A Long Overdue Return

[AuronCaton]

The title has dual meanings. This is both a return to forum posting and running a tabletop RPG. Haven't done either since a Pathfinder game some 4 years ago.

I was looking for a few general bits of advice and one specific piece. I start running a 5e game for the first time tonight and, as mentioned, I'm a little out of practice anyway.

As for the general advice I hoped a few more experienced GM's or DM's whichever you prefer could give me pointers on running a game well, I don't get complaints from my players and was selected by them as DM but I feel I could do more! Plus the 5th ruleset is so new to me I'm still getting to grips with it, especially the loss of a BAB and the simplified gear tables. Don't get me wrong I'm loving the look of it, just a bit unsure.

The specific advice is from feedback I've already received from my players. We're running the Tomb of Annihilation campaign, we've dealt with the intro and character interactions although a few have asked to do minor tweaks which I've allowed since we're all learning. They've been given the incomplete map of Cthult by Syndra and been informed of the area being mostly uncharted. Two of my players have taken the Outlander background enabling them to memorise geographical locations and maps with ease, both have decided during the campaign they will chart the area and have asked what such an undertaking might pay once done. Honestly I haven't a clue! As far as payer effort goes all they'll have to do is have their character traverse the entire area which isn't particularly demanding ut from a character viewpoint the effort is not only quite substantial but having a charted map of the region could be very valuable to numerous people. What would be a fair reward for this?

If the campaign goes well I may start a post in the correct area tracking their progress, I always enjoy reading those posts, it's time I gave back!

Thanks for your time.

 

[hawkeyefan]

General advice: don't sweat the small stuff. Keep the game moving. if you're not sure of a rule, make a decision and move on. Make a note of anything you're unsure of, and then after the game, or during a break or lull, look up the relevant rule and then clarify that's how you'll handle it going forward. You're learning, you don't need to be perfect, and the players will likely understand that.

Specific advice: Honestly, the monetary reward is up to you. I'd say that you should try and gauge the amount you feel would be okay to give your players, and which they would consider worth the effort and time on the part of their PCs. The PHB has a list of cost for services, so maybe compare to that list and see if there are any similar services that can help you come up with a figure.

Good luck and welcome to the forums!

 

[AuronCaton]

Much appreciated. I'll see how it goes. Session one begins now!

 

[Kobold Boots]

On monetary reward: It will vary depending on who the buyer is and how private the information remains after it's sold.
On the task itself: Charting the uncharted seems easy as they're going to be going through the area to get where they are going. However, keep in mind it's uncharted for a reason and the reason is that it's highly dangerous. That impacts cost and likelihood of success as you're on a timer during the opening section of the module.

Good Luck!

 

[ccs]

"Up for auction, lot 542. A purportedly complete map of Chult...."

"Opening bid starts at _______."



But I wouldn't worry too much about the value. Because Chults a pretty big place. By the time
the PCs are done mapping it you'll A) be long done with the campaign, B) they'll have enough treasure/loot as to render the sale of their map moot value wise.

 

[AuronCaton]

On monetary reward: It will vary depending on who the buyer is and how private the information remains after it's sold.
On the task itself: Charting the uncharted seems easy as they're going to be going through the area to get where they are going. However, keep in mind it's uncharted for a reason and the reason is that it's highly dangerous. That impacts cost and likelihood of success as you're on a timer during the opening section of the module.

Good Luck!

Excellent point, I hadn't considered that!

Well session one was short due to work schedules and slow to start since we had a bit of a chat and catch up before we started. It's looking good though, looking forward to the next session. Got a fair srange collection of characters in this one.

 

[thrillland]

I've often found a bit of practical advice contained within this Buddhist parable. A little lenghty, but the point is well made (this is the short version, BTW).

“It's just as if a man were wounded with an arrow thickly smeared with poison. His friends & companions, kinsmen & relatives would provide him with a surgeon, and the man would say, 'I won't have this arrow removed until I know whether the man who wounded me was a noble warrior, a priest, a merchant, or a worker.' He would say, 'I won't have this arrow removed until I know the given name & clan name of the man who wounded me… until I know whether he was tall, medium, or short... ...He would say, 'I won't have this arrow removed until I know whether the shaft with which I was wounded was that of a common arrow, a curved arrow, a barbed, a calf-toothed, or an oleander arrow.' The man would die and those things would still remain unknown to him.” — Parable of the Poisoned Arrow

The put to made is have fun! Don't stress over every little detail. Whenever in doubt let things go unexplained and let the players' characters figure it out. Not only does it make them part of the process, but it gives your game a mystery element.

Mystery can really help build an engaging experience.

* "Cula-Malunkyovada Sutta: The Shorter Instructions to Malunkya" (MN 63), translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. Access to Insight (BCBS Edition), 30 November 2013, http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.063.than.html .

* * “Parable Of The Poison Arrow” Trans. By T. Bhikkhu Licensed Under CREATIVE COMMONS ATTRIBUTION-NONCOMMERCIAL 4.0 INTERNATIONAL LICENSE

 

[GMMichael]

Plus the 5th ruleset is so new to me I'm still getting to grips with it, especially the loss of a BAB and the simplified gear tables. . .

Two of my players have taken the Outlander background enabling them to memorise geographical locations and maps with ease, both have decided during the campaign they will chart the area and have asked what such an undertaking might pay once done.

At least you didn't say "the loss of THAC0." Then you'd be in trouble. Try to role-play everything first. If you have to ask for a roll (and you're feeling unsure about what to do with it), just look like you know what you're doing, and if the player rolls under 11 on the die, something bad happens. You can probably fudge most of the game this way.

Your Outlander PCs can produce the best maps ever made...if they don't get submerged in water or doused in flame at some point. Use one of the up-thread methods to price those maps, and if your players complain, just say, "remember that time when you failed to save against the fire/water trap?"