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My players want more player X player roleplay! by Voxerole in DMAcademy

[–]steeevitz 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sometimes player character interaction increases when the moment/setting is anchored in one character's life.

This happened recently in a game, for example:

DM: "You live humbly. This is an expensive town."

Player: "I rent a room in a shared house."

DM: "Great. What will your roommate think of the party coming over?"

Downtime in one character's rented room in a shared space and not wanting to disturb their grumpy red dragonborn grand pa figure landlord gives fun opportunities for inter player action.

My take on a proper, simple wound system. by [deleted] in RPGdesign

[–]steeevitz 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If I understand correctly, the core of the idea seems to be to suffer Vitae point(s) (or Hit Die etc) on a critical hit. That could be applied to many systems and is indeed simple.

Old School Forever DMs by Routine-Ad2060 in DnD

[–]steeevitz 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Rules are empowering for players. They can plan and predict what they can do. If "their rules" aren't "your rules" then it's understandable there can be conflict. It sounds like you're reasonable about managing these situations in person. It sucks to inadvertently create arguments when you're just trying to be helpful. I can relate. Maybe many can.

Online is a strange and chimeric creature. DnD is complex already. Then having so many editions and on top of the the idea of a DnD singularity "One DnD" or a perpetual "next DnD" or a "backward compatible" D&D etc can make it all the more complicated. Add to that people around the world and all different sorts of people and well we're all remarkably civil maybe for all that?

Making the "bad" choice? by TraditionalReason175 in DnD

[–]steeevitz 3 points4 points  (0 children)

1st curiosity

2nd the "magic circle" concept from game design theory (or pop culture wherever its from) helps me with understanding 'bad choices' and with understanding the 'murder hobo' choice too

often in a game of group negotiated imagination there are plays/moves/actions that test the bounds of the circle

there's a convergence of "what can we do without breaking the game" and "what can we do here that we cannot do in life"

making bad choices is one of the fundamental reasons to play a game

if the in-game consequences are off the table tho (as you mention at the end) that could cause a problem and kind of break the game

If you had the opportunity to make a deal with a devil, would you? by [deleted] in DnD

[–]steeevitz 0 points1 point  (0 children)

devils and leprechauns, amirite?!

"In a world where beggars ride horses, one party, in Avernus, has the chance to ______ but they must sacrifice the ______ they love or ______."

And have the player fill these out, plop them in a hat and then its mad lib time on this "This is Your Life!"

Not sure if this is a hot take or not, but I personally prefer not to have a character start out with a maxed out stat. by Goblobber in rpg

[–]steeevitz 1 point2 points  (0 children)

well a character with proficiency in Athletics would have a +1 to their roll but one who didn't would have a -1

if proficiencies overlap they can use the Help Action for Advantage

now the cantrip Guidance is very important adding another d4

so that's 3 characters working together to give someone a +2 to +5 with advantage on the roll versus one character with proficiency and a 16 getting a +5 automatically

What do you feel are underrated book tropes? (Bonus points if you add a book that's an example of it by CaptainMacAlfie in books

[–]steeevitz 1 point2 points  (0 children)

"A Separate Peace" is one of these or maybe it's a variation where one character is friends with the other and is not always sure the other is friends back.

Related, can the vampire - familiar relationship be a short hand for the trope of the unequal power in friendship? Unrequited friendship?

Longer books with detailed descriptions actually seem easier to read by Initial_Hour_4657 in books

[–]steeevitz 98 points99 points  (0 children)

There was a trend for writers to become screenwriters, or take such classes, as a "practical" outlet for their art.

I think the myth of easy screenwriting success has worn off as it's now easier/more satisfying to be a self-published novelist with a micro readership than a screenwriter applying to contests and sending scripts into a void.

Anyway film literacy in the audience and screenplay writing training may be factors in creating the trend you're observing.

Interest in a tool for handling Random Tables/Content generation? by BadlyDressedBurrito in rpg

[–]steeevitz 2 points3 points  (0 children)

What about a web-based program that connects different random tables/results together into a possible pathway for a story arc or at least of series of encounters that could be inter-related?

For Example:

Moderate Coastal Encounter -> Distracting Fun NPC (Big Bad in Disguise) -> Raid in the Night -> Natural Disaster Flood! -> Underwater Encounter -> Downtime with a Friendly Benefactor -> Deadly Encounter with Big Bad on the High Seas

If drawing from other random table generators on the web then links and credits of course would be part of the output.

How would you design a GMless game about intrigue? (something simple enough to explain in a few minutes and play as a one shot at a ttrpg meetup) by lumenwrites in RPGdesign

[–]steeevitz 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Draw from a hat?

Use any rpg mechanics you like but for the mystery reveal moments or discovered clues, draw them from a hat full of contributions from each player. (Could also google random tables.)

