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  1. GMMichael

    TTRPG Inspiration from real world nature, geography, etc

    Isn't that Rivendell? I guess I could/should draw inspiration from recent Sedona visits.
  2. GMMichael

    D&D General What version of D&D are you playing?

    "I don't think he knows about secondary games, Pip."
  3. GMMichael

    D&D 3.x 3.5e Skill Rules Modified To Perfection?

    It might be perfect, but it looks a lot more complex than I would prefer. So my character might end up being low in skill points just because I was focusing on role-playing instead of system-mastering. For what it's worth, I took a stab at skill-points-through-usage with a Modos RPG module. I...
  4. GMMichael

    D&D General I asked AI: "What's the Most Common Cause of Character Death?"

    This also describes certain popular news programs. DM - Player. As long as neither side backs down, some poor character is going to get caught in the middle. Gods, I wish wizards were still this fragile.
  5. GMMichael

    AD&D 1E What is the cost of one night at an Inn?

    Whoa. Good answer. Here, I was just thinking the cost of an inn stay was a stiff back in the morning and a chance at catching fleas.
  6. GMMichael

    The 2025 Pumpkin Spice RPG Contest Submissions

    Encounter: The Beorn's Annual Gourdgoyle Hunt Setup: While traveling through a foreign land in autumn, the PCs encounter signs of a special event. First, there are fanfares heard from far off. Then they spot, along the road, brown-and-yellow standards adorned with winged pumpkins. Finally...
  7. GMMichael

    D&D General Perception vs Investigation

    I like this, but I'm a little more harsh: Perception: find a trap before setting it off. Investigation: find a trap BY setting it off. What's the exact definition? I combine the two into "Detect" and let the player do the defining.
  8. GMMichael

    IRON DM 2025 Tournament Thread

    You're not kidding! Well played, whatever the outcome :)
  9. GMMichael

    IRON DM 2025 Tournament Thread

    The Haul Before the Storm Ingredients: Fast Times Scary Stickers Rose-Colored Glasses Monstrous Carapace Yuan-ti Oil Ante Up Background: Wothersee is a medieval fishing town, situated in a rocky cove that provides residents and fishermen protection from some of the worst anger of the sea gods...
  10. GMMichael

    Iron DM 2025 Scheduling Thread!

    Confirming 1600 MST.
  11. GMMichael

    Does the Death Curve Beat the Death Spiral?

    The point holds if you're already fighting the 1,000 HP (now 982 HP) kobold. Since you can't see hit points, you don't have a clear signal that running away is a good idea. On the flip side, PCs can see their own hit points just fine. And how much damage they're taking. They don't need a...
  12. GMMichael

    Iron DM 2025 Scheduling Thread!

    Ready. LET'S GET IT ON!
  13. GMMichael

    Does the Death Curve Beat the Death Spiral?

    This is fair. One thing that should be included in the Hit Points Are Genius thread (might be, I don't know) is that they're not externally visible. So if you're about to start a fight against the 1,000 HP kobold, a clear signal to run away might be nice. I'll sometimes abandon that ethos...
  14. GMMichael

    Iron DM 2025 Scheduling Thread!

    I'm thinking 1200 MST.
  15. GMMichael

    Iron DM 2025 Scheduling Thread!

    I was born ready.
  16. GMMichael

    Does the Death Curve Beat the Death Spiral?

    Sure. It's like a death spiral with a soft landing. And emphasis on a gradual beginning. That's sort of an historical thing, though. If you get your butt kicked, it's time to flee or submit. Unless you're a pro wrestler, in which case you just breathe heavily until all your energy comes...
  17. GMMichael

    Does the Death Curve Beat the Death Spiral?

    That's up to the GM. And the game designer. As GM, my NPCs generally choose to flee/submit before they get to the steep part of the curve.
  18. GMMichael

    Does the Death Curve Beat the Death Spiral?

    Here's an example. In a death spiral, you take Strength damage, which reduces your odds of hitting and reduces damage. One enemy attack (strength damage) has significant effects on your combat ability, which will compound as long as the fight continues. If it were a death curve instead, the...
  19. GMMichael

    D&D General Hit Points are a great mechanic

    No, I was talking about hit points. Fixed or random, if an amount of damage is a small enough percentage of your opponent's total HP, the coolness of your move won't mean diddly to your opponent. Heck, an overwhelmed GM, who has too many things to keep track of, can record 90% damage to an NPC...
  20. GMMichael

    Does the Death Curve Beat the Death Spiral?

    Reading the Hit Points Are a Great Mechanic thread, I'm struck by one of the simplest implications of the mechanism: you either have hit points, or you don't. You're alive or dead. Some games don't buy into this dichotomy, introducing stages of injury, and that's when the "death spiral"...
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