Weird question. What official fiend do you believe the soul of a Tabaxi Ascendant Dragon Monk with a flexible moral compass would be reformed into? Asking for a campaign I am in a character in.
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Hi, I’m DrakenBrine, here’s my Sig and characters
Weird question. What official fiend do you believe the soul of a Tabaxi Ascendant Dragon Monk with a flexible moral compass would be reformed into? Asking for a campaign I am in a character in.
Just based on them being a Tabaxi alone, Rakshasa would be a consideration. If you are wishing to lean more into the draconic aspect of you monk subclass, you could go with an Abishai of some sort instead.
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"Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup."
Weird question. What official fiend do you believe the soul of a Tabaxi Ascendant Dragon Monk with a flexible moral compass would be reformed into? Asking for a campaign I am in a character in.
Just based on them being a Tabaxi alone, Rakshasa would be a consideration. If you are wishing to lean more into the draconic aspect of you monk subclass, you could go with an Abishai of some sort instead.
A good mix between those two would be fun. Thanks Coronet.
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Hi, I’m DrakenBrine, here’s my Sig and characters
Session 7 - Our player heroes stumble upon the Ruffians and the weapons they mentioned, out in the wild, while discovering a shortcut to Weathertop (their destination)....
Question of the Day: Y'all ever do Dnd online? Do you use Zoom, FaceTime, or some other video thingy-ma-bob? How does it compare to Dnd in person? What are some common pitfalls, perks, and things to watch out for and know about?
My party has reached the age where we are all scattering but we still want to continue the game. Two of us are moving to another country, one is currently in another state, and another might go to another state soon so we will be all over the place. This week we are planning to try an online session and see if it works.
Question of the Day: Y'all ever do Dnd online? Do you use Zoom, FaceTime, or some other video thingy-ma-bob? How does it compare to Dnd in person? What are some common pitfalls, perks, and things to watch out for and know about?
My party has reached the age where we are all scattering but we still want to continue the game. Two of us are moving to another country, one is currently in another state, and another might go to another state soon so we will be all over the place. This week we are planning to try an online session and see if it works.
Two (well, three) of my games are 100% online that I run.
I use Discord (for two reasons - one, several people already used it for MMOs, for raids and such, so they were already familiar) - but more importantly, the addin Beyond20, works with D&D Beyond and can roll the dice and spells right into the Discord channel.
Obviously the perk is everyone being able to play still. My one game (that moved online) was because one of my players moved to Texas (and everyone else was based out of California, we all worked together). So keeping him in the game was important to all of us. One of the co-workers left (the job, and shortly after, the game) and took his friend (who wasn't a co-worker) with him. So then I recruited another friend of mine (from my in-person game) and she became a staple in that game as well. So all of us being able to play was great. That friend I recruited, her brother asked me to DM for them (because she told him how much she enjoyed my games) - and her brother (and his friends) are all in Kansas, so once a month I run a game for them (and though I've only ever met her brother in person when he flew out to California to see her) - the others, I feel like I know them and regard them as friends, because we all became really close.
I am in a game, where I am the player, and the DM uses Discord after I recommended it (and that game is, roughly monthly - but two of the players have pretty chaotic schedules so it's sometimes two months before that game goes).
The one pitfall, I will say, and this is mostly from the DM perspective is - not being able to see your player's faces. (Yes, folks could turn on cameras, but I never ask anyone to, because not everyone has cameras on their PC - I didn't until just last year). So no one ever turns on their camera. I think as a DM, it's nice to read your players faces, as you're telling them what's going on, or read their faces during combat - because sometimes players won't speak up if they found something boring or unfair - so as a DM trying to read and pick up on that, opens the door to say, "Hey, I noticed during XYZ, you seemed detached." Or sometimes, just knowing, "OK, they found that boring, shift right then and there and spur of the moment make something more exciting."
The other down side is - obviously some players don't know how to effing mute their mic while they're eating chips or popcorn, and even if you bring it up they fail to understand how loud it is in everyone's ear. The benefit, Discord you can individually mute or lower someone's volume. :)
POV: you have a 2019 MacBook Pro with a very power hungry intel core i5 running macOS 15 and and you have been on D&D beyond for 3 hours without a charging your laptop or taking a break.
