Plugins? I would think if it was hosted at wordpress, it would come with anti-spam tools. Well, I guess we know what "assume" means. lol. I am all about free speech, but spam is not speech. I had enormous issues with spammers on an earlier project, but that was a wiki and I was not the one with root on that to add the addons. I don't want those issues.
I do love the way you have framed this particular problem and it does supply me some fodder for consideration. However, through what precisely I have experienced, I really trust when other opinions pack on that men and women continue to be on issue and don’t start on a tirade regarding the news of the day. All the same, thank you for this excellent point and though I do not necessarily agree with it in totality, I value the point of view.Comment on my tutorial link page. Really? I'm glad my link on how to make skulls is some comment on social issues?
-We didn't build this place entirely on content and hard work.
Well, the people that freak out over "canon" too much aren't very fun. It is not like the work has a serious chance of becoming canon. As long as it is not some Mary Sue stuff or horrid. Even if canon, I am sure as a novelist or script writer, they have folks looking over that and it isn't public till it's out. If that was the case, fanfic folks would just repost scripts or whatever and not really be able to do much.The Fighting Fantazine admin said I wouldn't be able to post my stories on their forum because he's worried about the (extremely remote) possibility of any of the pro authors or artists finding out and issuing a C&D against the forum. I think he's being paranoid and unfair - after all, they post original adventures there that can't be professionally published because they're fan-written and those make use of pro material.
My daughter used to do a bit of fanfic back in the day. But more the Bleach stuff. I think (happily) fanfic ruined Twilight for her.
I think (happily) fanfic ruined Twilight for her.
I think (happily) fanfic ruined Twilight for her.
I can't seem to understand the twilight to begin with.
Awesome. I am pleased with the rate of content.While I was doing research on homelessness, I began reading about the concept of stealth camping. :D
I just got blind sided with a text, though, with something. Nothing concrete, but I may be on talk radio as a guest on one of the local radio stations to talk about stealth camping. Scary as hell, but I think I am up for the challenge.
Probably means I need to start a second blog with that kind of content as opposed to geek content. I have A LOT of experience on urban survivalist content. Hell, I damn near wrote a book on it that got 90K + views and is archived places by folks. Without the political constraints and a slightly less anarchist bent, should do okay.
Still got 2 articles cooking then change content direction on frugalDM, though. A lot of competition in geek writing and I may have to shift more from the geek rant stuff to PDF material for folks freaking out because they have nothing written up which has many more views than rants.
Awesome. I am pleased with the rate of content.While I was doing research on homelessness, I began reading about the concept of stealth camping. :D
I just got blind sided with a text, though, with something. Nothing concrete, but I may be on talk radio as a guest on one of the local radio stations to talk about stealth camping. Scary as hell, but I think I am up for the challenge.
Probably means I need to start a second blog with that kind of content as opposed to geek content. I have A LOT of experience on urban survivalist content. Hell, I damn near wrote a book on it that got 90K + views and is archived places by folks. Without the political constraints and a slightly less anarchist bent, should do okay.
Still got 2 articles cooking then change content direction on frugalDM, though. A lot of competition in geek writing and I may have to shift more from the geek rant stuff to PDF material for folks freaking out because they have nothing written up which has many more views than rants.
I know it is possible to use tarps to make tents. They come in brown tones which will work well in the forest and countryside. I hear they also come in gray which would camouflage better in the urban areas.Awesome. I am pleased with the rate of content.While I was doing research on homelessness, I began reading about the concept of stealth camping. :D
I just got blind sided with a text, though, with something. Nothing concrete, but I may be on talk radio as a guest on one of the local radio stations to talk about stealth camping. Scary as hell, but I think I am up for the challenge.
Probably means I need to start a second blog with that kind of content as opposed to geek content. I have A LOT of experience on urban survivalist content. Hell, I damn near wrote a book on it that got 90K + views and is archived places by folks. Without the political constraints and a slightly less anarchist bent, should do okay.
Still got 2 articles cooking then change content direction on frugalDM, though. A lot of competition in geek writing and I may have to shift more from the geek rant stuff to PDF material for folks freaking out because they have nothing written up which has many more views than rants.
Yeah... it's one of the classic homeless mistakes a lot don't realize. You DO NOT want to be in the downtown area or look homeless. You want to be out in the suburbs and you need a bicycle. The whole "stealth camping" term comes from the bicycle enthusiasts. When touring, hotels can crush you. Why not just duck behind some trees out of sight of the road on some land with NO posted signs -very important- and get your tent out then leave first thing and keep that money? Or... if landlords are kicking your butt... embargo those lazy leeches who want to charge your butt off so they don't have to work.
