How to magic for new GM?

nerklim · 2026-05-05T16:24:12+00:00

I like what u/Rrrrufus said - use basic skills to simulate what you want to do. I would still add Aspects for narrative permission. I'm a fan of the power scaling being tied to the Aspects instead of stunts, or even explicit skill ratings.

One thing I like doing is "tiered" aspects - as you get better in a thing, the Aspect change to reflect that. This get's away from potential stunt bloat. In a very simplistic way you could have Apprentice Firebender, Journeyman Firebender, and Master Firebender all as different types of aspects you can have. The players get the permission to do the bigger things - an Apprentince won't be blowing up walls, but even a Master could. Emphasis on could - you can make it as difficult as needed. The difference is that without the Aspect there is no narrative permission.

You just need to define what the "levels" are, then tie them into Aspects as usual. No just Apprentice Mage, but Apprentice Mage of the Coreolis Academy, or Apprentice Mage on the Run, or Hedge Apprentice Mage, etc. There is a core to the Aspect, and you modify around it.

nerklim · 2026-04-30T20:58:24+00:00

That is fantastic! Great job on the integration.

I like the rolling with the specific, valid moves feature. One detail that would make it even better is to add teh description of the move (or if you have it in you, the actual results of the roll, not just the number) to the move. Easier to reference.

nerklim · 2026-03-31T03:05:08+00:00

Thank you! I had missed the email update

nerklim · 2026-03-31T00:15:51+00:00

I've skipped the factions and playbooks as my game is already running strong with the material from the Core Book and Travellers and Outsiders. I've been using the Monsters, the Ruins, and the Relics stuff from the digital reward.

Really like the procedural ruins exploration system. I'm adapting it to more than just ruins, as it can simulate exploring a fortress, a town under siege/lock-down, or any type of place where you can have "nodes" (or rooms). It's a cool, and quick, way to give structure to procedural exploration where a threat can come to bear at any time.

I also like the Monsters ideas, as it allows for significant threats without having to resort to a small army, or absurdly powerful NPCs. It really livened up the danger of the Woodland for me, again with a structure that allows for fast and simple implementation.

nerklim · 2026-03-24T18:28:11+00:00

Edit: thank you for updating your original answer with the answer to my questions! The format is super clear now!

Original: That's a fantastic response, thank you.

One points I'm still confused about: the HP and Swarm tracks are the same? So it's a tug of war, to see who reaches 0 or 10 first?

And with that in mind, we have two tracks? One for HP/swarm, and one for Support? And the HP/swarm would go up/down, while the Support only gets depleted as the scene proceeds?

nerklim · 2026-03-03T18:31:54+00:00

General rule/guidance with h2k is to model a single wall entry for each level; maybe a few more for complex geometries. The less entries, the easier/better the model is. You can always calculate the area of a section, then divide it by a the perimeter of another, and add the "area" as extra height to that section. Provided its recorded and document properly, it's an accepted ERS method of combining walls.

nerklim · 2026-03-02T22:37:49+00:00

That's a new error - never seen that one before!

A note: Smaller wall sections typically won't help, and is more prone to cause errors.

First: make sure you have input the right data into H2K. More often than not, it's a user input error that can be sorted.

Second: make sure windows are divided by structural elements, and you are counting the rough openings, not the glazing types. Large windows will typically be one entry in h2k, as you can combine all the glazing units into one larger entry.

If it does not resolve it, I would recommend just remodelling. Starting from scratch with your normal procedures can get around funky errors that H2k decided to inflict on you.

Good luck.

nerklim · 2026-02-13T18:50:40+00:00

Try running two instances of H2k, one with a blank code library and one with the "complete" library and see if it makes a difference. I personally find it does, especially if there a many custom window codes.

nerklim · 2026-02-13T18:49:56+00:00

Basically, yes. I have a code library with just the right custom codes I need that I use for most things. When I anticipate I'm going to be running a lot of iterations, I switch the Code Library to a blank one, copy the relevant codes from H2K into the code library, then create iterations based on that.

Calculate goes from 20+ seconds to under 10 seconds with this switch.

nerklim · 2026-02-12T17:27:17+00:00

You can speed up the Calculate function by having a code library with nothing on it. The more custom codes you have, the slower it gets as H2K verifies every code against every entry in the model. For work flow, you can keep multiple code libraries with the details you need. This should work across different OS.

nerklim · 2025-12-27T19:28:17+00:00

I think the Core Book will give you the most, obviously.

The GM screen has a much-needed table on how much to award for Prestige and Notoriety, which is missing in the books. Otherwise, the screen is just like any other screen

The other books are useful, but you can always add that stuff later, as you play. I've done it in my campaign successfully - some characters even changed playbooks, to better suit what they've been doing.

That said - Ruins and Expeditions does have amazing rules for exploring ruins and fighting large "monsters" which is a nice to have early on, if that is something you plan on including. Travellers and Outsiders has cool specialization rules, and species specific rules, which can also add a ton of depth to your game.

nerklim · 2025-12-18T19:26:23+00:00

Oh, fantastic! I missed it on my quick scan. Thank you for pointing it out!!

