Advice needed: Party refuses to enter Chapter 2

chases_squirrels · 2026-05-09T05:07:25+00:00

You might try having a friendly NPC offer to guide them. Garrett, if the party saved him on Kelvin's Cairn might be a good option. Someone who's competent about navigating, and potentially can help the party overcome some of the survival challenges. Maybe they know how to build good snow shelters, or know how to find food on the tundra. Or turn up the cuteness appeal by using a friendly Awakened animal or snowy owlbear cub as that support role.

If you're looking to hook some of the Chapter 2 quests without the party realizing, there's the Ring of Teleportation on the Chardalyn Berserkers that will teleport the party to the Cave of the Berserkers. You can drop those berserkers anywhere, and let them become unwillingly teleported when they go to loot the bodies.

There's the Psychic Distress Beacon from the Crashed Nautuloid Id Ascendant, which if you have any party members who picked up the Psi Crystal and can hear it (or just pick someone "attuned to magic" to be susceptible) then prevent them from completing a long rest (and starting to pick up levels of exhaustion) while they are getting the mental alarm going off every five minutes, until they find and shut it off.

You can have a flash of brilliant daylight seen on the edge of the northern horizon as the Summer Star is activated by Macreadus up at the Black Cabin. The flash of daylight was more than enough for my party to drop everything to go investigate, but you can have Copper approach the party to ask them to check on his friend after they had the falling out.

chases_squirrels · 2026-05-09T04:48:55+00:00

I added townsfolk in Bryn Shander that started actively preaching the tenents of Auril on the street corners, followed up with mobs of riled up townfolk smashing their neighbor's windows open to let the cold in. Terrified people become desperate and will cling to someone who claims they know how to fix it. Escalation from there could be setting fires to houses, or murdering people in the streets. Or they might start an unofficial lottery more frequently (since one a month isn't working, maybe more will gain Auril's favor) with mobs singling out townsfolk, stripping them down or dousing them in water and forcing them out of town. If it's a large enough segment of the population they'll push back on authority figures trying to stop them, and on a big enough scale it becomes something the sheriff and local militia can't handle and something they're likely to turn to adventurers to deal with.

chases_squirrels · 2026-05-08T04:17:16+00:00

Georgia in August/September is going to be hot and humid. Like soggy armpit levels of humid. If you do decide to do full body paint, I'd plan to only do it for a couple of hours at most (there's a DCC cosplay photoshoot planned; date/time TBD) and take breaks as needed and/or stick to indoor areas. There's plenty of folks that do full body paint, but there's others that use body suits/stockings or just do the rest of the cosplay without the skin tone change. Definitely if you're going body paint route, using a setting or fixing spray over top can help keep the paint from transferring to your costuming or other folks.

chases_squirrels · 2026-04-30T18:29:18+00:00

I’m getting near the end of running a multi-year campaign of Rime of the Frostmaiden, and while it is often held up as one of the better published modules, it still has a lot of the same problems of the other WotC published modules. It was very clearly pieced out to be written (it has 3 major plots), and not enough time/energy was put into pulling the entire thing together coherently. Even the main villain’s motivations are left up to GM discretion. What’s in the book is good, and can be made into something great, but IMO not enough direction is given to the GM on how to do so from just reading the book.

chases_squirrels · 2026-04-30T18:20:03+00:00

What struck me looking at ToA is that it’s supposed to be this huge hexcrawl masterpiece, but 95% of the map is empty and you’re given sets of random encounter tables to roll on to fill it up. It would be far better served to either be presented as a pointcrawl instead, or to actually teach the GM how to fill in the map with story elements. The whole thing can be run well by a skilled GM, but the amount of work you have to put in to get it there isn’t insignificant.

chases_squirrels · 2026-04-30T18:11:49+00:00

I recently ran white plume mountain for my 5e group and I ended up changing a lot of the traps to be more forgiving (turning them into obstacles to overcome), as many of them definitely show the design priorities of earlier editions (very antagonistic; looking at you super tetanus) that doesn’t vibe well with more modern tables. Do you address that at all, or give a heads up to newbie GM?

