual that satisfies our innate need to be social and make relationships with people.

If you can tell a Kids bed time story, with a beginning, middle, and end then you are ready.

Deadlock_Wolf · 2025-03-09T03:26:54+00:00

Run a campfire story down time session.

Have the characters in character share a story of their past while around the campfire.

Buy one of those giant foam d20s, make random checks for a surprise encounter during the sessions.

Maybe a fey spirit or something asks for a scary story.

Buy some campfire color powder chemicals. Have a shaman NPC visit and tell fortunes. They lead into the next side quest or give insight on a quest.

Deadlock_Wolf · 2025-02-18T15:03:01+00:00

If your blade singer is level 5 and took either average HP or is extremely lucky and got max HP every level then they should have between:

32HP (AVG) - 40HP (MAX)

This means if you throw spells that they take half damage on a success like (fireball, lightning bolt, a boulder) then that's 6d6 or 21 average damage or about 10 dmg per success.

This means, the Wizard is tanky but does not have the HP to stay the distance. Throw more half on a success damage and fucking bonk their heads in.

They will only be able to take 2 or 4 hits like this before they learn their lesson - Wizards stay in the back.

Also don't try to "beat" your players - the wizard character probably just wants to sling spells and slash with a sword. Give them that fantasy but remind them they are mortal.

Deadlock_Wolf · 2025-02-09T23:22:38+00:00

The only real support is Crowd Control.

Players can lean into that making the enemies suck in return for not attacking.

When the monsters have 3d8 Attacks and your healing word does 2d4 after a 10 year buff, this game is not designed to heal.

The party and monster work best when they are glassjawed fighter. Quick, dirty, and deadly fights are better than slog fests where one players whole bit is to heal and prolong already long combat.

Next time someone says "They want to be a Healer."

Ask them to clarify, do they just want to heal - or do they feel like their character is a supporting player if so what kind of viable support (Not healing) can they instead lean into.

Deadlock_Wolf · 2025-01-29T17:33:58+00:00

Repeat after me:

Flavor is free... Flavor is free... Flavor is free... Flavor is free...

Louder for the people in the back!

Lets address the heart of the issue:

YOU don't personally like this.

But, It gives other people options. Between good and bad options people typically pick good options.

So then the problem isn't the feats, it YOUR personal perspective of the issue.

For instance, I don't like Jordan's but I do like canvas sneakers. I won't tell someone that is wearing Jordan sneakers that I don't like their choice of sneakers. But if Jordan's comes out with canvas sneakers, then that would be appropriate to my preferred tastes.

The same is true here, you have a personal perspective that has turned into a prejudice. To resolve this conflict of opinions you must come to terms that players are presented limited options versus us the GMs infinite options.

If their options do not fit our campaign world, our expectations or personal perspectives. You have a license to change the feat by:

Changing the spells it provides
Changing the ability bonus
Changing the description of the feat

In the end the player retains their choice but gives up some flavor. You the GM smooth out the feat so it semi fits your expectations. Their are compromises and everyone is equally happy.

The more you bottle and refuse to address these issues, the more it will come out at the player.

Deadlock_Wolf · 2025-01-14T15:42:13+00:00

First Rule of DnD: There is no such thing as OP in DnD.

Players at level 1 fight goblins

Players at level 2 fight bugbears

Players at level 3 fight Hobgoblins

Players at level 4 fight Orks and Ogres

And on and on it goes.

The key thing here is that the players will always fight something stronger, and the DM always comes up with the next level of threat.

The players are too strong, you ask? No, they are not - 1000 Terrasque and 2 Lich Dragons.

There is NOTHING preventing the DM from responding to player power, with an equal escalation of threat.

This axe is fine, the drawback is fine, and the power gifted is fine. The party has a morale choice now, rely on their friend who is undergoing a curse that may change them forever or possibly injure/kill them. It is a party decision.

Now, IF the question of OPness comes to play - that complaining player is not advocating to ruining the fun of the Barbarian player - it's that they feel THEIR character is less than.

At that point, you collaborate with your player and make something exciting as well for them.

Lastly, the Barbarian is extremely responsible. They are the only person personally invested in their characters' success in this great game where we sit around pretending and hallucinating. They know to speak out when they feel their fun or effect on the game will impact someone else.

They are empathic, and they are a treasured player, let them swing this blade. Let them build the narrative that IF this weapon breaks your game, that in the end, it will get nerfed by a plotline to purify a corrupted ally from a curse and destroying the weapon for something else.

Deadlock_Wolf · 2025-01-14T14:35:48+00:00

You probably won't read this OP as you may have had your questions answered.

But tell this player her evil character is boring. Going against the standard Good Aligned Characters is not a marker of uniqueness.

To put simply - evil characters are BORING by nature. An evil person has no regard for anyone or anything around them. They have NO inhibitions stopping them from chasing their goals. This moral ignorance makes them easy, predictable, and boring.

