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Goldilocks Poll: Counterspell
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<blockquote data-quote="jgsugden" data-source="post: 8222408" data-attributes="member: 2629"><p>D&D is an RPG, a role playing game. Characters play a role in a story. You can take any story outline and tell it in a boring, or compelling, way. Saying that counterspell is boring when so many other people do not have that experience means that it is inherently not the mechanics that are the root of the issue.</p><p></p><p>Spending the time to see how others do it in a compelling way is one method of improving your games. I was a pretty good DM (by review of my players) prior to ever seeing Critical Role. I have stolen a lot from Mercer (and from the players in that game) that made me much better. Mercer's methods are not the only way to be a great DM, and he does some things that I would not, but overall, he is the best DM I have ever seen (and I've seen a lot of different DMs in games I've played, at conventions, and in game stores). </p><p></p><p>What makes him best in my eyes? His games are more compelling than than other games. They have better stories, better player immersion into the campaign, and better reading of the table and players. He does all this without giving up the luck of the dice, or backtracking to avoid unfortunate consequences (as can be seen by this week's episode). </p><p></p><p>If you're seeing your NPC / opponent wizards never get off a spell due to counterspell in your higher level game (as they do not get enough slots to counterspell freely until 9th level or so), then there are a few things to consider:</p><p></p><p>1.) Are the enemies smart enough and experienced enough to have countermeasures? If so, why are they not using them? </p><p></p><p>2.) If not, and the story should allow for their spells to be countered - why not be happy that the PCs are heroically winning? Do we get frustrated because the cleric wipes out the army of skeletons with turn undead? Or that the fireball clears out the fodder between the PCs and the BBEG? There is no better time for a bad guy to sneer and show their anger than when their plans are foiled - and that is a great fraking moment for players. </p><p></p><p>3.) How do the players feel? Are they bored by the counterspells? Or are they enjoying the victories? </p><p></p><p>4.) Are your PCs resting too often? In the games where we have 6 encounters between long rests, which is in the ballpark of the guidance from the books, there is a lot more attention paid to preserving resources. Every game will have a "one and done" adventuring day at least occasionally, but in most of the games I experience as a player or DM, nobody knows if it will be a one and done day and they are fearful of using up their resources.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="jgsugden, post: 8222408, member: 2629"] D&D is an RPG, a role playing game. Characters play a role in a story. You can take any story outline and tell it in a boring, or compelling, way. Saying that counterspell is boring when so many other people do not have that experience means that it is inherently not the mechanics that are the root of the issue. Spending the time to see how others do it in a compelling way is one method of improving your games. I was a pretty good DM (by review of my players) prior to ever seeing Critical Role. I have stolen a lot from Mercer (and from the players in that game) that made me much better. Mercer's methods are not the only way to be a great DM, and he does some things that I would not, but overall, he is the best DM I have ever seen (and I've seen a lot of different DMs in games I've played, at conventions, and in game stores). What makes him best in my eyes? His games are more compelling than than other games. They have better stories, better player immersion into the campaign, and better reading of the table and players. He does all this without giving up the luck of the dice, or backtracking to avoid unfortunate consequences (as can be seen by this week's episode). If you're seeing your NPC / opponent wizards never get off a spell due to counterspell in your higher level game (as they do not get enough slots to counterspell freely until 9th level or so), then there are a few things to consider: 1.) Are the enemies smart enough and experienced enough to have countermeasures? If so, why are they not using them? 2.) If not, and the story should allow for their spells to be countered - why not be happy that the PCs are heroically winning? Do we get frustrated because the cleric wipes out the army of skeletons with turn undead? Or that the fireball clears out the fodder between the PCs and the BBEG? There is no better time for a bad guy to sneer and show their anger than when their plans are foiled - and that is a great fraking moment for players. 3.) How do the players feel? Are they bored by the counterspells? Or are they enjoying the victories? 4.) Are your PCs resting too often? In the games where we have 6 encounters between long rests, which is in the ballpark of the guidance from the books, there is a lot more attention paid to preserving resources. Every game will have a "one and done" adventuring day at least occasionally, but in most of the games I experience as a player or DM, nobody knows if it will be a one and done day and they are fearful of using up their resources. [/QUOTE]
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Goldilocks Poll: Counterspell
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