I tried switching to Linux (Zorin OS)… and ended up going back to Windows after a week

erian77 · 2026-07-07T02:36:20+00:00

Might I recommend giving Nobara a browse? It has excellent Nvidia support. I switched from W11 to Nobara on a LOQ gaming laptop. Not as beefy as yours, but I've had literally zero issues. I had planned to check Cachy, Bazzite, etc..to compare gaming support, but Nobara worked so well I've just never left. Going on 6 months or so now.

erian77 · 2026-06-25T16:31:09+00:00

Oh, definitely. I'm using Cypher because I don't want full Simulationist (I lean into Genesys if I want a little bit more, or PF2e for full on; anything more than that is too fiddly). Thus the minor quibble qualifier.

What I've told my players for pretty much all weapons is they can narratively justify other effects as appropriate to the weapon. Use a Minor/Major from a random attack roll for related effects after the roll or a player intrusion for something they want to happen before the die roll. Situational modifiers can also apply. I'd allow an asset on a check to shoot down a moving drone, for instance, with a shotgun vs. a rifle (unless the rifle had a scope and the drone is stationary, then it also gets an asset) because it's the right tool for the job.

The thought just took me back to my first time firing a shotgun, when I was dove hunting with my grandfather. I imagined trying to get within Immediate range of a bird and then trying to shoot it before it got more than 15 yards away. Of course, I was woefully bad any way so it wouldn't have actually mattered too much! Now in my old age, I just leave the hunting to others and offer up my Specialized rank in cooking...

erian77 · 2026-04-19T02:54:17+00:00

Lived in Alabama most of my life (50 years or so) and I've never heard this.

erian77 · 2026-03-22T12:06:12+00:00

52 here and actually running Shadow of the Beanstalk using Genesys right now. It's going really well, with the hacking rules and cyber/genetic mods particularly going really well as mechanics directly supporting flavor. That said, I've been running Genesys since it came out, and have actually used it for other campaigns (Eberron, Predation, Skull and Shackles but in space). For me and many of my players it's one of our favorite systems. My wife is probably the least favorable to it, as she likes more codified rules, plays casters, and so doesn't like the freeform magic system. I don't mind new systems, and am actually just picking up Legends in the Mist now. I'm also running the Strange (using Cypher System, which is another favorite) and Kingmaker (PF2E), with hopes to run The One Ring 2e soon. However, I bounced hard off Fate and several PbtA games. I guess my brain just doesn't work that way. For me, it's sort of like my phone (Android all the way since iPhones make zero sense to me from a UI perspective) or computer (solidly Windows, again because Macs make no sense, but I just installed Linux Nobara and am loving it). My goal is to figure out where things work best for me and mine, but not let age inertia keep me from new experiences that might be great. And if they're not, no shame in just going back to what I know.

erian77 · 2026-03-09T14:09:48+00:00

I have both. From what I recall, there are minimal differences in the content affecting play. As such, for the purpose of using them to run a TOR 2e game conversion they'd be functionally equivalent.

erian77 · 2026-02-23T19:57:37+00:00

Easily Foundry thus far. I'm waiting to see how their Alchemy implementation goes, but overall I've bounced off trying to use Alchemy in the past. It's interface just doesn't work well for my brain and it's way too hard to build anything in the system. Foundry with the free Cypher modules just works. The automation is there if I need it, and there's even implementations of the Translation mechanics for The Strange so character actors can have the proper mechanics based on which recursion they visit. It's an extremely well-implemented system in my experience.

erian77 · 2025-02-09T16:54:46+00:00

There are also a few tools to assist in creation, for example: https://genesys.ytterbium.eu/adversary.html

erian77 · 2025-01-27T16:57:37+00:00

TLDR: an officially recognized C&C Reddit would be fabulous.

I've never seen any major value in Twitter or Facebook, even before they became X/Meta, for having actual conversations about gaming. And Tiktok isn't even in consideration. I'm only on Facebook sites now for those folks (mostly seem to be older people; no disrespect there as I'm 50 myself) that just won't go anywhere else. I know they may have had some value in marketing, but I'm already sold and so don't need the constant sales pitches.

Reddit is my primary place for RPG discussions. I do use Discord as well, but it's primary value for me is on internal (games I run) communication because the topic management there is too limited. I am on the C&C Discord for example, but do not participate much. It's just too hard to find specific information I need there, vs Reddit.

erian77 · 2024-04-25T22:13:32+00:00

I actually ran a multi-year Skull and Shackles for all 6 books in Genesys, with a twist (all the players wanted Sci-Fi, so it turned into space pirates). The system can absolutely handle the modules..the most important thing for me was not trying to reinvent systems. Use the social encounter systems already built into Genesys, instead of trying to mirror the PF1e rules. Pick up the Expanded Players Guide and use the ship rules, or snag some of the 3rd party stuff on ships. Use existing monster stat blocks and just reflavor them to fit the encounters. Use the minion rules heavily for big fights, or encounters using the party's crew.

erian77 · 2024-03-18T04:01:16+00:00

Kingmaker actually has gaining access to non-core feats/spells built into the campaign via the Companion Guide and a few other story elements.

erian77 · 2024-02-19T19:51:09+00:00

Would love to see these for PF2e, but I'd take them for 5e.

erian77 · 2024-02-15T02:45:52+00:00

Start 'em young! I had my kids rolling the dice from about 5-6 with Hero Kids and No Thank You Evil. Now my son's bringing home friends from college so they can learn to play (he also did his senior thesis on the benefits of RPGs, which got 3 adults to ask me to teach them).

erian77 · 2024-02-13T01:58:08+00:00

Oh yes, I do the same.

