Friendship is Dragons
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Page 370 - First Responders
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Newbiespud
30th Nov 2013, 5:00 AM
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The tabletop? My life is spent hoping that my crazy lines up enough to make people think that I think I'm making sense.
Does that make sense?
Does that make sense?
The 2nd Doctor on Doctor Whooves acted clownishly. He did so in front of his enemies as a way of distracting them, while, simultaneously, acting against them in plain sight. His enemies could stop him at any time, but do not realize that what he does is not meaningless insanity, but something which will foil their plans until it is too late to stop him.
From a 4.0 game, we had to make Commandments for a God of Insanity and Chaos. There IS a method to madness.
is Raxon allowed to play any alignment other than chaotic neutral?
Don't try to apply logic to my actions! It only confuses me!
Call me Pinkie, but I tend to agree. After all, I've preempted Pinkie on a few different points she's brought up in the show. It's called tangential thinking, and I have that in spades! Which is not to say that I think with shovels. Or that I shovel knowledge into my brain like Pinkie does sweets. Though I'm not denying that either, but while sweets are sweet and tarts are sweet, why do we also say sour things are tart? Is not like being sour married you sweet, but lemonade starts out sour and can be made sweet, but many people don't like it sweet, so many people keep it tart but not tart sweet, and then there's lemonade soda, which it's a tart pop but not a pop tart, and now I'm hungry for toaster strudels, and I didn't keep any handy this week.
Thank you! It's not the first of its kind I've put out on the net, and I'm sure it won't be the last!
A comment that someone is mispronouncing Tartarus would be perfect here.
Some of us are still laughing about that, and it was years ago. Needless to say, the entire campaign turned into a joke, but we still had fun.
Ah, the DMPC, the hot topic of a thousand debatable threads. :D My DMPCs tend to get warm receptions since I usually keep them in the background, and I've found that support classes like Bard are PERFECT for a DMPC:
1. Buff the party in a fight with bonuses while not trying to overshadow anyone.
2. Extensive volumes on random knowledge that may or may not be relevant.
3. Write epics on the other PCs based on their actions so that it encourages them to do the right thing (or at least go out with a bang like jumping off the cliff with the BBEG to their deaths...)
1. Buff the party in a fight with bonuses while not trying to overshadow anyone.
2. Extensive volumes on random knowledge that may or may not be relevant.
3. Write epics on the other PCs based on their actions so that it encourages them to do the right thing (or at least go out with a bang like jumping off the cliff with the BBEG to their deaths...)
I only ever had one DMPC, but I was running a campaign with some total novices.
So I rolled up a Deckard Cain figure for them, with just enough Wizard levels to bail them out of their ignorance of game mechanics if I needed to, which actually happened a lot.
He spent half the campaign as a walking fireextinguisher.
So I rolled up a Deckard Cain figure for them, with just enough Wizard levels to bail them out of their ignorance of game mechanics if I needed to, which actually happened a lot.
He spent half the campaign as a walking fireextinguisher.
My DMPCs tend to be something of a Rival/friendly adventuring party that my players run into occasionally. They actually love my half-orc barbarian who is a bit of an intellectual at heart, love the guy. Oddly enough, the face for the DMPC's party is actually less liked...
I love how Pinkie looks kind of hurt in the last panel. Amid all this snark, doubt, and grudging comprehension I'm surprised she hasn't commented yet. 'Meanie mean meanerson!'
Poll time (funny style):
Let's said I made a joke so bad, you want to throw something at me.
What would you throw.
Extra points for creativity.
Me: Why would I throw something at my self. This first part ends mid-Sunday.
Let's said I made a joke so bad, you want to throw something at me.
What would you throw.
Extra points for creativity.
Me: Why would I throw something at my self. This first part ends mid-Sunday.
I would throw myself at him.
(extra points for getting this one).
(extra points for getting this one).
He said bad, not good. Unless you consider yourself a detriment. But hugs are almost always good no matter who they are from (krakens need not apply :( ).
Look at my name, then look at his.
I'm his refection.
Throwing myself means I'm throwing the mirror I'm in.
P.S.(This is my joke on it. ANW)
This one don't count towards the second part.
I'm his refection.
Throwing myself means I'm throwing the mirror I'm in.
P.S.(This is my joke on it. ANW)
This one don't count towards the second part.
As I have never been angry in my life and am not prone to throwing things at people or violence, it must have been REALLY bad.
So, knives? Not so they'd hit (plus I have no knife throwing skill), just as a warning throw so you'd definitely stop.
