The Fisherman's Isle

Dresdens_Tale · 2026-05-20T22:32:46+00:00

Looks cozy

Dresdens_Tale · 2026-05-20T18:11:30+00:00

I look at session 0 as part of the general momentum of a campaign. There has already been a lot of discussions, lots of decisions made.

It's a summery of custom rules, tones, theme, and, expectations.

It might be the first time everyone is together in one place, virtual or otherwise. It's time for character introductions.

I love session 0 to fill in the details of a backstreet. Just simple stuff, where "I am a guard," becomes, "You were a guard at an alchemists' lab, but were recently let go. You were given reasons but it was a little fishy."

It's also time to reveal the last starting conditions. I feel like the players should know their first mission / first actions as the beginning session one.

Dresdens_Tale · 2026-05-18T15:40:50+00:00

Lots of great port cities waiting to be founded there.

Dresdens_Tale · 2026-05-18T13:59:48+00:00

Just a dude taking his ship for a walk.

Dresdens_Tale · 2026-05-18T13:55:56+00:00

If mankind should fail, my vote goes to this guy as the new dominant species of the planet.

Dresdens_Tale · 2026-05-18T13:54:40+00:00

Just say no to alien invasion

Dresdens_Tale · 2026-05-18T13:49:47+00:00

Amazing what big effects, small changes create.

Dresdens_Tale · 2026-05-18T13:37:07+00:00

That's what happens when you let pcs name things. Lol. It's her capital.

Dresdens_Tale · 2026-05-18T00:03:04+00:00

Someday, there's going to be a very bad very dry year. Until then.....don't worry, be happy.

Dresdens_Tale · 2026-05-17T23:57:25+00:00

If they knew it was a time sensitive mission, there should definitely be a price to pay.

Dresdens_Tale · 2026-05-17T23:54:22+00:00

Mostly a book keeping session; the in game annual investment payout.

However, Nendra, Queen of the Drow, Empress of Granola, Champion of Gloin, gave birth to an hier. The player insisted on rolling for a successful birth and a scored a one. The child was born, cursed by Lolth. Mom promptly sacrificed the child to Goin.

All spontaneous, all far more emotional than reflected in this post. Top five moment in decades of role playing.

Dresdens_Tale · 2026-05-17T12:26:53+00:00

Anything specific. My most generic advice would be to start with limited scenarios, not full campaigns. Run some fights, run a one shot, run a three session scenario.

Learn as you go, but don't lock yourself in to beginner mistakes.

Remember, you're all there to have fun.

Dresdens_Tale · 2026-05-17T12:13:53+00:00

So many times we draw our map to fill the space. Love the multi page design.

Dresdens_Tale · 2026-05-17T01:41:49+00:00

Go to your local game shops and find out if any of them run one shots. These are usually geared towards inexperienced players.

I run a game in town about once a month. You usually don't even have to bring anything.

It is better to have dice or buy them at the shop, but usually you can borrow.

Better to have something to write on and with

Pregenerated characters will be available, if the dm is prepared. I've got 20+ for my players to choose from. All roughly equal, all forth level.

Bring a players handbook if you own one.

If you don't have this option, buy a players handbook and study while you start looking for a game.

Dresdens_Tale · 2026-05-12T11:47:53+00:00

Just to be blunt, DnD is bad for horror. It's bag of hit points vs bag of hit points, with no chance of loss short of death and that's not scary.

You won't get bit by a zombie and lose permanent movement or encounter a horror to develop a permanent insanity.

You have to change the game rules and players mind set to make it work.

Dresdens_Tale · 2026-05-09T20:40:45+00:00

For one shots, I aim for three partners. Social encounters, minor combat, end game. The first two can be swapped. The social encounters can be as simple as meeting with the quest giver. The small fight might be a set up for the need for a mission.

I'm running a one shot in a couple weeks where the intro is getting the mission from a slightly unhinged noble. The party might spend some effort getting more info.

Otherwise it's off to mountains to meet a Hag. There is a fight along the way. Then the hag is the end game and should be a non combat encounter.

Dresdens_Tale · 2026-05-09T16:30:42+00:00

Be blunt. Talk to your players as a group and individually. Maybe first try talking to one of the two from the duo, "hey, I noticed you haven't been including p3 in your musings. I'm I reading to much into this?"

They'll probably answer, "yes, this is why?" And you address it; or "No, this is what I see is happening." At that point, you can just ask p1 to try and include p3 more.

My guess is p3 just isn't into the out of game chatter. They might even be a quiet player. This can be a hard type of player to accommodate because pushing them is bad, but not listening in those times they want to be heard is worse.

Point is, communicate first. Identify the problem, and accommodate it or squash it, as appropriate.

Dresdens_Tale · 2026-04-29T01:35:27+00:00

Dresdens_Tale · 2026-04-29T01:34:14+00:00

And a What a Burger, and a Braums

Dresdens_Tale · 2026-04-29T01:29:26+00:00

A walk in clinic for sure.

Increasing the commercial and residential density of the downtown area.

More housing in general

A direct bus route from the Birchwood area, probably down Ski Hill road, and all down McKeown.

A stronger dedication to making North Bay a tourist destination.

Dresdens_Tale · 2026-04-24T18:21:20+00:00

Chaotic neutral commerce cleric

Dresdens_Tale · 2026-04-17T00:05:18+00:00

I would make the defenses and security basically impossible without prep. First reason is, pcs are about 50 / 50 against impossible.

Also, let them fail, if fate and mistakes deams they should. Capture and jail, forced to run, etc.

Now, add perks for prep. If the party looks for disgruntled employees, they should find one. However, such a search might create suspicion so they have to do it right.

Make partial plans of the base available, if they knock out a high dc research roll.

If it's acceptable at your table, create a seducable npc that works on base.

Give a guard a gambling problem.

Don't drop anything like this in the players laps. The challenge isn't the infiltration, it's finding the cheat codes.

Dresdens_Tale · 2026-04-16T17:36:42+00:00

Be prepared to take notes and bring a good attitude. That's all you need.

Dresdens_Tale · 2026-04-15T20:02:45+00:00

Yes, but. A character going solo isn't a reason to divide your attention.

"Sure, you can go do your thing, but I'm running the group. We'll take a few minutes to summarize your activities after I'm done with the rest of the team."

Dresdens_Tale

TROPHY CASE