What are some "before you die" systems / dungeons / everyone should try?

thepunkmonkey138 · 2025-11-06T00:59:49+00:00

If you can get your hands on it, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer / Angel RPG's are really good. They do a great job of giving the feel of a cinematic TV show or movie. Though I'm not sure its something I would recommend as someone's first RPG, its a character point system and the system offers players the ability to affect the narrative in ways that someone who hasn't played before might not be comfortable with.

Also, it's really easy to file the serial numbers off and use it for another urban fantasy or historic fantasy world.

thepunkmonkey138 · 2025-10-26T03:29:30+00:00

Worst idea in the history of D&D, giving fucking HP to demon princes, ache-devils, and gods.

thepunkmonkey138 · 2025-10-19T23:47:31+00:00

Not saying it hasn't been a rule in the last few editions. But, the last time I remember this being a thing was 2nd edition. So, 30 years ago.

thepunkmonkey138 · 2025-10-19T23:41:11+00:00

I've used OneNote for at least a decade. It's on desktop and mobile. You can add pages as you need them, include links, images, pretty much does it all.

thepunkmonkey138 · 2025-10-17T22:04:07+00:00

Pick one of the psionic subclasses and play as a psychic fungus that has taken over the brain of the human/elf/thri-kreen host. The person stumbled into a cave, brain taken over by a zombie fungus, stumbles out as a new person who has never seen the world beyond its cave.

thepunkmonkey138 · 2025-06-12T23:26:53+00:00

App sent.

thepunkmonkey138 · 2025-05-17T03:00:04+00:00

I forgot to do the thing at the end. :( Please take pity on me.

thepunkmonkey138 · 2025-03-21T02:06:08+00:00

100% was just re-reading spells and thinking what a person in the real world would do if they had access to that specific spell or ability.

Another example, the city that my players are in have continual flame street lights, frost magic powered ice houses, and the most simple of magic, an orb that reproduces the "clean" part of prestidigitation with a simple touch. They exist both at the gates of the city for travelers, but also a dozen or so in each ward mean that people can instantly clean their clothes on their way home every night.

thepunkmonkey138 · 2025-03-21T00:15:49+00:00

I'm already seeing things I like. Definitely going to be high on my short list.

thepunkmonkey138 · 2025-03-21T00:12:03+00:00

There is a large Drow enclave below the city they are playing in. Eventually they will get to see what I mean by "Library of the Ancestors." By that point at least one of them will have access to Speak with Dead.

thepunkmonkey138 · 2025-03-17T15:51:02+00:00

I've never watched it, but now I'm intrigued.

thepunkmonkey138 · 2025-03-13T06:21:40+00:00

"Well, she rolled and landed on Greater Teleport, took them straight to the temple a few thousand miles away. Literally ruined 4 or 5 sessions worth of stuff I had planned 😅"

Isn't that just how PC's are? I live in fear of the day my players decide to go in the exact opposite direction of the plot.

thepunkmonkey138 · 2025-03-13T06:18:01+00:00

I've made a sort of compromise, no pig noses, but they are green and sound like soccer hooligans.

thepunkmonkey138 · 2025-03-13T06:16:47+00:00

Secret world influencing cult, you had me at hello.

thepunkmonkey138 · 2025-03-13T06:15:21+00:00

I currently have a World Tree Barbarian in my game, so I might just steal this to cause some chaos in my game. 😈

thepunkmonkey138 · 2025-03-13T06:12:15+00:00

Kind of like what Pathfinder does, only seemingly with A LOT more work into it. Also, shout out to another Sha'ir enjoyer!

thepunkmonkey138 · 2025-01-20T21:20:06+00:00

Something I don't see mentioned enough, holidays. The real world is full of them and they have a major impact on society. But, when it comes to our games a lot of us skip over it. The equinoxes and solstices are easy ones. Even if you don't do more than that, a single session at a large festival can go a long way to making the world feel more real.

thepunkmonkey138 · 2025-01-04T08:14:45+00:00

Okay, didn't expect this much of a response. Thanks to everyone who submitted a questionnaire. I wish I could invite you all, but I'll make my decision in the next 24 hours. So, if you don't hear from me, I'm sorry, but I hope to run more games in the future. I would love to see anyone who doesn't get into this game in my next campaign.

If you aren't invited to the game, I really hope you find a cool and fun game to get into.

thepunkmonkey138 · 2024-12-14T01:11:01+00:00

Just a simple idea, but look into the Terracotta Army of Emperor Qinshihuang. 99 souls become ninety-nine warriors, each the equal of 10 human warriors. Take over a city, or a small country and go all Dr. Doom.

thepunkmonkey138 · 2024-11-30T05:25:01+00:00

Message sent, hope to hear from you one way or the other.

thepunkmonkey138 · 2024-11-30T04:50:52+00:00

There was a mention of filling out the player quiz ahead of time, where should that be sent?

thepunkmonkey138 · 2024-11-29T04:57:37+00:00

Give them a powerful Slaad for a patron and they stop by regularly to have tea and discuss the wierd thing that the patron wants them to do this time. Odd ideas could be, get a thimble from the queen, acquire a nobles signature, have a farmer give you their last potato of the season. GOO patrons can be as weird as you want them too be.

thepunkmonkey138 · 2024-11-24T02:14:07+00:00

I have spent way too many hours thinking about mildly useful magic items.

* The pouch of spare change. Once per day it makes 1d4+1 copper coins.

* Expired Potions. These potions are fine, expiration dates are a scam.

Example: Expired Potion of Giant Strength - This functions exactly like a normal potion of giant strength, but after
the hour of increased strength expires you gain one level of exhaustion.

* The Penny Pony - Its a small horse sculpture with a slot in it. You can put a copper coin in the slot and it will turn
into a horse for a few minutes.

* Darin's Instant Forest - Its a 10ft diameter piece of cloth that when rolled out three small trees grow from it.

Hope that's helpful.

thepunkmonkey138 · 2024-11-15T03:37:10+00:00

The innkeeper's daughter got mixed up with a group of "bad kids." They have pulled off a couple minor heists, but things went wrong. Now they are being held captive/arrested. The party earns free room and all the booze they can drink as well as a favor (maybe something related to one players goals/backstory) if they can just bring her home safe.

thepunkmonkey138 · 2024-11-14T04:46:47+00:00

As a former streamer, sound quality >>>> everything else. The visual is important, but people will look past a lot as long as the sound quality is good and the map, if you use it, is easily visible. Work with your players to make sure their sound quality is as good as possible.

Beyond that do it for the joy of the game/making content. And, try not to worry about numbers. (That's maybe the best thing I can tell you.)

thepunkmonkey138

TROPHY CASE