Early 1980’s, Bob Duval’s players were ruthless. Following a few encounters with Orc bands, Billy’s character would sneak back to the scene, behead the dead orcs and write in their blood on their foreheads, the party member name, Kilkenny. The player who was Kilkenny had know idea. So when they encountered another group of orcs they decided to parlay with them. When the orcs heard the name Kilkenny they became enraged and fought with a ravenous fury. Then more and more larger groups of orcs were hunting down Kilkenny. All because one character decided to give him a reputation as a mighty orc slayer.
We all love it when a player creates a character with personality and panache, but the group can suffer if their style is "in your face" to the NPC's. Though I think if I were Kilkenny the first thing I would do is hunt down Billy!
This is indeed a thing that I sometimes forget, but it's always to important not to railroad your players, unless if that's what they want (few do from my experience). Also i'm so gonna steal that idea with the mercenaries having spikes on theirself, not because of their armor, but foreshadowing a larger threat!
@@raff3486 I think railroad has been overused to also throw out the linear dungeon or adventure. Sometimes we just need a good tight path with goals, guideposts, benchmarks and an end point or conclusion.
Yes, it makes sense for the World & Encounters to be affected by the Players. HOWEVER, it's also important to warn the Players that they have an affect & if that affect means an encounter could be more difficult. Without that warning they could end up facing something that they aren't properly prepared for, which I consider very rude & mean.
I get it, and believe me, my players realize early on that there are consequences in the world for their actions. And I also give some clues when they are heading into a particularily deadly consequence!
Thing is, we as players .. Know .. it is a game. Yet there is historic records of people doing Really dumb or stupid things. At the time, some called it courage under fire, under arrow fire. Such as sprint in front of battle formation lines tempting being shot at just for swagger stylize jog you see in football or soccer. Or come across bandits, out number or not and instead of fighting the PC start up a dice gambling game, gossip, and trade tall tales.
@@DDHomebrew WEG west end games d6 dice pool RPG system Star Wars, .. Whitewolf/World of Darkness(WoD) Vampire, etc .. Combat is short, quick, brutal, lethal, and a lucky gunshot can kill a PC in one hit. .. Talking .. is always a better option. Other than cracking a book on Scotland highlander feuds. WoD Vampire: Dark Ages had a source book on medieval bandits/ outlaws. In short, cattle/herd raiders nearly always lived a couple of days on foot through dense woodland from their birth village and other family members. Forest of werewolves was just a made-up ghost story excuse for the locals to rob trade wagon trains going through their neck of the woods. Also .. hobgoblin .. was an English slur for the Welsh. Another note, highway men where local .. rangers .. that the local barons called on to deal with invading French/Germans trying to cut through South England forests. Coming into a village with bandit gear, someone that knows those bandits might start to ask .. questions .. on where they got that gear from.
From Basic one had the reaction and morale tables that led me to further nuiance those to motivations for NPCs. One could easily begin to layer player actions into those. Weaving PC and NPC stories together. Obvious tropes are "You killed my ...." but I think PCs should gain fame or infamy, allies and enemies. I prefer to trigger biggers plots and forces after something the PCs do. Then it moves in reaction to them even if they are unaware as they are seen as a threat or ally to be groomed.
As you probably know, my "theory" of D&D (sneer marks for prentiousness) is that the players drive the action as both protagonists (of the over-all story) and antagonists (of the NPC's) and the viewers and creators! That's why I referred to it as a mobius strip in the video. And as you say, sometimes the events they trigger are not at first obvious to the players.
Good Job! A living world, who woulda thought? Have the Wild Folk or their allies put a bounty on the players yet? It could get uncomfortable for the party if they have to look over their shoulders whenever they are in town.
Early 1980’s, Bob Duval’s players were ruthless. Following a few encounters with Orc bands, Billy’s character would sneak back to the scene, behead the dead orcs and write in their blood on their foreheads, the party member name, Kilkenny. The player who was Kilkenny had know idea. So when they encountered another group of orcs they decided to parlay with them. When the orcs heard the name Kilkenny they became enraged and fought with a ravenous fury. Then more and more larger groups of orcs were hunting down Kilkenny. All because one character decided to give him a reputation as a mighty orc slayer.