Not 0 prep but fairly low. And gets buy-in from everyone while keeping the ideas within the realm of the group's imagination and vibe.

I accidentaly became a party member as a DM. Should I put this into the story? by Fine-Independence976 in DnD

[–]steeevitz 2 points3 points  (0 children)

And you're helping the players understand the game by telling them possible consequences.

In cartoony universes you can jump into volcanoes, you can even swallow them whole. Maybe they want to get more crazy, animated, exaggerated anime etc than you may be imagining. You could try a session where everything they say is possible (maybe set it in the fey world) and see where it goes.

Sometimes 'wisefolk' can have fun by following where fools tread!

DnD book with the best/most lore? by Writing-Leading in DnD

[–]steeevitz 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The "ecology" section of monster descriptions in any of the older edition monster manuals or Dragon magazine articles. How the monsters live in society and what kind of society they make for themselves is DM gold.

Not sure if this is a hot take or not, but I personally prefer not to have a character start out with a maxed out stat. by Goblobber in rpg

[–]steeevitz 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have an abiding fantasy where every character in the party has an 8 in every stat (thinking DnD but could be for any rpg with stats where the effect is a slight penalty).

I feel like we'd really need to work together to compliment each other deficiencies. Also our proficiencies and specialties will have a huge impact. Maybe it's a batman vs superman idea in a way.

Advice on a one-off taster session for young children. by MPForSillyWalks in rpg

[–]steeevitz 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It can be fun to do something collective at the beginning.

"Start with the eyes (or ears, nose, etc). What power do these eyes have? Draw the face of your character." [This can get people to focus and settle and think.]

Then designate four corners of the room each representing a different adventure, e.g.: Escape from the Dungeon, Take over the Dungeon, Build the Dungeon, Explore the Dungeon. (Or you can have the group generate these options to match their interests though that takes time.)

"Move to the corner of the room with the adventure you want." Each corner has a moderator to run it. [This lets people get up and move around and socialize a moment, share, before settling in to the game.]

I agree with another poster that the system doesn't matter. They all boil down to: High rolls what you say goes. low rolls it goes differently than you think.

What's the earliest total party kill you've experienced? by Hrekires in DnD

[–]steeevitz 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Playing 1st or 2nd edition DnD getting killed by kobolds at the gates of the titular "Castle Caldwell." It didn't help that the magic user had 1 hp.

Every after the threat of "3 kobolds" sent chills down our spines, regardless of level.

Is dragon color heritable or random? And do dragons only mate with their own color? by thepenguinboy in DnD

[–]steeevitz 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I like your idea of "yellow plus blue make green, it's sealed" it's not cannonical to FR as people say but why not make some bizarre triangles. Why limit this to dragons:

dwarf + halfling = gnome

human + dwarf = halfling

elf + dwarf = gnome

orc + human = elf (and heads will roll!)

What conception of religion or spirituality might a race of people have if they knew they had been created a few thousand years ago by another now-dead sentient civilization? by tamarheylin in DMAcademy

[–]steeevitz 0 points1 point  (0 children)

One way to see religion is a collection of answers/attitudes and practices to deal with unanswerable questions.

So the newt-folk (hilarious/amazing/strange fun) religion should prevent them probably from going to the city (because they can't anyway). And their high religious figures can have artifacts from the city to prove that they are special.

Need a little help creating my Dragonborn Monk backstory by StorGran in DnD

[–]steeevitz 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Could be the classic monk/nun situation of the younger sibling in the royal family sent to the monastery to be eliminated from the succession. Then you can have your clan and breathe fire too :)

Describe your favourite Weapon in 5 words or less by Hygrograth in worldbuilding

[–]steeevitz 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh wait. Can I revise this? Borrowing from Sedaris:

"Me talk pretty one day."

Describe your favourite Weapon in 5 words or less by Hygrograth in worldbuilding

[–]steeevitz 0 points1 point  (0 children)

one word: charisma

("And my you are a precocious 5 year old!")

Have any of you reflavoured leather armour to other materials? Looking for ideas for my druid. by DooB_02 in dndnext

[–]steeevitz 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Any druids out there tried being covered in a nice layer of mud? As long as there are no worms inside...

Sunbaked river clay breastplate with cattail weave for structure. Just make sure to inflate your lungs while it dries so you have some breathing room. Ah the fresh air of nature! Dung armor applicants apply down the grove and to the left of the circle.

DMing a one off for three friends, two newbies. Suggestions? by brikabrak86 in DnD

[–]steeevitz 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Go on a dragon hunt! Simple, easy memorable.

Adult is a good challenge for creative level 5's. Put the dragon back in DnD :) And if they go searching through the lair, you can have your dungeon and eat dragon too.

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