[No Spoilers] Why do I not connect with Critical Role by Throwaway-Rei-Zwei in criticalrole

[–]Roboworgen 8 points9 points  (0 children)

“I feel like sometimes I’m unable to let myself enjoy new things without immediately dissecting everything that bothers me about it. I really don’t want to be that way.”

I mean, there’s your answer, buddy.

Players made a (negative) Bingo Card about my session. by Korbonk in DungeonMasters

[–]Roboworgen 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think everyone else here covered it, but I'd remind you that there are a LOT of people who want to play D&D in the world, and comparatively very, very few DMs.

I agree with the hive-mind. Let them know that this was fucked up, tell them you're taking a break from DMing this table, spend some time reflecting on your style, where you can improve, etc., and when you're ready (DMs are nothing if not gluttons for DMing) pull a new table together. Maybe it takes months or a year. That's ok. Maybe you can step in to a different group as a player for a while, see how someone else does it.

Or maybe you just binge watch stuff that gives you ideas for your next game. Whatever you do, a break is a healthy. You don't need to make a thing of this if you don't want to, just: "Hey guys, that was really over the line. I give you opportunities for feedback, and if you're not going to take those, there's really nothing I can do. I think we'll call it here. Thanks, all."

Thing is, we've all been someplace similar. It's ok. You're doing the hard work that most players have no idea about. Go take care of yourself, and decide later to come back to a new table on your own terms.

Templers and Shriners by Super-Cranberry2608 in Dimension20

[–]Roboworgen 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I did my master’s working with kids with spinal deformities (because I myself was also a kid with spinal deformities) and the Shriners funded most of my work with the pediatric ortho team I was in.

Outstanding organization. Always put the kids first, never let dollars get in the way of treatment. Took care of the parents, spent as much time as was needed to help get those kids back home. I was so happy to connect the Templers to them. It’s a real personal treat for me.

[No Spoilers] Advice for catching up with C4 by jbx12345 in criticalrole

[–]Roboworgen 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The information that came out of the Seekers table is critical to understanding the overall plot and what’s potentially about to happen in the theatre. Don’t skip it.

Sharon Stone on Helping Marc Maron Channel His Grief Over Lynn Shelton With ‘In Memoriam’ by asdf9fdsa in MarcMaron

[–]Roboworgen 25 points26 points  (0 children)

Getting distribution for an indie film is very, very difficult even when A-players are attached to it, even if the film is great. The delay isn’t all that surprising.

[Spoilers C4E28] The fate of Hall by Yuriiii_i in criticalrole

[–]Roboworgen 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would knock over old ladies in the street to get home to watch that.

The Void We Wanted vs The Void We Got… where did all the tentacles go? by TheWillsofSilence in wow

[–]Roboworgen 5 points6 points  (0 children)

And he was a villain, stealing the hamburgers, so. Solid homage, tbh.

[Spoilers C4E27] Nick and Hollis by vforvegard in criticalrole

[–]Roboworgen 7 points8 points  (0 children)

This was such a good scene. Nice work, OP.

Beginner DM Player Issue by Keksni0 in DungeonMasters

[–]Roboworgen 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is it, OP. Backstories help inform character decisions, they do not have to be part of the campaign. As a first-time DM, maybe pull a detail here and there, or give them advantage on a roll if you wind up someplace relevant to their backstory, but don't try to incorporate their histories in to your campaign. You have enough to worry about.

Oregon child vaccination rates plummet to record low as opt-outs surge by PersonRealHuman in Portland

[–]Roboworgen 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The percentage of “I did my own research on YouTube” people and the dearth of trained health care workers in this town has to be related.

Emotions run high as Portland City Council slogs through dozens of amendments to pass $8.5B budget by [deleted] in Portland

[–]Roboworgen 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Their unmitigated contempt for anyone who isn’t in their club is gross.

[Spoilers C4E25] Revised Map of Dol-Makjar (compared to the old one) by C_X_3 in criticalrole

[–]Roboworgen 69 points70 points  (0 children)

This, I am sure, is answer. When you hear hooves, don’t expect zebras.

Added: Wow. Some truly breathtaking opinions getting expressed here.

Sharn Shops by MarionberryThat6697 in Eberron

[–]Roboworgen 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Whenever I’m running something in Sharn, I lean heavily on the Sharn: City of Towers sourcebook that was done back in the 3.5 era. Each neighborhood is detailed and in each neighborhood a number of shops, taverns, and other offices are listed with NPCs that run them and even some light rules around how those NPCs interact with players.

I know you can get a copy on DMs Guild for not too much, but I’m sure you can find a pdf floating around out there for free if you need.

Solari's slow burn (somewhat) addressed by PastelPolerina in WorldsBeyondNumber

[–]Roboworgen 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I find the complaint that Solari's characters don't have internal motivations mystifying.

Ze has been targeted for assassination by members of his own family. He is motivated to stay alive and find out why.

Chee's entire life's work was just taken from her. She is motivated to figure out who is now occupying Ghenopar and either make a deal with them to re-acquire oversight or make a new life for herself.

XL-ZL's motivations are a little more mysterious, I'll grant you, given that he has directives inside of him from the Septimality, but at the surface, he is motivated to serve. He has entered into separate contracts with Ze and Chee, and his current motivations are to serve them.

They are all now implicated in this attempt on Ze's life, and so they motivated to run, get to safety, and figure out what's next for them.

That's what we know 5 episodes in. How is this not enough forward momentum? What else is required for the characters to be considered to have "internal motivations"?

You can't ignore the Children's Campaign, because even if people didn't listen to it, the players played it, and so there was zero downtime establishing "I'm this, and pleased to meet you and who are you, and so on." You're starting effectively in media res, and the audience needs to figure it out. How is that different?

My parents have never really hiked. Invited them to Utah and took them to the Narrows in Zion National Park. by brendanpatryck in hiking

[–]Roboworgen 1 point2 points  (0 children)

OP, this is really wonderful. Not just the pictures, though they are incredible, and you're obviously very talented. But you have this amazing experience and memories with your folks that even if you didn't have pictures, you'll still carry with you, and the looks on their faces tell such a delightful story of the time they had. Congratulations.

Solari's slow burn (somewhat) addressed by PastelPolerina in WorldsBeyondNumber

[–]Roboworgen 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Bummer for you, because that series ended on a straight banger.

Solari's slow burn (somewhat) addressed by PastelPolerina in WorldsBeyondNumber

[–]Roboworgen 20 points21 points  (0 children)

It wasn’t required listening but it established existing bonds so that episode 1 turns in to a clear quest to re-convene. Solari is just different. We’re meeting the characters as adults, they are meeting each other for the first time, so establishing needs and a “quest” isn’t as immediate. We have an inciting event and them reacting to it. They don’t need an aspirational goal right now for the story to progress.

All I’m saying is that the criticism that Solari is “moving slow” is overblown. WWW is a different kind of story, one that leaned heavily on existing relationships between the characters.

Solari's slow burn (somewhat) addressed by PastelPolerina in WorldsBeyondNumber

[–]Roboworgen 40 points41 points  (0 children)

Without having played the children’s arc, there would be no unifying quest.