Got my dice rings in today.
Links for finding other D&D/Gaming players
RPG Game Finder (Can also use this to find Skype Groups)
GamerSeekingGamer (Tabletop and other games)
Roll20.net (For finding online tabletop gamers)
List of Gaming Conventions in USA (May not be complete)
Use Google Maps and search for RPG/Gaming/Comic store in your area.
Skype RPG (Online resource for learning more about gaming over skype with tools and such. Also links to other Pages/Forums for people looking for games.)
In Dungeons and Dragons…
The Ring of Protection, right?
What if there was a ring that gave you +40 to your AC but you could wear no other clothing with it?
Cat running D&D. Dungeons, Dragons, & Philosophy
I made a mini documentary for my final philosophy project! :D
Y’all should tell me what you think of it!
Not sure what your rubric was, but I liked it. It’s a decent enough introduction to D&D. What system do you use? 3.5?
“The D&D alignment system has been the same since conception up through 4th edition.”
FALSE.
In the earliest days of D&D there were only Law, Chaos, and Neutral.
Alignment has caused more arguments through the years than anything else in the history of D&D.
If only.
Things tend to be more like baby-sitting than benevolent destruction.I’ve never gotten the notion of ‘the DM is the players’ enemy’. Most players seal their own doom with terrible decisions, anyway. But I love more to see them win. I’d rather have them come out victorious out of all the shit I throw at them.
thedoesnotcarebear said: Critical Hit, Dungeons and Randomness, Starcast, The instance, critical hit’s munchkin spin off.
Thanks for the suggestions.
I may listen to Critical Hit, but the others really hold no interest for me.
D&R looks like an AP cast, which Im not really into.
Starcast and The Instance are video games which I dont play.
I guess a good example of what I am looking for would be along the lines of The Jank Cast or Fear the Boot. Podcasts that discuss games and game theory without sticking to a specific game or genre.
The Old School GM
I really must be an old outdated game master since I really don’t care for miniatures, or dice apps on an iPhone and also having laptops open around the game table. I prefer to have books, dice, graph paper and imagination, a whole whack of imagination.
Maybe I’m just an ol’ curmudgeon, a dinosaur in the new innovated role playing world. I prefer narrative storytelling structure and using the theatre of the mind’s eye. Since, I can see it clearly unfold in my head. If I’m in the mood for miniatures; I play Battletech or 40k.
When I run Role Playing Games I like to think that it is a social interaction with other people, sitting around the table guzzling back drinks, munching on snacks and telling a tale and improvisation.
To go with the flow of the story and let the dice fall as they may; sure an argument may come up that “I wasn’t there, I was here” but GM’s word is the law and what is done is done. But, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
I had an old school DM who was like that, but without even the graph paper. Everything was Theater of the Imagination. It was kinda tough to play sometimes, but it was certainly a neat experience.
I grew up like this. And when we play Warhammer Fantasy we mostly still do. There are tokens instead of minis but no battle mat, and and the tokens are only for relative distance.
That being said, there is something fun about Minis. They are tactile, like dice. They are a part of the game you can hold and connect with. Also, since the original D&D games came out of Wargaming, I wouldnt call minis “newfangled” or anything like that. Certainly not in the same area as dice apps.
If “Narrative storytelling” is really what appeals to you then older games should hold little to no value to you whatsoever. Any “Older” game, Mainly D&D but Palladium games like Rifts and White Wolf games have been around for some time now. These games all have rules upon rules upon rules for players to learn and min max to death. Further they learn the rules to argue to their advantage. This can, and has, bogged down many games over the decades.
But “the GM’s word is Law” you say.
Think of the GM’s rule like that of a Ship Captain. Specifically a Pirate Ship, because players are like that. Your word may be Law, but if enough of your players are unhappy then they form a mutiny. Someone else steps up and says they will run the ship better.
Gaming and is a game of give and take.
Give some time to listen to podcasts like The Walking Eye or The Jank Cast. Both of them talk about some of the newer games out there, “Indie Games” if you will and about shared Narrative Storytelling. Also there is much to be said for choosing a system that works to tell the kind of story you want, as opposed to shoving everything into a D20 roll. Bear Swarm! podcast talks about this from time to time.
I suggest you look into games like Dungeon World or the game it is based on, Apocalypse World. Or a game like Dread where you use Jenga Tower as the mechanic. Prime Time Adventures is what many consider the “Gateway Game” to indie story games.
Or you could just run a game of Lady Blackbird. It’s free.
ankhanu replied to your post: I’m trying to get my girlfriend into roleplaying games, what is a good one to start her off on? But is also possible for minimum of 2 people.
The mechanics/system are, I think, less important than figuring out what SETTING she’d find compelling. It doesn’t matter how easy or good the game is if the setting doesn’t grab her.
There is some truth to this, but thats why D&D is a good standby as it is pretty “Generic Fantasy.” Of course if the GF in question prefers Space Marines, a game like Dark Heresy or 3:16 would be more appropriate.
Diving into the world of RPGs can be intimidating at best. Ive had so many people ask me where to begin because there is so much out there. The “Older” generation of gamers, age 30-40 right now, grew up on probably one of three games. D&D (in one edition or other) White Wold Games, or a Palladium game. They are all fairly easy to learn. They also give you a solid foundation to move into more abstract games if desired.
One could just jump in if they wanted, sure. IM just thinking of the path of least resistance. If the GF likes Old West games with a flavor of Religion, Dogs in the Vineyard is your game. But then you gotta find a copy. D&D can be found at Barnes and Noble. Not everyone has access to awesome FLGS’ that carry indie games.
So yeah. If the Girlfriend doesnt like fantasy, get rid of her. Then find a new one who does and teach her D&D.
I know that gaming feel, bro.
Where can I get that barbarian babe miniature? Where can I date that barbarian babe miniature?
Meetup.com
Pathfinder Society
D&D Encounters
There are probably more I dont know about.
Of course playing D&D requires you to actually talk to people. Just a heads up.
Issue with smart D&D players
See, I’ve bitched about having unintelligent players before, but the problem with smart players is that they’re… smart.
There was a battle aboard a ship this week, and three sea serpents rose up from the waters. They were all snakelike and hissing, and biting, and my girlfriend’s just like “I bet that’s a hydra. Why else would they be so close together. Can I see their tails, or are they attached?”
The creature still got decapitated a few times, but the surprise had been lost.
Drat.
At least there was a fairly cool moment when the druid turned into an orca and (with the help of her pet ape) ripped off all of the hydra heads and then burned all the stumps with a fire spell.
This is also the problem with players who have read all of the Monster Manuals.
“Oh? This monster? His weakness is X”
“But your character doesnt know that.”
“Then I ‘experiment’ by hitting it with X.”
“…..”
