So, What D&D Character Am I?

You Are A:

Neutral Good Human Sorcerer/Rogue (3rd/2nd Level)

Ability Scores:
Strength- 12
Dexterity- 11
Constitution- 11
Intelligence- 17
Wisdom- 15
Charisma- 14



Alignment:
Neutral Good- A neutral good character does the best that a good person can do. He is devoted to helping others. He works with kings and magistrates but does not feel beholden to them. Neutral good is the best alignment you can be because it means doing what is good without bias for or against order. However, neutral good can be a dangerous alignment when it advances mediocrity by limiting the actions of the truly capable.

Race:
Humans are the most adaptable of the common races. Short generations and a penchant for migration and conquest have made them physically diverse as well. Humans are often unorthodox in their dress, sporting unusual hairstyles, fanciful clothes, tattoos, and the like.

Primary Class:
Sorcerers- Sorcerers are arcane spellcasters who manipulate magic energy with imagination and talent rather than studious discipline. They have no books, no mentors, no theories just raw power that they direct at will. Sorcerers know fewer spells than wizards do and acquire them more slowly, but they can cast individual spells more often and have no need to prepare their incantations ahead of time. Also unlike wizards, sorcerers cannot specialize in a school of magic. Since sorcerers gain their powers without undergoing the years of rigorous study that wizards go through, they have more time to learn fighting skills and are proficient with simple weapons. Charisma is very important for sorcerers; the higher their value in this ability, the higher the spell level they can cast.

Secondary Class:
Rogues- Rogues have little in common with each other. While some - maybe even the majority - are stealthy thieves, many serve as scouts, spies, investigators, diplomats, and simple thugs. Rogues are versatile, adaptable, and skilled at getting what others don't want them to get. While not equal to a fighter in combat, a rogue knows how to hit where it hurts, and a sneak attack can dish out a lot of damage. Rogues also seem to have a sixth sense when it comes to avoiding danger. Experienced rogues develop nearly magical powers and skills as they master the arts of stealth, evasion, and sneak attacks. In addition, while not capable of casting spells on their own, a rogue can sometimes 'fake it' well enough to cast spells from scrolls, activate wands, and use just about any other magic item.

Huh.


But, I don't play 3e. And my Dex. sucks. I'm apparently going for some artsy-fartsy role-playing thing. 


http://www.easydamus.com/character.html

I Wasn't Expecting This Rating

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Unplugging for a Few Weeks

I'll be absent from the blogosphere for the rest of June, returning sometime during the first week of July. I've experienced several major upheavals in my life, over the past six weeks and it's going to take most of my energy to find some place to stand. Unfortunately, the worst of it can't be fixed. Only endured, with whatever grace and wisdom I can muster.

While it will be several months at least, before I can reach any points of resolution, I intend to be in a better position to devote some attention to less pressing concerns, shortly. I'll be putting my campaign on hiatus as well, until about the same time period of early to mid July.

As I refuse to let my work here, or my campaign, become a casualty of current events, I'll be back, soon. I've lost far too much of my life, over the past seven years, to let that trend continue.

Take care and have fun while I'm away.

Regarding the New Pirates Movie, Which I Haven't Seen and Tim Powers, Whom I Haven't Read

I haven't read any of Mr. Powers works, but he's very well regarded and I do own one of his books, which I've been saving for a rainy day. His 1987 novel, On Stranger Tides, was adapted for the new Pirates movie.

Here's some blurbage from Amazon, along with a pic of the first ppb edition:

Starred Review. World Fantasy Award–winner Powers (Three Days to Never) demonstrates a precise control of complex narratives in this reprint of his rollicking and enchanting 1987 novel. Puppeteer John Chandagnac, bound for Jamaica to recover stolen money from his uncle, becomes Jack Shandy after pirates attack his ship and force him to join their crew. Shandy's struggle to accept his new life grounds the story for readers, even as Blackbeard and vodun magicians whisk everyone away to dreamlike lands where the Fountain of Youth itself awaits. The chaotic sea battles sing, though at times key events happen so quickly that they get lost in the shuffle as Jack tries to comprehend where he's going and what's at stake. This dark fantasy tale will appeal not just to pirate fans but also to anyone who appreciates Powers's talent for blending the most unlikely elements into a brilliantly cohesive whole. (Apr.)