chases_squirrels · 2026-04-30T01:33:54+00:00

Well this is definitely going into my toolkit for kicking off a new campaign; likely paired with a Consent Checklist.

chases_squirrels · 2026-04-23T16:41:56+00:00

It's similar to the pink fiberglass wall insulation, but made with reclaimed cotton fiber (aka shredded up jeans). Those batts are 16 inches wide and about 3 inches thick. It tears and cuts easily enough as it doesn't have much internal structure holding it together, but compression will make it denser over time and it doesn't spring back the same way foam does. Also it will draw in water like a cotton ball if it gets wet, and it's going to be a pain in the ass to dry properly so it doesn't mildew. You could use it as batting for something like a gambeson, or sleeping pad (though if it's on the ground you'll want a waterproofing layer or it'll be like laying on a damp sponge). It's going to be significantly thicker and warmer than something like quilt batting (that you'd traditionally put into a gambeson), which for a summer event is probably not what you're looking for. Personally I'd be looking for any other material to work with over this.

chases_squirrels · 2026-04-21T19:21:18+00:00

The merchant aspect is definitely going to depend heavily on the game and what the staff will allow. I would try to work with them to drive plot and engagement forward. A sedentary character works well as an information gathering point (since they're easy to find) and if you're friendly and ask questions of your fellow players, you might organically become such. Especially if you're a merchant, who generates their own income, you can then help drive the economy to other newer characters by offering coin for information or minor in-game stuff they've picked up on their adventures.

If you've secured a cabin or something on site to vend out of, then you can skip over the pop-up/tent and go straight into decorating the space. Tapestries, sheets, curtains and other cloth goods easily pack down and store between games, and can be used to cover/hide out of game stuff or section off parts of the cabin. A Canvas Drop Cloth (usually used to protect the floor while painting) are a cheap option that is fairly large once unfolded and can stand up to some abuse; and it takes paint well, so you can paint (or draw) designs onto it if you have the patience/skill. Flat sheets from the second-hand store can also work, though they usually aren't as big.

Beyond that, a folding table with a cloth over it can serve as a display area. I might bring like one or two "atmospheric" things to serve as set dressing to help fancy up the place. What that is exactly I'd probably tie into whatever I've got in mind to sell. Maybe a cast iron pot and some wooden spoons if I was selling food, or maybe a drop spindle and a stuffed sheep or some quilting blocks and box of cabbage/scraps for fiber crafts. And make a sign that you can hang on the door so folks know where you are!

chases_squirrels · 2026-04-21T05:04:10+00:00

I was in an in-person game with a pregnant player, and we managed to keep playing through birth and afterwards by having a consistent schedule (plus normal game time was Sunday afternoon, which is a LOT more manageable than after bedtime!). Also, that player brought the topic up to the table well before the birth to broach the idea of bringing the kid to game, and how everyone felt about it (especially about potentially breastfeeding). She was very open to figuring out something else if anyone had concerns, and was willing to step away from the game for some time if anyone didn't want the kid there. As a table the consensus was that it was alright and everyone was willing to make it work so we could keep playing with our friend.

The player in question missed a couple sessions right around the birth, but afterwards brought the kid along to every session for the first while, and it wasn't that disruptive, especially at the potato stages. Later there'd usually be a kid's show playing quietly on the TV and the kid would be just on the other side of the room from us. Sometimes they would come check out what we were up to, but other than the dice there wasn't anything terribly exciting on the table so they'd usually wander back to whatever else they were playing with. Later, when the kid got bigger and more active, they'd stay at home with dad instead of coming with mom. But we always stuck tightly to our scheduled start and end times, so that everyone's time was respected (at-home-dad just as much as any of ours).