43% Battery
Using significant energy: Google Chrome
two seconds later:
42% Battery
Using significant energy: Google Chrome
(Fan making as much noise as a jet engine)
(Computer is very hot despite fan running at max speed)
Aarakocra Fighter / Sorcerer / Ranger (Subject to change due to reality glitching.) I have been playing D&D for quite a while now (Since fall 2023) and I own a few (a very large number that I have lost count of) dice. I am a retro gaming enthusiast and I own 14 game systems and more than 50 video games (GUESS DUE TO LOSING COUNT AFTER BUYING TOO MANY). Founder of the cult that worships Tiamat for no reason and owner of an original XBOX.
Question of the Day: Y'all ever do Dnd online? Do you use Zoom, FaceTime, or some other video thingy-ma-bob? How does it compare to Dnd in person? What are some common pitfalls, perks, and things to watch out for and know about?
My party has reached the age where we are all scattering but we still want to continue the game. Two of us are moving to another country, one is currently in another state, and another might go to another state soon so we will be all over the place. This week we are planning to try an online session and see if it works.
Two (well, three) of my games are 100% online that I run.
I use Discord (for two reasons - one, several people already used it for MMOs, for raids and such, so they were already familiar) - but more importantly, the addin Beyond20, works with D&D Beyond and can roll the dice and spells right into the Discord channel.
Obviously the perk is everyone being able to play still. My one game (that moved online) was because one of my players moved to Texas (and everyone else was based out of California, we all worked together). So keeping him in the game was important to all of us. One of the co-workers left (the job, and shortly after, the game) and took his friend (who wasn't a co-worker) with him. So then I recruited another friend of mine (from my in-person game) and she became a staple in that game as well. So all of us being able to play was great. That friend I recruited, her brother asked me to DM for them (because she told him how much she enjoyed my games) - and her brother (and his friends) are all in Kansas, so once a month I run a game for them (and though I've only ever met her brother in person when he flew out to California to see her) - the others, I feel like I know them and regard them as friends, because we all became really close.
I am in a game, where I am the player, and the DM uses Discord after I recommended it (and that game is, roughly monthly - but two of the players have pretty chaotic schedules so it's sometimes two months before that game goes).
The one pitfall, I will say, and this is mostly from the DM perspective is - not being able to see your player's faces. (Yes, folks could turn on cameras, but I never ask anyone to, because not everyone has cameras on their PC - I didn't until just last year). So no one ever turns on their camera. I think as a DM, it's nice to read your players faces, as you're telling them what's going on, or read their faces during combat - because sometimes players won't speak up if they found something boring or unfair - so as a DM trying to read and pick up on that, opens the door to say, "Hey, I noticed during XYZ, you seemed detached." Or sometimes, just knowing, "OK, they found that boring, shift right then and there and spur of the moment make something more exciting."
The other down side is - obviously some players don't know how to effing mute their mic while they're eating chips or popcorn, and even if you bring it up they fail to understand how loud it is in everyone's ear. The benefit, Discord you can individually mute or lower someone's volume. :)
(not the most qualified guy to discuss this, but whatever)
I second what you said about discord, very good platform for groups, not just because it can connect to VTT's, but the ability to have a server for texting and voice chatting is a whole lot nicer than say Facetime or Zoom, and Discord is pretty much free. The only annoying thing is the "no long messages without nitro." I post session summaries and I think the cap per message is like 300 words. You can get around it though by typing them in a document though and just copy and pasting sections, because if only one person sends messages in quick succession they will all go close together as if it was posted as a single message
I agree with your downsides, but I feel what you didn't mention in general is that its just obviously not quite as socially exciting or fun to play online compared to in person really, though yeah the convince is nice. And if everyone's in separate states there's not much you can do
(Disclaimer: Keep in mind that I mostly play in person, and that I really despise a lot of social media. I dont know If I could ever stand a longterm online game, and I rarely play online. I still think everything I said was true though)
(not the most qualified guy to discuss this, but whatever)
I second what you said about discord, very good platform for groups, not just because it can connect to VTT's, but the ability to have a server for texting and voice chatting is a whole lot nicer than say Facetime or Zoom, and Discord is pretty much free. The only annoying thing is the "no long messages without nitro." I post session summaries and I think the cap per message is like 300 words. You can get around it though by typing them in a document though and just copy and pasting sections, because if only one person sends messages in quick succession they will all go close together as if it was posted by one person
I agree with your downsides, but I feel what you didn't mention in general is that its just obviously not quite as socially exciting or fun to play online compared to in person really, though yeah the convince is nice. And if everyone's in separate states there's not much you can do (Disclaimer: Keep in mind that I mostly play in person, and that I really despise a lot of social media. I dont know If I could ever stand a longterm online game, and I rarely play online. I still think everything I said was true though)
I have two games on Tuesday (alternating Tuesday) that are fully Discord that I run (for the same reason - one player in both games is located in Texas, and he originally started with us in person at work). One game (I call the work game) started with seven people and now down to four (after... I think we've been at it for seven years) - originally was all in person and took place at our work (most of us worked together). One of the members left, and got a job in Texas, and he's so loved, we wanted to continue with him. Members of that group wanted to play weekly (but people have obligations, significant others, kids, etc) - so three of them decided to join an "Off Week" game that takes place with other characters (that game is now down to two players, and absolutely hilarious - despite it being a darker theme, the adventures there are hilarious). So both the Work and Off Week Game are fully Discord now.