I posted AAR 5 and 4 from a tethered laptop to an android cell phone hooked to a deer feeder battery.
-There's a thought in there about the downside of geek culture going mainstream worth talking about..
Okydoke; caught up now. These two latest aren't really my cup of tea, but that's numbers and haven't gamed off the computer with people in --- [thinks] [thinks more] nearly 30 years. Nothing wrong with them; it's me, and shouldn't be a problem with your target audience..
Well, once you get the numbers, it is super easy. Probably one of the simplest editions since Second.I enjoy reading your commentary, but I have not played the most recent version of Dugeons and Dragons.
The only real numbers are:
- the modifiers for each ability score. These are also base saving throws, skills, etc. Also used in Armor Class, attack rolls, and spell attacks.
- proficiency modifier. Based on total level. You add this to any attack or save you are proficient at.
- spell save Difficulty Class. Only used for spellcasting and some class features. Add 8 + Ability Mod + Profeciency and that is the save things have to roll to get out of your spell/ whatever.
Everything 3rd edition up is roll a d20 and add one of these numbers versus a target number from bluffing past a guard to climbing a mountain to hitting with a great axe.
Those 3 numbers are really the only math with the exception of drawing up things with multiple hit dice or levels for HIT POINTS. That is because if you are taking max fist plus average, you can get big numbers. It can get just a bit more complex if you have multiple kinds of hit dice. Like say, custom making an Adult Green Dragon who has 5 levels of Barbarian and 5 levels of Sorcerer. First would always be the monster hit dice (based on size. Large creatures are d10s) then Barbarian and Sorc ones which are different.
Now, if you REALLY want something, each creation also has a CHALLENGE RATING which uses one of the most obscure and esoteric multiple step maths. I just eyeball. But, some folks want to see the CR particularly of custom creations because CR is used to gauge the monster's relative power versus a party of 4 players. But, meh...
I dropped out while it was still Advanced Edition...I believe that is the correct name of the edition in the present time.
Is that what they call 2nd, now?
No... 1e or 2eI have never played the first or second editon of Dungeons and Dragons and I am clueless about the actual meaning of "thac0."
ADnD is considered either 1st or 2nd edition. During your era, I am guessing 2e.
Do you know the word "thac0"? It is the password to get into the Temple of the Greybeard if you can explain what it is.
There was also a "Basic Set" sold at the same time as ADnD. Adding to it is ODnD which is the first version of 1e based off a wargame called Chainmail. For some rules, you had to have Avalon Hill wargames rules. But, what to say?. Those guys printed that stuff in a basement to sell at war game cons.
Crap. I remember those tables. I wasn't a good DM, but I did have to start out as one. I remember those tables.
The best DM I ever had indeed would make things up on the fly - when I was doing it, I didn't know how to cope with someone's cheat character that turned out to be too powerful for the dungeon I'd designed. DMs who get it don't have that problem.
Oh, Melvin claimed he grinded his characters using the "Roll your own adventure" thing - remember it? Everyone who ever played with Melvin -his real name, honest- does. Nobody believed him, and I don't know why anyone gamed with the cheater twice. Those magic rings and +5 Swords of Bullcrap always ruined everything.
Actually, she is more likely to be seen in robes than the scale mail. She really hates armor and her position means lots of wearing nice dresses and such. It is considered a faux pas to be seen with the same dress on twice in her circles. Of course, when performing her high priestess duties, it is acceptable to wear a Tiamat high priest robe. The scale mail is just for travel or if a battle is anticipated.Story/character idea, if you haven't already thought of this: she takes two l.1 acolytes with her in the field, when the campaign moves to the pass, as bearers - her inventory is a chest holding changes of robes for many occasions, like Lovey Howell had a couple of servants along on the three hour tour. They'd probably need to be tougher than l.1, depending, or she might have to resurrect them a lot. Play it for comedy/flavor, but the bearers just barely enough use in a fight to make up for the inconvenience of having her flippin' travel wardrobe along. She rather considers doing otherwise a deal-breaker, and looks way hot in some of the dresses, besides...
No, it isn't green. Green would clash with her red skin. The scale is greyish, but would be worn underneath robes of some sort. Which robes depend on what position of hers the fighting is for. She has various noble dresses, Patia Governess robes, and of course Ceremonial Tiamat High Priest robes. She usually does wear it for expeditions and visiting another Tiamat temple, assassinations and all.
