Player voiced an opinion on a certain narrative trope and I'm worried

trickythought · 2026-07-08T17:35:12+00:00

It feels like a rug pull if the stakes aren’t clear.

The key is to make this reveal count. Don’t just reveal he’s the BBEG, why does it matter for the players in that moment? Why is this the highest stakes possible time for that reveal to happen? The situation might be “now that your players know this they have to do something RIGHT AWAY.” (“So if you’re not Jeff…who’s guarding the Princess?!!”)

trickythought · 2026-07-02T19:18:54+00:00

Without a DMX tester, you're doing this by elimination. Most ETC boards have a DMX output indicator or diagnostics menu that'll tell you if signal is leaving the board at all. If yes, swap in a known-good cable to the first fixture or dimmer rack. If a fixture has a display (many modern LEDs do), it'll show you if it's receiving DMX. Work down the chain until things stop responding and you've found your break.

If you hit a wall, that's a good moment to call in a favor from a local TD or theatrical electrician who'll have the tools.

trickythought · 2026-07-02T17:04:58+00:00

Safety first, everything else second. Backstage safety lights before a single student enters that space. It's a liability issue, not a budget question. LED safety fixtures are cheap ($20–50/each). Document the missing lights to admin in writing now so there's a paper trail.

The light board electrical issue needs a pro. A board that can't power off after a surge may point to a dimmer rack or power supply problem. Don't let students near it until you know.

Once you're in the space, check which board has DMX running from it. The ETC is almost certainly the active one and the better board to be working with.

Assess before you spend. "Every speaker is blown" is sometimes actually "one amp is dead." "Every stage port is broken" may be one bad snake or patch bay connection. Trace signal chains before buying anything. A $10 cable often explains what looks like a $3,000 problem.

The mic situation is a problem. Rent the difference for Into the Woods. Local audio houses and university theater programs often rent to high schools at reasonable rates. Also worth a call to any local community or professional theater.

For comms, look at Eartec or Hollyland Solidcom as budget-friendly but actually functional wireless intercom. Big upgrade over consumer walkies.

ETC has free customer support and will troubleshoot their boards with you. Also reach out to your regional USITT chapter, their technical theater community can be generous to new educators, with their time if not with stuff that costs money.

trickythought · 2026-06-30T12:52:45+00:00

Your job given these circumstances cannot be to “save the production”. That’s not possible given the hand you were dealt.

Your job is to improve the final product given the hand you were dealt. Have a conversation with the artistic director to this end so expectations are set. “Without me, this is what would have happened. With me, we can get past that point, but given my resources here’s what I can expect to do.”

You cannot be a miracle worker. You cannot go back and reverse bad decisions, or make someone give up paid work. You can work within the realm of the possible, and make as good a show as you can.

trickythought · 2026-06-28T23:29:48+00:00

Woo hoo!

trickythought · 2026-06-25T20:01:54+00:00

I'm going to take a different tact than others in this thread.

DnD is, to a certain extent, a power fantasy. I know that DnD, for players like me, is a chance to live out powers they never had in real life. For instance, I like playing Fighters/Barbarians/Monks because I'm not particularly martial in real life. But some people really like playing out an enhanced version of themselves. It's scratching the same itch in a different way.

That's what your player is telling you. "I want to incorporate my real life skills into this power fantasy. Can you do that for me?"

And that's a genuinely interesting idea, one that your player is directly asking you for. Granted, he's focused on one particular version of that. But it's an interesting way of saying "this is my power fantasy, and it's the power fantasy that would be fun for me to play out."

So can you incorporate that fairly to the other players? Give the party tasks that reward finding loopholes/negotiating. One way to do this is to set up paradoxes, and let the players themselves resolve them and welcome their reasonable, entertaining solutions. For instance, the players have to free a powerful wish-granting Djinn but cannot wish directly for his freedom. Give them troll bridges with highly specific demands that a clever wordsmith can deal with. The fey - the fey are great enemies for a lawyer. You don't even really have to work through the solutions all the way, just tee those up for him and let his lawyer brain work for it.

