AriochQ
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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...

I have one group that plays monthly, each session 6-8 hours. Given how infrequently we play, I have essentially gone to a milestone'ish system. Each adventure they get 1/3-1/2 of the experience needed for the next level. Given how infrequently we play, I wanted the PC's to be able to advance and eventually get to level 20 (which would take about 50 sessions/months. i.e. 4 years in real time). Ironically, in my bi-weekly game, I also prefer for characters to level about every two months. I have come to the conclusion, that I don't really care how many hours a PC has played, or how many monsters they have killed. I find it more satisfying for both players and DM if there is gradual growth. It lets the players mess around with new abilities/spells and me, as DM, mess around with different monsters and challenges. If we played more frequently, a weekly game for instance, I would probably adhere more to the RAW for experience/level gain. If I am not mistaken, Adventurer's League will be adopting...

This does seem to be a near manic infatuation with DPS, which is much more common in MMO's than TTRPG's. Truthfully, as a DM, if you aren't able to balance a munchkinfied min/max build, then maybe someone else should DM? As DM's we have a wide variety of tools available to us (unlike MMO's which generally have zero tools beyond the dreaded patch update). Because a DM balancing a min/max build without overwhelming the players with regular builds is actually a real challenge. If I was going to be snarky, I would make a comment along the lines of "if a DM doesn't know that, then maybe someone else should DM" - really it's easy to adjust your challenges to a group that on even keel, be it all min/maxed or all median, or all suboptimal. The game though doesn't give a lot of mechanical tools when you've got a mix though. At that point, often the best solution is not trying to assert your game mastery or unlimited cupboard of monsters over a character, but rather a mature conversation with th...

Truthfully, as a DM, if you aren't able to balance a munchkinfied min/max build, then maybe someone else should DM? As DM's we have a wide variety of tools available to us (unlike MMO's which generally have zero tools beyond the dreaded patch update). If PCs break the game it's the DM's fault, not the fault of the rules. While I largely agree with this sentiment - I do not agree the rules are faultless. There are certain suspect feats that continually cause problems. If everyone in the party are min/maxers - a D.M. solution is fairly simple - crank it up. However, when it is only one or two P.C.s, that makes it much tougher on the D.M. Surely, we can constructively criticize rules that invite abuse without throwing all of the solutions on the D.M. I guess I do not see the rules designers as immune to criticism. The whole concept of min/max - super dps character builds is pretty alien to me, so I may be way off base.

I disagree that there needs to be a change to bring wizards on par with sorcerers. Maybe I explained poorly. Once GWM/PM and SS/CE are nerfed, or if you run a game without feats, cantrips rule the day. At level 11, a Sorcerer can expect 6d10+10 fire damage, reliably, every round of all but the absurdly longest adventuring day. How? Make the thought experiment where you build a dragon sorcerer focused on defense/survivability and cantrips. You will find that you gain nigh infinite sorcery points once you don't feel compelled to use them for Fireball et al. Once off the lowest levels, you will find that you will have plenty of Shield spells, and still loads of metamagic for twinned Firebolt. At level 11, I believe you can easily spend 60 sorcery points in one day; grotesquely more than, say, the Monk and her 11 ki points. If you're restricted to either [3d8+15 plus +2 AC] or [3d12+15], then the survival benefits of a fighter can no longer compete. The Fire Bolt DPR is nearly twic...

It sounds like Player A didn’t mean to end up in that position, though. I don't think Player A was aiming for that specific outcome, but I did think the choice of whacking the hound on the nose when PC-B was holding its jaws open was a strange one. At the time, I was thinking, "Why are you doing this? Why not bite its tail or try to leap on its back--attack anything but the snout?" The GM was "at fault," unless there is something in the Feng Shui rules I'm missing. There was no real reason for the GM to rule that Player A took Player B's place in the hound's mouth, which is ultimately what spoiled the moment. I kind of suspect the GM was trying to set up Player A to have a cool death for his character (which did happen, as it turned out, although not on this particular maneuver). In post-game discussion it became pretty clear that they'd discussed the possibility of PC-A dying during the final showdown. That being said, I'm not sure I see why it is such a big deal that it would blow up...

