D&D V6 - Edition jokes don't really make sense anymore - Games

How do GMs here feel about mixing campaign settings? We're playing a vanilla 5e for the most part, but i'm playing a Changling. Basically in our setting they're a rare and reclusive underdark race, but i've known some GMs that would forbid that kind of thing.

[QUOTE=jackattack;52975512]How do GMs here feel about mixing campaign settings? We're playing a vanilla 5e for the most part, but i'm playing a Changling. Basically in our setting they're a rare and reclusive underdark race, but i've known some GMs that would forbid that kind of thing.[/QUOTE] As with anything like that, it's up to the GM. If you're going to use premade settings, why change them in such a way, though? Part of the point of premade settings is that it has defined rules, races, and history. Outside of a premade it's whatever, use whatever the GM lets you use. Not a fan of wacky races in ANY setting (except equally bizarre settings like Planescape or Spelljammer) myself, but that's just me.

[QUOTE=Chronische;52975517]If you're going to use premade settings, why change them in such a way, though? Part of the point of premade settings is that it has defined rules, races, and history.[/QUOTE] Because we want to keep literally everything vanilla except races.

If the GM lets you play a flying monkey with three heads and a twelve foot dong go ahead, fam

[QUOTE=ElTacoLad;52983073]If the GM lets you play a flying monkey with three heads and a twelve foot dong go ahead, fam[/QUOTE] but with if i want three twelve foot dongs to go with my three heads

[QUOTE=elowin;52983086]but with if i want three twelve foot dongs to go with my three heads[/QUOTE] Natural weapon, 3d4 slashing damage with finesse and reach. Subtract 9 weight from carrying capacity

[QUOTE=dai;52983511]Natural weapon, 3d4 slashing damage with finesse and reach. Subtract 9 weight from carrying capacity[/QUOTE] Constitution check every morning to regain consciousness vs wood.

I need some help with a couple of my friends. We're running a post-apocalyptic steampunk campaign right now. My character is a clockwork robot that was originally built for the final war and imbued with a soul but I was disabled and my creator was killed. I was found years later by someone that repurposed me into a music playing entertainer to bring some joy to the poor people of the wastelands. My ultimate goal is to find a purpose for myself instead of the ones given to me by others. The problem is that my two buddies have super one dimensional characters. A barbarian that wants to find a worthy opponent and a cyborg gunslinger that wants money. That's it. It made it really hard for our dm to interact with them in the story and every time she'd have a conversation with them they'd either do nothing or flounder until I came in to do the talking for them. I'm trying to talk them into fleshing out their characters more so they can connect with them. Is there anything me and the dm can do to make them feel more comfortable? I don't mind having to do most of the npc talking (I mean I'm a super charismatic bard.), but I want them to be able to have their own conversations. I want them to feel like they're just as important as my character is so far.

Give them mini adventures that mainly play to their skill set but require an additional [i]thing[/i] either in the middle or at the end in the way of backstory or conversation/situation outside their normal skillset, gradually upping the additional things they have to do to figure out a successful way to do things.

[QUOTE=Mentlegen;52985583]I need some help with a couple of my friends. We're running a post-apocalyptic steampunk campaign right now. My character is a clockwork robot that was originally built for the final war and imbued with a soul but I was disabled and my creator was killed. I was found years later by someone that repurposed me into a music playing entertainer to bring some joy to the poor people of the wastelands. My ultimate goal is to find a purpose for myself instead of the ones given to me by others. The problem is that my two buddies have super one dimensional characters. A barbarian that wants to find a worthy opponent and a cyborg gunslinger that wants money. That's it. It made it really hard for our dm to interact with them in the story and every time she'd have a conversation with them they'd either do nothing or flounder until I came in to do the talking for them. I'm trying to talk them into fleshing out their characters more so they can connect with them. Is there anything me and the dm can do to make them feel more comfortable? I don't mind having to do most of the npc talking (I mean I'm a super charismatic bard.), but I want them to be able to have their own conversations. I want them to feel like they're just as important as my character is so far.[/QUOTE] engage them in rp conversation asking about the meaning of life and get real personal about it. You're looking for your own purpose, a little fledgling, so naturally you would look to others as examples. Ask the barbarian what they'll do once they find the ultimate enemy (like the dog chasing the car) and what the cyborg wants to spend the money on.

