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Which tabletop roleplaying games do 5e better than 5e?

19 Dec

“Quit 5e now” feels, uh, harsh? I generally think people should play the games they enjoy. However! I see a lot of people saying they want to play “D&D” but the experience they say they want to have isn’t one that 5e is designed to provide. This is a solid roundup of good tabletop RPGs and 13th Age—which is basically “D&D but only the cool parts” and my personal favorite d20-rolling fantasy TTRPG—gets a nice shout out at the 3:41 mark.

“[T]here are games that are actually like what people who have never played 5e think 5e is like. Fantasy, fast and fun is what they’re hoping for; and it’s actually 13th Age with its much more streamlined combat and non-combat mechanics.“

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Snake Plissken: Foe Stats for Lords of Creation RPG

18 Sep

I just listened to the Blank Check movie podcast’s episode on John Carpenter’s Escape From New York. It inspired me to stat up another NPC you might fight alongside—or face as an enemy—in Lords of Creation, the 1984 Avalon Hill tabletop roleplaying game of adventure across time, space, and alternate realities. As always, the Internet Movie Firearms Database was incredibly helpful.

Snake Plissken

ATTACK: 16×2
DAMAGE: 2-20 (+2)
INITIATIVE: +4
ARMOR: none
LIFE POINTS: 52 (14)
MOVEMENT : 70′
LUCK: 8
NUMBER: 1
EXPERIENCE: 11

S.D. Bob “Snake” Plissken is a war hero turned criminal on an alternate Earth where the United States is at war with China and the Soviet Union, and in 1988 turned the island of Manhattan into a maximum security prison. As a U.S. Army Lieutenant and member of the “Black Light” special forces unit, Plissken fought in the Siberia campaign and flew a Gullfire stealth glider on a mission into Leningrad. He was awarded two Purple Hearts, and became the youngest man to be decorated by the President of the United States for bravery. After leaving the military, Plissken turned to crime. Police apprehended him in 1997 after he robbed the Denver Federal Reserve Depository. He is widely, though inaccurately, believed to be dead.

Skills:

Revolver – 3

Shuriken – 3

Submachine gun – 2

Commando – 3

Pilot – 3

Street Criminal – 3

Weapons:

MAC-10 submachine gun with rifle scope and sound suppressor
Range: 100’
Damage: 2-20
Defense: Ballistic
Ammo: 5

Smith & Wesson Model 67 .38 Special revolver
Range: 100’
Damage: 2-12
Defense: Ballistic
Ammo: 2

Shuriken
Range: 20’
Damage: 1-6
Defense: Regular
Ammo: 1

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Where to find me at Gen Con Online 2021

15 Aug

It’s convention season again, and once again I’ll be attending Gen Con Online via Twitch! I don’t have any games scheduled, but you can find me on two Pelgrane Press seminars. Once again I’ll join Rob Heinsoo to design a new monster for 13th Age using input from the audience, this time along with the talented Liz Argall and J-M DeFoggi (who developed my adventure Crown of Axis.) Also, last year’s Dramatic Interaction in RPGs Masterclass was one of my favorite parts of Gen Con Online 2020 and I’m incredibly honored to be invited onto this year’s panel!

13th Age logo

How to Design a Monster for 13th Age

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Saturday, 11:00 AM PT / 2:00 PM ET

Duration: 1 hour

Location: Twitch

We’ve all run battles where the Completely New Monster The Group’s Never Encountered is actually a reskinned bugbear! But if you want to create a cool new enemy from scratch, join Rob Heinsoo, Liz Argall, J-M DeFoggi, and Wade Rockett as they go through the process of designing a brand-new monster for the 13th Age Roleplaying Game.

Dramatic Interaction in RPGs Masterclass

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Saturday, 1:00 PM PT / 4:00 PM ET

Duration: 1 hour

Location: Twitch

Learn the structures and techniques that turn emotional confrontations between PCs from frustrating roadblocks into rich, surprising moments of human drama. Join Wade Rockett, Cat Tobin and a surprise guest (or two!) as they dispense precious interpersonal wisdom. Whether you’re experienced in Pelgrane Press’ Hillfolk / DramaSystem or looking to infuse play in other systems with satisfying conflict, they’re here to grant your most fervent petitions.

Dramatic Interaction in RPGs Masterclass

Register Now

Sunday, 11:00 AM PT / 2:00 PM ET

Duration: 1 hour

Location: Twitch

Yep, we’re doing two of them! One on Saturday, another on Sunday.

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