The Lair’s Guide for New Game Masters (S4E13)

Lair Of Secrets

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The Agile Brand with Greg Kihlström®

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Stay curious. Stay agile. Marketing technology, AI, and CX insights from top brands and martech platforms fill every episode, focusing on what leaders need to know to build customer lifetime value and long-term business value. The Agile Brand with Greg Kihlström® features executives and thought leaders from top brands and platforms discussing the trends driving the industry forward, like first-party data strategies, artificial intelligence, consumer data privacy, omnichannel customer experience, and more. The Agile Brand is hosted by Greg Kihlström, advisor and consultant to leading brands, speaker, entrepreneur, and best-selling author. It provides a fresh perspective on the continually evolving dynamic between brands and the audiences they serve.

منذ عام واحد 25:43

MP3•منزل الحلقة

On this episode of Lair of Secrets, we present the our guide for new Game Masters, packed with advice, tips, and encouragement for those ready to take the GM seat. We explore choosing the right game, gathering players, preparing efficiently, and rolling with mistakes while ensuring a fun and engaging experience.

Chapter List

0:00 – Welcome to the Lair & GMing 101
2:00 – Choosing the Right Game for You & Your Players
5:00 – Prepping Smart: Rules, Research & Quickstart Guides
8:30 – Finding & Pitching to Players
11:45 – One-Shots vs. Campaigns: Starting with Low Commitment
14:20 – Tools of the Trade: GM Kits & Digital vs. In-Person Play
17:30 – Rolling with Mistakes & Improvising on the Fly
20:15 – Setting Expectations & Managing Player Dynamics
23:00 – Encouragement for New GMs & The GMUary Initiative
25:10 – Closing Thoughts & Join the Lair Community!

Listen to the Episode

Watch to the Episode

Watch The Lair’s Guide for New Game Masters (S4E13) on YouTube

Show Notes

Identify games you are interested in
- Game that you’ve been playing?
- A game you’ve had on your shelf and have been interested in?
Watch videos or listen to podcasts about those games.
- Like say … Scum & Villainy or Cyberpunk RED actual plays here at the Lair
Make the Pitch
- Read the room and look for:
  - games that fit the players might like
  - Sense of whether they want a one shot or something extended
- Offer to run one game
  - With the option to run more if you and the others like it
- Offer to run a self-contained game
  - Fiasco
  - Honey Heist
  - Lasers & Feelings
  - Lady Blackbird
  - D&D Essentials Kit
Do a test run
- Play the game at a convention
  - Get a feel for how the game is run
- Try a solo adventure
  - See the Dragonbane boxed set and its solo adventure
- Do a mini session with people excited for the game to
  - “kick the tires” of the rules
  - get used to being the GM
  - figure out the virtual game table as the GM
What’s your minimal viable game as a new Game Master
- Run a one shot
  - That one shot means there isn’t a long commitment
  - The one shot can turn into a multi-shot game if everyone is enthusiastic about it
  - Quickstart rules for games
- Pregen characters
  - This way you know what the character abilities are and how they might be played
- What we recommend you reading and setting up
  - Review the scenario
  - Take notes about parts that are confusing or not fleshed out.
- What we recommend you and your players review before the game:
  - The basic rules for the game
  - Rules Cheat Sheet
    - Find one or make one
  - Review the characters
- Some tools
  - Index Cards
  - Notebook
  - List of names
  - Pencils.
  - Extra dice
  - Build a tool kit!
Running – Don’t worry. You’ve got this.
- Talk with your group and set expectations. Ask the rules lawyer to chill (or to help)
  - Let the group know that if you can’t find a rule, you’ll make a ruling and move on
- Roll with the fumbles (see also: ken makes awesomely bad mothership maps)
- Don’t worry about being “right”, work on having fun

Feedback

We love feedback! You post a comment below or connect with us using these channels:

Featured Image Meta

Cover art for the D&D Essentials Kit. Credit: Wizards of the Coast.

The post The Lair’s Guide for New Game Masters (S4E13) appeared first on Lair Of Secrets.

