A friend of mine who is active in a D&D group was telling me about one of his friend's characters. The character has prophetic dreams, and the DM handles this by writing out on a bunch of slips of paper before each game session the dreams the character has had. Some are jokes, some are cryptic, some are useless, some are misleading and some are very helpful. I thought this was cool and was wondering if anyone has ever done anything similar.
Oh yeah, all the time. It's a great way to get secret information to a character without allowing it to become metagame information. I use the slip of paper method of info delivery for more than just dreams- I use it for Knowledge checks, Spot and Listen checks, Spellcraft checks, telepathy, scrying, and all sorts of other stuff.
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[16:23] Alacar Leoricar: maybe if you do it'll make the porn more meaningful
It is useful. I know that as a player, I would prefer DMs to keep some information secret. It's hard to balance "not acting on information we don't have" and deliberately being unwise in the face of the information we know as players but that our characters do not.
Another time I think that secret notes are useful is when there are alignment changes. For example, I am in a campaign, and I just got changed from chaotic-good to lawful-evil. However, the DM told me that in front of everyone else, which screwed up my plans to scheme against the party in some subtle way.
Help has come in the form of a bit of basic algebra. I feel that it'll shed some light on your problem here.
Basically:
S + T = W
...S in this case stands for 'spam' and the T stands for 'light trolling'. And the W? That stands for 'Warning'. I love math. -- {mikeyG}
A friend of mine who is active in a D&D group was telling me about one of his friend's characters. The character has prophetic dreams, and the DM handles this by writing out on a bunch of slips of paper before each game session the dreams the character has had. Some are jokes, some are cryptic, some are useless, some are misleading and some are very helpful. I thought this was cool and was wondering if anyone has ever done anything similar.
I'm running a one-player campaign and I often use dreams to inform the player's character about strange things in his future. I find that it's easier for the player to realise when something is relevant and not just a detail that's there for flavor if you present it in a vivid dream. It's also nice to have a moment of narration in any game as it helps set the tone. I don't think I've ever given a useless dream, though misleading is not out of the question. Unless the PCs are the kind that are always a step ahead of you, I like to run a tight ship while GMing, with every detail being relevant.
Hey, here's a question I haven't really heard about from you guys: Which do you prefer, playing or running an RPG? What's your favorite or least favorite part of each?
I prefer running an RPG, actually. I have more power and control and say in the matter, and I like seeing my fellow players happy, while at the same time challenging them (and myself) with the newest encounter.
As for playing.. I like making characters the most and using them for a test drive.
Woohoo for making characters. Of course, since I don't know any DM's and can't DM worth crap myself, that's about all I can do.
Note: Did MTGS just add a spellcheck to the message box, because I'm getting all kinds of red lines.
I think I appreciate both equally, for different reasons. I really thrive in the DM's chair, but at the same time, I really appreciate being a player. Both have their own merits, so it's hard for me to decide.
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[16:23] Alacar Leoricar: maybe if you do it'll make the porn more meaningful
Yeah, Firefox does the spellcheck thing, or at least mine does.
As for the question of DM or player, I gotta say player. Mosly cause i'm a procrastinator so it takes me months to come up with some adventures for my campaign. Plus, my playgroup has no cleric/healer if I am Dm cause they're all Aggro...
I got the new Ixidor's legacy deck. Not bad, but it atracts a lot of attention, mostly because nobody knows what the face-dwon card is so it pissed me off when i had to hold off 3 people today...(Lasted a bit until they got rid of my counterbalance and sensei's top)
Both most definitely have their merits - I enjoy running the game because I am a storyteller at heart, and I like throwing in special things for the charactars just because I can. I really enjoy playing though, simply because I like to confound the DM, kill things, and, well, kill things.
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Another time I think that secret notes are useful is when there are alignment changes. For example, I am in a campaign, and I just got changed from chaotic-good to lawful-evil. However, the DM told me that in front of everyone else, which screwed up my plans to scheme against the party in some subtle way.
