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Crumbling UpKeep 0

Encounter Balance? What’s that?

One of the cool things 3E brought to the table was CR. I’m glad it made it into 5E. Yes, I’m absolutely aware it’s not a perfect system. That said, it does help to balance an encounter, especially for new DMs. When you’re just starting out, it’s hard to tell how many goblins it’ll take to make a good encounter vs how many will result in an unavoidable TPK. It’s far from exact, but at least it’s something.

Now that the praise is out of the way, let’s talk about how to ignore CR.Ā 

“Wait, what? Didn’t you just say how good it is?”

Don’t sass me. I’ll explain.

The prevalent idea now a-days is that every encounter should be balanced. D&D is a combat focused game, so it’s important that every encounter be just the right level of challenge. You don’t want something too big too soon- the PCs might die! But, like… what if you do want to introduce a Tarrasque at level 1?

It’s a case of knowing the rules so you can break the rules.Ā  Every encounter doesn’t have to result in a fight with the PCs vs the monsters to the death. Honestly, it’s a little boring if they do. What if they have to bargain with an ogre? What if they end up helping goblins? If they fall into a routine of “see monster, kill monster”, it’ll be tough to break them out of it. If you’re going to make unbalanced encounters, however, there are some things worth keeping in mind.

Throwing a monster that’s way out of the PCs league at them can be a lot of fun! In older editions, you got experience points mostly form treasure. Out smarting monsters who were a lot tougher than you was par for course. It’s not as common currently, so it’s smart to do it with care (especially with newer players.) My biggest piece of advice is telegraph, telegraph, telegraph.

Medieval depiction of a Tarrasque. Pretty dope, right?

Show how tough the monster is. Have it lay waste to a building or easily kill a monster the PCs know to be hard. Leave a trail of destruction leading up to it’s discovery. Have an NPC explain in no uncertain terms how dangerous it is. When all else fails, don’t be afraid to be explicit! Straight up tell the players it’s CR or explain to them that it’s very unlikely they’ll be able to defeat it. The fun in these situations is finding out what the players do to deal with the monster- it’s not about a “gotcha” moment that leaves everyone dead and angry. I’m not saying PC death is necessarily bad, but I am saying its 1000 times better when everything is understood up front.Ā 

Try throwing a dragon at your first level players next time you run a game. Watch as they come up with clever ideas about how to run and hide. Give them some tough decisions about who and what to save before the dragon fire comes. Don’t hold back- let them know what actions might result in death, for themselves or others. That dragon will be much more meaningful once they’re strong enough to face it.Ā 

Crumbling UpKeep 0

Cut to the Chase: DMing Pursuit

FInd out what 5E gets wrong in their chase rules.
Ā 
Crumbling James and Professional Dungeon Master Justin G talk Chase scenes.
It’s easy for chase scenes to be boring and fall flat. They can quickly devolve into mindless dice rolling at best and comparing stats at worst. Where is the fun in that?
Justin G brings his experience to bear to help you create memorable, exciting, and dynamic chase scenes. This will be a great too in any GMs toolbox.
Fiction 0

The Longest Night Comes!

Ā  Ā  A log popped and hissed loudly, sending sparks drifting into the stone room. Grahlius drew her child a little closer into her breast, sighing heavily. The little girl reached up, her small fingers twirling around her the wispy hairs protruding from her mother’s chin, just like her wife had used to do. She stroked her child’s hair tenderly, feeling the lack of ease this night always brought with it.

Ā  “Mama, why do we fear this night?” Continue reading “The Longest Night Comes!”

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The Coming of the Astar Uln, Part 15

Qua’Jon’s body hit the ground with a thud. He lay there for a moment, unsure of what was happening. He had seen Gwenich walk behind him with the knife, and suddenly his body was no longer supported by the bounds that held him. He rolled to his back, soft black dirt clinging to his tattered garments. Gwenich stood above him, knife in hand. The strange smile had never left her face.

Continue reading “The Coming of the Astar Uln, Part 15”

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The Coming of the Astar Uln, Part 14

“I know you like the elf, Eernon, but we can’t be riskin’ him being close to his people. He’d find some way to alert the guards and you won’t ever learn no magic. This is crazy. Jus’ let me put a point in ‘im and we don’t have to worry.”

Eernon looked at Vanlaug with anger in her eyes. “The elf lives. I’d sooner kill you at this point.”

“He’s right, Eernon. We don’t have to kill him, but we can’t take him with us.”

Continue reading “The Coming of the Astar Uln, Part 14”

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The Coming of the Astar Uln, Part 13

“Gwenich!”

The voice was Ingdols.Ā  Gwenich could recognize it, though she could not see its source. He sounded far away, as if he were yelling through a wall. Her eyes were full of ghost images of the forest: vague outlines of trees and brush, a grey smudge where the cave had been. It was all fading slowly to black, leaving her field of vision a dark impenetrable curtain.

“Gwenich!Ā  Yarlloth fight me, girl. Can you hear me?”

Continue reading “The Coming of the Astar Uln, Part 13”

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The Coming of the Astar Uln, Part 12

She wished she could count the rain drops. They came through the air in an ever increasing rate, causing a beautiful anxiety to well up in her stomach. Gwenich was anticipating something, though what it was she did not know. There was something in the very air itself that she couldn’t quantify. It was like the charged electricity before a storm but different. It was softer and more deadly. It felt like whatever waited behind it all could tear the world apart. Continue reading “The Coming of the Astar Uln, Part 12”

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The Coming of the Astar Uln, Part 10

Mishtil and Drugar Wormchomper had wandered around the woods for half the day. Dusk was starting to blanket the land as the sun sank behind the western hills. The brilliant shades of autumn afternoon were giving away to soft shadow bathed in crisp air. Still, the other companions we’re not found.

