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- Nov 23, 2021
You can try looking online but that's a fucking gamble. Otherwise probably not unless you have a hobby store in your area.
Tabletop Roleplaying Games (D&D, Pathfinder, CoC, ETC.)
- Thread starter Surtur
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- Jan 18, 2017
You can always try look at local groups via (((facebook))) if you are completely autistic and have zero friends around you at all remotely into nerdy shit. You'd be surprised and not only might meet some new friends but also find out that by-and-large most people are actually not that bad. And if it doesn't work out you can just politely say it isn't for you and vamoose.
I am fortunate enough that even though firmly half my friend group would rather die than play pretend with dice in a basement somewhere, with the other half there is no shortage of people excited to play to the extent that you have to balance who you invite to games because of extreme interest and personality clashes.
Only issue is like what others have posted, that no matter what, the amount of flaking is outrageous and it blows my mind when single or childless couples with zero responsibilities manage to deliberately schedule things for the narrow window when you regularly meet up, are late, or outright cancel at the last minute. Wildly frustrating.
- Joined
- Dec 13, 2022
Sounds nightmarish, getting enough people together for video games let alone an IRL commitment is a huge pain in the ass as an adult
I know one guy who has a DND campaign going but there's already a troon and 2 morbidly obese lesbians with unnatural hair colours involved with it, seems like they are one of the largest demographics when it comes to modern DND and a reason why I didn't get involved sooner tbh. I tried keeping an open mind when dealing with troons IRL before and they really do just fucking ruin everything, someone always slips up or they inject their bullshit into it.
Seems like the most realistic option for me right now. might give it a shot after doing some more reading into it.
There is a local hobby shop that does DND a few times per week for a 5$ entry fee, might try it out but I think I'll do online first so I don't show up and not know what the fuck I'm doing.
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- Joined
- Nov 23, 2021
If it's any consolation, I have been running and playing in online games for almost 10 years and I have only had 2 bad experiences. These were also just player specific. I might just be lucky, but it's not all doom and gloom.
- Joined
- Jan 24, 2018
if you're paying money to play they will help you and they help other people all the time. just show up like 10 minutes early so you don't make the game start late w/whatever help you need
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2020
It really isn't. The key is to know which crowd to pitch a game to. Find a community of like-minded nerds first, then pitch them a game.
I've shared a few horror stories (my attempts at trying to find a game of Werewolf come to mind) in the past, but almost universally they were me looking for games in public spaces. That's not how it works. That's not how it ever worked, to be honest. Going to Roll20 and looking for which games are open is like seeing a hand-scrawled poster on a streetlight advertising a mind-blowing supermodel orgy. Sure, you might get the blowjob of your life there but you're probably just going to find a bunch of deviants instead.
Even before the internet the best way to find players was to go through friend circles first, then posting ads in places you know people who would be interested in your game would show up at. The local game store for your average D&D nerd, the calculator store for those maniacs who played GURPS, and... I don't know, the Hot Topic at the local strip mall for the Storyteller kids? Either way, you do a lot better when you're actively inviting people instead of expecting them to come to you. These days, there are discord servers for everything. Go to the least groomy one you can find and try your luck.
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- Joined
- Sep 7, 2019
was about to say "have you tried not playing dnd?", usually easier for games that are not DND, since it filters a lot of normies and theater majors. however on the other end you got the opposite where you got a possible furry infestation or other "demographics" that are all over PBTA games for some reason...
another option is community driven events, like you said it depends on the discord and the subreddit (I know, FUCKING REDDIT), but it's often the easiest stepping stone into their discord, and then going from there.
for example, pf2 has unofficial "beginner box days" somewhere in april iirc, and while the "official" paizo discord is pozzed af and reeks of groomershit (I left after a fucking @everyone about rainbow shit and teens in the same sentence), ironically the subreddit one is way less pozzed, and from there it's an easy step into the rules lawyer discord which is running it's own society/westmarches thing you can easily drop in/out.
the last group I found via that event was pretty chill, but since they were from the other side of the globe it was mainly a scheduling issue (regular 5am sessions are out of the question).
however that's pf2, other/smaller games are probably harder to find depending what you're looking for. alternative is running a game yourself (the pf2 BB days are good to get your feet), curate a group of contacts this way, then maybe have someone run there. basically the same way you'd do it locally where you'd have to vet and possibly kick people.
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2022
Back into a good DnD campaign and my god is it refreshing. My last campaign became so bad that it became just a boring thing that I'd play other video games during (DM basically loredumped every bloody session, we never had combat, he'd do asspulls to railroad us, etc).
I'm back playing Artificer again and I swear the amount of times so far I've basically pulled out a clutch niche spell that's been vital makes me really like the fact that I seem to basically be the one person in the party who goes "oh I have a solution to this problem that would have taken us half an hour figuring something out". Mostly running utility spells like Alarm, Skywrite, Featherfall, Enlarge/Reduce, etc. Combine that with repairing magic items and basically handing out infusions like they're candy and I definitely feel like the 20 INT on my character is showing through.
