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I stink at winging it- HELP!
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<blockquote data-quote="bouncyhead" data-source="post: 5213780" data-attributes="member: 19115"><p>Would be useful to know what kind of situations you're finding it difficult to wing.</p><p></p><p>I'm pretty much always winging stuff, from an entire evening's play (back in the day, thankfully not any more) to a quick NPC or encounter.</p><p></p><p>1. Don't panic.</p><p>2. Don't sweat the numbers.</p><p>3. No-one is ever going to know.</p><p></p><p>For instant combat opponents: don't sweat the numbers. If you need an AC, just pick one that seems right and rationalize it later - no one is ever going to know. Same for pretty much any combat stats. Pick a to-hit +, what's the guy carrying - a longsword? - OK so d8 +... well whatever seems right. How many hp? - well, how long do you want him to last? 3x (I play Pathfinder) encourages 'ground up' construction, but since no-one is ever going to know, why worry about any of that?</p><p></p><p>As for something a little out of the ordinary how about "You land a solid blow, but as your blade strikes there is a slight shimmer in the air and he doesn't seem as wounded by that as you might expect." What strange force is at work here? - I have no clue - just make it up. They'll never know. Perhaps when they finally knock him on the head they'll find a breastplate/ring/keychain/anklet/thingummy that gives DR5/-. You can worry about that later.</p><p></p><p>How about some poison on his blade? That's an idea. Skim to poisons - pick a relatively mild one.</p><p></p><p>And when they knock him on the head? How about a tattoo of a blue naga tucked away on the upper arm somewhere (hardly original I know!). But what could it signify? Is there a cult of the blue naga? Who knows? You just made it up. When the party reach town they might ask some questions and if you want it to lead somewhere, that's splendid. Time to do the map of their hideout...</p><p></p><p>Or from another angle... things are lagging in the underdark and the PCs are tarrying in an area with little to offer. How about a noise? Just the sound of leather against stone, or the snick of what might be a blade leaving a scabbard, faint as anything, carried to the ears of the party by a subterranean breeze. Where did it come from? - Who cares? It's just a cue to get people frosty and moving in the right direction. Perhaps it's the guy with the made up armour class from earlier. And if they catch him? Interrogate him? He won't tell them anything (he doesn't have anything to tell, you just made him up) but while he resists you can stick something together quickly in your head. Why would he be there? He's been sent to track the party (made up people have always been sent by someone, it buys you time). By who? Er... well if your module supports it, now is the time to plug this desperate bit of improvisation back in the main story. Otherwise you're going to have to think of a name, and fast... perhaps it’s the Cult of the Blue Naga.</p><p></p><p>Is this the kind of thing you're thinking of? Or is it more the party knocking on the wrong door/deciding to head off to the wrong town/shouting 'Hastur' three times kind of thing?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="bouncyhead, post: 5213780, member: 19115"] Would be useful to know what kind of situations you're finding it difficult to wing. I'm pretty much always winging stuff, from an entire evening's play (back in the day, thankfully not any more) to a quick NPC or encounter. 1. Don't panic. 2. Don't sweat the numbers. 3. No-one is ever going to know. For instant combat opponents: don't sweat the numbers. If you need an AC, just pick one that seems right and rationalize it later - no one is ever going to know. Same for pretty much any combat stats. Pick a to-hit +, what's the guy carrying - a longsword? - OK so d8 +... well whatever seems right. How many hp? - well, how long do you want him to last? 3x (I play Pathfinder) encourages 'ground up' construction, but since no-one is ever going to know, why worry about any of that? As for something a little out of the ordinary how about "You land a solid blow, but as your blade strikes there is a slight shimmer in the air and he doesn't seem as wounded by that as you might expect." What strange force is at work here? - I have no clue - just make it up. They'll never know. Perhaps when they finally knock him on the head they'll find a breastplate/ring/keychain/anklet/thingummy that gives DR5/-. You can worry about that later. How about some poison on his blade? That's an idea. Skim to poisons - pick a relatively mild one. And when they knock him on the head? How about a tattoo of a blue naga tucked away on the upper arm somewhere (hardly original I know!). But what could it signify? Is there a cult of the blue naga? Who knows? You just made it up. When the party reach town they might ask some questions and if you want it to lead somewhere, that's splendid. Time to do the map of their hideout... Or from another angle... things are lagging in the underdark and the PCs are tarrying in an area with little to offer. How about a noise? Just the sound of leather against stone, or the snick of what might be a blade leaving a scabbard, faint as anything, carried to the ears of the party by a subterranean breeze. Where did it come from? - Who cares? It's just a cue to get people frosty and moving in the right direction. Perhaps it's the guy with the made up armour class from earlier. And if they catch him? Interrogate him? He won't tell them anything (he doesn't have anything to tell, you just made him up) but while he resists you can stick something together quickly in your head. Why would he be there? He's been sent to track the party (made up people have always been sent by someone, it buys you time). By who? Er... well if your module supports it, now is the time to plug this desperate bit of improvisation back in the main story. Otherwise you're going to have to think of a name, and fast... perhaps it’s the Cult of the Blue Naga. Is this the kind of thing you're thinking of? Or is it more the party knocking on the wrong door/deciding to head off to the wrong town/shouting 'Hastur' three times kind of thing? [/QUOTE]
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