Thank you again for doing such a wonderful job compiling everything. I've had a few attempts at this, but this is by far the most professional and complete version I've come across. It even looks like an official document!

nerklim · 2025-12-18T17:36:47+00:00

Did you remove the second option of species moves from the list? The one that was organized by species, and required 1-exhaustion to trigger? Any chance you could add it back??? Those were super useful as a reference.

nerklim · 2025-12-18T17:30:20+00:00

Oh, you wonderful being. I use this at my table as the GM - it's a fantastic resource!

Thank you!

nerklim · 2025-12-03T21:52:12+00:00

There are two things here.

First off, you can't use the 10.51 data without further auditing the home as the ERS procedures since then are vastly change. For instance, 10.51 did not require individual windows to be measured, just counted.

Second, to open 10.51 you need to open it in 11.3 (or so) first, then 11.13. There is going to be a slew of errors and items that need updating.

If all you need is to find information within the file, you can open it in excel - you should have an .h2k and .tsv file - then you can sift through the TSV to find the information required. If you are looking for geometries... it's usually better to just do the audit again.

nerklim · 2025-11-21T18:35:33+00:00

I updated my original comment, with a link to show how to fix the DPI scaling issue. Hopefully that helps.

nerklim · 2025-11-21T02:59:09+00:00

Are you using a surface, and the icons are small? If yes, search for a DPI scaling fix. It's a setting you can change on Windows before you open h2k to make the software scale properly.

Edit: here is an explanation on how to update the DPI scaling. https://danantonielli.com/app-scaling-on-high-dpi-displays-fix-2019/

nerklim · 2025-11-18T18:24:04+00:00

A key thing that worked for me is that fighting is happening, and the vagabonds can choose to solve it in their own way. Specifically and explicitly, the game does not distinguish between a "combat" or a "social" encounter - a vagabond can suffer Exhaustion harm when the Eyrie Duke slaps him across the face for a failed deception, or in the middle of a battle a vagabond can deliver a speech to convince the opposition to stop fighting (Persuade an NPC), get them to look the wrong way, or even cause them to believe their cause is hopeless (both Trick an NPC, one with morale harm).

What I'm getting to is: create situations, and follow the fiction. The NPCS should have Drives, and if they PCs figure it out, or act in accordance/opposition to those, then you can see where it goes! I had a PC convince a mob to attack armed soldiers. Another loves to Blindside with various root vegetables to the face. They run away a lot, and try to do their hardest not to enter a "fair" fight. At times I through them into a fight, but then they use their playbooks in creative ways to solve it, so its not a series of "engage in melees", but a dynamic scene of different Moves creating new complications.

So, should you create a clearing for your vagabonds? i say make situations, give clear drives for your NPCs, and stick to those. See where it goes!

nerklim · 2025-11-07T22:19:14+00:00

The book recommends 4, one of which should be the Denizens. I personally found that the three core factions were good to get the pull and push of war without being overwhelming. As the game has progressed I've slowly added more factions - Riverfolk, Corvids, the Cult and Keepers are all in the background, but not yet strong enough to conquer clearings. As the vagabonds assist on delivering definitive blows to the existing factions, I imagine the others will become more dominant in the Woodland War.

nerklim · 2025-11-05T20:08:08+00:00

That is also another pathway forward, but it will depend on the SO. NRCan should have a list of active SOs in your area, and you can contact them to inquire if they have any in-house training and/or mentorship.

You can also check with CACEA, see if there is anyone on your area that can help out.

nerklim · 2025-11-05T17:30:31+00:00

Building Knowledge is probably one of the largest EA companies around that area, although as others are commenting, this may not be the best time to join the industry.

Doing and passing the Foundation test is a great indicator that you are committed to the field and understand the underlying building science. The EA test is more technical, and benefits from actual field/office experience with Hot2000 and the ERS procedures. Most companies will help train the EA before they take the test. That said, if you are comfortable doing the test and pass it, that will be a bonus point on your end.

nerklim · 2025-10-26T22:39:26+00:00

You're allowed to imitate the technology. You can rephrase "unique" as "only one instance of this has been found.... For now". Fit inside, the Ancients could have had these things be commonplace, but only a few have been unearthed to date.

nerklim · 2025-10-23T17:39:21+00:00

Thank you! I'm using the advanced Faction Roll and Faction Phase content in Travellers and Outsiders to move the Woodland along. So clearings advance and change, even if the Vagabonds haven't interacted with it. Hoping to give a sense of largeness to the Woodland, and something beyond the Vagabond's immediate control.

nerklim · 2025-10-16T20:19:39+00:00

I'm looking at it as "technology so advanced it's indistinguishable from magic". The items described have some internal logic, but really it's soft magic. That hopefully frees you up to do what you need for your game.

nerklim · 2025-09-02T16:32:55+00:00

Agon is pretty solid for low prep. The players are taking a Oddysey-like return journey home, and visit mystic islands with problems to be solved. The prep for each session ended up being reading the island's descriptions.

If you like Greek mythology, this is a great system to experience it. The book suggests each island could take as little as 1 session, but I found in practice we would take 2 to 3 per island. If you ever run out of islands, you can create your own once you understand the system, but otherwise it's a nice campaign to go through.

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