I run a monthly game (for one of the brothers of the above mentioned game) where they heard about me from their sister, and asked me to run a game for them and their friends (most who had never played D&D) and live in Kansas (I live in California). So once a month, I get up at 7am and run (usually) a three hour session, which has now been going for something like five years. Obviously, through Discord.
I run two monthly games in person (one of my own world campaign that all the other games take place in) and another game that is my campaign in the Dragonlance setting (at the same time as Chronicles).
I participate in one game as a player (through Discord, because one of the players is in Seattle) - that one is (roughly) monthly (but has gone on longer than a month sometimes with no game, because of people's schedules). I participate in an in person game as a player (in what is currently the 5e Dragonlance campaign).
I love me some D&D. :)
No matter how I get it, I will make the most of every moment.
I was in a few non-D&D games (Vampire, Hunter, Delta Green, Warhammer) - all through Discord (because of scattered players).
POV: you have a 2019 MacBook Pro with a very power hungry intel core i5 running macOS 15 and and you have been on D&D beyond for 3 hours without a charging your laptop or taking a break.
43% Battery
Using significant energy: Google Chrome
two seconds later:
42% Battery
Using significant energy: Google Chrome
(Fan making as much noise as a jet engine)
(Computer is very hot despite fan running at max speed)
I honestly feel like Apple purposefully makes their laptops not work well just so you buy more.
My computer is an old Lenovo, I don't know when it was made, but it can burn and play CD's, which is something that fell out of style a while ago. I have an old Acer monitor hooked up to the PC. I run it on Ubuntu, which makes you lose a lot of options when it comes to gaming, but it runs very well for browsing the web, documents, simple games, etc. It most standard things (most games require windows to download though, so its barred from that) My dad hooked up the internet via a wire, which helps a lot and decreases radiation. And obviously being a PC it doesn't charge but just plugs into a powerstrip
I know I'm comparing a PC to a laptop, but these things are probably way older than 2019.
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.
Its kinda impressive to be running that many games honestly
The wild part is that all of my games (that I run) are connected (except the Dragonlance one) for my campaign.
So for example if Group_A burns down Town_A, and Group_B arrives at Town_A later, it will still be burnt down or in the process of being rebuilt. It's very cool, because my players see that they don't just impact their campaign - but all of my campaigns, because they're all happening in the same world. Naturally I made a website for my campaign to keep track of all the NPCs, and events and such... but it really is cool when someone sees/knows that some event will have a rippling effect.
My table recently finished our long-running Eberron campaign. It was the first campaign we’ve officially finished.
I am hoping to finally finish my (Work Game) I run - games been running for way too many years now, players are Level 16 (about to hit 17) - and by the time they get to the final big bad (a Beholder with the God of Wisdom's stolen knowledge in hopes of ascending to godhood) - the party will be level 20. The next few levels (17 to 20) will be coming pretty fast. Then, those from that game, that want to continue - I will start a new game for them, with new characters, that will just start at Level 3 probably (just so they will have most of the initial bells and whistles of their new character class).
Its kinda impressive to be running that many games honestly
The wild part is that all of my games (that I run) are connected (except the Dragonlance one) for my campaign.
So for example if Group_A burns down Town_A, and Group_B arrives at Town_A later, it will still be burnt down or in the process of being rebuilt. It's very cool, because my players see that they don't just impact their campaign - but all of my campaigns, because they're all happening in the same world. Naturally I made a website for my campaign to keep track of all the NPCs, and events and such... but it really is cool when someone sees/knows that some event will have a rippling effect.
