TRPG General Chat

Hot RPG Questions

00:32

3

Q: Does Armorer's Armor Modifications increase your Maximum number of infusions?

So I was reading the Armorer's 9th level feature and came across this text In addition, the maximum number of items you can infuse at once increases by 2, but those extra items must be part of your Arcane Armor. I didn't remember reading about a limit to the number of items you can infuse at on...

bobble

03:17

Since my family is rewatching the original trilogy + Rogue One, my dad took the opportunity to tell us the story, again, about how my mom fell asleep and missed the "I am your father" scene on her first go-around.

Hot RPG Questions

03:49

5

Q: Can you make and multi purpose elemental resistance armor using only wool and copper? And how much time and money would it cost?

For context One of my players is playing for the first time and has some problems with magic and how versatile it is, therefore he is attempting to make an armor to resist fire, lightning, acid and cold. Of course, he is not using any magic. He is a bit more knowledgeable than me in how physics...

dnd-5e damage-resistance

AncientSwordRage

07:26

@bobble that's a good story

Hot RPG Questions

6

Q: How does fighting underwater increase the CR of combat

I am in the process of designing an encounter in which a party of 8 level 3 players will fight a group of Chuul. The CR calculation shows that 3 Chuul will cause a hard encounter, but I intend that the battle have an underwater element. How does fighting underwater increase the CR of a battle?

dnd-5e combat underwater

AncientSwordRage

09:32

@HotRPGQuestions three excellent answers

SmokeDetector

10:37

[ SmokeDetector | MS ] Pattern-matching website in answer, potentially bad keyword in answer (78): How to hire freelance writers for my self-published RPG who will adhere to my canon? by jason lava on rpg.SE (@Rubiksmoose @ThomasMarkov)

Thomas Markov

10:54

We need another spam flag there.

AncientSwordRage

@ThomasMarkov I'm too late

ACuriousMind

I sniped it :P

AncientSwordRage

@ACuriousMind noice

Thomas Markov

@Akixkisu I’m having trouble understanding how you could think the advantage question should be open, but this question should be closed. It describes an actual scenario at the table and asks a question that is addressed directly in the rules. But a question giving no situational context or references to any rules that are confusing is just fine?

Someone_Evil

11:22

@ThomasMarkov Going by the comments I'd assume it's concern over what is actually to be included in the scenario (is it all underwater, from underwater onto land, etc.). I'm not sure it'd really affect the answer much, but there's a strong general desire to get all details on the table

While we're on the topic, what is about this question that you (and others) see that I don't? It would be helpful to get it explained at the very least.

Thomas Markov

@Someone_Evil looked like an open ended idea question to me.

Someone_Evil

It's asking for in-system ways to achieve an in-system defined thing, no? I can see how it might devolve, but that's true for a lot of questions but that doesn't mean they will

I'm obviously coming at with a bias, having answered

Thomas Markov

@Someone_Evil yeah, you’re right. We should have given it a chance. Voted to reopen.

NautArch

12:05

@Someone_Evil Yes, but what are the differentiators for deciding what is better than another?

Someone_Evil

@NautArch How readily available etc. it is to achieve the end? How good and useful a solution it is?

NautArch

@Someone_Evil I dunno...that's up to OP to tell us, right?

I mean, that could be, but a clear understanding of what makes one answer better than another is still needed.

I do think the underwater question should be reopened.

I'm not clear on what's missing there.

Thomas Markov

If someone knows french, maybe they can tell us if this question makes more sense if you know french?

Someone_Evil

@NautArch I think least cumbersome solution to the end should be takeable as a general better, but if that addition is what's sought, it would lovely to get it requested so the querent knows to add it

NautArch

@Someone_Evil ANd how does one decide what's 'least cumbersome' for an individual or individual table? The question itself lists several options and they are 'reasons' for not doing them, but they technically are still viable. More options can continue to come in, and now we've just got a list of options.

And if your answer just 'happens' to fit unknown criteria, that still isn't helpful for others wanting to answer and submit the best answer they can rather than just an idea.

@ThomasMarkov What hashtag do I use on facebook when posting player quotes for GM'd RPGs.

@KorvinStarmast Methinks we're doing Forge. Happy to see the notes!

I can set it in spine of the world and incorporate icewind dale stuff.

Someone_Evil

12:23

The concern they're particularly going at in their examples is consistency, specifically they the teleportation methods risk spending (valuable) resources with downsides and/or a risk of not getting you out at all.

Thomas Markov

Dungeons & Dragons to Announce New Book on Friday

Someone_Evil

To be clear, it's totally fair to want to see this added. When it is and isn't needed as additions is a judgement thing. But I would love to see it requested (in some form at least) rather than the question just being closed.