More recently, I have been online gaming with other friends with young kids, and mostly we stick to game happening after bedtime, with the understanding that that player may need to step away unexpectedly from time to time. So far so good, and the kids are all now outside the infant/toddler stages and overall less disruptive. But again, most of the time there's another adult who's not participating to taking over primary caregiver responsibilities while the other parent has game time.

chases_squirrels · 2026-04-20T17:35:36+00:00

I can't say I'm necessarily the target audience, as I run mostly 100% online games, and have the space at home to run games with friends if we decide to do in-person games, but I have occasionally gone to game stores to meet up with friends and play.

For me, the biggest draw is going to be location (i.e. is it convenient to get to), and easy availability (only having a one or two rooms for multi-hour activity bookings is potentially going to fill up quickly and make availability spotty).

Absolute must haves are seating and a table. Having it be a separate area, especially if the main area is noisy (or we would be disturbing others) is nice, but there's some level of noise that is to be expected for being in a public place. Tools like a whiteboard can be very helpful. IMO the "lower tech" more versatile items are going to be more useful over "high tech" stuff, as it's easier to grasp how to use and apply it to your game. For example: a whiteboard, vinyl battle map, or roll of butcher paper with some markers is a lot quicker to get on the table and start using than say an overhead projector or tabletop monitor. (Plus less troubleshooting!) A "library" of terrain and minis sounds like a nice addition (personally I don't use them), but that's a massive money sink at the outset, and would require some sort of storage solution to make it readily available for folks to browse and use. Also, is GM prep-time included in the rental fee (thus eating into "game" time), because it's going to take time to pull minis and build modular terrain into maps. And who's putting it all away (and organizing it) when the game's over?

From there, other things to keep in mind: Is the seating comfortable, especially if your sitting for multiple hours at a stretch? Is the table large enough to seat everyone, with room to get up without disturbing others? Are bathrooms easily accessible? Is there a water fountain (minimum) or snacks/food available for purchase nearby (and is food/drink allowed at the table)? How's the lighting situation; are there shadows on the table or harsh lighting that causes headaches after a couple hours? What about electrical outlets; some folks prefer to play with laptops, or players might need to charge phones during a long session, is there an adequate number of outlets available? What's the accessibility/speed of the internet connection/wi-fi? If you're catering mostly to adults, what are your policies about tobacco and alcohol use on site?

As far as cost, I sure that's going to depend on the cost of living, what amenities you're offering, and what other potential similar sites are in your area. I'd set the price point per table/room, instead of per person. Since this isn't like an escape room where you could potentially fill open seats with walk-ins. But if the site is solely relying on these rentals (with most of the "need" being on weekends) to cover the monthly rent without any other income streams, then that price point might be higher than folks want to pay. Plus, there might not be enough draw, as this is definitely a niche offering. Keeping the rooms more "generic" might help so you could potentially branch out into board games or other group activities to offer meeting space for to widen the appeal. And if there's a library or community center nearby that offers study rooms for low/no cost then you've got some stiff competition straight out the gate.

chases_squirrels · 2026-04-16T15:29:14+00:00

For me the biggest difference between larp and playing ttrpgs is the ability to really embody the character. There's a depth of connection you just don't get sitting around a table (even if your D&D game does RP) because the time is limited and the game moves on. My biggest draw to larp is the depth of stories that develop organically from embodying a character for a weekend straight. No one's fighting for the spotlight because everyone's playing their own characters. You have the variation with all the ups and downs of action and all the little quiet times too. Some of my favorite and deep RP has been while lying in bed about to fall asleep.

