Search results

IMHO "fail forward" is not a game mechanic, it is a GMing practice.

I like the concept of "fail foward" and I use it all the time. But, I disagree with the definition in the OP. "Succeed at a cost" is only one way to "fail forward" and it is often the least imaginative and fun way to do it. Failing spectacularly in such a way that it drives the story onwards in...

A game can fail to deliver on its stated design objectives. IMHO gumshoe sets up a set of admirable design objectives including spotlight sharing and support of investigation games. Then it presents a set of game mechanics that are (IMHO) clunky, counter-intuitive and fails to achieve the design...

Off topic, but Int 18 would be around IQ140

Mechanically speaking: No. You are gaining very little by dipping into rogue (since you are most likely not interested in using a finesse weapon). If you want a special ops barbarian/rogue by all means go for it, by as an optimization tool for your barbarian it is not a good investment. One way...

This was my gut feeling. I have not tried it in practise, but my instinct tells me that a decently optimized well-played level 20 party will obliterate any single enemy during the first round and have enough lock down to keep the enemy pinned for at least a few rounds on top of that.

Sleep can kill 4 kobolds on average with no save Burning hands can kill any number of kobolds with no save (since even the damage on a succesful save kills a kobold) Which is the over powered spell?

Like it says in the book

Bard 11 Druid 11 Fighter 17 Rogue 8 Paladin 7 Druid +1 Paladin -3

+9001. The "absolutely nothing happens, soooo do you guys wanna go shopping? or start a mercenary company? or flirt with barmaids" campaign opening is incredibly overrated and I would much much rather start as prisoners. Then at least we have a common problem to solve. The best opening is (and...

The lack of challenge is often cited as a justification for the lack of balance. It really does not matter if the GWM barbarian finishes the fight two rounds faster if the PC's were not in any risk of losing the fight regardless. Playing the game and published adventures as written works fine...

My reaction was intentionally exaggerated to illustrate my point: The player characters in the OP did something absolutely awful. I would not deal with that using slapstick and humor if it was my table. Regarding paladins: Agreed 110%. In fact disruptive good aligned characters are far more...

Two things: 1) There is a big difference between a "anti-hero" and a "perverse torture-hobo". 2) Facilitating a fun game for everyone is everyone's responsibility, not just the DM That being said and to answer your question: I don't punish characters, but I do let them suffer the full...

The method I am using in my current campaign: - Roll six scores using 4d6 drop lowest. Assign as you wish. - Not happy? Use point buy instead. Works fine. Characters with a starting 18 are not THAT different from characters with a starting 16, and players with starting 14s have actively...

If your players are taking ability points over feats at level 4 I don't think you need to worry about them getting overpowered anytime soon :)

Attacking dragonborn on sight would make you a racist serial murderer. Refusing to aid a wounded person based on racist prejudice is probably not consistent with most Pc dieties either. My advice: Dont let the paladin label become an excuse for genocide. Stick to exacting vengeance from the...

Yes. Barging off on your own on a self-invented side quest can have that effect. Gandalf did not participate in the battle of Helms Deep.

The Conan d20 adaption by Mongoose had some very nice material as I recall.

I think my point is that you have no reason to agonize further over your backstories. What you have is fine, great even. My humble suggestion at this point is to focus on how you will put these characters into motion and transform those backstories into new awesome stories with an awesome...

Backstories are vastly overrated. You are what you do at the table, not what is written on the backside of your character sheet.