The DM has to be in it to make it fun for everyone, screw the rules if that's what it takes to be fun. The rules and procedures are tools towards an end, not something adherence to is a goal itself, and we didn't know that.Eh. The rules need to be consistent, otherwise you end up watching the DM play Calvin-ball. Which can be fun for a while but it's easy to get out of hand.
That good DM years later -a jerk a lot of the rest of the time, but he really got this- did our rolls for us half the time behind his DM screen, and you know he just made up a lot of results. His campaigns were SO much less math and grind, SO much more fun.Depending on which rolls, I would find that much less engaging, thus lessening my emotional investment in the game, and thereby causing me to question whether I should be doing something better with my time.
It depends on the DM. This one fudged in favor of making it better/more fun, to the extent he fudged; I'm just guessing - it may have been Calvinball, but it was good Calvinball.The DM has to be in it to make it fun for everyone, screw the rules if that's what it takes to be fun. The rules and procedures are tools towards an end, not something adherence to is a goal itself, and we didn't know that.Eh. The rules need to be consistent, otherwise you end up watching the DM play Calvin-ball. Which can be fun for a while but it's easy to get out of hand.QuoteThat good DM years later -a jerk a lot of the rest of the time, but he really got this- did our rolls for us half the time behind his DM screen, and you know he just made up a lot of results. His campaigns were SO much less math and grind, SO much more fun.Depending on which rolls, I would find that much less engaging, thus lessening my emotional investment in the game, and thereby causing me to question whether I should be doing something better with my time.
The DM has to be in it to make it fun for everyone, screw the rules if that's what it takes to be fun. The rules and procedures are tools towards an end, not something adherence to is a goal itself, and we didn't know that.Eh. The rules need to be consistent, otherwise you end up watching the DM play Calvin-ball. Which can be fun for a while but it's easy to get out of hand.QuoteThat good DM years later -a jerk a lot of the rest of the time, but he really got this- did our rolls for us half the time behind his DM screen, and you know he just made up a lot of results. His campaigns were SO much less math and grind, SO much more fun.Depending on which rolls, I would find that much less engaging, thus lessening my emotional investment in the game, and thereby causing me to question whether I should be doing something better with my time.
I'm torn on fudged victory, on the one hand I like character continuity (I tend to put a lot into backstory and coming up with new material is difficult at times) and on the other bad tactics, bad decisions, and bad rolls should have potentially dire consequences. Some rolls I'm ok with not making, such as the thieves checks for traps and avoiding the meta-gaming that can occur with those. But mostly if I'm not doing the rolls, then it's only a step or three away from being a multiplayer choose your own adventure book.
My previous DM got more adversarial over the years and started to go a little Calvinball at the end, changing the scale of the battlemat from 5' in the old campaign to 2.5' in the new campaign so he could get the undermanned party to fit into his (mostly obvious) ambush. It would have been fine if he'd included that in his 9 page pdf of new house rules or even started drawing it that way at the beginning but nope, only mentioned when it was time to squeeze everyone into the killzone. He never grasped that it was the change and not the scale that confused/irritated the dickens out of us.
Some Calvinball is more equal than others, though - Mike wouldn't have had the Melvin cheat-character problem, period. Mike did good on-the-fly improv. Mike made it fun.
Mike did rewrite my character sheet a little when I started - partly to my advantage - but he never just made it easy; he knew how to tell a story.
Some Calvinball is more equal than others, though - Mike wouldn't have had the Melvin cheat-character problem, period. Mike did good on-the-fly improv. Mike made it fun.I would trust my current DM more with Calvinball as he's more flexible with his rulings and, thus far, more concerned as to whether the story is good rather than if the combat is too easy/too difficult. Which I feel would make him less likely to abuse Calvinball. (His story is great thus far and I've had concerns about my frontliners HP in 2 of 4 sessions).
Mike did rewrite my character sheet a little when I started - partly to my advantage - but he never just made it easy; he knew how to tell a story.
Oh, there were some player issues that he did find off-putting. Meta-gaming was one. We would want to burn every troll with fire every time. He would complain that was meta-gaming because there was nothing in his world that said they were vulnerable to fire. Although we were playing standard Greyhawk setting with no other background given. He also complained about rules lawyering but I'm not sure who that might have been directed at, unless it was me. I like my rules defined and consistently applied.I'm torn on fudged victory, on the one hand I like character continuity (I tend to put a lot into backstory and coming up with new material is difficult at times) and on the other bad tactics, bad decisions, and bad rolls should have potentially dire consequences. Some rolls I'm ok with not making, such as the thieves checks for traps and avoiding the meta-gaming that can occur with those. But mostly if I'm not doing the rolls, then it's only a step or three away from being a multiplayer choose your own adventure book.
