tokens, virtually; minis or whatever is handy in person.
I got a 3D printer explicitly for creating "larger scale" minis, lol. And so I try to have them available -- since I can model something fairly fast, it lets me create some nice pretty stuff for my players.
However, I hate painting minis. So most of them are a gray color, lol.
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Only a DM since 1980 (3000+ Sessions) / PhD, MS, MA / Mixed, Bi, Trans, Woman / No longer welcome in the US, apparently
Wyrlde: Adventures in the Seven Cities .-=] Lore Book | Patreon | Wyrlde YT [=-. An original Setting for 5e, a whole solar system of adventure. Ongoing updates, exclusies, more. Not Talking About It / Dubbed The Oracle in the Cult of Mythology Nerds
I run a lot of virtual games (I think I am up to about six) - those are 99% of the time, theater of the mind.
But if they are traveling through some form of maze or cave system, I will use a virtual map (Roll20) and use tokens.
In my face to face games I run, both of those use minis (for combat only, when needed) with the rest being theater of the mind.
We only use minis for combat too.
I like using minis for exploration too. If they are exploring a town or an expansive forest, it helps to know where they are. Or in a tavern full of interesting people, it helps know who is where.
I run a lot of virtual games (I think I am up to about six) - those are 99% of the time, theater of the mind.
But if they are traveling through some form of maze or cave system, I will use a virtual map (Roll20) and use tokens.
In my face to face games I run, both of those use minis (for combat only, when needed) with the rest being theater of the mind.
We only use minis for combat too.
I like using minis for exploration too. If they are exploring a town or an expansive forest, it helps to know where they are. Or in a tavern full of interesting people, it helps know who is where.
That’s not a bad idea. I’ll mention that to my DM.
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I really like D&D, especially Ravenloft, Exandria and the Upside Down from Stranger Things. My pronouns are she/they (genderfae).
I run a lot of virtual games (I think I am up to about six) - those are 99% of the time, theater of the mind.
But if they are traveling through some form of maze or cave system, I will use a virtual map (Roll20) and use tokens.
In my face to face games I run, both of those use minis (for combat only, when needed) with the rest being theater of the mind.
We only use minis for combat too.
I like using minis for exploration too. If they are exploring a town or an expansive forest, it helps to know where they are. Or in a tavern full of interesting people, it helps know who is where.
The one thing I like - when I do theater of mind (no combat) - but I say something like, "You hear voices coming from up ahead."
The players can ask me "Is there a tree I can climb next to me?" or "Is there a rock to hide behind?"
And I will usually think, depending on where they're at - ask them to make a Nature check of some kind. For example if they're in a forest, and they ask if there's a tree near them, there's a good chance there is - but is there one with branches low enough to grab and climb? Give me a Nature Check, DC 12.
So I can plot a tree down next to them, if needed, with theater of mind, while exploring. You could draw it on a map, or whatever, but I feel like that slows it down.
If you don’t know where I am, I’m either sleeping or roleplaying. If I’m doing neither of those things, except the worst. (Do not actually expect the worst) If you need to talk then PM me. Head Acolyte of The Tree Cult.
I hit a bad patch of life, and it pulled me down even as it gave me some time to finish a few projects. Those are still ongoing, but the worst part of it was i lost my home.
Now, i did manage to scrape out a couple grand from it for myself, and so I am now a mobile Toni — I have shifted to RV life, in a beat down, worn out, 30 year old motorhome with stunningly low miles. It is an absolute “project” — but it is also a home until i grab a piece of land to settle it on and finish out my time on this globe.
Will be doing mobile D&D from it, too — sometime this summer I will start running virtual games and in-person games for folks in my neck of the woods as I slowly ease into full time retirement (I am presently partially retired).
I am going to be coming up here more often as well — i have reached a point where I have a need to share some stuff for free.
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Only a DM since 1980 (3000+ Sessions) / PhD, MS, MA / Mixed, Bi, Trans, Woman / No longer welcome in the US, apparently
Wyrlde: Adventures in the Seven Cities .-=] Lore Book | Patreon | Wyrlde YT [=-. An original Setting for 5e, a whole solar system of adventure. Ongoing updates, exclusies, more. Not Talking About It / Dubbed The Oracle in the Cult of Mythology Nerds
I hit a bad patch of life, and it pulled me down even as it gave me some time to finish a few projects. Those are still ongoing, but the worst part of it was i lost my home.
Now, i did manage to scrape out a couple grand from it for myself, and so I am now a mobile Toni — I have shifted to RV life, in a beat down, worn out, 30 year old motorhome with stunningly low miles. It is an absolute “project” — but it is also a home until i grab a piece of land to settle it on and finish out my time on this globe.
Will be doing mobile D&D from it, too — sometime this summer I will start running virtual games and in-person games for folks in my neck of the woods as I slowly ease into full time retirement (I am presently partially retired).
I am going to be coming up here more often as well — i have reached a point where I have a need to share some stuff for free.
I hit a bad patch of life, and it pulled me down even as it gave me some time to finish a few projects. Those are still ongoing, but the worst part of it was i lost my home.
Now, i did manage to scrape out a couple grand from it for myself, and so I am now a mobile Toni — I have shifted to RV life, in a beat down, worn out, 30 year old motorhome with stunningly low miles. It is an absolute “project” — but it is also a home until i grab a piece of land to settle it on and finish out my time on this globe.
Will be doing mobile D&D from it, too — sometime this summer I will start running virtual games and in-person games for folks in my neck of the woods as I slowly ease into full time retirement (I am presently partially retired).
I am going to be coming up here more often as well — i have reached a point where I have a need to share some stuff for free.
