Two Years After Starting this Blog i have finally decided to use it . So a brief History , Of how i like to GM , I like to have a module and then ad-lib it , in away that makes it unique , unto itself , constables are sheriffs , and have a southern drawl . A pompous Drow with a drinking problem and a secret desire to be a hero . Things like this bring flavor to the game .
What also brings flavor to the game is using this technique hand in hand with what i liek to call the "sure" method . Its not saying yes , its sure tell me what you want .
Now why dont i just say yes ? the easiest answer is , argument management . I didnt say you could have the diamond encrust crown of flame swords , i said you could put ti in your pack , or lift it . Now i ask what do they do with the other stuff they found . they respond , and again i say sure . Now unknown to them the ring is an anti magic ring and the crown is a fake , i make a new game of give them a reasonable reward , and see if they figure it out .This is a place where proper roleplaying and thinking in theatrical cinematic action or intrigue is rewarded in a different way .
now he has the crown , and he and the party are leaving with it . They encounter bandits with it . I ask where the crown is again , i do not mention the ring or the other loot . i make sure bandits get into hand to hand , and make sure one bandit escapes . i continue to ask about the crown .
when they get to town If they figured out i was getting the bandits to take the ring , they get to keep it . if not , someone in town recognizes the fake crown , remembers some fable about a wizard or something that used to keep a decoy , his eyes widen and he asks about a ring , describing it to perfection , and the party realizes they have been duped .
Why do all of this , because the goblins they were sent to stop , weren't enough they wanted more , and i need to be honest , Im playing here too . I don't like to play kill the party , i do however love , riddle the party.
The sure method i dont agree to anything but i dont tell them no unless its outrageous and game breaking . Also behind that dm screen i can roll ones all day and calll them 20s to get an npc out of the picture , because it progresses the story line . Now i only ever do this in combat and even then only if i need them to kill a guy quickly , or if i need to get the guy free because they are wasting time on him .
now sure this is dishonest gming , and sure this is also abusable , sure your right about that ....and sure its not for every one .
i love story telling and as long as the players are having fun , thats all that maters because its a game .
Now let me show you the seemingly simpler but way more complicated version .
Before engaging with an NPC , the Rouge forgery thief in the group whips out a document , and shouts out he is the cave inspector , and with his already high rolled forgery , He wants to get a bonus to his deception check , this is a sure , the down side is its only going to give him advantage on anyone who can read , so i check if the goblin who had to speak common can read he gets a good roll so he does , and then i check to see if i can catch him in a lie , and he fails ...... so the cave inspection team moves on into the cave .
another instance , someone wanted to bring his dead love back from the grave , the are low level , and he finds a fey on a quest they are doing for the adventure , and just abruptly asks if they can do it . I say sure , this character they bring back will be a one shot thing and to get this level of magic item from the fey they need a favor first . And so the favor of killing an evil rival is undertaken , fits nicely into the adventure , and we have a separate scene tying this Characters Backstory into the current adventure . another tiefling adventurer decides he will make a request too to change his pact from demonic to fey , to which i respond , Sure , when they return for their favors they do get what they ask for , however the returned friends alignment and rock solid , and his features are now elven , the warlock , finishes his pact with his demon , and begins anew with the fey pact , but his horns fall off and are replaced by antlers .
Saying sure , almost all of the time is a fun way to keep your game adlibed and unexpected for all of you .
Gming is a living thing and to be good at it its best to enjoy it . I love the challenge of them tossing curve balls at me , and derailing the adventure . sure it takes a little longer to get places but its a roleplaying game with a combat system in it , not a combat system game , with roleplaying in it . Your need laughter and sorrow , action , and tragedy , you need defeat for victory to be so much sweeter .
Im Charlie Brown , and maybe thats just me .
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