2
votes
3answers
328 views
Sites for finding online RPG players for a play-by-chat RPG Campaign?
Are there any online sites in which you can look for people that are looking to play in an online play-by-chat RPG Campaign?
I'm thinking of running a Pathfinder campaign for Skype (text only) and I ...
43
votes
22answers
1k views
How can a GM quickly create interesting, engaging NPCs?
What techniques do people have for coming up with interesting personalities and histories for non-player characters? I'm mostly interested in the GM side of things. I don't want to do a ton of prep. I ...
33
votes
6answers
739 views
What is a good way to become a better NPC/monster actor?
One of the biggest problems I have as Game Master, (going on 30+yrs) is in portraying NPC and Monsters in any RPG. Is there a good resource for becoming a better 'actor'?
Instead of just saying... ...
15
votes
10answers
11k views
What's the best software for mapmaking?
I use paint.net and paint shop pro to create fantasy cartography. Is there any better software, and why?
19
votes
17answers
10k views
A 2 Player RPG for buddies?
If myself and an old buddy sit down for a night of roleplaying, what game can we use? I've heard of a couple of romantic games, but they're not really for buddies. Are they? Suggestions please.
52
votes
15answers
2k views
Total Party Kill - What do I do as a GM?
Your party has had a streak of bad luck and/or made a poor choice and are now staring down death. The rules were followed to the letter and loss is assured. How do you handle this as a GM?
Does ...
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 ...
25
votes
9answers
654 views
How can GMs evoke the tone of danger in an RPG?
Forked from this question which focuses more on exploring signals of specific danger.
Here, my question is: how can a GM evoke the feeling of danger during a game? How can they create tension that ...
23
votes
19answers
1k views
What role-playing games have good gamemaster advice sections?
Which RPG's, in your experience, have good advice for gamemasters in their rulebooks, both for novice and experienced gamemasters?
Please keep in mind that this question is not about good games for ...
20
votes
7answers
732 views
How to handle wealthy player characters as a GM?
One of the long-standing settings our group keeps returning to is classic medieval fantasy. (Examples are MERP, Rolemaster, The Dark Eye -- But this question is aimed to be system agnostic and is ...
17
votes
3answers
533 views
Good resources for travel times?
What are some good resources, on or off-line, for determining clear travel times for:
different methods of travel (eg: foot, horse, vehicles by period and type, etc)
different terrain types ...
19
votes
4answers
976 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 ...
6
votes
7answers
4k views
Is there a spell managing program/app for D&D 3.5e?
I'm playing a necromancer wizard in a D&D 3.5e game via Roll20.
I've found that it's very tedious to manage and choose my spells because I have to look in the list of the wizard/sorcerer spells ...
40
votes
11answers
3k views
How can I reward a character that doesn't want magic items?
So I've got a campaign where one of the characters, a fighter, severely distrusts magical items. The party level is 6+, and it seems difficult to figure out a way to compensate this character in ...
17
votes
2answers
1k views
Can players use crafting to improve beloved magic items instead of churning gear?
I'm all about the story, and as such, I've always been a fan of long-term attachment between players/characters and their special (usually magic) items. But with D&D 4th edition, it seems the ...
16
votes
10answers
493 views
Without a map or miniatures, how to best determine line-of-sight, etc?
I think the title says it all. Let's say you're mastering a game without the benefit of miniatures, maps, or any kind of physical representation of the environment. How would you keep track of details ...
14
votes
5answers
312 views
As a GM, what aids could I use to create adventure scenes on the spot?
As a GM, many a time I run into a situation that I know nothing of, am not prepared about, and need something, NOW! Maybe it is a freeform adventure and plot was not prepared, maybe I prepared some ...
12
votes
3answers
330 views
Non-combat objective: Delay larger enemy force
I'm re-writing the "Battle of Albridge" encounters from The DM-kit's Reavers of Harkenwold. As supplied they are mostly just a rehash of earlier fight-to-the-death skirmishes on re-used maps. Instead ...
12
votes
6answers
1k views
Relationship Mechanics for D&D/Pathfinder?
My Pathfinder/D&D games tend to involve relationships - romantic, friendly, etc. - between PCs and NPCs alike. 3.x only has the Diplomacy mechanic for any kind of relationship mechanic. I'm ...
35
votes
13answers
2k views
Playing 4th Ed D&D for the first time, what should I read to avoid holding everyone back?
I've been invited to join a new game of D&D 4th edition this weekend, but haven't played proper D&D before. Are there any resources I ought to read or get before I turn up, so that I'm not a ...
21
votes
6answers
333 views
Techniques for communicating setting and campaign information to the PCs?
In the past, I've almost always had at least one NPC that would travel with the characters as a type of "lore master" to expand on the story. I've tried to make the character witty and, once the ...
21
votes
4answers
1k views
How does Shadowrun 4 differ from the previous editions - from an Actual Play viewpoint?
I have the old versions, and played the heck out of them.
I don't have version 4. If I buy it, what can I expect?
20
votes
12answers
2k views
When and how should I introduce my kids to RPGs?
I grew up playing and DMing AD&D 1st edition. Have played a few other systems like Paranoia but really know the AD&D system well enough to not spend time constantly looking up rules. Do you ...
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? ...
14
votes
4answers
2k views
Can I use a full attack and natural attacks in the same round?
I'm playing a 7th level monk variant in D&D 3.5e and I'm a werewolf. The variant has a 1 for 1 BAB. (level 1 = BAB+1) If I'm in hybrid form, Can I make my 2 standard attacks followed by 2 claws ...
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?
25
votes
8answers
4k views
What is the point of a spell component pouch?
While I'd like to think I know the general Dungeons and Dragons / Pathfinder rules pretty well, one thing I've never quite understood is the spell component pouch, especially in relation to the Eschew ...
