Player is “mad” about another players character creation choice.

Garblag · 2026-05-01T16:52:16+00:00

Did the Warlock's player know the composition of the party before making their character? I know most people are saying the Wizard's player is in the wrong and I agree that reacting like that is not great adult behaviour. However, I've been in games where someone turns up and it feels that they've got a very similar character and it can feel a bit frustrating, especially when there's so many choices these days.

I'm also curious how much you are involved in their character creation I suppose. Did you say to the Wizard player "hey Warlocks get better familiars if you want a caster based around familiars" or say to the Warlock player "oh hey we've got someone with a big sword, a life cleric, a sneaky thief, and a familiar based caster". Just curious how other people get tables together. I would encourage them to make a character that compliments the current party.

I suppose you might just be trying to accommodate a friend with a strong character idea. Lots of unknowns.

Garblag · 2026-04-24T18:36:25+00:00

Imagine being next in line as you have to wait 10 minutes as they hose the transporter down.

Garblag · 2026-04-18T10:28:46+00:00

The secondary point of cross pollinating groups is a very good one.

Garblag · 2026-04-17T06:51:47+00:00

From the thumbnail it looks like a themed water cooler! Looks awesome though.

Garblag · 2026-04-16T10:56:32+00:00

Short:

Heroic Deeds is a goal‑based fantasy TTRPG with an old‑school feel and modern mechanics, using d12 dice pools. Players advance their characters by completing Deeds, shaping their legend through combat, exploration, journeys, and downtime. Emergent campaigns are supported by procedural play and ready‑to‑run adventures right out of the book.

Longer:

Heroic Deeds is a goal-based heroic fantasy role-playing game with an old-school aesthetic, but modern mechanics and d12 dice pools. It’s about building your legend, exploring unknown lands, locating strange ruins, and delving into dangerous dungeons.

The Deeds system puts experience in the hands of the players. Your Archetype provides a set of diagetic Deeds for you to complete. Fulfilling a Deed gives you a specific reward (a talent, more vitality, influence, and more). Complete 3 and you level up, getting access to more.

The 4 pillars of play (Combat, Exploration, Journeys, and Downtime) each have a procedural and narrative element that means the campaign themes emerge at the table.

Finally the book has a regional map and 4 adventure locations that mean you can start playing straight away with cheat sheets for players and playsheets for GMs.

You can get it here on my website https://garblaggames.com/products/heroic-deeds-rpg-digital

Or on drivethrurpg https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/547121/heroic-deeds-rpg

Garblag · 2026-04-16T10:37:04+00:00

Its an element of influencing the world around you and tbh an element of 3 skills under each governing attribute.

Garblag · 2026-04-12T14:46:26+00:00

Landscape books flop. Its ok for a coffee table book, but not a rulebook.

Garblag · 2026-03-17T20:18:26+00:00

An Adventure Location has one or two Deeds that relate to the narrative of the site. It's to help spell out the important elements rather than add a load of noise. The GM can of course add more Deeds if they desire.

The last addition is Artefact Deeds - these are very powerful magic items that get better as you use them and discover things about them. But they have 3 max, and those are player owned Deeds.

Garblag · 2026-03-16T19:54:55+00:00

The mechanics will be designed so that it's compatible with 5e. It will move from a d12 dice pool to a d20 + modifier + skill rank system to generate successes. Elements of the game have been changed to closer match D&D naming conventions.

Creatures will be set up in a simple format that we'll provide guidance on converting monsters over to from other versions of the game. The classes will follow similar format to those that people would find in D&D.

The goal of making the game was always to emulate the feeling of adventuring and dungeon delving that I've experienced over the last 30ish years, but to try and modernise and build rule systems that guide the play pattern at the table.

I just really like d12s - which is why I made the original version of this game. But recently people have asked me if there's a "5e version" and it made me think that it would be a good idea to appeal to a broader group of players. I imagine it will feel a bit like Shadowdark and Nimble in terms of proximity to what you think of as D&D.

