The Dungeon Masters' Foundation

[BSF]

Uh oh, I feel a group hug coming on...

I don't think we absolutely NEED a separate thread for this, but it's definitely handy. Here, you can be sure that you won't get flamed, that you'll recieve only constructive criticism, etc. I can't speak from experience about EN World, but over at the WotC boards (where this thread was origionally concieved), there are a few posters who aren't so kind as we.

I'm glad we've found a receptive home here at EN World . That said, anyone need help with thier game?

If you get flamed, then report it. Use the links, post in Meta, email the mods or if all else fails nudge me and I will do one or all of the above for you.

We don't all agree on EN World, but we disagree politely and civilly.

 

[LilMissKittyn]

It's not that you aren't welcome. Far from it actually. But many of us tend to think of EN World as a community that overlaps many of the DMF's goals.

Well, first, thanks for your advice (and experience). I'll ask some pretty asinine questions, so I'm glad that there's someone who will answer them.

I guess that to us, this is just a condensed version of what the ENWorld has to offer. It's a huge network out there (when I looked earlier today, I was absolutely blown away). The problem is, I (and most of the people in this group, I suspect) don't have the time to go searching through the forums looking for answers to my questions, and it's harder to get feedback in a less personal setting, such as the large forums tend to be. We all know and respect each other (I think) here, and you can gauruntee someone will answer your questions. That's why I like it so much.
Fast, accessible, and friendly. There you go.

 

[LilMissKittyn]

Oh wait. I think Mordmorgan already said most of what I posted. Sorry.

 

[BSF]

If you folk plan to use this for House Rules material (as LilMissKittyn suggests), then House Rules is the perfect place for the thread. I understand that you'd like to use one thread as sort of a catch-all for rules, advice and DM creations; which have you found you've concentrated on at the WotC boards? That'll decide what forum the thread settles in.

Piratecat, when they start getting houserule material together I will put together a couple of hyperlinks that ChaosEvoker can decide if he wants to toss into the first post for cross-linking.

 

[BSF]

These are the three I have some questions about. Frankly, the players in this group have some issues about gaming and wouldn't be comfortable with limitations. So the first setting is out.

As for letting someone run a character....I don't know. I wouldn't dare trust anyone in that group with a character of mine, nor do I think they would trust each other. So that's out too, but it's a good idea.

And the third one is out because they get grouchy about differing levels characters (from the stories I've heard).

So, I guess my real question is, what do you do with transient characters in a mistrustful and irresponsible group?

OK, fair enough. But I will turn this around on you.

As a DM, what do you think would best fit your (developing) style? Give me a little more background on the game, and how you want to run it. As well, a little info on the specific problems you see with the players. Then we can offer a little advice on how you can address their problems while devising a solution you are happy with.

 

[LilMissKittyn]

OK, fair enough. But I will turn this around on you.

As a DM, what do you think would best fit your (developing) style? Give me a little more background on the game, and how you want to run it. As well, a little info on the specific problems you see with the players. Then we can offer a little advice on how you can address their problems while devising a solution you are happy with.

For that, you'll have to wait for ChaosEvoker to come back. It's his group, I just want to be a player in it. I haven't publicized it, but I'm currently without any group at all.

So I'll let him cover that question tomorrow. Thanks for your help!

 

[Mordmorgan the Mad]

I understand that you'd like to use one thread as sort of a catch-all for rules, advice and DM creations; which have you found you've concentrated on at the WotC boards? That'll decide what forum the thread settles in.

Well, mostly the DM Foundation was for advice (the Artifact Corner was only for homebrew stuff). We rarely have rules questions, but we often get questions about judgement calls and such.

Oh wait. I think Mordmorgan already said most of what I posted. Sorry.

That's ok. Most of what I say bears repeating (and in some cases, translating)

 

[Dyne]

For reference, posting problems should be asked in the Meta forum (way down at the bottom.) That's the forum to check if you have any technical problems or want to know what's really going on around here.

Ahh, thank you. I'll be sure to check it out (as well as probably post a few things myself).

 

[Dyne]

LilMissKittyn, for Players that cannot always be there, I always either play as the character myself or let another Player control him. No one in our group seems to mind letting another person control their character so that he/she can keep up.

