As the last part in my On Fighters & Fighting series, have an Unarmed Fighting Style Generator and some thoughts on Hit Points in combat!
On Fighters & Fighting: Part Two
Want to add some depth to a Fighter without adding complexity to playing one? How about a unique Fighting Style that can be summed up in three words? With optional fancy name and colorful founder... along with some rival styles to watch out for?
On Fighters & Fighting: Part One
If boxing is the "sweet science" then Fighters are a fantasy world's greatest brain trust. Here's a look at what it means to be a Fighter in a world where lots of people can hit things with bits of sharp metal.
Asking Why: How to Put PCs In a Tight Spot Without A Railroad
Players can be prickly when their characters get pushed around or put in spots with limited choices, but giving the players some extra choices in exchange can take some of the sting out. And just may make things more fun for everyone.
Secret & Safe: A Look At Codes and Spies For Fantasy Games
The history of espionage, even in the Classical or Medieval or Renaissance periods that so frequently inspire elements of fantasy settings, is enormous and deep. It's also probably filled with holes in information, because so many resources were probably destroyed or lost due to their covert nature. So, if you plan to use spies and coded messages in your game, how can you turn those story elements into challenges or hooks for player characters? Below are a few brief thoughts on the form that spies might take, along with notes on how they might be treated, and a few example methods for passing secret information that could be slipped into any game.
Liner Notes: The Role of Bards In A Setting
Medieval fantasy settings have bards. It's something that many players or Dungeon Masters might not even note anymore, especially as the class has been a staple of Dungeons & Dragons for so long now. It's been my experience, in fact, that the class really only comes up – in regards to how it fits the game – when the subject is "How do the various classes balance against eachother?" Like any other class, however, there is a ton of potential there for character backgrounds and conflict to be found if you just go digging around enough.
A Quick Fantasy Side-Quest Generator
This is a quick and dirty quest generator for fantasy roleplaying games, specifically Dungeons & Dragons, and leans towards a more side-quest format than a large campaign or adventure. Some creative interpretation required, as individual parts may not always fit together in a way that makes sense. This is part of the fun.
Making Milestones, Part One: Trailblazing
Milestones are an alternate, or supplementary, method of awarding XP in 5th edition that only gets a little bit of discussion. This post is about expanding on how and why to use Milestones.
Casting Conflict: Fighting It Out Over Arcane Traditions
The default assumption of many fantasy game settings is that the magical study wizards devote themselves to is rewarded by the slow – but constant – accumulation of knowledge and power. The fact that this knowledge takes the form of spells that may come from various different ancient masters, widespread cultures, or deep secrets of... Continue Reading →
Playing Paladins: Knights, Gods, and Broken Promises
This is the second in a two-part feature on Paladins. This part is meant to cover character options, adventure hooks, and roleplaying advice. The first part, Swear to God, covered the class’s origins, potential role in relation to other classes, and how they might fit into a setting. Playing a Paladin says something not only about the character you are playing,... Continue Reading →
Many-Sided Dice 