In prior editions, this was the case. 5e Wizard is far better at Control than DPS, even with the inclusion of the concentration mechanic. The only place they really compete for DPS is AoE, but the lower level spells tend to do 'meh' damage and spell slots over 5 are almost never replenished, limiting how many times they can cast the really good AoE spells. With a min/maxxed build, melee DPS is consistently high and uses very few resources. Specifically I am thinking of smiting pally's and sharpshooter hand crossbows. The tanking role is usually either a very high AC character of almost any class, or a raging barbarian. That's been my experience as well. The optimisers I know, when not multiclassing, all use martials. Currently there's a gloom stalker in a game I'm playing in who's first turn nova outpaces my wizard almost every combat, because I'm trying to save slots and they don't have to. It's not multiclassed, the dude basically just has sharpshooter and that first turn is insa...

How do the tiefling subraces differ from each other mechanically? Any racial abilities stand out? Most have a free cantrip, and at third level get a specific once/day 3rd level spell, and another at 5th level. For example, Baalzebul -- gets the thaumaturgy cantrip, plus ray of sickness at 3rd level, and crown of madness at 5th level. Mephistopheles gets the mage hand cantrip, burning hands at 3rd level, and flame blade at 5th level. 4/10. 6 to go!

I convinced an acquaintance to run some "Introduction to 3-D Printing for Tabletop Games" workshops at Gen Con this year. Three sessions filled up in 30 minutes, so the interest is out there. He may end up adding two more sessions if they can find the space. Any chance you could film those sessions and post the best one on youtube or such?? Pretty please??

Oh yay. More halflings with gigantic heads... Seriously, that is the worst artwork in the entire PHB and they decided to stick with it in a supplement? It’s so bad!

Oh yay. More halflings with gigantic heads... Seriously, that is the worst artwork in the entire PHB and they decided to stick with it in a supplement?They have stuck with the playtested design for every other book released for 5E, doubt they will stop now.

"Alex says that "Pen and paper is a dying art. Computer games, video games, they’re the next generation, the next wave of games and I’ve always wanted to see them on that new medium and I’ve always wanted to be working with someone who’s excited as I am about it.”" Not sure about this. I keep seeing more and more young people show up at the FLGS for AL on Wednesdays.Yup, that's patently wrong. Just yesterday I watched the latest episode of the 'Tracks Magazine' (it's a weekly magazine about pop-culture on Arte) and it had a feature story about the resurgence of pen & paper. Board games are also on the rise. Of course they don't sell as many units as video games, but they're far from dead; they're thriving!

"D&D is a game of imagination. If some group wants to battle or play fictional characters, more power to them." Was the first line of my response. I am not so presumptuous as to tell others the correct way to play D&D. If they want to play Gandalf and Frodo, and have fun doing it, then I say go for it. If everyone is on board, who cares? D&D isn't the system I would choose to do so, it is pretty clunky. I would think Middle Earth Role Playing would be more appropriate (for obvious reasons!). People can "have fun" doing all sorts of things. I do not believe attempting to recreate fictional characters is a sound way to do that for the majority of play. You'll usually end up disappointed.

D&D is a game of imagination. If some group wants to battle or play fictional characters, more power to them. I have never ran, or played in, a campaign based on fictional characters but I have based many NPC's on fictional characters. Having a well developed mental image of a character helps make them more realistic. I will also base an NPC's on someone I know in real life. The trick is to change them just enough that the players don't realize who you are basing them off of. Styling an NPC to be like Gandalf is absolutely NOT what the OP was talking about and is a completely unrelated endevour.

I do something similar, PC's get max at 1st level then roll each level thereafter. If they roll less than the die average, they take the average. I think it works out the same as your system mathematically. Very close - within a point per level or so, based on the averages.

