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There's so much to tell, but I'll just do one aspect. This is how an elven character might begin in my world: "You wake up, dressed in white, lying on a stone funereal slab. At the edge of the clearing, you see a beautiful woman, dressed in deep forest green and sunlit gold, her face ravaged...

Adwyn: I think those are great ideas. I am using several similar ones for my far northern setting. Fines: I'm using wergild (blood-money) instead of death or imprisonment as a sanction for murder. This costs the PCs, but is something that does not disrupt the game. Curses: Runecasters are...

I've been working on coming up with principles for designing legal systems in D&D (these will extend to other games). The basic problem is that legal systems and local authority go underdeveloped in D&D. Here is the basic set of difficulties that create the problem: (1) Impotence; and (2)...

Although gamemastering is endlessly intricate on the upside, it's so easy on the basics that I'm surprised how many stories like this there are. I think the answer is this: when a GM forgets that there are three elements to a game, the game loses its magic. The three elements are, the GM's...

I'm concerned that proactive and reactive are on different continua. Good proactivism has to do with preparation and game design. Detail, texture, and plot are the fruits of this preparation. Bad proactivism has to do with programing the responses of the players. This is called railroading...

As a GM, I try to set groundrules at the beginning. 1. I use open rolling, so everyone can see the result. 2. I ask them to understand that people's characters will die. That happens. They need to deal with it responsibly. 3. I use the rules as written. I don't like nay-saying, so I...

I suppose posting in a thread this contentious borders on the Quixotic, but I can't resist. The biggest problem I have with 3.5 was the Paladin nerf. The class is dependent on force multipliers to make the pathetic smite useful. The following abilities were all nerfed, and acting in...

It depends on the purpose of the code. I find having something short and effective that the character knows by heart to really bring the code alive. "Fearless to the strong; humble to the weak; help to the helpless, whosoever shall ask it!" best, Carpe

Lots of good ideas here (isn't it interesting how pathetically obsessive we are about our paltry spellcasting ability?). I looked into the shield each other stunt a few months back. My conclusion at the time (if I recall correctly) was that it won't work. Shield Other is targeted on the Other...

I think this kind of conflict is vastly underplayed. While the usual morality play is between good and evil, the interesting morality play is between Law and Chaos: security and freedom. People justify evil acts in the name of freedom every day. And tyrants enslave and conquer. Why doesn't...

Well, if you're not wedded to D&D, Mutants and Masterminds is the smartest book I've seen in ages, from a game-design perspective. I spent a week making up characters just for a hoot. (It takes 5 minutes to make up a character, but the variations are infinite and fascinating). best, Carpe

Lord Pendragon: Well, don't let me talk you out of being frustrated with Paladin spellcasting abilities. I think the problem comes from a specific philosophical disconnect about the role those spells are meant to play. Camp one (I'll call this the Monte Cook camp) designed Paladin and Bard...

Lela: I agree. That's why I run a strict rules-based game. I dislike nay-saying, and think it displays a lack of imagination. That's why I said I think this effect is fine. But, sometimes, a DM is going to have to gap-fill. That's something we as good players have to understand...

It depends on what your DM thinks. Surely, the creative minds here assembled can think of a reason for Cold Iron and Brilliant Energy to both apply (after all, it *does* affect living flesh by means of physical interaction. By the reasoning exhibited here -- i.e., that the blade cannot carry...

Divine Sacrifice Protection from Evil (Those two make my must-have list. A fireball per round of damage and a +2 deflection bonus / save bonus + immunity to charms and possession is not to be missed). With Divine Sacrifice, remember to use "share spell" (it has a You descriptor) to give your...

The hardest part of tanking is making sure the weaker party members don't get maimed. If you can't keep it off 'em, you can at least protect them. And if it goes after you, well, then it's hammering on the tank and is going to lose the fight. best, Carpe

Knight Protector, for a low-magic world. Devoted Defender would have been perfect, but I haven't seen it in any 3.5 source. cheers, Carpe

I'll see your YOINK and raise you a SWIPE. Good rules. Carpe

Three questions: 1. Where are the rules for straight-up lack-of-sleep exhaustion (i.e., "I watch over the party all night and don't sleep.")? 2. It can't be that every time a person is hit with an area effect, all items they wear make a saving throw and take damage. But how does one...

Hmm. I'll say humans are the strongest, half-elves the weakest. YVMV. The synergies created by a closely-crafted character progression are far more valuable than any two-point ability increase. It has been a long time since I have been able to fully maximize a character progression without...