Oh wow, that's heavy. I'm glad you are still able to pull the scraps together though. You're adamantine.
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"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
Question Of The Day: Is it good that D&D is the go to TTRPG for newcomers to the hobby? Do D&D's flaws make it a bad first choice? Are other systems better suited in your opinion for first timers? Or is it the perfect first timer system?
(Making the assumption that they play the standard 2014 edition, not that "one D&D" is even that different)
If you don’t know where I am, I’m either sleeping or roleplaying. If I’m doing neither of those things, except the worst. (Do not actually expect the worst) If you need to talk then PM me. Head Acolyte of The Tree Cult.
Question Of The Day: Is it good that D&D is the go to TTRPG for newcomers to the hobby? Do D&D's flaws make it a bad first choice? Are other systems better suited in your opinion for first timers? Or is it the perfect first timer system? (Making the assumption that they play the standard 2014 edition, not that "one D&D" is even that different)
Why D&D is the closest to the good choice for TTRPGs.
First of all, D&D (5e) is probably the most popular and well known TTRPG to the "general public." So when they think of playing - what's probably generated their interest is seeing something D&D related (whether it's someone on Youtube, some famous person who spoke of it, or the movie, or how there's a whole D&D thing at Universal Studios) - without a doubt, someone brand new to TTRPGs is having their interest generated by something specific to D&D. (Obviously, edge cases like an older brother/sister/family member introducing someone to some other gaming system - but this is why I said the general public).
The plus side, D&D has a ton of books and modules and resources to pull from. So someone looking to play D&D, if they know someone who can run it, there's both a ton of Race and Class options to choose from. So the world feels like it's something that you can play with very little limit to your imagination.
But is it perfect? Probably not. But no gaming system is really. Someone is always going to find something wrong or to complain about.
Been wanting to run the Lord of the Rings 5e (got all the physical books) but all my current games I run are knee deep in normal D&D - so I gathered 4 players on Discord, and we're doing a play by post. So every Monday, I summarize what happened, and create the next post for players to react to.
Here's the first session I wrote - that basically brings the players together.
Session 01: The Summons.
October 29, 2965 of the Third Age …
On a hill, was a former watch tower, long destroyed, leaving behind a circle of rubble, a place known as Weathetop. It frequently rained here, so it was nasty, dirty and wet.
Maethordan, a human Ranger of the North, was posted here, along with several other Rangers, including his Captain, a fellow Ranger of the North named Strider. The people of the land often viewed the Rangers of the North with a mixture of suspicion – and considered them “dangerous” due to their lifestyle and tendency to operate in the shadows. Rangers of the North rarely kept much company, but would often have allies.
One such ally was here at Weathertop now – an unusual man that Maethordan had seen a number of times, especially in the company of Strider. An old man that everyone seemed to know – perhaps more mysterious than the Rangers of the North – a man, a wizard they say, named Gandalf.
His expression was grim as he spoke to Strider in hushed tones. Maethordan, and three other Rangers of the North, patrolled around Weathertop as Strider and Gandalf spoke.
“Well,” Gandalf finally said his demeanor much more different now, his voice cheerful. “I must be going, as always, a pleasure to speak with you, Strider.”
As Gandalf departed from the top of Weathertop, he patted Maethordan on the shoulder and seemed to wink at him. Maethordan watched Gandalf descend down Weathertop – not an easy journey, even for someone who has traversed up and down Weathertop many times – but Gandalf, despite his old age and relying heavily on his wooden staff, seemed to effortlessly descend down Weathertop as if it were a perfectly maintained path.
Strider’s voice broke Maethordan’s thoughts, as he turned to face his Captain. “Halldor, I need you to go to Staddle and keep a watch on the surrounding area. Sigurd, venture to Combe, and do the same. Hergrim, go with Sigurd to Combe, but continue north to Archet.” He paused and Maethordan looked at Strider expectantly. Strider approached Maethordan and placed his hand on his shoulder. “I have a special mission for you, Maethordan. I need you to go to Bree, to the Prancing Pony. There, Gandalf has sent notes for several others to gather there. You are to escort them here.”
Maethordan sighed. He did not care for venturing into Bree. Civilized life was not for him. “How will I know them?”
“Look for a barding and two people of Bree, hopefully seated with one another if Barliman Butterbur remembered what Gandalf told him,” Strider said. Strider and Maethordan watched as Halldor, Sigurd and Hergrim departed, before Strider turned back to Maethordan. “Gandalf warns me that his travel from Rivendell to here was troubling. He mentioned that in the South Downs, a great many howls that made him feel queer, were heard at all hours of the night. These were not wolf howls he heard, he assures me – it was something darker, more sinister. Beware taking the road from Bree to here as well, as it may also be lined with trouble. We have seen ruffians waiting for merchants on these roads of late, looking to ambush the unwary. With the news Gandalf shared with me, I can’t help but wonder if the ruffian’s brazen courage is connected to the dark howls that Gandalf reports in the South Downs. While you may be skilled at moving stealthily, those that you are to bring with you may not be so skilled. You must use caution traveling back here.”
Maethordan nodded, turned and begin to pack his few belongings into his bag, before turning to face Strider. “I will not fail you, or Gandalf,” he said firmly.
“I know you won’t,” Strider said, with a strained smile.
Maethordan descended down Weathertop and decided to move through the Weather Hills, then into the Midgewater Marshes, where he avoided goblins, serpents and spiders, though his movement was drastically slowed due to the terrain and caution. It had taken nearly seven days before he arrived at the gates of Bree. The Gate-Keeper slid open the slot to peer outside.
“Who goes there?” the gate keeper called.