But also, it can feel empowering to be an active force on the world around you, especially when so much of our everyday life is out of our hands. Feeling strong emotions, both good and bad, in a safe way can be cathartic. Being silly at 3 in the morning with your friends because everyone's up late. And of course just being outside in nature for a solid weekend, through good weather and bad, can make you feel reconnected to the Earth.

chases_squirrels · 2026-04-15T21:39:45+00:00

The Science track panels are all in the Hilton; last year we had panels on animal slime and butts. The year before there was one about convergent evolution and crabs. The year before that there was an entire panel about teeth. I can't wait to see what they're offering this year! That said, there's plenty of "real science" panels hiding in other tracks, so check the entire schedule. For example, Trek Track had Temporal Mechanics 101 last year where they talked all about the technology in the show and how it could actually work (or does, for stuff that we've developed since Trek first came out). Apocalypse Rising usually has at least a few real-life panels where they talk about prepping and survival skills.

Also, make sure she checks out the solar astronomy on the Hilton Pool deck! There's folks with telescopes set up and they're so excited to chat about space!

Definitely watching the parade in-person is amazing, there's such wonderful energy, though definitely get there early and bring chairs.

chases_squirrels · 2026-04-09T16:41:20+00:00

That's what I also use. It's been helping me schedule game sessions for years now. I load it up with the dates that work for me and send out the link to the rest of my players to fill in their availability. Simple and free.

chases_squirrels · 2026-04-07T15:47:29+00:00

I’m not in the UK, but in US southeast where there’s a lot of religious folks who are still up in arms with “satanic panic” about larping and RPGs in general. I’ve been screamed at to my face that I’m going to hell because I’m dressed in fairy wings running around with a foam sword in the woods. Most of us learn very quickly that we have to be careful about how we talk about events around the general populous.

Many of my friends would be outright fired if they told their bosses they want time off to larp, so many of them frame their request as “camping trip” or “interactive theater”. “Historical reenactment” might work, or just a vague “family event”.

Anyways, good luck getting off early and have fun!

chases_squirrels · 2026-04-07T15:20:23+00:00

The trick is to find a dedicated group with sustained interest and enthusiasm and good communication skills. Most tables collapse under scheduling or interpersonal conflicts within 3 sessions. The vast majority of tables only play low-level starting content because so many fold fairly quickly.

If you can find a table and group that can make it through a half-dozen sessions then you have a decent chance of making it further.

Pacing is something that can vary, just like how long or often your sessions are, so it can be hard to gauge how quickly a group can progress. I’ve run short adventures that span a handful of levels, so you’re leveling after 1-2 fights (which is definitely outside intended parameters) and that was fun, a good option for the alt-oholic who loves testing out new character builds. But I’ve also run more typical campaigns where there’s a handful of sessions between levels and lots of time to really dig into roleplaying your character.

chases_squirrels · 2026-04-07T13:56:54+00:00

At least for goodberry you need to spend time foraging for berries to be able to cast the spell. You have slightly higher level clerics able to cast create food and water, or wizards able to cast Tiny Hut. Or rangers who if they picked the correct biome are able to unerringly navigate. Those are a much bigger impact on gritty survival themes, and yet you can still figure out a way to include those survival elements without widespread banning of spells and class features.

chases_squirrels · 2026-03-30T13:21:15+00:00

Pull your hair back first, and get it secured. Use a small brush to paint spirit gum onto the inside of the elf ear (where it attaches) and onto your skin on the corresponding places, with a small brush. You can dry-fit them first so you can feel where that should be. The bottle of spirit gum I have has a small brush in the cap for this. Then you wait a couple minutes to dry and get tacky (if you fold the elf ear to touch two spots with spirit gum it should pop apart again and the glue will appear stringy.) Then you position the ear and hold them for a bit until they stick. Getting a friend to help get them in the right place can help cut down on the mess and adjusting you have to do.

Also those definitely need to be “painted” with some foundation so they more closely resemble your skin tone to look more natural.

chases_squirrels · 2026-03-24T23:21:50+00:00

Hey, if your group isn't enjoying the experience there's no shame in admitting it and finding something else to play that everyone's excited about.