Talk about bad form. I don't think one should reveal alignment if its going to have any character value. The whole point, IMO, is to have alignment be a secret motivation to your actions, at least it should be as secret as the player wants it to be.
I don't know the specifics, and I tend to have a pretty favorable reading of LE, but I don't think that alignment would scheme against the group in most cases. It would have to be honorable and in your advantage to do so. CE would do it just for fun.
I prefer running an RPG, actually. I have more power and control and say in the matter, and I like seeing my fellow players happy, while at the same time challenging them (and myself) with the newest encounter.
As for playing.. I like making characters the most and using them for a test drive.
Making characters is the best part of playing. Playing is always a bit beloew expectations for me. Probably because I really want to be GMing and crafting a story.
yeah, I love making characters. The one thing I really like about DMing is when I actually sit down and make the story/adventures. I am pretty good at making maps, both on the comp and off, according to my friends, so I'm often the one they come to.
I don't mind making worlds and adventures, but I'm not good at running the game. I forget stuff, and I always want the players to do things my way.
Yes, the computer I'm using has firefox, [preening] I guess I didn't notice before because my spelling is so good [/preening].
Anyway, I enjoy playing the game more than running it. I ran some White Wolf for a couple of sessions, but I didn't have things planned out, so it was kind of ad hoc, and I railed people into difficulties so as to buy time to set up a real encounter track.
Help has come in the form of a bit of basic algebra. I feel that it'll shed some light on your problem here.
Basically:
S + T = W
...S in this case stands for 'spam' and the T stands for 'light trolling'. And the W? That stands for 'Warning'. I love math. -- {mikeyG}
I've always preferred playing in a game to running one, though I think that is due more to the fact that I am always the guy my groups gets to run a game. So whenever someone else GMs, I take full advantage of it.
FFIII:
So, I tired out geomancers, and they're not bad. The only thing I don't like about them is the look/suit they have. So my party is now like this (all lvl 23 or 24, job levels vary);
White Mage
Warrior
Geomancer
Theif
Anyone else think of any good Adventure/RPGs for the Xbox or DS that I could play? I have Fable: The Lost Chapters and Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, but want something new, any ideas?
Hmm...can't think of anything else right now...Off to teh forums.
Help has come in the form of a bit of basic algebra. I feel that it'll shed some light on your problem here.
Basically:
S + T = W
...S in this case stands for 'spam' and the T stands for 'light trolling'. And the W? That stands for 'Warning'. I love math. -- {mikeyG}
What it is, [Nats 20]. It's not really role-playing, but we're rounding up warm bodies for the next Clan Contest - gonna be a vicious game of Mafia (if the game is unfamiliar, scroll down that a bit, I give a brief overview of the rules + such).
With the Clan Contests having less + less participation, I thought something a little more interactive would maybe get us all better aquainted, perhaps form some friendships + rivalries between the clans, + maybe get some clanners interested in checking out the Mafia subforum as well.
What do you guys say? If you have any questions, plug away, I'll be around
You guys should get involved in the mafia game. I'm probably going to be the Izzet member in the game and it would be cool to see someone from Natural 20 in the game.
How hard is it to change classes in FF3? Is it something you can do whenever you want once you "own" the classes? It seems like people are always noting difficulty in changing classes. Is it that you can only change when you level up?
I almost always enjoy running a game as GM, but there are very few games I enjoy being a character, though when I do get into it, it's awesome.
Well, in FF3 you get job levels seperate from your regular levels. The higher your job level is the move damage your attacks do and the more MP you can have in the class.
Each spell of a certain level costs one MP of that level. A level 4 spell costs one lvl 4 MP.
Its kinda retarded because it makes you do lots of random battles for good classes...
Oh, and Im at the final bosses of FF6, just have to beat them...sometime this week, right now Im learning all the good spells like Ultima and Holy for my team.