Thomas Markov

Looks like the internet suspects a new monster book

NautArch

@ThomasMarkov moar monsters!!

AncientSwordRage

13:09

@ThomasMarkov NautArch's Novel of Nasties

Markov's Manual of Malcontents

Someone_Evils Enchiridion of Evil-Doers

Thomas Markov

@AncientSwordRage Someone Evil's Compendium of Evil Someones

3

AncientSwordRage

@ThomasMarkov perfection_meme.jpg

Thomas Markov

14:26

What do we think of this question?

AncientSwordRage

Really not sure where we sit on those types of question

NautArch

Downvote and move on?

It's a "can someone please do this work for me" question.

AncientSwordRage

@NautArch aren't a lot of questions that?

Can you please do that thingy, where everyone can contribute to the answer? like make it a wiki? — Sam Lacrumb 2 mins ago

is not promising though

NautArch

@AncientSwordRage Questions that are purely legwork (like this), though, are a bit different.

This is a list question, but it's a defined list.

We let those go (although, I"d generally prefer we don't, but alas...)

AncientSwordRage

@NautArch This could be a very short list

NautArch

14:40

@AncientSwordRage exactly, it's pretty defined.

I've voted to delete the answer.

AncientSwordRage

@NautArch And I've voted to undelete the question...

Thomas Markov

@AncientSwordRage yeah, I was almost done writing my answer lol

The answer is "No"

NautArch

@AncientSwordRage baby, it's back

I do not think I'd allow "wall" spells to be cast on vertical surfaces.

AncientSwordRage

woop

good answer

does the Q need tidying up? I was tempted to remove the 'do the work for me' text, which is basically the last paragraph

Thomas Markov

15:03

2 downvotes already on my answer. Do people just not like it when the answer is no?

AncientSwordRage

@ThomasMarkov I think some people use them to dissuade people from answering bad questions

Upper_Case

@ThomasMarkov It could be literally anything, and it's probably best not to sweat them unless they get to 5+

I caught two downvotes on an answer that's literally looking something up in the DMG, and then applying the suggested math correctly. Who knows why?

bobble

There are two downvotes on the announcement of Markdown tables

AncientSwordRage

15:23

@bobble that's madness and/or sparta

Medix2

15:50

@NautArch Feels like just another list-answered question to me, where all the answers are equally valid

Thomas Markov

@Upper_Case someone flagged it VLQ lol

NautArch

I think we need to roll back OP's edit

TheDragonOfFlame

Morning

NautArch

howdy howdy!@

@Akixkisu You okay if I remove that "Dm approved" line again? it was added after THomas' answer.

Medix2

16:07

FWIW, I think it should be removed

NautArch

ugh, rollback war.

i'm stepping out and flagging

Upper_Case

@ThomasMarkov That makes even less sense than a drive-by downvote...

Someone_Evil

@ThomasMarkov Uhm... it was flagged NAA (which feeds to the same queue), and I'd say because of the change in the Q

I wouldn't worry about it

Thomas Markov

Ah, I see.

No attempt to leave a comment suggesting I modify the answer to fit the new revision's framing. Just straight to flagging. Real nice.

NautArch

It may have gotten that flag after the question changed.

which is exactly what S_E just said

yeah, that's the ticket.

Thomas Markov

16:24

In some sense, even with the change, the answer is still the same.

Someone_Evil

If you can't find a good way to comment, just voting/flagging is better

NautArch

Can probably do a comment cleanup, though.

Thomas Markov

There is no feature that gives the player agency in obtaining these features.

NautArch

And while it's obvious. Just because you're done with PT doesn't mean you don't do PT at home. Argh, me neck.

Thomas Markov

"The DM gives you one" is the only way to get one.

Someone_Evil

16:25

@NautArch Yup, agreed

@ThomasMarkov But there are a bunch places where game material suggests the DM give one. The dragonmark is one

NautArch

Would a more helpful question be "how do I ask my DM for a boon?"

Someone_Evil

@NautArch Very, very nicely

Thomas Markov

@Someone_Evil Yeah, but then its a "read the [20] book[s] to me" question.

Medix2

@ThomasMarkov Which we have a lot of

Thomas Markov

@NautArch Can I have a boon?

NautArch

16:27

@ThomasMarkov No.

See how easy that was?

Thomas Markov

Darn. Game will still be fun tho.

NautArch

But i was handing out chwinga gifts like candy for a bit.

MikeQ

@ThomasMarkov Yes. Now there are multiple conflicting answers and thus the question is too broad.

Someone_Evil

@ThomasMarkov Yes, but only High Magic and you lose it once you hit 17th

Thomas Markov

@Someone_Evil @NautArch Can S_E be my new DM?

Medix2

16:29

@Someone_Evil I will find a way to make that useful

Thomas Markov

> provided that you already have one.

forgot about this part.

