Recent content by Scott Christian

Expectations are in-line with the eight DMs I have played with over the past 20 years, myself included. And the language I use is not discouraging. I specifically started my statement with: But if we go there. New DMs are sub-par compared to experienced DMs who have taken the time to make sure...

I am not talking about beginners running a game and not having fun. The quote I responded to was: "DMing is not that hard." And, like I said, DMing is not hard. But to do it well is hard. This doesn't mean groups can't have fun with an ok or sub-par DM. They can. But, if as a player, you are...

I disagree with the premise that it doesn't matter. I think it matters on a few fronts. But each of those distills to one thing - the players caring about the game. Lore matters greatly if the questline involves the lore. Exploring, such as puzzles and new locations, matter more if the lore...

DMing is not hard. DMing well is hard. DMing a great interconnected campaign is extremely difficult. You would be silly to think that there is no difference between a polished DM who is prepping and working hard, and a person who is not.

Ha! My bad. If there was an emoji of me smacking my forehead, I would post it here.

I get. Like I said in my above post, wanna run a crazy dungeon? Go for it. Have fun. But the literal title of this thread is: Mapping, How Do You Do It? Therefore, I feel the need to express some sort of specific reasoning behind my mapping process. These are logic and geology. I often ponder...

Yes, I know. ;) But if you have a spell, such as stoneshaping, that is part of logic. And don't you want it to have some sort of semblance to reality. I mean, fantastical is all well and good. Running Alice in Wonderland session? Great! Go for it. Yet, if you have a group of kobolds who have...

There isn't a difference. They combine to make a skill. A PC that has zero athletics or acrobatics, but is actually a climber in real life, can often weave a narrative that helps them. A simple, "You roll with advantage) is just as good as being proficient.

My belief is they will make everything more vague (which I stated several years ago), and make everything a tiny bit stronger (which I stated 9 years ago).

The only way to map it is to make it logical if it's based on geo-formation (and even then?), and make it historical if it is based on societal-formation.

Thanks. I get it. I was just reading your original definition like this: With the word "almost" allowing room for deviation, albeit slight. And the word "'wrong'" in quotes, as if to say, they could have a morally plausible reason, but their actions are evil. Thanks for taking the time to...

The year people understand D&D is not a scientific taxonomic hierarchy, is the day people can get over this ridiculous argument.

I guess I misunderstood. When writing my response, I viewed it as the same. Your quote from TVTropes, seems to view them as the same. The heroes, in my case, all the movie and book protagonists I presented, are almost always considered to be in the right. The villains are in the wrong. Can you...

Forgive me, But I have a hard time understanding this. So, may I ask what might be perceived as a naive question? How do you plan to explore this? We are talking D&D, right? I get the DM may throw a small bone your way regarding your heritage, lineage, and culture. But, how do you plan on...

Good point. The DM does create the scene. That said, there are times the story calls for a heavy narrative. I remember writing this one description of a ritual the adventurers were watching. They were guests, and the ritual was not evil, a lot of hints at culture and some foreshadowing to their...