Somethingsomethingsomething - Tumblr Posts
Something, Something, Something - My Primary Problem with Pathfinder
As me and my gaming groups are steadily gaining speed through the progression of our mutual understanding of the game system we have grown to adore, we also steadily expose the various flaws within it. Now this occurs with all systems after time, soon sooner than later, but Pathfinder has taken at least 3 years to truly have a ‘What the hell?’ moment occur mid game. Some of these are minor, like typos within expansions and inconsistent rules that only happen in obscure circumstances, but these aren’t the issue i’m addressing here today.
The issue I have with Pathfinder started off when I was introducing my players to the system, covering classes, races, and standard mechanics like dice rolling and ability scores. Things clicked pretty early off, we even got to easily cover the attacks of opportunity rulings, which is a s ore point across all generations. However, something consistently reared its ugly head, becoming a more and more pressing headache as more and more players looked at their sheets and statistics and tilted their heads, straining their eyes, trying to will the words to make sense.
The problem is, put broadly, inefficiency. In specifics, there are too many rules.
The best example (best is a strained term here) is mechanics dependent on levels. Could a DM, one experienced in the system, be realistically expected to easily teach the difference between Hit Dice, Character Level, Caster Level, Combat Rating, Class Level and Base Attack Bonus? Perhaps, maybe i’m an anomaly here, but I must point my troubles as it has been scratching away at my head for almost a week now. It would take someone very perceptive or knowledgeable about complex RPG jargon to immediately differentiate between these outwardly similar mechanics.
But I still don’t hate Pathfinder.
We’ve gotten over these persistent hurdles, even if they do clatter up between our legs every now and then when someone mistakes one of them for another. Now at my table we just have to deal with my bosses always killing themselves by accident.
Enjoy.
Pixie x
10/7/15
Something, Something, Something - A New King
Somehow, I happen to find myself being asked to sit on the opposite side of the game for the evening coming up. Naturally, I did a double-take, realigned my hearing and coughed a hearty ‘What?’ towards the somewhat enthusiastic friend. He repeated his sentiment, slightly sterner this second time. I would never say no, especially in our group’s period of organisational troubles, to a healthy opportunity to rock some tables and roll some dice upon the said rocking tables. So, I said yes.
This friend, who soon is going to experience his first bout of player management and adventure design is approaching it well. He is approaching the same concepts I have focused on, like timing, encounters, design, plot, longevity and fun, and I couldn’t be more excited for what he can throw at us.
I will be sure to respect his judgment and authority, as I know how tough yet fair he can be. I’ll be sure to remember that i will deserve all he throws at me and will hope to bring home a story of excitement, enthusiasm and encouragement.
So, if anybody you know, even yourself, if you know yourself, ever wants to take their chances at the helm of the beast we call ‘Dungeon Mastering’, and is willing to learn and entertain, welcome their efforts and bring all the best you can to the table with you. You’ll have fun, your friends will have fun, and you’ll all leave feeling good about yourselves, no matter how much blood is left in your character’s skin-sack of a corpse at the bottom of a roadside ditch, full of Kobold spears and spider venom.
Also, one a side note, the reason why I may be worried is that my character is wearing Plate Mail ‘cause he fat, and the DM just dropped a hint or two about swimming and water. *sigh* This should be fun.
Something, Something, Something - What Have I Been Doing?
I have theoretically been busy. However, the reality of the matter is that I have been lazing about, enjoying a de-stressed life as a university student, doing light amounts of work, getting used to the lifestyle, and playing games. I could blab about the demands of the education and the constraints it places on my fragile, blessed free-time, but I shan’t. Instead, allow me to recount what has taken up a large sum of my creative output over the last few months and days.
New Campaign Success
My university has a tabletop and board gaming society, which makes me very happy indeed. They are wonderful people and I couldn’t be happier. As of October, 2016, the society announced the beginning of that year’s RP games - of which I had organised to partake in as a DM, running Pathfinder (because of course.)