Maethordan could tell, by the voice that it had not been Harry Goatleaf, for which he was thankful. There’d always been something about Harry Goatleaf that bothered Maethordan, but he could never place just what it was.
“My name is Maethordan, and I seek a room at the Prancing Pony on this rainy night, gate-keeper,” he replied.
The gate-keeper opened the door and gasped as Maethordan walked in. “You’re one of them…”
“Yes,” Maethordan said plainly, “and here are three copper coins to keep that quiet, Master Gate-Keeper.”
October 15, 2965 of the Third Age …
Inside the shattered, grey tower of Mith Tirin, Lodin, son of Brodin, sat before the crackling fire. He poked and prodded at the flame, sending small flecks of ash into the air that burned out quickly. The fire did little to warm his bones on this dreary day. Mith Tirin was a tower that once stood between Gramsfoot and Gabilshathûr.
Lodin had traveled North from Lake Town to Dale, where he had rested for several days. From there, he’d spent weeks traveling North East, before reaching Skarháld, where he spent several nights in the company of dwarves. It was there he first heard about news of increased attacks by goblins in the area against the dwarves. In the three nights he’d spent there, the goblins had indeed made one attack against the dwarves, and Lodin had been there to help fend off the attack. From there, he traveled East with several dwarven merchants who were headed for Annâk-khurfu. The dwarves shared stories of their skills at the forge, while Lodin shared some of the story of his past, and his desire to one day find a worthy foe, such as a dragon, to destroy, similar to how Bard had done. From there, he traveled North to Grúmachath, where yet again, he would spend time in the company of Dwarves. From there, the rest of his journey was far lonelier, as he passed through the Iron Pass that cut between the Mountains of Angmar. Had it not been for his trusty mare, Dolly, who was quite old, and had been in the family for many years, Lodin doubted he could have made it through the Iron Pass. Not that it was dangerous and he rode on Dolly to escape – hardly that at all. He never rode Dolly, really. She was more his one, true, faithful companion and friend, than she was a mount. No, it had been his journey through the Iron Pass, and how desolate and lonely it felt. The silence was pressing against him as he journeyed through there, he felt as he was being watched the entire time, and sleep was virtually impossible. He was thankful to have been out of the Iron Pass, and traveled for several days, before finding the abandoned tower of Mith Tirin to take shelter in from the rain that greeted him on the other side of the Iron Pass.
Dolly made a sound, and ran her hoof through the dirt. Lodin immediately leapt to his feet and drew his sword that was sheathed in Dolly’s saddle. The long sword flickered in the camp fire’s light; the tip of the blade was touching the grey hair of a human who had snuck up on him.
“Well,” the old man said, “hardly a kind way to treat an old friend, Lodin, son of Brodin.”
“Gandalf,” Lodin lowered the blade, “I should have known. No one else could have gotten this close to me, except for you. What are you doing here?”
“Me?” Gandalf looked confused for a moment, as if pondering the question. “Well, I suppose I am looking for a warm fire to heat these old bones of mine,” he finally answered, “and to speak with you, of course.”
“Me?” Lodin asked, as he sheathed his blade. “What do you want with me?”
“The very thing you pointed at me,” Gandalf laughed as he sat by the fire, sitting exactly where Lodin had originally been sitting. Gandalf poked at the fire. “Your sword arm is what I need, son of Brodin. As it would turn out, I have some friends who are gathering in Bree, and they could use someone capable with a blade.” Gandalf smiled, “You carry more than your grandfather’s name, Lodin,” he said, more quietly. “The crest you carry close to your heart, speaks to you of the great deeds your own grandfather did.”
“You knew him,” Lordin asked, unconsciously touching his chest, where he had indeed, hid the crest of his family – a small unicorn.
“Everyone knew him,” Gandalf responded with a smile. “He was wild. Adventurous. He did a great many things, he did, with the time he was given. And now, here you are, in Mith Tirin, with the family steed,” he looked over at the mare, “Hello, Dolly, it’s good to see you, too.” The mare seemed to share her head and nod, her beautiful mane falling to one side, as if she were shy of Gandalf’s comment. “She’s like the crest you know,” Gandalf added. “There’s none like her – she is unique, I dare say; loyal and strong beyond most mares her age. It’s no coincidence that she is with you on this journey. I suspect she will be quite important in the days ahead.”
“I haven’t even agreed to this, but you speak as if I have,” Lodin replied.
Gandalf looked at Dolly, who then looked at Lodin. “You can not possibly be on his side,” Lodin sighed deeply, looking at Dolly. She made a sound in response and ran her hoof through the sand. Lodin turned to look at Gandalf, “Fine. You mentioned your friends are in Bree? How will I know them?”
“Go to Bree and seek out the Prancing Pony Inn,” Gandalf replied. “Barliman Butterbur is the owner. Speak with him. He will have rooms ready for all of you. He will ensure you meet with the others.”
“How many in this company?” Lodin asked.
“With you, four,” Gandalf replied. Dolly made a sound. “Sorry, five, including Dolly.” Dolly seemed much happier now. Gandalf laughed.
The following morning, just as both Dolly and Lodin expected, Gandalf was gone.
October 21, 2965 of the Third Age …
Hobart Rushlight slumped into his chair which he’d built with his own hands. Hobart Rushlight lived in a small, unremarkable cabin in the forested area of Chetwood, east of Bree. He had barely returned from delivering notices in Bree to people who had been cordially invited to the birthday of one Bilbo Baggins. Bilbo is a vigorous Hobbit—at seventy-five he is very much the same as he was at fifty, and he was looking forward to another party. Turning seventy five was quite an ordeal, and Hobart had been from Chetwood, to Bree, to the Shire, delivering invites to those who were welcome to Bilbo Baggin’s birthday party.
