Recent content by Laurefindel

This is funny and sad and relatable all at the same time

The way I use them: Perception = environmental awareness. Spot potential dangers such as ambush or traps before you walk into them. Investigation = deliberate observation and analysis. Look for hidden doors, traps (along with how they are set off), and clues in general.

Though I have to say, in my modest gaming experience, naturally ‘glib’ players tend to play high-charisma characters, or at least not 5 Int barbarians. And when they do, they tend to exaggerate the dumbness

I agree with you there. I like HP as a simple health bar mechanics, but arguments in favour of versimilitude are feeble IMO. In the animal kingdom as in human conflicts (or any dangerous ventures really), the risks of lasting damage and injuries are constantly weighted against the benefits of...

That is how I tend to view hit points in the first place. It’s an elaborate version of the classic « pow! pow! You’re dead! », « Nuh-uh, I dodged it! » « pow! pow! I deal 16 you’re-dead-points » « I spend 16 I-dodged-it-points to not be dead »

I like both systems for different reasons, but what I prefer is systems that incorporate both. I like the diversity of a hit point/stamina pool that depletes rapidly in combat and refreshes rapidly with rest, along a system of wounds that are inflicted sporadically but cause longer consequences...

Like @Arilyn said, focus is always on the main character so it’s both a boon and a challenge, both for DM and player. Play is also a lot more intimate, which can become discomforting (maybe less so in OP’s situation). « Duet » campaigns tend to be less action-oriented, both because occasions...

A « hit » for me signifies that the target’s defences were penetrated and caused a loss of something. Often, that something is health, sometimes a loss of health does not fit the narrative. At any case, a hit is an attack that yielded a consequence for the target.

I love Eberron for different reasons than I love FR. I know the appellation of “medieval fantasy” is frown upon, but Eberron is in my mind the first “modern” setting. Spelljammer and to a lesser extent planescape and ravenloft departed from “medieval” early on in D&D history, but Eberron was...

I have never leaned on these « always evil » and monocultural aspects, but I avoid harmful stereotypes more consciously now. Still, when playing in the North, there are clearly dominant cultures of orcs and drows, and they then to be hostile. The orcs that adventurers meet in the wild are not...

1) FR is still my favourite D&D setting. It has breath, some depth, and many good elements despite the (often valid) critics. I’m familiar enough with the setting that I can start a game with little prep and can run a believable world simulation without investing a lot of time in reading and...

Begun, the Clone Wars have. …oops, wrong thread!

Mechanical abilities aside, in the end, I always go for a character with whom I can identify (even if it takes a bit of wishful thinking). This usually means human, beautiful regal human (aka elf), or suave badass human (aka tiefling*). If I could choose a fourth, it would be aasimar. *though...

So many good things in this game. The whole thing could be ported as a roleplaying game with (relatively) little effort.

Same. Flashback mechanics and unspecific equipment are things I got from BitD and often port to other games. If player-characters set out « prepared » and « well-equipped » they can produce up to three undocumented items during their outing. If they were prepared but travelling light, they may...