tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2677921292897780839Tue, 20 Jun 2023 13:10:35 +0000GMToolsSavage WorldsRantPrepDIYAdventureSci-FiSystem AgnosticFantasyPlayerTerrainStarpunkGeneratorArtSeedGearAliensVehiclesCardsDungeons and Dragons 5EICRPGRulesMotivationalNPCCharacter SheetDaring Tales of the Space Lanes/ StarpunkNewsHumorTiny d6QuickieStar WarsThog ThoughtsTiny DungeonsTiny FrontiersAdventure EditionA tabletop RPG blog that offers weekly free stuff, ICRPG topics, and setting agnostic musings.https://ayelpinthedark.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Chad Jones)Blogger230125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2677921292897780839.post-5514243090901340226Sun, 10 Jul 2022 04:17:00 +00002022-07-09T21:23:41.752-07:00ArtDIYDungeons and Dragons 5EFantasyNewsPrepSystem AgnosticTerrainTiny d6Tiny DungeonsTiny FrontiersTools I've taken up painting my terrain, as well as using combat "Zones". I've posted many of my paint jobs on The Tabletop Crafter's Guild page on Facebook. Some folks put forward the idea of my starting a youtube channel for painting. The job market isn't panning out so why not?Here's the first few videos!https://ayelpinthedark.blogspot.com/2022/07/i-have-youtube-channel.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Jones)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2677921292897780839.post-5442119485409803487Tue, 28 Dec 2021 09:00:00 +00002021-12-28T01:00:00.194-08:00AdventureDIYDungeons and Dragons 5EFantasyGeneratorGMICRPGMotivationalPrepRantSavage WorldsStar WarsSystem AgnosticTiny d6Tiny DungeonsTiny FrontiersTools I'm going to explain my methodology for creating campaigns, and to do that, I'm going to start with Encounters. They are the basic building block of every adventure or campaign.An adventure is a plot with a series of problems (Encounters) that need to be addressed to solve the adventure. Common Encounters involve fighting, socializing, exploring, or chasing. A Bad Encounter is one that gets https://ayelpinthedark.blogspot.com/2021/12/campaign-101-encounters.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Jones)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2677921292897780839.post-5314569296949565654Fri, 24 Dec 2021 09:00:00 +00002021-12-24T01:00:00.210-08:00HumorQuickieRantThog Thoughts Once was a rock onna ground,I figure to give it a pound,But if I missedIt's 'cause I'm pissedan I'm not good at being profound.'Dis has been Thog Thoughts."https://ayelpinthedark.blogspot.com/2021/12/thog-thoughts-ode-to-da-rock.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Jones)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2677921292897780839.post-3581522708566161844Tue, 14 Dec 2021 09:00:00 +00002021-12-14T01:00:00.197-08:00AdventureDIYFantasyGMHumorPlayerRantRulesSystem AgnosticTiny d6Tiny DungeonsTiny FrontiersTools Others have noted it, leveling doesn't necessarily make your character better. They just face tougher monsters and the fights take longer. I won't cover that already well-tread ground.I want to take on the assumption that without leveling, without significant character bonuses earned over time, that a game is only good for a one-shot. Unfortunately, leveling is the default for "character growth"https://ayelpinthedark.blogspot.com/2021/12/leveling-is-lie.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Jones)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2677921292897780839.post-8622011832237375097Sun, 12 Dec 2021 22:16:00 +00002021-12-12T14:16:52.035-08:00GMHumorMotivationalPlayerRantThog Thoughts Acting for the stage is very different than acting for a movie. It's all to do with where your audience is.On the stage, the closest audience member is 5-10 feet away. So your acting needs to be big! Your voice, even in whisper, needs to project so that even those seated in the cheap-seats can hear. Your body should animate with huge gestures to show who is taking.Acting for the camera means https://ayelpinthedark.blogspot.com/2021/12/a-word-about-acting.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Jones)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2677921292897780839.post-525215812063277285Sat, 11 Dec 2021 21:41:00 +00002021-12-11T13:41:09.696-08:00AdventureDaring Tales of the Space Lanes/ StarpunkDIYDungeons and Dragons 5EFantasyGMICRPGMotivationalPrepRantRulesSavage WorldsSci-FiStar WarsStarpunkSystem AgnosticTiny d6 Like Hollywood, many GMs are under the impression that the bigger the Threat to Existence, the more compelling the story will be. In my opinion, that's not going great for Hollywood right now and it may not be working great for your campaign either.What's Bigger?One problem with Epic storylines is that if you revisit a storyline based on saving All of Existence, your next story has to be even https://ayelpinthedark.blogspot.com/2021/12/the-problem-with-epic-campaigns.