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We blog to attract other English-speaking expatriates living in Warsaw to our group. The idea is that we are the best advertisement for ourselves. We are not recruiting “professional” RPG gamers here. We have advertisements on other websites specifically targeted to gamers around the Interwebs to do that for us. The goal here is to give foreigners living in Warsaw, many of whom have never played RPGs, a general sense of how much fun our social group is and what we are all about.

Not everyone will be attracted to this activity and you should not feel any shame if this describes you. You are welcome to keep reading and enjoying whatever develops from this experiment, even commenting. Comments are moderated because I can no longer assist the relocation of family fortunes or can I spare any more Tupperware to store the many generous offers of Viagra and Rolex watches I receive on an hourly basis. If you are not here to sell Viagra or smuggle out foreign currency then, really, why should you be ashamed to be here?

All the bloggers here are real people who play together and for many this is their first experience playing a tabletop Role-Playing Game (RPG). The advice of noob players, moreso than the advice of “professionals,” may be more accessible to anyone looking at the hobby for the first time. But I like hanging out with new players so your mileage may vary.

Explore our weblog and welcome. I expect the dual stories told here, the players’ stories interwoven into their characters’ stories, will provide you with some of the amusement and insight we share together regardless whether or not you play RPGs. To borrow the old phrase, we are all strangers in a strange land here.

D&D Group Warsaw - Class of 2010 photo

NPC – BARON RUDHON GLADHOR

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This is where I will write about this NPC from Malm. Just some basic things.

For now, happy if it just publishes. Watch this space when I get regular Internet access after 17 April

CONDUCTING THE GAME

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CONDUCTING THE GAME

Handling Troublesome Players

AD&D 1e DMG pg. 110 

The Dungeon Master's Guide for Advanced Dungeons and Dragons (c) 1979

Advanced Advice From Gary Gygax

“Some players will find more enjoyment in spoiling a game than in playing it, and this ruins the fun for the rest of the participants, so it must be prevented. Those who enjoy being loud and argumentative, those who pout or act in a childish manner when things go against them, those who use the books as a defense when you rule them out of line should be excluded from the campaign. Simple put, ask them to leave, or do not invite them to participate again.  

“Peer pressure is another means which can be used to control players who are not totally obnoxious and who you deem worth saving. These types typically attempt to give orders and instructions even when their characters are not present, tell other characters what to do even though the character role they have has nothing to do with that of the one being instructed, or continually attempt actions or activities their characters would have no knowledge of. When any such proposals or suggestions or orders are made, simply inform the group that that is no longer possible under any circumstances because of the player in question. The group will then act to silence him or her and control undesirable outbursts. The other players will most certainly let such individuals know about undesirable activity when it begins to affect their characters and their enjoyment of the game. 

“Strong steps short of expulsion can be an extra random monster die, obviously rolled, the attack of an ethereal mummy (which always strikes with surprise, naturally), points of damage from “blue bolts from the heavens” striking the offender’s head, or the permanent loss of a point of charisma (appropriately) from the character belonging to the offender. If these have to be enacted regularly, then they are not effective and stronger measures must be taken. Again, the ultimate answer to such a problem is simply to exclude the disruptive person from further gatherings.“ 

This sounds really strong. It sounds to me like the DM has invited (only) those people who enjoy being abused at the game table. It makes the personality of the DM seem to have serious power issues. It sounds… sick. 

Of course, the context is that this section was written after 109 pages of rules with a few, buried, schizophrenic comments recalling it’s your game and don’t let the rules overwhelm everyone’s enjoyment. I think Gary Gygax decided to hyper-emphasize his designer’s opinion that the game is not “the system” but a collaborative activity with those 320 words on page 110. Since they are equally a part of the “official rules,” it occurs to me these words exist to support a strategy of over-ruling a troublesome rules lawyer with “the rules.” Such a reading of this section in a book the author deems “the exclusive precinct of the DM” not only counter balances enslaving the DM to rules as written but also emphasizes the original intention of the game by failing to recognize the player-player character wall – as noted on page 8 of the DMG. 

If the most challenging monster in the game was at the table, the rules grant the DM chairman status to carry a stick. Or “blue bolts from the heavens.” 

Such were the nascent days of the RPGs hobby I experienced when the most egregious sin of a player against the game was cheating dice rolls; and players taking delight in fighting each other and/or breaking the system and, with it, the DM were not the typical reason to play. Those innocent days of simple fun have irrecoverably changed as more rules got published. Perhaps Gygax wrote too many rules by including this Rule 0 into the “official rules” since fighting fire with fire seems to have brought a ring of heated exchange around some tabletops. 