So, I'm almost curious enough to pick up the book, which has been reprinted and watch the movie. You know, to see how badly Hollywood fucked with Mr. Power's tale.

The book I own by Tim Powers is The Anubis Gates. A very, well regarded novel:

Author Tim Powers evokes 17th-century England with a combination of meticulously researched historic detail and imaginative flights in this sci-fi tale of time travel. Winner of the 1984 Philip K. Dick Award for best original science fiction paperback, this 1989 edition of the book that took the fantasy world by storm is the first hardcover version to be published in the United States. In his brief introduction, Ramsey Campbell sets The Anubis Gates in an adventure context, citing Powers's achievement of "extraordinary scenes of underground horror, of comedy both high and grotesque, of bizarre menace, of poetic fantasy."

The colonization of Egypt by western European powers is the launch point for power plays and machinations. Steeping together in this time-warp stew are such characters as an unassuming Coleridge scholar, ancient gods, wizards, the Knights Templar, werewolves, and other quasi-mortals, all wrapped in the organizing fabric of Egyptian mythology. In the best of fantasy traditions, the reluctant heroes fight for survival against an evil that lurks beneath the surface of their everyday lives.

Time Travel, ancient Egyptian Wizards, Werewolves, the Knights Templar... that's quite a heady mix! I must read this soon! I picked up the SFBC 50th Anniversary Edition (the ann. was the SFBC's) a few years ago, after reading a ton of fantastic reviews!

So, now I'm all, like, as well received as Mr. Powers' work has been, it's kind of a shame that when Hollywood does discover the fellow, they take his book and shoehorn it into one of their franchise efforts. Ok, pirates and supernatural goings on are involved in both said franchise and the novel. And such an effort could be accomplished with respect and style. But, it's Hollywood and that's not to be expected. I didn't see the second and third Pirates flick. I heard so much bad press about them and while that's not enough to keep me away, especially since I really enjoyed the first movie, it did dampen my enthusiasm enough that I just never bothered to find the time to watch the 2nd and 3rd installments. I think I have them. But, like the many books I haven't gotten around to reading, there's many DVD's, I haven't found time for. I rarely buy DVD's, anymore.

So, if you see the new movie, let us know what you think. And if you've read Mr. Powers' novel, I'd be very interested in your thoughts.

Bitching: Red Sonja, Conan and Pet Peeves

(The following post contains material which may act as an emotional trigger, for some individuals.)

I'm feeling really, really ornery today, so I'm bitching about a couple of pet peeves.

1. The chain-mail bikini. I'm sure the comic-book writer who came up with the idea that Red Sonja wears this ridiculous outfit, because her male opponents find it distracting, thought he had found a clever way to explain Red's sheer insanity. I've seen some gamers take this idea and use it.

Which is cool. Your game. Have fun. It's just that it's a crock of shit, based on ignorant ideas of male sexuality.

Ask a professional soldier what he would do if some wild haired woman with a sword was trying to run him through. He'd kill her. And sex would be the last thing on his mind.

That's partially because mentally healthy people, just don't get turned on, or think about sex, when someone, even a shapely someone, is trying to skewer them with a sword. In a healthy person the survival instincts and self-respect will trump the libido, quite decisively.

In short, healthy people won't  mix the emotional and imaginative realities, which are part of sexual excitation, with real live violence. Just as a healthy person wouldn't commit a rape, they also wouldn't be turned on by seeing someone else doing so. I'd better mention that I'm not talking about physiological phenomenon which may manifest, under certain violent conditions. There are some other sticky wickets as well, beyond the scope of my current rant.

Considerations, concerning the kind of mentally and emotionally fucked-up individuals who set Red Sonja down her road of bloodshed in the first place, are also beyond the scope of this post.

Aside from the above, men can and do control their libido, all the time. Ask a male gynecologist how he deals with doing what he does. He'll tell you straight-up: "I just turn it off."

