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What optional rules do you guys play with? Which ones do you hate? And on a highly personal note, do you allow for saves vs. death by massive damage? (Comic related.)

I meant in Pathfinder. :/

Do you guys allow "the big guys" in the party to substitute Strength for Charisma on Intimidation checks? Or do you insist that they pay the feat tax for "intimidating prowess?" What's the rationale either way? (Comic for illustrative purposes.)

The difference between "You don't know how to balance encounters" and "I haven't felt challenged by most combats" is an interesting space to explore. The style is almost self-effacing, framing your experience as difficult rather than judging the GM as lacking. Good stuff. :)

My DM asks for constructive criticism. They insist on honest feedback. They get offended when I tell them all the reasons why they suck. Assuming the above is only slightly hyperbolic, how do you thread the needle when giving feedback to you GM? What does "healthy constructive criticism"...

What's the resolution mechanic like? Are there a couple of good selling points, or a primer video I should be watching?

Best use I've seen in ANY edition was a riding gecko gnome cavalier in Pathfinder. The ability to go up dungeon walls kept the mount relevant and interesting for a long, long time.

I know plenty of players who devour systems like candy. But for psychographic profiles that glom onto Big-Tent Systems, the effort isn’t worth the reward. They’d rather play the game they know and love than risk their precious leisure time learning a new system. The trouble comes up when these...

When it comes to the cavaliers, mounted paladins, and equestrian fighters of 3.X, it’s all about that sweet, sweet charge. Anyone that’s ever done the simple math of lance + spirited charge = Eomer face knows just how amazing it can feel. The business end of a lance is the tactical nuke of the...

We usually think of magical AoEs and wall spells as battlefield control. But my philosophy is that, even if it isn’t your class's job, there's no reason to ignore battlefield control I’m talking about turning tables over for makeshift barricades. I’m talking about spiking doors so that...

It's funny... I'm actually working on a mini-dungeon at the moment meant to solve this problem. The reward amounts to a respec. I would think that finding a way to preserve a character while rejiggering powers would be a more popular solution.

The titular barbarian is an archetype of a larger problem: Have you ever brought a really cool character to the game, only to find out that it was a terrible fit for the campaign? What's the solution you opted for? Did you retire 'em and roll up a new guy? Did you adapt somehow? Or did you...

Not familiar. What were the fiddliest of the rules?

As you work your way through GMing a campaign, you add more and more complexity to your encounter design. Venomous critters appear. The orc shaman starts casting spells. Lair actions crop up when you finally meet that baby dragon at the end of the baby dungeon. It’s all cumulative, and it’s all...

Like I said up top, I've got a few months before I actually need to implement this stuff. I'll need every scrap of that time to wrap my head around what took you a morning. Thanks again for taking the time. Me and my maxi-mini appreciate it.

The notes in the actual module tell me to "pick another 9th level spell you think is useful. Funny that they didn't leave that same note in the PFSRD version. Any dang way, thanks for the assist! It'll be at least a few months before this fight hits, but I want to start wrapping my head around...

It's time. After nearly 10 years of IRL play, my group is finally approaching the climax of Monte Cook's "Dragon's Delve." It's the climactic encounter that this guy was (quite literally) made for: https://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/unique-monsters/cr-24/metterak-the-dragon-prince/ It's going...

Wait... You ritually murder your DM at the end of the campaign? I feel like the Chick Tracts dude is going to want to hear about this. O_O

When a game is getting a little long in the tooth, how do you go about deciding on the next thing? Do you press on to the end even when it's stopped being fun? Do you mix it up by starting over with low-level characters in the same setting? Or do you cut you just let the old high-level campaign...

Every GM has been there. We've improvised a character, given them a colorful description, and even adopted a slightly-different vaguely-British accent for the occasion. The RP is flowing naturally, and everyone seems invested in the fiction. Then a player asks the dreaded question. "What's...