Search results

Those are the kinds of encounters where players in RPGs can shine. Creature is too difficult to directly attack? Think of something else. I've seen some great creativity come from situations where the players were facing somehing they knew would easily best them in combat. Once, they tricked it...

It makes more sense if you treat potions like perishible items. In my world, potions go inert after a certain amount of time. So you can't just buy one and hold onto it for years, in case the need comes up. This also drives up the price, since the supply of potions won't last forever.

Dael Kingsmill recently had a video about this very thing, with regards to Wizards. How to tie them in to a campaign world. What it means when your charachter is a young wizard/apprentince out on their own in the world. Great stuff. I like the idea of a campaign world where every class has a...

That's bizarre. We saw Traveller as entirely map driven, seeing that there were so many rules for generating maps. We treated it as a hex crawl where you tried to work out being a tramp trader (moving goods) and occaisonally got into "adventures" (stolen from various published modules). I...

This is entirely the case when I run a game for adults. The table tends to be made up of people who are communicative, considerate, and there to make the game work. Lord help you, though, when running the game for kids. :) Boundary testing is one of the many things you need to be ready for. I...

We used the squares when playing with a square grid and we used hexes when playing on a hex grid. Different homes/tables had different grids for use. I was grateful we had both of the diagrams available. I see no contradictions nor lack of explanation. Pages 69-70 cover all the bases and lay it...

Where does it say 'medium' in the squares diagram?

I've been able to connect with people I probably never would have otherwise. Like the posts above, I have made lasting friendships through gaming that I hope last the rest of my life. But running games has let me stay in touch with much younger people (running games for families and kids)...

Entirely depends on the mechanics being discussed. D&D had better wilderness exploration rules than 5e (which are almost nonexistent). For each Day Party decides direction of travel Check for losing direction Wandering Monsters DM description End of day And the flow for exploring dungeons...

Agreed. And this depends heavily on the players and the table. Bringing us back to that old chestnut nearly every thread reaches: communicate with your players! :D There are players motivated by fear and dread in a game. There are players who want to cut loose and live out an immortal fantasy...

Well said. I think 5th edition is the second-best version of D&D made, after B/X (we currently use Old School Essentials, which is a simple re-formatting of B/X). I've played every version since the white box and have managed to have fun with every one. But as far as rules goes, 5e is the...

1e DMG (pp.69-70) covers facing, flanking, and position on the tabletop grid - both square and hex.

No. It's more like my uncle who went out on 27 bomber missions in WW II being a badass. He could have died in any of those missions despite any skill he possessed. But being one of the few who made it in and out again through all that - he is super awesome. Death is avoidable if you choose not...

There's a misconception here that killing a character is somehow "punishing" players. And you posit that death is a result of "poor play". This simply isn't true for all tables. In old-school games, death can come at any time. It's not poor play - it is the nature of the wilderness. Surviving...

In "old school" games, you don't ever lose your ability to participate. One character dies and another steps up. In the middle of a dungeon, this is best done by having a retainer/hireling switch to being a PC. Otherwise, it takes about 5 minutes to make a character in B/X and get rolling again...

To paraphrase the creator of D&D: "A character's backstory is its first 5 levels."

U1 - Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh. Many, many times over the last 30+ years.

Your players should make enough so that they can afford the hobby of D&D!

Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh It's my favorite module to introduce new people and new characters. Essentially a Scooby Doo adventure with swordplay!

It depends on the style of campaign. I'm running an old-school B/X hex crawl/west marches campaign. In that one I am neutral arbitrator and referee. All actions are driven by the players and the map. It's my job to represent the world in an authentic way and let the dice fall where they may. I...