My previous DM got more adversarial over the years and started to go a little Calvinball at the end, changing the scale of the battlemat from 5' in the old campaign to 2.5' in the new campaign so he could get the undermanned party to fit into his (mostly obvious) ambush. It would have been fine if he'd included that in his 9 page pdf of new house rules or even started drawing it that way at the beginning but nope, only mentioned when it was time to squeeze everyone into the killzone. He never grasped that it was the change and not the scale that confused/irritated the dickens out of us.
DM made one good call, but several key mistakes, barring player behavior issues which may have made him sour which was not mentioned.
I just had a conversation about the battlemat scale issue. It was a Dm complaining about a min-max Paladin just destroying stuff. The problem? Small play space that did not allow ranged enemies to shine. So, he went with a different scale. Instead of 1 square = 5 ft, 1 square = 10 feet. That way, you can have ranged ambushes that they can hopefully pelt the party before they come in with superior melee. Good call and gives PC archers a way to shine, too. No issues here.
But railroading is not very good. If you had scouts, they should have had rolls to detect it.
House Rules? All house rules should be approved by the players is the way I do it. That way if one of the house rules sucks, it isn't on me and we can state cases to reverse or keep it. That keeps down on drama. Of course, start game, I can go over minor house stuff. I, for one, don't use heavy handed botch rules. The PCs are heroes, not the Three Stooges hitting themselves, tripping, and breaking weapons 10 percent of the time. But anything major in the middle of the campaign without feedback isn't going to go over well.
Undermanned? You have henchmen and hirelings I would say level 5 maybe up to 10. There will be story reasons why you can not take them all the time (and agreed to meta reasons to keep down on book keeping - after all, NPCs have lives) but for a scenario where a lot do not show, it solves the problem of short staffed parties due to pesky real life. But, if you don't have this system as a DM, you need to tone it down or pull out another encounter. Bad choice.
Okay idea, bad presentation on top of being too rigid and heavy handed.
The dice look cool and feel good rattling in your hand before you roll - but I'm not in it for the dice - and we could trust Mike. He amply demonstrated that with superior gaming sessions over and over.Some Calvinball is more equal than others, though - Mike wouldn't have had the Melvin cheat-character problem, period. Mike did good on-the-fly improv. Mike made it fun.
Mike did rewrite my character sheet a little when I started - partly to my advantage - but he never just made it easy; he knew how to tell a story.
You have to do good improv. A situation I have going right now, is my players want a diplomacy/city building/trade pacts/resource management game. They aren't too keen on combat. I have gone 2 sessions without combat. Oh... I WANT combat!! But, if they want to play DnD SimCity, I will more than let them. The other things in the area have intrigues and such and infrastructure too. It's looking as if any real combat is going to be mass combat with armies and such, barring espionage games.
But, do I send hordes of crap out to kill the PC's units to ENFORCE a battlemat 3 combat per session style because I AM DM? No. This is the way the story is, and you know? It is kind of fun coming up with machinations and subplots of various petty nobles and trade merchants. I think a lot has to do with 5e and the way levels scale, too. In 4e down, a 10th level PC could kill squads of 1st levels. Here, a few squads of 1st level, equipped troops is a fearsome prospect even for a level 15. The numbers do not scale up high at all and stats and AC are capped somewhat.
And, BU... the only math is rolling a d20 and adding a number or adding and subtracting HP once char gen is done. Maybe adding up multiple dice for damage.
Just out of curiosity, what edition? If that was 4e, it would not have been as bad. 4th edition characters are about as powerful as 4th level characters in other editions vs pure 4e MM goblins. If we are talking 1e,2e,3e, or 5e... yeah. Poor MU if it was 2e or 3e.1e with 2e non-weapon proficiencies. There wasn't a time constraint other than wanting to end the goblins threat to the innocent farmers they were ravaging. This was the hook we were given, investigate the farmers and get paid. I'm not sure why we didn't wait to heal up my dog. Possibly a sense of fatalism had already set in, my fighter and the npc hauled out my dog, the cleric, and the MU from the previous session.
Sounds like 2e, though. 2e had zero level folks.
Thing about 2e and 2eishlike systems like 5e and Hackmaster are that low level characters are weak as heck. I usually level them to 2nd after the first session automatically, regardless of XP earned, just to make it easier on me and give them some sense of accomplishment. As a Dm, you have to be VERY careful. Hell, as PC you need to be very careful.