Cooper

@Someone_Evil Very very nicely, and potentially with an offering of a preferred snack.

NautArch

@ThomasMarkov Sure!

Thomas Markov

Havent voted to delete this answer yet, not sure if it should be deleted, or if downvotes are more informative.

Medix2

@ThomasMarkov I don't know enough about law to know if it is unsupported anymore. It would be baffling to me if you can legally make subclasses for all the other classes but making one for Artificer is illegal. But that would be far from the first time that laws have baffled me

Thomas Markov

16:39

Also, is the giant picture of a duck really necessary?

Cooper

@ThomasMarkov I think it might be helpful to have an example of a way that people commonly think it works? I mean, I was inclined to agree with it until I remembered that I've got a book that's exactly what the querent wants to publish sitting on my shelf at home.

Someone_Evil

@Medix2 I think the idea there is that the SRD/OGL allows you to make subclasses for the other classes

AncientSwordRage

@ThomasMarkov no

however I'm preeeety confident Dale M is an actual lawyer or at least knowledgable about legal matters

Thomas Markov

@AncientSwordRage He's a mediator.

Medix2

He is a mod on law stack, isn't he?

Thomas Markov

16:41

He helps people resolve disputes outside of court

Medix2

@Cooper I know I would expect Mercer works to get special treatment from WotC

Cooper

@Medix2 I'm really of two minds about it-- on the one hand, I expect they wouldn't want to annoy him, on the other, I don't think he'd want to step on their toes at all

AncientSwordRage

@ThomasMarkov ah right, so still legal-work adjacent

remove the duck image and it's not a bad answer

Thomas Markov

I suspect CR's lawyers called WotC's lawyers and looked over everything before they published.

@AncientSwordRage I shrank the duck.

AncientSwordRage

Ahem, "Honey, I shrank the duck."

Medix2

16:43

@AncientSwordRage I'm pretty sure the duck is actually very important to the answer

It gets his point across very well

Cooper

@ThomasMarkov Right, that was sort of the main point I was going for-- that you can do this, it has been done, but it was done by a company with a heck of a lot of resources and connections that would allow them to make sure they did it right

AncientSwordRage

@Medix2 I guess, but I do know what a duck looks like

Akixkisu

@NautArch I have no stake. I think the edit that I made that revises yours would be best, but looks like you are now in a rollback deadlock.

Medix2

I definitely think it does the job of "You can see that this "chicken" is a duck just as plainly as WotC will see that your obfuscation is an Artificer"

NautArch

@Akixkisu It seems like they're okay with the last rollback. I think.

Medix2

16:47

@AncientSwordRage Excellent comment there though

AncientSwordRage

@Medix2 thanks

Thomas Markov

CR's Taldorei book also had a WotC writer, James Haeck. He's listed as a coauthor with Mercer, and was also a lead author on Dragonheist and Avernus.

And the title page has this interesting disclaimer:

> References to other copyrighted material in no way constitutes a challenge to the respective copyright holders of that material.

Cooper

It's definitely very carefully done to dodge specific bits of copyright, that's for sure.

NautArch

Helpful when you have your own in-house lawyers.

Thomas Markov

The very last page has their own license which is full of legalese

Cooper

16:54

But it's the only setting containing subclasses that I'm aware of that was published for profit, so I figured it was worth it to bring in as evidence for this being done before.

KorvinStarmast

@NautArch OK, I need to dig them up at home and summarize them. How soon do you need them? I may or may not have a time slot tonight for that consolidation.

NautArch

@KorvinStarmast Oh, i've got time. Probably at least a week.

if not two.

Still trying to figure out how often they are able to meet.

KorvinStarmast

@AncientSwordRage Korvin's Killer Kobolds

AncientSwordRage

@KorvinStarmast Nice, I like it

KorvinStarmast

@ThomasMarkov I think you should answer it. Wait, too late, you already did. 😊

@NautArch I would for fire and force

@NautArch "You ask with pizza" 😊🍕

@ThomasMarkov Sometimes, a picture is worth a thousand words. 😉

@AncientSwordRage Appendix C has Korvin's Krazy Kuo-Toa

AncientSwordRage

17:43

@KorvinStarmast there's something fishy about that

Thomas Markov

17:58

Are these dupes: here and here?

Akixkisu

@ThomasMarkov I don't think they compare. The latter has a specific unclear phrasing which is essential to the question. I agree with your answer, but it hinges on the specific reading of that phrasing. Close votes hinge on emphasising the lack of clarity.

Thomas Markov

@Akixkisu Gotcha. Thanks

KorvinStarmast

@AncientSwordRage Best splat book ever (which does not include broiled Kuo-Toa, but it should!)

