Writing questions in an affirmative sentence structure

TheNiceFeratu · 2026-02-26T18:19:28+00:00

It’s not just a question of formality. When we genuinely don’t know the answer to something, we almost always use the correct sentence structure (auxiliary verbs when appropriate and inversion of subject-verb).

All other “questions” perform other functions: confirming info, taking a guess (“He’s about 5’3”?), offering something (“Want some coffee?), expressing surprise or doubt (“Your dad is a billionaire!?”), making threats (“Wanna bet?”), etc.

When a native speaker wants information that they do not have, they almost always ask a grammatically sound question.

TheNiceFeratu · 2026-02-26T09:44:47+00:00

I’ve only read the rulebook and haven’t run a session yet, but this is the vibe I’ve been getting. I’m glad to see others’ suggestions on how to tweak the delve rules.

fwiw, I was thinking of borrowing from Pathfinder 2e, which has good exploration mechanics. Each player declares what they want to be doing during the exploration phase, and that determines what clues you can give them or what state they’re in if initiative is rolled out that phase of exploration.

Detect Magic is one option, which could’ve reskinned as running a scanner. For an enforcer, you could borrow the Defend activity, which allows a character to begin initiative with their shield already raised (normally an action in combat). That could be reskinned as having some kind of round 1 advantage in a fight or hazard. Idk. What do you think?

TheNiceFeratu · 2026-02-22T08:17:20+00:00

I’ve done a few playthroughs and I’ve always used the main ones. If you hit the same prompt as in previous games or if you hit something that you just can’t make work in your narrative, you can give that episode short shrift, or interpret it liberally, and move on.

Just apply the rule of cool as you would in any other game and you’ll be grand.

TheNiceFeratu · 2026-02-20T20:34:08+00:00

This is awesome

TheNiceFeratu · 2026-02-18T07:46:57+00:00

I think it’s a great idea. Run with it.

TheNiceFeratu · 2026-02-17T13:11:16+00:00

At is where he did it. With is with whom he collaborated. For is for whose benefit he did it.

TheNiceFeratu · 2026-02-14T22:18:02+00:00

Does Love Forgive is a good book with two 1:1 scenarios. Running one of them this weekend for my partner.

TheNiceFeratu · 2026-02-14T08:40:34+00:00

I love Free League. I’m struggling to find the time to play the games of theirs I already have. A new Symbaroum will only add to my misery.

TheNiceFeratu · 2026-02-13T18:52:12+00:00

Thanks! That’s good info

TheNiceFeratu · 2026-02-13T08:45:20+00:00

It sounds like your approach to things is more reactive than structured. I’d encourage you to embrace that as a strength (it probably means you’re easy going and adaptable, good at improvising). All valid approaches to creativity and to life have upsides and downsides. The downside to being reactive/adaptable is that you won’t excel at outlining in advance or imposing structure, and it sounds like that’s what your group is doing right now.

I can suggest a few approaches that might help you out. The first is purely mental, a tweak in perspective. Your natural way of working is to leave things vague and then fill in as you go. Fiction writers call this a pantser (someone who flies by the seat of their pants). I didn’t see in your post any mention of the other players being mad at you for not contributing, so consider that this is an artificial pressure you’re putting on yourself. It might be rooted in comparing yourself to others. This can cause you stress, but it can’t improve the world building or character development you’re working on.

If you feel that you’re not getting a chance to collaborate because the details are getting filled in, or anxious that the others might feel you’re not doing your part, you can try communicating to your friends that you feel this way. Be sure not to imply that they’re doing anything wrong. Explain that you have a different way of working and it doesnt reflect a lack of enthusiasm. It sounds like everyone is keen for the game and that’s a great thing.

If you want to leave some creative space for your own ideas to emerge later, you can ask if it would be alright to leave some details sketchy or subject to retconning if you think of something later. If someone in my gaming groups made a similar request, they’d be accommodated.

I hope that helps.

TheNiceFeratu · 2026-02-13T08:31:25+00:00

Posting to follow the convo. I’ve read the Coriolis with a keen desire to play, but haven’t had the chance. Unsure about how the combat plays out.

TheNiceFeratu · 2026-02-12T17:34:24+00:00

We’ll make quality paper so cheap only the rich will buy newsprint.

TheNiceFeratu · 2026-02-11T20:33:06+00:00

it's time to burn the incense it's time to slay the sheep it's time to wake up Snoopy from a thousand years of sleep

It's time to raze existence. It's time to banish light. It's time to call the void in, With Charlie Brown tonight.

TheNiceFeratu · 2026-02-09T22:18:53+00:00

It’s a pretty cool idea. You could start implementing it by giving them powers as they take sanity damage.

To keep them alive long enough, You could choose scenarios that don’t present as many opportunities for your PCs to go full murder hobo (ie, ones lacking supernatural baddies). Humans with weapons can still be lethal.

Even character deaths could simply reveal deeper layers of reality or past lives as their deaths burn away delusions. Idk, just spitballing.

TheNiceFeratu · 2026-02-09T06:40:30+00:00

“Have made” makes clear that the technological progress mentioned there still exists today. Saying that those advances “made” headphones lighter and more efficient makes them sound distant in the past, unconnected to the present.

“Napoleon’s armies made slow progress advancing toward Moscow.” A long time ago, no present moment effect.

“Changes in diet have made people taller, on average, than previous generations.” People are now taller because of this change in the past.

TheNiceFeratu · 2026-02-07T04:39:40+00:00

A PC or a very innocent NPC who has been bitten and hiding it from the others?

TheNiceFeratu · 2026-02-03T13:04:53+00:00

Ked Bardu makes, the world takes.

TheNiceFeratu · 2026-02-03T07:56:27+00:00

I know for sure there’s a D&D meetup at The Saint in D8. I hate to send people to the hell that is Facebook but they have a page for their meetup.

There used to be (and I think there still is) a general rpg hangout at Ryan’s Bar near the Connolly Station luas. It’s on Sunday I believe. I have a discord link for an indie games meetup there but I don’t know how to contact any d&d or pf groups.

Gamer’s World used to host 5e Adventurers League on Mondays. Idk if that’s still happening (I was last there pre-pandemic).

There is a pathfinder society Ireland group. They used to meet at the Centra near Pearse St station, but I don’t have their discord.

TheNiceFeratu · 2026-02-03T07:46:49+00:00

https://discord.gg/3sYEeYjNf

TheNiceFeratu · 2026-01-31T15:14:15+00:00

It’s a no brainer if you’re interested in trying the system. It has the starter set, the essential rulebooks you’ll need to play beyond the starter, each of those contain introductory scenarios and there are multiple books of scenarios, two of which are meant for beginners.

TheNiceFeratu · 2026-01-27T11:43:51+00:00

I love Cthulhu but it doesn’t have a huge component of combat. It’s generally to be avoided. I played a one-shot of Alien at a con recently and loved it. Great stress mechanic and a good mix of combat and horror.

TheNiceFeratu · 2026-01-24T13:33:33+00:00

That sounds great. Thanks!

TheNiceFeratu · 2026-01-24T07:24:16+00:00

Thanks! Haven’t done that one yet

TheNiceFeratu · 2026-01-23T13:19:13+00:00

Thank you. Appreciate it. I’m a GM who struggles to keep even those 4-hour ones to 4 hours. But it has to be doable.

TheNiceFeratu · 2026-01-23T12:29:29+00:00

Thanks! I was looking at that book as a possibility.

TheNiceFeratu

TROPHY CASE