I changed the names of them so here are the classes
Machinist (Ummm?) Lvl 43
Magitec Elite (ummmm?) lvl 45
Rune Knight (Celes?) lvl 49
Monk (sabin?) lvl 44
All of them have almost all of the spells. Im missing a few Espers so I can't get the spells from them.
I just got the twincast relic...its sweet...
Twincast relic? Talk about putting the Fork before the Gembox!
And the characters you have sound like a very solid team. You shoudl be able to beat the game at that level pretty easily(with some resistance). But who you have in your party is less important in FF6, as most of the characters play very similarly, as I'm sure you've noticed.
And I didn't realise that FF3 still used spell slots. (even for non-caster classes?, or do you lose the attack bonus when you change from a fighter class to a caster class?) That would explain why no one wants to change classes.
What it is, [Nats 20]. It's not really role-playing, but we're rounding up warm bodies for the next Clan Contest - gonna be a vicious game of Mafia (if the game is unfamiliar, scroll down that a bit, I give a brief overview of the rules + such).
With the Clan Contests having less + less participation, I thought something a little more interactive would maybe get us all better aquainted, perhaps form some friendships + rivalries between the clans, + maybe get some clanners interested in checking out the Mafia subforum as well.
What do you guys say? If you have any questions, plug away, I'll be around
I have no idea how Mafia is even played, honestly.
You guys should get involved in the mafia game. I'm probably going to be the Izzet member in the game and it would be cool to see someone from Natural 20 in the game.
How hard is it to change classes in FF3? Is it something you can do whenever you want once you "own" the classes? It seems like people are always noting difficulty in changing classes. Is it that you can only change when you level up?
I almost always enjoy running a game as GM, but there are very few games I enjoy being a character, though when I do get into it, it's awesome.
It's not so much that it is hard, it is more that you are rewarded for staying in a class for a long time by gaining class levels, which make you better at that class- higher hit rate, more damage, etc. Changing classes is relatively easy, but the disparity between the class levels of the new and the old class creates a period called Transition in which you suffer lowered stats for a fixed amount of battles, which discourages one from changing classes frequently.
Well, in FF3 you get job levels seperate from your regular levels. The higher your job level is the move damage your attacks do and the more MP you can have in the class.
Each spell of a certain level costs one MP of that level. A level 4 spell costs one lvl 4 MP.
Its kinda retarded because it makes you do lots of random battles for good classes...
Oh, and Im at the final bosses of FF6, just have to beat them...sometime this week, right now Im learning all the good spells like Ultima and Holy for my team.
I changed the names of them so here are the classes
Machinist (Ummm?) Lvl 43
Magitec Elite (ummmm?) lvl 45
Rune Knight (Celes?) lvl 49
Monk (sabin?) lvl 44
All of them have almost all of the spells. Im missing a few Espers so I can't get the spells from them.
I just got the twincast relic...its sweet...
As it is your first playthrough, I would say that your levels are far too low. Try and get to about level 50 at the very least before attempting the Tower. Of course, FF6 is not a hard game, you can take it on as low as level 30 if you are experienced enough, but that also implies heavy use of stat manipulation via Espers and people with optimized spell lists and equipment.
Twincast relic? Talk about putting the Fork before the Gembox!
And the characters you have sound like a very solid team. You shoudl be able to beat the game at that level pretty easily(with some resistance). But who you have in your party is less important in FF6, as most of the characters play very similarly, as I'm sure you've noticed.
And I didn't realise that FF3 still used spell slots. (even for non-caster classes?, or do you lose the attack bonus when you change from a fighter class to a caster class?) That would explain why no one wants to change classes.
It uses a more generous take on spell slots. It's not the SPD formula of FF1, it's more like you get a mini MP pool for each level. You get far far more spells per day in FF3 than you do in 1, so it's not that big a deal.
And yes, you can't level up as a warrior and then switch to a mage and still maintain your fighter's ATK power. It's more akin to the FFV Job system, except no supin class to twink to high hell.