If I was a PC, I would have stayed in town and done diplo RP stuff or just let time pass unless going into the ambush was necessary or there was some kind of time constraint.
Or as DM, have a list of things in the area that are a bit less deadly that could be handled. Surely some farmer had some kind of rat problem in the grainery or a local street gang wanted some cat shaken down?
The dice look cool and feel good rattling in your hand before you roll - but I'm not in it for the dice - and we could trust Mike. He amply demonstrated that with superior gaming sessions over and over.I'm always prone to having my attention wander, the dice help provide interaction and anticipation I otherwise don't always maintain.
Lord, it's really a problem when someone gets bored and stops paying attention - especially if it's you...A decent measure of player engrossment in the present time involves counting the number of people that use electronic devices for other purposes while playing the game.
Yeah; if I started reading non-game material during a session, that was not a good sign...A lot of the issues I encountered with the fourth edition of Dugeons and Dragons revolved around the horrendous length of the combat encounters.
Wrath : Righteous; Progenitor Paladin 2
Wrath Righteous was a needlejet pilot shot down outside of Belly of the Whale by Believer anti-air units. His jet crashed in the
ocean. But fortune favored him. He found the husk of a dead Isle of the Deep and floated to shore. A Believing scout patrol
found him. He was ragged and on his last breath. But, Sergeant Swaggart took pity on him. After all, his great, great,
grandfather on Earth had been accused and near lost his ministry over sins. Perhaps Jesus died for the sins of all creatures. The
staff medic tended to his wounds.
Knowing his kind assumed him dead and would never come for him, Wrath took to absorbing Human culture and the teachings
of the Conclave Bible. Eventually, becoming the first alien to accept Jesus. Then, strangely, miracles started happening. One of
the team had a leg infested with psionic parasites. Wrath placed his claw upon the man and he was healed! Aferwards, Wrath
would accompany the crew on scout missions. Guarding the coast against the infidels.
Unfortunately, due to stigma of being a Progenitor, he can never leave the bunker where 21st Sword of God division is. But, to
the soldiers, he is part of the team and a Child of God.Code: [Select]STR 14 (+2)
DEX 14 (+2)
CON 16 (+3)
INT 12 (+1)
WIS 14 (+2)
CHA 12 (+1)
Good Saves WIS + 4; CHA +3
HP 21
AC 16 (+1 dex, +4 3res armor, +1 natural). Resist psionic, ballistic (3res armor. Half damage from psionic or ballistic damage)
Skills: Religion +4, Survival +4, Intimidation + 3, Athletics + 4.
Tool Proficiency : Needlejet Pilot (Progenitor controls)
Tool Proficiency : Rover Driver (Human Controls)
-> Divine Sense: Can detect celestials, fiends, or undead (CHA mod) 1 time a day if not in total cover. Can also detect
Hallow/Desecration.
-> Lay on Hands; Heal by touch up to (5 x paladin level) Hit Points per day. 10.
-> Fighting Style: Rifles. +2 to ranged attacks with rifles.
-> Divine Smite. Expend Paladin Spell Slot to do extra 2d8 on a melee attack.
-> Progenitor resonance. Resonant field creates a personal force field if concentrated on. +4 AC as long as concentration kept.
Damage can force Progenitor to do a CON check or drop resonance.
Attack: Human Missile Rifle +4; 3d6+2 explosive.
Attack: Claw +4; 1d6+2 bludgeoning.
Spells
1st (2) : Cure Wounds (1d8); Detect Psionics
[/quote]
-
Ooh. Do something about that box wrecking the page width, willya? A few carriage returns, or using quote instead of code, will work wonders.
And yeah; he was wrong wrong wrong eight times over by the time I got out of there without breaking him to pieces, but I still should have kept my spazzbo mouth shut.
Yes; there was no right answer.
I think I may have been wrong not to hurt him kinda bad when I could, if only to break him of cold-cocking people he couldn't take - but that's a whole 'nother thing, and being merciful probably saved me some aggravation.
Okay; I have to fix this page width; enough is enough.
It occurs to me, finally, that blogs would be better suited to include into my RSS feeder (Newsblur) and not bookmarked like fora.
It occurs to me, finally, that blogs would be better suited to include into my RSS feeder (Newsblur) and not bookmarked like fora.
I probably need to set things like that up, too.
Somebody not pimpin' as hard as he could: https://frugaldm.wordpress.com/2015/09/30/high-level-newbie-hack-commoner-levels/
-Not a word on Facebook for several blog posts now, either.