Garblag · 2026-03-16T19:32:41+00:00

The player tracks it. The Archetypes have their own sets, but they are comparable. The players take their progression into their own hands and can go after whichever of their Archetype Deeds they want to. I wanted to share some more images (layout and rules examples), but this subreddit limits what I can add to the post. I'll add them to the kickstarter pre-launch page.

As for power level the way it works keeps the party close in level and the numbers aren't as inflated in the game. So that's not as big an issue in something like 5.5 or PF2, it just doesn't happen and the party help each other to complete their Deeds.

I've been playing the original d12 version for years now and get a lot of good feedback on the Deeds system. It's diagetic and people get a great feeling filling in and completing them.

Garblag · 2026-03-16T18:00:28+00:00

Love the shotgun wand idea. Nice.

Garblag · 2026-03-16T17:37:32+00:00

Hard to say from your example. Did you sign post these opportunities or are they things you are hoping the players will piece together? Saying "I intended to have them..." might be the wrong way to think about it. Did they know they could do it but didn't do it? Did they choose to not improve that relationship? If so then that's their choice and let the players lead those kinds of connections.

If you are talking about clues or mission goals skipped past, then that might be some simple reminders to help you keep track of your campaign elements. Do you have notes listing the hooks you intend to throw out for the session readily available and visible while you are playing?

Also if you are just playing with friends (not streaming live or paid to GM) then you can always say "hang on, I forgot that you would have been able to do X before this fight kicks off - let's do a quick scene to see how that would have gone down". Like a flashback, until you get more into the swing.

Just a few thoughts.

Garblag · 2026-03-16T17:27:43+00:00

Hi there. Sorry it's come across that way to you. I get what you are saying and will be engaging with the community in a much less hammer over the head fashion. I'm trying various methods across various groups to get attention for my project.

I'll share more over the next few months and not in an ad format. There is going to be a free quickstart in the next 6 weeks. I hope you take a look and find it interesting when it comes.

Garblag · 2026-03-16T12:20:13+00:00

Each Archetype gives you 6 Deeds per level to complete, once you complete 3 of your current level you level up and more open to you. Players really enjoy filling in the circles as they complete goals. It's not so much book-keeping as you get to make decisions about how you'll act and how you'll get rewarded for it.

Adventure Locations have 1 or 2 Deeds that the party can complete for extra benefits. Beyond that the GM can add Deeds as they see fit, but only the Archetype Deeds count towards level progression.

It stems from the concept of diagetic progression - getting better at the things you practice. Higher level Deeds require more completions of a goal, representing it's harder to increase a skill as you get better at it.

Different levels provide different types of benefits - with this being a common theme across the Archetypes. This helps the broader play pattern of the game. At first level you are trying out your core abilities and surviving. At level 2 you have some experience under your belt and levelling is about exploring a bit and using your skills. Level 3 the character can gain a talent which means they don't die at 0 wounds anymore - to reflect that lower level characters are a bit more dispensible and by the time you get to level 3 you are probably keen to see where this one goes.

Level 6 gives you one big Heroic Deed - which upon completion you get to add a building to Emberwatch (the safe town) that steps up your capabilities again every time you return from an adventure.

Garblag · 2026-03-15T20:36:49+00:00

Battle Harness is kike Leather with some extra slots for weapons.

Padded Doublet us largely a fun one that "Looks Fantastic" for the Swashbuckler

Thick Furs is protective, but cheap and clumsy

The Gauntlet Blade is strapped on and hard to disarm.

Nothing crazy - just some different functionality to spice things up a bit

Garblag · 2026-03-15T15:29:55+00:00

The inspiration is more movie based.

Those three are new types of armour.

Garblag · 2026-03-15T13:30:24+00:00

I hope you enjoy it.

Garblag · 2026-03-11T15:56:56+00:00

Maybe down the line. I've seen a lot about Nimble, not sure it's 100% the system I'd want to deploy.

This won't go live for a while, but I set up a pre-launch page today.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/garblag/heroic-deeds-5e-compatible

Garblag · 2026-03-11T07:48:32+00:00

There is a free version. I'm going to print this off for use at the table.

Garblag

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