I've "turned it off," for reasons a lot less dire, than someone being out for my blood.

2. Conan vs. Wizards. One of the old arguments some gamers like to bring up about D&D is that MU's are too powerful, compared to Fighters. They sometimes invoke the mighty name of Conan and speak of how Conan took on and slew powerful wizards, all the time. So, the reasoning goes, their Fighter should be able to do the same thing. Leaving aside the validity of the Fighter vs. MU debate, the Conan argument is, you guessed it, a crock of shit! At least, if you're reading R. E. Howard.

I'm just too damn lazy and obstinate this evening, to pull out any references, but off the top of my head:

• The Hour of the Dragon - Conan's priest friend takes care of Xaltotun, while he handles the more mundane foes.
• The Scarlet Citadel - Conan's new ally, the sorcerer Pelias takes out the baddie sorcerer, Tsotha-lanti.
• The People of the Black Circle - Khemsa's magic belt, is the only thing that protects Conan from the evil sorceries of the Black Circle wizards. Their magic utterly fails to touch the mighty Cimmerian, leaving him free to hack & slash, at will!

There must have been at least one story, where Conan straight-up kills a wizard, without aid from another spellcaster. Damned if I can think of one, though. Sorcerers were dangerous as all hell, in Mr. Howard's Hyboria!

Doing the Happy Dance in my Recliner

Thanks to the "Let's Get A Jump On Scarfing Everyone's Cash Pre-Black Friday Sales," I got my Christmas present early. New Laptop!!!

My old one entered its death spiral a few weeks ago, so my wife got up at 4:00 AM Saturday, braving the cold and the Wal-mart crowds, to snatch this sucker before they sold out! Now, I just have to get used to Windows 7.

Actual gaming posts are coming. For now, I'll leave you with my favorite song from Led Zeppelin's 4th album.

Catpissmen?

I had to look that one up. I was reading Mr. Raggi's post from earlier today, Gamer vs. Gamer. I rarely venture out into the wider Gaming Forum world. Keeping up with the OSR is all I have time for. So, the likes of EnWorld, the RPG Site, etc., just aren't on my radar. I do pick up echoes, from time to time, shown forth in posts like the one from LotFP.

I started gaming when I was 14 years old. I was incredibly fortunate, to be initiated into this magical hobby, by intelligent, decent people, who quickly became my friends. You know, real friends. For the first couple of years, our core gaming group was us four guys and we all took turns DMing, learning from one another and having a blast. So, I have no "Teen-Aged Psychotic DM Horror Stories," to relate.

In 28 years of gaming, I've dis-invited two people from my games. One guy, my wife just Did Not Like, at all. Really, didn't like! The other person was a unique kind of obnoxious and everyone wanted him to leave. I can think of maybe a couple of others, who I didn't really like, but weren't so irritating that I wouldn't let them into my house. Most of the people I've come together with to game, have become my friends, occasionally lovers and often I've formed enduring relationships, with these role-players. After almost three decades of playing D&D, I think that speaks well for the gaming community at large.

I have met some unpleasant gamers, here and there. And the first gaming store to open in my home-town, was run by someone who fit the stereotype of his occupation, very well. But, by and large, most of my meetings with fellow gamers have been fun.

I have no doubt that people have bad experiences, on occasion. There are assholes, out there, in and out of the gaming community. Everyone bitches, on occasion. And people often exaggerate. But, if you're spending  a significant amount of your time putting your fellow-gamers down and whining about how there isn't anyone out there worth playing with, then I strongly suspect that you're The Problem, not a "victim".

Satan and the “OSR”

As a blogger, I'm glad I'm not high profile, like Mr. Raggi. Being human, I'm bound to write something inflammatory, stupid, inappropriate, or otherwise open to criticism, on occasion. At least I don't have to worry that the entire bloody community, which I choose to interact with, will be blamed, mischaracterized, insulted and belittled, due to something I've said. Not so much, anyway.

So, if I do write something objectionable, please feel free to call me on it. But make sure that it’s something like, “James, you’re full of shit!” Or, better yet, “James, you’re wrong and here’s why.”