Akixkisu

To read it like that is reasonable, and probably what they meant, but it is unclear.

Akixkisu

18:23

This question is complicated rpg.stackexchange.com/q/188895/44723 I don't think that it is off-topic, but questions like it maybe should be off-topic.

Thomas Markov

I dont really see anything stackable there.

Akixkisu

It is essentially a terminology question, but about terminology that we might not want to cover.

Upper_Case

@ThomasMarkov Mediators tend to be lawyers (with variation by region)

Akixkisu

But one could also read it as a shopping question, I suppose.

Thomas Markov

@Upper_Case I may be misrememebring, but I seem to recall a law.se question where he talked about his credentialing being different from a lawyer's.

Upper_Case

18:37

@Akixkisu I don't see any potentially on-topic question there...

Thomas Markov

In australia btw

Upper_Case

@ThomasMarkov Could be. I've only seen mediators who are lawyers (they've passed the bar, etc.), but that's pretty weak even for anecdotal evidence

But I'm thinking of something more like a physician who no longer practices and doesn't bother to renew their medical license. They're still doctors, they just aren't allowed to practice medicine at that time

And they can do medical-adjacent work in all kinds of capacities as long as they don't cross the legal line into medical practice

Akixkisu

Essentially the question asks about what the common rpg terminology for networking on a specific forum/platform is.

I think that is stackable, but it also might not be - you can also read it as a shopping question.

It should be closed either way.

I'm more curious about if that is a type of question that we potentially want to cover.

Upper_Case

It seems kind of unstable to me, and with huge potential for segmentation in reasonable answers

Someone_Evil

18:58

Can I borrow some eyeballs on this question. I wonder whether it dropped off the radar since the score keeps it off the home page

NautArch

@Someone_Evil Two years old and OP hasn't been around for a year? Let it be.

Someone_Evil

And apparently those edits didn't start a reopen review for some reason

NautArch

That's...a good thing, yes?

Someone_Evil

@NautArch Well, it was active today, see the timeline/revision history

NautArch

@Someone_Evil Yes, with minor grammatical changes.

Someone_Evil

19:00

@NautArch Edit to a suggested edit. The suggested edit is a lot of text at least

NautArch

Whoa. roll back.

That's a huge edit by not OP.

It is unclear if that's actually the question/scenario.

Upper_Case

Either way, it's an overly precise question

If it's no longer of interest to the querent (which seems to be the case), and it's unlikely to have much broader applicability (which also seems to be the case), leaving it be seems fine

NautArch

Yeah, rolling back is more effort and attention than it's worth.

Someone_Evil

The suggester is interested in the question being reopened, but it might be better for them to ask a new question

Upper_Case

Even then, I'm tempted to suggest that questions in the mode of "can I use this spell for an off-label purpose to trivialize x?" should be generally presumed to be opinion based and therefore off topic

Thomas Markov

19:11

@NautArch Ill fall on that grenade.

Someone_Evil

@Upper_Case That seems too sweeping. It should be possible for an answer to cover the feasibility of the suggestion, point to where it comes down to GM judgement and leave it there

Thomas Markov

@Upper_Case Similarly, I still think we should close all the wish questions as dupes.

Someone_Evil

@ThomasMarkov You wish we would?

Upper_Case

@Someone_Evil That's why I said tempted. It's worth closing questions that are too much that way in order to allow the one that aren't, rather than just banning them all

Thomas Markov

@Someone_Evil I do wish.

On a 1 or 2, I can never cast wish again:

1d6

Dice Service

19:17

•

Thomas Markov

We're good.

Medix2

19:32

The recent wall of fire question, is there any reason the wall is 8 feet in diameter and not smaller but with the outside dealing damage?

Thomas Markov

@Medix2 Why not make the diameter infinitesimally small

Medix2

But actually though, I'm pretty sure that's just better

Thomas Markov

For k the diameter of wall of fire, let 0<k<ε for any choice of ε>0.

Medix2

Well if the diameter is less than 10, then a single point creating a 10-foot circle of fire damage is literally better?

Thomas Markov

@Medix2 No, I think its strictly worse.

They take damage when they enter the walls area for the first time, so diameters smaller than 10 are strictly worse.

Medix2

19:37

Realizing it depends on how you let it go through the other side... Like is it only perpendicular to the tangent or not

Oh right... it deals damage at weird times, forgot about that

I kinda want to write an answer just going "circular wall of fire is a mess, let the GM decide"

Thomas Markov

Yeah, so diameter of 10 is strictly better than all diameters less than 10.

But the spell is so poorly written that I dont have the energy to explain it in an answer.

Medix2

Usually

The other problem is what edges can the fire damage extend through...

Thomas Markov

I'd probably rule that "The other side of the wall deals no damage" means your circle just keeps getting smaller and the damage doesnt extend outward.

