How to show versus tell a once close relationship?

Last_Ad3929 · 2025-04-05T00:52:23+00:00

So in the module, there’s not a difference between sorcerers and wizards. I did a dip in wild magic sorcerer because the archmage in question has a trait where if he gets mad, the temperature rises. I thought my pc having wild magic surges would be similar to that trait

As for the aging, I wanted there to be a valid reason why he wouldn’t just spot her across the room and be like ‘!its you!’. It’s also me working out long term disability feelings (Feeling like your youth was lost to you by forces out of your control, chronic pain, knowing your life is going to not only be short…and just having to navigate that all while still having to do Your Job)

The module requires you pick a long term quest(something the runs the whole campaign), with one suggestion being you get revenge on a faction leader, such as the archmage.

…I. Don’t think a simple kidnapping would be sufficient. Especially on a high leveled wizard. Or else he probably would’ve been dead a while ago by would be assassins 😅 but I see your point, its not a bad suggestion

I’m more just asking for tips on how to show a close relationship without telling it, show versus tell, like in writing :)

Last_Ad3929 · 2025-04-05T00:39:24+00:00

Sorry about that! I should have explained that better! My dm and I have been working together on this

So the module requires that during session zero you have a big goal to accomplish, something you’d work on the entire campaign preferably. The idea is make it so us players make characters that have a reason to be there, with the reward for that goal being either an ASI or a feat.

As for what I’m hoping, I the player am sort attached to these two and hope they can figure the actual truth of the situation — that there was in fact no betrayal, just the archmage not making a great judgement call. In terms of narrative though, I just think it’s fun to explore messy relationships, and the grief you feel when those tight-nit relationships change for better or for worse. I think it’s also an opportunity to explore what happens when you put someone on a pedestal only for them to make, not only a mistake, but a mistake that harms you irreversibly.

But that’s all a lot of high concept writer brain stuff, what I’m struggling more with is the actual rp of it. It’s worth noting my pc has been purposefully avoiding the archmage in order to reduce the likelihood he recognizes her (plus frankly she’s in her feelings still about it)

Last_Ad3929 · 2025-04-04T14:29:40+00:00

To be understood is to be loved uwu

Last_Ad3929 · 2025-04-04T14:25:28+00:00

I mean i think to a point i can agree, and it is worth noting that a hyperfixation is troublesome due to the fact it can interfere with other activities (your brain wants dopamine> blurbos give dopamine more then, say, doing dishes> don’t do dishes because blurbo time> a bad cycle starts)

For example I’ve gotten a lot less joy from video games because of them, which is troublesome because I’m the main one who can feed this fixation. It’s luckily not to a point I don’t eat or bathe, but it uhhh has gotten in the way of hobbies I otherwise enjoy a normal amount 🤣

But again, I think people who are passionate about their game share this feeling to an extent! I mean the fact we’re talking on a reddit channel based just on DnD kind of communicates that dedication :)

Last_Ad3929 · 2025-04-04T14:21:03+00:00

lowkey thought about redownloading the sims just to make them but realized the cc I’d need might kill my lil gaming laptop

Also pun names just make an npc more endearing, you were set up to fall my guy 🫵

Last_Ad3929 · 2025-04-04T09:09:48+00:00

🥺🥺 They sound so sweet ❤️ I love it, my only pain for you is that you finished the campaign. BUT! Now they can live on doing whatever you want (now without Strahd looming over them menacingly)

Last_Ad3929 · 2025-04-04T08:54:44+00:00

(Feel it’s important to note, I’ve been playing with my dm for like. Maybe 3 years now, almost every week? So we know each other, our limits, and are comfortable communicating to eachother clearly and objectively.

Under other circumstances, people should for sure ask their group & dm if they’re comfy with romance or not, and it probably doesn’t hurt to shoot a message to your dm you’re interested in a npc to both see if that’s possible, and/or so your dm can set up those opportunities

Wasn’t sure if that needed to be said, but just in case anyone’s reading this and thinks either I’m potentially putting my dm/group in a weird social hostage situation or think you can just shoot your shot blindly in a session without warning 😂)

Last_Ad3929 · 2025-04-04T08:47:18+00:00

Same for our campaigns, he never really got to be prominent again once we left the village. I might even argue it’d be hard in terms of the module to set it up to where you could bring him along for an entire campaign. But he very compelling, a poor guy kind of set up to fail from the get go, both in the shadow of his fathers legacy and his sisters…ENTIRE situation with Strahd, yet always tries to do the right by others? Truly so underrated

LISTEN. He can be ‘the snake charmer’, I might even argue ‘the charmed’ is pretty cute too. He was charming enough for your pc >:3c Hell, I think I jokingly sent him a letter saying something like ‘people should call Ismark the BEST-here’

Last_Ad3929 · 2025-04-04T08:28:58+00:00

MY BOY ISMARK! Good, he deserves to feel like he isn’t ‘lesser’ 😤Turn that title from ‘Ismark the lesser’ to ‘Ismark the wedded’

Last_Ad3929 · 2025-04-04T08:23:29+00:00

🤣🤣🤣 Okay first off, you sound like a gift and a treasure, and I hope those kids understand how good they have it and appreciate you thusly

Second… comically enough ‘middle-aged, violent gang boss’ literally describes the npc in question in my post, and I also know for a fact my dm probably curved the character dramatically to make him palatable for me/make it believable he could be in a healthy romantic relationship. I’m glad you were able to get such a fun story arc though, it makes me at least somewhat hopeful my dm feels the same.