106 حلقات

#Games and Gambling #Lifestyle #Roleplaying #Role #Joss #Whedon #Firefly #Serene #David Moore #Hobbies #Podcasting #SciFi #Play #RPG

The Lair’s Guide for New Game Masters (S4E13)

Lair Of Secrets

published منذ عام واحد

MP3•منزل الحلقة

Chapter List

Listen to the Episode

Watch to the Episode

Watch The Lair’s Guide for New Game Masters (S4E13) on YouTube

Show Notes

Identify games you are interested in
- Game that you’ve been playing?
- A game you’ve had on your shelf and have been interested in?
Watch videos or listen to podcasts about those games.
- Like say … Scum & Villainy or Cyberpunk RED actual plays here at the Lair
Make the Pitch
- Read the room and look for:
  - games that fit the players might like
  - Sense of whether they want a one shot or something extended
- Offer to run one game
  - With the option to run more if you and the others like it
- Offer to run a self-contained game
  - Fiasco
  - Honey Heist
  - Lasers & Feelings
  - Lady Blackbird
  - D&D Essentials Kit
Do a test run
- Play the game at a convention
  - Get a feel for how the game is run
- Try a solo adventure
  - See the Dragonbane boxed set and its solo adventure
- Do a mini session with people excited for the game to
  - “kick the tires” of the rules
  - get used to being the GM
  - figure out the virtual game table as the GM
What’s your minimal viable game as a new Game Master
- Run a one shot
  - That one shot means there isn’t a long commitment
  - The one shot can turn into a multi-shot game if everyone is enthusiastic about it
  - Quickstart rules for games
- Pregen characters
  - This way you know what the character abilities are and how they might be played
- What we recommend you reading and setting up
  - Review the scenario
  - Take notes about parts that are confusing or not fleshed out.
- What we recommend you and your players review before the game:
  - The basic rules for the game
  - Rules Cheat Sheet
    - Find one or make one
  - Review the characters
- Some tools
  - Index Cards
  - Notebook
  - List of names
  - Pencils.
  - Extra dice
  - Build a tool kit!
Running – Don’t worry. You’ve got this.
- Talk with your group and set expectations. Ask the rules lawyer to chill (or to help)
  - Let the group know that if you can’t find a rule, you’ll make a ruling and move on
- Roll with the fumbles (see also: ken makes awesomely bad mothership maps)
- Don’t worry about being “right”, work on having fun

Feedback

We love feedback! You post a comment below or connect with us using these channels:

Featured Image Meta

Cover art for the D&D Essentials Kit. Credit: Wizards of the Coast.

The post The Lair’s Guide for New Game Masters (S4E13) appeared first on Lair Of Secrets.

106 حلقات

#Games and Gambling #Lifestyle #Roleplaying #Role #Joss #Whedon #Firefly #Serene #David Moore #Hobbies #Podcasting #SciFi #Play #RPG

كل الحلقات

1
d12 Ways ShadowDark is Awesome! (S4E15) 33:25

منذ 1 day33:25

33:25

On this episode, we delve far from the light to geek out about Shadowdark . The old-school-inspired RPG strips Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition to its essentials, and then adds in some modern sensibilities. We talk about our favorite mechanics, how it’s impacted our other games (looking at you D&D 5th Edition!), and our players’ penchant for wandering off into the dark. PLUS: Squishy wizards! Unlimited spells (if they don’t kill you!) Morale failures! AND the upcoming Western Reaches Campaign Setting Kickstarter (link in the comments) Chapters 0:00 – Intro: Straight into the ShadowDark 1:30 – Rolling Old-School Attributes (3D6 in Order!) 4:10 – The Darkness is Your Enemy: Why Light Matters 7:30 – Inventory Tetris: The Beauty of Gear Slots 10:00 – Squishy Wizards and the Horror of 1 HP 13:00 – No XP for Combat? Time to Get Creative 15:20 – Skills? Where we’re going, we don’t need skills! 18:00 – Morale Checks: Making Enemies Run in Fear 20:30 – Unlimited Spells (But at What Cost?) 23:00 – Clerical Penance: Displease Your God and Suffer 26:00 – Rolling on the Chaos Tables: Why Randomness is Fun 28:40 – Limited Rules, Maximum Improv 31:00 – Excited for Western Reaches—More ShadowDark Content! 32:30 – Final Thoughts & Where to Find Us Online Listen to the Episode Watch to the Episode Watch d12 Ways ShadowDark is Awesome! on YouTube Show Notes Old School Attributes. Roll 3d6. In order. Re-roll if you all your stats are under 14, re-roll. No one can see in the dark But the monsters can. Where do the monsters lurk? Gear Slots Carry a number of items equal to your STR stat or 10. All gear besides typical clothing fills one gear slot. Gear that is hard to transport might fill more than one slot. Squishy heroes A wizard with 3 hit points? Good luck. Skills Easy? You do it. (It’s infectious … started doing that in D&D too) Hard? You roll? Something make it easier? Advantage, Harder? Disadvantage Morale Enemies who are reduced to half their number (or half their hit points for a solo enemy) flee if they fail a DC 15 Wisdom check. Large Groups. Make one check using the leader’s WIS modifier. Throwback to old school D&D Your spells can kill you Dare to roll on the spell failure charts Magic missile bathes you in purple light? Unlimited Spells Just. Keep. Casting. But do you risk it Clerical Penance Inadequate or subversive penance (such as donating your sacrifice to a party member) only displeases your deity further and makes the spell loss permanent. Embrace the Random Talents depend on a die, not choice Limited rules. Maximum improv. Stripped down version of 5e removes a lot of the game’s specific rules. Improvise when the specific is needed. The rules system can fit in your head once you play it enough It’s in the Goldilocks zone of size The Western Reaches Kickstarter! Shadowdark RPG: The Western Reaches Setting ShadowDark Quickstart Shadowdark RPG Quickstart Set (PDF) Feedback We love feedback! You post a comment below or connect with us using these channels: Email Bluesky Discord DiceCamp (Mastodon) YouTube Twitch The post d12 Ways ShadowDark is Awesome! (S4E15) appeared first on Lair Of Secrets .…