This campaign is one that I had been quietly working on for a sizable amount of time, with a hefty level of detail manufactured into every fibre of its construct. I titled it ‘Silver in the Mists’, and I must add that it has been one of the greatest games I have played in for a long time, perhaps even of all-time. This is in no small part due to the sheer quality of players that I have. All of which are first-years - like myself - and all of which are friendly, intelligent, supportive of eachother, and respectful to all involved. None are whom I would label as ‘problem players’, and each and every one is fantastic to run for.
A Good Adventure is Worth Three Good Stories
I have always been told that pride is equivocal with that of base sins. It is a reclusive, selfish blend of greed and lust, shaped by ignorance and isolation from truth. Sod that, i’m father-fucking proud of my work.
I could wax about how I have written the greatest story and how the story will impress the players. Sod that too. No, I wrote a damned good adventure within a simple, non-complex narrative frame that drives mechanical themes for the players to sit down with and never be lost within the high concepts or alien environments.
The setting was clear; a decade ago, the distant colony you call home was settled by three allied kingdoms of generic, pre-apocalypse fantasy-land. Here, the ‘civilised’ armies waged a grueling conflict against the indigenous natives and were winning. Desperate and facing certain defeat, the native leaders sought the guidance of their forgotten gods, begging for a solution. The deific beings answered by pouring forth a cascade of deathly mists onto the lowlands, swelling over the conquered lands and reclaimed cities taken by the invading armies. These mists killed all within, leaving the only survivors being those who lived atop the southern mountain range along the coast.
Themes of a low-power, gritty, hardcore game were introduced immediately. The players would fight through as their journey was impeded by hostile wildlife - both weird and deadly -, the relentless, unpredictable weather, and the isolation from traders, healers, and other utilities taken from granted.
This setting is simple, understandable, and the players loved the fact that they always knew where they were, what they were doing, and why. I never had to correct their interpretations of information, nor did I have to reiterate things that I had already had mentioned.
First Time for Everything ...
I decided, veeeeerrry early on, to have the first chapter be overclouded by one, singular mechanic; the players had two-weeks to complete their job, otherwise, they would not be paid, and their employer would send in the cavalry to clean-up.
This worked wonders, with the players purposefully choosing less-than optimal choices based solely on the time limit they were burdened with, whilst also keeping them informed with a context as to the extent of their journey. Also, the return journey they went on was tense, with a blizzard making the journey horrible, impacting their ranged combat, blinding their senses, and freezing their bodies as they slept. I loved how the worked with it. Great stuff.
... But Some Things Cannot Change
I cannot roll dice for shit when a boss-encounter happens. I had a 60 hp mini-boss brute of an orc get bested by level 1 adventurers because he couldn’t roll above an 8.
But seriously.
My big-bad got killed by a horse-hoof.
It’s been a lot of fun.
Anyway, let’s get back to the regular posts. See you all soon.
Something, Something, Something - One Page Man
I’ve entered into an open competition. How delightful!
The competition is the One Page Dungeon Contest, and is open to everyone who can put pen to paper, paper to PDF, and can follow simple instructions. My entry is one of my favoured small dungeon complexes - The Underchurch. Its a challenging introduction to many of my mechanics that i will use throughout an extended campaign, as well as a suitable entry into the themes and threats of my world.
If you feel like entering for a share of the prize pool, entry is open until the 1st of May this year, and opens every year. I wish you all the best of luck, and I highly encourage you to check it all out if it sounds intriguing - there is a lot of inspiration readily available for your head to chew through, so enjoy!
Pixie x
Something, Something, Something - Thank you, everyone, for 3000 followers!
It is quite the milestone for me, especially as this is now part of my weekly routine and I do, personally, appreciate the effort I put into this blog being rewarded (even if it is just numbers on the internet.). And, because I feel like it, I shall begin to start posting more often with more variety in my work. Sure, i’ll continue the Sunday Respites, but i’ll put some concepts to test and see if I can increase the content output somewhat over the next few months. Once again, cheers and pleasantries, all around!
Pixie x