2020-06-20

While re-watching the Netflix series, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, I was struck how much depth they create in their story and world by "showing" and not using exposition.  That is always touted as the superior path of story telling, and I appreciate it in my media consumption.  It allows for asking of questions, seeking answers, asking questions of those answers, and so on. But I wonder how effective is that in a TTRPG.
Perhaps the table needs to want that kind of presentation. I can see how it could slow things down and cause confusion which causes frustration and a bad experience, if people just want to KNOW what is going on and what to do.
Maybe this just gets tossed on the heap of "ideas that would be fun 'someday'" and just enjoy that time if it ever comes.

2020-06-12

Another error I made before.

I focused in so much on my story and idea that I never let the players interact.  It was a classic railroad, but I thought I was being so clever and I would "never do that." No one ever said anything about it to me, but I knew they were not having fun. But it was never discussed so it took me a long time to realize the actual source of the issue.

Cringe.

Race 2020-05-31

Something that didn't bother me at first when I was learning, but did, as soon as I started teaching others how to play D&D, was the mechanic and term "race". It made me uncomfortable explaining its role and mechanic in creating your character. I would avoid calling it by its name whenever possible, talking around it.  Then I discovered the Adventures in Middle Earth product and how they didn't use that term, but instead structured it as a "cultural" set of parameters for creation of your character.  It fills that mechanical slot, but it is a change much more than just nomenclature. Divesting gaming from that lens is one less small mental block that surrounds us. That lens which otherwise prevents us from fully and authentically engaging with our fellow humans, not only around a table but in all aspects of life.

Pivot

I shouldn't be surprised that when taking a long step back from something, that your newfound perspective provides a better understanding of where you once were.  I thought I was a great DM, but as I start thinking about how to start playing again, I realize now that isn't true. That perspective time gives, really does point out those ogre-fisted sessions where I was so set on something, that I was oblivious to a path to head down.

Also having not played in a regular game in almost two years, I really do want to start playing again.  Now this isn't the best time to go sitting at a cramped table full of dice, papers, and snacks, but I really do miss the excitement and socialization of it all. I had thought this might be THE TIME to get my family members in on a game, but that is such a tall task, that I don't know if I want to carry that much water and it still be a stress free(-ish) past time.

Who knows, like so many other things in the last year, maybe the answer will just happen.

Fatigue Failure

Playing tabletop role-playing games is a surprisingly exhaustive experience.  Just as driving during a long road trip, constantly being mentally attentive puts a hit on the energy reserves.  When participants are not rested, irregardless of adventure prep, the session is set to be frustrating.

Daily Dram: The Silver Sea

The warm wind blew across the tops of the aspen making their silver leaves shimmer in the sun.  It continues eastward, flowing over the hundreds of miles of forest and up into the Helzoun Mountains where it finally loses all warmth and life. 

Daily Dram: Hael Thornweaver

His hands had slight tremble.  Hael shook them trying to stay relaxed for the final portion the trial.  He had to strike five of the seven targets with only three castings of Stinging Nettles.  What made it worse was that the targets would be moving to simulate an actual battlefield, thanks to Captain Thandrin Ulim's magic.  Hael stepped into the training ring determined to earn the wings of Owl Corps

Daily Dram: Bee Stings

Hael Thornweaver stood among the aspen, surveying the goblins encamped in the clearing.  This latest foray of the Split-tongue clan would be turned back, as always.  With the signal given, Hael and the others of his order began sending needles streaking from their fingertips.  By the time the sides joined in melee, the goblins had their numbers reduced by almost a third.

Swelling, fading, and never was.

Flavia was thrilled.  The decision to travel to northwestern shore and build a tower there had proved correct. Every day she was making new discoveries in transforming materials. There was no telling how deep this convergence pool went.

Wonder of wonders. The light from the lantern spilled out across the dusty armory with glittering pricks of reflection. The tunnel Benth had discovered while exploring the ruins in the South Wood apparently had belonged to some long dead kingdom. Where else could such marvelous items of workmanship come from?

Gwyneth's hands quickly snapped up, nocking an arrow.  The band of brigands she was hunting were returning to farmstead they previously pillaged.  It wasn't her problem to fix, but when she would arrive at Lord Winston's home with an extra four scalps, there would definitely be an extra pouch of coin in thanks. Coin she needed since her horse had just been stolen in Shandon.

...

In trying to think about MW, I cant seem to decide on which direction magic is going.  Everything I think of seems derivative or cliche; it is too like Tolkien, or Jordan, or Gaiman. I want to have a world where not only no / low magic campaigns and adventures could take place, but also high magic.
My first thought was to have them to be time shifted along a spectrum, but then is that increasing, decreasing, or even cyclic in magical properties.

Currently I am toying with a cyclic plan, with the cycle to be too far beyond the generations of men to properly recall the time of high magic or prepare for the time of none. Nonhuman peoples perhaps do know of the cycles in better terms due to much longer lifespans, but keep this knowledge withheld. Magic must be earned so that the proper respect is given to it.  As magic is used, pools of it drain. When they dry, people cease and forget, allowing time for the pools to refill and replenish.