Currently, the pair sat with their backs to a great oak. Mishtil had found some apples in the wood that she now cheerily munched on, her feet swaying back and forth to some imaginary tune. The child goddess had begun to worry, but that dissolved as the sweet juices of the fall fruit sat upon her lips. Her free hand stroked Wormchomper’s head as the badger nestled it against her leg.

Continue reading “The Coming of the Astar Uln, Part 10”

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The Coming of the Astar Uln, Part 9

Echos of a song ran through Mishtil’s head. The words and melody were far away and it seemed she forgot more of it with every fleeting moment. The child god’s eyes were closed against the light. It had flared unimaginably bright for a moment and created an impossibly loud boom that seemed to split the very sky asunder. Everything was disorienting and she could no longer feel Yurilda. It was as if some sixth sense she has always had but never recognized was suddenly gone. A surge of anxiety welled up in her throat.

Then she opened her eyes.

Continue reading “The Coming of the Astar Uln, Part 9”

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The Coming of the Astar Uln, Part 6

Qua Jon wandered alone with his familiar through the forest, the increasing winds rattling the tall pines around them. Fat drops of rain had started, slapping against leaf and pine needle alike. He drew his tattered and worn green cloak tightly against himself, drawing his hood down low over his eyes.

Despite the worsening weather, the man had a wide grin on his face, like a child in awe of the unexplained. He even giggled slightly, drawing attention from the badger that crept around at his feet. Wormchomper stared for a moment, her head tilted to the side. Appeased that the noise did not mean anything immediate, she went back to shuffling along the ground, rooting in the soft decomposed pine needles and sniffing the air.

Continue reading “The Coming of the Astar Uln, Part 6”

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The Coming of the Astar Uln, Part 5

“And if you lose em, don’t bother coming back. Bunch of damned fools that should know better. Who the hell would leave paradise? Everything you need, and you all run off to some demon spawned shit hole”

Drugar looked over his creations, pride showing on his face despite his bluster. The gods had gathered on the edge of the storm and had split off into two groups: those that would go and those that would stay. For those that would leave, Drugar had crafted a gift to help them on their way. He presented them, one by one.

Continue reading “The Coming of the Astar Uln, Part 5”

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The Coming of the Alstar Uln, Part 4

Druhaus stared out her window, watching the fury of the winds whip about loose dirt and stone. Her home, which she shared with her brother, hung on the edge of the eternal storm. Never had the tempest advanced on their dwelling, however. She spent much time looking into its depths, mouthing words no ears would ever hear. It was as if their shack was the divider between chaos and order, existing in a place that was neither.

“I will remind you again, sister, that we have a task. You voted yes at the council, so I would expect you would work to find a way into Samsarras. Unless, of course, you changed your mind.”

Continue reading “The Coming of the Alstar Uln, Part 4”

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The Coming of the Astar Uln, Part 3

The table was carved from the Tadilisus tree itself. The gods that sat around it would fade from memory long before the table turned to dust. It was carved by Drugar himself with axe, knife, and chisel forged by his own hands. Hewn from a single piece of wood, the piece was near unbreakable.

Around it sat the nine gods of the Astar Uln. They had been called to council by Silwyn to discuss leaving the realm of Yurilda for the first time to explore Samsarras. There would be danger and none knew what would happen to Yurilda if all the Astar Uln were not present. The debate lasted a long time.

Continue reading “The Coming of the Astar Uln, Part 3”

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The Coming of the Astar Uln, Part 2

“Look at it. All that untapped power. It is chaos! Beautiful and untamed! The beings of this place are all too eager to throw their lives away to one demon or another. They tear down each others cities. Why do we not have this sort of glory?”

Druhaus’s fingers trailed over the glass ball, leaving a smear of grease. Her face was twisted in a jagged, uneven smile, her eyes wide with excitement and mischievous delight. Silwyn ignored her, instead watching as the lands of Samsarras scrolled past her in rapid succession. There were oceans and forests, mountains and deserts. Some of the people of this world soared on great wings while others burrowed into the earth. There was such wonderment!

Continue reading “The Coming of the Astar Uln, Part 2”

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The Coming of the Astar Uln, Part 1

She giggled, her golden hair blowing in the eternal breeze. Silwyn’s eyes danced about the horizon, scanning it for something new. She’d been to the ends of Yurilda and back. She had seen all that was to be seen. Still, she felt mirthful.

Tadis was paying no attention to her, instead gathering berries. For each one they picked, another instantly grew in its place. Red juice stained their teeth and chin, as Tadis made sure to sample each handful. They were content and in theirĀ  place.

“Tadis, you know there are other places, don’t you?”

Continue reading “The Coming of the Astar Uln, Part 1”

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The Astar Uln

The Astar Uln Pantheon, also called “The Companions,” are worshiped by the wood elves and some others, though many more prayed to them in past eras. This is their story, according to the Elves of the wild.

The darkness was barren, save for a seed and an endless wind that gently moved through it. The wind was cool and soft, the kind that whispers love poems to bare skin in the spring time. That was the wind that existed before all other things. That was the wind that would bring the rain.

Continue reading “The Astar Uln”