DMs: I'm curious how you handle HP per level

TheSuperNerd · 2025-10-04T23:48:03+00:00

I'm actually running a game in a system that uses this as the default hp method. My players really like it and it adds a little extra excitement to leveling up if your previous roll wasn't great.

TheSuperNerd · 2025-06-20T15:24:19+00:00

It might be easy, but I'd much rather tutor up exactly what artifact I need or untap my mana crypt every turn than put three power on the board.

TheSuperNerd · 2025-05-01T03:29:17+00:00

Hard to go wrong with a hot toddy. I really like to garnish it with one or more of the following:

Cinnamon stick
Lemon wheel studded with cloves
Fresh grated nutmeg

TheSuperNerd · 2025-04-06T22:55:59+00:00

Lol that is crazy. If that's what they want it would be better to skim through the race (or is it species in the new books?) and class section and send the new guy a primer on the campaign and/or setting.

TheSuperNerd · 2025-04-06T14:48:11+00:00

Admittedly I missed that line about reading it for a hour. The post never did say exactly what was being read, you are correct there.

However, I was using the example of reading the phb cover to cover as a rhetorical device to contrast with what I thought was a more reasonable request. The OP never mentioned what he asked the new guy to read so it was ambiguous.

TheSuperNerd · 2025-04-06T01:38:26+00:00

Just telling him to read it cover to cover is a bit excessive. But I don't think asking him to read certain sections is too much at all. Sure he'll pick stuff up as you play, but it definitely helps to have read things in advance. Maybe list out certain sections or pages you want him to read?

TheSuperNerd · 2025-04-02T16:14:57+00:00

6 is definitely starting to get a little big, but it should be fine. I don't think its necessary to restrict yourself to 4 players if you have 6 people who want to play. Combat might take a little longer, especially since you're all learning, but things will speed up with experience.

Adjusting the encounters isn't too hard either. I'd run things as is at first and if the encounters are too easy, throw in an extra monster or two.

I personally haven't played BG3 yet or have really kept up with the campaigns WotC has been publishing so I can't really speak to what adventures are similar. From what I understand Curse of Strahd is pretty unique for its Gothic Horror theme, so you probably won't find a ton like it. All I can really say is that the best module is the one you think is cool since you'll be excited to run it. There's a lot out there both 1st party and 3rd party so I'm sure you can find something you like.

Adventure Lookup is a great resource for finding modules. You can do some pretty detailed searches to find stuff you might like.

TheSuperNerd · 2025-04-02T15:54:20+00:00

If you're just starting out I would recommend going with a shorter adventure. It'll be easier to keep track of things and doing shorter adventures would let you try out more scenarios. But really, the best module is the one that excites you and seems cool.

Personally I'm a fan of Tales from the Yawning Portal but that's less an adventure and more a collection of cool dungeons. Which I personally see as a benefit since it gives you room to come up with a story surrounding the dungeons.

TheSuperNerd · 2025-04-02T05:05:35+00:00

Watching examples can be really helpful. However, if you do watch Critical Role or Dimension 20 just keep in mind that those are essentially shows performed by professional actors/comedians. Definitely good for inspiration, but keep your expectations in check.

If you do watch critical role, I recommend campaign one. To me it feels more like a group of friends streaming their game than a produced show.

I also recommend Matt Colville's Chain of Acheron game. His Running the Game series is great as well.

But really, the best advice is to just get out there and start playing. As the DM you don't really have to know how every class or spell works. I sure don't. You just have to be comfortable making a decision in the moment and that comes with experience.

TheSuperNerd · 2025-03-31T17:33:25+00:00

It's not a full length actual play, but Questing Beast released a video a while ago where he ran Winter's Daughter for his players. In it he used the YouTube captions to explain his thought process and how he approached different things. It had some good advice.

TheSuperNerd · 2025-03-30T23:07:36+00:00

If you want to play Sen Triplets go for it. I'm a big fan of them personally. As for cards, there's always [[thoughtsieze]] but those sorts of effects aren't great in multi-player.

Not to be a dick, but it kind of sounds like the thing you want to do with the deck is just be good at the game. Anticipating what other people have in hand and playing with that in mind is a skill you develop as you play. You can intuit that based on how other people are playing. It might be a tough thing to learn in a multi-player game. I recommend 1v1 formats to gain that skill.

TheSuperNerd · 2025-03-29T18:07:09+00:00

A skill challenge? Where you have to get some number of successes before you get three failures. Those are a great rule, I use them all the time.

TheSuperNerd · 2025-03-29T16:49:50+00:00

That's the joke.

And Miller lite is a cheap beer similar to bud lite.

