Questions relating to Dungeons & Dragons as a whole, or to multiple versions of Dungeons & Dragons.
7
votes
5answers
412 views
How to give directions to megadungeon locations without giving players too much info?
One of my favorite blogs, Beyond the Black Gate, had a good post a while back about structuring megadungeon play for episodic (i.e., irregular) games by creating mini-quests or missions that get the ...
5
votes
2answers
747 views
In what edition of DnD was the Barbarians's rage introduced?
In what edition of DnD was the Barbarian's rage introduced?
25
votes
6answers
979 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)
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?
7
votes
4answers
970 views
How much errata is there in D&D 4e?
I got the initial 3 core rule books when they were first released. From reading various questions and answers here there is errata for the core rules and seem that some involves more than just fitting ...
3
votes
2answers
431 views
What was the inspiration for the Oriental Adventures classes?
DnD Character Classes all have some observable sources and influences:
In the Oriental Adventures books there are a bunch of new classes, including Samurai and and Wu Jen.
But what are the ...
8
votes
5answers
816 views
Squares vs. hexes on battle mats
I've always felt that hexes were easier for laying things out on the gaming table in terms of movement and areas of effect because you can do more angles without doing counting tricks. Squares however ...
4
votes
2answers
1k views
Are D&D Miniatures compatible with D&D HeroScape?
Or are they two completely different incompatible things? Are they at least the same size/scale?
6
votes
12answers
3k views
Which D&D modules are the classics? [closed]
Which pre-written D&D modules do you consider to be classic, and why?
5
votes
5answers
231 views
How do I get players to use their Interrupts?
Is there a good tool to get plays to remember their immediate interrupts?
(please remember I play D&D4e with kids, so kid specific answers are always appreciated)
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 ...
10
votes
3answers
395 views
What is the meaning of the “bardic lore” skill?
The bardic lore skill always left me baffled. I never had clear the terms of such skill. A bard can roll a bard lore throw to know some abstruse information. The fact is that the throw is bound to a ...
8
votes
7answers
494 views
Anyone have write-ups (or alternatives) for “missing” skills in D&D 4E?
I decided that my urban campaign setting for 4E would be better off if characters had some "mundane skills and knowledge."
One solution is adding the Knowledge, Craft, and Profession skills back in ...
7
votes
4answers
456 views
Has anyone released Castle of the Mad Archmage upper levels?
I'd really like to run COTMA, but for some reason the idea of coming up with the ruins and level 1 kind of intimidate me. I'd like to see some examples that I could either use as written or just use ...
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 ...
14
votes
6answers
486 views
What is a Mega Dungeon?
I've come across the expression "mega dungeon" quite a few times on the net. It seems like it's not just about the size of a den of monsters but it might imply a play style or something. What are the ...
12
votes
4answers
682 views
The Giants modules in BRP Classic Fantasy
I'm interested in playing some of the classic early AD&D adventures, like the Giants modules, with Chaosium's Basic Roleplaying using their Classic Fantasy module.
My big issue is power doesn't ...
19
votes
10answers
819 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? ...
8
votes
1answer
255 views
Which version of d20 is World of Warcraft RPG compatible with?
I picked up the WoW RPG a few years back before I knew anything about D&D/d20 and am just now getting around to checking out D&D and am wondering where this book fits into the d20 versions?
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 ...
12
votes
7answers
292 views
What would be some good monsters for Planet of the Apes D&D?
A while back I got the idea of Planet of the Apes as an classic D&D game with "ape as class". Gorillas would be fighters, Orangutan clerics, Chimpanzees magic users, and Humans thieves making ...
14
votes
11answers
6k views
What software can be useful for a DM running D&D?
I DM'd a lot in a time before software could do anything more than let you type up your scenarios and roll a dice. What kind of software is out there now for DM's running a game.
Are any of them any ...
10
votes
8answers
383 views
Minimum player knowledge of the rules
None of my group of players have read any of the rule books, not even the Player's Handbook.
I find this isn't a problem when making rulings, as they all accept my word (and a quick lookup if I'm not ...
12
votes
10answers
399 views
Balancing character levels
It makes sense that if you are in a group from the beginning that everyone in the group would be roughly the same level. Yes some classes level up faster than other but in general there is a balance ...
