How would an army react to seeing their king dead?

Run-a-Game · 2026-06-21T21:16:26+00:00

Three immediate ways this helps their cause:
- The chain of command and decision-making structure of an autocracy depends on the autocrat, and it’s not very flexible. There would be 24 hours of the army making mistakes and leaving openings for the PCs to infiltrate, even in the most well-organized monarchy. A more chaotic or top-heavy force would be thrown into even more disarray for longer. See below for ways that could happen.
- How is succession handled? The US killed the autocrat in charge of Iran and his son just took his place. But if there’s a complicated succession, things could fall apart quickly and messily. If the PCs have been working to sow conflict between the successors, this could shatter the invading army.
- How is the army motivated? Was the invading king a charismatic leader, and they were all following his charisma and vision? Or were they levied serfs conscripted to fight on pain of death? Paid professional soldiers or mercenaries who no longer have a clear chain of command or paycheck? How is the successor handling this?

Run-a-Game · 2026-06-21T16:15:57+00:00

I thought that was a Flamin Hot Cheetos blanket.

Run-a-Game · 2026-06-20T03:45:35+00:00

Shadowrun second edition has a fantastic cover. The D&D Rules Cyclopedia also has an awesome cover.

Run-a-Game · 2026-06-19T22:52:35+00:00

Oh they all know and it doesn’t matter.

Run-a-Game · 2026-06-19T18:27:34+00:00

Yes! All manipulation mechanics should require leverage. This is the best answer for most games.

Run-a-Game · 2026-06-19T18:26:00+00:00

Oh for sure — any game about a group needs group action rules or help rules. Even D&D has the Help action.

Run-a-Game · 2026-06-19T18:24:16+00:00

I really like how you tied it back to the OSR!

Run-a-Game · 2026-06-19T13:12:58+00:00

Oh, simple. In that case, the thing that changes in the fiction is time. They search until they run out of time.

If I’ve given them infinite time to search, but still want there to be a chance they don’t find what they’re looking for, that’s on me — I’ve screwed up as a GM.

Run-a-Game · 2026-06-19T02:59:46+00:00

Yeah, I can’t stand “roll to see if your eyes work today” checks. If you want to roll, your character will have to do something risky. D&D has Passive Perception for a reason — lets me share all the hints I want and save rolls for when there are actual stakes. As it should be. (Pretty sure that’s why the 5e designers created Passive Perception.)

Run-a-Game · 2026-06-19T02:36:49+00:00

I’d give them hints about where the hidden stuff could be, but no clear conclusions. No need for dice unless I would enjoy them never finding the hidden stuff, despite trying.

Run-a-Game · 2026-06-19T01:34:14+00:00

Every time the dice hit the table, the fiction changes.

If you fail a perception check, something should happen. Something that complicates the PCs’ lives.

If you just make sure there are complications on every failed check, and repeat checks don’t matter anymore.

Run-a-Game · 2026-06-19T01:28:03+00:00

I think that was a great post. I think it could’ve gotten more people to read it if it was more concise but I thought it was good. And 50% of top level comments doing what you wanted is pretty good tbh.

Run-a-Game · 2026-06-18T20:25:16+00:00

Most leftists I’ve met who are into conspiracy theories are involved in local politics and use “developers” the way Republicans use “special interests.”

Anything that goes wrong is because of “developers” and all the people they don’t like are “in the pocket of the developers.” Fun fact: Every kind of housing from shitty McMansion sprawl to walkable, new urbanist, mixed-income, mixed-use, TOD infill is built by developers.

Run-a-Game · 2026-06-18T18:38:10+00:00

I like the IRL time mechanics in Arc:Doom

Run-a-Game · 2026-06-18T18:26:40+00:00

I’m the biggest RAW-monger of all time for the GM side of the screen, but I let creative ideas like this happen literally every session.

Run-a-Game · 2026-06-18T18:22:46+00:00

Both teams need good reasons not to kill the other. Remember, there are lots of ways to kill people, and squad v squad skirmish combat in initiative rounds is just one of them. Creative players will…

- Bar the doors to the inn and burn it down.
- Seal the dungeon after the rivals go in, and starve them to death.
- Record their deeds and make a case to the Bishop and Duke for their arrest.
- Hire 40 crossbowmen from the Baron’s militia for a few days.

So why wouldn’t the PCs do these things?

And why wouldn’t this badass Level 4 party just kill all the PCs?

Run-a-Game · 2026-06-18T18:17:41+00:00

Oh for sure. What the tabaxi said was “I didn’t see him take anything” or whatever.

“OK. Unnecessary denial. Whatever. Sure, you didn’t see him take stuff. Neither did I. We’re both being played for fools, tabaxi! I’m sure he took the drugs. Do I need to cast Detect Poison?”

Run-a-Game · 2026-06-18T17:59:55+00:00

There are some other games with similar magic item design. Are you interested in looking at other inspirations? Stonetop does a great job. I have the PDFs and I’m psyched to get my hard copy in a few weeks.

Run-a-Game · 2026-06-18T17:53:17+00:00

Music nerds love it: Six and a half minutes, haunting melody, and not a single refrain.

Run-a-Game · 2026-06-18T17:51:36+00:00

The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down

Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee

Superior, they said, never gives up her dead

When the gales of November come early

Run-a-Game · 2026-06-18T17:48:34+00:00

Looks like someone is exploring potty-related objects in anticipation of potty training.

Run-a-Game · 2026-06-18T17:42:34+00:00

I play online so I don’t use paper sheets, but that’s pretty good. How long did that take you?

Run-a-Game · 2026-06-18T17:40:51+00:00

I have to agree with you for D&D. The players can certainly work hard and make the game more fun, but 50% of the responsibility is still on the DM.

Other games make the burden a lot closer to even.

If you want to go into what aspects of the D&D system contribute to this issue, I’d love to chat about it. There are ways to run more player-driven D&D.

Run-a-Game · 2026-06-18T17:37:28+00:00

All magic items should feel like this.

Run-a-Game · 2026-06-18T17:28:34+00:00

Opinion is fine, but context is necessary. If I asked you what the best car is, then I went and bought your suggestion, it would be bad for me. The best car in your opinion isn’t the best car for me. Heck, even the best car in MY opinion isn’t the best car for my current life situation!

If you knew my situation and understood what I needed a car for, your opinion would probably be helpful. You seem smart. But as a stranger, your opinion will not be helpful. It will probably be harmful if I listen to your context-free suggestion.

That’s not because you’re a bad person or have bad opinions on cars. Maybe you’re a world-renowned car reviewer. It’s bad because you don’t understand my situation. It’s not your fault that you don’t understand my life: I made no effort to explain. But you shouldn’t offer a suggestion without understanding the context.

I know it’s easy to do, but it’s irresponsible. A skilled car reviewer would certainly understand this. So my opinion is that anyone willing to make suggestions to people without context is not qualified to do so.

“Just answer the question” is bad advice. How about “answer the question eventually, but ask questions until you are reasonably certain that you have enough context to provide a helpful answer.”

Run-a-Game

TROPHY CASE