So, knives? Not so they'd hit (plus I have no knife throwing skill), just as a warning throw so you'd definitely stop.
To say that you've never been mad in your life is to say that you don't know how to breath. It's natural, whether or not you're prone to violence. You can however be hard to piss off, and for that sir you win a cookie.
I'd throw Ole Stabby the d4, this malignant spawn of an oil derrick exists only to cause pain and suffering to characters and players alike. Dark blue with white numerals at the deceptively rounded points show faint blood stains from all the times some poor fool has set their foot or hand down upon Ole Stabby without caution. Only for damage rolls does this blue bloodthirster behave, always does it seek to maximize the harm it causes, regardless of the side rolling. I keep the dastardly die around because it inspires fear and avarice alike, and to punish particularly putrid punsters.
...
Also I'm always loosing the other d4s, I think Ole Stabby may be eating them.
...
Also I'm always loosing the other d4s, I think Ole Stabby may be eating them.
three-point-seven kilos of pickled herring. Because someone brought this stuff over for thanksgiving, and I have no better way to get rid of it.
Any and all of your belongings I currently have access to. I wouldn't want to risk damaging any of my own stuff, and it would be unfair to use anyone else's.
Time is up.
Now until Monday night, the 2nd part begins.
Vote on the one that is will give the most laugh to laugh, and the one will be sure to shut me up the most.
The mirror joke from WNA can not be used, seeing as that one is mine, along with the other post after this one. You can not vote for yourself.
Prizes for the most funny, and the garuttined(spelling I know) shut up will be given the next day.
Now until Monday night, the 2nd part begins.
Vote on the one that is will give the most laugh to laugh, and the one will be sure to shut me up the most.
The mirror joke from WNA can not be used, seeing as that one is mine, along with the other post after this one. You can not vote for yourself.
Prizes for the most funny, and the garuttined(spelling I know) shut up will be given the next day.
One of my Dummy Grenades.
Good weight and added scare bonus.
Good weight and added scare bonus.
I'm curious to see where this goes with Pinkie running the show. I'm thinking a fantastically confused plot lies ahead.
A common theme in my game is utter confusion, sometimes even into the point of frustration for my players, but you know, they never get mad at me for it. Most of my games tend to be mystery-style, so they expect a convoluted plot with a lot of twists and turns and many layers and misdirections. Plus, they know to trust me.
"It will all make sense in the end." A line which I use frequently in my games and I have never been wrong about this. Every time I reach the end, I even make sure to ask everyone if they had any questions or if everything made sense and to this day I've not had anyone confused by the end of my games, and I don't get to that point by way of exposition, they uncover all the clues on their own. It is something I'm very proud of.
However, it does mean that I get bored easily running or playing a game that's relatively straight-forward.
A common theme in my game is utter confusion, sometimes even into the point of frustration for my players, but you know, they never get mad at me for it. Most of my games tend to be mystery-style, so they expect a convoluted plot with a lot of twists and turns and many layers and misdirections. Plus, they know to trust me.
"It will all make sense in the end." A line which I use frequently in my games and I have never been wrong about this. Every time I reach the end, I even make sure to ask everyone if they had any questions or if everything made sense and to this day I've not had anyone confused by the end of my games, and I don't get to that point by way of exposition, they uncover all the clues on their own. It is something I'm very proud of.
However, it does mean that I get bored easily running or playing a game that's relatively straight-forward.
Fluttershy rolled 28, then added 2. How many dice is she using?
Skill checks are 1d20.
Fluttershy's base skill bonus on Nature checks is 14 according to the Cast pages, so she would get a skill check of 28 by rolling a mere 14 on the d20.
The +2 bonus must be from the Animal Empathy feat she named.
Don't forget that her cutiemark gives another +3 to animal-related checks, so she has a respectable 50% chance to score at least 30 (on a roll of 11).
I thought Twilight's player would object that Cerberus doesn't guard the gates of Tartarus in Greek mythology.
Funfact: in the episode with the Cerberus, Twilight actually refers to "Tar-TAURUS". Hehe moar hoofy puns. I get on my friends every time they say Tartarus. XD
Pinky's madness might have a meathod, but they're still probably unnecessary. Giant monsters attack Ponyville all the time (see coment on previous strip) so the villagers should already have emergancy giant monster escape plans.
I think they would be more likely to be discussing the monster while calmly running as fast as they can.
"Well its about time. Its been months scince the last giant monster attacked."
"I heared that there was sopposed to be a dragon around a month ago, those ponys over there got rid of it"
"Man, three heads. Thats new. Haven't seen one with more than one head in ages."