We all love it when a player creates a character with personality and panache, but the group can suffer if their style is "in your face" to the NPC's. Though I think if I were Kilkenny the first thing I would do is hunt down Billy!
This is indeed a thing that I sometimes forget, but it's always to important not to railroad your players, unless if that's what they want (few do from my experience). Also i'm so gonna steal that idea with the mercenaries having spikes on theirself, not because of their armor, but foreshadowing a larger threat!
Great! Love to hear how it works out.
@@raff3486 I think railroad has been overused to also throw out the linear dungeon or adventure. Sometimes we just need a good tight path with goals, guideposts, benchmarks and an end point or conclusion.
@@michaelwest4325well said
Yes, it makes sense for the World & Encounters to be affected by the Players. HOWEVER, it's also important to warn the Players that they have an affect & if that affect means an encounter could be more difficult.
Without that warning they could end up facing something that they aren't properly prepared for, which I consider very rude & mean.
I get it, and believe me, my players realize early on that there are consequences in the world for their actions. And I also give some clues when they are heading into a particularily deadly consequence!
@@DDHomebrew That's good & proper then. Great video like usual.
@@morrigankasa570 But a very good note from you that I should have made more clear. Thanks!
Awesome introduction to a Manticore.
Thanks! The group enjoyed it. Heh heh.
Thing is, we as players .. Know .. it is a game.
Yet there is historic records of people doing Really dumb or stupid things.
At the time, some called it courage under fire, under arrow fire.
Such as sprint in front of battle formation lines tempting being shot at just for swagger stylize jog you see in football or soccer.
Or come across bandits, out number or not and instead of fighting the PC start up a dice gambling game, gossip, and trade tall tales.
Great ideas here: the notion of trading gossip with bandits is something I will use.
@@DDHomebrew WEG west end games d6 dice pool RPG system Star Wars, ..
Whitewolf/World of Darkness(WoD) Vampire, etc ..
Combat is short, quick, brutal, lethal, and a lucky gunshot can kill a PC in one hit.
.. Talking .. is always a better option.
Other than cracking a book on Scotland highlander feuds.
WoD Vampire: Dark Ages had a source book on medieval bandits/ outlaws.
In short, cattle/herd raiders nearly always lived a couple of days on foot through dense woodland from their birth village and other family members.
Forest of werewolves was just a made-up ghost story excuse for the locals to rob trade wagon trains going through their neck of the woods. Also .. hobgoblin .. was an English slur for the Welsh.
Another note, highway men where local .. rangers .. that the local barons called on to deal with invading French/Germans trying to cut through South England forests.
Coming into a village with bandit gear, someone that knows those bandits might start to ask .. questions .. on where they got that gear from.
From Basic one had the reaction and morale tables that led me to further nuiance those to motivations for NPCs. One could easily begin to layer player actions into those. Weaving PC and NPC stories together. Obvious tropes are "You killed my ...." but I think PCs should gain fame or infamy, allies and enemies. I prefer to trigger biggers plots and forces after something the PCs do. Then it moves in reaction to them even if they are unaware as they are seen as a threat or ally to be groomed.
As you probably know, my "theory" of D&D (sneer marks for prentiousness) is that the players drive the action as both protagonists (of the over-all story) and antagonists (of the NPC's) and the viewers and creators! That's why I referred to it as a mobius strip in the video. And as you say, sometimes the events they trigger are not at first obvious to the players.
@@DDHomebrew and the GM gives them things to bump up against and paths to choose! I like the notion that the GM is a player too.
@@michaelwest4325 I'm reacting to what the players do, which makes me part of the game as well.
do you stream your game live? is on Twitch or here?
Nope. Maybe someday.
I lvoe this one!
Thanks!
Good Job! A living world, who woulda thought? Have the Wild Folk or their allies put a bounty on the players yet? It could get uncomfortable for the party if they have to look over their shoulders whenever they are in town.
I can't make any predictions, since my players watch this channel. But we shall see. 😎
@@DDHomebrew Wink and a Nod, say no more.
@@Marcus-ki1en He asked him knowingly. Nudge nudge!