1
Fallout 2d20 Chapter 1: Wasteland Wake-Up (S4E14) 1:26:01

منذ 8 أيام1:26:01

1:26:01

We kickoff our Fallout 2d20 campaign with the protagonists (not sure we can call them “heroes” just yet) waking up in the Wasteland. Fallout 2d20 Campaign Page: An overview of the campaign, plus links to episodes and related game resources. Chapters 0:00 – Intro & Audio Shenanigans 3:15 – Meet the Survivors 8:40 – Escape from the Hospital Basement 14:55 – Reg the Super Mutant Chef 22:10 – Journey Through the Wasteland 29:30 – EyeBot Encounters & Enclave Paranoia 35:50 – The Boathouse Discovery 42:15 – Bloatfly Swarm Attack! 49:40 – Lucky Buck’s Unfortunate Grenade Fumble 55:20 – Steve Learns About Boats & Water 1:02:45 – Looting the Boathouse & Finding the Note 1:10:30 – What’s the Deal with Thriftway? 1:18:15 – Closing Thoughts & What’s Next Listen to the Episode Watch to the Episode Watch Fallout 2d20 Chapter 1: Wasteland Wake-Up (S4E14) on YouTube. Show Notes Intro Banter & Setup: The team settles in, adjusting audio, discussing wildlife encounters, and reflecting on the horror of screech owls. Meet the Survivors: Ghoulard i – A grizzled ghoul with a quick wit. Nurse 17 – A pre-war Nurse Handy bot obsessed with Goldfish crackers and proper nap times. Steve NuGunnar – A Vault-Tec security veteran, utterly baffled by surface life. Lucky Buck – A shockingly lucky Brotherhood of Steel initiate with questionable grenade etiquette. Cryogenic Awakening: The group escapes a hospital basement, encountering a radroach-dissecting super mutant chef named Reg, who warns them to leave before his kin arrive. First Steps in the Wasteland: The survivors are joined by Svenghoulie, a ghoul carrying grenade-stuffed rubber chickens. The Journey to Covenant Begins: Along the cracked highways, they dodge a suspicious EyeBot blaring patriotic music and explain the concept of boats to a bewildered Steve. Bloatfly Brawl at the Boathouse: The team arrives at a seemingly abandoned boathouse, only to be swarmed by oversized, irradiated insects. Lucky Buck’s Unlucky Grenade Incident: Attempting to clear the infestation, Buck fumbles a baseball grenade, obliterating the bloatflies—and nearly taking Steve with him. Looting the Wreckage: The team scavenges supplies, discovering food, weapons, and a note pointing them toward Covenant and a mysterious Thriftway. Closing Thoughts & Next Steps: The session ends with a healed-up Steve demanding answers about Thriftway, as the group prepares for what lies ahead. Featured Image Meta Cryo-chambers from Fallout 4. Credit: Bethesda. Feedback We love feedback! You post a comment below or connect with us using these channels: Email Bluesky Discord DiceCamp (Mastodon) YouTube Twitch The post Fallout 2d20 Chapter 1: Wasteland Wake-Up (S4E14) appeared first on Lair Of Secrets .…