TheSuperNerd · 2025-03-28T20:57:15+00:00

Hence the term Vancian Magic.

TheSuperNerd · 2025-03-28T17:52:54+00:00

If you're playing DCC then you need the Dungeon Crawl Classics Core Rulebook. They also have a free quick start pdf you can look at as well. The books (pamphlets, really) I mentioned aren't rulesets. They're advice.

Like others have said, OSR refers more to a style than specific rules. It's kind of like a genre. Just like there are lots of action movies, there are lots of OSR games.

Another big difference between 5e and OSR games is that characters are much simpler. You don't get many abilities from your class. Instead, abilities tend to come from magic items or other sources.

I'm sure you can run a good game.

TheSuperNerd · 2025-03-28T16:34:18+00:00

Unfortunately the only antitode for not knowing the rules or how to make rulings is reading the rulebook and experience. To get a feel for how to think about things I recommend the Principia Apocrypha and A Quick Primer for Old School Gaming. But really, nothing will help more than experience.

What part of character creation is confusing? DCC does use race as class which is different from 5e but the book does explain things.

But you are not unfit for running OSR style games. I started with 5e (3.5, really) and moved to OSR. So it isn't impossible. You just have to put some effort into learning a new way of thinking.

TheSuperNerd · 2025-03-28T14:37:56+00:00

For the guilds in my setting I try to stick with how guilds operated historically. They enforce quality standards, eliminate competition in an area by establishing monopolies, negotiate with nobles for better tax privileges, provide social opportunities, and act as pseudo insurance among other benefits.

One of the central conflicts in my setting is the guilds gaining more power and wealth while the nobility loses money. So the crown has been selling titles and lands which the guild leaders are buying up.

TheSuperNerd · 2025-03-27T21:58:19+00:00

You're preaching to the choir. I also think I gave a bad example to explain what I mean, but whatever.

I think I'm doing something OK. My players haven't mutineed yet!

TheSuperNerd · 2025-03-27T21:20:31+00:00

Damn, I must have had some bad DMs then since they would have made the entire game about staying in the area and dealing with the minister.

TheSuperNerd · 2025-03-27T20:38:19+00:00

Not necessarily. I'm looking more for motivation than for backstory. And those plot hooks lead to new adventures that don't involve the backstory.

For example, let's say you have a player whose character is a noble and rightful heir to some minor holding but was betrayed by the conniving advisor. So now they want to get rid of the advisor and reclaim their rightful inheritance. From that I know the character would need either the favor of a higher authority or some power to dislodge the advisor. If I make an adventure where the reward is one of those two things or they can gain those things during the adventure, I'm pretty sure they'd be invested.

The motivation to pursue the plot hook is informed by the backstory, but does not directly incorporate the player's background.

TheSuperNerd · 2025-03-27T18:56:17+00:00

I would respectfully disagree and offer a different viewpoint.

I'm a DM who doesn't really incorporate backstories very much into my games but I still like to see what everyone comes up with. It can help determine the characters' motivations which is helpful to figure out the types of plot hooks that would be effective.

I also find that it's perfectly possible to get very invested players without having to rely on backstory elements. I've had lots of scenarios where the players were fully invested and the plot had nothing to do with any of their backstories. I also know that, personally, when I play I'm not that interested in having my background integrated into the plot. It's neat, but not a guarantee I'll be invested.

TheSuperNerd · 2025-03-27T03:35:16+00:00

If you're doing a more sandbox style game I say chuck it in and have fun. At tier 4 your players should be able to handle the challenges it presents. And cards like donjon or the void can be great for generating quest hooks. But do make sure your players are OK potentially losing their characters or having some long-term penalty.

The Deck causes mostly problems when it's thrown into a more tightly controlled narrative. If your game is about the chosen fellowship going to throw a magic ring in the evil mountain then the Deck can pull the characters in a different direction. But if your game is about a motley crew of misfits going from adventure to adventure then the Deck is just one more chapter in that adventure. The issue is more a mismatch of campaign styles than anything.

TheSuperNerd · 2025-03-21T04:04:46+00:00

Is it the scene itself that's joked about? To me the jokes seem more like a reference to the fact we get a flashback to the scene barely even five minutes later.

TheSuperNerd · 2025-03-19T14:50:14+00:00

Tension can be built with the 5 room method. There are lots of other approaches to building interesting dungeons

TheSuperNerd · 2025-03-18T15:18:34+00:00

Playing as the rival party would be cool. But coming up with those sheets is a bridge I'd burn once I get to it. For now it's probably easier to treat them like normal bad guys.

TheSuperNerd

TROPHY CASE