The Concentration of Magic

Henrik raised his hand to his eyes to try to give shade to them.  For the last several minutes, the air had a brightness and haze to it that belonged on a summer's midday, not the wet and chill spring morning they were enduring.  Indeed, it felt as if they were at sea as the prairie's grasses undulated around them.  And just as at sea, they kept their eyes up searching for a tower that might provide the guidance that would save their lives.... 

Daily Dram: Lansig Marble

A tale of caution concerning a fate much worse than quicksand...

Daily Dram: Elma's Crook

A tale of the shepherd's crook used by a human shepherd near the Greyspine Mountains...

Daily Dram: Elma Driviner

Among a copse of trees below the Greyspine mountains, there is a stone house with wisps of smoke snaking upwards. It is the home of Elma Driviner...

Daily Dram: Stone Speaker

Among the dwarves of the Grayspine Mountains, some are called to be Stone Speakers. These clerics tend to the spiritual needs of not only their clan, but also the Mountain itself...

Daily Dram: Krojen

If you travel to the foothills of the Greyspine Mountains, those that live there will tell you stories of stone wolves that stalk the mountain forests...

Level 0 Attempt #2 Guidelines

Here is a link to my latest idea of how I hope to run a better "Level 0" session in the future.

I would hope to follow the idea that user famoushippopotamus suggests the next time the opportunity for individual "Level 0" sessions presents itself.  At the end of the "Catalyst" segment, I would figure that would be the Minor Adventure segment.

Lessons in "Level 0" Sessions

Due to the absence of a few players I chose to try a “Level 0” adventure based in the same town as the main story and heroes.  I enjoy roleplaying and often the best experiences come from the situations with the least rules.  Players having to imagine and be creative are preferred to players who look at a sheet of paper for their two or five word answer to a problem.  By limiting what is written on that sheet of paper, I hoped to encourage players who could engage themselves and not rely on me or the system to get them to “buy in”.

Magic Items Found While in Krezk

Holy Symbol of Ravenkind

Wonderous item, legendary

Attunement

A cleric or paladin of good alignment

Material

Platinum and Crystal

Weight

4 lb.

Cost

10,000 gp

The Holy Symbol of Ravenkind is a unique holy symbol sacred to the good-hearted faithful of Barovia. It predates the establishment of any church in Barovia and, according to legend, was delivered to a paladin named Lugdana by a giant raven--or an angel in the form of a giant raven. Lugdana used the holy symbol to root out and destroy nests of vampires until her death. The high priests of Ravenloft kept and wore the holy symbol after Lugdana's passing.

The holy symbol is a platinum amulet shaped like the sun, with a large crystal embedded in its center. Around the symbol are inscribed symbols of light and truth.

Charges.

The symbol holds 10 charges for the following properties, regaining 1d6+4 daily at dawn.

Hold Vampires.

You can expend 1 charge to make the holy symbol flare with holy power. Vampires and vampire spawn within 30 feet of the holy symbol when it flares must make a Wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failed save, a target is paralyzed. It can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns to end the effect on it.

Turn or Destroy Undead.

You can expend 3 charges when you preset the holy symbol while using the Turn Undead or Destroy Undead feature. When you do, undead have disadvantage on their saving throws against the effect.

Sunlight.

You can expend 5 charges to make the holy symbol shed bright light in a 30-foot radius and dim light for an additional 30 feet. The light is sunlight and lasts for 10 minutes or until you end the effect (no action required).

The Martyr of Krezk

Magical Greatclub, rare

Attunement

Spend at least a short rest in meditation with the item, and agreeing to the charge.

Properties

Simple, Two-handed, +2 Magical

Material

Gold, blue and red gems, and steel

Weight

10 lb.

Cost

5,000 gp

The Martyr of Krezk is a heavy 5 foot tall acolyte candle. It has a golden base and column, decorated with blue and red gems. At the top is a large polished steel receptacle for a candle or incense. The candle was blessed by Saint Martikova at her Abbey and used in ceremonies by her chief acolyte. Part of the blessing that her god imparted to the wielder was upon the contract to take the life of another living creature--no matter how vile, no matter if their own life is on the line.

Should a living creature the wielder attacked die from direct action of the wielder or the wielder's allies, the wielder takes the damage as well, and bears the scars of such trauma for life. They can only be removed with divine intervention.

It is to be noted that the stipulation is against living creatures, and not binding when confronting undead.

Damage.

1d8+2 bludgeoning (+2 fire damage if alight)

Flaming Beacon. 3/Day

As an action, you may utter a prayer to the Morninglord to cause a flame to erupt from the end of the candle. This flame will burn for 10 minutes, shedding bright light in a 30-foot radius and dim light for an additional 30 feet.

5e SRD-OGL RELEASED!

Great News Everyone!

http://dnd.wizards.com/articles/news/dungeon-masters-guild-now-open

Say yes to the Runes, no to the Prestige

As I explained previously, I do not agree with the introduction of prestige classes in the 5th Edition system.  The added complexity of a prestige class with the various requirements that make character creation builds that must be anticipated from level 1 is something that I would want to avoid in the 5th Edition system.

Here is my specific analysis of the Rune Magic and Rune Scribe Unearthed Arcana, with a proposition of how to change such a great magic and class concept into working with the existing 5th Edition system.  Specifically, I believe this class would function exceptionally as an Archetype of the Wizard class, as well as additional Feats for other Wizards or those who do not wish to multiclass.