Secret Goals in RPGs and Why You Need To Use Them Now
When playing a roleplaying game in a group, sometimes you want the spotlight to shine down and highlight a character moment. This opportunity for high drama and fun can be greatly improved and made larger by having it pay off character and player motivations. One of the best ways to do this is with secret goals. These missions and quests discussed between an individual player and the Game Masters or Storytellers are ways to entertain the whole table with surprise flourishes to heighten the stakes. I’m going to explain more about why you should use this technique more in games.
The D&D Chimera – Randomized!
Chimera – the spawn of powerful beast of legend, a creation of a mad wizard or poor fool’s curse by a demonic prince. However a chimera comes into existence we can all agree the three-headed Dungeons & Dragons creature with the tenacity of a dragon, stubbornness of a ram and ferocity of a lion is pretty freaking cool. What could be better right? What about the petrifying gaze of a basilisk, the strong back of a mule and the rust monsters ability to corrode the tools of the enemy?
This article brings you another randomized fifth edition D&D monster.
Philosophy of Pen and Paper Roleplaying Game No. 2
Why did your character become an adventurer?
Adventurer in a roleplaying game like Dungeons & Dragons is a dangerous profession. Travelling through dangerous landscapes, delving into infested tombs, and challenging mighty beasts – why would anyone choose such a life? Why would someone give up their life of relative safety to place themselves into the jaws of the unknown, sometimes literally? Answering why they emerged from their life of solitude as a hermit or ended their career as soldier poses more questions than you started with. These questions will lead to crafting more compelling roleplaying game characters through the introduction of flaws, personal conviction and opening the door to meaningful decisions.
Worldbuilding: Customizing the D&D Elf and Elven Culture
Whats is an elf?
If you’re familiar with my post about dwarves you know from my perspective the issue with integrating them into my game world was a lack of information. I spent a huge amount of time trying to understand what a dwarf was (really) and how I could answer some of the often unaddressed questions about them. It turned out to be a lengthy project and addressing all the quandaries I found, as well as creating a vision I felt comfortable with, took some time and a good bit of reading. The elf was completely contrary to any experience I may have had with the dwarf. I felt not just overwhelmed but dizzy with all the varied concepts.
Live Stream D&D is a Playstyle All its Own
Back in 2010 the notion of Dungeons & Dragons, or any roleplaying game, as a spectator event would draw incredulous looks – even from dyed-in-the-wool players. There were a few videos floating around from Wizards of the Coast to show examples of D&D being played, and some podcasts of people playing or talking about the gaming hobby. Fast forward to 2017, and live stream roleplaying games have grown into a viable form of entertainment. The big dog in the room, Critical Role, generally draws audiences in the 30,000 viewer range for their live games on Thursday nights at 7 p.m. pacific. The VOD on the Geek & Sundry YouTube channel dwarfs these numbers; the first episode is sitting at 6.1 million views. The new campaign just started too – were your #silhouettewatch predictions correct?
The D&D Beholder – Randomized!
I have a love for all that is weird and other in the D&D fantasy worlds we share. One of my favorite creatures from the Dungeons & Dragons mythos is the beholder. As an avid reader of H.P. Lovecraft and the many other authors who followed in his footsteps, Arthur Machen, Robert Bloch and Stephen King, to name a few, it should come as no surprise that ball of tentacles, eyes and madness should attract my attention.
Worldbuilding: Tyrannical D&D Goblinoids and Dragon God
Building the darkness in D&D
I’ve been doing some D&D worldbuilding recently and one of my favorite elements to work on is the raid/conquest-driven peoples. For my own part the mental blueprint I draw from is the more romantic version of Mongols, Vikings, or Visigoths. I say the romantic version because, despite what pop culture may want you to believe, these were well-organized peoples. Complex internal structures were used to support raids which were more often a means to extend influence and power rather than fill the bellies and purses of the raiding warriors.
