Recent content by Retreater

Typically, no. Things usually turn bad so quickly that they don't realize the danger until it's too late. And that's usually because of the swingy-ness. One session they do fine against 5 skeletons. The next session, they're dropped in a single round. So I don't even know how to telegraph the...

Well, yeah, it's me. I'm trying to figure out how to not kill all the characters. If I roll in the open, I can't fudge die rolls. If I roll behind the screen, they suspect I'm cheating. If I make silly tactical mistakes on purpose, that also looks like cheating. If I don't build the...

I don't really use ambushes. Now, the monsters may roll high for Initiative, but there's no other advantage.

Do the factions get cumbersome? My players tend to not like interacting with factions - or take different sides and end up not working together.

I've avoided this one because I had the impression it's a megadungeon. Not the case?

I'm looking for a 5e adventure that meets the following criteria. If you have any ideas, please share them. Can be official or unofficial. Towards the "campaign" length (more Cure of Strahd than like a 32 page module). Available in print. Nothing too bleak/grimdark (doesn't have to be comical...

I played a one-shot of it for a podcast (which ended up turning into 3 episodes). It was a lot of fun and a very creative world. I didn't get to see how a lot of the rules interacted, but I'd play again.

The blaze of glory doesn't have to be killing the dragon. It could be a devastating strike that weakens the dragon to give the rest of the party a fighting chance. (Maybe swallowing the bodyguard temporarily suppresses its breath weapon?) Or the epic showdown keeps the dragon busy enough that...

You've never played in one of my games. ;) Yeah, I was wondering if there was another way to handle it? I was feeling inspired by Dragonbane and the Year Zero Engine games to attack the ability scores. I could permanently drain a Hit Die each time. If you're at 0 HD and go down - that's the...

Fabula Ultima makes it impossible for a character to die without being in a pivotal scene with a major villain. If a character is defeated, the player decides to go out with a blaze of glory or to take a "campaign setback" (which is discussed with the GM.) Daggerheart uses a very similar method...

One struggle I've had as a GM is the pressure of building thrilling, challenging encounters that aren't too over-tuned that they risk TPKs at every turn. Invariably, it happens, and my campaign comes to a screeching halt. This isn't just "the occasional TPK" or "they made bad decisions." This is...

We have story, but there isn't a lot of interesting mechanics to the system. Much like Fabula Ultima, it really suffers from an anemic bestiary. I can see most combats turning "samey" with repeated enemy types. I run three players. It takes a lot of enemies just to get to a moderate challenge...

I was thinking recently about how certain systems come with a breadth of scope and how others don’t. For example, you can have a one-page system like “Lasers and Feelings” or “Honey Heist” and have a great time for one session, but you’re likely not going to have a 6-month campaign...

I feel ya. I've got more stuff than I can actually use. I forget what's in all the books. When I add extra resources, it just confuses things and slows the game. Nothing against the system, but Level Up broke 5e for me. Just too much. The only way the hobby survives for me is to ignore all the...

So I just reached what was considered "name level" in older editions. I have a 9th level thaumaturge, and the power upgrades were minimal, especially compared to other party members with 5th rank spells, etc. I got an ancestry feat that lets me Aid an extra character and a "big" class ability...