14
votes
10answers
584 views
Best answer for people concerned about RPG activities being occult or dangerous?
I've had many experiences where the very fact of roleplaying triggered some concerned comment from the "uninitiated," likely parents or neighbors. Some examples:
A friend of mine hosted a Vampires ...
13
votes
2answers
7k views
Build Advice For Pathfinder Oracle
I've made an Oracle, 1st level, Mystery of Lore, Haunted Curse, and I took Sidestep Secret as my first revelation. I'm trying to decide if I should focus on melee combat and take relevant feats for ...
11
votes
2answers
444 views
Enemies knocking players unconscious instead of killing them
In D&D 4th Ed., can a monster choose to knock the player he is killing unconscious instead of killing him, thereby not giving him a chance to roll death saving throws to get back on his own and ...
11
votes
4answers
1k views
How do you rule halfling tossing as a combat action?
The party I am GMing has three characters over 6' tall with 20+ strength as well as a halfling and a kobold, both small and about 3' tall.
A couple of times, they have wanted the big characters to ...
10
votes
6answers
477 views
What system would you use for an “Inception” inspired game?
Please provide some detail on the merits of the game you suggest and explain some of the things we "know" about the movie world in terms of the specific mechanics.
I have seen the movie, but please ...
8
votes
2answers
2k views
How compatible are D&D 4th Edition and Essentials? Can you use Essentials encounters with 4th edition characters?
I've seen posts about how (un)convertable D&D Essentials characters are to 4th edition. This is a question about monsters/encounters/adventures.
People have been raving about the Essentials ...
7
votes
1answer
393 views
Is it possible to mix different versions of AD&D?
Does anyone know if it is possible to mix different versions of AD&D? I'm hoping to mix Advanced Dungeons and Dragons 1st edition with the Advanced Dungeons and Dragons 2nd edition. What I would ...
5
votes
4answers
373 views
Where can I find transcripts of actual game sessions?
Some of us are getting together to play an RPG, but not everyone has been in one before. One of the prospective players has asked me for a transcript or something they could read to get a sense of ...
16
votes
11answers
711 views
How can you find a balance between effective/optimised characters and creative characters?
When creating characters, I often face a dilemma between making a character. It feels like they can either be optimized so they can "pull their own weight" or having a character I think is creative ...
15
votes
2answers
490 views
How often can a creature be damaged in one turn with Wall of Fire?
Question 1: During a creature's movement, he moves into more than one fire space. Does he take the damage for each square?
Question 2: Using Forced movement (push/pull/slide) does the creature take ...
13
votes
8answers
581 views
How valid is lying to players about the rolls they are making in The Dresden Files?
In last weeks Dresden Files game, the players followed the bad guy using a tracking spell, and found him in the projects at an apartment that they knew little about. Seeing his car, they decided to ...
12
votes
2answers
705 views
What are the advantages and disadvantages of allowing a player to play a large creature?
We're playing 4e Thunderspire Labyrinth and we've decided to let the tank play a large (2x2) Minotaur.
He has all of the stats from the Minotaur player character in the Players Handbook 3, but he's a ...
10
votes
2answers
666 views
Does a falling creature provoke Opportunity Attacks on the way down?
I'm in a D&D4e game right now, and in the current combat there are some flying creatures which may soon be knocked prone by PC #1. As part of being knocked prone, a flying creature falls to the ...
10
votes
2answers
1k views
When a creature is invisible, but not hidden, do the enemies know the location of the creature?
When a creature is invisible but not hidden, one could argue that the players still know it's general location.
If a creature becomes invisible and not hidden does it remain on the battle-mat?
6
votes
1answer
298 views
Attacks of Opportunity from moving within a threatened area?
I'm curious about moving in threatened squares, say I'm a fighter and I'm already in a square fighting a monster with normal melee range and I move to the opposite side of him so that an ally can move ...
6
votes
3answers
157 views
What can make OGL material harder or easier to reuse in other products?
I keep reading about OGL material that is written in such a way that makes it harder to use than normal, and other OGL material that is written such that it's easier to reuse in other products. ...
5
votes
4answers
589 views
Collections of two-player free-form adventure ideas?
I'm planning a short two-person (one PC, one GM) free-form session. Is there a good quality compilation of adventure outlines tuned for one-on-one play somewhere? The theme doesn't matter much, but ...
4
votes
1answer
207 views
How can I represent the use of fire being misrepresented in a campaign?
This is an extraction of one of the central questions arising from my original (overly broad) question.
I would like to know how to best represent the concept that there is a god who is, through a ...
4
votes
2answers
234 views
Looking for help on expanding my campaign concept while avoiding railroading
I have split this into two more specific questions:
How can I represent the use of fire being misrepresented in a campaign? and How to make rituals a part of everyday life.
Below is the broad-strokes ...
34
votes
24answers
2k views
What games are out there that could be played in a single night, with no prep?
What games are out there that could be played in a single night, with no prep?
I have Spirit of the Century, but it really takes too long to make characters. So, in my opinion, it's great if you've ...
23
votes
8answers
918 views
Suggestions for decreasing metagaming and increasing player immersion?
This question is posed in a great way over on the Paizo boards, where I hang out since I play/run a lot of Pathfinder. Immersion is one of the key parts of the RPG experience to me, so I loved the ...
52
votes
10answers
6k views
As a man, how can I roleplay a woman better?
I rarely play characters of the opposite sex, and I find that I'm not very good at it, at least in my own estimation. This is hampering when I GM because it limits my range, and makes things hard ...
23
votes
5answers
3k views
Where can I get fantasy public domain art?
I'm working on a series of NPC cards but I'm having trouble finding good pictures. Is there a good source for public domain/creative commons fantasy-themed art out there? Is there another good way to ...