Upper_Case

@Medix2 Derived from the material which is burning, how specifically it is "burning" and the physical density of the matter between the source of the burning reaction and any arbitrary point extending in a ray from that source

Thomas Markov

2 hours ago, by Thomas Markov

Are these dupes: here and here?

Medix2

19:42

I'd probably rule that I would go rewrite the spell entirely for what happens when used as a circle XD

Thomas Markov

This message didnt get any attention

@NautArch needs to pay attention, I took this spell with Bernie.

Medix2

Burny

Thomas Markov

@Medix2 Short for Everburn

Everburn Le Magnifique

The Kobold Wild Magic Sorcerer

Upper_Case

20:10

@ThomasMarkov These do seem to essentially be duplicates. The focuses of the questions are a bit different, but I don't see why answers would vary between them

Hot RPG Questions

2

Q: Does the Wall of Fire spell damage creatures above it?

The Wall of Fire spell describes its "damage zone" as: One side of the wall, selected by you when you cast this spell, deals 5d8 fire damage to each creature that ends its turn within 10 feet of that side or inside the wall. This question discusses whether this is to be understood as a general ...

dnd-5e spells area-of-effect 3d-space

KorvinStarmast

@ThomasMarkov Makes me nostalgic for the old days, as I first dipped my toes into the waters of answering questions ...

NautArch

20:31

Does this need to be rolled back again?

Thomas Markov

@NautArch Probably, because now the question doesnt even make sense.

NautArch

I'm not sure it actually changes it. Those rules aren't available to a player, so it's the same thing.

Thomas Markov

I left a comment asking for clarification.

NautArch

Not just that, but why would you use rules as a method of asking for something? I mean, the rules don't matter at that point, it's just the DM.

Thomas Markov

What do you think OP is really looking for here?

NautArch

20:36

I have no idea, honestly.

Thomas Markov

They mentioned CW, so they want a list of something.

NautArch

It would make much more sense if they were the DM.

Thomas Markov

Just a list of places where supernatural gifts are mentioned in some capacity?

NautArch

I am voting to reopen, though. I don't see that it needs to be closed.

But will also likely roll it back.

No need to confuse it, it was clear when they started.

Thomas Markov

At this point I wonder if we've crossed over from "solving a problem" to "I just want my question on the site for points". I really think my answer solves the problem they have with boons and blessings.

NautArch

20:42

I do say that I think it answers both the original question and other variations.

Oh wells.

Thomas Markov

I think I may have it nailed down:

> Are there any rules outside of Chapter 7 of the DMG which prompt the DM to give a player an Epic Boon or Supernatural Gift?

NautArch

/shrug?

Thomas Markov

I think that's an okay question tbh

Even for a list.

Upper_Case

It's probably the best distillation that keeps the question open, so that's something

NautArch

Although I don't think it is. That's a question asking about things that could prompt a DM.

User is asking how a player can ask

4 hours ago, by NautArch

Would a more helpful question be "how do I ask my DM for a boon?"

Which an answer would likely start with asking the DM if they have considered using Boons in the first place.

Upper_Case

20:47

I can see that angle, but it strikes me as a "what can I bring to my DM to get this" rather than "how can I ask my DM to grant this"

Someone_Evil

@NautArch Yeah, that suggestion would mean all the adventures which include such a reward (don't think there is for boons, but are with gifts) should be on the list no. And adventure books are not player facing at all

NautArch

@Upper_Case The former we can't answer. We don't know their DM.

What will work for one DM may not work for another.

Upper_Case

@NautArch I feel like we have plenty of "how can I approach [DM/Player] about X?" questions. Though their focuses may be different in a way that makes them more permissible

NautArch

@Upper_Case Yeah, I agree. This doesn't really seem like something we can help with as part of a Q&A. It's a discussion.

Someone_Evil

Mostly just thinking, we took "player facing" to mean "ways players can obtain without any DM special allowance", but could we accept there is such a thing as "player facing DM option"? Wild Magic Sorcerer's Wild Magic springs to mind as such

NautArch

20:50

@Someone_Evil This seems like us twisting to find a way to make this 'work', rather than figuring out what OP needs and then determining if it works.

Someone_Evil

@NautArch OP is trying to satiate their curiosity, but it seems maybe the interpretation of some terms got in their way

Thomas Markov

@Someone_Evil Other than Tides of Chaos handing the DM a roll on the table, there arent any DM options involved, I dont think.

NautArch

@ThomasMarkov Conjure X?

Thomas Markov

@NautArch I dont even know whats on the real table

Or your table

So I dont even know what Im getting ever lol

NautArch

@Someone_Evil Maybe? Just not clear to me. And I'm usually not one to guess what querent's mean.