My table recently finished our long-running Eberron campaign. It was the first campaign we’ve officially finished.
I am hoping to finally finish my (Work Game) I run - games been running for way too many years now, players are Level 16 (about to hit 17) - and by the time they get to the final big bad (a Beholder with the God of Wisdom's stolen knowledge in hopes of ascending to godhood) - the party will be level 20. The next few levels (17 to 20) will be coming pretty fast. Then, those from that game, that want to continue - I will start a new game for them, with new characters, that will just start at Level 3 probably (just so they will have most of the initial bells and whistles of their new character class).
I actually love that. If I ever somehow have enough energy to run campaigns like that it sounds very enjoyable and a great way to have a game world just a little more exciting.
I've always thought starting at level 3 is sort of weird, level one is really fun cause everything is dangerous, you can't just attack anyone you want, it requires much more teamwork and creative thinking to win battles. Obviously some people don't want their characters to die, which is valid. Personally level 1 is my favorite level, with a linear advancement of my favorites (1 being my absolute favorite, 20 being my least favorite) Anything past level 5 starts to worsen for me, and past level 10 it really gets to a point where I want to return to lower levels. It's just that nothing is really a threat anymore.. I guess I just love some hardship (this is meant to be respectful by the way, no disrespect to you for starting at level 3, I just like discussing and debating things)
Work game? Like are you running it for people you know at your job? Are you getting paid for it? Not sure what you mean when you say that
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Transmit the message to the receiver Hope for an answer someday I got three passports, a couple of visas You don't even know my real name
I actually love that. If I ever somehow have enough energy to run campaigns like that it sounds very enjoyable and a great way to have a game world just a little more exciting.
I've always thought starting at level 3 is sort of weird, level one is really fun cause everything is dangerous, you can't just attack anyone you want, it requires much more teamwork and creative thinking to win battles. Obviously some people don't want their characters to die, which is valid. Personally level 1 is my favorite level, with a linear advancement of my favorites (1 being my absolute favorite, 20 being my least favorite) Anything past level 5 starts to worsen for me, and past level 10 it really gets to a point where I want to return to lower levels. It's just that nothing is really a threat anymore.. I guess I just love some hardship (this is meant to be respectful by the way, no disrespect to you for starting at level 3, I just like discussing and debating things)
Work game? Like are you running it for people you know at your job? Are you getting paid for it? Not sure what you mean when you say that
Oh, I didn't take it as disrespectful. We may not start at Level 3 - I just figured after 7 years (or so) of the current campaign, they may wish to start at Level 3 for their new characters. But I will probably poll the players who want to start a new campaign to see if they want to start at Level 1, 2 or 3.
I am like you, my favorite is between 1 and 5. Because things do feel risky. You don't have a party of insanely powerful folks. However, as a DM - I've learned to keep things deadly when I needed to. (For example - in the Dragonlance game - the party saw a Black Dragon (Adult) - and thought they could take it at Level 5. They insisted on it, but didn't go for it (which I am thankful for, because I doubt they would have survived at Level 5, seven players). So when I left, they did some scenerio where they won the fight against the Black Dragon. When I asked how they ran it - they kept the dragon on the ground. And I said, "Had we done this - the first thing I would have had the black dragon do is breathe on the ranger - she's got the most reach, and need to take her out as quickly as possible. And stay in the air. If she survived/saved, the dragon might sweep down and do everything to take her down fast. Then take out the cleric. Then take out the two spell casters. The warriors? Laugh at them, since they don't have range, so their shots that they do have are disadvantage, fly around, wait for breath to recharge, breathe on the next person. Rinse repeat."
So, the next session - the party ended up in the frozen tundra of Icewall (if you're familiar with Dragonlance) and were warned of white dragons in the area. The weather was horrid and visibility low - so first thing they encountered - three young dragons laying in the snow, buried, who sprung up in surprise (no one perceived them) and breathed three cones of frost (in an angled form so it hit all of them). Took down two, others badly wounded, had the white dragons paw at them, and went around the table, for the round, to make the players roll for the dragon breath recharging - and it recharged all three. I could have killed them then - but had a horn blow - and pull the dragons away.
Just to let them know...
