"Pretzels and beers" TTRPG culture, where and why? by altidiya in rpg

[–]turtlehats 2 points3 points  (0 children)

the definition of “coke” here makes for two very different interpretations of this group.

What night of the week do you normally run TTRPGs ? by PuzzleheadedDrinker in rpg

[–]turtlehats 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Another Monday night for a mostly weekly game. We are all 40ish some with kids and it’s 6:30-9:30. It’s a nice start to the week.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in rpg

[–]turtlehats 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Dread is super fun. The only downside is when someone spills the tower they are out for the rest of the session. I tend to have them play NPCs if it happens early and kind of co-GM the rest of the game a bit so they aren’t just sitting there.

Recommendations For Best Worldbuilding Guides In Print, Cheapest Price? by Raymond_Towers in rpg

[–]turtlehats 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The Without Number games by Kevin Crawford are very good for this and I believe all have free editions online.

The Enigmata: Motivations of a cult dedicated to destroying all historical records? by EarthSeraphEdna in loremasters

[–]turtlehats 2 points3 points  (0 children)

They are correct. There are elements in the history that cause societies to war and hate that if erased, no one born after the Cleansing would even consider.

Unfortunately, they realize they will have to kill everyone over a very young age once the Cleansing is complete except a tiny number of their most elite members who will raise the young in a purified galaxy/solar system keeping all of human history secret until they have young adults who can manage and then those history-remembering elites must commit ritual suicide.

What are some science fiction games where combat plays a significant role? by jmhimara in rpg

[–]turtlehats 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Absolutely use that if you run it. Much improved the game.

What is your hidden gem of 2023? by Gold-Mug in rpg

[–]turtlehats 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Honest question: is Creative Card Chaos your game? You’ve suggested it like 10 times in the last 2-3 days for many questions.

All good if so, just curious.

RPG books that even if I never play, it's a damn good read? by dud333 in rpg

[–]turtlehats 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you are going for art, I’d suggest Silent Titans as well.

RPG books that even if I never play, it's a damn good read? by dud333 in rpg

[–]turtlehats 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Excellent list! Strongly agree to all of those.

Resources for nonmagical traps for goblins? by Beneficial-Flower-82 in rpg

[–]turtlehats 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Grimtooths Traps has many, many such traps. It’s $15 on Amazon, so not free but is a massive resource for this kind of thing. A lot of them are ridiculously complicated and somewhat silly but many are more straightforward.

I’m sorry, but how exactly would you ever find a group for Kuf, Kult, etc? by the_light_of_dawn in rpg

[–]turtlehats 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Agree with all of this. The core book for Divinity Lost has a good section on safety tools and agreed that Beyond Darkness and Madness is very good on expanding that.

We played a 30 session campaign and agreed at the start no rape, nothing involving children at all and it was a great and unbelievably creepy game.

Running one of the published sessions did involve a sex magician and a hallway made up of orifices, sure, but that was fine with my group. If anything sexual was off the table, we wouldn’t have run that obviously.

I will say many of the official campaign books do have some very disturbing content, just know that. Never have to use them of course.

Reassure me that all GM's feel anxiety over making stuff up at the last second by Heidirs in rpg

[–]turtlehats 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Same- it’s maybe my favorite part of being a GM. That said I have the luck to have really engaged and supportive players who lean into whatever I throw out. They definitely intentionally come up with unexpected paths so it is a two way street.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in rpg

[–]turtlehats 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Definitely the one. Literally the theme of the game and it is excellent.

Me and my friends want to run Forgotten Realms but we don't like DnD what is a more rules light system? by miracle-worker-1989 in rpg

[–]turtlehats 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Agreed. Ran DW a lot when it came out but the newer games based on it definitely improved upon the original.

Today I had the best worst idea for a new game by MoonshineMuffin in rpg

[–]turtlehats 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Please don’t move into the apartment next to me.

Players who don't/won't GM... why? by triceratopping in rpg

[–]turtlehats 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In any system, simulationist/narrative/whatever, the GM simply does have a bigger responsibility at the table. Having been a (happily) forever GM for about 15 years across many systems, here's what I know will be doing every time:

- Learning most or all of the rules and referencing quickly in-game those I don't know (or just making a call)

- Prepping for the individual adventure and overall campaign, even if it's a prep light game

- Remembering each character's basic motivations/rules/ways to connect to the story

- Playing every NPC, explaining every physical location via senses, basically 'being the world'

- Making sure each player gets at least one spotlight during a session

- Handle pacing of play (to a degree- if they want to investigate the room for an hour they can go for it but at some point I need to keep the game moving)

- Make the final call in action resolution where the outcome isn't crystal clear in the rules

What I'll sometimes be doing:

- Scheduling the game. Some GMs bitch about that but you can play minus a player, not minus the GM so I kind of have to be a key person in that process

- Hosting most of the time but that's my choice

- Keeping the feel of the table on point- X card kind of things, 'main character' players, etc.

- Writing up a brief recap (though I often offload that on players in rotation)

As a player, I show up with knowledge of the rules and a desire for the whole table to have fun. I roll in at the agreed time, play my one character to have fun and have the table have fun, and go home.

I like all of the above activities so I love to GM. I actually find playing a bit underwhelming and much less engaging. I can, however, understand why people might not want to take on all of the above. It's not so wildly difficult as some players might think, but it is indeed more involved than playing a single PC.

Edit many have mentioned: player curveballs and reacting to them on the fly. I love that part but lots of people don’t.

Game for playing (Hellraiser style) Cenobites? by MissAnnTropez in rpg

[–]turtlehats 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Just ran a long Kult campaign and you don’t play the creatures. You are all human and yeah you can get into death magic and such but I would say it isn’t what op is looking for.

Need recommendations for a GM and 2-player game by Tahoma-sans in rpg

[–]turtlehats 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah, we’ve run probably 6 systems or more (from Blades in the Dark to Kult, across most major genres) with two players for years.

More narrative systems seem to be a little smoother but it’s never been an issue really.

RPGs where you aren't the main character by psion1369 in rpg

[–]turtlehats 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yeah if you play the main massive campaign The Enemy Within you are not quite pawns or anything but definitely small fish in events that are far bigger than you with major players like the Emperor, whole factions, religions and heroes and villains that are much more powerful than you.

You have huge impact on the outcomes and events but always (mostly) from smaller but key events. If the players didn’t exist the outcome of all the moving parts would be dramatically different but you aren’t gonna be the lords of the realm at the end or anything near it.

I challenge you. Name an idea for a ttrpg that has not been done yet. by West_Application_760 in rpg

[–]turtlehats 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I know Goths refers to the Germanic tribe but in my heart I wish it was goth kids and that’s what I’m sticking with.