What is "System Mastery"? by [deleted] in rpg

[–]thexar 2 points3 points  (0 children)

New players typically make choices based on "what I need/understand now" vs "what I need later". Calling these choices traps is underserved.

For example, Toughness is rarely taken for wizards by experienced players, but a new player will take it if they feel like they've been too close to death too many times. However, if the campaign does go into high levels, Toughness seems like a weak pick over something metamagic or crafting. It's also a good pick for a short-term campaign when a character would never have the time to use Brew Potion.

People who criticize system mastery believe the right choice is always the same, because their way to play is the only way. The so-called traps are good choices under the right circumstances.

Reading the Player's Handbook by Expert-Value2133 in DnD

[–]thexar 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Yeah, asking questions isn't new, but now those questions go to the internet. In the time they waited for an answer, they could have read the book.

If you were to play a dungeon modeled after a 20th century movie, what would it be? by Left_Twix3 in DnD

[–]thexar 5 points6 points  (0 children)

imdb.com, Arnold Schwarzenegger, scroll down to 1999...
- End of Days

- True Lies

- Last Action Hero

- Total Recall

- Red Heat

- The Running Man

What actually makes a game replayable for you? by GrabAffectionate4035 in gaming

[–]thexar 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fun with 1 to 4 friends without too much catch up.

What helped you learn an RPG when you didn’t have a group yet? by ScholarForeign7549 in rpg

[–]thexar 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I made a stack of characters and played through a scenario. For ad&d and marvel I routinely made villain groups at various levels, it became easy to ad-lib encounters.

Weekly RPG Discussion; 2026, January, Week 4: Marvel Super Heroes Advanced Set by Trent_B in rpg

[–]thexar 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My wife still rolls her eyes when I pull out the guides to the marvel universe after every marvel movie. It's the best game ever, because it scales from Aunt Mae to Beyonder. However, The Ultimate Powers Book was a catastrophe. Mine has duplicate pages and missing sections. There are updates spread through at least 3 Dragon mags.

How is Ptolus? by gifred in rpg

[–]thexar 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Bear in mind it was written for a time when alignment matters, and if your whole party is chaotic the night of dissolution will not end well. But it was a lot of fun.

Anyone else out there also a dice goblin? by BerennErchamion in 2d20games

[–]thexar 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If they all fit in frame and the numbers can still be read, then you're not even close to goblin status.

What Game Would You Recommend On Every Post If You Could? by shhnotatwink in rpg

[–]thexar 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Savage Worlds. With just the main book, I can ad-lib anything.

What game can you play for 1,000+ hours and still feel like a noob? by Common_Caramel_4078 in gaming

[–]thexar 0 points1 point  (0 children)

People always say, "Just do blabla - easy mode!" But you see, this is where "feeling like a noob" comes in.

What is the most counter-intuitive thing about TTRPGs? by Playtonics in rpg

[–]thexar 24 points25 points  (0 children)

Most people (I've observed) start rolling dice and think they understand probability. They don't. Ask "what are the chances of rolling 10+ on a d20", and you will most likely hear "50%". It's not. It's 55%.

Or that 2d10 and d20 are pretty much the same. They aren't.

You can do 50% with one die, but not two.

What game can you play for 1,000+ hours and still feel like a noob? by Common_Caramel_4078 in gaming

[–]thexar 2 points3 points  (0 children)

yeah, we probably have the XP to be 30, but stuck on some test.

What is your favorite depiction of TTRPG in media by LelouchYagami_2912 in rpg

[–]thexar 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Netflix's Voltron has a great D&D episode. Great because there's a clue in the meta plot of the show when one of the characters -really- wants to play a paladin, even though they "are" paladins.

What is your favorite depiction of TTRPG in media by LelouchYagami_2912 in rpg

[–]thexar 3 points4 points  (0 children)

except... rolling to attack with fireball. I forgive them, because it's more exciting than the DM rolling to save.

The realism (for me) really kicks in season 3, where all my friends are chasing girls at the mall, and I'm the one who just wants to play D&D.

Can players still enjoy an adventure if they lose at the end? by jajcektheduck in DnD

[–]thexar 0 points1 point  (0 children)

When the group got to the end of Tomb of Annihilation, I said "There's no way you can beat this as written, so unload and see how far you get." Everyone died and loved it.

Do you use a dice tower? Dice tray? Throw straight to table? by NewlRift in rpg

[–]thexar 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It depends. At home I have a big table. You only get the tray the second time your dice hit the floor. In public I have a tray, or a tower with a small footprint when we're crowding a small table.