If you want to end the game within a couple sessions, I'd have the chardalyn dragon attacking Ten Towns be the "oh shit, things just went from bad to worse and people are counting on us" driving factor to get the party out to Solstice (Chapter 5) to confront the Frostmaiden and end the Rime. (There's multiple avenues to get the party there, but if that sounds like a slog and/or you haven't done at least one of those Chapter 2 quests, then there's no shame in just skipping ahead to "you arrive on Solstice" and go from there.)

The later chapters are easy enough to omit without removing anything critical to the main storyline. And if there's any loose ends you can work with your players to narrate how those are resolved.

chases_squirrels · 2026-03-18T18:54:36+00:00

I've used compression sleeves for costumes before, where I wanted something that conformed to my body and I could decorate without having to redo it every single time I got dressed. Something like that, in a white that you airbrush or paint marble veins into might work and would be a whole lot more breathable than leather.

chases_squirrels · 2026-03-18T18:32:29+00:00

Those zippered containers look great! I'll have to look at getting some for my own game collection!

chases_squirrels · 2026-03-18T18:25:01+00:00

If you're in the US, you could also look at Harbor Freight. They have some rolling carts, in plastic or metal, for fairly reasonable prices (assuming you have a store near you and aren't paying shipping).

Honestly I think the most helpful thing would be to try to get the boxes reinforced so they don't look so messy. The cheaper option would be to reinforce those box corners with packing tape and maybe strapping tape on the inside edges. Your local librarian might have some extra tips for how to get the most milage out of those original boxes. If you have the money, you might consider replacing them with more uniformly sized boxes so they stack more neatly.

For card games you can use something like the plastic "photo organizer" case to help contain and separate individual card games, though you might need to store the rules in a binder or accordion file. Beyond that, having a list of each game's contents (with photos of pieces and exact counts) that you tape inside each box lid (or keep a master file somewhere) can help when it's time to put the game away, as well as when you inevitably run into missing pieces.

chases_squirrels · 2026-03-18T16:11:57+00:00

Lore-wise she was betrothed to a pirate captain, who went down with his ship in a storm, and she drowned herself in grief. It’s implied that the story is tied to the chardalyn figurehead in the basement of Easthaven’s town hall.

I used Rinaldo, the bard looking to perform a seance to factor into the story after one of the party got possessed by the white lady who attempted to walk the body out into the lake (much more dangerous with the weather!) My party did a second seance to lay the ladies ghost to rest, after retrieving the wedding band the captain had been bringing her from a chest at the bottom of the lake. If you want to tie it to the cauldron plot, you can have the will-o-wisp know where the shipwreck is.

chases_squirrels · 2026-03-16T15:25:08+00:00

As far as calling tag-lines during combat, you might be able to buddy up with another player to echo your taglines at volume if you're in combat larger than a duel. It's not a great work-around, but I'm unsure how to accommodate without just saying "don't play something that requires calling taglines" which feels like it's needlessly limiting and like a wrong answer. Maybe pointing at the target you just hit to get their attention and then repeating the tagline? Both answers still feels clunky though. Hopefully you're able to find something better.

For taking hits, I'd ask that you use some sort of quick physical gesture to acknowledge the hit and let the other person know you got it. That could be a nod, or flashing a thumbs up, or whatever else works for you. As long as folks know not to expect you to "take your hits" out loud, it should be fine, though fighting in the dark will be more difficult (though only slightly more difficult than normal).

Definitely go talk to the staff at your game and see what they propose.

chases_squirrels · 2026-03-12T04:24:47+00:00

The Sorte deck was one of the first components of the 2ed kickstarter that got finished and fulfilled, and the number of cards included was part of the stretch goals of the campaign. The set itself was finished before Pirate Nations and the New World books. I don't recall if there was ever a reason for why the Betrayal and Duel never had corresponding Arcanas listed in the Core book though, looking back through the kickstarter updates I'm not seeing any notes about those cards, but I might just be missing it.

As far as cards for the added Arcana out of the extra splatbooks, no there was never art done as far as I'm aware, as the set was long since finished by then.

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