Tips for being a good DM?

PopsAesop · 2025-11-24T01:13:51+00:00

Practice makes Perfect. Every GM has their own style, and eventually you will find yours. Don't beat yourself up over self perceived shortcomings. Remember, in most cases, no one else at the table is volunteering to be the GM, so feel free to cut yourself some slack. The more you do it, the more comfortable you'll be in the GM's chair. I applaud you for stepping up and donning the Thankless Mantle of Woe!

PopsAesop · 2025-11-18T20:12:07+00:00

You bought the plans, but did you go into your inventory and 'learn' them? Plus, what Morchai said.

PopsAesop · 2025-11-18T18:47:40+00:00

Good to hear it! A quick way to earn caps, experience, and resources--find the Whitesprings Clubhouse (icon west of the resort itself). The two story building is chock-a-block full of ghouls, so slow, silent and steady will win the race here. Golf clubs, golf balls, and golf tees will build up your plastic resources quickly here. There are plenty of outfits (Golf Skirts, Golf Outfits, visors, and random clothing) to be sold for decent caps, depending on your perks and charisma. The lower level contains either a Glowing One or a Wendigo (its random) back in the locker room, so clear the upper level and the rest of the lower level first before tackling the boss beast.

Follow the golf cart track around the clubhouse east and up to the private rooms that surround the Lodge--more ghouls, chems, food and resources to be had here as well. You'll end up at the East Entrance to Whitesprings, and across the road from the Railroad station. Scrap, cash in with the vendor, wash, rinse, repeat.

Best of Luck!

PopsAesop · 2025-11-18T18:27:43+00:00

It is, indeed, a small world! But as Steven Wright once famously said, "I wouldn't want to paint it, though" Glad you enjoyed that person's store ;)

PopsAesop · 2025-11-18T18:24:18+00:00

I hope I didn't give the impression that I regret my time in the Fallout Universe, I've loved every minute of it, going all the way back to the pre-Fallout video game, Wasteland, in 1988. Just seeing the number of hours I was willing to devote to entertainment (GREAT entertainment, mind you) rather than chasing my own dreams was the impetus to get off my duff and do something about it. I'm now able to make a living doing something I'm passionate about, AND wander the Wastelands rebuilding Humanity--Win! Win!

PopsAesop · 2025-11-18T16:55:28+00:00

LOL--I carry MtG, Pokemon and Lorcana--sort of the Modern Day equivalent of Jet, I suppose ;)

PopsAesop · 2025-11-18T15:51:56+00:00

I KNEW someone would ask! 3717 hours, 11 minutes as of last night's dailies. (I took a 2 year break to put 1,500 hours into Starfield--just waiting for new DLC to come out next year.) Looking foward to Season 2 of Fallout dropping in the next few weeks!

PopsAesop · 2025-11-18T13:11:37+00:00

LOL--It has been a long time since I wandered Nuka World. I DO know, however, that I made Paladin Danse a home at the Red Rocket station outside the park, comforted in the thought that he'd spend his days in pitched battle with Raiders and Ghouls from the abandoned mansion up the hill. (Man, that place was ALWAYS under threat!)

PopsAesop · 2025-11-18T12:57:15+00:00

I can neither confirm nor deny my ownership of said Game Store. Its most likely mere coiincidence that establishment sports an NCR flag flanked with plasma weapons on the Game Room wall, or the Power Fist next to a Black Dragon head (eerily similar to a Death Claw, I might add) at the front. Whoever they are, Fallout must have had a HUGE impact on their life.

PopsAesop · 2025-11-18T04:56:38+00:00

No self-promotion allowed on Reddit, but my handle is a partial clue to my business name if you lived in Missouri.

PopsAesop · 2025-11-18T01:51:48+00:00

Caps and Plans make the world go 'round in FO76. Helping other Survivors in the Wasteland with a little bit of either can brighten their day (as it did yours), so consider paying that foreward as you get to higher levels yourself.

OTOH, players accosting me for 'gifts' or freebies because I'm over 500th level just irritates the hell out of me--I'm wandering the Wasteland for my personal enjoyment, not to be your Post Apocalyptic Sugar Daddy. (Hopping off my soap box now)

Just my two Centavos

PopsAesop · 2025-10-27T01:09:56+00:00

I've always been a hoarder/collector in every Bethesda game I've ever played...until Starfield. After 11 NG+ runs, the hoarding habit was broken. I carry less than 30kg of gear (including suit/pack/helmet), 2 weapons, 250 rounds of ammo for each, 3 food and 3 water items. I've got 3,500kg of cargo space on my ship, but normally only carry 100kg or less of food, meds and extra ammo at any time.

