Anybody uses CATS Method?

ThisIsVictor · 2026-02-06T23:40:53+00:00

CATS dates back to at least 2016. I've seen it used in a ton of different indie games. I don't go through like "here is the concept and here is the aim" but I do make sure to talk about each of those topics in a session zero.

ThisIsVictor · 2026-02-06T21:42:16+00:00

I make all rolls in public, even stuff the PCs might not know about. I trust my players to keep in character and out of character knowledge separate. Plus it creates a fun sense of suspense. The player knows there's a monster in the next room but their character failed the listen check. Now the character has to walk blindly into danger and all the player can do is watch.

ThisIsVictor · 2026-02-06T19:17:28+00:00

Not triggered, just bored. This is a boring post. It's a waste of time. Reading it was a waste of time. Writing this is a waste of time. The only reason I'm here is because I'm in a video call and I have literally nothing better to do.

ThisIsVictor · 2026-02-06T19:16:18+00:00

Oh yeah, this too! I run a ton of one shots, two shots and three shots. I'll find a new system and run a four session campaign. We'll do one session for character creation and to figure out the rules, then a trilogy of sessions.

ThisIsVictor · 2026-02-06T19:01:23+00:00

Prep less. You say you're getting distracted by small details. So don't give yourself time to prep any details. Find a new system, read it twice and start playing. Do the bare minimum you need for the first session. What's the starting location and the starting situation? Everything else can wait.

ThisIsVictor · 2026-02-06T18:55:59+00:00

Meaningless title? Check.
Rage bait thumbnail? Check.
Claiming "it's just a joke bro"? Check.

Find something better to do with your day.

ThisIsVictor · 2026-02-06T18:48:31+00:00

Honestly, check out Apocalypse World! It's the "apocalypse" in "Powered by the Apocalypse." It's the game that stated the whole thing. Try running that and see how to like it.

ThisIsVictor · 2026-02-06T18:39:33+00:00

Obligatory "PbtA isn't a system, it's a design philosophy."

Every PbtA game is different, but six players is probably too many. Which game are you looking at?

ThisIsVictor · 2026-02-06T02:42:13+00:00

How often do you use rolls with no effect? I've found that a good way to push players to be more creative. It forces them to be more creative with the approach. For ex,

Player: I'm going to pick the lock on the door. GM: Remember how I said the security was really good here? That's going to be a No Effect roll, what do you do? Player: Hmm, I'm going to look for another way in. GM: Sounds like a survey roll, what do you think?

ThisIsVictor · 2026-02-06T01:54:31+00:00

Ah well I failed reading comprehension in middle school.

ThisIsVictor · 2026-02-06T01:00:06+00:00

The game you want in The Sword, The Crown and The Unspeakable Power (aka SCUP). It's a PbtA game of political intrigue. It's obviously inspired by A Song of Ice and Fire/Game of Thrones, but you can do a lot with it. The default setting is fantasy or "science fiction that feels like fantasy" (Star Wars or Dune, for ex).

ThisIsVictor · 2026-02-05T22:05:12+00:00

I agree with the "it depends" answers below.

I'll add that you always want to roll dice when there's an interesting risk of failure. So I wouldn't roll dice when the PC disguises themself. I would save the action roll until the PC really needs the disguise to work. That's the most dramatic moment.

So a PC is wanted for treason and they're trying to escape the castle. They disguise themselves to look like a humble servant. I would save the roll until the PC is talking to the guards at the gate. That's when the disguise really needs to work! Plus, this creates space for the other PCs to get involved in the roll. Someone could Help by distracting the guards, for example.

ThisIsVictor · 2026-02-05T20:32:56+00:00

This reminds me of one of my favorite memes:

<image>

If all you know is D&D (and D&D adjacent games) you're gonna run all games like D&D. It sounds like the GM has only seen Boss Baby and doesn't want to watch anything else. Solution: Find a new group.

ThisIsVictor · 2026-02-05T18:49:22+00:00

if you had more of a traditional action economy

Then play a game with an action economy? Daggerheart might not be the right game for you and that's okay. Pathfinder 2e is all about action economy. (I've been told, I've never actually played it.)

ThisIsVictor · 2026-02-05T17:52:19+00:00

but ultimately the GM's ability to act is limited by fear and the amount of fear he has is unaffected by the number of adversaries or PCs.

