Search results

100% - I've posited the best way to run a series of D&D movies is to have each movie have the same primary cast but playing a different role and campaign in each movie. Would be a great way to keep things fresh (and a good reference to the reality of actual D&D play). Actually I don't think it...

Shakespeare’s plays were (and are) ahistorical as hell (men played the women’s parts even :D ) and you don’t see people up in arms about them. Well probably someone is unhappy... But really, art needs historical purity? What century is this?

My wife’s a medievalist and she loves A Knight’s Tale because it‘s art not history.

NPCs definitely part of the game. DMPCs are the devil’s playthings and should be banned. DMNPC is some hybrid of the two and sounds like a bad idea. Probably should be banned too. :) The most unfun I’ve had as a DM was running a combat between an ally and my monsters whilst the players sat and...

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I believe the writers of 5e wrote for an audience of existing D&D players rather than new players. There is precious little handholding in Phandelver (and the first encounter is quite tricky to run well). The DMG is arse-backwards and the PHB is utterly...

And this is why people never want to provide examples as more often than not the actual information contained in the examples is ignored and instead nitpicked. Getting noticed by the birds is a consequence of failure of the athletics check. Hmm perhaps the unathletic were making a bunch of...

Sure, but for a novice DM like myself that document was incredibly illuminating.

6-8 encounters before the PCs will be wanting to take a long rest, not before they will die. 6-8 encounters means they will likely have run through their resources (of the one’s that are limited) and will need to rest to recoup. An adventure is not going to run perfectly out of the book. You...

Here‘s the PDF of Iserith’s guide I made a while back for my own use

Check out Giffyglyph’s trials for a fresh take on skill challenges.

Skipping to the end of the thread so apologies if this has been noted, but the glaring problem for me is lack of a game world time tracking system. Time limits are a key aspect of many spells and abilities and yet DMs are left hanging. The tension pool is a great solution IMHO as it makes game...

We don’t sweat it. It’s impossible to play a precision tactics game in your head. People have to let go of some of the minutia. The zones approach is good because while you lose some of the minutia you gain in some movement. I.e. you can melee attack any NPC in the same zone.

It leading off with the “Master of Worlds” section was a turn off. The amount I read is directly proportional to how far into the book I got :). Also the pages weren’t cut through properly in the first section, which I’m not complaining about :)

I’ll refer you to Giffyglyph’s monster maker so much easier to dial up a monster with the stats you need, add the fluff of some description and you’re good to go.

With great power comes great responsibility. Heavy is the head that wears the crown etc etc :)

Indeed, in fact, here is a classic that you kicked off :) https://www.enworld.org/threads/persuade-intimidate-and-deceive-used-vs-pcs.470302/

As in any encounter you have to establish what it is that the NPC has and also establish why they won’t just give it to the PCs. A simple social encounter might have just one point of opposition, a complex one might have multiple points of opposition. Then you need to establish how much...

I have the Grimtooth compilation book and found it utterly unfit for purpose. Great if you want ”funhouse” traps, but not much else. This looks like what I’m really looking for. Interesting traps that support the narrative.

I like players that skillfully and creatively engage with the fiction, so I guess I’m a both. I hate when players try to game theory the story and get stuck in analysis. I love players that are willing to take risks and be adventurous.

I loved computer programming as a teen and in college, but now I no longer program just for the fun of it. I occasionally get to do some fun programming, but it’s a side-effect not the goal.