I’d be really peeved, if people said this sort of thing:

“The ‘OSR’ has lost its way!”

“The ‘OSR’ is Tainted!”

“The ‘OSR’ needs to be taught a Lesson!”

“The Leader of the ‘OSR’ thinks he can tell me what to think!”

“I’m not  a member of the ‘OSR’ and don’t associate me with those people!”

“Those ‘OSR’ people are just Faddists! They’re not real Old Schoolers!”

“Those ‘OSR’ people are Fanatics! They’re trying to tell me how to play D&D!”

So, you can rest assured, that I will, in all likelihood, be overlooked by those who feel the need to damn and demonize their fellows.

Or turn a network of gamers, into some Illuminati-like opposition! ;)

There are no “OSR” leaders. There is no “OSR” membership card. There is no ”OSR” clubhouse. There are no “OSR” dues. There is no “OSR” dogma. There is no “OSR” secret handshake. There is no “OSR” initiatory ritual, oath or secret lore. There is no “OSR” party line.

There is no Satan. There is no “OSR.”

Long live the Old School Renaissance!

Crossing My Fingers – And a Few More Pics, For Those Stopping By

Well, I decided to try and reload Live Writer and hope that the uninstall/re-install, fixes the problem. None of the other free blog editors I tried were as good as LW. Raven came close and I might play around with it some more, to see if I can get more out of it. But it doesn’t really compare to Live Writer.

I did find a blogging plug in for Open Office, which, though it doesn’t do what I want for blogging, it does allow me to import a blog post directly into Open Office. I find that to be handy.

Here’s some pics, for your amusement. If all goes well, now I’ll be able to return this channel to it’s regular programming. :)

        

William Shatner is Mad!!! Another Test Post

Well, I just tried out several other blog editors and Raven is the only one I've found that's comparable to LiveWriter. Last week, the nice folks at LiveWriter sent me a message that an update was available. So, I updated. Fucking mistake! Now that I've gotten the updated version off of my system, it appears to be returning to normalcy. I'm pissed and so is Bill!

Hot Elf Chick! Testing Some New Posting Software

Testing Zoundry Raven.

My Early Education – Before Appendix N

Some gamers discover D&D, then begin exploring the games’ source material and the wealth of fantasy and science fiction, which so many creative minds have given us. For others, including myself, fantasy and science fiction came first. I owe my father for that one.

My father was, and still is, an avid collector of books, magazines, films and media of all sorts. He’s incredibly eclectic. Looking through his library, you’ll find almost every genre of fiction you can think of. He does have his favorites, though. Fantasy, Science Fiction and Horror have always been well represented upon his shelves. Fortunately for me, he was never so fussy about his stuff, that he wouldn’t share these riches with his son.

So, by the time I turned 13 or so, much of my free time was spent reading my father’s collection of books and magazines.

There were the comic books, of course. Every issue of every title published by Marvel and quite a bit of DC, as well as releases from direct sales only publishers.

Grimjack by John Ostrander and Timothy Truman was one of my favorites.  Grimjack debuted as a back-up comic in the Starslayer series at about the same time as I was beginning to play AD&D. The tales were set in the pan-dimensional city of Cynosure. Some dimensions are more or less permanently in phase with the city, others intersect irregularly, or only at certain periods. About 25 years before the stories in the comic books take place, Hell briefly came into phase with the city and the “Demon Wars” began. The citizens eventually found a way to defeat the demons and force Hell out of phase with the city.

Technology works in some sections of Cynosure.  Magic works in some. As Grimjack  was fond of saying, “Swords work everywhere.” Grimjack was an aging, badass mercenary, plying his trade in the toughest, most far out setting in the multi-verse. He had a few allies. Like Blacjacmac, an outlaw Mercenary. Outlawed, because he refused to pay the city’s Merc Tax. Blacjacmac’s girlfriend, Goddess, was literally a goddess in her home dimension.

I’ve been thinking, here lately, that Cynosure would make a great setting for a game. It would take quite a bit of work to do it right. But it’s doable.

“I bust people out of prison, hunt down vampires, fight alien gods -- all the fun jobs people are too squeamish or too polite to do themselves. Call me a mercenary. Call me an assassin. Call me a villain. I am all that and more.”