Well, Mamelon bought me The Book of Nine Swords for my birthday yesterday. Anyone else familiar with it?
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[16:23] Alacar Leoricar: maybe if you do it'll make the porn more meaningful
OOO, that mafia game sounds like a blast. If no one else wants to play, I would love to be the rep from this clan. I know that I am the new guy here, but I'm rather good at the game and have had a fair share of experience playing it at other sites.
I've heard of the book of Nine Swords.. it's pretty unique for D&D, and can lead to a campaign that's akin to an old kung-fu flick. I like it, if it's used heavily. In small doses it doesn't make sense.
I've heard of the book of Nine Swords.. it's pretty unique for D&D, and can lead to a campaign that's akin to an old kung-fu flick. I like it, if it's used heavily. In small doses it doesn't make sense.
I don't see why it wouldn't. That's like saying that in order to run a psionic character, you need to have an all psionics game setting. The thing that bugs me most about the conventional D&D setting is the notion that a world would not have a widely diverse culture- and by diverse, I mean all varieties of lifestyles and character classes and philosophies, as opposed to just "here are a handle of races, and another handful of arbitrarily less advanced races. Aside from various racial attitudes, they are about the same in terms of culture."
Actually, while some of it is very kung-fu movie-ish (more specifically, Wuxia films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), a lot of it is also very console RPGish, but all of it is fairly easy to work with in terms of integration, as far as I can say.
I love it because it FINALLY gives warriors a way to personalize and dabble in cool stuff. The classes and manuevers are about on the same power level as the Warlock class, in my opinion- they get a sort of pseudo-magic effect that can be used over and over, but they never really can replace the role that magic has in the game, nor can a Sublime Way expert ever truly be considered a caster or manifester in any way, shape, or form.
On Mafia: I don't care who wants to do it, personally. If anyone wants to take part on behalf of us, they can. I just need to know what it entails, as I have no idea how Mafia is played or what sort of time commitment it is.
I've allowed the Paladin in thursday's game to pick up a few feats from that book. It's not so bad in and of itself. However, I ran the dragon encounter with the pre-generated 20th level PCs from the GenCon delve. One of the guys picked the Bo9S character, and it was completely BUSTED. Not than any other 20th level character isn't uber-powerful, but wow.
On the subject of other books, I got my copy of Dungeonscape yesterday. Quite a few useful things in there speaking as both a DM and a Player. I'm interested to see how the new base class will actually fare in a real campaign.
2 days until Magic Item Compendium!
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Oh yeah, all the time. It's a great way to get secret information to a character without allowing it to become metagame information. I use the slip of paper method of info delivery for more than just dreams- I use it for Knowledge checks, Spot and Listen checks, Spellcraft checks, telepathy, scrying, and all sorts of other stuff.
Another time I think that secret notes are useful is when there are alignment changes. For example, I am in a campaign, and I just got changed from chaotic-good to lawful-evil. However, the DM told me that in front of everyone else, which screwed up my plans to scheme against the party in some subtle way.
Help has come in the form of a bit of basic algebra. I feel that it'll shed some light on your problem here.
Basically:
S + T = W
...S in this case stands for 'spam' and the T stands for 'light trolling'. And the W? That stands for 'Warning'. I love math. -- {mikeyG}
I'm running a one-player campaign and I often use dreams to inform the player's character about strange things in his future. I find that it's easier for the player to realise when something is relevant and not just a detail that's there for flavor if you present it in a vivid dream. It's also nice to have a moment of narration in any game as it helps set the tone. I don't think I've ever given a useless dream, though misleading is not out of the question. Unless the PCs are the kind that are always a step ahead of you, I like to run a tight ship while GMing, with every detail being relevant.
Hey, here's a question I haven't really heard about from you guys: Which do you prefer, playing or running an RPG? What's your favorite or least favorite part of each?
As for playing.. I like making characters the most and using them for a test drive.
Like freeform roleplaying? Try Darkness Befalls Us
Ryttare Kelasin Luna Orelinalei
Note: Did MTGS just add a spellcheck to the message box, because I'm getting all kinds of red lines.
