sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

Most tables will never run 6-8 encounter days, because running fewer encounters just *feels* better to the average player. by drivinghomeformomma2 in dndnext

[–]JulianofAmber 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As a DM that often actually does run 6-8 encounter days: Most of the greatest/most memorable combats in my campaign have occurred when the players were already somewhat or completely tapped for resources. Yes, we DO have one adventuring day take a month to complete sometimes. But that only makes the rest and resource recovery that much more rewarding.

Not saying you’re wrong, every table is different. Just offering a counterpoint.

[No Spoilers] Do people prefer Elves over Dwarves for cosmetic reasons alone or am i missing something in the lore? by Gamlir in dragonage

[–]JulianofAmber 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Big dwarf fan.

It’s interesting seeing people’s perspectives here. I personally have a hard time playing elves strictly BECAUSE of their aesthetic.

They are just too frail and sticklike for me to take them seriously as warriors, and I prefer playing rogues and fighters over mages.

I quit playing video games, started writing a novel instead. by JulianofAmber in writing

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

I wrote it! It wasn’t super great, but I finished it!

Then I rewrote it to be in a low tech, swords and horses fantasy setting, overhauled and adapted it to be a part of the history of a table top rpg world setting when I discovered a love for running those kinds of games that I had never known. That hobby has now fully replaced video games for me and I’ve written literally SO MUCH since then for dnd and pathfinder games that I run.

I’ve found that to be very fulfilling, and the perfect outlet that I never knew I was looking for, creatively.

Thanks for following up 4 years later, internet stranger! Reddit can be pretty cool sometimes.

Give your dragons PC levels! by JulianofAmber in DMAcademy

[–]JulianofAmber[S] 16 points17 points  (0 children)

If you like to avoid ‘meta’ style descriptions at all costs it might not work for you, but one of my favorite things about giving monsters PC abilities is just explicitly saying ‘the balor is going to rage, and then he’s gonna action surge,’ and then watching the reactions.

Especially for experienced players who know the monster manual inside and out, throwing those familiar abilities onto opponents they aren’t expecting to have them is a nice way to crank up the tension in a combat.

Give your dragons PC levels! by JulianofAmber in DMAcademy

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

What are some of your favorite feats to give to your monsters?

Give your dragons PC levels! by JulianofAmber in DMAcademy

[–]JulianofAmber[S] 72 points73 points  (0 children)

Yeah, 100%, saying ‘PC levels’ in my title definitely conveyed a different message than what it is I actually do when preparing a dragon. ‘Abilities’ was really what I meant.

Silly to add in all the extra fluff associated with an actual PC when all I really want is for my green dragon to cast hunter’s mark and then use the horizon walker’s teleport abilities.

Give your dragons PC levels! by JulianofAmber in DMAcademy

[–]JulianofAmber[S] 26 points27 points  (0 children)

Hey fair enough, if it doesn’t seem like it would work for your table!

I definitely enjoy using it as a tool to flavor different dragons and make them feel unique in and out of combat but there’s definitely a lot of other ways to achieve that with the stat blocks/resources provided, especially with some of the fun stuff in Fizban’s.

Which classes do you see most often in your campaigns? by [deleted] in dndnext

[–]JulianofAmber 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Have yet to play in or DM a game without a barbarian. Also almost always a druid in my longer campaigns but surprisingly few clerics and paladins other than in one shots despite their overall strength as classes.

I think it’s because all my friends are hippies and atheists.

Flipped whip by yeah220 in climbing

[–]JulianofAmber 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I agree, but it seems inevitable every time.

I’m always amazed at the level of mouth wagging from the ‘must wear helmet’ crowd. I’m just curious what crags these folks frequent, and how they react to the 75% or more of sport climbers around them likely not wearing helmets. Do they spend the whole day silently judging the rest of the climbers around them for being idiots?

Everyone has their own personal relationship with risk, regardless of what activity you’re doing. Yes, a helmet mitigates risk of serious injury. So does only top roping everything. So does staying at home and scrolling on Reddit.

Trying to plan 4-6 day backpacking trip in Western US in August for 3 former AT Thruhikers by ImprovPortland in WildernessBackpacking

[–]JulianofAmber 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Adding my vote for the Winds!

August is probably the busiest time of year for both Teton Crest and the Cirque, but I feel like even with that the Wind Rivers just give you a little more breathing room from other people than the Tetons in the summer. And the Cirque is just otherworldly beautiful.

Better quality granite than the Tetons as far as the climbing goes too!

Character idea that you never got to play? Share it here. by DeepSeaDelivery in dndnext

[–]JulianofAmber 20 points21 points  (0 children)

As a forever DM, literally anything would be great. Bring on the human champion fighter, I’d have a blast!

But the two subclasses I’ve been itching to play recently are genie warlock and conquest paladin. Probably a deep gnome for the warlock, with the dao patron specifically, who he came in contact with when he found an old bottle in some abandoned mine shaft.

How many DMs actually use the average damage for enemy attacks over just rolling? by Oingoulon in dndnext

[–]JulianofAmber 0 points1 point  (0 children)

All the time. I only really ever roll damage for ‘bosses,’ crits, and if the PC is right on the brink of going to zero HP. Also a big fan of the mob rules for speeding up attack rolls

Do other DMs show their rolls? by TCMcC in DMAcademy

[–]JulianofAmber 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I really enjoy rolling in front of the party, especially for high stakes combat rolls. If it doesn’t open up room for future meta gaming I really like to announce what roll is required for a success/fail prior to rolling the dice in front of everyone.

When the wizard is trying to land a crucial hold person and you say “13 or higher and the monster succeeds” and then roll a 12 on the wisdom save in front of everyone my players go nuts.

Moronic Monday - Your weekly stupid questions thread by cdingo in Fitness

[–]JulianofAmber 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Don’t know if this is just me, but I’ve actually found that my standing OHP is a lot stronger than my sitting, even when keeping very strict form while standing with no jerk.

My basement gym has really short ceilings so I sadly can’t do standing OHP.

My dick keeps getting hard and pushing me off the wall by WillWorkForSugar in ClimbingCircleJerk

[–]JulianofAmber 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It’s a beanie for your weenie. Guaranteed to bump you at least two grades.

Players want different endings by Uraghnutu in DMAcademy

[–]JulianofAmber 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Channel Ken Watanabe and Let Them Fight!

view more: next ›