In your position, I would probably run the character myself. My Players trust that I won't do anything stupid that will put the character at risk, and I try to stay true to the character if the need arises for me to roleplay him. Of course, my group's approach to the game is rather simple, and they don't need much explanation of anything to have a good time. And their characters are rather bland, now that I think about it. That's why I usually start them off at LV 1, so that they can actually develop their characters.

If I make little sense, I apologize. I'm rather tired at the moment, and it seems that I'm talking in circles.

 

[Mordmorgan the Mad]

Ravenloft Adventure Feedback (super long)

Alright members, I've gotten most of my upcoming Ravenloft adventure hammered out, so I'm gonna run it by y'all. Suggestions and comments welcome.

First off, the Players: (both 1st level) Human Warlock and Human Ranger

Now for the basic plot:

The warlock is sent to the ranger's village to purchase a few rare herbs from the local herbalist (some of which aren't in stock and will take a few days to find). The ranger's father, a woodsman and good friend of the herbalist, has asked his daughter to accompany the warlock while he's in town.

When he first enters the town, the warlock is greeted by a beautiful young gypsy girl (Vistani, for those of you who know the setting). She seems quite taken with the warlock's exotic looks (he's got a 16 in Cha) and begins to flirt with him a little. (To help this make sense for you, the warlock has a relationship with another vistani girl, Leyla, from the tribe near the village. The girl who greets him was by Leyla to bring him to thier camp).

The PCs do whatever they want in town for the day. Leyla (who is an EXTREMELY jealous woman, and commands unparalleled proficiency with curses) finds out about the girl's advances on the warlock and promptly curses her with lycanthropy (a representation of her animal lusts and carelessly impulsive behavior).

The girl is transformed the next night (which just happens to be a full moon) into a werewolf (a natural lycanthrope, but unable to assume her human form). The new werewolf begins hunting villagers on her first night, killing only 2 woodsmen who ventured too close to her lair (a small cave she found in the surrounding forest). She develops a taste for violence and blood after these kills and proceedes to kill woodsmen (only one or two) every evening.

The ranger's father, a woodsman, expresses his concern to his daughter, and asks her to accompany him to look for the missing woodsmen. (At this point, no foul play is suspected. The men are simply "missing"). The ranger will no doubt ask her new friend to come with her (since he seems to be the adventurous sort and might be able to find some of his herbs while tagging along).

The day's search reveals very little, except a few runes carved into some of the trees. (The warlock, with his knowledge of the gypsies will [correctly] believe them to be gypsy markers, probably [and incorrectly] for caravan trails). Other than that, they find nothing.

The next morning, however, one of the woodsmen is found: draped over the small roof of the town well, skinnless, and bearing the rune the PCs found carved into his chest. The ranger's father will insist on going back out to look for the other missing men (he's unwilling to let them suffer the same fate). The PCs will (probably) accompany him to help insure his safety.

At this point, I anticipate the PCs doing one of two things (both will probably get done eventually):

1. They'll go to the gypsies and ask them what the runes mean. The gypsies will claim that they don't use that rune, but the Warlock's lover (Leyla) will tell them that it's their symbol for abomination.
-If the PCs do this, the gypsies will know that the deaths are caused by one of thier own, and will send out hunting parties to discover and kill the culprit. (These hunts will be done descretely so as not to cause a public outcry against the gypsies [who get blamed for a lot anyway]). These hunts will come into play later, just before the final confrontation.

2. They'll go back to the area where they first found the runes. If they search the area, they'll find signs of a struggle (probably two nights before), and a small piece of scalp on one of the trees. (This is going to lead into a side adventure, which I'll detail if you want). While they're searching, they'll hear a woman's scream. When they go to investigate, they find the town's leatherworker (whom they'll meet earlier while walking around town) being attacked by a pack of wolves. The wolves can be scarred off, but they fight more tenaciously than they normally would. After the attack, the leatherworker says she saw a large figure watching her from a nearby hill.
-Searching the hill area, the PCs won't find anything too out of the ordinary, except a small cave (which appears to be the wolve's lair).

I can't exactly figure out how I want the PCs to come to the final confrontation.

They will have to fight the werewolf a few times, and after they drive it off a few times, the werewolf will begin attempting to draw them out by attacking townsfolk in daylight.

Anyhow, if you've survived the long read, I'd appreciate any comments. Please ask for more details if you need them.