[QUOTE=Mentlegen;52985583]I need some help with a couple of my friends. We're running a post-apocalyptic steampunk campaign right now. My character is a clockwork robot that was originally built for the final war and imbued with a soul but I was disabled and my creator was killed. I was found years later by someone that repurposed me into a music playing entertainer to bring some joy to the poor people of the wastelands. My ultimate goal is to find a purpose for myself instead of the ones given to me by others. The problem is that my two buddies have super one dimensional characters. A barbarian that wants to find a worthy opponent and a cyborg gunslinger that wants money. That's it. It made it really hard for our dm to interact with them in the story and every time she'd have a conversation with them they'd either do nothing or flounder until I came in to do the talking for them. I'm trying to talk them into fleshing out their characters more so they can connect with them. Is there anything me and the dm can do to make them feel more comfortable? I don't mind having to do most of the npc talking (I mean I'm a super charismatic bard.), but I want them to be able to have their own conversations. I want them to feel like they're just as important as my character is so far.[/QUOTE] If they're up for improving their characters backgrounds (and a little homework), I'd suggest some writing prompts. There's a few good ones around online for fleshing out characters backgrounds and motivations. I'm talking about the ones that ask a bunch of smaller questions that will help get the players thinking about who their characters really are beyond the archetype. If they don't really want to do that, that should be fine too [sp]as awful as that sounds[/sp]. People play role-playing games for various reasons, one such being that they just want to be bad-ass heroes that go around and kill shit. If the campaign just started it may be a bit rough, especially if they're newer players, so just give it time as they build experiences with their characters and get a bit more comfortable role-playing. Although I may be entirely wrong about them being beginners, but that's what sounds like is the issue. Anyways, regardless of how fleshed out the backstories are for the characters, for the DM, they should engineer different encounters (and quests) so that every character has a chance to shine from time to time. From the sounds of things, as the Bard, you've got all the social challenges under control, so the DM should ensure that there are chances for the other two players to shine under different circumstances, like having bounty quests available for your money hungry gunslinger to take on and drag the rest of the party along for, or have rumors floating around about secret underground fight clubs (or some other similar rumor sporting tough guys) for your barbarian to sink their teeth into.

Today, in Exalted: [t]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/326470182329384963/392108552505786368/lolmeme.jpg[/t] 1000 hours in mspaint, courtesy of one of my players. After they got back to the city last session, they realized the shadowland had grown, and there was probably a Deathlord present. There were mutilated bodies hanging outside, and messages warning people to stay out, so they did the logical thing. They split up; 2 of them climbed up to the top of the volcano the city is built in, then flew down to the heart of it to find the god of the volcano and convince him to start an eruption, so they could try and kill the Deathlord. The other two climbed in through the cliffside villa the whole game started in, killed their former Dominus [I]again[/I], then snuck into the palace to find a friend of the group who, until this session, had never actually shown up, despite having been made for a PC's merits(he took her as an Ally). About the time the guys in the city found the office they were looking for, the two in the volcano found the god, realized he was asleep, gathered diamond, gold and silver traces from the dirt around them into large enough amounts to craft a decently-sized idol of the god, then tossed it into the lava to wake him up. He saw them and got pissed, and [I]immediately[/I] the volcano started to erupt. The guys back in the city bullied the guard outside the office, then grabbed their ally and got the fuck out of dodge. Meanwhile, a new player's character was watching from outside the city, using her pet falcon as an eye in the sky. Just before the volcano erupted, she saw the guy who made the idol fly out of the mouth of it, then the thief who went down with him popped out of his shadow and they slid down the slope of the mountain, getting there just as the other 2 managed to get out of the city. They kept running, because [I]holy fuck there's an erupting volcano behind us[/I], ran into the new PC, and after a short argument about priorities, decided to team up and head for the nearest safe city they know about.