Hobart Rushlight was beyond exhausted and all he had wanted to do now was go to sleep. Just as his eyes finally began to close, he heard a man’s voice. “Quite an ordeal that Bilbo Baggins with his birthday is it not?”
Hobart Rushlight sat up and reached for his sword. He was surprised to see an old man standing in his doorway – an old man he’d recognized. “Gandalf,” Hobart Rushlight grumbled and collapsed back into his chair. “If you’re looking for your invitation, it’s with Barliman Butterbur at the Prancing Pony. Bilbo figured you stop by there frequently enough, that that would probably be the best place in order for the invitation to find you. Now, if you would be on your way, I am rather exhausted from all of my travels.”
“What if I told you I was in need of your service, Hobart Rushlight?” Gandalf asked.
“I would tell you that any letters or messages you need to be delivered are going to need a wait a day or two or find another messenger to deliver them,” Hobart Rushlight replied, matter-of-factly.
“It’s not your ability to deliver messages I am need of,” Gandalf countered, as he leaned against his staff, then nudged Hobart Rushlight’s foot to awaken him. “It’s your other… more… refined skills.”
Hobart Rushlight opened one eye to look at the grey wizard. “What does that mean?”
Gandalf smiled, “You are quite like Master Baggins,” Gandalf said, frankly. “You are quick on your feet and have a knack for opening locked doors and the like.”
“I am not a thief if that’s what you’re implying,” Hobart Rushlight countered.
“No such thing,” Gandalf pulled himself upright. “Only that, I have some friends gathering at the Prancing Pony, and where they’re going, they may need someone like you who can move quietly around and look around, and perhaps open doors that may not be open to them. All on the up and up, as it were, Master Rushlight.”
“You only ever call me ‘Master Rushlight’ when you want something of me,” Hobart laughed. “If I agree to this meeting at the Prancing Pony with these friends of yours, will you let me get some rest.”
“Indeed,” Gandalf said as if it were obvious.
“Fine, then I agree,” and Hobart Rushlight closed his eyes again, only to be hit by Gandalf’s staff once more. “You said you’d let me rest.”
“Oh, I didn’t mean now,” Gandalf laughed. “I mean when you reaching the Prancing Pony. I’ve already spoken to Barliman Butterbur – thank you for dropping off my invite to Master Baggin’s party there, he’d almost forgotten to give it to me – at any rate, I spoke to Barliman Butterbur – and arranged for you and the others to have rooms at the Prancing Pony. Speak to Barliman Butterbur when you get there, he will get you in contact with the others.”
Hobart Rushlight heaved a deep sigh and stood up and began to prepare his belongings to head for Bree and the Prancing Pony.
October 25, 2965 of the Third Age …
Fay Foxglow was gathering the last bit of supplies from her apothecary that she’d opened a few years ago, in honor of her grandfather. The bell that hung by the front door rang and caught Fay by surprise – she’d locked the front door – how had it opened? In the doorway, she immediately knew her answer. “Gandalf,” she said her heart no longer about to leap from her chest. “What are you doing here?”
“Why, looking for you, of course,” he replied, as if it had been obvious. “That’s why I came inside.”
“The door was locked,” Fay countered.
“Was it?” Gandalf looked over his shoulder at the door. “You should probably get that looked at.”
Fay was about to say something else, knowing that Gandalf himself had somehow “magic’ed” his way through the locking mechanism. She stopped what she was doing and looked up. “What can I do for you?”
“Do for me?” Gandalf smiled. “What can I do for you?” he asked.
“Well, for starters, you could stop coming in through locked doors,” she laughed. She was well aware of who Gandalf was. He was quite well known throughout Bree – he often brought fireworks and livened up any celebration that took place in the town’s center.
“It looks like you’re going somewhere,” he gestured to her bag that she had been putting in some of the plants she had wanted to take with her on the road. “Good, you must have gotten my message already then?”
“Your message?” Fay looked confused. “I have received no message from you.”
“Then why are you packing, daughter of Edwin?” he asked, seemingly confused.
“Because there’s nothing more for me here,” she shrugged, and continued packing her bag. “Mother is gone. Father was slain by an orc. Grandfather passed the same way as mother. My friend has gone missing.” She looked up and shrugged, “There is nothing for me in Bree save for sad memories. I am going to leave, perhaps return south, to where grandfather sometimes spoke of.”
Gandalf smiled and leaned heavily on his staff, as if he had suddenly aged, “Hirluin,” he said, recalling the name of Fay’s grandfather. “I do miss him.”
“You knew him?” Fay asked.
“Oh yes,” Gandalf’s expression lit up. “I definitely knew him. Traveled together we did for a short while. He was quite knowledgeable about plants of all kinds.” He tapped Fay’s bag with his staff, “I see he parted that knowledge upon you. And your mother, dear Hayley, she would be proud of your sewn work. I see it in your clothing. I see her weaves through what you have done to patch your own clothing, and make that cloak you wear. And the blanket, you have there – the one you’re taking with you. Looks to have been started by her, but has your finishing touches on it.”
Fay pulled her blanket close to her. “How could you know that?”
“Child, I knew your mother and father, and your grandfather quite well,” he said, heaving a deep sigh, momentarily lost in the memories. “She sewed more than a torn bit or two in these old, grey robes I wear. Her needlework is quite well known and was sought after when she was still with us.” Gandalf shook his head and cleared his mind of the memories and firmly planted his staff on the ground. “Well, if you didn’t get my message and you’re leaving – where do you plan to go? Just south?”
“For beginners,” Fay shrugged.
“What if I asked you to join my companions? On a little adventure? They could undoubtedly use your knowledge of plants, and probably needlework as well,” he smiled. “Perhaps on this journey, you might discover some answers you didn’t know you were looking for?”