You should also read this. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musashi_(novel) It's a great book. There is a little story in there, about a Swordmaster that Musashi wanted to meet. This master cut a tulip with his saber, and send it to an annoying student as a gift and a test. The annoying student was ashamed by such a sissy present, and leave town. But some hazardous event make Musashi saw the cutted tulip too. He was fascinated by the cut and wonder how it was possible to make such a cut. Finally it is him who met the swordmaster. 18 wisdom. At least. I've heard it's a great book and I've definitely seen movies based on it, but you're referring to a work of historical fiction (made during a period of government-sponsored mythologization of samurai). If you don't feel the need to be constrained by the rules though, give him a Wisdom of 18. :) In the interests of reading suggestions, I strongly recommend checking out Musui's Story (which gives a really eye-opening account of historical Japan and...

I'm pretty sure Mike said Joan of Arc is next, though I'm not 100% sure. I have a build for her that I like and think people will get use out of, just working on the extra text right now. :D Enjoying the wrote ups. Quick question...he came up with the 2 weapon fighting style with the swords mentioned above but nothing stat wise shows this fighting style. Thanks! Aye. He came up with it but he's not really known for that being his style. I just came across that during my research and (for the like dozenth time in my life) been like "Whoa, Musashi. Whoa." Had to mention it. If you want to make it a thing for him, you can swap out the Defensive fighting style (drop his AC by 1), add in bonus action attacks with a shortsword (include that damage add), and lower his katana down to 1d8. :) I would increase the AC bonus for Master of the Sword to at least +2 and possibly higher to bring it in line with other reactions that do the same thing (e.g. Gladiator has Parry that adds +3 as a reaction) ...

Played? The homebrew setting of my DM in college. Eventually Forgotten Realms may catch up through Adventurer's League play, but it isn't really the same as a 'campaign'. DM'd? Greyhawk. I have run every one of my campaigns since 1980 in Greyhawk. Dm'd - Almost exclusively homebrew. Played - The only campaign I have played in for any length of time is AriochQ's - so, Greyhawk.

That would be an awful choice. As if D&D wasn't niche enough, you now set the movie into a niche within D&D. Eberron would probably fly well with the Asian market, but my feeling is that 80s retro is popular at the moment, and it might be useful to try and tap into that vain of nostalgia. Eberron wasn't around in the 80s. The setting does matter - most people will come to a D&D movie expecting to see a Genericfantasyland(TM) asthetic. That could range from GoT style grit to something more like the Hobbit, but it doesn't include steampunk and Final Fantasy (outside Asia) which is the what comes with Eberron. In addition, Eberron was only promoted as the main D&D setting for a relatively short period: it might have some nostalgic pull for some who came to the game in the early naughties, but that is narrower than most other settings. Dragonlance, Chrystal Shard (FR) or Moonshae (FR) seem like the best options to me. You guys keep bringing up the idea that it matters at all how ...

That would be an awful choice. As if D&D wasn't niche enough, you now set the movie into a niche within D&D. The setting literally only matters for what tone and themes it provides. If they aren’t going with the Dragonlance Chronicles, the setting serves literally only that purpose, and Eberron is the best setting for hitting that tone they were talking about before the production moved to paramount. If paramount isn’t interested in that same idea, then setting only matters if, again, they have a specific type of story they want to tell. How niche the setting is doesn’t matter. They could never mention the name of the world, and never use the name of the setting in marketing, and it would make absolutely no difference. Eberron would probably fly well with the Asian market, but my feeling is that 80s retro is popular at the moment, and it might be useful to try and tap into that vain of nostalgia. Eberron wasn't around in the 80s. Eh, broad 80’s nostalgia is only going to help i...

If I did have to make a D&D movie, I might consider adapting the Darkwalker on Moonshae novel. It's not actually very good, but it conforms to a good many "Young Adult" genre tropes - good looking late-teen protagonists with sexual tension, etc. Quite an achievement, since it pre-dates the invention of YA! It also has a fairly stereotypical adventuring party with recognisable classes. I'm not familiar with it, but that sounds like a way to go that would be different for big, blockbuster action or action-comedies. It's been 15 years since the LOTR movies and...I'm not sure the Hobbit movies count ;) but do they want the D&D movies to have that kind of tone? I doubt it. I imagine a lot more comedy, a much more straightforward or focused narrative, a bunch of characters thrown together who don't get along but have to work together in the 3rd act, and more romantic entanglements. A DnD movie has to, first and above all, focus on telling a good story. Any thought of setting has to serve that....