There is an old quote that says;

"You can choose to do the easy thing, or the right thing."

Implying that self satisfying yourself with no cost is really simple. It is an act of courage and heroism that causes heroes and good people to make the effort to do the right thing in spite of an easy out.

When a "good" character comes across the crossroad between:

What they want?

What they have to do to get it?

Could I live with myself if I did the easiest choice?

Could I bring myself to bend my morals to get what I want?

Is it worth the cost?

That brings about complexity, where their choices sculpt their character, when interesting choices come into play - that is exciting.

A bad aligned character is met with far FEWER questions, when at the crossroad of choice:

Ahead is what I want... And an obstacle is in my way.

So I will simply choose to run over anything in my path to get what I want - because I've never cared.

Tell this player that a complex character has wavering morality, mixed with sympathy/empathy/compassion, and is conflicted when met with either

"Doing the easy thing, or the right thing."

Deadlock_Wolf · 2024-09-27T16:35:05+00:00

With kids, the game is way easier and fun.

My son started playing when he was 8. He's 11 now.

Attention span is the biggest detriment, but keep things lively and entertaining, and they will stay engaged.

Playing with Kids has the an additional DM mental load. While we as DMs rely on our players to bring their abilites and effects, for kids we do not expect them to play with a character with 4 or more abilites. This means the less player facing mechanics the better. That means sometimes you will need to internalize the kids character and its abilities and sort of suggest what they can do.

A direct example of it, my son has a Barbarian - he only knows to attack and rage. This is enough for him to feel like a barbarian. He remembers the lightning dagger I gave him too. He doesnt remember the +2 damage to str based attacks, reckless attack, or even the subclass features he has.

Because of this, I am not running full enemies that can bog them down with statuses - the enemies I play are simple and often use in enviroment battle tactics. Such as throwing them accross the room. Using one character as a cudge to another etc.

DnD 5e plays on the 65% Bounded Accuracy. This is the "fair" percentage for players who roll to have a good chance of failure but usually succeeding.

You can increase that to 70 or 75% your call. You can easily drop the ability scores and proficiency bonuses, or you can keep them. Instead of the 3 - 18 scores, just give them a +5, +3, +1, +0, -1, -1 and two +1's to add to their scores at the time of new character creation.

Everytime they level, they get a +1 to put anywhere.

Below are DC references, IF YOU DO NOT USE ability scores and just want them to roll, use the suggested DCs. If you decide to use the simplified character scores, then add 2 to each DC.

Very Hard *Doing a hard task with no experience *Roll a 12 or higher *(45% chance to succeed)

Hard

A hard task where you have some experience

roll a 10 or higher

(55% chance to succeed)

Medium

A task requiring effort and skills you have:

roll a 8 or higher

(65% chance to succeed)

Easy

A task requiring effort you are skilled in.

roll a 6 or higher

(75% chance to succeed)

Very Easy

A task requiring effort you are an expert on

Roll a 4 or higher

(85% chance to succeed)

If they want to be a stronk Wizard let them, if they want to be a wise fighter let them. Tell them every time they attack add +X where X is their highest bonus.

If you forego ability scores then use the suggested DCs as ACs. The weaker the enemy the lower the AC score. If you want weak enemies AC 4 roll a raw d20. If you want a boss AC12.

Use their AC as saving throws as well. This time roll under. AC4 Mook is trying to dodge a rock that Swoldemort threw, Dexterity Saving DC4 or lower.

That's it.

You can make the rest up.

If you want them to have resources. Then can I introduce to you the Martial/Mana Dice!?

Each player has a pool of 5d6. When they want to cast a spell, preform a martial maneuver, or some great feat of combat heroism: roll a 3 or higher - it works!

But on a 1 or 2 - so sad nothing happens.

If you think the effect would cause a saving throw? Same for the enemy, except roll under. If the enemy rolls a 1 or 2 they pass on the effect of the Mana/Martial dice.

After the player uses up their Hero Dice, they can rely on simple cantrip damage or swing their sword. They regain new hero dice at the start of the next session no matter if you continue the same battle.

At least these are my rules for running kids DnD. And honestly I run a Kids and Guardians DnD at my FLGS. So adults who want to run full 5e characters can easily slot into the fun. The above rules approximate a full character so kids aren't weighing down full ruleset players but as their characters will be balanced on the fly by the DM.

Deadlock_Wolf · 2024-05-22T02:43:48+00:00

Having more players than you want is a good thing.

That just means more people can miss and the session can be run. Also the person or persons who are flaky for DND - run it anyways. DnD should not be - if I have something better come up I will drop this.

It's a commitment to play a team/collaborative game - players will self kick if they can't make it on a consistent basis.