Natural 20 MTGS Brigade Pages
Community Project
Did you recently upgrade to a new version of Firefox or another internet browser? Some now have a spellcheck built in. (MTGS does not.)
As for the question of DM or player, I gotta say player. Mosly cause i'm a procrastinator so it takes me months to come up with some adventures for my campaign. Plus, my playgroup has no cleric/healer if I am Dm cause they're all Aggro...
I got the new Ixidor's legacy deck. Not bad, but it atracts a lot of attention, mostly because nobody knows what the face-dwon card is so it pissed me off when i had to hold off 3 people today...(Lasted a bit until they got rid of my counterbalance and sensei's top)
Support The Christopher Reeve Foundation
[thread=46682][Card Creation][/thread][thread=47388][[/thread][thread=61610]Magic Coffeehouse][/thread][thread=59279][Natural 20][/thread][thread=48171][I Want Your Foil Elves!][/thread]
I've finally lassoed the Moon!
Talk about bad form. I don't think one should reveal alignment if its going to have any character value. The whole point, IMO, is to have alignment be a secret motivation to your actions, at least it should be as secret as the player wants it to be.
I don't know the specifics, and I tend to have a pretty favorable reading of LE, but I don't think that alignment would scheme against the group in most cases. It would have to be honorable and in your advantage to do so. CE would do it just for fun.
Making characters is the best part of playing. Playing is always a bit beloew expectations for me. Probably because I really want to be GMing and crafting a story.
Yes, the computer I'm using has firefox, [preening] I guess I didn't notice before because my spelling is so good [/preening].
Natural 20 MTGS Brigade Pages
Community Project
Anyway, I enjoy playing the game more than running it. I ran some White Wolf for a couple of sessions, but I didn't have things planned out, so it was kind of ad hoc, and I railed people into difficulties so as to buy time to set up a real encounter track.
Help has come in the form of a bit of basic algebra. I feel that it'll shed some light on your problem here.
Basically:
S + T = W
...S in this case stands for 'spam' and the T stands for 'light trolling'. And the W? That stands for 'Warning'. I love math. -- {mikeyG}
Type II:
BGUWet Rock
GWTapping Token Beats
Extended:
GWREternal Slide
GRUBeasts (homebrew)
RGoblins!
Legacy:
GUBWROath of Barbarians (homebrew)
So, I tired out geomancers, and they're not bad. The only thing I don't like about them is the look/suit they have. So my party is now like this (all lvl 23 or 24, job levels vary);
White Mage
Warrior
Geomancer
Theif
Anyone else think of any good Adventure/RPGs for the Xbox or DS that I could play? I have Fable: The Lost Chapters and Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, but want something new, any ideas?
Hmm...can't think of anything else right now...Off to teh forums.
Help has come in the form of a bit of basic algebra. I feel that it'll shed some light on your problem here.
Basically:
S + T = W
...S in this case stands for 'spam' and the T stands for 'light trolling'. And the W? That stands for 'Warning'. I love math. -- {mikeyG}
With the Clan Contests having less + less participation, I thought something a little more interactive would maybe get us all better aquainted, perhaps form some friendships + rivalries between the clans, + maybe get some clanners interested in checking out the Mafia subforum as well.
What do you guys say? If you have any questions, plug away, I'll be around
How hard is it to change classes in FF3? Is it something you can do whenever you want once you "own" the classes? It seems like people are always noting difficulty in changing classes. Is it that you can only change when you level up?
I almost always enjoy running a game as GM, but there are very few games I enjoy being a character, though when I do get into it, it's awesome.
Each spell of a certain level costs one MP of that level. A level 4 spell costs one lvl 4 MP.
Its kinda retarded because it makes you do lots of random battles for good classes...
Oh, and Im at the final bosses of FF6, just have to beat them...sometime this week, right now Im learning all the good spells like Ultima and Holy for my team.
