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I'm sort of in the same place as jcayer with the pace of my game, so I am really appreciating the idea of using skill challenges as a way to pick it up. In my last session, I also used a skill challenge to simulate getting through some abandoned kobold tunnels. Because I often underestimate...

Though I haven't read the article, what is to say that the "spirit companion" is not one individual personality, but many. So that the attacking powers are coming from feisty spirits (tiger, wolf, warrior ancestor), and the guidance/utility powers are coming from other spirits who would be more...

Skill Challenges vs. Combat Encounters Agreed. In a skill challenge, there must be a way for the story to continue even if the party "fails". This point was lost on me for the first couple of times I designed challenges, because in the core books so much emphasis is put on skill challenges...

Thanks everyone for your well considered advice. It seems there are a range of approaches used by DMs from planning out fairly detailed contingencies to doing one's best to avoid the issue altogether. This is not surprising, as each DM has their own style and preferences. For myself, I really...

Thanks for your input, fellas. I appreciate your description of Step 1, Firelance, which really goes to the heart of my question. How do you get in to the challenge itself. What I understand is that there must be an objective, and there are three ways (possibly more) that the objective can be...

I've been poking around the boards trying to get some ideas on how to run my skill challenges better. I run a bi-weekly campaign in my own world, but I'm using the outline of "Rescue at Rivenroar" for the first adventure. I have run a few skill challenges, with varying levels of success (the...

Kudos to FireLance for a good thread topic! And to the great responses already... My rule 0, like others, is for all to have fun. I get that fun by knowing my players and providing situations in my world (my fun) for them to show off and explore their characters and the game (their fun). At...

Major Props to Mr. Rouse and the WotC techies! I love it when promises made turn into promises kept. :cool: --RS

Yeah, I'm about the same as Storm and Moon... -4 players including DM -DM switches off every couple of sessions, returning to their own ongoing campaign - DMG wealth by level guidelines and XP table are followed more closely by one DM than the other. Everyone is more or less okay with each...

Yeah, try not to get too bogged down with rules. You might have an agreement with your players that after a certain specified time, any "rules discussions" will receive a ruling from you and you will move on. Then, after the game you can go back and find out if you were right/mostly right/not...

I would have to second much of what Oryan suggests. I have recently gotten my GF into playing D&D with two of my other friends. I would say the key is to find what it is (other than being with you) she finds interesting about the game. If it is combat, then mock combats would be great. If it...

yes! ... or Freedom Fighters... or .... <<veering off this course in order to avoid crankiness from others>> ;) --RS

Not exactyl a "deal with the Devil" but a story that comes to mind is "The Monkey's Paw" by W.W. Jacobs. This is more about "be careful what you wish for...", which is along the same lines as Faust. Also, there is the American modern folktale/urban myth about Robert Johnson selling his soul to...

What about Psychosis being an intangeble creature that takes over the minds of others. The children have become automatons under his/her control. The children act/attack as a mob/swarm (see Cityscape) with hivemind. The challenge is how to force Psychosis out of the brains of the children...

I'm with you, Henry. At 11pm my brain closes shop. Although, I will say we have had some of the same crazy things happen such as the ones described in this thread. We chalk it up to senility though. ;) --RS

Just checking on this. . . I'm putting together a human wererat seer. My question is: what psionic powers will this character be able to use when in various forms? I see the following in the SRD: From what I can see, the character will use all his powers in all his forms because he is not a...

Though I have not read any of the NC books, I really like the idea. There are many stories on which to draw, especially if you do not limit your scope to the Northeast. I can think of the Brer Rabbit stories of the South, the "Tall Tales" of Texas, and Native American Myths from every region...

Well, if your players are going to reroll, you could have your group just make new characters--one's that lean more towards the Lawful and Good sides of the continuum, and go on with your plot as described. Then, swipe the group's older characters and make them opposing NPC's to the new...

I'm a little unclear as to what your concerns are. If you need to destroy the world, then destroy it in as graphic a detail as you like. My question is: why do you need to "destroy the world" if all you really need to do is end the campaign? However, if your bent is to run a campaign about...

Sorry to hear RW is laid-up. Heal quickly and well, Ranger! We'll wait here. . .