Don't eff with dragons. :D
But yes, higher level does get difficult - I often homebrew monsters. A tool a DM should use is improvise also - there have been times where the party manages a LOT of lucky shots on the big bad of an area - and in the moment, I might say, "He's bloody! You watches as his eyes burn as bright as the sun and he rages!" (So that damage is half, and such - just to make a battle last and seem less climatic).
Sorry - the "Work Game" is called that - because all of the players in my game (except one) were from my work (we all worked together). So I ran - and the Paladin, Wizard, and two Clerics were all from my work - and the Bard was a real life friend of the Wizard. So I always just called that the "Work Game" as the "name" of it, to differentiate the many games I run. lol
For those interested in reading session recaps, here is my most recent one that I'll be sending to my party. We had a three hour session and the inciting incident hasn't even occurred yet. It will be a murder mystery but they spent the whole time roleplaying and meeting the new characters/suspects/victims. They don't even know there is about to be a murder.
After hearing the Mothman's prophecy at the Yonder Talk Pool (and contacting warlock patrons and threatening the higher powers of this world) you heard of three distinct personages. The Copperhead King, Jumping Jack, and Little Sadie. Scales, the don't-tread-on-me snake spirit of gun violence told y'all that the Copperhead King is currently fishing for catfish in the Devil's Armpit.
So the Huntsman of the Hollers have boarded a south bound steamship called the Sue Anne out of Lynchtown to try to find this Copperhead King. While on the Sue Anne, Igor (fighter) recognized the voice of Mr. Horton Sawyer, a straw boss in the Coallick Company. Mr. Sawyer would know that Igor was not in fact dead but rather a runaway from the mines with a massive debt to the company.
Caliber Core (warlock/fighter) decided to go and join a game of poker with Mr. Sawyer and his goons while Dr. Indrid Cold (Wizard) read Mr. Sawyer's mind. Dr. Cold discovered that Mr. Sawyer was being blamed by the higher ups for a recent mining accident but in doing so he attracted Mr. Sawyer's attention. He managed to talk his way out of a beating but is now viewed with intense mistrust by Horton and his gang. Caliber on the other hand... is also viewed with mistrust for cheating them out of their money in poker.
A nearby bystander witnessed the mind reading and recognized the magic for what it was. This old horse-alligator-turned-witch-hunter named Whittler Johnson told Dr. Cold that he had a connection to the dark ones and would like to trade information. He was intensely paranoid though and refused to speak in the dark, inviting Dr. Cold to visit him in the morning.
During all this, Knucklehead Fred (Rogue) made friends with the crew of the ship and was taken up to meet the captain, a blind, senile old man who refuses to leave the wheelhouse. Dr. Cold then went and made friends with a crippled horse-alligator who played a mean banjo. There was also a well-dressed man drinking heavily on the deck but he was never approached. The Sue Anne eventually docked for the night at the small mining town of Blackbluff.
In the town, the party watched as a colorful carriage called The Birdhouse Traveling Dance Hall rolled into town. Lightning struck a nearby tree as it approached. The entire town flooded into the carriage and found a swirling ballroom brimming with lights, drink, and big band jazz music. The ceiling was covered in a glittering sea of chandeliers and a talented man lead the band with a golden trumpet.
The party mingled and met new characters such as Sara Bell, a natural philosopher from New Oldtown. She seemed concerned by Dr. Cold's red, swollen eyes which he hadn't noticed before. Caliber Croe and Knucklehead Fred lost a drinking competition and Fred and Dr. Cold challenged the owner of the establishment, a man who introduced himself as Mr. Birdhouse, to a dancing competition which was also lost. But not without gaining the respect of Mr. Birdhouse and all the onlookers due to Fred's performance.
At some point during the party, a short old man with a cane walked into the Birdhouse and stared at Mr. Birdhouse with intense anger and hatred. He ground his cigar into the floor before leaving in a fit of rage.
Caliber Croe found his wife in the crowd and had a wonderful time dancing with her despite the fact that she died quite awhile ago. Knucklehead Fred was pulled out onto the dance floor by his mother who went missing years ago and was overwhelmed by a foreign feeling of joy and warmth when he tried to escape her grasp.
Igor sensed something sour about this whole place and lit his hainted lamp, filling the hall with a ghostly glow that revealed many of the dancers to be strange, formless bird spirits who fled up to the ceiling to hide among the cages that hung where there were once chandeliers. Mr. Birdhouse announced that the party was over and the remaining dancers fled along with the party into the night.
