What do we think about this cantrip?

TTRPG Pet Peeve: GMs calling for an ability check / action roll for a player action that's purely fluff. For example, "I want to run up the wall, back flip behind the bad guy, and kick him forward." Roll for the attack, sure, but the running up the wall and backflipping is fluff.

After giving up on Twitter a few years ago I sort of dropped off social media altogether. Probably time to come out of my self-imposed exile.

Gonna have to incorporate some rowdy references in the Pugilist update. I simply must.

If you haven't heard yet, the long awaited VTT designed for D&D, Sigil, released recently and promptly shit the bed. It's not just bad, they fired almost the entire staff such that there's no possibility it will ever actually be fixed. But I'm telling you this right now only as pretext.

The latest episode of my podcast, Dispel Magic, is out today. We're talking the setting implications of the kuo-toa and their incredible ability to create gods! dispelmagic.podbean.com

Take two of the Dexterous Warrior feat. I've expanded the number of weapons you add Finesse to (by a lot) and added a second bullet point. It's of limited use to classes that don't get Weapon Mastery but...maybe that's fine?

How do we like this feat?

Too niche?

Parleys at the Platter #3. Since the new 2024 rules premiered, I thought it’d be lovely to have a conversation on game design, play, and D&D. Dr. Paul Gestwicki @alyssavisscher.bsky.social @sterlingvermin.bsky.social @mustangsart.bsky.social share.fireside.fm/episode/bbqO...

Sidekicks & Sidequests: Episode 143 - Parleys at the Platter #3: Game Design, Play, and D&D

Happy New Year! My apologies for the delay on this episode. For our third Parleys at the Platter special, I invited Dr. Paul Gestwicki, Alyssa Visscher, Benjamin Huffman, and Mark Thompson back onto t...

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Would you buy a 12 month calendar where each month features a unique picture of ramen?

I finished Black Company yesterday and now I understand Band of Blades and Abyssal Exalted so much better.

Something I think we don't talk about enough is how HARD it is for freelance game designers to keep their skills sharp. You have to balance day job & understanding game systems & reading new games & a work-life balance. & how GUTTING it is to feel your skills atrophy if you prioritize other things.

I am one bad day away from getting extremely into writing poetry.

I was curious if I was on any Blue sky lists so I looked myself up and I'm pleased to announce I'm blocked by one singular person and it's an NFT guy.

Sometimes I get so anxious thinking about how the significantly better worldbuilding of Chronicles of Darkness was abandoned because the nostalgia of World of Darkness was so much more lucrative.

After a few hours of experimentation I am pleased to announce I am a Loki main.

Hey, people! We've missed you, and we've got new Kill Every Monster episodes on the way. But first, a message from Dylan and Aram about Wizards of the Coast that will play at the top of the podcast going forward. www.youtube.com/shorts/L2cZ3...

Our Message About Wizards of the Coast

YouTube video by Dead Ghost Productions

youtube.com

The one downside to Metaphor: Refantazio is that I mutter, "Oooooh, power of kings!" to myself and then laugh at least once a day.

Adapting Narrative Design Patterns for Tabletop Adventure Writing - AKA The One With The Flowcharts If you're interested in how I structure quests, adventures, decisions, etc. for tabletop design, this blog post is for you! There's even an activity at the end you can do & post in the comments :)

Adapting Narrative Design Patterns for Tabletop Adventure Writing - Barilleon's Web Zone

I’ve been thinking a lot about the shapes of stories, especially as IF and video game narrative designers have been mapping them for years. What does...

barilleon.com

Real life vs fantasy world building

I am paralyzed right now between working on a sorcerer subclass, making popcorn, or watching the next episode of Dandadan.

Tinkering with a giant themed sorcerer subclass for 24e that's build to be a punchy gish type. These are the early features that set that up. Is it enough?

Reskeet if you're a TTRPG designer and/or publisher and are happy to provide digital copies for actual plays and reviews.

Richard @ R. Rook 🔜 Sleep@rrookstudio.bsky.social · 2y ago

100% what Hayley said! If you're streaming Sherwood or Roseville Beach (or any forthcoming R. Rook Studio books), I've got free PDFs, ePubs and either have or will make digital character keepers and customized consent worksheets for you. Seriously, reach out!

Who do I know that's interested in freelance work to update some of my 5e material to 5.24e?

Anyone playing Wilderfeast? I got my physical copy a week ago but unfortunately won't be able to give it a spin for a couple months. I'd love to do a bit of hacking to make it even more Delicious in Dungeon shaped.

In the wake of the 2024 rules I find I'm struggling to figure out how to proceed. Update material from 2014e? Create original content for the new system? Go off and write my own TTRPGs? Hang up the gloves and rest a bit? I've experimented with a bit of all of the above. Not sure which will win.

My patrons now have access to that glimpse of the Thaumaturge 2024e. I'd say expect to see it soon but with the gigantic number of spells in the product and the need to update each one of them as well...it might be a bit.

Not sure how to approach playtesting your TTRPG? Join us 10/21/24 at 7:00 PM ET for a chat with Spencer Hibnick, head contract tester of MCDM, as he discusses the whys and hows of playtesting. Drop in and have your questions answered live! discord.gg/9SMWdMQ4z... #ttrpg

Metaphor: Refantazio has me hooked in a way Persona games struggled to get me. I suppose the high fantasy dressing was all it took?