Search results

Honestly, telling your players that you feel the campaign is wrapping up might even motivate them to push your game into a satisfying conclusion, which would make DMing much easier. And if they take this as an excuse to wreck your campaign, then it's all for the best, because it's ending! ;)...

I think hanging out and spying on the group in the background would be more creepy than just playing!

Thanks for the advice, pointers, and links! I defintely need to do a practice run, probably in early May!

Running a con game for the new Gamma World boxed set (so the 4th edition ruleset) in the end of May, so I'm looking for some advice. What's a good pacing to aim for in a 5-hour game? Three fights with a little roleplaying in-between? Two fights (one lead -up and one "boss")? Also ideas to...

Dragon #323: The Spirit Speaker Dragon #339: Dead Factions and Dungeon #105: The Stink I really wish I kept up with that writing (I was doing other kinds of writing at the time). I could have been a Shemeska. :.-( I keep meaning to send a pitch or two down WotC's way.

I've seen this kind of behavior pre-skill challenge. I don't think skill challenges should be blamed for what might be a problem with how skills are implemented. Not only are skills considered rather boolean (you either succeed or you fail), but the tendency is to max out one skill rather than...

Dan Simmons' Hyperion Cantos has a druidic-like order. Cut from wikipedia: "Het Masteen is the most mysterious of all seven pilgrims. He is a Templar—a nature priest of sorts—who captains the Treeship Yggdrasil that brings the pilgrims to Hyperion. Treeships are living trees that are propelled...

Well, to anyone who is going to Kublacon this year in Burlingame, I intend to run a session of Gamma World: 4th ed D&D on Friday.

I'm not sure if there is a lot to talk about yet. This version of GW uses a stripped down version of the 4th Ed engine, so mechanically, it has less to talk about than 4th Ed. The setting is very bare bones, so there isn't even historical backstory to debate about. A lot of the discussion on...

My group took some time to understand the flow of the dice pool and bidding system, but it was the flow of the game, not the mechanics that took getting used to. The hardest part, for me, was as a GM, trying to set up a compelling situation and framing conflicts. If you are running the game...

Finding a good group is kind of like dating, isn't it? You have to have a lot of "first dates" before you find that group of people you want to spend the rest of your fantasy life with. And if your interests aren't compatible (they like Pathfinder, you like 4th ed), then hopefully you have...

I would say that any concept of morality and ethics, both religious and non-religious, would give this game oomph. I myself am very non-religious, and I find the game very fascinating. Upon character creation, the GM should take note on what skills, relationships, and objects the players have...

I would also like to chime in support about Dogs In the Vineyard. I think it is mechanically interesting, has a very compelling setting, and possesses an interesting take on the role of the Gamemaster. I would heartily suggest the game for players who are interested in moral choice and conflict...

I've noticed that the 4e alignment system is very much like a line, with Lawful Good on top and Chaotic Evil on bottom. It mirrors the 4e default cosmology, with the Astral containing a lot of the Good deities and realms and the Elemental Chaos containing all the evil Primordials with the Abyss...

I would assume this is why the plucky reporter is an archetype in pulp 30s, 40s, 50s stories. Not only is he or she the audience surrogate asking all the appropriate questions, he or she could also be the reason why the characters come together. The Indiana Jones movies has some good flavor...

Wait, the evil plan was to get other DMs to share their techniques by starting a thread about DMs to share their techniques? And then have the OP share a technique? :erm: That's like having the main antagonist secretly plot to kill the PCs by sending them a note that he intents to kill them...

My main beef with the show is that a lot of the interpersonal conflicts felt forced. My first example is the IOA's attempt coup; I never understood the characters' motivations to oust Colonel Young. (Rush, I could understand, but I never felt that he had much to gain by being in control, even...

My name is lin_fusan, and I: Wince every time my girlfriend mentions in public that I play roleplaying games. Would rather admit in public that I watch hardcore pr0n than admit that I play roleplaying games. Enjoy creating pages upon pages of backstory for my campaigns, even if players only...

As I get older, the more that I believe that as much of the game's "text" should be revealed in-game. If you must have a document for a player to read, have it be either mechanics or options they can take, but be prepared for a player who doesn't know (or didn't care to know) anything about your...

I might make it Load Move, otherwise characters would only be able to fire once every two rounds and that wouldn't make the increased damage die worth it. It would also be thematically appropriate when a gun-wielding character faces with a melee opponent. They'd have to decide whether or not...