Weird question. What official fiend do you believe the soul of a Tabaxi Ascendant Dragon Monk with a flexible moral compass would be reformed into? Asking for a campaign I am in a character in.
Hi, I’m DrakenBrine, here’s my Sig and characters
I am The Grand Envisioner!
Just based on them being a Tabaxi alone, Rakshasa would be a consideration. If you are wishing to lean more into the draconic aspect of you monk subclass, you could go with an Abishai of some sort instead.
"Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup."
Characters for Tenebris Sine Fine
RoughCoronet's Greater Wills
A good mix between those two would be fun. Thanks Coronet.
Hi, I’m DrakenBrine, here’s my Sig and characters
I am The Grand Envisioner!
Session 7 - Our player heroes stumble upon the Ruffians and the weapons they mentioned, out in the wild, while discovering a shortcut to Weathertop (their destination)....
https://sites.google.com/view/lordoftheringsroleplaying/session-07-orcs-weapons-and-trouble
Session 8 - the battle ensues against the ruffians!
https://sites.google.com/view/lordoftheringsroleplaying/session-08-blood-and-battle
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
Question of the Day: Y'all ever do Dnd online? Do you use Zoom, FaceTime, or some other video thingy-ma-bob? How does it compare to Dnd in person? What are some common pitfalls, perks, and things to watch out for and know about?
My party has reached the age where we are all scattering but we still want to continue the game. Two of us are moving to another country, one is currently in another state, and another might go to another state soon so we will be all over the place. This week we are planning to try an online session and see if it works.
Two (well, three) of my games are 100% online that I run.
I use Discord (for two reasons - one, several people already used it for MMOs, for raids and such, so they were already familiar) - but more importantly, the addin Beyond20, works with D&D Beyond and can roll the dice and spells right into the Discord channel.
Obviously the perk is everyone being able to play still. My one game (that moved online) was because one of my players moved to Texas (and everyone else was based out of California, we all worked together). So keeping him in the game was important to all of us. One of the co-workers left (the job, and shortly after, the game) and took his friend (who wasn't a co-worker) with him. So then I recruited another friend of mine (from my in-person game) and she became a staple in that game as well. So all of us being able to play was great. That friend I recruited, her brother asked me to DM for them (because she told him how much she enjoyed my games) - and her brother (and his friends) are all in Kansas, so once a month I run a game for them (and though I've only ever met her brother in person when he flew out to California to see her) - the others, I feel like I know them and regard them as friends, because we all became really close.
I am in a game, where I am the player, and the DM uses Discord after I recommended it (and that game is, roughly monthly - but two of the players have pretty chaotic schedules so it's sometimes two months before that game goes).
The one pitfall, I will say, and this is mostly from the DM perspective is - not being able to see your player's faces. (Yes, folks could turn on cameras, but I never ask anyone to, because not everyone has cameras on their PC - I didn't until just last year). So no one ever turns on their camera. I think as a DM, it's nice to read your players faces, as you're telling them what's going on, or read their faces during combat - because sometimes players won't speak up if they found something boring or unfair - so as a DM trying to read and pick up on that, opens the door to say, "Hey, I noticed during XYZ, you seemed detached." Or sometimes, just knowing, "OK, they found that boring, shift right then and there and spur of the moment make something more exciting."
The other down side is - obviously some players don't know how to effing mute their mic while they're eating chips or popcorn, and even if you bring it up they fail to understand how loud it is in everyone's ear. The benefit, Discord you can individually mute or lower someone's volume. :)
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
Session 09: Weathertop and Shadows has been posted from the Lord of the Rings 5e play by post, I am running.
https://sites.google.com/view/lordoftheringsroleplaying/session-09-weathertop-and-shadows
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
POV: you have a 2019 MacBook Pro with a very power hungry intel core i5 running macOS 15 and and you have been on D&D beyond for 3 hours without a charging your laptop or taking a break.
43% Battery
Using significant energy: Google Chrome
two seconds later:
42% Battery
Using significant energy: Google Chrome
(Fan making as much noise as a jet engine)
(Computer is very hot despite fan running at max speed)
Aarakocra Fighter / Sorcerer / Ranger (Subject to change due to reality glitching.) I have been playing D&D for quite a while now (Since fall 2023) and I own a few (a very large number that I have lost count of) dice. I am a retro gaming enthusiast and I own 14 game systems and more than 50 video games (GUESS DUE TO LOSING COUNT AFTER BUYING TOO MANY). Founder of the cult that worships Tiamat for no reason and owner of an original XBOX.