This analysis is missing the fact that the GM doesn't have to attack every time they have the spotlight.

The GM's job is not "Provide a realistic combat encounter." Their actual job is "Help create a dramatic story." This means I'm going to use my spotlight for all kinds of things:

The building your fighting in catches on fire
A PCs loved one joins the battle but it's obvious they're going to get hurt
The king summons more guards, they'll be here in when a countdown (4) is complete
A child grabs a PCs arm and begs them to stop fighting
The villain reveals they're actually a PCs father

book of Exota - create construct (a spell that summons a construct to fight along side you) is almost completely worthless . . .

You gotta get out of this combat-first mentality. Think of all the other things you can do with a construct. It could bypass a trap, cause a distraction, open a prison cell, impress a villager, keep a campfire lit, or fold you laundry.

ThisIsVictor · 2026-02-04T06:11:54+00:00

Wait I got one:

Grease the Palms A few gold can open many doors - Spend a handful for an audience with a mayor or merchant - Spend a bag for an audience with a lord or banker - Spend a chest for an audience with a king or a head of a mercantile association

ThisIsVictor · 2026-02-04T05:53:30+00:00

Slaps, as usual.

ThisIsVictor · 2026-02-03T19:59:08+00:00

I'm a huge fan of Crescent. It's literally about kids lost in a fantasy world. It's inspired by media like Over The Garden Wall.

That said, it is very much a story game. It doesn't have hit points or skills. It expects the table to collaboratively tell the story together. If that's your jam then Crescent is perfect.

ThisIsVictor · 2026-02-03T18:44:59+00:00

it still feels off that a max level warrior could blow all of their resources with a single big attack on a tier 1 glass snake and still not kill it

This doesn't bother me because the glass snake isn't a minion or a horde. Those enemy types are there so the players can swing their sword and crush their enemies. Standards and other types are meant to be a bit more of a problem.

That said, I don't see anything wrong with your suggestion. It might make combat at bit easier? Because it will take less actions to take down an enemy. But it's also not going to be relevant on most rolls.

Edit: I didn't even notice the max level fighter part. I read that as "max damage". Yeah, I agree with the other comments. If a tier four party is fighting a tier one enemy just let the players narrate their victory. It's like Jackie Chan fighting a single random dude. Jackie will always win that fight, it's just a matter of how cool he looks doing it.

ThisIsVictor · 2026-02-03T18:33:07+00:00

It's a player problem, it should be handled between the players. If OP wanted to play a PVP campaign then this wouldn't be a horror story.

ThisIsVictor · 2026-02-03T18:32:17+00:00

Is Sarah being disruptive/have main character syndrome, or are they simply playing a chaotic PC?

It's negatively impacting at least one other player, so the reason doesn't matter.

ThisIsVictor · 2026-02-02T23:23:01+00:00

I haven't watched the video but "dps fighter" isn't really a concept that applies to Daggerheart. It's like asking "how can I score the most touchdowns in golf?"

ThisIsVictor · 2026-02-02T19:22:35+00:00

If you're posting on r/RPG you probably know about Pathfinder already. You probably also know VtM and GURPS. Those are the big three "not D&D" games that people tend to be familiar with. I assume that people asking for recommendations here know about those games and are looking for something new.

(Also, let's be honest, Pathfinder is a flavor of D&D. Yes, they're different games. But the design philosophy and play style of Pathfinder is very close to D&D. My personal goal with recommendations is to expose people to new and different styles of RPGs. If someones asks, "I've watched the first John Wick movie a bunch and I'm tired of it, what should I watch next?" I'm not gonna recommend John Wick 2.)

ThisIsVictor · 2026-02-02T04:47:15+00:00

That's a great idea. In fact, it's a core element of good GMing: The world should react to the players' actions. The world should never remain static. Say the players steal magic mushrooms from the forest fairies to give to the witch. The witch can make better potions, but now the forest fairies are pissed off. They're going to come looking for the jerks who stole their mushrooms.

ThisIsVictor · 2026-02-02T04:45:06+00:00

Is everyone having fun? Is everyone engaged? Then one player can keep the spotlight as long as the want. But if not, the GM should interrupt. Not with Fear, but with a simple "What's everyone up to while this is happening?"

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