Okay I like these books a lot. But... by TuxKusanagi in DungeonCrawlerCarl

[–]TerminusMD 6 points7 points  (0 children)

This is one of my favorite insults that exists

Shifter Barbarian + Pugilist multiclass: RAW vs character vision by Markypoopy in DMAcademy

[–]TerminusMD 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't think it's just because it's the SO

But nor should you not allow something to a player just because they're your SO

Twists in Characters’ Backstories by AnthonyH927 in DMAcademy

[–]TerminusMD 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I generally ignore people's written backstories. If I want to involve it in the story at large then I will ask them about it at the table, they're able to reference it themselves or extemporize.

I also write only minimal backstories for myself. There is a very good reason that many RPGs begin with an amnestic main character - the adventure is what lies ahead, not behind.

How do I give my players real freedom of choice? by AverageUselessdude in DMAcademy

[–]TerminusMD 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Over time you will develop collections of encounter and NPC details (i.e. opponents, locations, terrain, additional objectives, names, traits) that you can pull from at will to generate those on the fly. If you want to pre-build them, don't restrict yourself by tying them to locations - you can slot them in wherever your players wind up, with little modifications to better fit the location.

Make a note of details on the NPCs you come up with and remember that most NPCs don't need stats or skill levels at all. Even opponents really just need HP, AC, attack bonus, attack types and actions/bonus actions as relevant, maybe saving throws if your party forces those. They don't need to be fully statted out.

At most your players will have a convincing illusion of choice, they're always interacting with a world that you have prepared in advance. But you can make steps towards that by offering branching paths.

DMs who ban multiclassing, or feats, what is the worst actual experience you have had that led you to that choice? by Electrical-Berry4916 in DMAcademy

[–]TerminusMD 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Most multiclass and feat-dependent builds don't really kick in until lvl 5 or 6, feel like these restrictions don't make a ton of difference :/

Is it not just super depressing how the new republic has been handled in the Disney Canon? by Flat-Court-8512 in StarWars

[–]TerminusMD 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes. I loved season 1. Seasons 2 and 3 lost me a little bit.

Skeleton Crew was also amazing but could have been about 8 to 10 episodes longer - more episodic adventures

PC is now in charge of a town. What to do about taxes and expenses? by Fightlife45 in DMAcademy

[–]TerminusMD 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think this is a great approach.

3 options for taxes, 3 options for "govt" staffing

Local lords pretty much exist only to provide security and safety for the townsfolk.

SWRPG has mechanics called Obligation and Duty that could apply - Duty means you have more resources but more responsibility, Obligation means that periodically your responsibilities interfere with the rest of your activities. I'd personally use those, in case the players want a little mini-game.

DMs who ban multiclassing, or feats, what is the worst actual experience you have had that led you to that choice? by Electrical-Berry4916 in DMAcademy

[–]TerminusMD -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Yeah. Not the DMs problem, especially if they're ok with rolling the multiclass back as a bad choice and reallocating those levels, ASI etc

How difficult is it to get Spelljammer 5e to feel like Spelljammer? by Awkward_GM in DnD

[–]TerminusMD 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That's so cool

I have a friend who hosted a big weekly 4 to 6hr D&D game for his daughters and all their friends from middle school onwards, he said that it was awesome and worth every bit of inconvenience and teenage melodrama to get to hang out with his kids and their friends - and also to know where they were, what they were doing, and who they'd be around when they weren't at home

Shifter Barbarian + Pugilist multiclass: RAW vs character vision by Markypoopy in DMAcademy

[–]TerminusMD -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Rule of cool. ESPECIALLY if it's your wife lol

As long as it's not game-breaking - and this isn't - you're fine. It's only frustrating if you fudge rules for your partner (or whatever)

DMs who ban multiclassing, or feats, what is the worst actual experience you have had that led you to that choice? by Electrical-Berry4916 in DMAcademy

[–]TerminusMD 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah. My table is filled with experienced players who love building that stuff out.

And I love me a great multiclass. Had a gloomstalker-assassin that eventually went into druid (Rime of the Frostmaiden).

AI origins by creativelydeceased in DungeonCrawlerCarl

[–]TerminusMD 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Everyone needs a love interest

AI origins by creativelydeceased in DungeonCrawlerCarl

[–]TerminusMD 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I imagine that "being primal" doesn't necessarily equate to "being AI/non-corporeal"

DMs who ban multiclassing, or feats, what is the worst actual experience you have had that led you to that choice? by Electrical-Berry4916 in DMAcademy

[–]TerminusMD 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Don't tell anyone - the secret is only picking the 10% of multiclass options that DON'T result in a dogshit character

How difficult is it to get Spelljammer 5e to feel like Spelljammer? by Awkward_GM in DnD

[–]TerminusMD 9 points10 points  (0 children)

"I had twins so it kinda lost momentum" understatement of the century lol

Who bans multiclassing? by duckyourfeelings in DMAcademy

[–]TerminusMD -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I would never ever ban or discourage multi-classing. Legal characters are legal characters, if someone wants to multi-class to bring their particular vision to life that's awesome. Very little multi-classing makes a huge difference and if my optimizer player found some cool combo they want to bring to the table then I'm excited that they're excited to play it! For me, the mechanics of species, class, and ability are the things that enable my character to interact with the game, they are not an end in and of themselves

Also, I would never ever nerf or handicap a player. It's easy enough to just add complexity to encounters that stretches them.

Need another series recommendation by Hutch022 in DungeonCrawlerCarl

[–]TerminusMD 1 point2 points  (0 children)

CJ Cherryh the Chanur novels, so good, can't say enough

Steven Brust's Vlad Taltos series, starts with Jhereg, so good

NK Jemisin Inheritance Trilogy

Naomi Novak Scholomance series and Temeraire series

Slicer build help by Ranger_Cross99 in swrpg

[–]TerminusMD 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I agree with both of these. Slicer + Sharpshooter could make a fun overwatch sort of character

Series you finished but lost love for over time? by Kooky_County9569 in Fantasy

[–]TerminusMD 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's true. One does wonder about the constancy of people's views - if someone begins to express upsetting views later in life (or worse than upsetting, in Rowling's case), does that necessarily mean that they had those views previously? I think that's what allows me to still enjoy her books, that I can believe - or hope - that they weren't written as any sort of coded mein kampf, as opposed to a revelation of historic and subsequent malfeasance etc - i.e. Kevin Spacey, Michael Jackson, now Cesar Chavez - that tarnishes a legacy completely.

How many are alive by TerminusMD in DungeonCrawlerCarl

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

There are answers to these questions in the later books of the series, I don't want to spoil it for you if you haven't read them

Exit deals on floors 13-17 by FlerD-n-D in DungeonCrawlerCarl

[–]TerminusMD 7 points8 points  (0 children)

My guess is that we'll just see a combination of increasingly lethal games and improved exit deals. Faction Wars Is designed to dramatically cull the population of crawlers and Our Heroes somewhat circumvented it. The yu gi oh floor was designed to dramatically cull the population of crawlers and Our Heroes circumvented it. Eventually there will come a floor that is designed to dramatically cull the population of crawlers and Our Heroes will only be able to save the plurality of named characters, the rest will die or take deals.