@ThomasMarkov It's awesome.

Someone_Evil

20:53

@ThomasMarkov Uhmm... The DM gets an option every time you would roll for Wild Magic. As written, the DM says no on the listed options and your only 1st level subclass feature is advantage 1/LR

NautArch

You can thank Nitsua60

Thomas Markov

Oh wow, I didnt know it was always DM optional to roll on the table.

That's dumb.

Its WILD magic sorcerer, not occasionally mildly deviant magic sorcerer.

I think we blasted wild magic three times last game?

NautArch

@ThomasMarkov Roll wild magic.

Someone_Evil

> Once per turn, the DM can have you roll a d20 immediately after you cast a sorcerer spell of 1st level or higher.

NautArch

And it was a natural failure on all them. Didn't even have to make you roll on the table as you are losing control.

Thomas Markov

20:56

Also Bernie is currently a female.

NautArch

And a dragonborn still?

Thomas Markov

Water Genasi

NautArch

ah, yes

Someone_Evil

Yeah, I'd expect a DM to say roll the d20 every time. ToC is slightly different, but should also get yeses (unless there's a pacing or other reason not to) or the subclass becomes something of a limp fish

NautArch

We have the trigger for spell level and down. And at times, I'll just ask for rolls to reset the tides.

TheDragonOfFlame

21:05

Is this a main site q?
I am running a GURPS Space game for three players, one of whom is a 'silly player' who likes to make jokes and goof off, one of whom loves rules and number crunching, as well a storytelling, and one of whom I don't know a lot about but loves books. All three have very little rpg experience. The game is a sandbox, as they are space smugglers. My question is: how can I motivate them to move the game forward and.. do stuff?

Hot RPG Questions

4

Q: Combat Patrol and Charge

I have a level 10 Orc Fighter. Among other things, I have the Combat Patrol feat. As a full-round action, you may set up a combat patrol, increasing your threatened area by 5 feet for every 5 points of your base attack bonus. Until the beginning of your next turn, you may make attacks of opportu...

pathfinder-1e movement actions opportunity-attack charge

TheDragonOfFlame

If not I'd appreciate chat answers

Someone_Evil

@TheDragonOfFlame What issue(s) have you been running into?

That they don't do stuff presumably, rereading a touch. What have they been offered to engage with and what happened?

NautArch

I'm almost positive we have a Q&A and how to motivate players with different interests.

Someone_Evil

I'm pretty sure we have questions in a similar vein. The issue shouldn't be too tied to system

TheDragonOfFlame

21:08

@Someone_Evil we are only two sessions in, they started with a stolen ship. Then, once told that the ship they stole had an older thrust engine and could go only abou 1/10th the speed of a normal ship, they wanted to... steal a better one

vicky_molokh- unsilence Monica

@TheDragonOfFlame Strictly speaking, that's a system-agnostic question, not a GURPS one, but yeah, social dynamics questions are on-topic.

Though my kneejerk semi-answer is to talk to the players before the campaign.

TheDragonOfFlame

so I went along with it, and they ran away. I am kind of asking on a smaller scale, like how do I keep things moving during a session

NautArch

@TheDragonOfFlame That seems like a very reasonable plan.

TheDragonOfFlame

@vicky_molokh-unsilenceMonica yeah I know.

vicky_molokh- unsilence Monica

About motivations, about what they're interested in as players, about what they want to keep the party together.

NautArch

21:09

@TheDragonOfFlame What do you mean they ran away?

Someone_Evil

26

Q: I'm having difficulty getting my players to do stuff in a sandbox campaign

I've been a GM for about three years now. I've been GMing for this group for almost two years next month. I have an issue with motivating my players to take action. It's a sandbox campaign and they're currently going after the BBEG's old lairs to get clues on who he is and how he was defeated b...

pathfinder-1e problem-players sandbox plot-hooks

TheDragonOfFlame

@NautArch except that ships are very very very very very very expensive.. and well guarded

vicky_molokh- unsilence Monica

Sandboxes are not for everyone anyway.

Someone_Evil

Haven't read in detail, but the title makes it seem relevant

TheDragonOfFlame

@NautArch flew int orbit to get away from space cops

Upper_Case

21:11

@TheDragonOfFlame If the group is going to succeed with a goofball member, objectives ultimately need to be able to accommodate a significant degree of goofery

That tends to mean suspending disbelief more than normal

TheDragonOfFlame

@Upper_Case My idea for a first session was they choose a way to get money: shipping, smuggling, finding, scavenging, stealing..

I am new to sandboxes

And I suppose fairly new to gming

Upper_Case

My go-to is to offer a few enticing jobs from a few potential patrons, but leave wide open how they go about attempting the jobs. That way the goals are fixed but still allow for choice, and they can set their own pace and strategy

TheDragonOfFlame

@Someone_Evil should the system tag be removed?

