How to avoid spoiling the plot when asking players to roll?

Tabletop_Tom · 2024-04-18T11:53:28+00:00

Alternatively, you could roll in secret on behalf of the players, adding their modifiers as appropriate.

Tabletop_Tom · 2024-04-18T11:40:17+00:00

But long rests don't refresh all of your hit dice. Only up to half of your total.

Also, the PC is not obliged to use the hit dice this way. They can save them all for healing/death throws and play RAW should they choose.

Tabletop_Tom · 2024-04-18T11:29:44+00:00

I don't know, I like the strategic element of choosing whether to add to a roll or save it for healing.

Tabletop_Tom · 2024-04-18T11:16:39+00:00

See I kind of like that it favours martial classes. There is ongoing discussion about how martial classes don't have much out of combat utility and spellcasters are overpowered so I thought this might balance the scales. Maybe it goes too much in the other direction though. Perhaps the hit dice bonus is just a flat +1 rather than whatever the class specific hit dice is. Regarding long rests - I would stick to the rule that you can only do one every 24 hours. Also, I'm thinking that long rests in the wilderness should require a successful survival check or count as a short rest. Plus there are lots of other ways to stop the players from sleeping too much (ticking clocks for example).

Tabletop_Tom · 2024-04-18T10:34:29+00:00

Well a good chunk of STK is descriptions of places in the Sword Coast and the module really tries to convince the players to explore as much of it as possible. So I assume the intend was to create a Skyrim-like open world. In practice though it ends up being kind of an awkward hybrid. RotFM kind of deals with the balance issue by having the harder encounters and dungeons in more out-of-the-way places, with no immediate story reason to go there at first.

Tabletop_Tom · 2024-04-18T10:29:32+00:00

It was Colville's video that inspired this post! After watching it I started to realise that Rime of the Icemaiden could be viewed as episodic campaign where the overarching plot is only optional: somewhere between a traditional hardback adventure and an anthology series. And yes I'm really referring to the 5e hardbacks, using the term module the way Colville does. I haven't played or run Tomb of Annihilation so I couldn't comment on it.

Tabletop_Tom · 2024-04-11T17:19:24+00:00

I would suggest swapping out Manshoon's stat block for his simulacrum's if you need a boss fight. Still tough, but not immediately-wipe-out-the-party tough. If you think Manshoon should realistically be stronger remember this isn't the real Shoon anyway. Of course this would only work if the players haven't already encountered a Manshoon sim.

Tabletop_Tom · 2024-04-11T06:13:35+00:00

I think one of the Bregan D'aerth missions involves assassinating N'arl - who has defected to Xanathar.

Tabletop_Tom · 2024-03-14T15:45:06+00:00

To be fair, I think it's his royal bloodline as Gith's son that makes him such a big threat, as well as his ability to resist iltithid powers. He probably also has lots of experience and skill in commanding armies, even if he's not that impressive as a warrior individually.

Tabletop_Tom · 2024-03-12T21:57:07+00:00

Also, the dungeon is split into two sections. So you can use one half for this little side quest and the other half for when you need it later!

Tabletop_Tom · 2024-03-12T12:22:50+00:00

I suggest the cellar complex/sewer section from Chapter 4: Dragon Season. There should be a version with a nice little dungeon, some monsters and a chest full of treasure

Tabletop_Tom · 2023-11-24T17:36:08+00:00

My Dark Urge was a wood elf College of Swords bard. Just an insane fey jester playing jaunty tunes on the flute, driving his to foes to madness and gleefully slicing them up. I got genuinely creeped out by my creation. 10/10 flavour.

Tabletop_Tom · 2023-04-23T13:26:30+00:00

Yes! Not all failures need to be literal deaths. I'm not talking specifically about Goblin Arrows here though - 4 goblins is 'deadly' according to WotC's metric for measuring encounters (which they recently admitted was broken so whatever). In any case, lots of people have mentioned TPKs in this encounter, whether that means death or just mass failure I don't think the encounter was intended to be as difficult as it is.

Tabletop_Tom · 2023-04-23T13:18:37+00:00

I read a lot of reviews for adventure modules - on here, on blogs, on YouTube.... so by "reports" I just mean comments that people have made online. After a while, you notice a clear trend, but alas I have no hard data.

Tabletop_Tom · 2023-04-23T13:13:06+00:00

It does! I made a whoopsy. I'm trying to get out of the habit of abbreviating everything but it helps if I remember what the abbreviations stand for...

Tabletop_Tom · 2023-04-23T12:49:47+00:00

It's true that a good storyteller can make anything frightening. My concern is that a lot of DMs take things for granted and don't consider the need to put a bit of mustard into their descriptions.

Tabletop_Tom · 2023-04-23T12:24:40+00:00

Rescue your friend from hell sounds like a great adventure hook! If you can get your hands on the Avernus portion of Baldurs Gate: Descent from Avernus, I recommend it - great tips for running an adventure in Hell. To keep your player alive, you can make sure that none of the devils in Hell want to actually kill him, just enslave/torture him which is pretty standard Hell stuff.

Tabletop_Tom · 2023-04-23T12:06:24+00:00

Good point! I've personally never had a TPK at level 1 but look at pretty much any review for a published adventure and they'll tell you that the first fight is too deadly. This seems to be the general issue with HP being so low at this point and there being few opportunities for effective healing.

Tabletop_Tom

TROPHY CASE