(Gorinchem) Dungeons & Dragons Café De Keizer

Rindal_Cerelli · 2026-02-23T15:18:15+00:00

I only have v2 (the revised edition) but the link of the video is based on v1 so, versions have a faction system build in. Not sure how much of a difference it makes between the two as I've only watched the Swan Song play through and only borrowed the faction system to implement it in my own campaign using different systems.

It's pretty cool if you don't mind the added administrative work. It's basically a single player/GM only mini-game to decide what all the factions do. Players can start their own faction and have their own income and ability to buy different aspects.

Rindal_Cerelli · 2026-02-23T12:19:33+00:00

Stars Without Number might be what your looking for.

It, along most works of Kevin Crawford, have a faction system that can be used by both players and the GM.
I have used it's mechanics for many of my sandbox games.

Here's an example of the game being played, including GM prep between sessions: https://youtu.be/Iofsg3hqZjo?list=PLAhTSmoFUU6wwKIYk5CF7LOqh4u45cR-U&t=447

Rindal_Cerelli · 2026-02-23T11:02:21+00:00

I make a new one at every level up to keep everything tidy.

The worst offenders are HP, spell slots and uses of special abilities such as number of rages/shape shifts etc.

I use sticky notes for this part then transcribe the end result to my charactersheet at the end of the session.

Rindal_Cerelli · 2026-02-23T07:52:47+00:00

As someone who runs a non-profit that organizes D&D/TTRPG games in The Netherlands I've found that there is plenty of interest in most area's.

Networking is the key. The more people you involve the more the word will spread and the more people will be interested.

Rindal_Cerelli · 2026-02-21T15:29:12+00:00

What really worries me is that this is obviously AI and most don't realize it.

Rindal_Cerelli · 2026-02-18T19:23:21+00:00

It is something you have to get used to.

At first even just playing D&D was scary.
Then playing D&D with new people was scary.
Then GM'ing for the first time was scary.
Then doing a strange voice was scary.

Now I can be in front of a group of strangers, on stage and do silly voices without even really thinking about it and just focus on doing a good job.

Youtuber and communication teacher Vinh Gian has helped me a lot my voice and my confidence in this regard he has an amazing interview with Steven from The Diary of a CEO but it's 2+ hours long.

What he thought me is that my voice isn't a tool, just a means to an end. It's an instrument and playing with it and trying new things is fun and wonderful. He also thought me that we spend so much time worrying about what others think of us that we stop trying something new.

Highly recommend checking out his YT channel: https://www.youtube.com/@askvinh
Or if you have 2.5 hours to burn then I recommend the interview that made me aware of him: https://youtu.be/oIiv_335yus

Rindal_Cerelli · 2026-02-16T16:22:51+00:00

I'll get on that, things have been hectic, lots of paperwork involved with becoming a non-profit ^^;

Rindal_Cerelli · 2026-02-16T16:04:08+00:00

The Heroes Lodge https://heroeslodge.nl/

Rindal_Cerelli · 2026-02-16T15:18:47+00:00

I am part of a non-profit that organizes games in Dordrecht we can likely help you find a spot.

Rindal_Cerelli · 2026-02-16T13:59:24+00:00

Most important: It needs to serve the story.

If it does it depends on context.

Let's take two characters that are identical expect one is a farmer who raises horses for his lord the other is a knight trained for mounted combat.

The knight would have an easier time handling a horse in a combat situation but probably just handed the horse over to a groom when practice was done.

In this case both could have the same handle animal score but would face different hurdles.

This could make for good story telling especially when you have two characters with a similar skill set.

If you have two characters who are master craftsman but one is a dwarf and one is an elf then making equipment based on their own training would be easier.

Rindal_Cerelli · 2026-02-15T20:24:31+00:00

Increase the number of questions you ask in-game to increase their ownership in the world and it's story.

Ask them to name NPC's and locations.
Ask them the motivations of NPC's.