Also, how the hell is Vortex Warp only a second level spell? It's such a good spell, especially since you can cast it on allies and have them deliberately fail to relocate them mid-battle.
I'm back playing Artificer again and I swear the amount of times so far I've basically pulled out a clutch niche spell that's been vital makes me really like the fact that I seem to basically be the one person in the party who goes "oh I have a solution to this problem that would have taken us half an hour figuring something out". Mostly running utility spells like Alarm, Skywrite, Featherfall, Enlarge/Reduce, etc. Combine that with repairing magic items and basically handing out infusions like they're candy and I definitely feel like the 20 INT on my character is showing through.
Also, how the hell is Vortex Warp only a second level spell? It's such a good spell, especially since you can cast it on allies and have them deliberately fail to relocate them mid-battle.
- Joined
- Aug 23, 2018
My PF2 campaign is back on, but I'm hoping the PCs get a move on because as much as I like megadungeons, it's really starting to drag as they clear rooms one by one by one, checking and rechecking every floor. I've stopped rolling random encounters/wandering monsters and side quests because I want them to get on with it. For those unfamiliar with Abomination Vault or mega dungeons in general. They're meant to average one level per floor. They're level 8, but haven't gotten through floor 4 yet.
Question for people who have many games under their belt. Is grappling and throwing monsters around common in your campaigns?
In my PF2 game, a player grappled a monster and move them to a more advantageous position. I couldn't find the rule so made something up. I looked it up after the fact, and turns out grappling was nerfed in PF2, so much so that you can't do it unless you take feats that allow you to do it. According to the internet, the designers did this because many games become a grappling nightmare as throwing monsters into lava or off cliffs was an OP strat. I've not seen that happen in my games.
Question for people who have many games under their belt. Is grappling and throwing monsters around common in your campaigns?
In my PF2 game, a player grappled a monster and move them to a more advantageous position. I couldn't find the rule so made something up. I looked it up after the fact, and turns out grappling was nerfed in PF2, so much so that you can't do it unless you take feats that allow you to do it. According to the internet, the designers did this because many games become a grappling nightmare as throwing monsters into lava or off cliffs was an OP strat. I've not seen that happen in my games.
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2022
What kind of retard includes dangerous terrain features and then gets mad when players use them?
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2014
A retarded retard. My personal strategy for that kind of thing was to reward creativity by players because it was fun and improved the game. GMs who would get mad about that sucked.
I would sometimes revise scenarios on the fly to deal with some OP strat that emerged but actually punishing the players for realizing you fucked up and using that to their advantage? That is just spiteful bullshit. Git gud, GM.
- Joined
- Nov 4, 2017
While I agree that just playing a system that isn't D&D WMPRPG (or at least not CURRENT YEAR EDITON) is a good idea, pitching PF/PF2e as the alterative is like saying you think K-pop boy bands are too gay and then recommending Liberace & Show Tunes as an alternative.
In PF, you would just get a high STR/high def character to go grapple the main spell caster to shut them down, or attempt to disarm the big bad if they were a fighter. I know this because I had a PF powergamer try to build a character to do this in 4e, and was very put out when both of these tactics were non-starters for 4e.
Yes. It is extremely common with the sort of PF tard who continues to fap to PF post 2017 or so. I am guessing PF2e is infested with those types.
In PF, you would just get a high STR/high def character to go grapple the main spell caster to shut them down, or attempt to disarm the big bad if they were a fighter. I know this because I had a PF powergamer try to build a character to do this in 4e, and was very put out when both of these tactics were non-starters for 4e.
The kind that has players that get pissy when the tables get turned and their characters are grappled into the lava by an Imp or Azer.
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2020
That is peak videogame brain from these people.
Grappling too powerful? Make it so the monsters start grappling, too! Or make monsters that can reverse a grapple! Or make it so grappling spiky enemies can also damage you! These people see something that they think is doing more than it should, and their first thought is "NERF THIS SICK FILTH!". Instead of working around it, or if things get really bad, asking their players/GM to not feature as much grappling.
It's a social game, the parameters of how much something gets used and what is acceptable depend on consensus more than they do on rules.
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2019
it is the next big one after dnd (least in burgerland), so the mass makes it easier if it's about finding a game. other games might be better (ymmv), but due to their size also harder to find unless you want to run it yourself.
it's just what it is. while paizo is pozzed dnd still filters a lot of the usual "I rather not" crowd at least, and the remaining are easy enough to filter since they always have to lead with that retarded shit.
grapple/reposition/shove/trip are basic untrained actions, anyone can do those (but they might suck at it due to lack of athletics/strength).
they added reposition in the remaster if you want something in RAW. fort check with 10ft movement on crit, 5 on success, basic terrain only. crit fail target moves you 5ft.
dunno why your group is still rechecking floors, at lvl8 everything on that floor should either be no threat anymore or actively avoid the group.
alternatively lull them in by having most rooms empty to the point they themselves think it's a waste of time. but scout/investigate/search during exploration turning up nothing should do that already...
can't remember if AV has a plot timer, which might be another good reminder to get their asses in gear.
