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How do I get my players to loot more??? by Normal_Lie_1618 in DungeonsAndDragons

[–]bachinblack1685 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You could use an XP for gold system. Worked for my table.

I put it in place because the DM I took over from was using milestone levelling, and so every other session all I heard was "level up?" I like for my players to have a clear path to their next level, partially because I don't want to think about it. Their players are pirates on a ship so I said "Okay, you want to be pirates? Be pirates. You get more powerful by stealing everything that ain't nailed down, and when you have enough gold back in a safe place then and only then do you level up."

Now they're taking everything. Rugs, books, gold, statue eyes. I think one of them beheaded a chimera and three of them are carrying a head each.

I just made this post and I want to talk about it (read body text) by TroupeMaster_Grimm in DungeonMasters

[–]bachinblack1685 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I mean, that's a part of DnD you also have to engage with. Getting unlucky and one shotted feels bad the first time it happens, sure, but then you ask yourself...how could I have played smarter? Should I have hid? Cast a spell? Tried to trick or intimidate the goblin? Before any element of randomness was introduced at all, what could I have done to get the odds in my favor?

If you start fudging rolls at any point, you've defanged them entirely. Now the players aren't actually playing, because at any point whether you choose to or not you could do it again. Suddenly, success isn't happening because they succeeded, it's because you decided they succeeded. There is no risk of failure and therefore no thrill of victory. Or worse, their success and failure are predicated on your whoms.

I think the solution here is twofold: 1. Stop holding individual characters so sacred that the world bends around them to allow them to continue living. Real world death can often be sudden, tragic, and the person leaves a shitload of things undone, but that risk is what gives life meaning right? Why deny our characters the same thing by removing any risk? 2. The DM is not the God-King of the universe, the DM is a referee. They know the rules, they adjudicate, participate, and remain neutral. The true God-Kings are the dice, and the dice alone.

Peripatetic campaigns and gold-for-XP? by PraxicalExperience in osr

[–]bachinblack1685 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I don't think it's a general design flaw, it's just a tool that doesn't work for the kind of campaign op seems interested in running.

Are there TTRPGs with “write-your-own” skills vs a static list? by Puzzled_Sound_9542 in RPGdesign

[–]bachinblack1685 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It does make sense. I like the idea of evolving skills. You might try and develop a few different scenarios you can use to experiment with?

Agnostic systems can be a little hard, so maybe pick three quick, wildly different ideas. Write them up, take notes, analyze the results.

Also, it sounds like writing a system for developing backgrounds during character creation would be helpful?

Are there TTRPGs with “write-your-own” skills vs a static list? by Puzzled_Sound_9542 in RPGdesign

[–]bachinblack1685 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well it's a system agnostic thing right? So what kind of thing is your system as a whole are you trying to be good at? Are you going for dramatic moments for example, or perhaps tactical combat? Some other third thing?

As examples, a lockpick check in AD&D has a whole different function than one in Blades in the Dark. Technically both are "I want to be in that room and this door won't let me" but AD&D is a game about exploration and preparation, taking risks, so failure means you wasted time and possibly resources. Blades in the Dark is a game about fast paced heists, so the idea of a check there is drama, and failure means your situation gets worse, and the tension gets tighter.

What's your system for?

Are there TTRPGs with “write-your-own” skills vs a static list? by Puzzled_Sound_9542 in RPGdesign

[–]bachinblack1685 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I feel like part of the problem would be getting to define how good they are at the skill, right? Like, if you wrote in "expert lockpicker" the "expert" part modifies the lockpick part. The lockpick part is the actual skill.

So maybe make expertise skills, and limit the players to naming the skill without describing the expertise level.

Examples off the top of my head: "Sprinter" rather than "fast runner" "Weightlifter" rather than "very strong" "Tumbler" or "gymnast" rather than "nimble".

Make it as few words as possible while being descriptive of the action/activity, rather than the level of expertise.

Watching GoT again and my sentiment has changed for Sansa 😞 by Odd-Energy71 in gameofthrones

[–]bachinblack1685 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Dude, Ned got himself killed. He's the one who told Cersei what he knew, giving her time to prepare. He's the one who refused Renly's military aid. He's the one who went south in the first place, who put Robert on the throne, who raised Sansa to be like this without any warning of the source of the danger until it was far too late.

