Questions relating to Dungeons & Dragons as a whole, or to multiple versions of Dungeons & Dragons.
52
votes
18answers
3k views
I'm creating an original setting for D&D—where do I start?
Creating a new fantasy setting for D&D is daunting but I don't want to use one of the published settings. I have a blank piece of paper in front of me and a whole world to create. My friends want ...
51
votes
8answers
4k views
I'm at a loss with “Dungeons and Dragons.” How does one play it, anyway?
I'm no gamer at all, so this could be like a very silly, basic question for you guys. The thing is that I always read about "Dungeons and Dragons" game (not the video game, but the normal game to play ...
49
votes
12answers
1k views
What's a good mechanic for rewarding players for keeping their characters happy?
In a lot of setting and systems, such as D&D, the aim of the game tends to be to explore and kill things. Money is spent on useful items and hirelings. However, a real adventurer would probably ...
45
votes
26answers
2k views
What alternatives are there to replace orcs, kobolds, and hobgoblins in low-level encounters?
In your average "generic D&D" campaign and setting, orcs, kobolds, and hobgoblins are frequently used to stock low level adventures and dungeons. These are usually nice for 1st/2nd level ...
44
votes
13answers
4k views
Why does everyone carry a 10' pole?
Based on this comment over on CRPG Addict:
No adventuring party is complete without a ten foot pole.
...
Jason, but WHY? In God's name, WHAT IS IT FOR?!
What is a 10 foot pole used for ...
41
votes
11answers
4k views
3d6 vs a d20: What is the effect of a different probability curve?
What is the effect on game play of replacing d20 rolls with 3d6 rolls in a D&D 4e campaign?
I started thinking about this after reading this question where the example was given of playing a d20 ...
38
votes
20answers
2k views
How should a GM deal with player-instigated sexuality in an RPG?
I think it's a matter of fact that since the first moment a player realizes that he or she can interact with someone of the opposite sex romantically within the game, things get hairy. I had my fair ...
36
votes
13answers
756 views
How to communicate to the players that an encounter can be solved also through diplomacy?
When you play D&D, you are not supposed to chat with the enemy during encounters. The system is made for fighting. However, in some circumstances, it would be nice to make the players conscious ...
34
votes
10answers
5k views
Overview of D&D retro-clones
I'm getting more and more interested in the D&D retro-clones. I keep seeing various names thrown around, like Labyrinth Lords, Swords and Wizardry, Lycanthropes &… something else starting with ...
34
votes
15answers
1k views
Narrative Combat versus Use of Miniatures
When I first started playing D&D, my DM did not use battlemaps or miniatures to describe combat. Everything was described to us, and questions to the DM were part and parcel of the experience, ...
33
votes
6answers
946 views
At what point did polyhedral dice become part of D&D?
I was reading some articles the other day about Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson and the history of Dungeons and Dragons. I started to wonder: Where did these guys from Wisconsin get the now iconic polyhedral ...
33
votes
11answers
2k views
Is it practical to run a weekly lunch-hour game of D&D with my coworkers?
I'm looking to get some of my coworkers together and start a lunch time, casual, D&D game. Has anyone done this - is there a practical way to do this?
Our lunch breaks run for about 1 hour, but I ...
29
votes
7answers
776 views
How can DMs effectively telegraph specific dangers in D&D?
There are some play-styles of D&D in which the spectre of player-character death is considered a feature of the game rather than a bug. For my own reasons (which aren't the point of the question), ...
29
votes
5answers
1k views
What's the deal with alignment languages?
In early D&D, there was the concept of an "alignment language."
The original "little brown book" D&D says only:
Law, Chaos and Neutrality also have common languages spoken by each ...
28
votes
9answers
733 views
How can I more effectively use darkness in a dungeon?
In more than one of my D&D campaigns, I've found myself feeling disappointed at my inability to make the darkness of the dungeon matter.
Everyone has enough torches, and I'm not likely to be able ...
28
votes
3answers
6k views
What are the big differences between the D&D editions?
I've been out of the loop for a while, and I used to play AD&D 2nd ed, but today I find there are a lot of different versions that have fairly different gameplay.
