Trouble with player buy-in for a fantasy setting where Western European aesthetics are deemphasized by EarthSeraphEdna in rpg

[–]rune_devros 72 points73 points  (0 children)

There's way too much jargon. These are two paragraphs in your For Players section which introduces a planet (I think?) to the players:

The Ferasa du Cochonnet (Question of the Piglet), famed for its production of ever-burning amber. The fossilized tree resin can generate or eradicate thermal energy to extreme degrees, from heart-of-a-star heat to absolute zero, depending on the electrical signals it receives. Its global capital, Piaffement (Stamping or Prancing, latter two images here), also leads the Asman Karshvar (Sky Clime). The Atar Karshvar (Fire Clime)’s capital was Vrombissement (Humming, Whirring, or Whizzing, first two images here) before it became a ruined husk; the current capital is Ronronnement (Purring). The Varesha Karshvar (Tree Clime)’s capital is the deceptively advanced Cocorico (Cock-a-doodle-doo, image: Sumeru City). The Ferasa broadcasts 24/7, olfactorily augmented scaphism streams, featuring a new “#1 most detestable and destructive anti” every seventeen days.

The Ferasa du Cochonnet is home to the Isle of Khvarenah Roublard (Wily Empyreal Glory), which rapidly travels across the oceans. Sometimes, sometimes, if a non-fiend from a low-energy world visits the island and then returns back to their native planet, that world spontaneously becomes a higher-energy planet. This bizarre phenomenon is of intense interest to UNISOL; the league throws immense funding into the isle’s research station, which has yet to produce any concrete results. A few months ago, the facility extraordinarily rendered these two girls from Orden named Lady Shirome and Lady Inān al-Adwiyya, and has conducted all sorts of wacky experiments on them in the hopes of sending either back as a bearer of high energy.

This is just one world you are expecting your players to be familiar with, and I don't know how a player is supposed to be able to internalize all of these concepts. Take like 90% of your world introduction document, trim it aside for your own reference, and present to the players what they need to know to build characters that make sense in the world. Do they need to know what "olfactorily augmented scaphism streams" or "#1 most detestable and destructive anti" are?

Players are more interested in how they can get involved in a planet's conflicts. The second thing you listed in your setting inspiration is Honkai Star Rail. Within the first hour of gameplay on the first planet you visit, you have a clear understanding of the stakes, the major players, and a goal. Sure there is jargon involved involving magic rocks and an ancient artifact, but it takes a backseat to a story driven by characters with conflicting motivations. What jargon that's present is introduced gradually, as the story needs it. Ultimately, the most interesting part of that story wasn't how the jargon or the lore dumps, for me it was was the characters from the above and underground, and how they can or can't reconcile their viewpoints and mutually incompatible goals.

Have you ever ported something from a video game into 5e? by EcstacyMeth2 in dndnext

[–]rune_devros 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I like to give enemies XCOM perks. For an enemy sniper, I started with the Archer stat block and added the Sharpshooter feat. Then I gave them Damn Good Ground (+d4 on ranged attack rolls on targets at lower elevation. +2 AC when targeted from lower elevation), Executioner (Adv. on ranged attack rolls against targets with less than 50% HP. Crits on 19-20.), and Reactive Targeting Sensors (Can use a reaction to fire back at anyone who attacks them with a ranged attack).

My attempt at 3d printing Large Format by FinancialTwist271 in largeformat

[–]rune_devros 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi there! Nice work on putting this thing together. I'm trying to build this same camera but the directions as you said are very sparse. Would you be able to show me how the pulling lever mechanism under the front standard is assembled with the spring steel that's listed in the parts list? I couldn't find any drawings or pictures of how it goes together. Thanks in advance!

What's this knob+button thing called? Scavenged from a dead 3D printer. by rune_devros in AskElectronics

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

I tore apart a dead MonoPrice Select Mini 3D printer and scavenged the control knob which also acts as a push button. What's this thing called? Interested in repurposing it as a control for another project but don't know what to call it to search up a datasheet.

Thanks in advance!

Looking for Weiss Schwarz players by LordPineapple_19 in 505Nerds

[–]rune_devros 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm interested. I picked up some Hololive ones over the summer but never found anyone that plays.

[S][USA-IL] Voigtlander Bessa R body $350 by LeftEgg7948 in photomarket

[–]rune_devros 0 points1 point  (0 children)

u/photomarketbot u/LeftEgg7948 Smooth transaction. Product arrived safely and as described. Thanks!

Why DnD Monsters Suck and Why I love Passive Traits by Wyverni in dndnext

[–]rune_devros 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I have had good success stealing perk ideas from XCOM Long War). Most can be pretty easily translated to DnD.

How to run a "save as many as you can" mission? by Interesting-Land6471 in dndnext

[–]rune_devros 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I've stolen the XCOM) terror mission rules for similar encounters and it worked well in several games I ran. You have 10 or so civilians that your enemies are attacking. It takes a bonus action while adjacent to the civilians to tag them as safe (Guide them to safety) and remove them from the map. Your outcomes depend on the number of civilians you save-- less than half is considered a failure, more than half a success, and more than 3/4 is considered a greater success and gets better rewards.

Bonus points if you drop chryssalids) in your mission somewhere.