- Joined
- Aug 23, 2018
Ah. I've never run PF1, and the power gamers in the games I played had different builds than grapple focused.
I assume this grapple change was in PF2 from the start to stop those people, but that takes me on another tangent.
PF2 is full of weird discrepancies between how something should work in universe, vs how the rules say it should. Usually with spells. This leads to FF esc "suplex a train" type situations.
I guess I was looking in the wrong place. Thanks.
I don't get it either. I guess they're afraid of missing things.
I set up some things early on to justify their appearance later. eg. I thought it was lame that they just happen across this guy that's been missing for months, so I made mention of this guy that disappeared. I think they've convinced themselves he's on the first three floors somewhere.
But like you said, nothing is a threat to them at this level (though they still get terrified by unknown creatures) and that's why I've stopped running wandering monsters/random encounters. I'm also considering adding random encounters, but awarding 0xp because they're so over level.
- Joined
- Sep 3, 2014
A good rule of thumb is always have occasional exceptions to the meta to force them to be a bit more cautious. And if they can't learn, then just make them pile their own dead instead.
- Joined
- Nov 23, 2022
Overheard during Delta Green character creation: "He's a devoted Communist and an atheist, so naturally he works for the United States government."
Unrelatedly, the newest addition to our high-level Pathfinder 1e campaign apparently intends to play a monk using Boar Style and an Amulet of Mighty Fists carrying the Vorpal enchantment. I haven't run all the numbers yet, but it seems like he has about a 50% chance of decapitating anything with a head in a single round.
Unrelatedly to the unrelatedly, a player in our mid-level gestalt Pathfinder 1e campaign has taken to calling the complex combination of stances and class features his grizzled mercenary character activates at the beginning of every combat his "magical girl transformation". The humor is magnified by the fact that he is a thickly-accented Swede with a very serious voice.
Unrelatedly, the newest addition to our high-level Pathfinder 1e campaign apparently intends to play a monk using Boar Style and an Amulet of Mighty Fists carrying the Vorpal enchantment. I haven't run all the numbers yet, but it seems like he has about a 50% chance of decapitating anything with a head in a single round.
Unrelatedly to the unrelatedly, a player in our mid-level gestalt Pathfinder 1e campaign has taken to calling the complex combination of stances and class features his grizzled mercenary character activates at the beginning of every combat his "magical girl transformation". The humor is magnified by the fact that he is a thickly-accented Swede with a very serious voice.
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- Joined
- Dec 28, 2014
Just have a risk that if you try to chuck something in lava or off a cliff or whatever, you can get dragged off it yourself.
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2022
Most good campaigns would reward you for finding a creative way to completely fuck up an encounter in a way that isn't just the usual and expected "whack eachother till someone goes down". Within limits of course. the spell "Conjure Animals" in 5e can be made to do 9th level spell damage if you summon cows 60 feet in the air and let the BBEG be flattened by falling cows (spell lets you summon 8 cows, falling 60 feet results in damage split evenly between the cow and whoever gets crushed, 60 feet fall damage is 6d6 bludgeoning, so 8 cows is 48d6 divided between the cows and the poor sucker who gets crushed on a 3rd level spell).
I've had loads of fun by creatively doing shit to massively tip a combat encounter in our favour. In one instance, I saved one PCs life by using Thunderous Smite when attacking the BBEG. The damage was honestly not that great but the loud noise in the middle of the night meant that the BBEG didn't have enough time to TPK before backup would arrive, so they fled.
It's also a nice form of skill expression that lets your veteran players really show their ability to think creatively. If your player manages to ruin your entire encounter with a shoestring, a piece of gum and a rubber band then you should probably reward the player.
- Joined
- Aug 23, 2018
Looking for advice from sage KF DMs.
Some people I've not played with in a while have expressed interest in playing via Discord using a play-by-post style system. This would be good for them as it means there wouldn't be a need to sync schedules. They would just add posts when they feel like. I have my doubts that it could work.
Obviously I'd have to use a very rules lite system, though which I'm not sure. Part of me is even tempted to reduce combat to single roll resolution because I'm imagining a situation where combat takes weeks of real time as we wait 8 hours for someone to take their turn, only to miss or do minimum damage, then wait another 12 hours for the next guy and so on.
Some people I've not played with in a while have expressed interest in playing via Discord using a play-by-post style system. This would be good for them as it means there wouldn't be a need to sync schedules. They would just add posts when they feel like. I have my doubts that it could work.
Obviously I'd have to use a very rules lite system, though which I'm not sure. Part of me is even tempted to reduce combat to single roll resolution because I'm imagining a situation where combat takes weeks of real time as we wait 8 hours for someone to take their turn, only to miss or do minimum damage, then wait another 12 hours for the next guy and so on.