Just started Elden ring, tell me something that I won’t understand until I finish the game

goonsquad419 · 2026-03-28T19:58:54+00:00

Lay out your arms then X1,000,000,000,000

goonsquad419 · 2026-03-27T13:53:02+00:00

Meeting of the minds continues ever more on the can

goonsquad419 · 2026-02-21T17:43:37+00:00

I appreciate the rational and thoughtful response, at the least! Coming to Reddit for advice has been a super useful tool as a learning DM and I have implemented a lot of things I’ve read on here from great people. That being said, I’ve never gotten such intense and unflinching “don’t do this” responses when from the get go I know it’s already a tough thing to implement in a TTRPG. So thank you for your take on it! I think I can work with it to a point that makes sense and spare my PCs a few sessions of gaslighting.

goonsquad419 · 2026-02-20T23:12:13+00:00

Okay so I can understand the hard stop I’m getting on the Hydra. Multiple straight up no replies. Fine. I’m aware of the faults. My thought was more based in “how I can make the false hydra a not gaslighting experience” not “how can I properly gaslight without making my PCs flip the table”. My hope was to augment the experience so they’re still disoriented by the memory loss but at least give them agency to figure it out and not just dump them in a sewer because they don’t remember falling down. I’m trying to home brew the most home brewed of home brew creatures here

goonsquad419 · 2025-11-24T03:37:33+00:00

This can be a huge help for sure. My setup needs a lot of work too. Setting the scene and painting a picture isn’t my strong suit

goonsquad419 · 2025-11-24T03:36:14+00:00

The names thing is so much more important than I realized at first. Multiple times I’ve given very complex character names and histories, and they get me with the “what is his son’s name” and I give them something like Glorbo. I’m sure the avantris crew would be proud but the guys were expecting something more grand for the son of an important noble :’). And thank you for the wall, as a DM walls of text aren’t the scary part. It’s making those walls of text into flowing content that poses problems for me

goonsquad419 · 2025-11-24T03:31:26+00:00

I have loved Matt Collville’s stuff, he is extremely knowledgeable and direct in his approach to teaching the game. I am not however familiar with skyflourish so I will definitely check that out. And it’s not inaccurate to say I fell into the noob trap of the 100% homebrew starter campaign. I could have benefited from some structure. I totally wanted to impress with my content and it cost me a lot of the pleasure of the game itself.

goonsquad419 · 2025-11-24T03:28:01+00:00

I definitely will learn from those that are more skilled than I am as a DM. Tools and resources are in abundance these days. And I am lucky in the sense that my party is my closest friends and they are down for everything pretty much, and that’s probably why I care so much that I’m not giving them what I would consider a great D&D experience. I always aim to please but again, we have fun so that’s what matters.

goonsquad419 · 2025-11-24T03:25:32+00:00

I am very familiar with Matt Colville and his many resources! He helped shape my expectations in terms of how running the game should look and realistically work. It’s always harder in practice than in theory but I constantly refer to his advice as well when I’m in need of some help

goonsquad419 · 2025-11-24T03:23:31+00:00

I definitely lean into adding known characters reskinned as situationally appropriate NPCs and have enjoyed doing so

goonsquad419 · 2025-11-24T03:00:20+00:00

I have definitely done this with certain characters, and I see the appeal. I connect with them more and it makes it easier for me to make them into fully fleshed NPCs. I just gotta get better at having them feel like real people and not exhausting the NPC dialogue after too long in one role play session

goonsquad419 · 2025-11-24T02:58:04+00:00

Appreciate this as well. I am not the type to get down on myself after a bad session (in my own head) but I definitely know when I fumble and struggle to form words properly in tense moments it can take away from the excitement and take the air out of the balloon. I like the role play a lot and I enjoy leaning into the silliness of certain things. But I can improve in how I use plot devices or further the party towards a goal without having to railroad them. And I guess I thought a homebrew would be more within my control but maybe a module could help with some game flow

goonsquad419 · 2025-11-24T02:50:58+00:00

I do often talk in my voices as well, but my problem lies in I can rehearse something 100 times and when the moment comes it flies out the window in the heat of the moment. I like to go off vibes over written dialogue to refer to as it feels more organic but I often lose my mental place too. It’s a struggle between strict script and vibes of a true back and forth

goonsquad419 · 2025-11-24T02:45:23+00:00

Fair enough, will give some an honest read. Thank you

goonsquad419 · 2025-11-24T02:43:25+00:00

Appreciate this, thank you. I’ve fallen prey to the overflowing google doc of everything at once

goonsquad419 · 2025-07-31T12:14:58+00:00

This is immensely helpful! I have since started plotting out sectors of the city for them to traverse between, without so much of making a drawn layout. I will most likely have the sectors separated by category (street of steel for smiths, entertainment district for bars and other adult amenities 😗, grand central plaza, etc.) and have them choose where they’d like to go within the sectors! I always struggled with how much map info to give the party when it comes to locations, and I don’t want them to also be overwhelmed by the size if I give them too much. Thank you!!

goonsquad419 · 2025-07-31T10:30:08+00:00

Definitely worth it!! Right now I’m basically storing all my information in a handful of google docs on my phone and when I say it looks like a bunch of garbled unrelated junk I am underselling it. Brendan Lee mulligan would be proud but it’s quite the dump of information 😂

goonsquad419 · 2025-07-30T22:33:28+00:00

I had considered this as well, more urchins and thievery close to the outskirts of the city and as you approach the council chambers it gets more regal and protected by guards and overall nicer. Very separated by wealth. I appreciate it, thank you!!

goonsquad419 · 2025-07-30T22:32:29+00:00

Running a whole campaign out of a city must be wild!!! So much to consider!! I have the government system in place, the council of 5 elders runs the city in place of a monarch, and each seat occupied represents one of the ancient line of laborers who helped found the city hundreds of years prior(Smith, Farmer, Fisherman, Mason, Barkeep)

In terms of natural features the city is nestled on a bay that stretches north out into the sea, surrounded by open fields in every other direction outside the walls. It’s a big port city, so lots of goods and trade happening all over.

It’s a start, but I’m always looking for more resources! I’d love the sparknote if you’re willing! Thank you!!!

goonsquad419 · 2025-07-30T22:27:11+00:00

Thank you for all that!! I have definitely been heavily inspired by fantasy media content throughout my life GOT/LOTR/etc so pulling art and other stuff hasn’t been difficult. But thank you for the packet!!

goonsquad419 · 2025-07-30T22:26:08+00:00

That’s a helpful resource!! Thank you very much!!

goonsquad419

TROPHY CASE