1
The D&D Attention Economy – Greyhawk ’76 (Ep. 7) 5:55

منذ 19 يومًا5:55

5:55

Ken elaborates on the Attention Economy – how many things people need to keep track of – for D&D 2024 , and how it differs from the 2014. (and yeah, this explains his initial reaction to the Blade Ward cantrip back in Episode 5 ). He reviews the idea of the Action Economy (how many things a player can do in a round), how it relates to the Attention Economy (how many things a player needs to keep track of), and the implications for speed of play. Chapters 0:00 – Intro – What is the Attention Economy? 1:15 – Action Economy vs. Attention Economy 2:45 – How D&D 5E Streamlined Play 3:30 – High-Level Play and Complexity Challenges 4:20 – D&D 2024 – Exciting or Overwhelming? 5:10 – Final Thoughts & Experimenting with the New Rules Listen to the Episode Watch the Episode Watch The D&D Attention Economy – Greyhawk ’76 (Ep. 7) on YouTube . Feedback We love feedback! You post a comment below or connect with us using these channels: Email Bluesky Discord DiceCamp (Mastodon) YouTube Twitch The post The D&D Attention Economy – Greyhawk ’76 (Ep. 7) appeared first on Lair Of Secrets .…

1
Enemy Mine – Greyhawk ’76 (Ep. 6) 8:03

منذ 26 يومًا8:03

8:03

Ken recaps his group’s second session using the D&D 2024 rules , with specific looks at Blade Ward (spiffy spell, won’t save you from critical) and Mastery (a character ability that unlocks special characteristics of weapons). Chapters 0:00 – Welcome to Greyhawk ’76 1:10 – The Burrow Boys Arrive: Ogres, Halflings, and a Goliath 3:20 – Trickery and Tragedy: Illusions, Combat, and Critical Failures 5:10 – The Standoff Turns Deadly: James Fairheight’s Fate 7:00 – D&D 2024 Playtest: What We Learned Listen to the Episode Watch the Episode Watch Enemy Mine – Greyhawk ’76 (Ep. 6) on YouTube . Feedback We love feedback! You post a comment below or connect with us using these channels: Email Bluesky Discord DiceCamp (Mastodon) YouTube Twitch The post Enemy Mine – Greyhawk ’76 (Ep. 6) appeared first on Lair Of Secrets .…

1
Shadowdark Impressions (Campaigns & Coffee) 22:06

منذ 29 يومًا22:06

22:06

After venturing into the dark with only a torch to guide their way, the Campaigns & Coffee crew talks about their experiences playing the ShadowDark RPG (where they ARE very likely to be eaten by a grue). They discuss the dungeon-delving, old-school-inspired game’s real-time torch mechanics, its focus on fast-paced and high-stakes decision-making. They also look at encumbrance (no, you can not bring a golf club bag’s worth of weapons), spell mechanics, and the game’s relentless tension. Chapters 0:00 – Welcome 1:00 – First Impressions of Shadowdark RPG 3:05 – Torch Timer: Exciting or Stressful? 5:36 – How Shadowdark Brings Back Old-School D&D 8:11 – Minimal Planning, Maximum Action 12:30 – Encumbrance: You Can’t Carry Everything! 16:25 – Spells, Failures, and Magical Chaos 18:00 – Fun (and Bad) Player Choices 20:46 – The Overlord’s Healthcare Question 22:06 – Outro and Final Thoughts Listen to the Episode Watch to the Episode Watch Shadowdark Impressions (Campaigns & Coffee) on YouTube. Show Notes David’s Sunday RPG Sessions Running Shattered Ark and diving into Shadowdark with friends. First Impressions of Shadowdark A game that balances intensity and relaxation, depending on playstyle. Real-Time Mechanics The torch timer creates urgency, making every decision count. Roleplaying vs. Action Less focus on deep character backstories, more on immediate problem-solving. Using Foundry VTT Learning the system while displaying maps on the big screen. Dungeon Delving Emphasis Shadowdark restores a classic Dungeons & Dragons dungeon-crawling feel. Comparing to Older D&D Editions Discussing how early D&D had more encounters and rest limitations. Encumbrance Matters! Inventory slots limit loot-hoarding, forcing strategic choices. Spell System Spells don’t disappear, but failed rolls can make them unusable or go awry. Player Stories Highlights of decision-making, torch anxiety, and unexpected survival. Feedback We love feedback! You post a comment below or connect with us using these channels: Email Bluesky Discord DiceCamp (Mastodon) YouTube Twitch Featured Image Meta Cover art from the ShadowDark core rule book. Credit: The Arcane Library . The post Shadowdark Impressions (Campaigns & Coffee) appeared first on Lair Of Secrets .…