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Jones)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2677921292897780839.post-7837323201189441328Fri, 10 Dec 2021 09:00:00 +00002021-12-11T13:50:21.798-08:00HumorQuickieRantSystem AgnosticThog ThoughtsThey say Thog stop evolving long, long ago.Thog remember. That when Thog accept that he perfect just the way he is.Think like Thog, 'cause gills are over-rated. You be you. No more, no less.'Dis has been Thog Thoughts.https://ayelpinthedark.blogspot.com/2021/12/thog-thoughts-3.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Jones)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2677921292897780839.post-5993587891527636618Tue, 07 Dec 2021 09:00:00 +00002021-12-07T01:00:00.215-08:00AdventureDIYDungeons and Dragons 5EFantasyGearGMPlayerPrepRantRulesSavage WorldsStar WarsSystem AgnosticTiny d6Tiny DungeonsTiny FrontiersTools I'm tired of counting coins and cracking silvers into coppers and NONE OF IT IS FUN!It's an almost proven fact - As math increases, entertainment decreases.So here's how we simplify things:The Basic Unit - A Handful of Coin. What kind of coins? Who cares. How many coins? Who cares. A Weapon costs a Handful of Coin. A toolkit costs a Handful of Coin or two. A days food and lodgings costs a https://ayelpinthedark.blogspot.com/2021/12/how-i-handle-money-without-counting.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Jones)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2677921292897780839.post-3215352091692070089Mon, 06 Dec 2021 23:39:00 +00002021-12-06T15:39:27.051-08:00Dungeons and Dragons 5ENewsRantRules They announced a new edition of D&D, as well as the promise of a new setting.Here's my prediction:...a 5E version of BECMI, with Mystara as the setting. I believe (hope) that they come up with an even more simplified D&D5e ala Basic Edition. It will come in a boxed set like the original (maybe multiple boxed sets). Then revive the Gazeteers of Mystara.Why?Because modern 5e is too super-powered. https://ayelpinthedark.blogspot.com/2021/12/new-d-edition-theory.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Jones)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2677921292897780839.post-4814513369101919011Fri, 03 Dec 2021 22:11:00 +00002021-12-03T14:21:16.221-08:00AdventureDIYFantasyGMICRPGRantRulesSci-FiTiny d6Tiny DungeonsTiny FrontiersTools It is a rules light system. Incredibly rules light. So what?All rpg dice systems boil down into "What are you aces at?", "What are you okay at?", and "What do you suck at?" Most games add in a bunch of fiddly numbers to measure your suck-age in 5 or 10% increments.Tiny D6 forgoes using math to describe your character. Instead you get Traits.Example: On a scale of 1-10, how strong is Chewbacca? https://ayelpinthedark.blogspot.com/2021/12/tiny-d6-new-love.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Jones)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2677921292897780839.post-8344471988295395295Tue, 23 Nov 2021 03:00:00 +00002021-12-11T13:51:10.034-08:00HumorQuickieRantSystem AgnosticThog Thoughts"Roses are Red,All covered in Goo.If I catch you and eat you,you'll turn into poo.'Dis has been Thog Thoughts"https://ayelpinthedark.blogspot.com/2021/11/thogthoughts.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Jones)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2677921292897780839.post-4464323769013471584Tue, 23 Nov 2021 02:54:00 +00002021-12-11T13:51:43.460-08:00HumorQuickieRantThog Thoughts"Thog one day understand, in battle of wits, first brain to hit the floor looses. Be careful or Thog out-smart you too.'Dis has been Thog Thoughts."https://ayelpinthedark.blogspot.com/2021/11/thog-thoughts.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Jones)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2677921292897780839.post-2673135166344980628Sun, 21 Nov 2021 22:42:00 +00002021-11-21T23:37:08.901-08:00AdventureDungeons and Dragons 5EFantasyICRPGMotivationalPlayerRulesSavage WorldsSystem AgnosticTools Today's post will talk about two different types of playstyles and analysis using my thoroughly uneducated pop psychology. These are personal opinions based on my experiences and should not be taken as gospel. Also, individual players can fall anywhere on the spectrum between these two extremes.First up, Mentats. Others call them Munchkins, but I don't like that term. It's meant to be derogatoryhttps://ayelpinthedark.blogspot.com/2021/11/todays-post-will-talk-about-two.