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Good question. What I'm trying to do is enhance player agency: I don't want my own biases getting in the way of a player's ability to make meaningful decisions. I don't want the player trying to play to the DM; I want the player to play to the game world. (Given a challenge-based game.) I...

That's the method I use (I think I created it; I don't think S'mon uses it, though he could let us know). Instead of re-rolling stats lower than 8 I (used to) raise the stat to 8. Now I just let the lower-than-8 stats stand as they are. I find it works well (in my 4E-ish game). If you think...

This is precisely why I roll randomly for minor details that may have an effect on the PC's actions. It helps remove any bias on my part. Not completely - I still decide when to roll - but it helps. I recall an encounter with about 20 cultists and one PC - she stumbled on them in the cellar...

One reason I'd make a random roll to see if the NPC was bearded (1-3 no, 4-6 yes) is because it helps to remove my bias from the game. Beards aren't a big source of bias for me, but a while back I realized that most of the NPCs I was putting into the game were men. Now I roll randomly for sex...

The way I see guilds is that, if you want to take part in the profession, you need to join the guild. They enforce a monopoly and collect rent. The benefits are that you get to work in your chosen profession and, when you get up there in the hierarchy, you get to collect rent (instead of...

Yup. To me, "tricks" are strange and interesting features of the setting that can offer a boon if you figure it out, and a bane if you don't. For example: I made a pool that turned anything that touched it into gold. The transformation was "contagious"; if you dipped your 10' pole into the...

I'd do something like this: * a plaque on the wall reads “Cleanse thyself in the radiant waters before entering” > the writing looks old. Int check: DC 15 places the era of the writing; DC 20 identifies the religion and the religion's alignment. * the pool has an oily sheen on it. > detect...

I like to include ways to raise and/or lower stats in campaign milieus where you roll for stats. I don't do it often enough, but eh. That way you never get "stuck" with a bad roll; you can change your stats by adventuring. "Tricks" are my favourite way to raise or lower stats. Magic items...

How does the Guild enforce membership and extract dues from its members? Perhaps a ban on the sale of arms & armour to non-members; the army and the guard can hang on to theirs, but only within the city or while on orders. (Obviously there'd be tension between the army's leadership and the...

Here's a suggestion that's out of the box: Each character rolls a number of d20s equal to the bonus modifier they'd have. e.g. If you have a +6 you roll 6d20. If one character has a penalty, that character gets 1d20 and apply the penalty as bonus dice to the other character(s). e.g. If you...

In this instance the PC did get to complete the adventure, but that was because of some modifications I made to the RttToEE. (I had a timeline set up.) I think what's important is that it wasn't an interruption to go look for her soul - it was a player choice. The adventure was where the...

I see a few options. It could head over to Geoff and enslave the giants who are on the warpath. He could head over to the Paynims and enslave them. Or - he could slip into the Valley of the Mage and try to discover its secrets and use them against the PCs. That might be the most easily...

I am going to number the questions for ease of response. 1. Because adventure path, episodic, and sandbox games play differently and ask different things of the players involved. The players are making different decisions. 2. The players don't have their own goals in an adventure path. It's...

I know that a lot of people say that the Deck is a game-breaking item, and I accept that. However, I don't think it has to be. I think it depends on the type of game you run. I was running the Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil. One of the PCs drew the Void card. I determined that her...

I don't think that's fair. I've used Frostburn a bunch. It tells you how much protection you need from the cold, the penalties for being at high elevation, and introduces a lot of feats and spells that help in the cold. You don't have to incorporate the magical frost stuff. I'd suggest...

It really depends on the type of game you're playing. In a sandbox game, it doesn't really matter because the higher-powered PC is going to help all the other player's PCs achieve their goals. In an episodic game the DM has to make sure to give equal screen time and presence to all PCs. In an...

Room 1: Lower left Entrance Information about the plant monster in room X: its dead or something. Connects to: Room 2 (east passage) Room 2: Lower Middle Empty Connects to: Room 3 (north passage, doors, trapped: opening the doors from the south triggers a pit by removing a latch (save avoids)...

I like that. I go with 3d6 down the line, but the player can substitute one stat with a 16. I just rolled some stats: stats (3d6=12, 3d6=10, 3d6=15, 3d6=10, 3d6=13, 3d6=11) S 12 D 10 C 15 I 10 W 13 Cha 11 stats (3d6=9, 3d6=7, 3d6=13, 3d6=10, 3d6=13, 3d6=13) S 9 D 7 C 13 I 10 W 13 Cha 13...

What about a book? edit: If that's too far-fetched, maybe the familiar is a typical (non-magical) one that you shave/pluck and tattoo with insane writings and symbols (that maybe change over time).

That's why I like getting rid of strict stat pairings: the DM needs to hear the in-character action before he or she has enough information to proceed with resolution. This isn't always the case ("I climb the wall") but it helps. You might have to deal with some players trying to use their...