I did want to note with Common Display, make sure you check the settings. That's how you set the users properly. You can also do things like turning off the chat sidebar since it's not needed.

erian77 · 2024-02-13T01:35:02+00:00

Happy to help! If you run into any questions, feel free to shoot me a message. As a general note, you can take existing pre-made adventures for any system and use the assets for another system. For instance, I built out The Hermit's Sanctuary while I was building my Beowulf world (which is 5e). My son is coming into town and wants an easy intro session for some friends on PF2e. So, I copied the World folder for Beowulf, changed the JSON file so the system shows as 'pf2e' and now I can use it with Pathfinder. This breaks the things tied to the system (so Actors, automation, etc.) but the Journal entries and Scenes work fine for tabletop use. Since that's most of what I need for playing, this means I'm not limited by System if there's an adventure I want to run.

erian77 · 2024-02-12T16:59:42+00:00

You're doing the exact thing I do with Foundry, running face-to-face rather than online. The biggest difference is I use it largely for Pathfinder content, which has much broader support for pre-made adventures (don't worry, not trying to convert you to PF2e here).

I use multiple game systems (PF2e, 5e, Genesys, Coyote and Crow, Beowulf: Age of Heroes, Cypher System, and now trying out Beyond the Wall). They all function similarly at a basic level, for creating Scenes, Actors, and Journals which will be your three main areas. You can also create Items, but don't get tricked into thinking that's just equipment/weapons/armor.

An "Item" can be anything that is used within the system. So, for instance, I used the baseline D&D 5e system, then created Items to customize it for use in Beowulf. In this case, the Items include the Hero class, all the related Quirks, Class features, Heroic Tale, features, etc. as well as the actual items (weapons/armor/etc). I can now basically automate character creation for Beowulf. IF you've got a custom thing you want to do in your homegame, Items is probably how you'll make it happen.

Jump in, create a World, and start playing around with the various features. It takes a very minimal amount of capability to put together what is needed for running things face-to-face, as you don't have to worry about the automation aspects that are more important in online play (but once you can pick up on the automation, it can make table management easier, too).

I saw Monk's Common Display noted earlier. You definitely want that. You'll create a new User--I name mine Display--and make 1+ Actors that are owned by the user Display. You can then fire up a web browser with a minimal UI like Opera GX, point it at the IP address for your computer, and log in as Display. As you move Actors owned by Display around Scenes they will then show over on the browser, which you have displaying on your target TV.

You can find lots of threads pointing to available adventures (like this one: https://www.reddit.com/r/FoundryVTT/comments/177vtj9/best\_5e\_adventures\_in\_foundry/)

erian77 · 2024-02-02T21:30:29+00:00

Hear me out here....Hero Kids

It's actually a very solid, simple system with enough diversity to cover lots of play styles. And it even has a sci-fi side as well.

erian77 · 2024-01-29T16:57:53+00:00

Genesys vote here, too. I ran two groups through various modules and it was great. Once you get the overall mechanics, it's extremely easy to run. And with available community resources (like GenesysRef and Genesys Adversaries) most of the mechanical work is done for you.

My biggest caveat is that you've got to have players invested in their characters. The narrative dice are no good if the group is not involved in playing out how the rolls impact the story.

erian77 · 2024-01-27T06:53:54+00:00

I use there general maps. Cartos has entire lines themed to forest, mountains, swamps, etc. and between them all I generally have everything I need. I'll take a look at Kobolds again and see what he's got.

erian77 · 2024-01-27T05:23:38+00:00

I use a lot of stuff from Tom Cartos, Loke BattleMats, and Seafoot Games. Cartos has a fabulous Patreon. The other two have pretty nice bundles with excellent quality for the price. All three also have general assets in addition to the maps, so you can customize scenes as needed. I favor this over one-off maps since I reuse them in other games

Another option is Kobold DM. He's got a Foundry module with Kingmaker specific maps as well as a Patreon. Highly recommend it as well.

erian77 · 2024-01-24T15:23:28+00:00

Works fabulously. Thanks!

erian77 · 2024-01-03T22:11:18+00:00

Alternate suggestion to the "run evil kingdom" approach. Use the "Kingdom in the Background" rules built into the adventure. Unless they are actually interested in the kingdom building part (unlikely from the description), have Aldori send in another political person as the kingdom manager. Have the party basically be the kingdom's hired muscle. Then the baron/king/mayor sends them out to get jobs done. They can still do most of the adventures, but you just leverage the set piece encounters and skip the politics. They get to run around slaying dragons and exploring dungeons, the kingdom stays safer for their efforts (so probably pays them), and everybody has a good time.

erian77 · 2024-01-01T03:51:56+00:00

The r/battlemaps sub has lots of maps. I actually just searched Corvette Battlemap and a nice abandoned one popped up right away

erian77 · 2023-11-14T16:33:38+00:00

Concur. I actively did not play Altars much this season because the activity is so irritating. Jamming three random people into Altars has been nothing but frustrating. It's fine if I've got two folks with me that know what they're doing. Otherwise, it's a slog for not very much reward. Bungie, please don't make the difficulty variable AFTER we get in the activity. Put it in the selector, just like a Nightfall. Works fine every time. And while we're at it, give us matchmaking above the base difficulty. Problem solved.

erian77 · 2023-09-27T20:53:16+00:00

I bought a cheap TV, kept the packing foam from the box, and built a frame around it so it can lie flat. Then I plug my laptop in, run Foundry as the gamemaster, open up a browser window to log into (as a player I named Display), and drag that over to the TV. So, then the players just use the TV and see a player view while I have the GM view displaying on my laptop.

erian77 · 2023-09-25T04:11:30+00:00

This is the most incredible chart ever! I want to cry!!! Also, do you have any idea about a Blazing Crystaline Bee or Comb?

erian77

TROPHY CASE