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Jones)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2677921292897780839.post-4544202551043129817Wed, 17 Nov 2021 00:35:00 +00002021-11-16T16:35:26.837-08:00AdventureDungeons and Dragons 5EFantasyGMNPCSystem Agnostic It's just an idea that popped into my head one cold and windy eve. The idea was "why not put a GMPC with the party?"WAIT! Hear me out!The StorytellerThis character travels with the heroes and fulfils the roll of telling players what they don't know. Typically this is left to the players - the one's who don't know yet. Result? The GM distributes the exposition and the player/ bard replies "Yeah, https://ayelpinthedark.blogspot.com/2021/11/mr-exposition.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Jones)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2677921292897780839.post-6663083383110187527Fri, 12 Nov 2021 04:06:00 +00002021-11-11T21:04:40.678-08:00AdventureDIYFantasyGMICRPGWhile waiting for a new game to start, I decided to make a party of four adventurers in my ICRPG setting WORLD OF ARYN and run through the original Basic D&D adventure Keep on the Borderlands. I haven't been through since I was 10 years old. I'm adapting the monsters to ICRPG as I encounter them.The Party:Vahn  - A Humani Ranger (Forager)Rook - A Nomini (halfling/gnome) Shadow (Spy)Torkka - An https://ayelpinthedark.blogspot.com/2021/11/keep-on-borderlands-icrpg.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Jones)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2677921292897780839.post-2309414862570095632Tue, 02 Nov 2021 08:00:00 +00002021-11-02T01:00:00.201-07:00AdventureDIYDungeons and Dragons 5EFantasyGMICRPGPrepRantSavage WorldsSci-FiSystem AgnosticToolsI'm trying to break my habit of prep, prep, prep, and never play. I'm looking for a more holistic approach. Imagine having a game world that can be everything you want it to be, where you aren't pigeon-holed by pre-generated content. Imagine a world that holds as many surprises for you as for your players!I'm talking about a fluid setting: Basically a name, a high concept, and a sample starting https://ayelpinthedark.blogspot.com/2021/11/setting-101-fluid-setting.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Jones)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2677921292897780839.post-2009548971642667067Fri, 29 Oct 2021 23:20:00 +00002021-10-29T16:20:08.294-07:00AdventureDIYDungeons and Dragons 5EFantasyGeneratorGMICRPGPlayerQuickieRulesSystem AgnosticToolsWhy do we roll for initiative they way we do? It's needlessly slow and dull, even requiring table gimmicks to keep track. But here's a few facts: If a player rolls a d20 and the GM rolls a d20, then the player has a 50% chance of beating the GM and gaining initiative. After Initiative order is set, who goes first is no longer important after the first round since everyone is taking turns.How do https://ayelpinthedark.blogspot.com/2021/10/quick-thought-faster-initiative.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Jones)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2677921292897780839.post-4154117343908899310Tue, 26 Oct 2021 08:00:00 +00002021-10-26T01:00:00.276-07:00AdventureDIYFantasyGeneratorGMICRPGMotivationalPrepRantSavage WorldsSci-FiSystem AgnosticToolsThe well has run dry? If you've read my other posts then you'd know I have been there too. Here's a few things that helped me out of it:1) The Runehammer Channel on Youtube - If you are stuck in a cyclone of rules, watch these videos. Especially the ones about ICRPG. Hankerin Ferinale snapped me out of my slump and freed my creativity that had been stifled recently (Pathfinder Society did more https://ayelpinthedark.blogspot.com/2021/10/campaign-101-inspiration.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Jones)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2677921292897780839.post-4270816209563381719Tue, 19 Oct 2021 08:00:00 +00002021-10-19T01:00:00.169-07:00DIYDungeons and Dragons 5EFantasyGearGMICRPGPlayerRantRulesSavage WorldsSci-FiSystem AgnosticToolsI'm not saying it can't be done. The premise of Shadowrun is sound, the world embraced technology because magic didn't exist. Magic awoke onto the scene so it makes sense that they would be in conflict.But let's take your typical D&D Fantasy-Land. Magic is all around. Despite the claimed "rarity" of magic items, the heroes will come across a lot of it, usually in the hands of the villain. Magic