Someone has put some notes on the web, about their Gurps campaign, set in Cynosure. Those interested, may find it here. Of course, Timothy Truman did some work for TSR, back in the day. The first time I saw N1 Against the Cult of the Reptile God, I said “Hey. I know this guy’s art! That’s Timothy Truman!”

Then, there was Epic Illustrated, Marvel’s Adult Fantasy Magazine. The first issue appeared in Spring of 1980, placing it firmly in the Early Phase of my Education. I still remember my father bringing home the first issue and thinking “Oh, it’s like Heavy Metal.” I quickly grew to prefer Marvel’s mag, which featured stories like Jim Starlin’s Metamorphosis Odyssey, the tale of the Wizard Aknaton’s mad plan to rid the galaxy of the Zygotean menace! The series ran from issues 1 – 9 and spawned two graphic novels.

The first of these, The Price, introduces Syzygy Darklock and tells the story of his search for his brothers’ murderer and subsequent accumulation of vast magical power. And The Price he had to pay for it. We see here a recurring theme, with Starlin and wizards. His practitioners of magic, driven by the horrors they’ve seen and the further atrocities they wish to avoid, have a rather deep-seated, to the point of insanity, belief that The End Justifies the Means.

The second one, Dreadstar, shows us what happened to one of the main characters of the Metamorphosis Odyssey, Vanth Dreadstar and how he meets the aforementioned Syzygy. This was the lead in to the comic book, Dreadstar, one of  my absolute favorites. Until, that is, it Jumped the Shark. Starlin drastically changed the main character, turning him into a Superhero, complete with a Costume for god’s sake and took the story in an entirely different, rather boring, direction. I think another author ended up taking it over. I had quit reading it, by then. It’s as if Starlin deliberately set out to fuck it up. Maybe he did. But I’ll always love the Pre-Superhero Dreadstar/Metamorphosis Odyssey tales.

Epic Illustrated also featured other tasty morsels. Like adaptations of Michael Moorcock’s The Dreaming City and While The Gods Laugh, by Roy Thomas and P. Craig Russell. And Marada The She-Wolf by Chris Claremont and John Bolton.

Great stories, great illustrations and a notable amount of artistic nudity! What’s wasn’t there for a young teenage boy to love?

There were other cool magazines, as well. Eerie, Creepy and of course, Vampirella! A heady mix of horror, B&W illustration, titillation, and Frank Frazetta covers. My father had the complete run, or damn near it, of all these magazines at one point. He sold them, along with most of his other comic books, about ten years ago. Regardless, my appreciation for horror can be traced back to Warren Publishing and their trilogy of horror mags.

There was one other B&W magazine, which I loved and would spend hours, upon hours, reading. Like the Warren titles, this one also offered some racy illustrations, but  Swords & Sorcery were what these stories were about. High adventure, violence, blood and gore. I’m talking, of course, about The Savage Sword of Conan, Marvel Comics’ romp through the Hyborian Age.

Featuring adaptations of the de Camp editions of Howard’s Conan, as well as original tales, this magazine was one of my favorites. It and the color comic book edition of Conan, were my first exposure to the Cimmerian. I also enjoyed the old King Conan comic book.

Omnibus editions of The Savage Sword of Conan are being published and I aim to start collecting them. I’d love to re-read the series.

Of course, it wasn’t all just comic books. My father had quite a collection of novels, as well. Including the entire de Camp Conan series! It was many years, before I enjoyed the opportunity to read Howard, without L. Sprague de Camp getting in the way. But at least the Conan series was available in some edition! I took these to school with me every day, reading Conan, while I should have been paying attention in class and studying.

It was around the time that I was working my way through the Ace Conan series, that I met some new friends and began playing AD&D. Thanks to Appendix N, I would soon begin hunting up authors, which weren’t in my father’s collection. Michael Moorcock, Fritz Leiber, et al.

I certainly enjoy the talented authors and wondrous books, which I’ve discovered over the years. But my fondest reading memories, are of sitting in a chair in my father’s room, digging through his shelves and boxes and discovering treasure after treasure, tome after tome, filled with adventure, magic, sex and wonder.