“Who are these companions of yours?” Fay asked.
“One of them, you know – or at least know of him. Hobart Rushlight, born in Bree, lives out in Chetwood,” Gandalf explained. She nodded her head – she had met Hobart a few times when he was passing through Bree and stopped at the Prancing Pony. They’d shared some drinks and laughs together. “Another is a barding who has come a great way named Lodin. Together, you will meet with a Ranger of the North by the name of Maethordan. He will escort all of you to Weathertop.”
“What waits for us at Weather top?” Fay asked, confused. Weathertop was a ruined watch tower that had fallen into disarray.
“Ideally, I will meet you there, after I tend to some other business. If I am not there, you will speak with Strider,” Gandalf explained.
Fay shoved her blanket into her bag and nodded. “I’m interested.”
“Oh, good,” Gandalf said and reached into his pocket. “Ah, there’s the summons! This time I can’t blame Barliman Butterbur, I forgot to give it to Hobart to deliver to you. Here,” he handed the summons to her. She opened the letter and read it, “Meet at the Prancing Pony on November 5, 2965.”
When Fay looked up from the note, Gandalf was gone and the door was once again locked. She folded the note and shook her head.
November 5, 2965…
Maethordan moved through the bustling streets of Bree and arrived at the Prancing Pony. Inside the Prancing Pony, people were moving about, drinking, singing, sharing stories of this and that, and not a single person stopped to look at Maethordan.
Maethordan moved through the crowd and spotted Barliman Butterbur. He placed his hand on Barliman Butterbur to stop the rotund man from moving; despite his size, he moved with a quickness inside the Prancing Pony.
“Oh!” Barliman Butterbur let out a squeal of surprise. “You startled me, sir. What can I do for you?”
“Gandalf told me to speak with you, about meeting some people here,” Maethordan answered.
“Meeting people here?” Barliman Butterbur gave it some thought. Then he thought about it more. Then he thought about how Gandalf might turn him into a newt if he didn’t remember what was asked of him. Then he thought about what his life would be like a newt. Then he wondered if Nob could possibly run the Prancing Pony? His mind screamed in horror and brought him back to the real world. “Oh, yes!” He finally said, “I do remember! I do remember! They’re over there, by the fire place.”
Maethordan turned to see a barding, and two people of Bree – a man and a woman – sitting at a table – looking at one another.
Everyone go ahead and describe what your character looks like, what they might be doing (eating, drinking, etc).
I gathered everyone's replies, and their dialogue with one another, and when one of the players left with an NPC, had everyone roll perception checks, and took all of that to make...
Session Two: Familiar Faces, Troubled Times
November 5, 2965…
As Maethordan moved through the bustling streets of Bree, the people of Bree glanced at him suspiciously – but he kept his focus forward and arrived at the Prancing Pony without more than people whispering and pointing as he strode past them.
Inside the Prancing Pony it was very different; people were moving about, drinking, singing, sharing stories of this and that, and not a single person stopped to look at Maethordan.
Maethordan moved through the crowd and spotted Barliman Butterbur. He placed his hand on Barliman Butterbur to stop the rotund man from moving; despite his size, he moved with a quickness inside the Prancing Pony.
“Oh!” Barliman Butterbur let out a squeal of surprise, though through some uncanny means, spilled neither drink that was in his hands, destined for a nearby table. “You startled me, sir. What can I do for you?”
“Gandalf told me to speak with you, about meeting some people here,” Maethordan answered in hushed tones.
“Meeting people here?” Barliman Butterbur gave it some thought. Then he thought about it more. Then he thought about how Gandalf might turn him into a newt if he didn’t remember what was asked of him. Then he thought about what his life would be like a newt. Then he wondered if Nob could possibly run the Prancing Pony? His mind screamed in horror and brought him back to the real world. “Oh, yes!” He finally said, “I do remember! I do remember! They’re over there, by the fireplace.”
Maethordan turned to see a barding, and two people of Bree – a man and a woman – sitting at a table – looking at one another.
The barding, Maethordan noted, though sitting, he guessed stood five foot ten, which was decently tall for a Barding. The barding’s dark hair and tanned skin indicated that he had seen plenty of time on the road, despite his well-kept leather shirt and some common looking pants. Maethordan’s eyes were drawn to the Barding gaze which seemed focused on a hole near his left knee.
Which meant the other one was the Man of Bree – the messenger – that Gandalf had mentioned in the note. The note mentioned how this Messenger was known for his stealth – but from here, he now wondered if perhaps the wrong person was seated at the table next to the Barding. This man of Bree was anything but quiet, as his jovial voice called out to the woman next to him, “Ah, lady Foxglow! We meet again!” Hobart clinked glasses, beer from his pint spilled and splashed all over himself. “Oopsie-daisy!”
He stood and pulled a rag from his shirt to pat himself dry, then offered it to the strange-haired Bree woman next to him, who Maethordan assumed to be seamstress.
The woman blanched at the offer of the damp rag as Hobart shoved it back into his shirt and sat down again. “It is nice to see you, Master Rushlight,” she muttered over her tea, just loud enough to be heard if he was trying to listen.
Hobart had long blonde hair matched with an equally long blonde mustache, short dirty beard, and slightly unsettling chest hair which is somehow always visible no matter what outfit he was wearing.
The Messenger was a loud man, which Maethordan considered to be a problem on the road, but he was also very cheerful. So long as the man’s loud mouth did not endanger them, his positivity in this darkening world could be much needed.