https://ayelpinthedark.blogspot.com/2021/10/magic-and-technology-in-same-settingwhy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Jones)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2677921292897780839.post-3089481985847543181Tue, 12 Oct 2021 08:00:00 +00002021-10-12T01:00:00.199-07:00Time in campaign worlds is often overlooked. I am referring to calendars and yearly cycles. It rarely seems important. But every now and then someone decides it will give there fantasy world more depth and they create their own fantasy calendar. The GM promptly stops using it after a while since it only confuses the players more."So what day is it?"GM: It's the twelfth of Grune."When is that?"So https://ayelpinthedark.blogspot.com/2021/10/world-building-101-that-time-of-year.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Jones)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2677921292897780839.post-6888286232798102624Tue, 05 Oct 2021 08:00:00 +00002021-10-05T01:00:00.245-07:00People have different interpretations of what makes a campaign. Is it the entire story arch of the characters, or is it the 5 or more adventures needed to solve one major problem? Well, it's both actually. One campaign is about the character's growth and dealing with the trauma that made them an adventurer, but sometimes "THAR'S VILLAINY AFOOT!"For this example, we'll focus on the "villainy afoothttps://ayelpinthedark.blogspot.com/2021/10/campaign-101-villainy-is-afoot.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Jones)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2677921292897780839.post-5181245085152129939Tue, 28 Sep 2021 08:00:00 +00002021-09-28T01:00:00.207-07:00AdventureDungeons and Dragons 5EGMPrepRulesToolsGMs spend a lot of time working with finicky Difficulty Target Numbers. Searching the desk is this difficult, hitting the goblin is this difficult. But in that work is a Meta-thought, "this encounter is a bit easy, let's move those difficulties up a bit".Yup, as a GM you have probably tweaked an encounter upward in difficulty so your players don't walk easily through it.One Room DC doesn't botherhttps://ayelpinthedark.blogspot.com/2021/09/one-room-dc-and-why-i-can-lock-myself.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Jones)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2677921292897780839.post-2075245179033272806Tue, 21 Sep 2021 08:00:00 +00002021-09-24T17:44:29.675-07:00AdventureCharacter SheetDIYDungeons and Dragons 5EGeneratorGMICRPGMotivationalSavage WorldsSeedSystem AgnosticToolsThis particular post holds an idea that can be added to any RPG.Character Background, sometimes there's pages and pages of it, and other times there is nothing at all. How do you get those pesky players to give you something to work with without burying you in homework? Easy. There is only one question the player and the GM should know about the hero:Why did your hero become an Adventurer?https://ayelpinthedark.blogspot.com/2021/09/character-background-what-do-you-really.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Jones)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2677921292897780839.post-7671361044857426547Thu, 16 Sep 2021 19:14:00 +00002021-09-16T12:14:20.136-07:00AdventureDIYDungeons and Dragons 5EFantasyGMICRPGPlayerPrepRulesSavage WorldsSci-FiStar WarsStarpunkSystem AgnosticToolsThis blog is in response to Zee Bashew and Matt Coleville's youtube channels, regarding running a heist. You want to run a heist, or your players are about to storm a heavily defended outpost. Preplanning is key, but how do your players know what to plan. I doubt any of them has real-life experience in these areas, but the characters probably do. So how do you cover for your player's lack of https://ayelpinthedark.blogspot.com/2021/09/how-to-run-heist-in-any-system.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Jones)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2677921292897780839.post-379657728596773904Tue, 14 Sep 2021 08:00:00 +00002021-09-16T12:29:11.581-07:00AdventureAliensDIYFantasyGearGMICRPGPlayerRantRulesSci-FiToolsICRPG uses a system called Effort, as in "this task requires more than the flip of the switch so let's see how far you get this round". Damage is effort, each round you see how much closer you've pushed the enemy toward Deadsville. Well Runehammer thought that such an interesting system should get used more often. Now, all complicated tasks have "Hit Points", and you must defeat them using the https://ayelpinthedark.blogspot.com/2021/09/effort-and-why-i-dig-it-icrpg.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chad Jones)