Backstories: Back to Basics
This article was first broadcast in Episode Eighty Three on 7th August 2019. Lennon: Ugh, come on, not again! Ryu: Did you miss the knife throwing target again? I told you, wrist flick. Lennon: No, it’s…I’m having to send out another note to remind a player that they need a backstory. Ostron: It’s funny how often people skip that. Backstory development isn’t something that’s usually focused on a lot when the subject of new characters comes up, and you can argue some of that is Wizards’ fault. Since the “backgrounds” mechanic was introduced in fifth edition, some players and DMs just assume the backgrounds from the Players Handbook or module sourcebook are all you need, and everything else just comes about through playing. At a basic level that’s fine, and backstories are certainly not something players should be obsessing over during their first game, when character mechanics and actually playing the game are more important.…
Adventurer’s Journal: Preparing for your First Ever Game
This article was first broadcast in Episode Seventy Four on 29th May 2019. Ryu: Yeah, HR said they want to “have a word with” KayDee about how we can’t farm new employees for kidneys. Ostron: I’m sorry, what? Lennon: Doesn’t matter. Speaking of new employees, can you guys look over what I’ve got so far? Ryu: Sure Sitting down for your first ever session of D&D can be a daunting prospect for a lot of people. Assuming you looked through the basic rules or player’s handbook (which, hint, you should have done) you know there’s a lot of information and rules involved with this, and it’s very easy to get overwhelmed. First of all, breathe. It’s not that big of a deal. Even if there are other players who’ve got more experience than you, everyone will know you’re new at this and they’ll understand if you don’t have everything ready to go…
Adventurer’s Journal: Helpful Helping
This article was first broadcast in Episode Sixty-Eight on 10th April 2019. Ryu: Lennon…why are you trying to slide a ruler under the door to the Gnomish Workshop? If you’re trying to pick the lock that’s definitely not the way to do it. Lennon: No I…Ostron locked me out. Ryu: What did you do? Lennon: Nothing! I was just trying to help! Ostron: Standing over my shoulder making random comments is not helping! Lennon: but, I mean, that gives him advantage, doesn’t it? Ryu: Well, no, in combat you’re actually supposed to stand over the *enemy* to grant your allies advantage Lennon: oh….right The easiest situation for D&D players most of the time is if they’re playing with a bunch of people who have about the same experience with D&D as they do. Everyone’s familiar with the same editions, they have a similar take on how to play the game…
Adventurer’s Journal: Flawed Personas
This article was first broadcast in Episode Sixty-Two on 20th February 2019. Ryu: Blah. Okay, time to kill some characters. Lennon: We hid the hat again, just so you’re aware. Ryu: Yeah that never matters, but anyway, I’m not going to need KayDee’s help for this one; I’ve got another player that’s decided “annoying edgelord” is a cool character concept, and they’ve come up with mechanics where they’re in such mental anguish that even brief moments of happiness count as a short rest for them because they’re so rejuvenating. “Rejuvenating” isn’t “resurrecting,” though, so that character isn’t going to see a session two. Ostron: You know you’re asking to just have them come back with another annoying concept unless you give them some suggestions. Ryu: Do you have any? I’m all ears at this point. Lennon: I think we can throw something together. In past editions of D&D, the idea of character backstories imparting skills or abilities to…
A Short Rest: Adventurer’s Journal: Multiclassing
This article was first broadcast in Episode Forty-Three on 3rd October 2018. Mikey: I’m just saying it gives me more versatility Ostron: Have you ever heard “Jack of all trades, master of none”? Ryu: Ostron, you know what happens if you bother Mikey. Suddenly we all sound like chipmunks. Well…except RaeRae for some reason. Ostron: I’m not bothering him. We’re discussing the merits of his dual role as part time host and audio alchemist compared to you and I who are primarily just hosting. Ryu: Oh. The multiclassing debate. Ostron: I…okay that actually is a good point; I didn’t think of it that way. Multiclassing is a mechanic in D&D that can generate almost as much sidelong glances from players and cautious looks from DMs as declaring you’re playing an evil character, or a Kender. For those who stopped reading the Player’s Handbook after the Equipment chapter, multiclassing allows you to take a level in a…
