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InitialsDiceBearhttps://github.com/dicebear/dicebearhttps://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/„Initials” (https://github.com/dicebear/dicebear) by „DiceBear”, licensed under „CC0 1.0” (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)LI
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2 yr. ago

  • That's what I prefer to do. Maybe just a general reason for going adventuring with the party, but otherwise discover and develop characters in play!

    By all means people can write backstories if they want. I just sometimes see it being treated as mandatory and a sign of taking the game seriously, when really it's just a matter of style and taste.

  • I'm so frustrated that 5e's design goal puts SO MUCH emphasis on balance, for encounters and between players, but is consistently so bad at it.

    And look at half of the memes here and you'll see how bad they are at precise technical writing. Which is weird, because the M:tG folks are great at it, and they're right next door.

  • Seriously. I played a monk, and while Stunning Strike came in clutch sometimes, it was balanced by (a) depending on the opponent failing a save, and (b) using up ki, which will run out over a longer encounter.

    Plus, as a DM, I never really had a problem with the players pulling off a huge upset like that. 5e is heroic fantasy, so let them be big damn heroes sometimes. They won't always be! (Though I do play up as though I'm shocked and frustrated, but that's just to play the heel and let them feel extra victorious. :P)

  • Pathfinder 2e made me realize I wasn't actually sick of crunchier rules, I was just sick of fighting the rules. I have to make up for weird quirks and omissions all the time when I DM 5e, but with Pathfinder 2e, everything actually clicks together the way I'd expect.

  • 5e is in this weird space where, on the one hand, it's loose and flexible, but on the other, it's designed around balanced encounters and precise readings of kind of a lot of rules.

    I found it an exhausting balancing act as a DM.

  • It's also great for a sandbox game, even if it's not focused on the dungeon. Having a default option really helps get things moving, or to still have a session if you don't have everyone around (or if you want an open table).

  • See THIS is a more interesting version of the conversation. :P The one I saw was something like, "Raise Dead creates an Evil creature, and creating an Evil creature is an Evil act, per the rules. Period, end of story."

    And heck, even without exploring shades of gray morality and cultural constructs, having raised dead trap the soul of the person is more interesting worldbuilding. Even if it's a black & white situation, it drives home who the villains are.

  • The "Nice Necromancer" is honestly such a fun character. You get mad scientist vibes, plus playing around with some ethics and taboos.

    I remember hearing some argument about how Raise Dead is inherently evil because... the book says so. Which instantly made the conversation a lot less interesting.

  • I haven't had a chance to play Hillfolk, only read it years ago... but from what I remember, it also just has great ideas for creating PCs with existing relationships that can port to just about any other system!

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  • For real, it's scary how quickly transphobia can get a grip on someone, to the point it becomes a singular focus, and something people are willing to destroy their own lives for.

    Specifically, I'm thinking of Graham Linehan. Other famous and successful people have let transphobia take over their lives and tarnish their reputations, but that dude lost his reputation, can't get work anymore, even destroyed his own marriage... but can't stop. I think he subconsciously realizes that, if he's wrong about this, he lost everything for nothing, so he can't ever even entertain the idea.

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  • It's amazing how quickly they'll pivot from "I have science on my side" to "The science is wrong."

    They don't form opinions based on evidence, they judge evidence based on their opinions.

  • I had a friend of a friend who worked at Wizards of the Coast, and it's a revolving door there. There's no shortage of people eager to work on games that mean so much to them, so it's easy to abuser workers and cut the loose if there's any hint that they might start demanding better treatment, or a better direction for the brands, or especially organizing and collectively bargaining.

    It's kind of the same thing here. There's no shortage of servile users eager to be scabs. It's going to lead to stifling and unpleasant communities in the long run, but they don't really care. So long as they can slow down the appearance of enshittification, and keep reddit.com from being full of reasons why the site is a bad investment, they can cash out in the IPO and leave investors holding the bag.