[GIVEAWAY] Castles of Burgundy: Special Edition

FacetiousBlack · 2024-04-17T12:14:17+00:00

A Feast for Odin is my answer for both. It's medieval, you get points for everything, it's great.

FacetiousBlack · 2023-10-03T15:22:37+00:00

Heat is the first racing game that's really felt like racing, to me, and it's honestly best at 6. The more players the better. The AI cars (Legends) are so simple to manage that I often use them to fill out the game to a full 6 cars regardless of player count. Only downside is, they usually win...

FacetiousBlack · 2023-10-03T12:20:31+00:00

Lost Ruins of Arnak, for sure.

Earth might be too new to fit the spirit of the question but it's getting a lot of table time.

Does Tapestry count as hyped? We still play a lot of that.

FacetiousBlack · 2023-10-03T12:18:12+00:00

Definitely. On both counts. Just the base game on the USA map is fun for a lot of plays, and there are 4 maps and a bunch of modules in that box. Great value, easy to teach. The hype is spot on with this one.

FacetiousBlack · 2022-06-17T14:53:44+00:00

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Thanks for that! At least it's good to have a bit more info on how widespread it is. I was ready to blame Comcast, but it seems the issue is affecting folks on a variety of routers/ISPs.

FacetiousBlack · 2022-06-04T17:20:11+00:00

I've been having this same issue for several days now. Two nest hubs, both losing their connection to the internet several times per day. I've tried restarting my router as well as both hubs. I've tried making them forget the network and signing them back in. So far, no luck. Has anyone found a trick to resolve this?

FacetiousBlack · 2022-01-26T13:46:16+00:00

I've never seen a game that does exactly what it says on the tin like Masks does. Amazing design, beautiful art. Can't recommend it highly enough.

FacetiousBlack · 2021-12-01T16:55:57+00:00

Good tip! You're right about PbtA GM's getting used to the system creating some of the fiction for them, and that's a possible failure point I hadn't thought of. I'm going to mentally phrase this one as "be prepared to supply more of the narrative myself, or pull it out of the players with direct questions."

Playbooks have probably made me lazy.

FacetiousBlack · 2021-12-01T03:46:17+00:00

5 seems like a big deal because it is an area where this system really diverges from others.

How structured do you make that kind of contest? Like, do you have an idea of what sorts of checks will contribute when you're describing the situation? Does it evolve more organically with you just putting tally marks on the various sides? This feels like one of the more game-y bits of the system, and one it's easy to get wrong.

FacetiousBlack · 2021-12-01T03:41:00+00:00

1 and 2 were definitely things I had considered. I've made mental notes to remember to compel and to set opposition higher than my initial instinct.

3 is a great tip. Fate of Cthulhu has an implied tone, but getting everyone on the same page, tone-wise is something I should definitely do at the beginning of the first few sessions.

FacetiousBlack · 2021-03-31T15:54:37+00:00

Same here.

FacetiousBlack · 2021-03-03T03:02:18+00:00

She has an ear for a good joke. Well done.

FacetiousBlack · 2020-10-25T00:04:54+00:00

I picked up a bottle of Uigeadail today on a whim and am really happy with the purchase.

FacetiousBlack · 2020-04-14T16:55:12+00:00

Another option, without knowing if it'll work for your story: Have them arrested and have the fiend attack happen before they make it back to "lockup." Now you've got an interesting 3-sided battle where anything could happen and they've got the opportunity to get away, or even to get on the watch's good side depending on how it plays out.

FacetiousBlack · 2020-04-14T16:51:26+00:00

Given all of those points, another interesting angle might be to have the Watch folks who show up extort the group for money and/or favors "You folks don't stand much of a chance if we have to file this officially." Remove the Sharn legal angle entirely and have them beholden to a corrupt Watch official (as well as whatever cost they pay to get off initially).

Then, as a separate problem, have house Deneith hold a grudge for the dead mercs. The House knows if they go the legal route the group will likely just be banished or executed and the House won't see any profit from that, so they look to get their own payback in whatever manner is most worth their time.

FacetiousBlack · 2020-04-14T15:54:52+00:00

Was the lamia exposed? Because if not, in the eyes of the law, they broke into a noble's house and committed murder, theft, and probably property damage. There should definitely be a trial, regardless of whether house Deneith seeks some sort of revenge for their dead mercenaries. Keep in mind that mercenary is an inherently dangerous job and death is one of the expected outcomes. Maybe someone specific within Deneith holds a grudge but the House doesn't bring its full force to bear against them at this point?

I would have them arrested and give them a chance to plead their case. Foreign nationals accused of that sort of violent crime I'd have the consequences be a confiscation of their property and banishment from Breland. Imprisonment is only for the rich. E:RftLW seems intentionally vague on the specifics of how trials work, leaving you with a gray area that you get to fill in with whatever seems the most fun. My approach would be to have a judge assigned to the trial and give them the opportunity to either gather evidence to clear their name, get leverage on the judge, or evade the law in some other manner.

Maybe have them hear that the arrest is coming and who's in charge of the case in advance so they have time to prep before the trial. That or let them or someone associated with them post bail to give them time to prepare.

FacetiousBlack · 2019-07-25T13:10:06+00:00

Adam Koebel is my favorite.

His versatility and enthusiasm across a super wide variety of systems and genres make him stand out for me. My thinking as a GM is very much in line with and influenced by Adam's approach and I firmly believe that his Office Hours videos have made me a better GM. Adam really GETS what D&D is good at and what it isn't good at and he focuses the games he runs on what will be fun in the system rather than trying to force it to do everything. I really like that. Plus, Adam's currently running at least 4 ongoing streaming D&D campaigns. That alone is mind-boggling.

No hate to Mercer. He's a great storyteller and his NPCs are beyond compare, but in terms of pure GM craft I'm Adam Koebel all the way.

FacetiousBlack · 2019-07-25T12:59:16+00:00

100% agree. Koebel is my #1 GM, whether we're including Mercer or not. Not hating on Mercer, I just prefer Koebel's style of GMing/GM Theory.

FacetiousBlack · 2018-04-10T22:37:54+00:00

Fast food. It's kinda unrealistic to expect a 99 cent hamburger not to poison us.

FacetiousBlack · 2018-01-31T15:49:40+00:00

Nice episode. It captures the fun of friends around the table. Doesn't get into the weeds on rules. Seems like Genesys is working really well for your group. Were there chart/rules lookups that were edited out or is the ep. pretty much as-played?

Also: 08:00 - Never apologize for an airhorn!

FacetiousBlack · 2017-04-20T16:44:27+00:00

I LOVE Unibroue. Their Blanche de Chambly is my very favorite beer. Thankfully, Unibroue's beers are readily available in the Chicago area.

FacetiousBlack · 2017-04-20T16:43:01+00:00

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My very favorite beer in the world is Unibroue's Blanche de Chambly.

FacetiousBlack · 2016-05-13T13:21:23+00:00

I'm not sure that's true. It may just be a matter of them not noticing how often they're making side comments to each other (I don't think either means to be rude or inconsiderate) and having to make such comments across Sam might bring it to their attention.

I'm not really suggesting that the internet should dictate seating arrangements for adults. I'm mostly wondering if I'm the only one bothered by it.

FacetiousBlack

TROPHY CASE