1
The Lair’s Guide for New Game Masters (S4E13) 25:43

منذ 5 weeks25:43

25:43

On this episode of Lair of Secrets , we present the our guide for new Game Masters, packed with advice, tips, and encouragement for those ready to take the GM seat. We explore choosing the right game, gathering players, preparing efficiently, and rolling with mistakes while ensuring a fun and engaging experience. Chapter List 0:00 – Welcome to the Lair & GMing 101 2:00 – Choosing the Right Game for You & Your Players 5:00 – Prepping Smart: Rules, Research & Quickstart Guides 8:30 – Finding & Pitching to Players 11:45 – One-Shots vs. Campaigns: Starting with Low Commitment 14:20 – Tools of the Trade: GM Kits & Digital vs. In-Person Play 17:30 – Rolling with Mistakes & Improvising on the Fly 20:15 – Setting Expectations & Managing Player Dynamics 23:00 – Encouragement for New GMs & The GMUary Initiative 25:10 – Closing Thoughts & Join the Lair Community! Listen to the Episode Watch to the Episode Watch The Lair’s Guide for New Game Masters (S4E13) on YouTube Show Notes Identify games you are interested in Game that you’ve been playing? A game you’ve had on your shelf and have been interested in? Watch videos or listen to podcasts about those games. Like say … Scum & Villainy or Cyberpunk RED actual plays here at the Lair Make the Pitch Read the room and look for: games that fit the players might like Sense of whether they want a one shot or something extended Offer to run one game With the option to run more if you and the others like it Offer to run a self-contained game Fiasco Honey Heist Lasers & Feeling s Lady Blackbird D&D Essentials Kit Do a test run Play the game at a convention Get a feel for how the game is run Try a solo adventure See the Dragonbane boxed set and its solo adventure Do a mini session with people excited for the game to “kick the tires” of the rules get used to being the GM figure out the virtual game table as the GM What’s your minimal viable game as a new Game Master Run a one shot That one shot means there isn’t a long commitment The one shot can turn into a multi-shot game if everyone is enthusiastic about it Quickstart rules for games Pregen characters This way you know what the character abilities are and how they might be played What we recommend you reading and setting up Review the scenario Take notes about parts that are confusing or not fleshed out. What we recommend you and your players review before the game: The basic rules for the game Rules Cheat Sheet Find one or make one Review the characters Some tools Index Cards Notebook List of names Pencils. Extra dice Build a tool kit! Running – Don’t worry. You’ve got this. Talk with your group and set expectations. Ask the rules lawyer to chill (or to help) Let the group know that if you can’t find a rule, you’ll make a ruling and move on Roll with the fumbles (see also: ken makes awesomely bad mothership maps) Don’t worry about being “right”, work on having fun Feedback We love feedback! You post a comment below or connect with us using these channels: Email Bluesky Discord DiceCamp (Mastodon) YouTube Twitch Featured Image Meta Cover art for the D&D Essentials Kit . Credit: Wizards of the Coast. The post The Lair’s Guide for New Game Masters (S4E13) appeared first on Lair Of Secrets .…

1
Build Better Cities – Campaigns and Coffee 34:55

منذ 11 weeks34:55

34:55

Building immersive cities for RPGs takes center stage on this episode, with inspiration from real-world examples like San Antonio’s Alamo and Chicago’s reversed river. We dive into tools and techniques for making cities that evolve, feel lived in, and resonate as characters within campaigns. From quirky city rivalries to handling disasters, this episode offers creative advice for dungeon masters and storytellers. Chapters 0:00 Intro 2:10 Real-World Inspiration: San Antonio and the Alamo 6:30 Geography and Natural Features in City Design 10:45 Tools for RPG City-Building (The Quiet Year, Ex Novo) 15:00 How Cities Evolve Over Time 20:00 City Rivalries and Personality 24:30 Integrating Disasters and Landmarks into City History 30:00 Cities in Post-Apocalyptic Settings 33:20 Q&A: The Rogue-Polymorphed-Toad Dilemma 34:30 Outro Listen to the Episode Watch the Episode Watch Build Better Cities – Campaigns & Coffee on YouTube Show Notes Introduction : Exploring city-building in RPGs inspired by San Antonio’s vibrant culture and geography. Cities: Skylines video game Key Elements of Real Cities : San Antonio’s Alamo and its unique building-height regulation. Chicago’s reversed river and evolving cityscape. Historical insights from medieval cities to Cyberpunk’s Night City. Domus: Night City: how Cyberpunk 2077’s future megacity was built Tips for RPG City-Building : Start with geography and natural features. Use landmarks, NPCs, and district evolution to build personality. Recommended tools: The Quiet Year Ex Novo The Game Master’s Book of Astonishing Random Tables Recommended books Life in a Medieval City Life in a Medieval Castle Life in a Medieval Village A Magical Medieval Society Western Europe City as a Character : How rivalries and unique traits shape urban identity. Integrating disasters and recovery into city evolution. The 9/11 Memorial in New York City The Survivor Tree Q&A Segment : Turning a rogue-turned-toad mishap into a strategic move. Feedback We love feedback! You post a comment below or connect with us using these channels: Email Bluesky Discord DiceCamp (Mastodon) YouTube Twitch The post Build Better Cities – Campaigns and Coffee appeared first on Lair Of Secrets .…