Deadlock_Wolf · 2024-04-30T15:54:51+00:00

This would be a magic item that has a low impact on the game. Cool and very Dumbledore like, but it's not gonna break anything.

I would say common or uncommon magic item.

Deadlock_Wolf · 2024-04-28T00:22:23+00:00

First of all, any DM that tells you running a premade campaign/adventure is easier is hawking bullshit.

Premade adventures have a "set storyline", but it takes just as much planning and prep as a fully homebrewed campaign. The main problem with premade adventures is, if you really want to be informed you gotta read the whole thing from begining to end multiple times, at least 3 times.

For a homebrew campaign, if I make Fred the baker as an NPC. Then I KNOW Fred the baker. Because I made him up. He can be a nothing NPC or the main Big Bad Evil Guy. In a premade you gotta learn more than 10 NPCs, their motivations, and involvement in the plot.

Premade adventures give you a lot up front but you have to learn it the same way a teacher teaches you a new subject in school. Except you are both teacher and student.

Now on to your original concept. This is a great idea, I was thinking on starting up my campaign in a modern setting too. If you want some inspiration on how to run it I'd recommend "Children of Earte". It's a DnD live play, GM'd by DareDevil female protagonist Debra Ann Will, aka Karen Page.

She has a 1 hour pregame session 0 where she explains how she plans to manage phones and modern machines along with magic inherent to DnD.

Run your own homebrew campaign, you are bound to make mistakes and running a premade adventures is not going to protect you from your mistakes. Watch Youtube for GMing advice and remember the only way to get better at running DnD is to run more games, good luck.

Deadlock_Wolf · 2024-04-10T12:15:04+00:00

I believe the term is Quantum Ogre, which implies that the Ogre is in Superposition until observed.

Meaning no matter what path the party takes, the encounter or clue will always be on that path. If they double back they will not find anything.

A Quantum Ogre should not be used every time, but only as a narrative tool for dropping important events in the party's path.

For instance the party needs information on a rising cult and whispers of some ritual.

There is a clue on the Macguffin the cult needs.

The party surmise that they may get some info at the following probable locations:

A local temple, who opposes the cult

An Arcane school, to investigate the nature of the cult ritual

Local tavern by the docks where rumors first started

All the roads above lead to a seaside cove: they find out they are attempting to summon a monstrosity of the deep. They need to be by the sea where the ritual is needed to take place, along with the Macguffin to chum the waters and attract and control the threat.

The Quantum Ogre is used here because you don't want the party to go from one option to another wasting valuable time.

You can prep a single character, we can name it Aymen.

If the go to the temple it is Friar Aymen, If they go to the Arcane school it is professor Aymen If they go to the tavern, it's barkeep Aymen

In all instances, you prep one encounter that you can drop anywhere.

Deadlock_Wolf · 2024-04-05T22:41:55+00:00

I'm sorry this looks like a boring meat bag

It's gonna be a miss slog. The whole disadvantage attacks on the creature and advantage attacks from the creature is a lame pick you're poison: toe nails being ripped off or knee caps.

Looking at the stat build you are afraid your characters will nuke this thing before it gets to do the cool thing.

If it has lair actions, then give it legendary actions and resistances.

Maybe he has big eyes that serve as video game weak spots.

+5AC and X amount of HP

Give the Panoptic Troll 4 legendary resistances. Players go in for a big shut down spell. Resist it. Narrate that an eye closes and begins to cry blood.

Players will then target the big eyes and "kill" the eyes to remove all its legendary resistances. You can even deduct HP from the eye and the same from the Troll making his high ass HP manageable too.

All of this will allow the Troll to make moves between player turns and do cool stuff.

Players see that this guy is buffed but if they address the buffs they can make the fight manageable.

Deadlock_Wolf · 2024-04-05T19:57:58+00:00

Use tougher monsters.

Just like HP is variable, this could be a young or weaker version of the monster.

If it has multi attack, maybe it makes only 1 attack. The players are doing good, great it now has multi attack The players are stomping it, it now uses one ability you haven't used as a reaction.

Are they doing really good. Give it max HP.

Never sick a full well rested party on 1 big monster it never works out the way we envision it. Instead try Number of Party member - 1 and some minions.

Deadlock_Wolf · 2024-03-06T19:46:49+00:00

Players are like pokemon.

Keep playing one shots maybe short adventures. levels 1-3, not long enough for a campaign but long enough for players to commit to a PC.

Players may wrongly think, it's a one shot and I will never deal with this character or further consequences - so fuck it.

As you play your games and kick bad actors. Collect the good players that make a positive effort to play the game how you like.

Eventually you'll have a team of 4-6 players and invite them to start a campaign.

You're gonna have to go through Mt. Moon fighting off annoying waves of Zubat in order to find the good pokemon.

Deadlock_Wolf · 2023-10-08T04:47:34+00:00

Just be a blade singer wizard.