(not the most qualified guy to discuss this, but whatever)
I second what you said about discord, very good platform for groups, not just because it can connect to VTT's, but the ability to have a server for texting and voice chatting is a whole lot nicer than say Facetime or Zoom, and Discord is pretty much free. The only annoying thing is the "no long messages without nitro." I post session summaries and I think the cap per message is like 300 words. You can get around it though by typing them in a document though and just copy and pasting sections, because if only one person sends messages in quick succession they will all go close together as if it was posted as a single message
I agree with your downsides, but I feel what you didn't mention in general is that its just obviously not quite as socially exciting or fun to play online compared to in person really, though yeah the convince is nice. And if everyone's in separate states there's not much you can do
(Disclaimer: Keep in mind that I mostly play in person, and that I really despise a lot of social media. I dont know If I could ever stand a longterm online game, and I rarely play online. I still think everything I said was true though)
Transmit the message to the receiver
Hope for an answer someday
I got three passports, a couple of visas
You don't even know my real name
I have two games on Tuesday (alternating Tuesday) that are fully Discord that I run (for the same reason - one player in both games is located in Texas, and he originally started with us in person at work). One game (I call the work game) started with seven people and now down to four (after... I think we've been at it for seven years) - originally was all in person and took place at our work (most of us worked together). One of the members left, and got a job in Texas, and he's so loved, we wanted to continue with him. Members of that group wanted to play weekly (but people have obligations, significant others, kids, etc) - so three of them decided to join an "Off Week" game that takes place with other characters (that game is now down to two players, and absolutely hilarious - despite it being a darker theme, the adventures there are hilarious). So both the Work and Off Week Game are fully Discord now.
I run a monthly game (for one of the brothers of the above mentioned game) where they heard about me from their sister, and asked me to run a game for them and their friends (most who had never played D&D) and live in Kansas (I live in California). So once a month, I get up at 7am and run (usually) a three hour session, which has now been going for something like five years. Obviously, through Discord.
I run two monthly games in person (one of my own world campaign that all the other games take place in) and another game that is my campaign in the Dragonlance setting (at the same time as Chronicles).
I participate in one game as a player (through Discord, because one of the players is in Seattle) - that one is (roughly) monthly (but has gone on longer than a month sometimes with no game, because of people's schedules). I participate in an in person game as a player (in what is currently the 5e Dragonlance campaign).
I love me some D&D. :)
No matter how I get it, I will make the most of every moment.
I was in a few non-D&D games (Vampire, Hunter, Delta Green, Warhammer) - all through Discord (because of scattered players).
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
Its kinda impressive to be running that many games honestly
Transmit the message to the receiver
Hope for an answer someday
I got three passports, a couple of visas
You don't even know my real name
I honestly feel like Apple purposefully makes their laptops not work well just so you buy more.
My computer is an old Lenovo, I don't know when it was made, but it can burn and play CD's, which is something that fell out of style a while ago. I have an old Acer monitor hooked up to the PC. I run it on Ubuntu, which makes you lose a lot of options when it comes to gaming, but it runs very well for browsing the web, documents, simple games, etc. It most standard things (most games require windows to download though, so its barred from that)
My dad hooked up the internet via a wire, which helps a lot and decreases radiation. And obviously being a PC it doesn't charge but just plugs into a powerstrip
I know I'm comparing a PC to a laptop, but these things are probably way older than 2019.
I could be totally wrong though, If you understand computers this is an image of the one I have: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1258950-REG/lenovo_90f10031us_ideacentre_300s_08ihh_desktop_computer.html
I've been trying but I can figure out when it was made
(Only difference is mine does not have the same symbol next to the long rectangle left of the headphone port and stuff, and its got no cover)
Transmit the message to the receiver
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I got three passports, a couple of visas
You don't even know my real name
Boink
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.
My table recently finished our long-running Eberron campaign. It was the first campaign we’ve officially finished.
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
The wild part is that all of my games (that I run) are connected (except the Dragonlance one) for my campaign.
