#ttrpg stuff

[kazylgon]

I think a lot of this comes down to the misconception that a ttrpg needs the DM to concoct an epic, pre-planned story. This entry from The Alexandrian about "abused gamer syndrome" explains it better than I could.

Division/hostility between player and DM comes from railroading and denial of player agency, so the player starts acting out to claw some of that agency back which is inevitably going to drive a wedge between player and DM.

And I really think new DMs are set up for failure in this regard, because if you're getting into the hobby (likely with 5e) because of a big name actual play (or even just by looking at the prevailing expectations present in a lot of 5e culture) then it's going to be really easy for you to make the mistake that you need a fancy, pre-planned narrative, and inadvertently fall into the railroading trap and creating that divide because of it.

There's this way of talking about tabletop games that just seems to imagine DMs as someone who isn't playing a game with their friends who they know and like and I don't get it. Are people hiring DMs in enough numbers that this is normal?

Or is the community just so brainrotted the fundamental relationship between players and dms has to be what, aersolised

[drakeanddice]

Haunted by a fantasy world where "adventurer" is handled in the same way as "assassin" in John Wick. An ifykyk secondary economy running on gold coins where everyone knows each other but no one acknowledges the elephant in the room because we have manners about our weird-ass line of deadly desperate dangerous work.

Rolling into town, looking immaculate. Checking into the Inn. Not an inn, or the coaching house, or the traveler's hostel. The Inn. The one that takes my ridiculous oversized coin and says that my room is ready, and will I need to visit the Smith today? Perhaps a meeting with the Vintner? Shall I send up the Gourmand?

"Good afternoon, Master Whicke," the Smith says, putting aside the barrel scraper he's been working on to flip a switch beside the forge. Racks of tenpenny nails and trowels and hammers fold back to reveal the glittering points and edges of a score of swords and axes and spearpoints lit with the flicker of finely-tuned enchantments. "Shall we tour what's new?"

"What sort of occasion are we hosting, Master Whicke?" The Vintner asks, pocketing the coin with a sigh. "A funeral," you say.

"Ah, well perhaps something light to start, then," she says selecting a straight-walled flask that glitters with contained starlight, proof against the touch of the undead. " And something for remembrance," she plucks a small crock of something evil-smelling and phosphorescent. "And then something to really bring down the house." She gingerly selects a double ampoule of energetic looking jellies.

The Gourmand carefully runs his knife through the salted flank of a cockatrice with a pursing of the lips. "So many neglect trail rations, Master Whicke, and it is their shame. Paired with goldenwheat pancakes and carrion honey, a mouthful of cockatrice--properly seasoned of course--will keep the mummy rot at bay, even post-exposure. I have been given to indicate by the Management that your current escapade may make such information useful to you. I will of course wrap your purchases exceedingly carefully. Rot will be your constant companion in the Black Pyramid."

There's something here.

[heybiji]

His hand hovers over the hilt of his dagger...

Dandelion was about to kill an enemy drow who was tied down and defenseless, but hearing his party member's voice caught his attention first. Dande's also in a bit of a confused haze, having cast a new spell by accident (Hunger of Hadar) that plunged the enemies and himself into a freezing, eldritch darkness full of whispers, acid tongues, and the grazing of teeth, which reminded him a lot of being home. He may have thought it was his mother...

[tlwebb]

[drakeanddice]

Pinpanar9 is an unsung hero, leaving a simple and understated "good" on all manner of indie games. Every creator that I know who has an itch.io counts it as a mark of pride to have a "good" from pinpanar9.

I've got a couple, and every time I get one, I feel a little more like I've made it. That I'm a real designer.

And then I got this.

This is what I imagine an Ennie win feels like. It can't feel any better.

just noticed the funniest review of one of my games. Thank you for your succinct summary

[glorbs-dominion]

[from-the-notebooks]

Do other ttrpg designers do historical research when making historical games?

I have to assume the GURPS splat books had some behind them but I'm just wondering if its weird that I plan to have a bibliography for my cute little Fate hack? I just want it to be accurate as much as possible.

[arsene-inc]

Implied system

I had a thought (I know it happens, it's bad)

What about a game that is only character creation ? I don't mean a game where character creation is the goal, is the whole game. I mean a game with a setting and a system, but only the character creation is written.

Implied setting exist, get ready for implied system. The player(s) can can only infer the rules and the setting from the crumbs in the character creation and on the character sheet. How they act on these crumbs is up to them.

Does it already exist ? or should we experiment ?

[feuer-in-soho]

Harrison Armory mainly feeds their stormtroopers with nutrient paste. Coming in various flavors, they are often used as a base for sauces for more filling meals.

[haveyouplayedthisttrpg]

Moving out is finished. The ttrpg books are there. It doesn't matter if the fridge is empty, there's no gaz, the TCG decks are still at the last place, all the things missing. The important is here. Just behind the computer desk for easy access.

No what really matter is the number of holes on the shelves that need to be filled with more games.

[asquared-ohgodnotthehorrors]

Someone tell me about fun Lancer builds please

[impernious]

At the Gates

Is live on Backerkit now! Please go check it out. When you pledge to the campaign, you gain access to manuscript previews that we release throughout the campaign. The manuscript is fully written. We fund to get money for a traditional print run. So this game is getting made one way or another, but with your help, we can get the book into distribution, get gorgeous deluxe editions printed, and cool swag made!

You also get to see beautiful art by Mel Uran. And if you fund this, we can also afford some of the other amazing artists that I've been eyeballing who I know can knock out the style of art this game deserves.

Also, also, I will love you forever!

[nat-1-whump]

I'm so sad that nobody in my TTRPG group is into whump, because I imagine playing with other whump fans is a drastically different experience. Imagine...

GM: "Okay, your character takes 7 slashing damage, and---"

Player 1: "Ooh, ooh! Can I hide the injury from the other party members until it gets infected, forcing me to open up and be vulnerable around them?"

GM: "Oh, of course! Actually, just to make it whumpier, let's have it do 14 slash damage."

Player 1: "Yay! I clutch the wound and stifle a groan as I stumble forward, desperately gripping my sword."

Player 2: "Hehe, I really want my character to be there when yours collapses from the pain. It's gonna be so good..."

Player 3: "I'll be the tough caretaker who acts like they don't care at first but slowly reveals that they actually do! They'll be so devastated when they find out they let their friend get hurt, the guilt will eat them alive. <3"

Player 4, the only one who doesn't know what whump is: "Um, guys? I think the dragon is still, um... It's still wrecking the village. Maybe we should---"

GM: "Hold on, I wanna see where they're going with this. I need inspo for my fic."

[drakeanddice]

Some DM Somewhere: “Okay, just prepping for my D&D game. I’ve got my adventure prepped with all of the encounters. I’ve got all the battle maps and tokens that we’re going to need. I’ve got my musical ambience set up and the playlists sorted by the approximate time they’ll be needed. I think that’s…”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake.”

Someone is to blame for this weird thing where tabletop games are expected to be multimedia experiences and I badly need to kick their ass.

Writing an article about how DM Burnout is a D&D problem. Stand by.

[heybiji]

various npc doodles for the MASKS: A New Generation game i'm runningtt

[tlwebb]