We worked with them to get some solid backstories for tonights session. Our barbarian had a wife and child that was razed by a dragon before he could save them and he fell into a depression afterwords. He later came across my robot A.T.I.M and was so mesmerized by his robot nature and musical ability that he badgered me into a drinking contest. After he passed out I took him to my room and he proclaimed me his first friend since the dragon took his wife and child. Our gunslinger as a young man lost his arm to debt collectors before being saved by a mysterious gunslinger. He was so enamored by this amazing hero that he learned of his adventures and told grand tales and lies about how he was this exact gunslinger. He mainly works for money but he hopes to one day make these lies truth so that he can be just like his hero. Our group encountered a pack of worgen along with a mysterious fog that faced us with these past memories and she had them play these memories in-depth for them to really discover who they are and why they're here. Mine was a lot less involved for obvious reasons. Our barbarian was a lot more lively in combat and got really creative with how he dispatched his enemies. The gunslinger seemed to play along a lot better once he was given a more involved character. Overall a definite success with getting them more into the game and they really connected with these flashback portions. I'm excited to see them get more into it all and we definitely have more involved adventures planned out for them to stand out more. Thanks for the help guys!

After six months of playing the secret is finally out. The Drow Cleric attempted to be sworn in as a Knight of the Fey Court and servant to our Rogues monarchy, but she rejected him under the notion of him being a power hungry human. So that was when the helmet came off and the sad, angry Drow came out to prove how dedicated he was. Everyone was pretty shocked. He's still not a knight though. Apparently 91 is too young still. Most prominent moment was the Monk embracing him immediately and saying "It's fine, you don't have to hide anymore. It's fine". He's also the only one who knows what Drow really [I]do[/I], so that's big.

Mary Mcglynn (critical role player) is coming to an anime convention near me in March I am super hyped I want to meet her so badddd

[t]https://78.media.tumblr.com/16d66e10a31ef0cd8d6e2ba414c40608/tumblr_p17hhbL3hi1snm6fco1_1280.jpg[/t] [t]https://78.media.tumblr.com/edd35c2a523b7a872c0b7bb82addfc7f/tumblr_p17hhbL3hi1snm6fco2_1280.jpg[/t] RIP edmund mors RIP icarus fromir

[QUOTE=MenteR;52989234][t]https://78.media.tumblr.com/16d66e10a31ef0cd8d6e2ba414c40608/tumblr_p17hhbL3hi1snm6fco1_1280.jpg[/t] [t]https://78.media.tumblr.com/edd35c2a523b7a872c0b7bb82addfc7f/tumblr_p17hhbL3hi1snm6fco2_1280.jpg[/t] RIP edmund mors RIP icarus fromir[/QUOTE] I was thinking that was an awesomely painted dragon mini and then this ancient part of my brain unlocked and I realized that dragon is the same toy I used to have a long time ago in middle school. The wing patterns and the sandy base with cactuses triggered it. Weird, man.

Any advice on how to deal with a player thats just spectating? I really want all my players to be involved in some way, but she just stays on her phone most of the time and she often doesn't do anything in game unless prompted. Its a 5 player group and they're all rping and participating, the other problem we had was solved recently, with the character swap mentioned a page or two ago. For example last session, she only made 1 roll/action, and it was because someone else prompted her to, as her character had a couple more ranks in mechanics than anyone else. Normally i wouldn't mind too much, if thats what they like to do thats what they like to do, but i'm GMing as part of the staff of a University Society, and i had to say no to some people, some of them who i know would have contributed more. I just don't really know what to say, or how.

[QUOTE=jackattack;52989390]Any advice on how to deal with a player thats just spectating? I really want all my players to be involved in some way, but she just stays on her phone most of the time and she often doesn't do anything in game unless prompted. Its a 5 player group and they're all rping and participating, the other problem we had was solved recently, with the character swap mentioned a page or two ago. For example last session, she only made 1 roll/action, and it was because someone else prompted her to, as her character had a couple more ranks in mechanics than anyone else. Normally i wouldn't mind too much, if thats what they like to do thats what they like to do, but i'm GMing as part of the staff of a University Society, and i had to say no to some people, some of them who i know would have contributed more. I just don't really know what to say, or how.[/QUOTE] straight up talk to her about it and if she keeps it up then replace her with someone who wants to play man. sounds like she isn't interested in playing really. there are people who are way more eager to participate so just replace her or kick her for a better experience altogether.

Can you rotate game systems? Not all settings/systems engage players the same way. I know I've seen some rebuke the classic medieval fantasy setting for D&D now that they've branched out to more varied settings in 5e.

