Recent content by Scott Christian

As you can see from just these posts, let alone the broad range of people who play D&D, that there is no "generally accepted definition" of sword and sorcery. And what I posted isn't what I like, it is what is in the mind's eye of many-many people when they think of sword and sorcery. And that...

I realize and acknowledge Moorcock's contributions to the sword and sorcery literature genre. But TTRPGs are not novels, as many on here are so aptly to point out. They are games. And games are influenced just as much, if not more, by cinema and pop-culture. I have only read one Manga in my...

I really don't see Elric fitting in with the swords and sorcery genre. I think the best example you can give is Conan. And probably an even more refined example would be the first Conan movie. There is actually quite a bit of magic in the movie; however, its flavor text is written differently...

I think you remove certain spells (maybe even the magic system), fiddle with the long rest/healing, show DMs and players how to adjust flavor text, beef up singular creatures, and make fighting a large group of guards close to impossible (possibly tinkering with armor). I think part of the goal...

I agree. But, that is why it should just be a five-page rule variation in the DM's Guide.

This may sound odd, especially considering the gaming world seems to be inundated with them, but I would say maps, terrain, and minis. But there is a catch, but I would like ones that are more customizable. I know Inkarnate and Dwarven Forge, and I use it. Also, I have used HeroForge on occasion...

The show, although lacking for many, had a cute episode titled: "The Joy of Cooking." It was imaginative, and maybe not in line with the motif of the series, it was similar to your suggestion and fun. That said, I have been working on a campaign where each character has their thirty-minute...

Back to the results, and maybe it is just this forum, but it amazes me how many people want Swords and Sorcery or Dark Fantasy, yet D&D doesn't address it. I don't mean bend their game towards it. I don't think they have to. But a five-page blurb in the DM's Guide with alternate rules - that...

It is clearly not worth the interaction.

No offense, but that is kind of the response I expected from you. You asked for specific examples, supposedly out of an open-mindedness. You asked: I predicted your reply, because I didn't really believe you were being open-minded. You just wanted something to try and pick apart. That is why in...

Here are a few examples of how running other games helped me improve my DMing: 1. Early on in my gaming career, I fell in love with Rolemaster, and all its complex tables and crit charts. But some of my friends were not so enamored, no matter how much I poured into GMing the game. What I...

This has been my experience too. However, I can say, in my experience only, the best DMs I have had were also players, not just experienced running other systems.

I guess this leads to the question of: Is a person a better DM if they also have experience as a player?

Expectations are in-line with the eight DMs I have played with over the past 20 years, myself included. And the language I use is not discouraging. I specifically started my statement with: But if we go there. New DMs are sub-par compared to experienced DMs who have taken the time to make sure...

I am not talking about beginners running a game and not having fun. The quote I responded to was: "DMing is not that hard." And, like I said, DMing is not hard. But to do it well is hard. This doesn't mean groups can't have fun with an ok or sub-par DM. They can. But, if as a player, you are...