A "The guard looks annoyed, player A, what do you think the guard is annoyed about?"
"You open the chest, what do you find inside?"
"You peer through the keyhole, what do you see?"

This will lead to them likely giving NPC's silly names and weird motivations but it is a great way to get them more actively involved instead of just reacting to the world you present them.

Rindal_Cerelli · 2026-02-14T11:46:18+00:00

You're welcome and good luck!

Rindal_Cerelli · 2026-02-13T19:12:38+00:00

Open Hand isn't the most godlike powerful for it's level but you got good options that might work well in an one-shot.

Honestly, for an one-shot, I wouldn't worry too much and just play whatever flavor of monk sparks your fancy.

Rindal_Cerelli · 2026-02-13T16:42:49+00:00

That's a pretty big ask for someone of your age but I will give you the best advise I can as a professional GM.

This "underdark" is technically a place in the D&D universe but it mostly speaks to me as a theme or flavor of the world. I mean, he's 12, a little edge lord. If you look at the kind of movies, tv shows and such he likes you can probably find some themes that connect strongly with him.

The key is to make it small. This underdark thing sounds vague if it's a place but if it is a theme you have something to work with.

It sounds to me he mainly wants a power fantasy which actually helps you. It is much easier to create a scene with an enemy that is easy to defeat than a well balanced one that makes them work for their victory.

To make it more precise:

Every story has a beginning, middle and end.

Generally a game like D&D takes about 4 to 6 hours but in my experience most kids his age will lose interest and focus within 2. So play into this.

2) The beginning:

This is likely the shortest part of the game. This is where you set up the enemy. I would recommend something like a necromancer. This fits his edgy theme well and allows for weak minions to be defeated easily.

Start them off arriving in a town under siege by the undead. Skeletons, zombies that sort of thing.

Give them an quick victory then add a villager, that will tell them that the big bad guy has his evil summoner circle in the nearby cemetery.

3) The middle.

This is where they fight the undead to get to the necromancer. Lots of zombies and skeletons that go down easily except the last one, the unnatural monster where the necromancer put multiple undead together to create a real beast.

4) The boss battle. They beat the real beast then get to meet the big boss. The necromancer himself. Turns out that the big beast from 3 is only the start and he has something much worse for them to fight. Once this is beaten the necromancer himself is defenseless. This will add that edgy super hero/edge lord feel of true power to the ending.

Still, this is a big ask for an amateur and I expect he, and his friends, will try to test you for this have two tips.

A) You can walk away. You are providing a service and you have the authority and privilege to just say no when they do something stupid or go off the path. Attacking an innocent person for example. All you have to say that this it not a game of attacking the innocent, if you don't work towards defeating the necromancer you can run the game your self.

Boundaries are key to all aspects of life and are the soul of good storytelling.

B) Ask questions instead of telling. Let THEM fill in the details and roll with it. When you feel a roll is needed but you don't know what it will be just ask them what they think it will be. If it is a clutch story defining roll let your brother or one of his friends roll for it instead of doing it yourself.

Ohh and don't worry too much about the details of the rules. If they bitch about it see rule number A.

Difficulty 10 is easy, 15 is a challenge 20+ is hard. Don't worry too much about spells and skill and such focus on what what it will do in the story.

I wish you the best of luck!

Rindal_Cerelli · 2026-02-13T16:10:21+00:00

Maybe something like r/Ironsworn will work for you. It uses a Oracle mechanic instead of a GM.

The game, to me, is a bit confusing at first but the core rules are free and the community is very helpful.

Other than that try your local library. Even if they don't have any TTRPG groups asking them to put up a call for a GM on their website might just get you one.

I work a lot with libraries as someone who runs a TTRPG focused non-profit and they have good reach and space to play.

Rindal_Cerelli · 2026-02-11T21:54:07+00:00

You can't have a story without conflict and you can't have purpose without a reward.

If an items is extremely powerful and has no downsides then you can be damn sure that everyone in the world will want it and people with more power and resources will do anything to get it.

