AriochQ
Member

The DM AriochQ in the one campaign I actually play in has the players award inspiration to each other. Players award inspiration for excellent roleplay and it seems to work very well. I am thinking of using the same system in my campaigns, because it eliminates something for the DM and keeps inspiration in the game. He also allows the accumulation of inspiration, but we spend the points freely and it really does not present a problem.

Sorry, talk of whitewashing in a D&D movie is fundamentally ridiculous. As implied by AriochQ, what does it matter is a racially Mandarin Chinese plays a Oeridian or if a racial Thai does? There are no Mandarin Chinese, or any other real life races in D&D settings. Who's to say what is a better representation of someone from Calimshan or Waterdeep or any other fantasy setting? It's a fricking FANTASY setting.

It has been a very long time since I have played in a campaign. I'm nearly always on the other side of the screen. Last fall, an acquaintance of mine invited me to play in a 5th edition D&D campaign. I knew the other players, but had never played a game with them. I thought I would give it a try. At worst, I figured I could chalk it up as an experience that confirmed my view my natural position at the table was as a DM. The Dungeon Master AriochQ has done a really nice job with the campaign and I have enjoyed it very much. Having been on the other side of the screen for so many years, I endeavored to be the best player I could. Someone I would want at my table for every campaign. I have not always succeeded, but I thought we could share some tips on being a player who adds to everyone’s enjoyment of the game. Here are my thoughts: 1. Be Consistent: Make the agreed play time a priority. Show up on time. Bring all of your necessary materials. Be ready to play. 2. Be Flexible: Use a character concept that fits the DM’s campaign world vision. Play a character that lends itself to story hooks. Create PC obligations tied to the campaign world. Give the DM anchor posts to use if they wish to. Orphaned barbarians from wiped out villages are OK, but ask yourself: Is your PC background giving the DM something to work with? 3. Be Creative: Don’t be afraid to offer adventure ideas, but don’t be offended if the DM does not use t...

@AriochQ The point of backing this Kickstarter is bringing these creatures to the tabletop. The only way you are going to see any of these monsters for use in game is through Effincool Miniatures. For all of teh reasons that I have already covered, we just cant do what Reaper does. :-) That does not mean that I do not value everyones input on this project! thanks for taking the time to comment. I also would like to add, that if you pledge for $360.00 and this project unlocks all of the stretch goals, that works out to $6.00 a mini, and includes 2 dragons and several larger pieces. I know this is not near the value that Reaper is able to afford, but it is the best we can do.

AriochQ A puzzle spaced throughout different parts of the castle that require simultaneous interaction to open a vault door. Falling portcullises or even stone doors. Or mimics ;) A pit with water flowing thru it with multiple aqueduct tunnels the water flows thru. Before anyone makes checks to jump across clarify that the consequences of a low roll mean falling into the water and getting swept away...somewhere. A coffin or an iron maiden with a built in teleporter. Include with a monster that Shoves or causes forced movement. Gargoyles that grapple characters and fly off with them to perches throughout the castle. Valuable treasure in a dangerous place to lure treasure-hungry PCs away from the party. Naturally guarded by a trap separating them from the party (e.g. chute). Provide a side solo mission for a PC - if they accomplish it then the party (or just them) benefits. However, it requires them to go it alone due to (a) ethical differences with the party, (b) need for s...

Was there something you’d like to say? We told you WotC was not running it. Whats so funny. I don't get it. Read it as nervous laughter and it makes more sense. In the prior announcement he has multiple posts essentially stating that 'of course WotC is involved' and probably being a little to forceful going after those with dissenting opinions. Foot, meet mouth. I will only talk for myself. I don't excuse anyone's impoliteness but I find his reaction quite natural and easy to understand. To me it's incredibly naive to use a brand name unlicensed, and one that is wholly unsuited to the intended purpose at that. Having to make such a sudden course correction begs the question: what where they thinking? But again, maybe that's just me.

I could actually see this working. Total conjecture on my part, but I am guessing it won't be your average Joe playing on the teams. If they started with some well known faces on each team, they could actually build a fan base. I am thinking Critical Role players, maybe some WotC or AL personalities, or other streaming groups like Satine Phoenix etc. This. Also, there was an AL PAX session where they ran a D&D Battle Royale style game. With some rule tweaking and a proper battleground, this could be a lot of fun to watch. I certainly enjoyed the AL show.