[QUOTE=Alxnotorious;52989862]Can you rotate game systems? Not all settings/systems engage players the same way. I know I've seen some rebuke the classic medieval fantasy setting for D&D now that they've branched out to more varied settings in 5e.[/QUOTE] Each GM we have does a different system, I'm doing FFG Star Wars and another is doing Fate Accelerated. besides those the rest are all fantasy settings, either 5e or some variation, and the players got to pick which one they wanted to be in, i'm not really comfortable switching to a different system when everyone else is into what we're doing, and its been set out already.

Ultimatum. Let her know the next session is about her and her character and either it ends with character development or it ends with a character DEATH.

[QUOTE=slayer20;52989047]Mary Mcglynn (critical role player) is coming to an anime convention near me in March I am super hyped I want to meet her so badddd[/QUOTE] I'm jealous af, that lady is raad.

[QUOTE=kenji;52990048]I'm jealous af, that lady is raad.[/QUOTE] I'm thinking about taking my signed critical role poster and having her sign it as well. Her character isn't on it, but it would be super cool.

To anyone who's run ToA can you explain to me how (Tomb of Annihilation spoilers) [sp]Artus Cimber is not overpowered as fuck? He comes into the party and helps them find the city of Omu, and is supposed to stay with them until you destroy Ras Nsi. But with the Ring of Winter he can cast a 6th level spell 4 times a day. The party is level 4.. My players were getting a little angry at me because of how lame he was making the session. Basically I'm gonna have him fuck off next session and leave his much more interesting, much less OP companion, Dragonbait, behind to stay with the party, because I can't figure out where to go from here..[/sp]

[QUOTE=Funktastic Dog;52991582]To anyone who's run ToA can you explain to me how (Tomb of Annihilation spoilers) [sp]Artus Cimber is not overpowered as fuck? He comes into the party and helps them find the city of Omu, and is supposed to stay with them until you destroy Ras Nsi. But with the Ring of Winter he can cast a 6th level spell 4 times a day. The party is level 4.. My players were getting a little angry at me because of how lame he was making the session. Basically I'm gonna have him fuck off next session and leave his much more interesting, much less OP companion, Dragonbait, behind to stay with the party, because I can't figure out where to go from here..[/sp][/QUOTE] Alternatively you could just not use those powers.

[QUOTE=Funktastic Dog;52991582]To anyone who's run ToA can you explain to me how (Tomb of Annihilation spoilers) [sp]Artus Cimber is not overpowered as fuck? He comes into the party and helps them find the city of Omu, and is supposed to stay with them until you destroy Ras Nsi. But with the Ring of Winter he can cast a 6th level spell 4 times a day. The party is level 4.. My players were getting a little angry at me because of how lame he was making the session. Basically I'm gonna have him fuck off next session and leave his much more interesting, much less OP companion, Dragonbait, behind to stay with the party, because I can't figure out where to go from here..[/sp][/QUOTE] [sp]Try not waving his dick around so much?[/sp]

[QUOTE=plunger435;52991669]Alternatively you could just not use those powers.[/QUOTE] He's still crazy powerful otherwise. He has 18 hit dice and has triple multiattack with a +3 dagger. I just don't understand why the game would even bring him in this early? The rest of the adventure is brilliant, but this just makes no sense. In any case, as long as he's around the party is going to feel like they're either being babied by this guy or he's going to show them up, neither option I want.

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[QUOTE=Funktastic Dog;52991714]He's still crazy powerful otherwise. He has 18 hit dice and has triple multiattack with a +3 dagger. I just don't understand why the game would even bring him in this early? The rest of the adventure is brilliant, but this just makes no sense. In any case, as long as he's around the party is going to feel like they're either being babied by this guy or he's going to show them up, neither option I want.[/QUOTE] As far as I remember from the book, [sp]travelling with the guy is supposed to be a trade-off - he's a massive liability and has multiple groups after him, all the while he doesn't give two shits about the party's motivations and just wants to save his wife. It's like travelling with a bad-ass whose always being hunted by the mob - useful but always gets everyone around him killed. Have him guide the party with notes, leave behind supply packages when they're in dire straights, and so on; make him a distant unseen ally in the forest instead of 'that one powerful asshole that trivializes our encounters' If the party for some reason doesn't want him to leave, have the fantasy mob start knocking and show off the REASON cimber is so powerful - he's had to fight these assholes.[/sp]