The Bree-Woman looked like no other Bree-Woman, which made Maethordan suspect that she was not native to Bree. With her hair pulled back and held with a blue ribbon, she held her cup of tea between her hands, pressed to her lips as her equally blue eyes studied the stranger who had just come in - Barliman Butterbur had just pointed the man in this direction, which probably meant that this was the Ranger of the North that would soon be escorting them to Weathertop.
Fay looked at Lodin, “I think that’s him. The one that will take us where we need to go.”
That’s when she took notice that Lodin seemed focused on the tear on his pants on his left knee and she considered if it would be wrong to charge her companions for her work, the amount of which would be extensive by the looks of it. She was glad, as her hand went unconsciously to her handbag at her side, that she’d brought extra thread.
Though she’d been quite forward with Gandalf – there was something about him that always pulled that out of her – she was soft spoken, and she is quite certain that no one other than Teelia, the waitress, had heard her order her tea. Even then, there was a small chance it was more from familiarity that Teelia had known she ordered a tea. Teelia had known of Fay, but did not know her – they had both attended the classes that Anna Wintermoss taught, at the same time, but never spoke. Teelia had made several attempts to speak with Fay, but Fay always withdrew from her. Now Teelia and Fay exchanged pleasant hellos but never spoke more than that when they passed one another in Bree.
Fay wore a black cloak with fine silver work embroidered along the edge, the cloak itself in good condition despite being well used as an advertisement of her handywork, should the apothecary business be running slow.
Maethordan approached the table where three travelers sat. The clothes he wore were simple but made of good quality, dark and sturdy material which was old and had been patched multiple times. The patches on his clothes were of dark leather and are well secured with simple stitching. He carried a sheathed sword with a bow and shield on his back. Hide armor poked out from beneath his flowing cloak.
Despite time on the road, a young, handsome face could barely be made out from underneath the hood. Bright, emerald-green eyes surveyed all around and eventually focused on the group. A few stray unkempt black hairs hung down from beside the face and out of the hood. He stopped by the table and leaned in and whispered just loud enough for you all to hear, "Are you three here at the request of Gandalf the Grey?"
Without further preamble the hooded man pulled up a stool and sat as he leaned in again and whispered, "Will you be ready to move in the morning? We still have a way to go."
Fay looked up at the newcomer to the table, “Greetings,” she said softly as he joined them.
Hobart stood and greeted the Ranger loudly as he firmly shook with both hands. Hobart was 33 years old, but all his days in the sun made him look as if he might be 40, or even older.
Lodin looked at his pants and then back at Maethordan. "I'll need a change of clothes, if we are to leave early.”
Fay looked at Lodin, then back to the Ranger, who had not yet given his name, "Do you know why Gandalf has requested our assistance? It seems you have some knowledge of where we are going."
Leaning in again the young man admitted, "To be honest I do not know. All I know is that I am to take you to Weathertop Sorry, I have been remiss and not given my name, it is Maethordan."
“ I'll go talk to Butterbur,” Lodin said and stood up and walked away with purpose, looking for the proprietor.
As Lodin walked through the Prancing Pony, he could hear a local musician in the corner, singing songs of dragons and flame, and Lodin paused for a moment – the word “dragon” catching his ear. He listened to the musician for a moment, the song seemed to be a variation of the story of the Hobbit, Bilbo Baggin’s encounter with Smaug, the dreaded dragon. Lodin yearned for that – to find a dragon – and face off against it, to be worthy of the name and heritage he bore.
That’s when he saw Barliman Butterbur, as he was speaking to several people seated around a table. He turned to leave that table and gave a small squeal of surprise. "Master Lodin!" He looked around and saw that Lodin needed to seek him out. "Do you need another mead? I can send Teelia over immediately to deliver a drink if that's what you should need!"
Lodin gestured downward with his hands and said, "No, no, my good sir. My new companion seems eager to leave as soon as possible, and my clothes are in an unsightly state of disrepair. As it is past time for the local shops to open, I wonder if you have any travel clothes I could purchase so as not to be a burden on my new companions?"
Barliman Butterbur looked around the busy tavern. The candle lights flickered, casting shadows throughout the room as Barliman Butterbur's eyes strained to see through the smoke and haze of the room.
"Where is that blasted hobbit," he muttered aloud, though he'd clearly not meant for the words to be heard. "Ah, there he is! Nob," he shouted, "Nob, come here for a moment!"
A young hobbit quickly moved with ease through the crowd. His brown eyes were sharp, but his brown, earthly colored hair was disheveled. "Nob," Barliman Butterbur said, with a ton of affection, much different than he'd sounded a moment ago. It was clear that Barliman Butterbur, despite his external appearance, clearly suffered from stress very easily, internally. "Nob," he repeated, "see if you can't find Master Ellwin. He was here not too long ago. Master Lodin is in need of some traveling clothes, and Master Ellwin often had spare clothes he'd made."
Nob, without saying a word - leaving Lodin perhaps wondering if the hobbit was capable of speaking - quickly dashed away into the crowd - and before Lodin realized what was happening, returned with a tall human. "Lodin, I presume," the human extended his hand. "The name is Ellwin Greenland. I understand you're in need of some travel clothes?" He looked Lodin up and down, "You're a big fellow, with those arms, but I do believe I have some spare clothes I could offer you. Barliman Butterbur tells me you are friends of Master Gandalf. I will bill him for the clothes," he smiled. "Come with me to my shop and I can get that for you."
Back at the table, Fay cleared her throat, "My name is Fay Foxglow. I am an apothecary and scholar, at least of sorts." Finishing her introduction, her hand moved to her mouth, and she started to chew on her thumbnail while looking Maethordan over.
"Are you a Ranger? One of the men that live in the wilderness around Bree? You dress as one."