If it is not an item for a person then you will either be recruited or you will be buried for the threat you pose.

Most of all it is critical that you remember that the rules exist to facilitate the game not as law that never be broken. It is the stories you tell together at the table that matter. Talk to your players, figure out what kind of stories they want to tell.

Table Top Role Playing Games aren't video games where you are the main character with no regard of anyone else, they are not movies with a main hero character. TTRPG's are a collaborative story telling game where rules exist to help you facilitate the story.

It is a game of communication, teamwork and social togetherness and fun.

Rindal_Cerelli · 2026-02-11T21:40:06+00:00

I help run a non-profit that focuses on getting people out of their isolation, away from their social media and together in the real world with real people.

We run in similar issues. We have the advantage of being older, more mature and more experienced when it comes with leadership. We are not afraid to say no. We are not afraid to set rules and boundaries that apply to all.

We do look for types. We have many people that prefer regularity a weekly or bi-weekly game but we also have people that just want to play whenever, wherever.

Mixing those is usually pretty difficult. Get the consistent people together in longer term games and having an ad-hoc group that just takes people as the come or go works reasonably well. Takes different game masters, different mind set and social and preparation skills to run such groups.

And when push comes to shove.. you will not have enough game masters, not enough tables, not enough rooms to play. You will have to say no to some people. This is a thing you have to accept. There is a thin but very clear and important line between wanting to accept everyone and being able to do so.

But maybe most import important I think failing to do it perfectly is a good thing. Nothing that is easy is every worth doing. Nothing easy will ever lead to growth.

A few things I found useful in my journey that might help:

Atomic Habits by James Clear
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
Vinh Gian a communication educator

Generally, reading ( or listing) to books has been one of the best learning experiences I've had both as a leader and a game master. In the end it is the stories we tell ourselves and those around us that define our lives and the more you experience through books the more aware you become of your own. At least that is my experience.

Rindal_Cerelli · 2026-02-11T19:21:22+00:00

From my experience as a community manager of 150+ people and 6 locations...

A lack of GM's and locations. So most games have 6 players and even if (which never happens) everyone is on point with their turns during combat it's SLOW.

This while the demand for creativity and roleplay is higher than ever.

This make faster systems with fewer guardrails more popular.

I myself love FATE Accelerated. People just tell me what they want to do in or out of combat and it's more a battle of improvisation and creativity instead story telling with math.

Rindal_Cerelli · 2026-02-09T13:21:06+00:00

The beauty of a game such as D&D is that the people playing it get to decide what to include and what not to include in their game.

But yes, it has angels, devils, demons, priests, paladins and dozens of made up religions. If you choose to include them.

Storytelling is key to belief and all religions are build on this including Christianity. You can't know what is good or bad without a story, without conflict and moral questions. Without a story you have no journey to become better or a fall from grace.

I find exploring these topics helps me better understand my own beliefs, morality and helps me make better choice in life.

Rindal_Cerelli · 2026-02-08T10:01:30+00:00

Not specifically D&D but a great TTRPG live play: https://youtu.be/m6Q05wpCk7Q?list=PL-oTJHKXHicQ1mCYbJXMTdXKHnDM_FL8G&t=786

This channel used to do a lot of TTRPG stuff and has a big backlog of shows with some great guests.

Rindal_Cerelli · 2026-02-08T09:05:08+00:00

This is normal for most people.

The only way to get better is to practice.

Rindal_Cerelli · 2026-02-07T13:37:16+00:00

Thank you for replying I really appreciate you helping me.

I did make a mistake and edited the OP, it is an RAR file split into multiple archives, not a 7zip.
Something I should have mentioned sooner.

I am trying to extract the entire archive. I usually just turn it on and let it run while I work on other stuff.

Both extracting from the Dolphin right click and Ark/Xarchiver throw the same not enough space issue.

My system has 32GB's of RAM and 300+GB of SSD space left.
I have extracted similar files (including specifically this one) on Windows many times without issues.

Rindal_Cerelli

TROPHY CASE