I could actually see this working. Total conjecture on my part, but I am guessing it won't be your average Joe playing on the teams. If they started with some well known faces on each team, they could actually build a fan base. I am thinking Critical Role players, maybe some WotC or AL personalities, or other streaming groups like Satine Phoenix etc. They're certainly not going to pull in a bunch of random no name streamers.

I have played a lot of 5e, but am still hesitant to give a very deep analysis of subclasses. I have definite opinions on the ones I have a lot of experience with, but there are many I just haven't interacted with much as a DM or player to really give an worthwhile evaluation/comparison. I wonder just how useful some of that feedback is going to be on the less played subclasses. It could be that there isn't much feedback because they are viewed as inferior in some way. The feedback on the feats and spells should be more solid. that's why the option of have not played/have not seen played (not the exact wording but in that spirit) is in the survey as for the survey itself, did not put any feats/spells as overpowered, was majorly dissatisfied with ranger options (BM especially)

I have played a lot of 5e, but am still hesitant to give a very deep analysis of subclasses. I have definite opinions on the ones I have a lot of experience with, but there are many I just haven't interacted with much as a DM or player to really give an worthwhile evaluation/comparison. I wonder just how useful some of that feedback is going to be on the less played subclasses. It could be that there isn't much feedback because they are viewed as inferior in some way. The feedback on the feats and spells should be more solid.If the point of the survey is to find out which options are considered inferior, for the purpose of putting out new content that will bring those options back into line, then the public perception is probably more important than the reality. If everyone believes that valor bard is the weakest option in the book, and nobody has any direct experience because nobody wanted to play a valor bard because they all thought it was too weak, then they should work to improve ...

I also discovered Lovecraft through CoC. I was a voracious reader of Science Fiction and Fantasy in my youth but rarely ventured into horror. It wasn't until CoC that it began to interest me. Yeah, same here - but then, on a gaming board, I suspect you'll find this answer quite disproportionately. :) One of my high school English term papers in fact was about Lovecraft, using as my primary sources both S.T. Joshi's Lovecraft biography and some tidbits of information from the Call of Cthulhu RPG written by Sandy. My wife can say the same, because she was introduced to Lovecraft through me. I'd be curious how many gamers and non-gamers prior to 1990 were introduced to Lovecraft via the literature.

If he wants to get away, plane shift seems like a good option. He has multiple options. There’s basically no way a 1st level party stops him from leaving, which is what the DM is told he’s trying to do. It doesn’t matter if the PCs are dumb or bloodthirsty or whatever — they lack the ability to prevent the “villain” from leaving. So the DM had to change the encounter to get a TPK out of it — at least one involving that “villain.” His minions could still cause a TPK, in theory.

$10 for an unpainted mini? No thanks. This is fairly standard for a nicely detailed and well cast mini of that type (which the GF9 ones are). There are plenty of similar minis that are sold for much higher that that.

It appears he is a Social Psychologist who specializes in psychology of morality. Precisely my point.

I find the entire concept of a "cheating DM" in this context to be humorous. I would posit the old school definition of DM made it impossible for them to 'cheat'. But that is a topic for another day. Also, the viewpoint as DM as an adversary is wrong-headed in so many ways I can't even begin to explain why.In theory, the DM was supposed to make copious notes beforehand, and then adjudicate based on the notes. Cheating, in that context, might take the form of ignoring the notes or changing them in order to prevent the players from accomplishing some goal. The most clear-cut example of a cheating DM would be one who rolls behind the screen, and their monster happens to get a critical hit which drops the PC at the right moment; or vice-versa, with a monster who botches an attack, because they didn't want to kill a PC. The standard ward against that sort of cheating is to roll in the open; or, in the prior case, ask to see the DM's notes. In this context, we are discussing the DM as Storytelle...

[You are utilizing a False Analogy fallacy] I don't think so. "Standard social skills" were invoked. To determine if "standard social skills" can be considered reliable, their general efficacy (or lack thereof) is entirely relevant. To wit: it is shown that sufficient gamers have issues with their social skills in situations that have no particular reason to be emotionally charged that we need binding policies for group gatherings. Having a mechanism for emotionally charged situations, which are notably more difficult, then seems quite reasonable.

D&D is essentially an extended social interaction and shouldn't require any extra props when standard social skills suffice. Right. Except, of course, that pretty often, "standard social skills" don't suffice. Harassment at cons *should* be covered by standard social skills, but we most definitely have an issue there. We need moderators in EN World in large part because people are more than willing to throw out standard social skills when they feel they aren't winning an argument! So much for "standard social skills".

