What happened to the story?

[pdkoning]

What if you are the DM, though? Yes, I can come up with my own stories. But I don't have time to spend on it. I do absolutely no planning, note-taking, or anything else outside of normal game hours (8 hours every Sunday). I spend enough time digesting new supplements. If, while doing so, I was getting story ideas, that would be great.

Players take good DMs for granted.

I DM-ed a one-shot adventure, the players were the players of my regular group (including the DM) and people entirely new to the game.

Afterwards, they all told me they really liked the story, it had many plot hooks, there were moral choices, there was intrigue, drama, and so on. It took me about 30 minutes to prepare the story, other things I did on-the-fly, and I took notes to keep the game consitent.

But we once had a DM who was not so creative, and just presented us with 'hack and slash' scenarios all the time, so we told him we might all have more fun playing a published adventure, so he bought 'the standing stone' and the story did become more interesting.

So I don't take good DM's for granted, the example of the DM who had to buy a published adventure is an example of a DM that needed a published adventure. Without it, the story would have been boring. I personally would like more 'flavor' books and adventures to be published, because (indeed) one does not always have the time to prepare an adventure.

 

[Berandor]

Without a big effort?

Of course. See alsih2o's money, movement and similar threads.

Making up rules is simple. You want the ability to fly? Buy a feat tree. Let's say, four feats.
1 - you need solid ground under your feet, but you don't weigh anything. Leave no tracks (-10 to track you), don't open trapdoors.
2- you hover a few inches above ground and can now walk on water and similar substances.
3- you have the ability to levitate, as the spell, up and down
4- you can fly at your speed, average maneuverability.

Prereq.:
1- Dex 13, Int 13, Jump 5 ranks, Balance 5 ranks
2- Feat 1, Dex 15, Jump/Balance 8 ranks
3- Feat 2, Int 15, Jump/Balance 13 ranks
4- Feat 3, Dex/Int 17, Jump/Balance 18 ranks.

Done.

Making up rules is easy. You just make up a mechanical way of doing things. YOu don't have to look at background, cohesiveness, or anything else.

Also, see my above edit re: newcomers.

NOTE: The following is based on my rant, not on anything Darkness said or wrote, even though I am replying to his reply

Finally, the argument "I can do story myself" is one that is brought up often in this kind of discussions. And if the fact that you can do it yourself doesn't inhibit your need for story-based books, why bring it up? You'd still like to see story books, but you don't need to, because you can do it yourself.

Another thing to consider: Just because I can do story myself, why shouldn't I want to take a look at what stories other people are doing? I read story hours to see how other DMs use story in their games. Why not see what people at WotC (for example) can do? They sure have a bigger budget and more people to get their stories done than I have. How am I to tell whether my stories suck, if I can't compare them to something?

I can do a movie, too. But it will probably, surely suck, which I know because I've seen it done better elsewhere. I'd even say I'd make for a decent hobby actor, but seeing people who know what they're doing tells me I wouldn't be a good actor, period. But even if I would - why would I stop going to the movies, or the theatre. Just because I can act, would that mean I didn't want to see anyone else act anymore?

Darkness, just to be clear - I am tackling your argument, not your position on the topic. Though you're not one of them, I've seen people hide behind that argument several times so far, and I want to argue against it for once. Friends?

 

[Berandor]

I've seen your edit, Darkness. too late

 

[reanjr]

Without a big effort? If so, are you writing d20 books?

Yes. And no. You hiring?

 

[reanjr]

I DM-ed a one-shot adventure, the players were the players of my regular group (including the DM) and people entirely new to the game.

Afterwards, they all told me they really liked the story, it had many plot hooks, there were moral choices, there was intrigue, drama, and so on. It took me about 30 minutes to prepare the story, other things I did on-the-fly, and I took notes to keep the game consitent.

That's how I do it, too. I just can't bring myself to actually do WORK to play a game, you know? Nonetheless, story seeds and background are very useful. The "for granted" thing was only a general undirected comment. A lot of people don't realize the mental acrobatics (for on-the-fly), hard work (for planning ahead), and money (published adventures) that go into DMing.

 

[Darkness]

I've seen your edit, Darkness. too late

Yeah. After I saw your "Friends?" comment, it seemed a bit harsh so I re-phrased.

In any case, it still has the same point.

You didn't really read my post. You just saw a few words and immediately assumed I held a position you disagreed with. You then took part of my post out of context and twisted it for your own purposes.

Since you didn't acknowledge my actual point yet, I'll ask again: I said I don't need anyone to make story for me but I still want good books for it. Where's your problem with that?

And reanjr, alas, no.

 

[yennico]

Once upon a time Enworld had the Plots and Places board a great place to discuss ideas about scenario, settings and incidental encounters and locales

but ALAS the powers that be in their infinite wisdom deigned to remove that board and so story is lost in the morass of general discussion

BRING BACK PLOTS & PLACES ​

I still remember that board and I totally agree with Tonguez.

 

[Berandor]

Since you didn't acknowledge my actual point yet, I'll ask again: I said I don't need anyone to make story for me but I still want good books for it. Where's your problem with that?

I'll answer again: I am tackling your argument, not your position on the topic. Though you're not one of them, I've seen people hide behind that argument several times so far, and I want to argue against it for once.

So, as it seems, I have no problem with that.

To clarify: I'm talking about the "I can do story myself" part of your post, not the "I'd like to see more story books" part.

 

[MonsterMash]

One thing I always used to like in the old Judges Guild setting products was the list of rumours/legends which did not necessarily tie into anything that was published other than using names from the setting and which could give huge numbers of potential hooks.

Example:

"Debienna the amazon is searching for the Helm of the Heartstone a helmet of telepathy stolen by a zombie"

Lots of hooks - how did the helm get its name?, do the players help Debienna?, was the zombie being used by an evil cleric or a necromancer?, etc

 

[philreed]

That, I'd pay money for. Less crunch, more things that make my brain go "tick!"

I do things like that all of the time. The rumors PDFs are designed around just that idea. And a lot of the treasure PDFs include little seeds written to be the basis of adventures. Here's some free stuff:

http://www.roninarts.com/downloads/dozensampler.pdf