The Harbinger of Ferocity

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5e Dungeons and Dragons - d20 Modern - 3.5e Dungeons and Dragons

I am far from new to the role of being the Dungeon Master, having done so traditionally for years now, but for too long in recent have I gone without doing so. No less, I believe it has been much too long since I told a story and allowed players to find themselves into it how they so desire. Because of this, I have created a selection I think might interest a number of persons familiar to the genres, and while I would prefer those experienced in Dungeons and Dragons, all are welcome if they have any background at all. If you wish to participate, voice your opinion and what games you would like to play; only the one with the highest amount of votes and attention will I run.

Selections

• Advent (d20M, 3.5e) (Dystopian, Near Modern, Science Fiction)
  • A not so distant future holds a time of tremendous turmoil technologically and socially; man, machine and metahumanity tenuously coexist. The use of cybernetics has become available to the public, just as the rarity of genetic augmentation remains in part elusive. However, there exists the haves and have nots, with those in between unsure which path to follow. Together, they determine what path to follow.
• Defiance (d20M, 3.5e) (Future, Post Apocalyptic, Science Fiction)
  • As an unknowable, unfathomable threat bears down upon mankind from all angles in a war already lost, a sense of desperation takes hold. Despite the futility of these efforts, the human race and some of its last few members aboard a war vessel are willing to strike back one last time to not fade quietly away. There is only total success or absolute failure.
• Lost Lands (5e) (Adventure, Fantasy, Heroic)
  • A few select heroes discover a power they could never have known were it not for setting out on a now failed quest. Discovering worlds beyond their own, they fight a battle against time to prevent the forces of darkness from overwhelming existence; a door they themselves accidentally opened. Without one another they will unquestionably fail, but together they might just succeed. Despite these great stakes, their passionate hearts never lose their levity or sight of hope.
• Minutes to Midnight (d20M, 3.5e) (Apocalyptic, Modern, Survival)
  • A small group of regular people are pitted against an overwhelming series of natural disasters and terrible odds in the United States. As society around them revolts under the strain of disease and a terrible environmental calamity, they are forced to fight for every little advantage they can. But there's something more, almost otherworldly at work. Is it tidings of ills to still come or is it a source of newfound hope?
• The Wrath of the Wild (3.5e) (Exploration, Low Fantasy, Savage)
  • A band of mundane men and women are forced to take up arms after they find their village reduced to cinder and bathed in blood in the wake of an unnatural storm, a scene of violent battle. A sole survivor accompanies them, remembering only glimpses of the events in nightmare and left with a scar that no restorative magic can seemingly heal, being their sole guide to follow. With nothing left and wanting answers, they press into the great realm abroad, growing from common folk to unlikely heroes of the realm in a time after the great adventurers.

The 'Explain The Appeal Of......' Thread

<Snipped quote by ClocktowerEchos>

I hate on Libertarians for the same reason you and others hate on SJWs, Its an ideology I find stupid.

As far as rep, I've got absolutely no problem with being known for something that I absolutely believe, It'd only be a problem if I was misrepresented.

@Dynamo Frokane

I might not always agree with @Dynamo Frokane, but I have to agree with the notion of owning up to one's beliefs and statements. No less, I would also have to agree that being subject to misrepresentation is more potentially damaging. Regardless of that however...

Thank you, @Hank. The notion of escaping one's person by the vehicle of a character they sympathize with or idealize seems like a reasonable conclusion for some.

Dragons Beneath the Firmament (A Wuxia/Xianxia RP)

Whenever you feel comfortable enough to begin, @PKMNB0Y. I have no intent on disappearing. No reason to, but I suggest you keep bumping an interest check to see if we can find more members if you are not already.

The perfect You.

2. With power comes great fear.
Or at least envy. Honestly not everyone in the world can choose to regrow that severed limb. Some are normal, run of the mill humans. Should you join the resistance or fight against it, the oppression will end one way or another.

I find this topic interesting, the entire thing, because to me the plausible dystopian future of cybertechnology and genetic alterations is not too far flung and is engaging. Still an aspect of science fiction and fantasy, but there's a lot to be done with it. For that reason, I believe this provides the most engaging plotline for players. You can be either for or against it, or caught in the crossfire. There's that opportunity to look at the world and compare our current events in parallel to this. It can easily determine, by the actions of the players, any of the other outcomes.

For that reason, that is in part why I am now watching this topic. I am curious, hoping really, for some ethical and moral dilemma to accompany some action and involvement.

Discussion about current worldly events

The capacity and capability of North Korea to act on its threats has proven time and again their ineptitude in the matter, both short, medium and long range. This does not mean they do not present a threat, in that they could initiate a war by attempting a launch, but a true nuclear war is unlikely, namely because of the massive technological advantage employed against them. It also needs bear mention that Mutually Assured Destruction is not the current policy or the objective one either by the United States. Even if, and I do phrase that as an if, North Korea had the capacity to reach out on an attack and hold a continental United States city at risk, the odds of that weapon landing on target are extremely unlikely for a number of reasons. There are a number of factors that reinforce this, just from the basic science of it, to the quality and state of the platform it is on, the weapon itself and yield, to just the target, barring of course the myriad of assets the United States has developed and maintains, the majority of which were built to combat a far more advanced adversary.

Again it is important to note that this does not mean they are a non-threat, just the reaction of the general public is not well informed on the matters of the arms at hand. The real people at risk are the South Koreans and the Japanese, because those layers of complexity are significantly reduced just by proximity alone and a few associated issue of politics and culture. However, the notion of "damaging the alliances" is ill informed. Proliferation does not remove credibility, it reinforces it. In essence, the North Korean dynasty is incentivizing and building upon those bonds and making it a matter of consideration for their enemies.