Winning, Losing and Character Death

My 6 year old little boy, Brisco, is playing in a youth baseball league this year. It’s his first time participating in such an activity and I’m having a lot of fun, going to his games and watching him play with the other kids.

It’s kind of funny at times. After six or seven  games, the team is starting to get their act together, but it’s still kind of like watching two teams of Three Stooges Clones, playing baseball.

All the parents I’ve seen, have a really positive attitude and encourage all the kids, though they’re certainly more effusive in their efforts, when cheering their kids and their kids teammates.

During the first few games, while score was kept, it was rarely mentioned. I’m not even sure if the coaches told the players what the final tally was and my son didn’t even ask. That changed, about a week ago.

During one of the games, the team really came together and creamed their opponents. The league has a rule, that if one team is ahead of the other by nine runs, at the end of an inning, the games over. I think the game went 2 innings, my son’s team beating the other one by 12 to 3.

Suddenly, the kids were excited. They realized what they had accomplished and were thrilled, that they had won the game. In the three games since, they’ve kept up with the score, encouraged one another to “hit the ball,” and become more enthused about playing.

Yesterday, they presided over another massacre, 15 to 6. My son got to score the winning run and again the team had a lot of fun with their triumph. But, the night before had been a different story. On that night, they didn’t get their act together and they were the ones who were trounced.

Did they whine? Where they sad? Did their world come crashing down, as they cried into their baseball gloves, squalling to their parents about how unfair it all was?

Nope. It was no problem, at all. They weren’t even disappointed. “Yeah, we lost. Can we go to McDonald’s now?”

In some places, Keeping Score in kids sports is a big no-no. It might make someone Feel Bad. I suppose, this is because some adults have chosen to associate their sense of self-worth, with winning or losing a game. They then assume, that their children have learned to be so foolish. Of course, this sort of thing just teaches them to do so.

I can understand why someone might want to play an RPG, which didn’t feature character death. In some games, it might just get in the way, or fail to add anything to the experience. I think some games of that type could be a lot of fun, just like playing a game where death is virtually guaranteed, like Call of Cthulhu, can be a lot of fun. But, in D&D, the “danger,” the narrow-squeaks, the hard fought and won battles, are very much an integral part of the experience. So are the losses. If the very real possibility of character death isn’t present, then it’s not D&D.

I feel pretty comfortable, making such an absolute statement here, seeing as how the game features Hit Points, Damage Dice, Save or Die effects, Breath Weapons, Armor Classes, Randomly Generated Numbers, Weapons, Violent Spells, Traps, etc., etc., etc.! It seems set up to be pretty fucking integral. Actual play experience, bears this out as well and demonstrates the reasons why. Sessions where the players had to pull out all the stops and use every bit of their wits and playing skills to survive, are the stuff of which D&D legends are made. It’s Fun. Thrilling. Memorable. You can certainly create a perfectly balanced “D&D” game and make it so that death only happens if there’s a statistical fluke of the dice. Such a game would strike me as being a parody, but, different lanes, for different brains, as it were.

Over the years, most reactions I’ve seen to character death, have ranged from mild disappointment and/or annoyance, to “That was pretty fucking cool!” I can only recall one instance of someone getting pissed. I wasn’t running that one.

My wife has been very gracious, when I’ve killed her characters.

I’m certainly fine with a little disappointment. A more enthusiastic response, is seen on occasion. Character death can be fun and thrilling, though of course, a lame death is kind of a bummer. Unless it’s really funny. Regardless, a player who embraces this feature of the game, is a sheer joy and enhances the experience for all involved. 

My Wife Has Found A New Online Toy

Funny Foto.

Darth Me.

And, I think I’m in Trouble!

The Premiere Episode of “I Hit It With My Axe” Debuts

Here.

Also playing at Troll and Flame.

If you haven’t been following Playing D&D With Pornstars, why the hell not? Zak’s stuff rocks!

I enjoyed the first episode. It was too short, but it is the first episode. I’m looking forward to seeing the gang in action, once the game gets good and underway.

