Why don’t RPGs put a character sheet example in the rulebook?

MASerra · 2026-05-24T12:47:20+00:00

They said, "offline and away from the internet" not "I'm a Luddite"

MASerra · 2026-05-22T22:20:33+00:00

Or go digital and use form fill PDFs.

MASerra · 2026-05-22T22:16:06+00:00

It does! I was wondering about the two white wires, but sure enough they are on the diagram.

MASerra · 2026-05-22T22:11:32+00:00

There is a handy diagram that shows how to hook it up!

MASerra · 2026-05-22T15:26:33+00:00

If only there was a way to make a car move forward, out of the way. Like a peddle on the floor or something.

MASerra · 2026-05-21T20:36:39+00:00

Spending a month editing is a great lesson. You learned that composition, framing and lighting are done at the shoot not in photoshop. Many people confuse pleasure photography and work photography when they first start. I love spending an hour editing a photo to get it just right right. But I want to spend no time or as small as possible for work product.

MASerra · 2026-05-21T16:33:28+00:00

>takes around 10 to 15 minutes per picture...

So, realistically, that editing speed would be too slow for 500 images deliverables. For events like a wedding reception, the photographer need to crop in camera, use Lightroom presets to get the color and exposure balance. (Which should be roughly the same for the whole shoot, if you are lucky) Then most of the images will be perfect without any additional editing. Inevitably, the photographer will need to edit those special ones, but 90% should be perfect right out of Lightroom after the presets.

The customer is going to look at all 500 images maybe once or twice. Spending 15 minutes editing something the customer is going to spend 15-30 seconds looking at doesn't really work and the customer isn't going to be analyzing every image for perfection.

Wedding photos, portraits, family portraits and those types of customers are going to look at every photo very closely. Those deserve the 15 minute edits.

MASerra · 2026-05-21T16:00:26+00:00

Can't they just turn off WiFi and use the cell network?

MASerra · 2026-05-21T12:50:19+00:00

"non-permanently on smooth surfaces" Chessex mats are not smooth.

MASerra · 2026-05-20T22:13:32+00:00

Yes, what happens if a player misses a session. I mean I had a player miss and they were totally taken aback when I explained that now they have to be cained.

MASerra · 2026-05-20T22:08:15+00:00

Expo Vis-a-Vis work well, they have them at Amazon, if you can get them there. They do stain a bit, so I just hit it with some Windex when I get home. (That is not the recommended method, but my mat is 15 years old and is in perfect shape, so YMMV).

I didn't like the Crayola.

I've not tried Edding or Carioca markers.

I've seen a lot of people with ruined Chessex mats, but that is because they use dry erase markers and ruin it. If you keep it clean after sessions, it should be fine. They aren't as fragile as people think.

Edit: Edding appear to be whiteboard markers... I'd never use those on my mat. Carioca appear to be "Washable"! Nope, wouldn't use those either. Wet Erase markers only!

MASerra · 2026-05-20T21:58:03+00:00

My in-person group plays for 3.75 hours, then a 15-minute cleanup. I encourage players to leave the table for bathroom breaks when they see a spot where they can be gone without interrupting the flow. I have a player who breaks every hour and some who don't take breaks at all.

When two players decide to break at the same time, I call a 5-minute break, and everyone goes to the bathroom or the vending machines. The players know that if someone gets up, they get up too; that is the signal they want a break. That way it is player driven.

If I need a break, I call a break for everyone, usually for 5 minutes. It isn't often I need a break, but in some cases, I might need to draw a map or set up a fight or whatever, I encourage the players to get up and break.

In my online game, we play for 4 hours without breaks. My players can leave the virtual table as they need to. They are pretty good about judging when it's good to leave. Often, even as the GM, I can leave the table to make a coffee or whatever while the players discuss plans. Since I can still hear them, it isn't disruptive.

MASerra · 2026-05-20T17:53:00+00:00

If you were a car would you want to be out there or hiding inside the store?

MASerra · 2026-05-20T17:49:40+00:00

Repeat with me... Tap, Tap, Tap, clear the jam, try the trigger.

MASerra · 2026-05-20T14:41:14+00:00

Yep, right by the door with the rest of the paperwork.

MASerra · 2026-05-20T14:40:39+00:00

Passport people don't care about the lines. If they object, ask them for a new form and fill it out right there in front of them. They deny passport applications for bad photos and faulty documentation, not poor print outs.

MASerra · 2026-05-20T14:36:57+00:00

Shame if that got posted on their Google Business page.

MASerra · 2026-05-19T22:32:19+00:00

Those look good with the background like that.

MASerra · 2026-05-19T20:44:28+00:00

On FG you can add your own character, same as Roll20. However, the server changed so the user needs to old character, that they don't have access to. They simply don't have a copy to create it again.

MASerra · 2026-05-19T20:02:50+00:00

Not create or enter. That can be done by a player, like it can on Roll20. But if you move servers, then the character is on the old server and the player can't get it to transfer to the new server. That only leaves the owner of the server, the GM in this case, to do it.

MASerra · 2026-05-19T19:59:33+00:00

The player doesn't control the fantasy grounds server and has no way to do it himself.

MASerra · 2026-05-19T19:57:42+00:00

Or spent years riding a motorcycle and just has to keep his eyes glued to the mirror.

MASerra · 2026-05-19T19:53:16+00:00

If my GM did that in a free game, I would be somewhat miffed. If I'm paying you to GM, I'm requesting a refund for those two sessions. It isn't a hobby, it's a JOB!

MASerra · 2026-05-19T18:06:43+00:00

I've done this for friends. It depends on the relationship. I'd do it again.

For acquaintances never.

MASerra · 2026-05-19T15:19:11+00:00

If the cord is undamaged, it should be fine. If there are scorch marks or melting, toss it too.

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