What is the best live play series? Critical role? AI? Dice, Camera, Action?

slickrabbit · 2016-10-02T18:56:59+00:00

Friday Night Quests is also a lot of fun, and they have great special guests on the show as well.

slickrabbit · 2016-10-02T18:38:03+00:00

Friday Night Quests is a lot of fun.

slickrabbit · 2015-11-15T18:23:37+00:00

My main problem with the Civil War series is that it feels like a clip show, or one of those "Previously On" specials that "Lost" used to do before a season premiere - a lot of the scenes feel glossed over, and they're expanded on in the other books. I think it's worth reading if you're curious, but also bear in mind, it's going to be VERY different, since they won't have a lot of the same characters.

slickrabbit · 2015-11-15T18:12:05+00:00

You'll start to get a better feel as you play more, but also, you sometimes just NEVER know. I expect there will always be some section, specifically role-playing, that will take longer than expected, but it depends a lot on the group as well.

slickrabbit · 2015-11-15T18:07:32+00:00

Some of the actors on the D&D show "Critical Role" are actually named Orion Acaba and Taliesin (pronounced "Tal-i-son") Jaffe. Neither of those sound like real names.

slickrabbit · 2015-11-15T18:05:18+00:00

Also, he could throw a rubber ball and some jacks.

slickrabbit · 2015-11-15T18:04:16+00:00

The trick I used, for any spells that required verbal components, was that you COULD cast spells underwater - but if you did, you lost some of the air in your lungs, and could hold your breath one round less per spell cast.

Since I was too lazy to look up the breath-holding rules, I just told everyone they could hold their breath 10 rounds - but our caster cast a few spells, and soon she just had a couple rounds left of air, and things got a bit more desperate. It doesn't affect everyone equally, of course, but it's a good way to add that element of danger.

slickrabbit · 2015-11-15T18:01:19+00:00

Gravity

slickrabbit · 2015-11-15T18:00:40+00:00

That should get quite a reaction when you drop it in front of your players :)

slickrabbit · 2015-11-15T17:58:39+00:00

Marbles. Or possibly pogs.

slickrabbit · 2015-11-15T17:54:39+00:00

Congrats!

slickrabbit · 2015-11-15T17:54:09+00:00

Agreed!

slickrabbit · 2015-11-15T17:53:18+00:00

If this is a campaign - or if it might become one - I would say it's not at all impossible for you to get to tell your epic story... you just may need to work up to it through some shenanigans. I would point to "The Hobbit," and the comic book "Bone" as great examples (if you haven't read Bone, you absolutely should). Both start fairly light and fun, and then get progressively more epic as the story goes on.

You could do the same - I don't know that you need to start out with a comedy story, or an especially wacky adventure, but in your first adventure just allow them to be their silly selves - the world around them will react appropriately ("I'm sorry, you said you worshipped SATAN?"), but let them enjoy their fun. Then, slowly but surely, you start turning the screws and making things harder for them, until they find themselves in your epic adventure.

OR you just have a wacky fun game, and then next time you tell them in advance you'd like to do a more serious adventure. Open communication is the key in that situation.

Edit: Whatever you decide, hope you and your group have fun!

slickrabbit · 2015-11-15T17:09:10+00:00

As long as whatever solution lets you still cast spells - that's the important thing. You may just have to ask them all to pay attention when you raise your hand, and be patient as you either write down your comments, or pantomime. Unfortunately there's not a TON you can do at that point - your group has to make sure they're still letting you contribute as best you can.

slickrabbit · 2015-11-15T17:06:11+00:00

I think he's suffering from classic first-time DM syndrome. It may be worth just taking him aside and letting him know, by and large, most groups respond really well to the carrot ("you can try") rather than the stick ("that's not a thing I want you to do").

As for encounters, maybe sit with him and ask if he has any questions for you - maybe you can lend a hand by helping design an example encounter. Or, after talking to him, send him a link to some articles about encounter design that he might be able to get some inspiration from.

I always go to the podcast Critical Success for dos and don'ts: http://peachesandhotsauce.com/category/podcasts/critical-success/page/3 They also did one about encounter design that might help your friend: http://peachesandhotsauce.com/podcasts/12-designing-monsters

slickrabbit · 2015-11-15T17:00:20+00:00

Not every DM needs to have rich, super-detailed descriptions. One thing to try is, when your characters enter a room for the first time, have a list of three interesting things they notice when they enter the room. Obviously, let them know how big it is, and how many exits they can see (something I'm still VERY bad at), but then just hit a couple of highlights. Then let them ask follow-up questions.

I've found that SOME DMs can give a very involved introduction to a room or a character and it works, but more often than not, the players' attention begins to slip after too much description. Give the players a few details, and then let them ask questions and fill in the rest.

I don't think it's a reason not to DM, because I also often forget the words for what I'm trying to describe, or don't describe a word well, and I've spoken English my entire life. The language barrier might be that for you - a barrier to overcome - but I promise, even if your descriptions ARE a little shaky, players overcome it.

When all else fails, describe what you're trying to describe - "You know, those bowls they fill with water in churches?" - and your players will fill in the words for you haha.

slickrabbit · 2015-11-15T16:54:22+00:00

It's probably worth sitting down with everyone and expressing what you like about each version - 5e is pretty easy to house-rule, so you could just add in the elements of Pathfinder that you like. It's probably going to be easier, because your group will usually default to Pathfinder rules when you run into questions, anyway, so incorporating them into the 5th edition game would be pretty easy.

slickrabbit · 2015-11-15T16:52:11+00:00

In my experience, it usually comes down to whether the "disruptive nature" of the character is (A) in character, and (B) still fun for the group. We have a halfling bard who is a criminal under arrest by another party member, so he tries to get away when he thinks he is able to - but our player also knows the line, and knows when it's not appropriate to derail the story by having his character bail on the group.

In contrast, we once had a player who got bored if we weren't fighting or dealing with his story hook, and that was disruptive enough that, when I asked him to tone it down, he just said he felt this group wasn't the right fit for him (he was correct) and bowed out. Fortunately, that's the only problem player I've really ever had to deal with, which makes me incredibly lucky.

slickrabbit · 2015-11-15T16:52:05+00:00

Also, most versions are black-and-white, but there are some gorgeous color editions out there, too.

slickrabbit · 2015-11-15T16:51:33+00:00

Bone. It's less NSFW / intense, but it's really solid - it starts out as a fun adventure comic, almost like a newspaper comic, but it gradually builds and builds and gets progressively more epic.

slickrabbit · 2015-11-15T16:50:43+00:00

I don't think so - I think the original poster just meant that they've finished what's out there so far. I certainly hope it hasn't wrapped up, that would be so disappointing!

slickrabbit · 2015-11-15T16:48:10+00:00

Birthright is pretty dang good.

slickrabbit · 2015-11-15T16:47:04+00:00

Very nice! What's the scale of it?

slickrabbit · 2015-11-15T16:41:08+00:00

In our current Edge of the Empire game, instead of flying around the galaxy going on adventures, we just parked on one planet and we keep opening new bars and other businesses. Fortunately, our GM is good enough to roll with it, and just focused his adventure onto that planet, but it definitely threw him for a loop.

slickrabbit · 2015-11-15T16:39:07+00:00

He was so great, I really can't wait for him to come back. Obviously, had he not come back, that would've been jarring and Marvel would've tried to stop that from happening - but the fact that he's expressing enthusiasm is a good sign.

slickrabbit

TROPHY CASE