Fay studied Maethordan for another moment then looked back to the man talking with Lodin, "Ellwin is not a foe, he is a good man."
“Well, if we’re leaving soon, I would like my stomach full,” Hobart said and stood. He looked around the crowded tavern for Teelia, who had been their server. Unintentionally, Hobart obscured Fay’s view of what was happening – but Hobart saw it. Though Hobart spent most of his time on the road and little time in Bree, he’d been in town enough times to recognize trouble. As he was looking for Teelia, Fred and Harry Stoneacre , twin boys who grew up in trouble, more often than not. Hobart followed them and noted that the Ranger had already spotted them as well, gesturing that he too believed these two had ill intentions as they seemed to follow Lodin and Ellwin out the door.
As Lodin and Ellwin exited the Prancing Pony, going down the small flight of stairs, Ellwin turned to Lodin, “So where does he have you going, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“I don’t mind you asking,” Lodin began, “but I am afraid I can not say.”
“Gandalf,” Ellwin laughed, “always a mystery with that one and his companions.”
Stepping out of the shadows, a human emerged, the moonlight gleaming off the blade of a small dagger. “You’re a stranger here,” the man’s voice slurred the words. “We don’t welcome strangers here in Bree. I saw you sitting with the witch, Fay. She’s not normal either. Not from here. I bet she killed her mother and grandfather, and Anna, her friend, disappeared. Too coincidental if you ask me,” the man’s words were running into one another. “I saw your horse, stranger. You can leave that here. I will take it. But you need to go. And go tonight.”
Ellwin raised his hands. The man, stumbling out of the shadows was none other than Lenny Appleton, a local boy who found himself on the wrong side of the law, and now frequently kept company with questionable ruffians. He would be far more dangerous if he wasn’t usually drunk. Lenny was thin and lanky, his arms almost nothing more than bones, but despite his weaving due to his intoxication, he seemed to move like a serpent. His brown hair was unkempt and his hazel eyes lacked focus. His red shirt was tattered and stained, his grey leather pants riddled with holes and patches.
The door to the Prancing Pony opened, and out stepped Fred and Harry Stoneacre. The twins looked exactly alike and dressed exactly alike – their blond hair was long, both with long beards. The only way to tell them apart was Fred had a scar over his right eye. The story goes that Harry tried to give himself a matching scar, simply because his twin had one, but the scar never kept.
Ellwin shook his head, “Don’t do this, boys.”
“If the man leaves and takes the witch with him, and leaves the horse, everything will end just fine and no one gets hurt tonight,” Lenny managed to get the words out. He leaned against the wall as the world seemed to dip and sway around him.
“Listen to Lenny,” Fred said, brandishing a dagger.
“We don’t want trouble,” Harry added, “we just want the horse.”
tokens, virtually; minis or whatever is handy in person.
I got a 3D printer explicitly for creating "larger scale" minis, lol. And so I try to have them available -- since I can model something fairly fast, it lets me create some nice pretty stuff for my players.
However, I hate painting minis. So most of them are a gray color, lol.
Only a DM since 1980 (3000+ Sessions) / PhD, MS, MA / Mixed, Bi, Trans, Woman / No longer welcome in the US, apparently
Wyrlde: Adventures in the Seven Cities
.-=] Lore Book | Patreon | Wyrlde YT [=-.
An original Setting for 5e, a whole solar system of adventure. Ongoing updates, exclusies, more.
Not Talking About It / Dubbed The Oracle in the Cult of Mythology Nerds
Depends.
I run a lot of virtual games (I think I am up to about six) - those are 99% of the time, theater of the mind.
But if they are traveling through some form of maze or cave system, I will use a virtual map (Roll20) and use tokens.
In my face to face games I run, both of those use minis (for combat only, when needed) with the rest being theater of the mind.
Check out my publication on DMs Guild: https://www.dmsguild.com/browse.php?author=Tawmis%20Logue
Check out my comedy web series - Neverending Nights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Wr4-u9-zw0&list=PLbRG7dzFI-u3EJd0usasgDrrFO3mZ1lOZ
Need a character story/background written up? I do it for free (but also take donations!) - https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?591882-Need-a-character-background-written-up
We only use minis for combat too.
I really like D&D, especially Ravenloft, Exandria and the Upside Down from Stranger Things. My pronouns are she/they (genderfae).
I like using minis for exploration too. If they are exploring a town or an expansive forest, it helps to know where they are. Or in a tavern full of interesting people, it helps know who is where.
That’s not a bad idea. I’ll mention that to my DM.
I really like D&D, especially Ravenloft, Exandria and the Upside Down from Stranger Things. My pronouns are she/they (genderfae).
The one thing I like - when I do theater of mind (no combat) - but I say something like, "You hear voices coming from up ahead."
The players can ask me "Is there a tree I can climb next to me?" or "Is there a rock to hide behind?"
And I will usually think, depending on where they're at - ask them to make a Nature check of some kind. For example if they're in a forest, and they ask if there's a tree near them, there's a good chance there is - but is there one with branches low enough to grab and climb? Give me a Nature Check, DC 12.
So I can plot a tree down next to them, if needed, with theater of mind, while exploring. You could draw it on a map, or whatever, but I feel like that slows it down.
Check out my publication on DMs Guild: https://www.dmsguild.com/browse.php?author=Tawmis%20Logue
Check out my comedy web series - Neverending Nights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Wr4-u9-zw0&list=PLbRG7dzFI-u3EJd0usasgDrrFO3mZ1lOZ
Need a character story/background written up? I do it for free (but also take donations!) - https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?591882-Need-a-character-background-written-up
Tomorrow, should I wear glasses or contacts to ask my crush out? (I typically wear glasses.)