...that sort of thing.
I think they would be more likely to be discussing the monster while calmly running as fast as they can.
"Well its about time. Its been months scince the last giant monster attacked."
"I heared that there was sopposed to be a dragon around a month ago, those ponys over there got rid of it"
"Man, three heads. Thats new. Haven't seen one with more than one head in ages."
...that sort of thing.
You know what's spooky? Put in context you're right. Ursa Minor, Parasprites, Discord, and Plunder Vines and that's if you ONLY count things that actually attacked and did damage to Ponyville (Nightmare Moon by contrast stole the sun but left all the infrastructure politely intact.)
On that note, two things; one is an idle question. There were two situations (Elusive + Thieves Guild, and the Diamond Dogs) where our illustrious Spud mentioned ideas that didn't make it into the proper comment. I live for background info, and was unable to find it in the comments or stories so far... If you'd be interested in divulging it, I'd gladly read a ramble or two! So, please think about it, ahaha...
I think the problem of running a game is that everyone's predilections (or little madnesses, if you will) can either mesh together and create a great story or a fun hack n' slash... Or end up splitting the group even when the whole party is in the same room. Tough times!
Do take care around the Raxon. He works in mysterious, devious and confusing ways. One would be likely to lose their minds in his presence if one is not careful.
...I am a banana.
I have no recollection of the Cerberus. Which episode was it in?
Yes. All the ponies in Ponyville are crazy because it's apparently built on a hellmouth.
If Cerberus is involved, the Elusive Man can't be far behind!
It's About Time (see what I did there?) we had another proper combat.
In my experience, players I've run sessions for tend to enjoy that session more when there's at least one decent combat encounter for them. :)
okay, does anyone else notice somthing's a bit... off? I mean, in a world where pegasi are one of three main races, why is Twi questioning the cerberus' appearence?
Speaking of DMPCs, I've run several over the course of my years DMing, and they almost always follow a few quidelines.
1) They can't compete with the player characters, and especially not when it comes to that character's specialty. If there's a Rogue in the group and the DMPC is a Rogue, the DMPC is overall less stealthy, does less damage, and has fewer tricks up their sleeve. DMPC mages would have fewer spells and a more limited repertoire of spells known than player spellcasters, etc. No 1-upmanship on my part.
2) They're involved in the story, but it's not about them. It's always about the players, or at least a few of them. The DMPC is along for the ride, usually because they have an interest in seeing things through, or because (more likely) they care about the character(s) and want to help them out. I've seen (and played in) too many games where it boiled down to "DMPC is destined to save the world, party runs interference for them as they complete their quest".
3) There's an element to their character that the player(s) will usually make a decision about, a decision that will change the DMPC forever. In one game I had a knight-commander with a dark past who saw a better life in one of the characters (they ended up getting married in-game of all things). There was an engineer in search of dangerous lost technology, and the players had the option to convince her out of her dangerous mission (they didn't and she ended up dying). My point is, DMPCs should be more than just a bundle of stats and class features.
4) They're non-essential. If the players don't want to adventure with them, they don't have to. I've never saddled a DMPC with my players, though my current group is fine with them provided I follow the above rules.
So, anyone else have tips and tricks they used when they ran DMPCs?
1) They can't compete with the player characters, and especially not when it comes to that character's specialty. If there's a Rogue in the group and the DMPC is a Rogue, the DMPC is overall less stealthy, does less damage, and has fewer tricks up their sleeve. DMPC mages would have fewer spells and a more limited repertoire of spells known than player spellcasters, etc. No 1-upmanship on my part.
2) They're involved in the story, but it's not about them. It's always about the players, or at least a few of them. The DMPC is along for the ride, usually because they have an interest in seeing things through, or because (more likely) they care about the character(s) and want to help them out. I've seen (and played in) too many games where it boiled down to "DMPC is destined to save the world, party runs interference for them as they complete their quest".
3) There's an element to their character that the player(s) will usually make a decision about, a decision that will change the DMPC forever. In one game I had a knight-commander with a dark past who saw a better life in one of the characters (they ended up getting married in-game of all things). There was an engineer in search of dangerous lost technology, and the players had the option to convince her out of her dangerous mission (they didn't and she ended up dying). My point is, DMPCs should be more than just a bundle of stats and class features.
4) They're non-essential. If the players don't want to adventure with them, they don't have to. I've never saddled a DMPC with my players, though my current group is fine with them provided I follow the above rules.
So, anyone else have tips and tricks they used when they ran DMPCs?