For too long has the United States neglected to continue building its fundamentals of deterrence, both horizontally and laterally. It helps none that the average person, speaking to just the United States, is afraid and uneducated on nuclear warfare, ionizing radiation, effects there of and home nation policy. This is why the North Korea ordeal appears as frightening as it is despite being more sound over substance.

The 'Explain The Appeal Of......' Thread

Now that the previous has expired, back to the explanations.

What is the appeal of stand-in characters? They may or may not be some form of Sue, but more specifically I am speaking to the character designed specifically to get the audience to sympathize with them and more so, step into their shoes and live their story vicariously. Now, I have heard many reasons for this, but almost universally are these same figures panned for not having much life to them and being cardboard cutouts and not actual people. In some cases, they even inadvertently prove to us viewers, especially outsiders, why said characters are not even functional human beings, or related to them in that regard.

We all know the worst of the worst examples, but why in general? Grasping the attention of a reader is of course crucial, as otherwise they will just seem themselves elsewhere, but why make some of these identities so hollow and reusable that anyone can be them? They sometimes span entire genres of creative works, where there are a number of trope-ish types of characters who people can fill the shoes of as the reader or viewer, but is it really that strange to not do so and instead view them as independent agencies and entities? That it is more important they are their own characters first? Making them distorted fragments of real people, twisted reflections, seems to work better from my experience.

Cara's Originally Titled OoC Hangout Thread ♥ (Still)

I have to wonder if they ever added any additional feline mounts, as I had a few of the early ones minus the tiger. At this point we are long past that point of no return, where if any where added that I couldn't collect them, but there's also still that issue of; what would I even do now with it? I recall distinctly having reached the maximum of prestige levels and having not seen anyone for days or had anything to do at that point.

D&D 5e - Hoard of the Dragon Queen

The act of cleansing a blade was as much a ceremonial process as one would employ upon their self. The ordeal that Brannor undertook with it was methodical, ever so careful to not waste what little water he had to spare on it. That which he had not drunk for himself, he spent the rest upon his person, but most notably for this process; it was a thing of dedication, knowingly done and a ritual not to be scorned. As to be expected of good steel, the blade and its uncanny edge did not readily trap the taint of their enemy, but this did not mean it was not there. The illness these creatures kept in them, this bias of evil, was deeper than just the physical. Striking them down in body was only the first step - something in time perhaps he would grow beyond.

It was as true in this quality, the need to return purity to one's self and their means, as it would have been in the hunt, but where that was as much a matter of respect and function, this was strictly a process of necessity.

Allowing the water to fall to the stone floor between his boots as it followed to the point, some splashing upon the toe, the outsider examined the weapon and its length, being certain to not leave any traces of its vicious work behind. Turning it over, once and then again, he found himself pleased with the result, then resting a palm atop it where it laid flat across his leggings. Just as he had done before, he took the time to rest, to close his eyes and remove himself from these dank corridors. The excursion to the temple of Chauntea was, without question, one of the few breaths of air the man had throughout the night. It was almost as familiar just in presence and presentation as the thoughts he conjured up within his mind. Had he his instrument, perhaps he could have convinced himself he was not again here in the depths of the keep between it all.

Surely dawn was coming and with it was the near certainty the enemy disband like the vermin they were. Unless that dragon was to return, Brannor was confident their reign of terror on the night would close. They would likely be fatigued and sure of their victory, as the tides seemed to have largely turned against them throughout it; the most recent endeavor likely having been the true turning point, but what was to come next?

The man had come to Greenest days ago, following a drive he could not explain on a path he did not really understand. He knew now what he believed was correct, that his gift and mantle of the wilder things was a weapon to beat back the things that truly did not belong, but just how was he to do it? His company was not lacking, between a raging lunatic, a scorned priest, a curious elder and a wounded youth. They all had that drive within them to resist, to fight back and follow through, something the paladin needed in the days to follow surely, but just what would they do and be willing to agree to? The orc seemed to live for the thrill of it, the woman now for her faith besmirched, the raven's master for odd secrets, and the halfling out of want to set things right.

Could he convince them to continue? All of them, that was. That this was a battle far from over, one larger than just Greenest? A wicked dragon and its followers assaulting the countryside was no threat to be ignored, as many more souls were at stake, but that it seemed a cult of lesser monsters had formed around the beast.

Perhaps that was the actual "hunt" he found himself prowling in the wake of.

Or perhaps these notions were all a roiling descent into the sleep Brannor had fallen into.

@Hekazu@Ryonara@Lucius Cypher@Gordian Nought@Norschtalen

How can we help improve RPGuild? Community suggestions and discussion.

Which was the root of my suggestion to implement a system to largely take the place of people, @Hank. Yes, it is asking too much and we are unlikely to see any remedy without it. It is a definitive lose-lose situation and why I said I have no other legitimate concerns that could be addressed.

How can we help improve RPGuild? Community suggestions and discussion.

The only way is to have someone considered impartial on the matter, or a section of them to do so, @Buddha. Again, we are all aware that the Staff are few and are only slightly delegates; few are dedicated to particular roles. There would need to be peer review and ensure no cases of personal bias manifest - such as by ensuring review is not initiated by someone with a stake in it or relation to the any of the people who are.

I can make them all I want, but leveraging complaints on Game Master's in my experience tends to be met with the, "Well, we will see if it works out this time, be hopeful." History tells me otherwise that this story ends well for no one.