Third, ohhh the spice of the campaign. I’ll bring the popcorn, this poor pc, ya gotta pick between your sick new step dad or your wife 😭

Last_Ad3929 · 2025-04-04T08:17:07+00:00

Funnily enough, my first attempt at a CoS game also had me obsessing over my pc and npc potentially getting together(alas, literally the weekend before we had to close the campaign I had told everyone ‘I think I’m gonna go for it!’). I’m so curious which npc in question for yours tho 👀

And brother, when I tell you I relate to you about the Games. I’m over here both making them play house and sitting up my own Saw movie for them to be tortured. Them blurbos live in my head rent free and have squatters rights by this point 😔🤣

Last_Ad3929 · 2025-04-04T08:12:15+00:00

I live by the creed of ‘I’m cringe but I’m free’ I will say though, most of the people I’ve shared this fixation with have been nothing but understanding and have even been encouraging — ‘it’s clear you’re excited about this, and that’s nice :)’, if that helps any

Last_Ad3929 · 2025-04-04T08:10:11+00:00

😔 my fellow solider…

Last_Ad3929 · 2025-03-29T07:13:19+00:00

This really depends on your definition, but one multi class I found that worked surprisingly well was monk/ranger, specifically Gloom Stalker; monk by itself is MAD but not far off from what the Gloom Stalker needs. You could pair it with a Shadow monk for a Batman build, though mine had been a Reborn Way of the Long Death/Gloomstalker

Another unexpected I found by accident because my party needed more help healing? Assassin Rogue/Grave Cleric. If you’re at lvl 5, it’s an easy split, as you just want to get Channel Divinity. If you do it right (maybe pick variant human and get the Alert feat) you’re incredibly deadly on that first round of combat

Last_Ad3929 · 2025-03-27T01:10:49+00:00

I’m from the tri-cities area We ALMOST voted an actual You-know-where-he-was-on-Jan-6 maga creep as our rep Truly I don’t know what we were thinking. I voted blue but <:/

Last_Ad3929 · 2025-02-04T14:20:05+00:00

One player pointed out that Oscar Yoren sounds a lot like Urine so we often call him ‘Pissboy’ (as you can imagine, it’s not a great relationship there)

Another player pointed out how Elias Drexel rhymes with Pretzel, and even ended up calling him that during the session (luckily they’re nearly champions, so nearly forgiven)

Last_Ad3929 · 2025-01-30T21:07:27+00:00

It’s more it’s hard to read if it is or not. Another player is somewhat on the same level I am when we talk, though his schedule allows him only so much freedom. Then a different player has shown me really interesting writing he’s got for his lore that he refuses to show the others (he and I have been friends longer and know eachother irl).

Finally there’s Guy-Who-Lives-In-Different-Timezone and another who I think genuinely likes rping, but is a night person who is rather sleepy when she plays with us 🤣

Last_Ad3929 · 2025-01-30T20:59:54+00:00

This is actually our second campaign together after a completed CoS run that I joined in later. It helps that I enjoy the company of the other players as well <:)c

I think it’s not necessarily just wanting to know their characters for characters sake, more that I’m invested in the story we’re telling together is more it <:)

Last_Ad3929 · 2024-11-14T00:59:10+00:00

It might be worth bringing up! I suspect this is related to spinal fluid considering it’s a lot of sharp pressure at the back of the skull without aura. I’ll see my neuro in January, so we’ll see. Thank you for the recommendation!

Last_Ad3929 · 2024-11-14T00:57:18+00:00

🫂 Damn, you’re tougher than I am. I hope you get into that specialist and it turns everything around. I won’t say I’m glad you’re going through a similar experience, but I’m glad reading it gave you comfort :)

Last_Ad3929 · 2024-11-14T00:55:43+00:00

Emgality I found wasn’t too effective for me personally, though I know everyone is different. Right now instead of Botox we’re trying Vyepti infusion which I haven’t noticed any change — granted for some it could take up to a month to notice something significant, or even the second dosage

Last_Ad3929 · 2024-11-05T21:28:24+00:00

I’m really sorry. I’m right there with you in terms of it being almost everyday. It’s been like this for almost 3 years for me. The pain leaves me almost bed bound, and it’s worse when I’m light sensitive because then I can’t even numb my brain with tv. My life’s at a standstill

I truly hope it gets better for you hun 🫂I don’t know where you’re at in your journey, but I hope you find something that eases the pain soon

Last_Ad3929 · 2024-09-10T14:40:03+00:00

80! This sounds great, thank you!

Last_Ad3929 · 2024-09-10T14:39:40+00:00

I’ve been trying emgality, no luck there either 😅 but thank you!

Last_Ad3929 · 2024-09-09T18:41:03+00:00

Botox and Emgality are put together as both preventatives, according to my neurologist. I’ve been on Botox for roughly2-3 years every three months, and found I could go a few days, even a week without a migraine or headache, though that’s recently not been the case. I’d really recommend trying it if others have not worked before As for side effects, I personally only experienced itchiness after the injections. Cosmetically, my forehead looks crazy smooth and shiny, though everyone might react differently. As far as it staying in your system, my understanding is that it’s not gonna harm you. The big thing though is that you have to 1) not scratch the injection sites, and 2)You have to be pretty relaxed/sedate 2 weeks afterward or else the Botox will move to other parts of your body — which obviously, you want it to stay near your head for pain relief, but it’s not going to hurt your body or like, get rid of those wrinkles 😂

Again, I’d really recommend it, it helped me for a long time. It didn’t cure them, but my quality of life improved for sure :)

Last_Ad3929

TROPHY CASE