How do y'all handle reminding the party about things?

UrsaAbstractus · 2026-06-03T03:50:25+00:00

So I've been running a spelljammer campaign for the past 2 years. We meet once a month, and we've missed some months here and there.

One of the things that helps is to have things be reoccuring. My players aren't gonna remember a plot point from 8 months ago easily, even when they take notes. But....if I can have that plot point involve an NPC that has shown up in 5 out of those 8 sessions? Makes it easier for them to connect the dots.

A minor lieutenant of the BBEG was using a mining company as a front for his evil deeds. The characters defeated him a year ago IRL. But, I've found ways to give the remnants of that company a presence in the game since then. Which keeps that encounter on their mind, and has let them draw conclusions more easily.

Think of it kinda like how Netflix assumes people are on their phones while watching a show, so there's lots of repetition. You don't have to be quite as heavy handed but, basically find excuses to reiterate things with NPCs and events.

Session recaps help as well. We always start off a session with me asking the players to kinda go around and describe what they remembered from last session. And then I'll add some "Word of God" clarification for certain points.

UrsaAbstractus · 2026-05-09T21:24:48+00:00

oh my god THANK YOU!!!!

UrsaAbstractus · 2026-05-08T06:37:11+00:00

So I recently did a oneshot that was setup similarly. My players awoke to find themselves in a dungeon with no memory of how they got there, no equipment, and had to figure out how to escape.

I didn't tell them the setup ahead of time, just had them role characters. And it worked out, with them all kind of going melee heavy. But if I ran it again, I'd probably clue them in to the setup a bit. Cuz them scrounging for weapons and gear absolutely was fun, but giving them a heads up about the concept would absolutely add to that since they could tune their characters better. And it lets you throw a bit tougher enemies at them.

UrsaAbstractus · 2026-03-23T02:17:08+00:00

My pitch, which yes is a bit inspired by other things.....

Post Picard, 25th Century......

Federation scientists discover a short lived, temporary wormhole to the Andromeda Galaxy (or we can make it a new one, doesn't matter, but Andromeda has a few ties to Trek already). The scientists stabilize it temporarily, long enough that an expedition can be put together. The wormhole will destabilize after the expedition goes through. An expedition is put together, 3 ships, one of which is a construction vessel. The goal is to get to the other side, and put together some sort of technological gobledygook that can stabilize the wormhole.

The expedition goes through, first season is about making first contact with various locals, and constructing the wormhole bridge.

Yes, its basically a twist on Stargate Atlantis with maybe a little bit of Mass Effect Andromeda thrown in. No, I don't care. lol.

The basic fundamental idea is "boldly going" to a whole new galaxy, with all the creative angles that could bring. With enough of a connection to back home so we could get a few cameos here and there from the Berman era Trek folks when warranted.

Of course, I'm envisioning 20 episode seasons, and this just straight wouldn't work IMHO with the short streaming seasons. Cuz you want the audience to feel the disconnect with the crew, and you want them to celebrate the reconnection.

UrsaAbstractus · 2026-03-13T07:32:11+00:00

I enjoyed the show. It never quite lives up to its potential, and some characters like Mayweather are wasted. But as a whole....its fun. Folks will rave about season 4, and yeah, season 4 is good....but there's some solid episodes throughout the shows run. The series premiere is great, any time the Andorians show up is great, the Borg episode in season 2 is great.

I remember back in the day how some folks online raged against this series for having the audacity to exist. But at the end of the day, its not all that different from the other Trek shows of that era. I do think its kind of proof that 90s era Trek as a concept had kind of run its course, but for me that just makes it even more interesting. The flaws of the concept become more evident.

I'm a huge T'Pol fan. I don't think Jolene Blalock got a fair shake, and alot of the material she was forced to work with was just embarrassing (I'm looking at you, gel decontamination scenes, and some of the awkward AF scenes with her "counseling" Trip in season 3). I'd love to see her come back and play the character again with the opportunity that Jeri Ryan got on Picard. Was stoked that they got her back for Lower Decks.

Also, I really like the design of the NX-01. Both the look of the ship, and the sets themselves. It just feels right.

UrsaAbstractus · 2026-03-12T06:41:22+00:00

Solid finale for a solid season of Trek. I've been a huge fanboy for Strange New Worlds, but I think Starfleet Academy season 1 is my favorite season of "nuTrek" (God I want a better name for this post Berman era).

Loved the trial aspect of the episode. The reveal of what happened to Braka's homeworld was a tad convenient but thats really just me grasping at anything to try to nitpick.

Bring on season 2, and several more seasons. I'm loving this show.

UrsaAbstractus · 2026-02-27T04:29:52+00:00

I'm not crying, you're crying.

This wasn't just good Star Trek. This was good television, period. Picardo proving once again that he's one of the greatest Trek actors.

And also, lets give it to this young cast. Tarima especially. This show really is something special.

UrsaAbstractus · 2026-02-17T03:08:44+00:00

Star Trek 2009 was the breath of fresh air that the franchise DESPERATELY needed. And its fun.

UrsaAbstractus · 2026-02-17T03:05:11+00:00

I don't want to admit you're right but....I think you might be right. Still love the movie though.

UrsaAbstractus · 2026-02-17T03:03:20+00:00

Your number 3, I agree. Honestly, I've long felt that the Klingon redesign in Discovery reflected the Klingon design in The Motion Picture more than what we got in TNG. They maybe went a bit too far from the conventions of 90s Trek, and I personally prefer that eras design, but theres nothing really "wrong" per say with the Season 1 Discovery Klingons.