Adventurer’s Journal: Merely Casting Rains
This article was first broadcast in Episode Forty-One on 19th September 2018. Ryu: Oh not again… Lennon: What? Ryu: Well you’ve got a fishing rod and lures so obviously something’s going on with wizards or sorcerers. Lennon: … I’m not seeing how you got that at all. Ryu: It doesn’t matter how I got there, but you do have a question about them, right? Lennon: Actually, yes. Ostron, you’re a wizard, right? Ostron: Nominally Lennon: So what’s the difference between you and a sorcerer. I mean, I get that sorcerers are 20% cooler, but, like, when you get down to it, what’s the difference? Ostron: Well, see, I’m the product of careful study and appreciation of the magical arts, while sorcerers are flashy hacks that claim they just “know things” and don’t need to bother with careful study. Ryu: I’m sensing some bitterness there? Do you want to talk to someone about it? I could get the hat! Lennon: Why don’t we…
Adventurer’s Journal: Bardic Frustration
This article was first broadcast in Episode Forty on 12th September 2018. Ryu: Hey guys? I was talking to KayDee a little bit ago- Lennon: Who? Did you hire someone? That has to go through HR you know. Ryu: The Killer DM. Kay, Dee? Get it? I thought it was cute. Lennon: I have several worrying questions about this… Ostron: Was there something specific she said? Anything about needing organs, for example? Ryu: Well not really but she really seems to hate Bards. Lennon: Yeah, I can see that Ryu: Well it confused me. Bards seem like a great class. Ostron: Oh, they are, but not if you’re a DM Despite not being one of the classes available in original editions of D&D, the Bard has since evolved to be one of the core classes in the game. Mentally a lot of people think of Bards as comical characters if not outright farces; terminal optimists who bring a mandolin to…
Adventurer’s Journal: Nobody Likes Warlocks
This article was first broadcast in Episode Thirty-Nine on 5th September 2018. Ryu: Look, we need to deal with this Lennon: No we don’t, because there’s no problem Ostron: Okay, you keep saying that nobody likes warlocks but it’s honestly just you. Lennon: Ryu is on my side! Ryu: The Killer DM is more on your side than I am and really she hates everyone so that’s not a good basis. Ostron: Do you even have any legitimate complaints? Lennon: Do I need them? Ostron: … Yes. Lennon: Alright. You might want to take a seat though, we’ll be here a while. Warlock is one of those classes that make people nervous. If the Monk is a confusing and complex class for physical combatants, the warlock is the equivalent on the spellcasting side. While they still cast spells, one look at their class table in the players’ handbook will clue you in that something very different is going on…
Adventurer’s Journal: Monking Around
This article was first broadcast in Episode Thirty-Eight on 29th August 2018. Ryu: I really don’t think they’re worth it. Lennon: Well I don’t think they exist just because someone was bored Ostron: What are you two arguing about Ryu: Monks. I don’t get them. Lennon: And…to be honest I don’t really know any Ostron: Oh monks are great Ryu: Of course you’d say that; as soon as you look at how to become one you have a bunch of weird calculations to do. Ostron: Well….okay, you’re not wrong. For most of the classes in D&D people have a vague idea of what their purpose is just based on popular fantasy tropes. Druids make plants and animals do weird things, wizards blow things up, warlocks hurt things and are creepy, fighters hit things, barbarians hit things but angrier, and so on. But when you get to monks, most people give a vague answer along the lines of “don’t they…
Adventurer’s Journal: Go Heal Yourself
This article was first broadcast in Episode Thirty-Six on 15th August 2018. Killer DM: Where’s the numbers guy? Lennon: Oh…hi Killer DM. What brings you here? Killer DM: Clerics. Lennon: Really? Here I thought you were created by a Warlock devoted to Asmodeus Killer DM: *ominous spells in the background* I’m not in the mood, Limey. Now where is he? I need numbers. Lennon: Who, Ostron? He’s not here, he’s been waylaid by kobolds Killer DM: Shame. Still, kobolds need kidneys, too. Mikey: I’m pretty good with numbers Lennon: You are so going to regret that… Killer DM: You are? Good. Grab your calculator and get over here. I need to tell people how wrong they are about clerics. Except you start. Tell me about clerics. Lennon: Okay, well… If you’re putting a standard adventuring party together, bringing along a cleric is such a good idea that it’s almost a requirement. The most obvious reason is healing. Clerics are the most reliable class…