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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.)

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.)

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"...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

When I’m building a ranged character, I obviously want my main offensive option to be online 100% of the time. By the same token though, there’s something in me that rebels against the idea of "just withdraw to shooting ranger" rather than "switch to melee." So help an archer how. When you...

Sometimes the trap is obvious. You know that it's a bad idea to grab for the treasure, try to free the hostage, or [insert temptation here]. But because you're a noble paladin or a greedy rogue, you just can't help yourself. The pressure plate will trigger; the innocent maiden will be revealed...

By and large, 5e rewards specialization. If you’re a grappling dude, you’re not going to be nearly as good at archery. When you’re an archer, you probably aren’t going to be as effective on the front lines. And when you’re a front line melee combatant, hopping on your newly-summoned mount and...

While most magic items resize, weapons and armor are a notable exception. That rule is a prime candidate for handwaving, and many GMs will go so far to take a wish list from their player in order to sprinkle “the right gear” into treasure piles. But if you like to randomly generate your own...

Petty cash issues make sense from a worldbuilding standpoint. But in practice I find that they can steal narrative attention from robbing dragons, fighting evil, and generally being big damn heroes. I suppose there's some adventure to be wrung from low-stakes, low-magic, "can we afford to make...

As a natural spotlight hog and melodramatic diva, I like nothing better than in-character philosophizing. "Are my actions truly evil? Does my android PC have a soul? Should we save the possessed orphans or burn them down?" The trouble is that it’s difficult to do "deep and meaningful"...

How do you guys play level-ups? Are they strictly for between sessions? Do you wait until you get your next long rest? Or is it possible to grab a couple of XP mid-combat and get a sudden MMO-style reset to the ol' hp and spell slots? What's most practical? What's most fun? And is there a...

I love me some mammoth riders and dinosaur knights. The only problem is that they're obnoxiously big on the battlefield. We're talking squeezing rules, moving-through-creatures-two-size-categories-larger-than-you rules, and all the weird corner cases of mounted combat on large bases. So here's...

Suppose your party TPK’d in the final fight. Would you reset and try again? Would you accept defeat? Or would you expect your GM to fudge the dice just enough to keep the BAD ENDING from ruining a good campaign? What's your philosophy of failure when it comes to the campaign finale? (Comic for...