Can anyone summarize the really ...
26
votes
5answers
4k views
What are the differences between Holmes, Moldvay, and Mentzer D&D?
What are the differences between Holmes, Moldvay, and Mentzer D&D? Also, which one came first?
25
votes
6answers
1k views
In an even fight, how many rounds does a typical monster need to drop a PC?
Inspired by the closed question: DnD Next Hitpoint Inflation,
There have been claims of HP inflation in dnd-next, and there certainly were increased in the absolute value of HP in 4e. In order to ...
25
votes
6answers
981 views
What were the driving factors in the falling out between Dave Arneson and Gary Gygax?
Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson created the hobby together when they wrote D&D. But later on they had a falling out - what caused that?
(We don't need minutiae, just the biggest factors)
23
votes
13answers
3k views
Can a D&D Necromancer be of a good alignment?
I've been considering creating a good-aligned necromancer, but I'm not sure if it's realistic from a role-playing perspective. Is there anything inherent in necromancy that would require someone to be ...
22
votes
4answers
708 views
How much to bend “the rules” about populating a world?
All right, I have a question about creating a world and populating it with appropriate monsters, etc.
I created a world a little while back, loosely based off of the world found in Michael ...
22
votes
7answers
617 views
How can a GM justify changing a player's alignment?
Lately, in one of my campaigns, I've been having problems with a character who everyone agrees is acting out of alignment. Everyone, that is, but him. The problem, of course, is that he's playing a ...
22
votes
3answers
18k views
What are the differences between D&D 3.5 and D&D 4th edition?
I have a small group of players who don't play often and we've been playing D&D 3.5.
I wanted to know if there are any significant differences between D&D 3.5 and D&D 4e? Do they use a ...
22
votes
4answers
452 views
Why do characters with a high prime requisite gain bonus XP?
In earlier versions of Dungeons & Dragons, a character with a high ability score in their class' prime requisite receives a bonus to all experience he earns. For example, the 1983 Frank Mentzer ...
21
votes
6answers
1k views
How does D&D Vancian magic make sense in-game?
One thing that bugs me about Vancian Magic in D&D as I understand it is the following: How is "fire and forget" remotely believable when I can slot and ready more than one "copy" of a spell?
Say ...
21
votes
9answers
2k views
Traps specifically for Smart characters
Does anyone have examples or suggestions on creating traps that are harder for Smart (High INT/WIS) characters?
Example: My NPC necromancer has set up his lair. In his arrogance he believes that ...
21
votes
7answers
911 views
How can I invoke actual fear in my players?
I'm a DM that focuses heavily on story, description and setting. My goal is to send players home wanting -- no, longing -- to actually be part of the mythos I've created.
The ultimate goal for me as ...
20
votes
3answers
734 views
What is the history and significance of the “dire” prefix to creatures?
Some animals in Pathfinder bestiaries are prefixed with "dire".
Does this come from the wolf species Canis dirus, an early edition monster/template or something else?
Where does this come from and ...
20
votes
5answers
622 views
As a GM, how do I keep Dungeons & Dragons more interesting for young players?
Currently, my group of players is my children, ages 7+ through 14+ (and several in between). They all are really excited about playing, but I am having great difficulty keeping them all interested ...
19
votes
6answers
971 views
Is Coup de Grace on sleeping and bound opponents an evil act?
So I was recently participating in a Pathfinder Society game. Our ship was attacked and boarded by pirates. First thing that happened was one of our party cast sleep, and succeeded in putting four of ...
19
votes
10answers
821 views
What defines the “old school renaissance”?
I'm aware that the old school renaissance (OSR) is all about hearkening back to old versions of D&D and the play styles of the 70's and 80's, but what characteristics really define this movement? ...
19
votes
4answers
974 views
What about character death should be included in a social contract?
For a D&D (4e, primarily) game what about player-character death should be included in a group's social contract? What are some options for best reaching consensus about the possibility of death ...
19
votes
3answers
258 views
Do dead creatures take up space?
If a large creature dies, does its corpse still occupy a 10x10 area?
How does this affect movement and combat, specifically charging?