D&D is essentially an extended social interaction and shouldn't require any extra props when standard social skills suffice. It's my experience that a hell of a lot of gamers LACK standard social skills. And also apparently EMPATHY. Also? Basic social queues fly over their heads like a home run over the head of an outfielder. Which is why when I try to put together a group to game with i'm looking for good PEOPLE as opposed to gamers. Good people can learn to be good gamers. Sociopathic gamers cant learn to be good people or Empathy. While the X-card is something that I wouldnt neccesarily use at my table while running a game, if someone wanted to run a game where I was a player and wanted to use the X-Card I'd be fine with it.

D&D is essentially an extended social interaction and shouldn't require any extra props when standard social skills suffice. Damn-it man, why do you resist the need to safe space our hobby. I could have used an X while watching Starship Troopers. "It's an ugly planet, a bug planet!"

The problem of what to do with unconscious enemies is a recurring moral quandary in many RPG's. Many groups just kill them and move on, which is perfectly fine if that is the kind of game the player's, and DM, want to run. <snippety doo dah, snippety ehh> Moral quandaries make the game more interesting IMHO and I a always curious to see how different groups deal with them. Part of it is the fact that this particular moral quandary almost inevitably leads to a transparent "he's going to betray you, so don't let him surrender". IMO the DM needs to take the first step to make surrender a possibility. Example: In my not really Planescape or Spelljammer but really bizarre Astral game, the PCs assaulted the pleasure palace of a gith pirate captain. As the gith pirates are important adversaries, this was relevant because the PCs were hoping to steal any star charts there. Regardless, the place was done up in about as baroquely twisted/twistedly baroque a fashion as you might imagine, complete w...

There are sales figures in some of the court filings, and if someone had the inclination they could probably figure it out based on PHB/Basic Set numbers. Personally, I think D&D is way bigger now. I went to high school in the early 80's and out of about 1000 students, I think there were probably 20 D&D players. It was a pretty small group. My youngest just graduated last fall from a school of about 850. There are easily 30-50 kids who play D&D fairly consistently. We’re talking about convention attendance.

I wonder if we’re going to have Hollywood’s first D&D-related beef now, what with Manganiello casting aspersions on Vin Diesel actually playing D&D? Joe also throws some shade at Vin Diesel, saying something like "He says he plays, but I don't know anyone who plays with him..." That bit felt awkwardly weird to me. I'm assuming and hoping Manganiello didn't mean any serious shade . . . does he really believe that "everyone" in LA who plays passes through his gaming circle? Just because you don't know anyone who plays with Vin Diesel, doesn't mean jack. No need to play "King Nerd". There's some great video from D&D Beyond on Manganiello's gameroom, the "Gary Gygax Memorial Dungeon". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAUfngq89cg Here's a short bit from SiriusXM on Manganiello's gaming group. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sB6XIou0pw

Though in his defense, that was "just five years ago." But yeah, Colbert on Critical Role has to happen now. I guess Colbert hasn't played since college, but I would love to see him on Critical Role at some point. "

Colbert has serious nerd cred. Do a YouTube search for his segments on Tolkien. The dude is a walking Tolkien encyclopedia! Yeah, if you think the potential Manganiello/Diesel feud is something, look up the appearances of James Franco on Colbert Report. There's at least two and maybe more because Franco mentioned being a Tolkien fan and Colbert went deep into Middle Earth lore, so Franco actually studied up for the next appearance to try to one-up him...and Colbert still schooled him. So what if he's three editions out of date, guy's been producing and hosting a show while still touring for something like a decade and a half. My last group canceled a game once because there was an X-Files marathon.

What was wrong with the trading rules? 15 downtime days to trade an item unless you are at the same table and they must be of the same rarity. Any less would lead to massive exploits and anything more is probably unnecessary. Sure there is some wonkiness going on with certificates and unique items, but those are the result of online play (lack of certificate) and hardcover adventures (unique items). Lots wrong with it. First off, the rules themselves are spread out across various places (docs, online posts). Secondly, the rules are very anti-immersive and complicated. They can change without notice, are retroactively applied, and players are expected to potentially find and revert trades. And how do you justify tiered restrictions with trades? "There's some unseen force that prevents you from exchanging this item with this person in front of you, saying 'Iiiittt'ss ttthhhee wwrrroonggg ttiiieerrr'." ....?????? It's like 100% metagame, and it flies right in the face of the spirit of the des...