Recent content by Similkameen

The threat of dying - and dying I've been DM over quite a few years, and now have the happy opportunity to be playing in both 3.5 and 4e games. I find one of the most important things I am doing as DM is setting up adventures where there is the threat of death. If there isn't a real chance...

In our games, it is up to the party to map their progress - paper/graph paper. If they don't then when the dungeon is too complicated, they may or may not find their way out. So it is a lesson learned. With nine year olds, I am not sure that they can handle the mapping as well as the game...

What my parents think. Likely mildly disapproving. I'm 50, living with husband and three sons. I started playing in the early 80s, with my boyfriend/spouse. He plays now only occasionally when we play as a family. I started to DM for my oldest, and his friends when he was about 12. Currently a...

optimized versus fun The games I am in (4e and 3.5) have both players who optimize their characters, and players who are trying out something for the fun of it. The optimizers for the most part are aiming for a particular goal, and not just DPR, although that is a strong element. Generally...

I don't think I'd agree with that. I've run games where the party often separated. I think it is really more related to all having fun together, rather than just watching someone else's adventure, or not even being part of what becomes an individual. And when there is agreement to...

To split or not to split We have a great DM for our 3.5 game. When the party splits, bad things happen, but hey, when the party stays together, there is frequently someone dying. Game after game, we emerge with another dead character, or animal companion. So, one could say that when we split...

I've DM'd my sons' in games and their friends for years now. It's bliss now as I get added to their games. They didn't start D and D til more like 11 years old though. Most of the earlier interest is pouring through the monster manuals, and playing "quest" games which have an entirely oral...

If you want to include female gamers then talk to your players now, and see what everyone wants. It will change the dynamic, and there is sexual tension when you add them. It can be really good, if everyone is open to the change of new players, women, and possibly people learning the game. I...

There are also the Atlantic provinces. Some great hiking trails. Halifax is full of great culture and good seafood. Louisbourg in Cape Breton is a great fort to visit. Prince Edward Island also has great lobster and ocean beaches, culture too. There is a tall ship happening in mid-July in...

One presumes a good DM who is only happy by taking into account the desires of their party members, and sets clear reasonable limits that they live within. You set very clear lines. Your rule as quoted makes a lot of sense. Most of what is being discussed here seems to be the unusual cases...

The crux of this thread I have been reading these threads with interest, some very helpful insights and perhaps some DM navel gazing going on. I have always taken the approach of finding out what the players want (character, roles, background, what makes the game fun for them), and then...

Well we played again. DM took us to a house of prostitution. Some players were quite uncomfortable with roleplaying cleaning out the bullies who had taken over. It seems pretty clear to me that this is not a group ready to take on relationships. Like the backbone of your good suggestions, I...

Sorry I'm not being too clear here. As a player my discomfort with the idea of an ingame romance is that is will derail the game and make others that I don't know too well uncomfortable. I am also not convinced that romantic relationships add to a game at all. I haven't seen it successfully...

I think this is the crux of the matter. I am comfortable with role-playing something like this. I don't know whether the other players would be "creeped out" or find it "offensive". There is quite a lot of relationship tension in the game, it is developing well and is fun. Antagonism, lack...

Stormborn, I'm interested that you have ever seen romantic relationships add value to a game. Do you have anything to add, about when or how it is successful? You mean the PCs develop the relationship outside the game, in character? Are you saying that is done so it doesn't take over the game...