I changed the names of them so here are the classes
Machinist (Ummm?) Lvl 43
Magitec Elite (ummmm?) lvl 45
Rune Knight (Celes?) lvl 49
Monk (sabin?) lvl 44
All of them have almost all of the spells. Im missing a few Espers so I can't get the spells from them.
I just got the twincast relic...its sweet...
thanks DarkNightCavalier for the sig!
My Trade Thread
And the characters you have sound like a very solid team. You shoudl be able to beat the game at that level pretty easily(with some resistance). But who you have in your party is less important in FF6, as most of the characters play very similarly, as I'm sure you've noticed.
And I didn't realise that FF3 still used spell slots. (even for non-caster classes?, or do you lose the attack bonus when you change from a fighter class to a caster class?) That would explain why no one wants to change classes.
I have no idea how Mafia is even played, honestly.
It's not so much that it is hard, it is more that you are rewarded for staying in a class for a long time by gaining class levels, which make you better at that class- higher hit rate, more damage, etc. Changing classes is relatively easy, but the disparity between the class levels of the new and the old class creates a period called Transition in which you suffer lowered stats for a fixed amount of battles, which discourages one from changing classes frequently.
As it is your first playthrough, I would say that your levels are far too low. Try and get to about level 50 at the very least before attempting the Tower. Of course, FF6 is not a hard game, you can take it on as low as level 30 if you are experienced enough, but that also implies heavy use of stat manipulation via Espers and people with optimized spell lists and equipment.
It uses a more generous take on spell slots. It's not the SPD formula of FF1, it's more like you get a mini MP pool for each level. You get far far more spells per day in FF3 than you do in 1, so it's not that big a deal.
And yes, you can't level up as a warrior and then switch to a mage and still maintain your fighter's ATK power. It's more akin to the FFV Job system, except no supin class to twink to high hell.
Well, Mamelon bought me The Book of Nine Swords for my birthday yesterday. Anyone else familiar with it?
Type II:
BGUWet Rock
GWTapping Token Beats
Extended:
GWREternal Slide
GRUBeasts (homebrew)
RGoblins!
Legacy:
GUBWROath of Barbarians (homebrew)
Like freeform roleplaying? Try Darkness Befalls Us
Ryttare Kelasin Luna Orelinalei
I don't see why it wouldn't. That's like saying that in order to run a psionic character, you need to have an all psionics game setting. The thing that bugs me most about the conventional D&D setting is the notion that a world would not have a widely diverse culture- and by diverse, I mean all varieties of lifestyles and character classes and philosophies, as opposed to just "here are a handle of races, and another handful of arbitrarily less advanced races. Aside from various racial attitudes, they are about the same in terms of culture."
Actually, while some of it is very kung-fu movie-ish (more specifically, Wuxia films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), a lot of it is also very console RPGish, but all of it is fairly easy to work with in terms of integration, as far as I can say.
I love it because it FINALLY gives warriors a way to personalize and dabble in cool stuff. The classes and manuevers are about on the same power level as the Warlock class, in my opinion- they get a sort of pseudo-magic effect that can be used over and over, but they never really can replace the role that magic has in the game, nor can a Sublime Way expert ever truly be considered a caster or manifester in any way, shape, or form.
On Mafia: I don't care who wants to do it, personally. If anyone wants to take part on behalf of us, they can. I just need to know what it entails, as I have no idea how Mafia is played or what sort of time commitment it is.
On the subject of other books, I got my copy of Dungeonscape yesterday. Quite a few useful things in there speaking as both a DM and a Player. I'm interested to see how the new base class will actually fare in a real campaign.
2 days until Magic Item Compendium!
Support The Christopher Reeve Foundation
[thread=46682][Card Creation][/thread][thread=47388][[/thread][thread=61610]Magic Coffeehouse][/thread][thread=59279][Natural 20][/thread][thread=48171][I Want Your Foil Elves!][/thread]
I've finally lassoed the Moon!