Mandy is absolutely beautiful.

Happy GM’s Day!

If it wasn’t for Gary Gygax, I wouldn’t have met my closest friends. Or, my wife. (Or, my first wife, but I won’t blame Gary for that fiasco.) Or, by extension, my son. I may never have investigated, several strange byways of knowledge. I would have missed out on at least, a couple of jobs. I most definitely, would have missed out on an incredibly rich and fulfilling art. My life would have been so drastically different, that it’s almost discombobulating, to consider it.  

The Great Snowball Fight of 2010 – Critical Hit!

He Flanked me!

Brisco was packing his ammunition rather tightly. In the above pic, part of the snowball burst, upon hitting my head. The rest, ricocheted upwards. 

DM Angst & Munchkinism

For the past couple of years, I’ve been occasionally perusing the Wotc forums. This started right before 4e was announced, so I had the joy of witnessing the written cacophony that was the so called “Edition Wars.” A few months ago, when Wotc started a new social networking site and incorporated their forums therein, I signed back up and became a bit more active, posting in discussions, making some friends and after a month or so, I started a blog on the site. Fortunately, someone pointed out a clause in the Wotc Community Tos which I had overlooked (I probably just glossed over it; when I signed back up, I was only looking for access to the Forums). Said clause gives them pretty much carte blanche to do whatever they damned well please with anything you post to any part of their site. Not only that, it reads like they don’t even have to credit the original author.  So, I promptly removed the blog I had started and opened up shop here on Blogger.

I’m glad I did. I’ve met some nice people here as well and I had no idea that there was this great, creative, treasure-chest of sites, filled with the work and ideas of so many talented people.

While reading and participating in the Wotc forums, I kept noticing an anti-DM sentiment popping up in discussion after discussion. Thread after thread would turn in that direction, to the point that I began asking myself what in the world was going on?

There were constant complaints about bad DM’s, constant bitching about DM fiat, calls to throw “Rule 0” out of the game, and serious discussions about getting rid of DM’s completely. Getting rid of DM’s…

Some of the complaints are legitimate. A lot of DM’s who post their campaign ideas describe Railroads, from beginning, to middle, to end. It’s usually an “Epic” story, with a BBEG, and enough related stuff in the middle to get the Players to the “Final Confrontation.” With game designers from major companies pushing this  approach and setting this kind of example with their products, it’s no surprise that many DM’s use the Railroad as a template for their games.

A recent discussion on the Wotc forums concerning DMPC’s comes to mind. I always thought a DMPC was when a DM ran his own PC with the group, a practice usually frowned upon by experienced gamers. Also, I connect the term with “Pet NPC’s,” pretty much the same idea and used by DM’s who want to control their players or are under the delusion that the PC’s need an uber-powerful authority figure to order them around, rescue them when necessary, and steal the spotlight at every opportunity.

An NPC party member is a completely different animal. They get half xp, never outshine the party, and, in my games, often wear a red shirt, though ,sometimes it’s hidden under their armor. I dislike running them myself, but have on occasion, usually when no one would play a Cleric. Not always a problem, but often enough that I started using the Healer NPC Class published in Dragon Magazine, to send along with PC’s. I’ve never regarded such a NPC as being different from any other NPC the players might run into.

In the discussion I mentioned above, the participants made no distinction between DMPC’s and NPC’s. I tried to make the distinction, and was ignored. They’re ALL DMPC’s they’re ALL bad, they’re ALL DM’s srewing the players. Always! 

My gaming circles have been pretty insular over the decades. Back in the day, we knew what a munchkin was, though we didn’t have a name for them. We did, on occasion, see examples of Railroading in other gaming groups we encountered. No one had to tell us that it was a shitty way to DM. Of course, no one had to tell us how to treat each other with consideration, behave like the friends we were, and not try to “win” the game, either.

So, are there just That Many bad DM’s out there, ruining the game for players who can’t find anyone else to run a game and are so dead set against doing it themselves?

Or, is this some weird, extreme form of Munchkinism? Are some people just mad that the DM is “more powerful,” and do they think they should be able to “beat the DM?”