1
I Hate Blade Ward – Greyhawk ’76 (Ep. 5) 3:05

منذ 12 weeks3:05

3:05

Ken rants about the new and improved Blade Ward cantrip. in Dungeons & Dragons 2024. Chapters 0:00 Intro – Welcome to Greyhawk ’76 0:15 Why I Hate Blade Ward 1:10 Blade Ward: 2014 vs. 2024 2:00 The Action Economy Problem 2:30 Final Thoughts & Playtesting 3:00 Outro – Like & Subscribe Listen to the Video Watch the Episode Watch “I Hate Blade Ward – Greyhawk ’76 (Ep. 5)” on YouTube. Show Notes Welcome to Greyhawk ’76. I’m Ken Newquist and I hate blade ward. Quick backstory: Had our first Greyhawk ’76 session, in which the adventurers got recruited to recover a lost Fairheights family treasure from an abandoned mine. Our human battlemaster / wizard initiate LOVES blade ward. And rightly so – it’s a cheap, spammable buff that builds on his already impressive AC. What changed? What it did: Resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing attacks Lasted until the end of the next turn What it does now Whenever a creature makes an attack roll against you before the spell ends, the attacker subtracts 1d4 from the attack roll. Requires concentration Lasts for 1 minute. My concern: Impacts the action economy. We’ve added another die role for EVERY attack on this character. More dice being rolled means more time waiting for die rolls. And more math. Increased cognitive load on the Dungeon Master I’ve got a lot of things to remember. This is one more thing. Combined with fighter’s 18 Armor Class (from Scale Mail), this increases the character’s tank-iness at low levels. Seems over powered for a cantrip (no, I did not do the math) Where we go from here? Obviously I’m joking that I hate Blade Ward. I have some concerns, but we can mitigate them by: The player rolling the dice The player keeping track of the spell We already have similar book keeping for things like bless so it’s not THAT much more. But it IS one more thing. Feedback We love feedback! You post a comment below or connect with us using these channels: Email Bluesky Discord DiceCamp (Mastodon) YouTube Twitch The post I Hate Blade Ward – Greyhawk ’76 (Ep. 5) appeared first on Lair Of Secrets .…