Upper_Case

But if you want to allow goofball behavior (always a preference issue), my advice is to approach it sort of like an anime sci-fi action comedy

Helwar

hey chat, sorry to interrupt, is there a "looking for group" room?

TheDragonOfFlame

21:13

@Upper_Case but how would they know about jobs without researching it?

@Helwar kind of , not really

Only for gms, I think

Upper_Case

@TheDragonOfFlame Some patron finds them, recognizes some reason they might be an acceptable choice to offer work to, and then gives them enough detail to get underway immediately

Someone_Evil

@TheDragonOfFlame Nope, it's still about PF-1e, even the solution(s) may be transferrable

TheDragonOfFlame

You'd be better off on.. reddit, discord, mythweavers, depending what you are looking for

Helwar

@TheDragonOfFlame I did try reddit, i'm getting answers from there. But since I know some of the people here I figured I might extend it here, maybe someone is interested :)

TheDragonOfFlame

@Helwar there are a couple games being ran here? You could ask the GMs of those. Not sure who they are

Upper_Case

21:15

If the number-cruncher wants to do some research to plan the execution of the job, that can be part of a session's adventure. If the goofball wants to fumble around good-naturedly, there should be some way that their farcical behavior moves the plot forward (like stumbling into the top-secret location they need to infiltrate)

NautArch

@Helwar looking for a group to DM or a group to be a player?

Helwar

@TheDragonOfFlame (I'm looking for players, I'm the DM :P ) I know Nautarch is running one!

@NautArch I'm the dm, lost some players, ran out of friends to ask if they want to join xD

TheDragonOfFlame

The Back Room: Live Tabletop Games

A space for online tabletop gaming.

That is for game ads, I think

Upper_Case

There's nothing wrong with pretty direct signposts saying "Adventure and Story This Way!". Where sandboxes differ from more tightly-plotted campaigns is that you don't have to weave everything they do into a predetermined plotline

NautArch

@TheDragonOfFlame @Upper_Case has got the right idea here. With a sandbox, you're going to be needing to improvise quite a bit. You can have some options on the table for them as they 'explore', but you're also going to need to take their decisions and outcomes - both positive and negative - and make them fun.

Someone_Evil

21:17

@Helwar I think the volume of that has been low enough that we just handle it in here. Write a good pitch, and I wouldn't be surprised if it gets starred or pinned

Helwar

@Someone_Evil will try :)

NautArch

@TheDragonOfFlame Which also means incorporating aspects of what each of your players, and you, want. You'll also need to look out and make sure noone else's fun is being disturbed.

@Someone_Evil @Helwar Was just about to say to write something pithy and we can pin it.

TheDragonOfFlame

So offer clear choices, at least until they have enough experience to attempt to steer the plot.

Helwar

Will try to do a good pitch as soon as the people of reddit let me a couple of mins xD

TheDragonOfFlame

I am excited about these players, they have tentatively tried to roleplay!

Upper_Case

21:23

@TheDragonOfFlame That's the idea. They'll demonstrate what plotlines interest them most by the choices they make and then you can develop those further

NautArch

@TheDragonOfFlame Nice!

Upper_Case

@TheDragonOfFlame Awesome! My other piece of advice for sandbox campaigns is to have a small roster of organizations and NPCs that the characters can encounter. It really enhances the feeling of freedom in a real setting when you have well developed content immediately available for their choicse

They don't need to know that Jimmy the Fence always worked for whatever organization they take a job from...

If your players are motivated you'll find their groove in no time

Someone_Evil

Hmm... come to think of it, I think creating relevant factions is something that's still lacking in my worldbuilding/plot writing. That advice is probably good outside of sandboxes too

Cooper

@TheDragonOfFlame I like drawing on the narrative structure of Skyrim for sandboxes, personally! Set up a BBEG and some compelling reason that the players, specifically, should get involved, and then set everyone loose in the world, trusting that they'll come back around the big bad eventually

I've been a player in a campaign where "sandbox" actually just meant "the DM is not going to tell you what is happening", and I find the structure is helpful for keeping players vaguely moving in the same direction

But I also like to have various "hubs" (towns, planets, districts of a sufficiently large city(hello from your resident Sigil enthusiast)) that have their own unique characters/quests/factions, just to keep things organized

Upper_Case

@Someone_Evil I recommend looking through the faction system in Stars Without Number. The core rulebook is available for free, and I've been really impressed with all of the content-generating tools it offers

TheDragonOfFlame

21:31

@Upper_Case I have been meaning to check out SWN

Upper_Case

@TheDragonOfFlame I can't evangelize about it enough. I am really, really impressed with it, enough that I bought all of the expansion material for it. I just need a group to run through my short tester campaign

Someone_Evil

Link to Stars Without Number (free version) should anyone else like to check it out

MikeQ

It helps to ask the players what they want and expect in the sandbox world. Encourage them to take a role in the worldbuilding itself and to put forth ideas.
The idea that the GM needs to have a fully prepopulated world, without any input from the players, is functionally a myth and leads to burnout and clashing expectations.