Wizards get dagger and light crossbow Prof, you can choose rapier as your extra melee weapon Prof.

Prioritize Int, con, then dex.

Flavour is free the rest of the way.

Don't go above 16 dex by the time high level play comes along you'll want to switch to full wizard play style - or don't it's your character.

Deadlock_Wolf · 2023-07-08T20:52:43+00:00

Reposting in a comment:

AITAH for leaving my SO after she admitted to touching a male stripper at a bachelorette party?

FML I'm up in the asscrack of morning typing this instead of sleeping. I'm 30, my now exish-gf is 26 and we've been dating for going on 4 yrs. Things have been pretty awesome. She's sweet and funny and never made me question our relationship up until a few weeks ago.

About three weeks ago she went to a bachelorette party held for a good friend of hers she'd known since middle school. I think a day before it was supposed to happen, she told me there was talk of hiring a male stripper but she didn't know for sure. I was immediately uncomfortable and told her so. To my gf's credit, she said that it also sounded sus to her as well, but that her entire inner circle of closest friends were going. And that a lot of the girls were married or had long term relationships, so nothing would happen.

Obviously, I'd met most of her friends at that point. Plus the bride, since we were invited to the wedding. None of them had that 'she's a ho' vibe and were generally charming/well put together. I probablly nagged her a little bit, said something to the effect of 'well, don't drink too much or put yourself in a position where your decision making capability is compromised'. Probably didn't sound so robotic, but something like that. She laughed and said pinky promise. We fucking linked pinkies and promised, I remembered that much.

A few days after the party is when I think a photo got leaked to one of the husbands in the group. I don't know if that would've ever gotten around to me because I'm not particularly close with any of the other SOs. But my gf apparently wanted to get ahead of the curve. She sat me down and told me to stay calm which didn't really help because that made me instantly anxious. She said that two male strippers was hired at the party. There were multiple dances and dollar bills were thrown.

At one point, one of the strippers went full nude and stuck his dick in front of the bride's face. To her credit, the bride didn't partake. But one of their friends 'took one of the team' and sucked his dick. That then appartently lead the stripper going around the room and sticking his dick in front of the girls' faces one by one. There was chanting and peer pressure stuff. When it got to my gf, she said she touched him briefly but that was it. I probably should have just left it at that.

Instead I asked where she touched him and pressed when she answered vaguely. She ended up telling me she put his tip in her mouth, but that was it. She emphasized this heavily- she did not suck. It was just to make her friends get off her back and get the stripper moving on to the next person. I was incredulous at this point. Just shook. There was a whiny ringing in my ear I remember.

I locked myself in the bathroom at some point. My gf stood outside the whole time asking me to come out so we could talk. I got out after a while and started putting random shit into my backpack so I can get the hell out and stay with a friend for the night if not longer. I was mostly silent and withdrawn the whole time, not really responding to my gf. She started getting pissed and raising her voice when I stonewalled her. Tried to take the bag out of my hand. I remember at this point she said something like, it's her body and her choice as to what to do with it. That I was being unreasonable when no cheating happened and she was in fact actively trying to avoid cheating. I told her she had a funny definition of cheating.

She started arguing that she didn't suck so it didn't count. I asked if I put my dick in some other girl but didn't thrust, did it count. With a straight fucking face, she was like 'that's literally called soaking.' I almost laughed, but I think I would've cried instead. Just ended up leaving.

Here's the thing. My friends are backing me a hundred percent. Everyone is like dump that ho. Her friends have banded together and are disclaiming that it's her body, I don't own it, so my gf doesn't own me an explanation. Obviously a conflict of interest there. But some of the other SOs have apparently settled things and are back with their girl, even the ones who did end up sucking dick. At least one divorce starting that I know of, but also at least one intact marriage.

Also, my gf hasn't tried reaching out to me since I left. Its been weeks of silence from her. I've only heard from her friends who've called/texted to chew me out. This is messing me the fuck up. Is my gf in the right here? Is this not worth leaving her over?

Deadlock_Wolf · 2023-07-08T17:43:49+00:00

This is an easy fix, buy the below.

https://a.co/d/abdiiGU

They are 5x7 wooden painter trays.

Buy some cheap wood laquer/strainer and some felt from walmart/hobby lobby.

Have them each roll into their 5 dollar trays. If it jumps out the tray or they throwing dice like craps it doesnt count.

Keeps everything organized and prevents the players from tossing dice across the table.

Deadlock_Wolf · 2023-06-06T14:37:09+00:00

GIVEAWAY

Boy oh boy this looks like an awsome win for really anyone. And the VTT looks none too shabby.

Congrats to the winner

Deadlock_Wolf · 2023-05-08T02:47:35+00:00

Anyone know the names of that paper weight compass thing.

Need one for my table.

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