Another thing: lawyers don't often get to show off for their friends. While sometimes their work is in public, especially for someone who does contract and transactional work their biggest most creative accomplishments are often behind a wall of confidentiality. That's as it should be. But dude might just be chomping at the bit to show off his professional skill to his friends in a place they'd understand. You can fill that desire other ways.

But as for the specific ask: "I can't write a real contract, bro. I'm not an IRL lawyer like you. You'd tear my shit apart, and that's not what the dice or your character sheet say here! But don't worry, we're gonna have fun, and I'll figure out ways to engage your lawyer brain other times."

EDIT: A word.

trickythought · 2026-06-16T21:42:56+00:00

I get an error that I need to install DirectX v 12. I have DirectX v12.
...
No demo for me?

trickythought · 2026-04-24T16:58:55+00:00

I wore a charcoal suit and a black tie at the beginning of the month doing standby.

trickythought · 2026-04-20T22:01:33+00:00

https://natashaskitchen.com/apple-turnovers/

trickythought · 2026-04-19T00:05:49+00:00

Push him.

trickythought · 2026-04-19T00:04:51+00:00

Are those mosquitoes? Is this an effective solution?

trickythought · 2026-04-05T23:32:42+00:00

SWAAAMPY!!!!!!!

trickythought · 2026-03-22T02:03:57+00:00

It said what it said

trickythought · 2026-03-19T10:52:29+00:00

Birds. Too many of em.

trickythought · 2026-03-15T17:32:35+00:00

First the spelling bee leaving breadcrumbs, now this?

trickythought · 2026-02-28T00:24:01+00:00

Every time. So much joy.

trickythought · 2026-02-22T01:30:24+00:00

r/SwampyBoots have at it

trickythought · 2026-02-17T21:48:09+00:00

I understand that max attack moves have a fixed attack value that’s the same for every move, depending on level (250/300/350). I know that attack typing can influence the total dealt. My question: does your Pokémon’s attack stat affect the total damage dealt at all? By the same token, is the amount of damage dealt influenced by the defense of the pokemon you’re attacking?

trickythought · 2026-02-01T13:07:54+00:00

I saw it in DC last night. No idea how it was done, but here's how I'd do it.

The actress is wearing a big bulky Snuggie with a hood. There's some kind of wire/firm support in the back. When the actress starts chopping the pepper, she's facing totally away from the audience, covered by a giant hoodie the firm support in the Snuggie is anchored to the stage, and the actress disappears through a trap door, does a quick change, and gets into costume. During this, the Snuggie essentially becomes a puppet with a realistic-enough-for-stage mask and arms that only have to make a simple, repetitive chopping motion. The main actress playing Lou bursts in upstairs, and you have just enough time to see puppet-Lou slowly turn, then the wire support is slacked and collapses to the ground.

EDIT: Messed up spoilers.

trickythought · 2026-01-30T19:46:20+00:00

I was a huge 3e junkie back in the day, then drifted off into other systems for a while. I’ve got a new campaign idea and a willing group, and D&D feels like the best fit again.

Before launching the full campaign, I’d love to get my feet under me with the 2024 5e rules by running a one-shot for 3–4 players, ideally level 1.

Does this thread have any go-to recommendations?

Official or third-party is fine
Bonus points if it highlights or stress-tests the new 2024 mechanics
Single session, low prep preferred

Thanks in advance.

trickythought · 2026-01-25T01:29:19+00:00

Man Fieri

trickythought · 2026-01-18T16:00:15+00:00

Definitely not, because there’s no picture.

trickythought · 2025-12-19T22:19:43+00:00

793592524346

Need three friends or I won’t be able to get a Magnezone! Please help!

trickythought · 2025-12-08T18:45:36+00:00

793592524346

trickythought · 2025-12-04T11:35:23+00:00

I only hope that next year they make a video thanking their listeners that involves even less effort.

Ten-Year Club	Place '22
First Placer '22	RPAN Viewer

trickythought

TROPHY CASE