17
votes
11answers
728 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 ...
13
votes
6answers
198 views
Clocking the round. Tools?
Chess players use a special clock to keep timings of each move within a reasonable amount, or they lose. During fighting session, I'd like to introduce a similar technique to prevent excessive ...
10
votes
5answers
382 views
What are the Players and the DM supposed to be permitted to know in regards to rolls/defenses during combat?
What are the Players and the DM supposed to be permitted to know in regards to rolls/defenses during combat?
I've only played 4th Ed. D&D, so I don't know how it's handled in other editions. ...
22
votes
3answers
17k 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 ...
11
votes
7answers
258 views
Cameo Characters?
There are some good books in the Forgotten Realms library. Do you use cameo characters form these books? If so how do you balance them with your campaign?
I know there was a campaign that came with ...
11
votes
6answers
462 views
D&D 4 - does it suffer as much drift / house-ruling as previous versions? (Primarily 3 and 2)
Let me start by clarifying "drift". 'Drift' is the process by which a playgroup, consciously or unconsciously, moves away (drifts) from playing the game according to the rules as written (RAW). Other ...
13
votes
9answers
1k views
What adventures are there out there that would fit in this campaign?
In a few weeks I'm starting a game of old school D&D for a group of fairly new players, and I'd like to be able to have a few published modules to drop on my hex map, so I can mix it up a bit and ...
10
votes
1answer
593 views
What's the big appeal to Majestic Wilderlands?
I've been seeing a lot about this setting lately, and although I've looked over some of the material, I don't feel like I "get" it. That is by no means a criticism--I'm pretty interested, but it ...
10
votes
3answers
303 views
Any news regarding Planescape?
Riding on the coattails of the equivalent question on Spelljammer...
Is there anything happening on the Planescape front?
Both Wizards-related as well as independent updates are interesting.
3
votes
4answers
217 views
What is the current state of affairs of SpellJammer?
Is there an expectation of anything happing with it in the future?
8
votes
5answers
263 views
Writing a book from D&D adventures?
Are there instances of someone who wrote a successful book out of adventures played with friends?
7
votes
3answers
179 views
How to gather a group of players in a foreign country?
I am a person who has to relocate a lot due to employment reasons. I tried to build English-playing groups with little or no success. In some cases, I was able to gather only one person or two. Only ...
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 ...
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, ...
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 ...
15
votes
6answers
654 views
Can you use a Spelljammer ship to get to Ravenloft?
This is an insane question, I know. But it's one that's been bugging me for at least half my 33-year life. :)
I love both the Spelljammer and Ravenloft settings of AD&D 2nd Edition. One of the ...
15
votes
5answers
829 views
How many editions of Dungeons & Dragons are there?
How many editions of Dungeons & Dragons are there?
13
votes
6answers
685 views
How do you interpret the charm spell?
In a campaign I've been playing in, we've been having a real tough time deciding how powerful to make the first level Charm Person spell for Magic Users. Some background, we are playing Swords & ...
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 ...
11
votes
3answers
2k views
AC differences between AD&D 1E and Basic D&D?
I understand that there are differences between the way Armor Class works in AD&D (first edition) and Basic D&D (the boxed sets, Rules Cyclopedia, etc.), but I don't have the books to check it ...
17
votes
16answers
462 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 ...
10
votes
2answers
199 views
What is the difference between D&D and D&D Miniatures?
Are they the same game? Or is D&D Minis like an abridged toned down version of D&D 4.0? Or is it a separate rule-set entirely?
13
votes
5answers
611 views
What did you do for a Tarasque adventure? [closed]
What did you do for a Tarasque adventure?
When you ran it, did you wait for the players to be epic level?
Did having such an overpowered enemy detract from anything?
Or did your players - on the ...
17
votes
10answers
713 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 ...
10
votes
3answers
1k views
Where can I find desert random encounter tables?
The players in my Greyhawk campaign are about to enter the Bright Desert, and I'd like to use some desert-specific random encounter tables — does anyone have anything suitable? Edition is irrelevant, ...
13
votes
6answers
571 views
What is the full list of official Wizards of the Coast D&D settings?
The ones I know of off hand are the following, also would be good to know what rule edition they initially started in and if they are no longer updated as of what edition:
Forgotten Realms
...