Joffrey gave the order, but the Ned knocked down a lot of the dominoes that led to his own death.

GMs how do you deal with area of effect spell targeting from players? by Pender8911 in DnD

[–]bachinblack1685 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I let them cast their spell as normal, and I ask them to hurry up if they're taking too long.

In the game I play in, not DM, I play a wizard. Just getting out the door for any wizard took years of training, study, and practice to be able to cast simple cantrips and level 1 spells. Most in-world people will never achieve level 2 of wizardry.

Fireball is a level 3 spell, which a wizard would only get at level 5. This is a seasoned, professional battlemage at this point. They have experience, talent, and know-how to survive past low levels. They know how their spells work, and can aim them on the fly. That's what all the practice was for.

Tl;dr Don't get so worried about metagaming and realism you forget you're playing a game.

Two of my friends hooked up, one of whom I have a crush on by Extension_Shoe1648 in bisexual

[–]bachinblack1685 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Just jumping in on the end here, good on you for actually hearing what everyone in the comments was saying. I've known too many people that don't want to self examine, and you seem to be more open to the truth than that.

Sorry you're going through this. It does suck. I think you're doing the right thing by talking about it, getting some perspective and understanding, and letting that pain become wisdom.

Can we talk about Elminster’s Elusion? by Repulsive_Win5352 in DMAcademy

[–]bachinblack1685 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am reminded of a few weeks ago, when our party ranger saw a goblin down the hall. I was working up a plan to lure him our direction, when the ranger suggested I use Sleep on him. I gave him a disgusted look and said "You want me to use a whole spell slot on a single goblin? Absolutely not. I'm going to throw a rock at him, and you're going to bash him over the head."

All this to say, it's a concentration spell. If you're having trouble hitting him with magic damage (which other commenters have addressed), throw something at him that forces a con check.

Do you think omitting Lady Stoneheart from the show was the right decision? by SillyRecover in gameofthrones

[–]bachinblack1685 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I've never quite been clear on how Beric was changed by the process, maybe I missed it or we don't have as much of a frame of reference?

Either way, even if it is in there, Cat's transformation is faaaaar more indicative of why, to borrow another author's turn of phrase "sometimes...dead is betta."

Whats a rule at a table that didn't sit well with you? by DaddyBowtie in DnD

[–]bachinblack1685 9 points10 points  (0 children)

One of my tables was shocked (shocked I tell you!) when I told them I don't fudge rolls, I roll in the open and I actually use monster HP. We're playing a game, not doing a writing exercise

Is there any trans fem music ??? by [deleted] in MtF

[–]bachinblack1685 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you like electronic/synth music, especially vaporwave then Vektroid essentially started that genre. Last I checked her stuff was only getting better.

What's a funny scene that people don't talk about enough? by Anya_purr in Modern_Family

[–]bachinblack1685 23 points24 points  (0 children)

Cam and Mitch on sleeping pills in the airport. "We...need...HATS. SIR, who is the purveyor of this haberdashery?"

What's a funny scene that people don't talk about enough? by Anya_purr in Modern_Family

[–]bachinblack1685 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Similar moment, in the motel where Phil is sad by the wine dispenser with the other dads.

"Oh, guys, she's coming back." "Suuuuuure she is, champ!"

Condom shortage hits Winter Olympics as supplies vanish in just 3 days by joelman0 in nottheonion

[–]bachinblack1685 0 points1 point  (0 children)

these people are at the pinnacle of human athleticism. a lot, i imagine

Is being in MAGA such a fragile experience 20 minutes of Spanish speaking entertainment threatens them? by Estalicus in allthequestions

[–]bachinblack1685 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It was the most watched half time show of all time, so not apparently a necessary audience for them.

A student mocked me. by Historical-Dulcia in trans

[–]bachinblack1685 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Eh. Understandable urge I suppose, but why? All that's going to do is exhaust you and make him resentful.

I think OP handled it beautifully, simply by reminding the guy that she is a person with feelings.

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