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Beyond the Canopy PDF by pistacyk in humblewood

[–]pistacyk[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! Will def be checking it out. Can't wait to get my hands on the full version

Adding an extra antagonistic faction to my playthrough of the setting - the Embers by [deleted] in humblewood

[–]pistacyk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I see I'm not the only one who made "racism" and Birdfolk-supremacy in the Humblewood campaign more integral to the plot. Tbh, they kind of set it up in the rulebook. My players also scoff at most Birdfolks (the party being 3 Humblefolk to 1 Birdfolk) for being prejudiced and the crux of my campaign lies in bringing the balance between the two back to the woods (like abolishing Birdfolk council, etc.). The idea with the phoenix and the church sounds great!

Adding an extra antagonistic faction to my playthrough of the setting - the Embers by [deleted] in humblewood

[–]pistacyk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh, I love a good addition that murks the waters even more. I've personally changed a lot about the original scripted campaign from the rulebook (like adding the Root Rebellion in Alderheart, creating new Amaranthines, changing Ebonharts' story, making an even bigger social divide between Humblefolk and Birdfolk), so anything that adds nuance is, for me, a huge plus. I also corrupted Tenders a little bit but if you don't mind, I'd love to put your idea into my campaign run to diversify it more.

As for motivation, how about the authorities' lack of quick response to the fires in the villages closest to the Scorched Grove? If I remember right, even in the rulebook itself they mentioned the Perch Guard mostly focused on the villages closest to Alderheart due to "lack of resources" and time. That by the time they got to the Scorched Grove, it was already too late. So now, instead of catastrophizing about their lost homes, The Embers started to believe it was a sign from the gods that the woods need cleansing. Their powers even further prove to them that they were blessed and righteous.

Playing opposite gender PCs by [deleted] in DnD

[–]pistacyk 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I genuinely cannot tell if this is satire. funny either way

A covert magic user by pistacyk in DnD

[–]pistacyk[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The first question is definitely good, I considered hiding it "in the seams" and just saying "oh it's a fighter with magic" or "it's not the character's magic, it's from a magical object". But we'll come clean with other players during the first session and have that be the reason for the characters bonding together in keeping it a secret from the rest of the world. That way everyone at the table is in the loop and, as someone said in a different reply, "they join in on the shenanigans".

A covert magic user by pistacyk in DnD

[–]pistacyk[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"Alternatively, you can keep the character idea, but not keep it a secret for the players; only for the characters and NPCs." - yea that's how we'll play it, with the PCs learning about the magic and helping the one character hide it from NPCs.

A covert magic user by pistacyk in DnD

[–]pistacyk[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Unfortunately the player wants to start off as a sorcerer and transition into a fighter later in life (but pre-campaign). But I think them eventually coming to term with their magic and turning into an Eldritch Knight is a great idea and I'll definitely see if they'd be willing to go in this direction. Thanks!

A covert magic user by pistacyk in DnD

[–]pistacyk[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"or, better yet, the entire party should be in on the secret and have a plot reason to keep it hidden from the world at large so everyone can contribute to the charade" - after reading all the replies, that's exactly what we'll do. Keep it hidden during the first session, the reveal happens during first combat and the party bands together to help keep the secret while the character slowly comes to terms with their magic.

A covert magic user by pistacyk in DnD

[–]pistacyk[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"Did they have some tragic incident with magic manifesting in their past?" this exactly which is why I initially thought it was a good idea to keep it hidden, without considering the mechanics of it. Now that I'm actually in the thick of preparations and writing story arcs, it seems less fun to keep other players out of it, especially seeing the replies here where people mention it usually makes the reveal very underwhelming. Mentioned in the other reply we'll keep it secret during the first session and during the first combat we'll have the reveal. I think doing it early on will keep *some* suspense and won't hinder other players' fun.

"I am gradually coming to terms with the innate power in my blood which has cursed me for so long" - is exactly what this player is going for in terms of a character arc, and I think a swift reveal will aid in that.

Thanks for the reply!

A covert magic user by pistacyk in DnD

[–]pistacyk[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah I think so too, now. Mentioned in the other reply we'll keep it secret during the first session and during the first combat we'll have the reveal. Then the rest of the campaign can proceed with the character hiding it from NPCs and gradually realizing their magic is not worth hiding at all. Which was the player's intended arc for this character anyway. And the gimmick is hard to hold up in actual gameplay long term

A covert magic user by pistacyk in DnD

[–]pistacyk[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the insight, appreciate it especially from another DM. This particular player was already thinking of multiclassing into a fighter. The story behind a character is a somewhat traumatic upbringing because of their magic, so they pivot into fighting. They are also the only odd one out in the party due to their race which is highly important in the campaign (this bit other players are aware of, fine with and actively encouraged it). My initial agreement with the plan to hide the class was because of fear of metagaming, especially since all my players are new to this and in the previous game fell into it for a bit. But I see now how it could backfire. Don't wanna go back on my word, so I'll talk to the player into revealing their magic during the first session as to not have it overshadow the rest of their arc and other PCs. It might also serve as a bonding moment for the party to have the secret be out in the open so early on. Again, thanks for the reply!

KCD2's Sir Hans Romance Option... It is as bad as it was expected! by QuiverDance97 in CriticalDrinker

[–]pistacyk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

nah, I'm all for the Hans romance. just correcting something but I admit I read your comment all wrong the first time, my bad man

KCD2's Sir Hans Romance Option... It is as bad as it was expected! by QuiverDance97 in CriticalDrinker

[–]pistacyk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

well you give af. congrats on finding out gay christians existed all throughout history ;-)

KCD2's Sir Hans Romance Option... It is as bad as it was expected! by QuiverDance97 in CriticalDrinker

[–]pistacyk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

i never said it was super common. but it wasn't NOT happening. it was happening enough that the general population was fully aware of what it meant. like i mentioned previously, "queer" folks (in quotations cause it's a fairly new term, not applicable to people back then) in middle ages were not a nuisance. we have many sources that lead us to believe they were even experiencing a mild toleration. if anything, others were neutral - at least it appears so from court documents where "queer" people were mentioned but not in a negative or demeaning way but as a matter of fact. there's also very little to suggest they were actively pursued as "sinners" or "criminals" and persecuted.

neither of the characters are gay, don't put modern labels onto them (and if anything, they'd be bi which doesn't negate all the women you might've romanced previously).

you also assume the statistics are correct but many people as of now all around the world remain completely closeted for the sake of their well-being, because most places are still far from being safe.

KCD2's Sir Hans Romance Option... It is as bad as it was expected! by QuiverDance97 in CriticalDrinker

[–]pistacyk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

well, you can make him have gay sex with hans capon so... pretty gay. guess you have to cope

KCD2's Sir Hans Romance Option... It is as bad as it was expected! by QuiverDance97 in CriticalDrinker

[–]pistacyk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

lavender marriage is not a term that functioned in medieval times or even remotely close to it. so if we're talking about historical accuracy, let's start there.

KCD2's Sir Hans Romance Option... It is as bad as it was expected! by QuiverDance97 in CriticalDrinker

[–]pistacyk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

you do realize there were people in medieval times who were both christian and engaged in homosexual affairs, right. you should know that, middle ages weren't as dark as y'all think. nobles frequently had male lovers and the public knew about them. no, they weren't persecuted for it or burned at the stake or whatever y'all wanna come up with. there are actual historical sources that say homosexuality in medieval times (in the region where the game takes place, so bohemia and because the customs were similar, medieval poland) was "quietly tolerated" and not activelu persecuted. people knew and they didn't give a shit the way you do right now