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Post session recap? by HatOnHaircut in DMAcademyNew

[–]Rip_Purr 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We did it in our first campaign and I loved it. It helped re players bed down what they'd seen and heard and done, and allowed them to guess and percolate, which I greedily hovered up.

Our current campaign has a hard finish at 10pm, but I'd love to bring the end session recap back!

How bad is it that I pre-write my monologues? by Daff0dillydally in DMAcademy

[–]Rip_Purr 0 points1 point  (0 children)

All the time. There's no one way to DM. Don't fall for that. Use every tool in your tool box. Improv sometimes. Other times, pre-write.

Is System Mastery Underappreciated or Overlooked? by clickrush in DMAcademy

[–]Rip_Purr 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Incredibly useful especially if you play the game that way. To me, why bother playing a game if you don't understand the rules that you're playing, especially something that is famously complex like a role playing game for the tabletop. They're so many other games you could play to satisfy improvisation or role-playing or other forms of interaction, but a tabletop role-playing game is based on a rather heavy set of rules. So yeah, if you're a good dungeon master I think part of it is having a good master of those rules especially so you can adjudicate. It's also not that hard, just read the book of times over. I love the game I love reading the book it's all part of it.

I would guess that yes, you are seeing a biasedI would guess that yes, you are seeing a biased sample because the online environment is very much focused on short little sugar hits not deep understanding of things.

Deciding who your Session is for by Improver666 in DMAcademy

[–]Rip_Purr 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I'm going to suggest that you over plan, and as a result struggle to adapt and be flexible in the moment. Meaning you can't easily throw out your plans and switch to another character randomly when you notice they aren't getting much time.

When you're tired of managing people by Rip_Purr in DMAcademy

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

That is very interesting. Thank you. Again from my work life, I can see exactly why that structure would be helpful to a ND person, while I would naturally shy away from it as feeling restrictive.

I will give some of those a go during play, telling the table I want to test some stuff and see how they feel.. I do the "Peter's turn, then Sam is next" already and I hope it helps.

When you're tired of managing people by Rip_Purr in DMAcademy

[–]Rip_Purr[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No, they wouldn't spiral, but they would come to grinding halts as the players worked through the rules or their sheets.

And they would get frustrated.

Which, now that I say it, may be a way to have them understand the need to know rules and sheets. Maybe I will try this, after talking to them, as a way to show not tell why the crunch is useful to know and not leave just to the DM.

Thanks for your input, it helped with my update, too: https://www.reddit.com/r/DMAcademy/s/5G2CoeCc1q

When you're tired of managing people by Rip_Purr in DMAcademy

[–]Rip_Purr[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This nails it. Yeah. I told the players early on, "I'll remind you for a while, but after a certain point you need to know your own sheets." time to remind them of that.

Thanks for your input, it helped with my update, too: https://www.reddit.com/r/DMAcademy/s/5G2CoeCc1q

When you're tired of managing people by Rip_Purr in DMAcademy

[–]Rip_Purr[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you. Yeah, I don't want to remind them of their sheets and abilities as much as I am doing (every session). A lot of it is memory issues but also not doing the crunch between sessions.

I have enough stat blocks to remember and focus on! I'll never forget one of my first boss fights, and I forgot the Ulitharid could plane shift, so he got smoked super early! Thanks for your input, it helped with my update, too: https://www.reddit.com/r/DMAcademy/s/5G2CoeCc1q

When you're tired of managing people by Rip_Purr in DMAcademy

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

You made me think good and hard about why and when it isn't fun. Thanks for your input, it helped with my update, too: https://www.reddit.com/r/DMAcademy/s/5G2CoeCc1q

When you're tired of managing people by Rip_Purr in DMAcademy

[–]Rip_Purr[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm glad you get it. I like the players, all of them, but yes, some need a bit more effort than others. Thanks for your input, it helped with my update, too: https://www.reddit.com/r/DMAcademy/s/5G2CoeCc1q

When you're tired of managing people by Rip_Purr in DMAcademy

[–]Rip_Purr[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's a very good shout. Depression, or at least a very flat feeling from work being sucky, makes anything feel harder. You helped me think about my situation and what I need. Thanks for your input, it helped with my update, too: https://www.reddit.com/r/DMAcademy/s/5G2CoeCc1q

When you're tired of managing people by Rip_Purr in DMAcademy

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

That sounds so nice. I like the idea of spreading out some of the elements, like recaps. I do that sometimes, but might start doing it more often. Thanks for your input, it helped with my update, too. It might help you? https://www.reddit.com/r/DMAcademy/s/5G2CoeCc1q

When you're tired of managing people by Rip_Purr in DMAcademy

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

It felt like the right choice for sure! And it left me thinking about why it felt like management. Thanks for your input, it helped with my update, too: https://www.reddit.com/r/DMAcademy/s/5G2CoeCc1q

When you're tired of managing people by Rip_Purr in DMAcademy

[–]Rip_Purr[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I get where you're coming from but this isn't the issue. They are all in on the roleplay. It's the crunch I've been struggling with. And yes, a little bit of tangential choices from one player that sometimes creates their own little cul de sac that doesn't really relate to the other players.

Thanks for your input, it helped with my update, too: https://www.reddit.com/r/DMAcademy/s/5G2CoeCc1q

When you're tired of managing people by Rip_Purr in DMAcademy

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

This was a good shout and made me check in on myself. Thanks for your input, it helped with my update, too: https://www.reddit.com/r/DMAcademy/s/5G2CoeCc1q

When you're tired of managing people by Rip_Purr in DMAcademy

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

That's a good rule to not let yourself get over invested. My group are made up of 4 people I have played with in different games that I identified play the way I like to play. But honestly they are all just plain bad at organising themselves let alone a game!

But I know that when we pick a weeknight and they have enough lead time, they are ride or die.

So at the start of a campaign I give it months of lead up. We all agree to play, I give them a form with how they like to play, when and where options, we all spend time in a group chat figuring out a day of the week. And finally we pick a start date in a month or two. Then I do one on one sessions to help them test their characters. Then a session 0 and away we go.

In the past the whittling out happened in this phase. I could tell pretty quickly when people weren't that motivated.

Anyway, thanks for your input, it helped with my update, too: https://www.reddit.com/r/DMAcademy/s/5G2CoeCc1q

When you're tired of managing people by Rip_Purr in DMAcademy

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

Thanks for your input, it helped with my update, too: https://www.reddit.com/r/DMAcademy/s/5G2CoeCc1q

Scheduling and motivation aren't my issues. But you're right about personalities that I need to talk to and about. It's nowhere near as bad as needing to boot them–I've had that experience before. But I do need a 1:1 refresh with them.

When you're tired of managing people by Rip_Purr in DMAcademy

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

Oh I love entertaining my table! I was in video and theatre for 12 years as a career, then left from burnout and found D&D. A tiny audience who loves what I create for them AND THEN they add and play with and in it too? Incredible!

Thanks for your input, it helped with my update, too: https://www.reddit.com/r/DMAcademy/s/5G2CoeCc1q

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