So for example if Group_A burns down Town_A, and Group_B arrives at Town_A later, it will still be burnt down or in the process of being rebuilt. It's very cool, because my players see that they don't just impact their campaign - but all of my campaigns, because they're all happening in the same world. Naturally I made a website for my campaign to keep track of all the NPCs, and events and such... but it really is cool when someone sees/knows that some event will have a rippling effect.
I am hoping to finally finish my (Work Game) I run - games been running for way too many years now, players are Level 16 (about to hit 17) - and by the time they get to the final big bad (a Beholder with the God of Wisdom's stolen knowledge in hopes of ascending to godhood) - the party will be level 20. The next few levels (17 to 20) will be coming pretty fast. Then, those from that game, that want to continue - I will start a new game for them, with new characters, that will just start at Level 3 probably (just so they will have most of the initial bells and whistles of their new character class).
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 actually love that. If I ever somehow have enough energy to run campaigns like that it sounds very enjoyable and a great way to have a game world just a little more exciting.
I've always thought starting at level 3 is sort of weird, level one is really fun cause everything is dangerous, you can't just attack anyone you want, it requires much more teamwork and creative thinking to win battles. Obviously some people don't want their characters to die, which is valid. Personally level 1 is my favorite level, with a linear advancement of my favorites (1 being my absolute favorite, 20 being my least favorite) Anything past level 5 starts to worsen for me, and past level 10 it really gets to a point where I want to return to lower levels. It's just that nothing is really a threat anymore.. I guess I just love some hardship (this is meant to be respectful by the way, no disrespect to you for starting at level 3, I just like discussing and debating things)
Work game? Like are you running it for people you know at your job? Are you getting paid for it? Not sure what you mean when you say that
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I got three passports, a couple of visas
You don't even know my real name
Oh, I didn't take it as disrespectful. We may not start at Level 3 - I just figured after 7 years (or so) of the current campaign, they may wish to start at Level 3 for their new characters. But I will probably poll the players who want to start a new campaign to see if they want to start at Level 1, 2 or 3.
I am like you, my favorite is between 1 and 5. Because things do feel risky. You don't have a party of insanely powerful folks. However, as a DM - I've learned to keep things deadly when I needed to. (For example - in the Dragonlance game - the party saw a Black Dragon (Adult) - and thought they could take it at Level 5. They insisted on it, but didn't go for it (which I am thankful for, because I doubt they would have survived at Level 5, seven players). So when I left, they did some scenerio where they won the fight against the Black Dragon. When I asked how they ran it - they kept the dragon on the ground. And I said, "Had we done this - the first thing I would have had the black dragon do is breathe on the ranger - she's got the most reach, and need to take her out as quickly as possible. And stay in the air. If she survived/saved, the dragon might sweep down and do everything to take her down fast. Then take out the cleric. Then take out the two spell casters. The warriors? Laugh at them, since they don't have range, so their shots that they do have are disadvantage, fly around, wait for breath to recharge, breathe on the next person. Rinse repeat."
So, the next session - the party ended up in the frozen tundra of Icewall (if you're familiar with Dragonlance) and were warned of white dragons in the area. The weather was horrid and visibility low - so first thing they encountered - three young dragons laying in the snow, buried, who sprung up in surprise (no one perceived them) and breathed three cones of frost (in an angled form so it hit all of them). Took down two, others badly wounded, had the white dragons paw at them, and went around the table, for the round, to make the players roll for the dragon breath recharging - and it recharged all three. I could have killed them then - but had a horn blow - and pull the dragons away.
Just to let them know...
Don't eff with dragons. :D
But yes, higher level does get difficult - I often homebrew monsters. A tool a DM should use is improvise also - there have been times where the party manages a LOT of lucky shots on the big bad of an area - and in the moment, I might say, "He's bloody! You watches as his eyes burn as bright as the sun and he rages!" (So that damage is half, and such - just to make a battle last and seem less climatic).
Sorry - the "Work Game" is called that - because all of the players in my game (except one) were from my work (we all worked together). So I ran - and the Paladin, Wizard, and two Clerics were all from my work - and the Bard was a real life friend of the Wizard. So I always just called that the "Work Game" as the "name" of it, to differentiate the many games I run. lol
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
For those interested in reading session recaps, here is my most recent one that I'll be sending to my party. We had a three hour session and the inciting incident hasn't even occurred yet. It will be a murder mystery but they spent the whole time roleplaying and meeting the new characters/suspects/victims. They don't even know there is about to be a murder.