5

Someone_Evil

@Upper_Case I assume applicable to factions in other settings too?

TheDragonOfFlame

@Someone_Evil I know there is worlds without numbers for fantasy

Upper_Case

21:35

@Someone_Evil The specific mechanics would need a lot of work to export (it's an entire system steeped in the science fiction setting), but the approach it describes to designing factions is very portable

Like, their motivations and the way they might act in the world

Someone_Evil

@Upper_Case I'll take a look. Thanks

Cooper

rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/188847/… Am I misreading this question, or is it basically just asking how to roleplay as "a moronic child"? Obviously the standards for roleplaying based on stats have changed over editions, but the 2e feeblemind doesn't actually specify what the stats are, so it seems like a case of "spells do what they say they do" to me, but I'm really not sure if that's applicable to 2e

Someone_Evil

Though I think it's mostly been a matter of me not thinking to include and incorporate them, I would also love for my players to pitch in things. Some of the "the DM decides everything" ideas are hard to shake

Upper_Case

I designed a tournament bracket approach to NPC factions once which guaranteed the PCs would come into contact with the groups. The things the PCs chose to do would influence how those groups fared, and essentially let them choose the main antagonist for each leg of the campaign

I never worked exactly the way I'd envisioned, but was good enough for most purposes

MikeQ

If you prepare anything, try to minimize your notes and material, and leave lots of space for player choice and player-driven stories. Don't prepare intricate if-then-else graphs. Be ready to abandon anything that's in your notes but hasn't been conveyed in-game to the players.

Upper_Case

21:47

@MikeQ This is great advice. It's a lot like with NPCs; knowing what they want and how they behave lets you determine what they would do in the moment, or what they would have done in order to make the situation the PCs are in an interesting one

KorvinStarmast

@Cooper how to roleplay like a moronic child is easy: Open a twitter account, start reading stuff, repeat what you read. Problem solved. 😛

Cooper

@KorvinStarmast XD Sounds like a plan to me! I've just been trying to muddle through this question, which spends a lot of space discussing the differences between feeblemind in 5e and 2e, but mostly seems to be asking about how to roleplay appropriately, which seems to be laid out pretty clearly in the spell text

TheDragonOfFlame

Off context, I had a greedy rogue wizard get feebleminded, then taken on a passenger ship, where everyone thought he was a child (halfling) and he played with the other small chidlren

Helwar

22:08

Ok, so, I'm looking for a couple of players for my game as 2 of them left, different expectations from the game. We are playing D&D 5e, in a homebrew world of mine. The gist of the world is that it was a sheltered world, but it's inhabitants eventually called for gods to help them. Gods came, "helped", and broke it. They stapled it together and bowed to not intervene again.

The "hook" is this: "Your character is travelling towards Levihn, capital of Vara'dros, a country part of the Free Marches alliance. The country is in a high state of tension right now. The invasion of the Sultanate of …

It's a more roleplay centric game... But not completely, otherwise there would be no reason to have any rules :) I like to strike a good balance of mechanics and roleplay, but sometimes there are sessions without combat, or sessions that are all exploration or all combat...

TheDragonOfFlame

Damn. WIsh I could play

Sounds fun

Helwar

oh, we're playing Fridays at 20:00 on GMT+2 (wich I think is CET too(

KorvinStarmast

23:00

@Helwar and is it VTT?

ACuriousMind

@Helwar the hook talks about the new character, but what about the other characters? is this a "you all meet ~~in a tavern~~ on the road" type of thing? Also, what tools (discord, roll20, d&d beyond, etc.) do you use to play?

KorvinStarmast

Are the PCs 'The Heroes' or is that someone else? What level is the starting level?

Helwar

23:20

@KorvinStarmast yeah! I use Foundry wich I host myself!

@KorvinStarmast "The Heroes" are not the PCs no :)

@ACuriousMind We play via Foundry, use Discord for video and voice

I do not exactly know how to make the characters meet yet. I expect to find something to tie you up

I did the "you meed in a tavern / on the road" with the others ^^ Might need to do something more explicit now though

The old characters are already in Levihn, so I guess I would do a session or two with the new ones, to get them up to speed, and then try to merge them over. Again, dunno exactly how. We'll find a way.

@KorvinStarmast Everyone will be at lvl 3 at the start (I keep missing questions to answer sorry ^^)

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