Confessions of a Killer DM

[Hjorimir]

Well I'm somewhere in the middle. I allow action points (you get 2 every time you level and may earn 1 for exceptionally good role-playing or heroics...so far I've only given out an extra 1 once). With the actions points I allow you to automatically stabilize or modify d20 rolls (but I don't tell them if they are already succeeding or failing...that is a judgment call on the player’s part). I’ve also extended the death’s door margin that basically scales with HD type and level (I won’t bore you all with my silly House Rules).

Why all of that makes me a soft, loving DM the balance is this: Resurrection, what's that?

Character dies? Get your 3d6! Also, you’re coming back at one level lower than the lowest surviving character.

I’ve been known to gobble up characters in back to back to back sessions (yeah, three sessions in a row). So my players tend to be cautious. I almost had one, recently, when I burned him down with a 28 point inflict serious wounds (8,8,7)! But in my celebration (heh, I’m a bit evil at times) one of my silly players ruined my victory dance (okay, I wasn’t actually dancing at the table… I usually wait until the players leave my house… but not always) and reminded me about some stupid Will save for half! Bah!

That wizard needs to be taught some proper respect! (Not really…he was pretty depressed when he thought he was dead.)

 

[woodelf]

You sir, have just made a little light go on in my head about what's going on in a long-term conflict between me and another player in my group. And for that, I thank you profusely!

If you like these sorts of discussions and find them useful, i'd check out John Kim's r.g.f.advocacy FAQ, start reading r.g.f.advocacy, and/or pop on over to The Forge and read some of the essays there.

 

[The_Gneech]

If you like these sorts of discussions and find them useful, i'd check out John Kim's r.g.f.advocacy FAQ, start reading r.g.f.advocacy, and/or pop on over to The Forge and read some of the essays there.

Any chance you could shoot me a URL?

-TG

 

[woodelf]

Any chance you could shoot me a URL?

-TG

• r.g.f.advocacy FAQ: http://www.darkshire.net/~jhkim/rpg/theory/rgfa/
• r.g.f.advocacy: news://rec.games.frp.advocacy
• r.g.f.advocacy "highlights": http://www.darkshire.net/~jhkim/rpg/theory/threefold/rgfa_links.html
• The Forge: http://www.indie-rpgs.com/
• The Forge article collection: http://www.indie-rpgs.com/articles/ (Important note: "GNS" (gamism/narrativism/simulationism; Forge-speak) is almost-wholly, but not quite, distinct from "GDS" (gamism/dramatism/simulationism, AKA "The Threefold"; r.g.f.advocacy-speak). Do not cross them, or you will cause yourself much confusion and consternation. The former is about games and game design. The latter is about players and decision points. They do not necessarily have anything in common, despite the former having, in some sense, evolved from eth latter.)

 

[The_Gneech]

Cool, thanks for the info!

-The Gneech