Wisdom from the Master: Yes, DM: You, too, can Metagame
This article was first broadcast in Episode Sixty-Six on 20th March 2019. Lennon: No Killer DM today? I figured she’d want to see Ostron since she missed him last time. Ostron: Oh darn, so sorry about that. Ryu: She had a problem with the topic Lennon: Well she was arguing with Mikey about it last time, I thought she had more to say. Ryu: Yeah…how did she put it? Killer DM: You keep telling me I’m not supposed to kill people just because they’re wrong, but I refuse to encourage them when they are wrong. Ostron: Well, actually a lot of people agree with the Killer DM on this one. Because of the way metagaming is regarded in D&D, there is a pervasive assumption that the DM is unable to do it by definition. After all, if metagaming is introducing elements from outside the game and the DM is the ultimate arbiter of what is…
Unearthed Mundana: Metagaming Responsibly
This article was first broadcast in Episode Sixty-Five on 13th March 2019. Killer DM: and you, and you, and definitely you- Lennon: Dare I ask what you’re doing? Killer DM: Since we were talking about metagaming players last week, I figured I’d review my list of the ones I need to…talk with. Mikey: How long do those conversations take? Killer DM: Depends on how proficient they are at dexterity saves. Oh, hi Mikey, glad to see they let you out of the cave again — I do like the way you make me sound… Lennon: Just so we’re on the same page, you do know this is going to talk about how players can stop derailing the game with metagaming, right? Killer DM: I’m well aware of the goal here, Lennon, Ryu does keep me well informed. And if she doesn’t I can always bother Ostron about what’s happening. Mikey: Wait, is that why he’s not here? What do…
Unearthed Mundana: Metagaming
This article was first broadcast in Episode Sixty-Four on 6th March 2019. Ostron: Oh come on! This should be working! Lennon: Did you de-power an artifact in the workshop again? Ostron: No. I’m trying to configure the Realized Oikumenata- Ryu: You know it’s easier to just say ROSTRO. Ostron: Oh…huh. Never thought of that. Good point. Lennon: What do you mean you never though-…okay never mind. What were you trying to make the scary math machine do? Ostron: I was trying to configure it to detect metagaming and it keeps saying the parameters are invalid. Ryu: Well I swore I’d never agree with that thing but I think it’s right this time. Ostron: Well how do you guys pick out metagaming. Lennon: That’s complicated. Metagaming is one of those topics that tends to split the D&D community like psionics, 4th edition, and Warlocks. Ryu: Again, Warlocks are not controversial unless *you’re* in the room. Anyway, as soon as you mention…
Gnomish Workshop: A Pointed Discussion of Magic
This article was first broadcast in Episode Fifty-Seven on 16th January 2019. Lennon: Ostron? Is…oh. ROSTRO: Greetings Lennon: Recalculating the meaning of Life, the Universe, and Everything? ROSTRO: I would not presume to question the conclusions of my peers. Ryu: Lennon, did you find Ostro-…ah ROSTRO: Ostron requested that I assist in an analysis of magic so that his spellcasting can be improved. Lennon: And how did that go? ROSTRO: I have some possible courses of action based on comparative analysis of other systems of magic as they exist in the multiverse. A review with other parties would be welcome at this juncture. Lennon: Okay but Ryu? Poke me every so often and make sure I stay awake. Ryu: How do you know *I’m* going to be awake? Whether or not you think much about how magic works in D&D usually depends on two things: If you play a spellcasting class at all, and whether you’ve played any other tabletop or…
A Short Rest: Wisdom of the Masters: Superheroes
This article was first broadcast in Episode Fifty-Six on 9th January 2019. Ryu: Ugh, again with this. I swear these players are one session away from dealing with Kay-Dee full time Lennon: Players giving you lip? Ryu: Not…exactly, but they keep diving into situations without thinking, nearly die, and then complain about it afterward. Ostron: Now, this might be an atypical response, but why don’t you let them? Ryu: Because it’s not working? Ostron: Well yes, but it can work; you just have to pull out some extra rules. Ostron: As we’ve mentioned previously, the Dungeon Master’s Guide has a lot of optional rules in it that can slightly or drastically alter the feel and mechanics of a game you’re running. Kay-Dee *Thunderclap* Ryu: Yeah, she’s kind of…sensitive about who uses that name Ostron: Okay well the KDM already told us about some ways to make games potentially more challenging, we’ve covered adding madness and sanity as features, now…
Wisdom of the Masters: The KDM’s Christmas Gifts
This article was first broadcast in Episode Fifty-Four on 26th December 2018. Killer DM: Oh there you are Lennon. So nice to see you again. I can’t help noticing it’s Christmas Lennon: Yes Kay- Killer DM: Go ahead. Try using that name Lennon: -Killer DM. I just can’t begin to tell you how good it is to see you. It’s your first anniversary isn’t it? Killer DM: It is, but you know what it’s not? Lennon: What? Killer DM: Thanksgiving. Do you remember anything about Thanksgiving? Lennon: Um..no? Because I’m British? Ostron: Still can’t get the power cells to recharge right, I wonder…oh. Hi Killer DM. I guess I should have anticipated this. Killer DM: Yes. You should have. You should have also invited me around for Thanksgiving LIKE. I. ASKED! Lennon: Well I was at a family barbecue… Ostron: Yeah, and I… had… a … generic excuse… Killer DM: No, No, don’t worry. I’m letting bygones be bygones for now. I’ve come…
Wisdom of the Masters: Population: Evil
This article was first broadcast in Episode Forty-Seven on 31st October 2018. Killer DM: Ahh good, that was an annoying long wait. Ostron: Have to wait a while for Ryu to fail her saves? Killer DM: And there I was thinking you didn’t have a sense of humor… Oh, you’re serious? You think she still tries to make the saves? You dear thing. Lennon: Um…right, so when we left off last week, you mentioned you had more to say about evil campaigns? Killer DM: Oh my yes. So last time we talked about the pre-campaign discussion where you make sure your players aren’t going to cop out on you and decide they don’t actually want to be evil, and what the campaign looks like when it’s in flight. But what about the setup? Despite the fact that you *can* be evil, D&D’s basic rules and creatures aren’t designed that way, so you have to do a little…
Wisdom of the Masters: Campaigning for Evil
This article was first broadcast in Episode Forty-Six on 24th October 2018. Lennon: Really? Again? Ostron: We’re talking about running evil campaigns, who’s at the top of *YOUR* subject matter expert list for that? Lennon: Whatever, they’re your kidneys Killer DM: It’s so nice that you all invite me around for the holidays. It almost makes me forget that you didn’t do that last Halloween. Lennon: In our defense, we hadn’t actually started broadcasting yet. Killer DM: I just hear excuses but I suppose I might let it pass if we’re talking about something fun. Ostron: Running an evil campaign Killer DM: Oh Ostron! I knew there was hope for you. Now, let’s talk about unfair encounters and completely invisible traps. Lennon: No, no, not quite. We’re not talking about running a campaign and being evil to the players, we’re talking about the players being evil and going through a campaign like that. Killer DM: Hmmm. Obviously not quite as fun…
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…