1
Our First D&D 2024 Adventure – Greyhawk ’76 (Ep. 4) 9:24

منذ 12 weeks9:24

9:24

Ken talks about lessons learned during his first Dungeons & Dragons 2024 adventure, “The Lost Coins of Cousin Ernest”, including: Blade Ward Rules guide in the 2024 Player’s Handbook The Thief Hand-drawn maps in Roll20 Weapon Mastery Chapters 0:00 Intro 0:35 Setting the Scene: The Treasure Mine 1:50 Rival Factions: Fairheights vs. Witherwinns 3:10 Water Weird Ambush 4:20 Rogue Abilities Shine 5:15 Hand-Drawn Maps and Retro Vibes 6:30 Lessons Learned: Rules and Mechanics 7:45 Blade Ward: Overpowered or Balanced? 8:30 Teasing the Next Session 9:10 Wrap-Up and Final Thoughts Listen to the Video Watch the Episode Watch “Our First D&D 2024 Adventure – Greyhawk ’76 (Ep. 4) on YouTube Show Notes We had our first Greyhawk ’76 session, in which the adventurers got recruited to recover a lost family treasure from an abandoned mine. I played on the High Ery / Erybend family rivalry subplot from the DMG: Fairheights vs. Witherwinns (their client is James Fairheight, and he found deciphered a map to the family treasure). Started the action IN the mine, with the adventurers and their client having just discovered the treasured. See the “Ignite Your Next D&D Campaign” episode of Campaigns and Coffee Setup is an old mine. The first level has a main shaft and lots of side passages. Mine tunnel collapses created a jumbled, partly flooded cave lake on the second level. The treasure, gleaming in light from a ventilation shaft over head, was located in the center of the lake. The bludgeoned corpses of a previous crew were on the island, having just reached the treasure. The treasure was protected by a water weird (inspired by a re-read of the Dungeon of Dread “Endless Quests” book) The cavern was multi-teared, with a walkable rim surrounding it, and multiple entrances. At intervals, additional crews would show up to challenge the party, because James couldn’t stop humble bragging about his find. Goals: Give each character a chance to try out class abilities in a multi-level environment. Inject role-playing opportunities to help define character personalities and priorities. Lean into the DMG as a campaign source book. The Adventure It went well. Water weird attacked “Predator”-style, leveraging disengage and its’ innate invisibility in the water maneuver around the cavern and threaten heroes. The arrival of the Witherwinn faction delivered additional drama, as some players chose to intimidate through force, while the Trickster cleric charmed other Witherwinns to his side … and used “calm emotions” to keep them disinterested. Set up the next confrontation: The Burrow Brothers, a murderous band of halfling cutthroats and their ogre allies. Lessons Learned I’ve got a bunch, some of which will be covered in upcoming episodes. The Rules Guide in the Player’s Handbook is pretty great. Death Saving Throws: Work the same as they ever did (the save is a straight d20 roll, which happens at the start of your turn). Finding Traps is a Wisdom (Perception) – it counts as finding a hidden object. Check the Compendium The Rogue’s Thief gets a Climb speed. Handy when moving down the crumbling walls of a collapsed cave. The Rogue’s Thief also gets to substitute Dexterity for Strength when Jumping Hand drawn maps work well in Roll20 Weapons Mastery represents weapon-specific features that certain characters (rogues, fighters) can use take special actions (like “Nick” or “Vex”. More on that next time. Blade Ward is a powerful cantrip. I hate it. Ok, I don’t like it. Ok, I’ll wait to pass judgement, but right now, I’m not a big fan. Feedback We love feedback! You post a comment below or connect with us using these channels: Email Bluesky Discord DiceCamp (Mastodon) YouTube Twitch The post Our First D&D 2024 Adventure – Greyhawk ’76 (Ep. 4) appeared first on Lair Of Secrets .…

1
Build a Greyhawk Library – Greyhawk ’76 (Ep. 3) 16:01

منذ 12 weeks16:01

16:01

On this episode of Greyhawk ’76, Ken talks about the essential books for running a World of Greyhawk campaign, including the new Dungeon Master’s Guide (2024), the World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) and the Expedition to the The Ruins of Greyhawk (2007). Chapters 0:00 Introduction 1:00 Greyhawk ‘76 Campaign Kickoff 2:30 Reviewing the 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide 4:00 Updated Maps: Hits and Misses 6:00 Exploring Greyhawk Lore: Classic Sourcebooks 8:00 The Twin Cataclysms and Canon Debates 10:00 Iuz, the Great Kingdom, and Major Conflicts 12:00 Adventure Hooks and Iconic Locations 14:00 Wrapping Up: Greyhawk Library Essentials Listen to the Video Watch the Episode Watch ‘Build a Greyhawk Library – D&D 2024 (Ep. 3)” on YouTube Show Notes Welcome to Greyhawk ’76. Let’s talk books! Player’s Handbook (2024) The rules. Dungeon Master’s Guide (2024) High-level overview of the Free City of Greyhawk and the larger campaign setting. Loosely based on the 1980 Greyhawk Folio. It’s nice to see Greyhawk featured so prominently, but there are a ton of continuity, country, and NPC changes that don’t make a ton of sense (except in the context of 1) updating Greyhawk for modern sensibilities 2) fitting all the things into Greyhawk … which doesn’t really need all the things fit into it. Like … why is Otto (long standing member of the Circle of Eight) now a … dwarf? Sets up the primary conflicts as … Elemental Evil (they were defeated, but yeah, some cultists are still out there), the demigod Iuz (gathering his forces in the north; classic villain), and dragons … umm, yeah, dragons aren’t world-shatteringly important in Greyhawk. The Scarlet Brotherhood and/or the dying Great Kingdom are better Big Bads. BUT … it wouldn’t be Greyhawk if we weren’t arguing about canon … hell, it feels like coming home to be reading people passionately and thoughtfully arguing about how the latest release disrespects with their favorite setting (I’m looking at you, From the Ashes ). I’ll link to some of that commentary in the show notes. Fold-out map of the Flanaess, with the City of Greyhawk on the other side. The World of Greyhawk (1983) The true state of the World of the World in CY 576. The original World of Greyhawk boxed set. Greyhawk Adventures (1988) Notes on Gods, Geography, Magic Items, Spells, and even Zero Level Characters The City Of Greyhawk (1989) – Pre-Greyhawk Wars release Gazetter of the Free City and the Surrounding Area – the city, plus some city-based things like the DM’s guide to the Low City (random tables!) Folk, Feuds, and Factions – a who’s who of the free city, plus guilds, low life, mages and priests, economics, military, and law. Expedition to the The Ruins of Greyhawk The 3.5 update of the Greyhawk Ruins book, which itself documented a chunk of Castle Greyhawk. Never ran it, but I might pull from it if the crew goes there. Somewhere, i’ve got a copy of the original Greyhawk Ruins … but haven’t been able to fi gure out where I put it. Living Greyhawk Gazetteer This book provided the foundation for the old Living Greyhawk campaign. It takes place in CY 591, which is nearly two decades after our ’76 campaign, but it’s still a great reference (particularly for areas not covered extensively in earlier releases) Castle Greyhawk The joke version of Castle Greyhawk. Not recommended. Two new fan-created resources World of Greyhawk Gazetteer Revised Classic Guide to Greyhawk Greyhawk grognards take on DMG 2024 Canonfire – Samwise – Greyhawk 2024 Age of Great Sorrow – Entirely Unsolicited Grognard Opinions on the World of Greyhawk in the 2024 D&D Dungeon Master’s Guide Feedback We love feedback! You post a comment below or connect with us using these channels: Email Bluesky Discord DiceCamp (Mastodon) YouTube Twitch The post Build a Greyhawk Library – Greyhawk ’76 (Ep. 3) appeared first on Lair Of Secrets .…

