Topics

1

Role Playing Public Radio Podcast / "The RPGA does what?"

« on: November 02, 2011, 10:14:46 PM »

So I was perusing the internet last night and saw this:

http://spoonyexperiment.com/2011/11/01/counter-monkey-leaping-wizards/

Now I'm the type of GM that will give my players a brake if the dice are really failing them that night, but to out and out make it so that the players can't lose.... That's a big no no on my game mastering list.

Your thoughts?

2

General Chaos / I need help with some research

« on: April 20, 2011, 11:26:49 PM »

I am currently writing a research paper on collaborative storytelling vs. traditional storytelling, but I am having trouble finding good academic sources for the paper. I was hoping some of you fine folks might be able to point me in the right direction. So far, the articles I have found are a little lacking for what I am aiming for.

3

Role Playing Public Radio Podcast / Group Size and its Effect on Games

« on: February 13, 2011, 01:08:33 PM »

After listening to episode 53, I got to thinking about how group size impacts a game. Sure we all know how, large groups tend to be chaotic and unfocused. But what about the rest of the gambit? How does a group of 4 play differently then a group of 5? How does genre and mechanics influence a games size? Are the reasons why we look for a particular group size, based on habit, practicality, or something else entirely?

For example, the intimate one on one group. It’s an extremely practical group size if you think about it. You can easily find time to run a game when its just two people. The GM can incorporate more elements into the game, now that they only have one player to plan for. The atmosphere would not be as fragile as in larger groups, and the player could really immures them selves in the game. So why don’t we hear about this particular group? Is there something off putting about the idea of sitting alone with another person for 4 or more hours? Have years of gaming habit forced us not to even consider playing in a one on one game? It makes one wonder.

And that’s just one on one groups. What about two and three man groups? How do there numbers effect a game, if at all? This topic is kinda big, but also worth exploring much deeper. Your thoughts?

4

General Chaos / About Damn Time!

« on: September 02, 2010, 12:04:39 AM »

http://www.amctv.com/originals/The-Walking-Dead/

5

RPGs / New World Monster Manual

« on: April 13, 2010, 02:36:57 AM »

I’ve been running a 4thE New World D&D campaign for the past few months now. And in that time, I’ve made a few new monster’s using the guidelines given in the DMG #1. I think there pretty cool and wanted to hear other people’s thoughts. So have a gander.



Crab Man

Large Natural Beast
Level 5: Elite Brute
XP: 400

Initiative: +3
Senses: Perception +4; low-light vision
Hp: 180; Bloodied: 90
AC: 19
Fortitude: 18
Reflex: 13
Will: 16
Saving Throws: +2
Speed: 6, burrow 2, swim 5
Action Point: 1

Pincer (standard; at-will)
Reach 2; +8 vs. AC; 2d8+4 damage.

Double Pincer Attack (standard; at-will)
The crab man makes two pincer attacks. If both pincer attacks hit the same target, the target is grabbed (until escape). A grabbed target takes ongoing 5 damage from the crab man's mandibles until it escapes. The crab man cannot make any other attacks while grabbing a creature.

Foamy Spit (standard; recharges when first bloodied; encounter)
Ranged 5; +6 vs. Fortitude; the target is blinded and dazed (save ends both). Foamy spit does not provoke opportunity attacks and cannot be used underwater.

Alignment: Unaligned
Languages: -
Abilities: Str 18 (+6), Con 15 (+4), Dex 13 (+3), Int 5 (+0), Wis 14 (+4), Cha 9 (+1)

Crab Man Tactics
A crab man usually hides in the ground or water, waiting for potential pray to come within striking range. Once within, the crab man will attack with it's foamy spit and then spend an action point to follow with a double pincer attack.


Goblin Rockteer

Small Natural Humanoid
Level 11: Skirmisher
XP: 600

Initiative: +13
Senses: Perception +8; low-light vision
Hp: 112; Bloodied: 56
AC: 25
Fortitude: 21
Reflex: 24
Will: 20
Speed: 5 (clumsy) (see also goblin tactics), fly 8 (limit 70), overland flight 20

Rocket Slam (standard; at-will) - Weapon
+11 vs. AC; 1d8+6 damage (crit 2d8+14); If the attack hits, the goblin rocketeer makes a secondary attack against the same target. Secondary Attack: +9 vs. Reflex; the target is knocked prone.

Rocket Raid (standard; at-will) - Weapon
The goblin rocketeer shifts up to 8 squares and can move through occupied squares as it moves. It makes a Rocket Slam attack against any creature whose space it enters. The goblin rocketeer cannot attack a target more than once in this fashion, and it must end its movement in an unoccupied square.

Bombing Run (standard; encounter) - Fire, Force, Weapon
Area burst 3 within 10; +9 vs. Fortitude; 2d8+5 force damage plus 2d4 fire damage. Miss: Half damage.

Explosive End (immediate reaction, when hit with a critical) - Fire
Close burst 5; +9 vs. Reflex; 4d10+5 fire damage and ongoing 10 fire damage (save ends); the goblin rockteer drops to 0 hit points.

Goblin Tactics (immediate reaction, when missed by a melee attack on the ground; at-will)
The gobin shifts 1 square.

Alignment: Evil
Languages: Common, Goblin
Skills: Athletics +14, Intimidate +12, Stealth +13, Thievery +13
Abilities: Str 18 (+9), Con 16 (+8), Dex 23 (+11), Int 13 (+6), Wis 16 (+8), Cha 15 (+7)
Equipment: leather armor, rocket sled pack (war pick, heavy shield), 2 grenades

Goblin Rockteer Tactics
Goblin rockteer's try to hit there enemies first with there bombing run power to soften them up. They then follow up with there rocket raid power on choice targets.


If you got any comments or your own 4thE monsters, just post’em.

6

RPGs / How do you become a better Role Player?

« on: September 19, 2009, 05:29:10 AM »

I am not a good role player. It take's me a while to get a feel for the characters I play (around 3 to 4 sessions). And when I do get a feel for them, I often get tripped up in the moment.

I originally thought that I could pick up the skill through first hand experience but, I've been doing some weekly RPing for a year and a half now and it hasn't inproved much.

I really need the help guys and gals. My RPing is not only hurting the games I'm playing in but also the games I run.

Your advice would be greatly appreciated.