Philosophy of Pen and Paper Roleplaying Game Hobby No. 1
Introduction of “why” in roleplaying games
While often the conversation of the roleplaying hobby revolves around the question of “how,” I find I spend most of my time asking “why.” While discussion of effective Game Mastering, playing a compelling character, and the like can be useful tools, these are simply to treat the symptoms of the obstacles we face in this hobby. Understanding why we take on such an odd and complex undertaking and dare to call it fun gives us insight on what drives us and when we know why, we know when we fall short of why. This concept of why is what we’re here to explore: Why do we play, Why do you play, and why is this important for roleplaying gamers.
Worldbuilding: Customizing the D&D Dwarf and Dwarven Culture
While speaking with a friend about game world ideas for Dungeons & Dragons I mentioned I had done some preliminary work on defining the human cultures of my game world to which he immediately asked “what kind of dwarves will you use?” I honestly hadn’t even considered anyone’s perception of a dwarf would vary greatly from my own so I went with what felt like a natural and reflexive answer. “Oh you know, standard quasi-norse-scottish dwarves”.
Keep Your Campaign on Track: Dead End Plots in D&D
A campaign in fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons, or any roleplaying game, turns on the words and deeds of the characters whose actions move the narrative forward – usually in ways the Game Master never expects. I’d say quite a few D&D adventures go in different directions almost immediately upon starting play. A GM can consider and plan for a million possibilities, and I’m never surprised when players do the million and first thing. Giving players agency in your game is vital, but what do you do when the adventurers venture far afield of the quests you prepared, or get stymied by obstacles, puzzles and other challenges impeding progress? Did the adventure hit a dead end?
Keep Your Campaign On Track: Missing Players
Hello nerds! Nerditor Doug here, welcoming back guest poster Elyunn who shared a great story along with tips and advice for getting started with Fantasy Grounds. She is back with us again, and this time around she adds to the Keep Your Campaign on Track series.
Elyunn spoke with some folks over at Fantasy Grounds College to glean their insights on a situation all roleplaying game groups experience at some point or another…
Worldbuilding: Fantasy Calendars for D&D
Salutations nerds! Today, we’re going to talk about another facet of worldbuilding often overlooked at the gaming table for fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons or whatever roleplaying game you fancy. I present to you, the humble calendar. If you clicked on this article, I’m going to assume you’re at least interested in using one. I’m not going to try to convince you creating your own calendars is good idea. You’re either into it or you’re not. Instead we’re going to get into the fun brainstorming part of the article I love so much.
Tomb of Annihilation Companion a Guide for All Dungeon Masters
Guest poster Brian McGee started playing fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons with my home group earlier this year, quickly discovering enthusiastic enjoyment from the world’s greatest roleplaying game. After a few sessions playing in my Spelljammer campaign, a one-shot as a tribe of grung and a pickup session of Sunless Citadel he went all-in as a Dungeon Master. We all had a terrific time playing in his iteration of Matt Colville’s Delian Tomb, and when his turn behind the screen came back around Brian wanted to run Tomb of Annihilation. We decided to use the same party we started his game with and took them on the journey to Chult. When the Tomb of Annihilation Companion landed on my desk, we’d just played our first session. Since Brian expressed an interest in doing some writing for Nerdarchy I passed the guide along to him as both a resource for our game and his first writing assignment. – Nerditor Doug
Keep Your Campaign On Track: Side Stories
A Dungeons & Dragons campaign can hinge around the players (and their characters) all being present. That can’t always be the case. If you find yourself missing one or more players at an important time in the campaign – such as the session when the party plans to storm the nemesis’ fortress and take back the stolen artifact – consider a side story. A side story is an encapsulated session dealing with events at another time and place without having a direct effect on the current scene. This could be a backstory session revolving around a particular character or a scene from another part of the campaign world.
Review: Creature Components vol. 1: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
Creature Components Vol. 1 from Playground Adventures is a supplement detailing the use of spell components taken from fantastic creatures to power spells and magical items for fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder. The supplement gives rules and examples for the effects that components taken from many creatures may have in spells as well as new feats and magic items that emphasize the benefits of collecting components from creatures.
If you have watched Critical Role, you may have seen Vox Machina hunting monsters such as a white dragon for the Slayer’s Take and harvesting their remains. Looking into the Dungeon Master’s Guide or Player’s Handbook you might ask yourself why they would do this. Now you can bring those ideas into your game!