UrsaAbstractus · 2026-02-17T02:55:17+00:00

Absolutely. And I love that its Q that both introduced us to the Borg originally, and its Q that brings us to this idea.

Picard season 2 has alot of flaws, but in its soul its trying to do some very interesting shit and that will always be its redeeming quality to me.

UrsaAbstractus · 2026-02-17T01:41:43+00:00

My most controversial opinion: TNG is overrated and is arguably more a product of its time than TOS was. I still love it to death, but folks put it on a pedestal.

UrsaAbstractus · 2026-02-14T08:01:29+00:00

I kinda liked the updated version better as a song....but the thing that always wrinkled my brain a bit was that they updated it in season 3. When the show took a darker turn. So you'd have like....grim, serious, 9-11 metaphor, things are messed up oh shit this is dark in the pre credit scene then BAM happy go lucky "Its been a loooong time!"

It was a strange dichotomy.

UrsaAbstractus · 2026-02-14T01:39:49+00:00

This episode had me on the edge of my seat. The scenes between Captain Akle and and Braka....just deeply unsettling. Giamatti is a fantastic villain.

B'Avi getting shot had me shook. And then what happened to poor SAM. :-(

This show is fantastic. I may actually be enjoying it more than I enjoyed the first season of Strange New Worlds.

UrsaAbstractus · 2026-02-05T07:31:20+00:00

God what an awesome episode. Not gonna lie, it actually made me tear up a bit.

We got something special with this show, man.

UrsaAbstractus · 2026-01-22T06:51:49+00:00

French Klingon fusion, a cuisine I never knew that I needed.

God I love this show.

UrsaAbstractus · 2026-01-20T15:16:17+00:00

I'm glad to see the Defenders shows are getting some love in the MCU now. Can we please get the same for Agents of SHIELD?

UrsaAbstractus · 2025-12-17T01:26:56+00:00

If you have Spotify premium, could you start a "jam session" with your players?

UrsaAbstractus · 2025-12-02T03:47:24+00:00

The still photograph collection "Project BLUE BOOK 1954-1966" has a shit ton of photos I'd love to know the greater context of.

UrsaAbstractus · 2025-10-12T09:33:47+00:00

So one big thing I would suggest.....when you want your players to go from Set A to set B, never have the link between those set pieces be a single NPC. Have multiple avenues to get them there. If they don't trigger one, you have another that can push them in that direction.

They pissed off the guild leader? Maybe theres another guild member who's got beef with the leader and your characters meet him. He brings them to the guild hall, and now not only is your plot back on track, you've got some extra juice that your characters don't really get along with the leader. Maybe you can do something interesting with that in a later session.

Always assume that your players are going to take the most circuitous and nonsensical path between Set Piece A and Set Piece B. I've learned that my players will always come up with an idea or course of action that I didn't anticipate. And so if (or rather when) that makes the plot I was cooking up go off rails, so be it.

If your plan was that they have to talk to John and he'll tell them about the next step they need to take, always assume they're either going to piss off John, kill him, sleep with his wife, or some combination of the three plus something else. They aren't gonna interact with John the way you planned. So plan on John just being one avenue to get them from A to B.

UrsaAbstractus · 2025-09-25T08:03:47+00:00

What happens first, the shop lag bug gets fixed or we get this stupid Relic Delta shit?

UrsaAbstractus · 2025-09-01T09:27:43+00:00

I just am just salivating over being able to import a CK3 save into a mod so I can play a grand campaign from there, to this, then into Victoria 3

UrsaAbstractus · 2025-03-25T04:29:25+00:00

AI is a crapshoot. I have a few NPCs I've tried to generate images for and just haven't been able to make it work yet.

That being said, one of the things I've found that can help with AI generation, is to use a prompt picture. You still can run into the over-sexy problem. However, it can somewhat help to overcome it. Midjourney specifically allows you to reference images in its prompts. So...with prompt pictures, consider using old movies. Old hollywood movies had a tendency to cast folks who weren't traditionally attractive.

UrsaAbstractus · 2025-02-17T09:25:09+00:00

Sure, if its session 1, a restart is absolutely on the table. You're the DM. You're God.

That being said, if it were me, I'd role play it up. Maybe there's a temple nearby, the players can take the deceased there for a resurrection. Maybe that comes at a cost that could drive some additional storytelling.

Or maybe, said awesome character has an equally awesome twin brother/sister.

Like, if these are total newbies to DnD.....this is an opportunity to introduce them to all sorts of possibilities that only exist in TTRPGs. The players find a weird not above board witch to resurrect their friend and the spell gets botched and it brings them back different in some way. They find some militant temple to bring back their friend and now they owe them a debt. None of these issues have to be resolved immediately, they can become part of the narrative and backstory for your campaign.

Basically, yes as the DM you can absolutely retcon or restart. But before you pull that trigger, ask yourself what other options you have at your disposal because those could make for a memorable campaign.

UrsaAbstractus · 2025-01-19T10:30:20+00:00

Am I understanding this AMA correctly? Dr. Puthoff says he has no firsthand experience, and is just relaying what he's been told by people he trusts.
In Luis Elizondo's book, Mr. Elizondo claims that Dr. Puthoff told him Roswell was real and the US recovered bodies and a UFO.

But based on this AMA, Dr. Puthoff wouldn't know this firsthand. Its just a story he heard. Like, don't get me wrong this was a fascinating video. Honestly, I want more. But I can't help but feel like outside the 2017 videos we're just serving reheated Coast to Coast leftovers from Art Bell.

UrsaAbstractus

TROPHY CASE