tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post6687091317327196138..comments2023-10-14T03:58:59.333-06:00Comments on The Tao of D&D: Dungeon Master's ManifestoAlexis Smolenskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-7528620859251377892011-09-10T20:19:14.426-06:002011-09-10T20:19:14.426-06:00I will reward the party when the party shows compa...<i> I will reward the party when the party shows compassion and kindness.</i> <br /><br />That point contrasts interestingly with the last two posts. However, in the sort of D&D world you run, compassion and kindness are meaningful choices, since the opposite is allowed so explicitly.<br /><br /><i> the best game is one in which the players are involved, excited and happy.</i><br /><br />I'd specify "emotionally involved" as an important point here; that correlates well to everyone having a good time, in my experience. <br /><br /><i> How would you take advantage of this arrangement, understanding that your stubborn self-interest is not held to be a bad thing in this construct?<br /></i><br />Here's a post that I think is very relevant to this question, and whose substance I largely agree with:<br /><br />http://dndwithpornstars.blogspot.com/2010/01/sandboxes-and-roguish-work-ethic.html<br /><br />In a campaign like this, I'd try and figure out with the other players where they'd like to start the campaign, then lay into research on that area's history. I'd want a brief character background, but I'd be primarily looking for 2-4 major "ambitions"- industries or rackets or attempting to found a new settlement, maybe in an area devastated by the Thirty Years War.<br /><br />I'd take what characteristics I get from the ability-based tables posted here, if those are still in use, and build a basic idea of my character on top of those. I would prefer to let the details emerge through play.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07649420272387984400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-56617764824443577892011-09-10T12:31:46.335-06:002011-09-10T12:31:46.335-06:00It is a manifesto in that I am saying "this i...It is a manifesto in that I am saying "this is what I will do". I intend to make these things <i>manifest</i>.Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-58669897851089779812011-09-10T11:29:57.488-06:002011-09-10T11:29:57.488-06:00This post seems more a "philosophy" than...This post seems more a "philosophy" than a "manifesto."JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08532311924539491087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-88410975454680909732011-09-10T10:53:17.016-06:002011-09-10T10:53:17.016-06:00I'd like to think that the DM is enjoying expl...I'd like to think that the DM is enjoying exploring the shared world of imagination as much if not more than the players. This entails a certain amount of objectivity, or else the world's verisimilitude is lost and the DM is simply giving fan service to the players' egos. As a player, all I want is a fair shake, to put it bluntly, and whether my character lives or dies in that mileu I can feel satisfied.Tedankhamenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00181643018957592969noreply@blogger.com