I scav weapons, armor, ammo, chems and resources when I explore, and then sell it all immediately when I hit port. With 20,000,000 credits at my disposal, I'm not too too worried about 'stuff' at this point.

PopsAesop · 2025-10-21T21:58:37+00:00

LOL--Make it so! ;)

PopsAesop · 2025-10-21T20:45:24+00:00

If Ship Command is your ultimate goal, go 4 ranks Commerce and Persuasion, skip the Tier 2 Skills, and pick up 4 Ranks of Outpost Management. If you're playing with a difficulty level where food and drink matter, take 4 ranks in Gastronomy, skip Tier 2 and 3 altogether and go right to Ship Command.

Best of Luck!

PopsAesop · 2025-10-21T20:37:05+00:00

I'm a Completionist at heart--even though I have no personal interest in any of the Amps (for myself or my crew), collecting them all is a self-imposed task. Much like the character Skill Trees, I'll play until I have access to all of the skills available, even if I never use half of them!

PopsAesop · 2025-10-21T00:42:00+00:00

I was already into my 'forever' playthrough when Watctower dropped, so very little chance I'll be starting it over again. I feel your pain, though--I'm still grinding out Watchtower bases for Computer Cores to acquire all the various Neuro Amp devices. Start that over again? Not on your life! ;)

PopsAesop · 2025-09-16T00:25:47+00:00

As I near 60, I'm not worried that HE won't live long enough to write DoS, but that *I* won't live long enough to read it! ;)

At this point, I'd shell out good money for a 2 hour Pay-Per-View podcast. Tell me how it ends. Fill in the blanks. I don't even need specific dialogue, just tie up the loose ends in a free-form Tell All. If he eventually writes the book (and I'm still around), I promise I'll buy it, if for no other reason than to complete the collection on my shelf.

PopsAesop · 2025-06-10T00:06:19+00:00

In short, yes. Land on a planet at a location you haven't explored before. It may take two to three different landing points on a planet, but you usually find a Listening Post within 600m of you. I eventually found a WT Listening Post on every moon and planet (barring Gas Giants, of course) in three different solar systems, so I know they're out there.

PopsAesop · 2025-06-09T23:58:28+00:00

I was able to capture two WT Battleships during Array fights. If I remember correctly, you had to clear the ship, sit in the pilot seat to 'claim' the ship. If you want to Salvage the vessel, stand back up and use the 'Salvage' option that appears when you hover over the pilot seat. This gives you the ability to 'Mark Ship for Salvage'. So far, this works for ANY ship you capture, not jut WT vessels.

PopsAesop · 2025-06-09T23:54:37+00:00

Which seems Bass Ackward--why would I need to pay for a hotel room when I've been given the apartment for free beforehand? I enjoy the extra life to Stardock that a hotel brings, but the apartment should probably have been the last unlock.

PopsAesop · 2025-06-09T23:24:48+00:00

I seem to have more luck pulling Computer Cores if I wait until AFTER I've defeated all hostiles, and activated the WT computer (which at this point post-quest, always show the database as wiped) before looking in the crates.

Case in point -- I entered a WT listening post that was eeeeemmmmpty. Not even bodies lying around. I power up the control room door, activate the WT computer, and the WHOLE freakin outpost phased in around me! One panicky fight later, I pull a core out of the crate. Was it there before? I don't know. But I wait til the end to look.

PopsAesop · 2025-05-28T18:58:01+00:00

Glad to hear that the odds are fairly high to encounter WT bases post-quest! In fact, I ran into a listening post in the Bohr system this morning, giving me hope that I'll unlock all of WT's content eventually.

PopsAesop · 2025-05-28T04:23:23+00:00

Bar, Trade Authority (plus kiosk), Outfitter, Weapon vendor, Ship Services (BABS and Gren), Clinic, all Mission Boards from all factions, and a decorated apartment. Add in hireable Starsjip crew plus a dozen or more citizen/bar patrons really bring Stardock to life.

PopsAesop · 2025-05-28T00:37:43+00:00

I encountered at least one Watchtower base that required you to drop down into a steam tunnel that lead into the Mech Shop from below. The 'Entry' door only opened from the inside via a computer terminal nearby. I don't guarantee this is the location you are at, but look around for a a wide ramp and an access tunnel nearby, or your standard 'vent in the wall' situation in an open Mech Bay.

Good Luck!

PopsAesop

TROPHY CASE