18
votes
6answers
2k views
Is it possible to actually kill a Tarrasque?
I've seen a good bit of conflicting information on this creature. Is it possible to actually kill it? Permanently?
Is the answer to this something that varies from edition to edition of D&D?
18
votes
5answers
2k views
Tips for running a successful and engaging campaign WITHOUT combat?
I'm thinking of starting my own campaign with a few of my friends with me as DM, primarily because I wasn't extremely impressed with the campaign my friend was DMing. When I started thinking about the ...
18
votes
4answers
1k views
Why can't clerics use sharp weapons?
In many versions of D&D, clerics can't use bladed/edged/pointy weapons, and are instead restricted to things like staves, clubs, maces, etc. Why is this?
Is there some historical reason? Is ...
18
votes
8answers
526 views
Would the alignment of a character with multiple personality disorder change?
A character has a certain alignment that in general defines how he acts. With multiple personality disorder or other similar disorders (maybe bipolar disorder with severe depression/severe mania), ...
18
votes
2answers
198 views
Handling different, bordering cultural levels in Ravenloft
How do you as a DM handle the transition/interaction between differing cultural level domains that live alongside (practically bordering, thanks to the Mists) one another in Ravenloft (any edition)?
...
17
votes
16answers
463 views
Experience for Role Playing
Ok so I haven't played in a while (since the 2nd edition) but do any of the newer D&D editions' books (most likely the DM Guide) have guidelines for granting experience for exceptional role ...
17
votes
14answers
1k views
What are some interesting ways to structure a random encounter table?
The standard tables I've seen have been basic 'Wandering Monster' tables where you roll some dice in order to generate a random encounter.
I'm sure many have taken this concept further, but I haven't ...
17
votes
11answers
732 views
Encouraging out-of-the-box thinking in combat encounters
I'm a GM currently running D&D 3.5.
I try to think of situations that present the players with a number of possible solutions.
The players, however, always resort to the same pattern of killing ...
17
votes
6answers
730 views
How to encourage a player's creativity without breaking the game?
I've just started a new D&D 4e campaign with a new group of players. One of my players came straight from 2nd edition, and has never played 4e before. She doesn't seem to grasp the layer of ...
17
votes
8answers
797 views
How can I make low levels of a high-level build more bearable?
In Dungeons and Dragons or Pathfinder, often you might design or plan a character for what he can do at high level. For example, I might want to play a Mystic Theurge or some other prestige class, or ...
17
votes
4answers
424 views
How does Charm Person affect a PC?
It's quite clear how the DM should play any NPCs that get Charmed by a PC -- the NPC should behave as the caster's best friend, and do things that he'd do for his best friend.
But how do you play ...
17
votes
10answers
717 views
How do you adjudicate a chase?
Generally if PCs run from a fight, I would give the monsters a free attack, and then let the PCs escape automatically (playing 1e/0e D&D). Of course if they linger around, the monsters may come ...
17
votes
3answers
1k views
Where do dual-wielding rangers come from?
The classes in D&D are clearly selected as classic archetypes, either from an iconic character or frequently reccurring within Fantasy fiction.
The idea of bow-wielding rangers is a good example ...
17
votes
5answers
604 views
Does anyone know of specific types of room lists for different kinds of (fantasy) buildings?
Here's a problem I encounter when creating buildings for D&D: I quickly run out of specific room types. For instance, when I create a temple, I can think of the main worship area, chambers for the ...
17
votes
4answers
4k views
How to randomly generate a village or town for old school D&D game?
There is a lot of material written on random generation of dungeons for play. But inevitably characters have to return from the to spend those ill-gotten gains. And where else but a nearby ...
16
votes
8answers
6k views
Homebrew D&D with only 2 players (plus DM)
I DM'ed for my buddies this semester and it was really fun. I got my roommate hooked and now he's asking for me to make another campaign (I've got a great idea). The problem lies in the fact that I'll ...
16
votes
10answers
721 views
What are the core tropes or assumptions of D&D?
After an interesting discussion with my local GM, I was left wondering
What are the core tropes and assumptions that players bring to a game of D&D?
Specifically the ones that are different from ...
