In the previous few posts, I looked at the history of Skills in BECMI, looked at the different 5e skills in detail, and explored what skills can (and equally importantly can't) do. The last post introduced more complex scenarios where one action isn't enough to resolve the situation, and considered a complex task: crossing a … Continue reading When one action isn’t enough (part 2) – Negotiations
What do you do when your D&D party come across a situation which is too complex to handle with a single action? Photo by Laura Ockel on Unsplash In the previous few posts, I looked at the history of Skills in BECMI, looked at the different 5e skills in detail, and explored what skills can … Continue reading When one action isn’t enough (part 1) – Complex Tasks
"I'm going to chat up the barmaid. I roll Persuasion - look, it's a natural 20. I get her to come outside with me, and then I kill her and I get a free attack because she's surprised because I rolled that natural 20."Summary of incident at early session run by my son Sound familiar? … Continue reading Skills aren’t magic
[...] A loud bang echoed around the stadium and a jet of green light shot out of the wrong end of Ron's wand, hitting him in the stomach and sending him reeling backwards on to the grass... Ron opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. Instead he gave an almighty belch and several slugs … Continue reading Damaged magic items
The original RPGaDay2020 prompts graphic by @WillBrooks1989 Yesterday in RPGaDay2020 I looked at demons, devils, the Blood war and the Portals needed to bring them into my campaign. Today the theme is Experience, and I'm going to reflect on my experience participating in RPGaDay this year. To be honest, I have mixed feelings about it. … Continue reading RPGaDay2020 Day 31: Experience – reflections on RPGaDay this year
The original RPGaDay2020 prompts graphic by @WillBrooks1989 Yesterday in RPGaDay2020 I looked at the Akorros sport of Push. Today the theme is Rare. And what could be rarer than dragonhide, or the breath of a manticore, or eye of newt? Well, not all as rare as each other, but they have something in common - … Continue reading RPGaDay2020 Day 22: Rare – what do you do with all those rare monster parts?
The RPGaDay2020 prompts in a map by dunroaminpress Yesterday in RPGaDay2020 I looked at comfort zones. Today the theme is Meet....which is something Covid-19 has put paid to with lockdown... Our last round-the-table session was in March, and since then we've been kept apart by the pandemic. So we've had to explore other options to … Continue reading RPGaDay2020 Day 18: Meet – during lockdown – a review of VTTs we’ve tried
The RPGaDay2020 prompts in a map by dunroaminpress Yesterday in RPGaDay2020 I discussed making your descriptions dramatic. Today the theme is Comfort, and I'd like to look at Comfort zones. Everything is challenging to start with - think about your first day at school, or your first driving lesson, or your first time creating a … Continue reading RPGaDay2020 Day 17: Comfort – how often do/should you push yourself out of your comfort zone?
The original RPGaDay2020 prompts graphic by @WillBrooks1989 Yesterday in RPGaDay2020 I looked at how the GM's descriptions frame the experience for the players. Today the theme is Dramatic. This seems to me to be related. As a GM, how do you make the adventure dramatic? Hint: it's not by making everything a life-and-death battle. Drama … Continue reading RPGaDay2020 Day 16: Dramatic
The RPGaDay2020 prompts in a map by dunroaminpress Yesterday in RPGaDay2020 I looked at a potential banner for the Toney House in Akorros. Today the theme is Frame. As a GM, what we include and exclude from our descriptions frames the players' interaction with the game and determines their engagement and approach. Give the players … Continue reading RPGaDay2020 Day 15: Frame – framing the situation for the players