Lightning flashes, it creates ash. The ash forms a human.
If you don’t know where I am, I’m either sleeping or roleplaying. If I’m doing neither of those things, except the worst. (Do not actually expect the worst) If you need to talk then PM me. Head Acolyte of The Tree Cult.
Wear contacts. It makes your eyes look more emotional and less closed off.
I really like D&D, especially Ravenloft, Exandria and the Upside Down from Stranger Things. My pronouns are she/they (genderfae).
Whichever one helps you feel more confident.
Ok,an unrequested update on and about me.
I hit a bad patch of life, and it pulled me down even as it gave me some time to finish a few projects. Those are still ongoing, but the worst part of it was i lost my home.
Now, i did manage to scrape out a couple grand from it for myself, and so I am now a mobile Toni — I have shifted to RV life, in a beat down, worn out, 30 year old motorhome with stunningly low miles. It is an absolute “project” — but it is also a home until i grab a piece of land to settle it on and finish out my time on this globe.
Will be doing mobile D&D from it, too — sometime this summer I will start running virtual games and in-person games for folks in my neck of the woods as I slowly ease into full time retirement (I am presently partially retired).
I am going to be coming up here more often as well — i have reached a point where I have a need to share some stuff for free.
Only a DM since 1980 (3000+ Sessions) / PhD, MS, MA / Mixed, Bi, Trans, Woman / No longer welcome in the US, apparently
Wyrlde: Adventures in the Seven Cities
.-=] Lore Book | Patreon | Wyrlde YT [=-.
An original Setting for 5e, a whole solar system of adventure. Ongoing updates, exclusies, more.
Not Talking About It / Dubbed The Oracle in the Cult of Mythology Nerds
Dang, that's a lot. I'll be praying for you.
Oh wow, that's heavy. I'm glad you are still able to pull the scraps together though. You're adamantine.
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
How did it go?
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
Hi! This is supposed to be for anything right?
I made a Sonic The Hedgehog Fan Club thread if anyone is interested in that sorta thing.
Thanks!
I'm just a gay lil'....
Well, a gay lil' something.
Question Of The Day: Is it good that D&D is the go to TTRPG for newcomers to the hobby? Do D&D's flaws make it a bad first choice? Are other systems better suited in your opinion for first timers? Or is it the perfect first timer system?
(Making the assumption that they play the standard 2014 edition, not that "one D&D" is even that different)
Bang! Bang! Maxwell's silver hammer came down upon her head
Clang! Clang! Maxwell's silver hammer made sure that she was dead
I’m Fugi-dove! My cry fills the night!
Lightning flashes, it creates ash. The ash forms a human.
If you don’t know where I am, I’m either sleeping or roleplaying. If I’m doing neither of those things, except the worst. (Do not actually expect the worst) If you need to talk then PM me. Head Acolyte of The Tree Cult.
Go on, fly free, Blue Jay!
Roll for Initiative: [roll]1d20+7[/roll]
Proud member of the EVIL JEFF CULT! PRAISE JEFF!
Homebrew Races: HERE Homebrew Spells: HERE Homebrew Monsters: HERE
MORE OF ME! (And platypodes/platypi/platypuses) (Extended signature)
Why D&D is the closest to the good choice for TTRPGs.
First of all, D&D (5e) is probably the most popular and well known TTRPG to the "general public." So when they think of playing - what's probably generated their interest is seeing something D&D related (whether it's someone on Youtube, some famous person who spoke of it, or the movie, or how there's a whole D&D thing at Universal Studios) - without a doubt, someone brand new to TTRPGs is having their interest generated by something specific to D&D. (Obviously, edge cases like an older brother/sister/family member introducing someone to some other gaming system - but this is why I said the general public).
The plus side, D&D has a ton of books and modules and resources to pull from. So someone looking to play D&D, if they know someone who can run it, there's both a ton of Race and Class options to choose from. So the world feels like it's something that you can play with very little limit to your imagination.
But is it perfect? Probably not. But no gaming system is really. Someone is always going to find something wrong or to complain about.
Check out my publication on DMs Guild: https://www.dmsguild.com/browse.php?author=Tawmis%20Logue
Check out my comedy web series - Neverending Nights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Wr4-u9-zw0&list=PLbRG7dzFI-u3EJd0usasgDrrFO3mZ1lOZ
Need a character story/background written up? I do it for free (but also take donations!) - https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?591882-Need-a-character-background-written-up
Been wanting to run the Lord of the Rings 5e (got all the physical books) but all my current games I run are knee deep in normal D&D - so I gathered 4 players on Discord, and we're doing a play by post. So every Monday, I summarize what happened, and create the next post for players to react to.
Here's the first session I wrote - that basically brings the players together.
Session 01: The Summons.
Check out my publication on DMs Guild: https://www.dmsguild.com/browse.php?author=Tawmis%20Logue
Check out my comedy web series - Neverending Nights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Wr4-u9-zw0&list=PLbRG7dzFI-u3EJd0usasgDrrFO3mZ1lOZ
Need a character story/background written up? I do it for free (but also take donations!) - https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?591882-Need-a-character-background-written-up
I gathered everyone's replies, and their dialogue with one another, and when one of the players left with an NPC, had everyone roll perception checks, and took all of that to make...
Session Two: Familiar Faces, Troubled Times
Check out my publication on DMs Guild: https://www.dmsguild.com/browse.php?author=Tawmis%20Logue
Check out my comedy web series - Neverending Nights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Wr4-u9-zw0&list=PLbRG7dzFI-u3EJd0usasgDrrFO3mZ1lOZ
Need a character story/background written up? I do it for free (but also take donations!) - https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?591882-Need-a-character-background-written-up