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Meet the Party – Greyhawk ’76 (Ep. 2) 1:57

منذ 12 weeks1:57

1:57

Meet the adventurers taking center stage in Ken’s Greyhawk ’76 test drive campaign for Dungeons & Dragons 2024! Listen to the Episode Watch the Episode Watch “Meet the Party – D&D 2024 (Ep. 2)” on YouTube Show Notes In the second episode of Greyhawk ’76, Ken talks about the player characters the campaign is using […] The post Meet the Party – Greyhawk ’76 (Ep. 2) appeared first on Lair Of Secrets .…

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Test Driving the New D&D – Greyhawk ’76 (Ep. 1) 4:25

منذ 12 weeks4:25

4:25

Welcome to Greyhawk ’76, a test drive campaign for Dungeons & Dragons 2024! (aka D&D 5.5). This episode introduces the test drive, what it hopes to accomplish, and explains where the campaign gets its name from (hint: it takes place in the Common Year 576). Chapter List 0:00 Intro to Greyhawk ’760:45 The Legacy of […] The post Test Driving the New D&D – Greyhawk ’76 (Ep. 1) appeared first on Lair Of Secrets .…

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Convention Season (S4E12) 33:09

منذ 13 weeks33:09

33:09

We explore our favorite game conventions, from the chill vibes of CinCityCon to the dynamic events of Gamehole Con, to the cozy fun of MEPACon. We also look ahead to Philadelphia Area Game Expo, a new-ish convention happening in January 2025. After the convention stories, we dive into our RPG experiments, including David’s mechanical torchlight […] The post Convention Season (S4E12) appeared first on Lair Of Secrets .…

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Ignite Your Next D&D Campaign – Campaigns & Coffee 23:08

منذ 14 weeks23:08

23:08

In this episode, we brainstorm ways to launch your campaign without resorting to “they meet in a bar”. Providing fodder and inspiration is Greyhawk ’76, Ken’s upcoming D&D 2024 test drive campaign, and David’s just launched open table ShadowDark campaign. We talk about how to engage players through immediate conflict, emphasizing choice, and balancing proactive […] The post Ignite Your Next D&D Campaign – Campaigns & Coffee appeared first on Lair Of Secrets .…

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The Electric State RPG (S4E11) 35:35

منذ 22 weeks35:35

35:35

We look at The Electric State RPG, a role-playing game game featuring a slow motion apocalypse, haunting artwork, and a cyberspace plague so intoxicating that people died playing it … simply because they forgot to eat. We start with Simon Stålenhag’s original art/fiction book, which depicts a young woman’s journey across the wrecked remains of […] The post The Electric State RPG (S4E11) appeared first on Lair Of Secrets .…

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