Nevertheless, the words of Gygax still ring true to common sense. Whether the player is DM or player character, always remember to “give a ‘monster’ an even break.” After all, whatever applies to the players in those 320 words above almost certainly can apply to a DM sitting at an empty table too.

See also:

http://morrisonmp.wordpress.com/2012/02/05/rules-do-not-protect-players-from-bad-dms/

Dylan’s diary. Malm, 9/10.. year 1

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When we woke up to have breakfast Aurick, Dusty and Alex told us they had to go to visit Dusty’s family.. I don’t believe that, I know they are just scared by the dangers of our adventures and intimidated by my sharp skills.

They took their cash and equipment, and even that dammned pocket watch. Cheap Klavisyes [half elfish term] ! at least I convinced them to leave the map to us, we should forget about them.

Foldur, Best Friend and me decided to have breakfast and discussed what to do next. We decided to go look for that leather armor Foldur so much wants, and also my so expensive silver arrow. Just when we got out we met 2 characters: an unusually tall elf, wandering around with a fishing pole; and one other elf dressed so shiningly as a cleric. He was carrying some religious banner.

We bumped ino them and discovered that the cleric (Garen) was sent by his god Frey to talk to Malm’s Lord.. I just couldn’t resist such ridiculous quest and offered him to help him. The tall elf went away and we accompanied Garen to the mayor’s house to see if we could get an audience.

He wasn’t there. But my great perceptive skills allowed me to identify a secret door on the tree that serves as wall for this bad-tasted elven house. I asked Best friend to inspect it: he then tried to pick the lock without searching for traps first. Luckily there was none and as we opened we discovered a ladder going up the tree.. and the mayor cautiosly waiting for our actions. He got in a conversation in elven language with our new friend the cleric.

The mayor said he will grant Garen an audience with these land’s lords if he helps us (me) clean up the castle from goblins. “Finally !” I thought, we went for the tall elf , our armor, my silver arrow and headed to the castle around 12:00 pm

We got in there, trhough the standing tower to the right. This outpost served as a keep and our new tall friend suspected a secret exit (for us, entrance) being there. We did find it and managed to open it. We then found a second door and as we opened it (with great effort) 12 goblins awaited there and inmediately attacked us!

The battle

“To arms I!” – I ordered my bodyguards. My loyal servants: Foldur, The tall, Garen and Best Friend quickly drew weapons and proceeded to battle. The fishing pole this elf had happened to be a disguised longbow!

There were 2 goblins unprepared for battle at ground level and 10 others on platforms armed with crossbows.

I got hit and had to take a healing potion, the tall one also got hurt.

Foldur, towering us all, used his shield and protected garen while he casted a deadly burning hands spell at one of the platforms; best friend rushed to another of the platforms. Inspired by my great call to arms the tall hit the goblins and so did the cleric with his spell. As the 2 goblins at ground level rushed towards us Foldur sliced through them violently one by one.. I swear I never saw creatures being cut so symetrically in so little time. In the meantime the tall one and I shot down two more goblins, two more were burned to death by the cleric.

We also got hit and healing was needed from the cleric. After that, the cleric revealed that the ugly banner he carried everywhere was a magical short/long spear which switched its length as he verbally commanded it with ridiculous words. This guy.. follows a rather odd religion..

Afterwards there was a moment of peace in battle as the 4 goblins in the farther platforms disappeared from sight. Foldur rushed to check were they were but they have had decided to charge at us from other direction! The engagement seemed a bit dire as they attacked the elf and me while Best friend was in one of the platform and the cleric was not in the way. The elf then casted ray of frost to one of the goblins while the cleric and I were defending.. it seemed as if we were going to take more unnecesary damage.

Three of those feeble beasts had surrounded the elf, but it was Foldur who suddenly appeared rushing into battle; crushed the seysasis out of them and again split them in two. The battle ended with a kill count:

  • Me: 1
  • Elf: 2
  • Cleric: 2
  • Foldur: 5
  • Best friend: 0 (but he did throw a crossbow to a frozen goblin.. a practical joke that only I could understand)

End of battle.Foldur saved the day, he’s just too big for these creatures.

But of course the victory is also attributed to my battle insight and great skill. The party gallantly thanked me for this and swore eternal service. While looting we decided to not go further and instead head back to the inn as we were hurt and out of spells; Foldur discovered one trap and I another. “Don’t we have a thief among us? He should check for traps!” I thought to myself.

At the Inn Stride told me that it would be wise to look for an alternative entrance to the place we visited: sappers had dug a tunnel in the siege that took place not long ago..

Stride is.. maybe unconsiouslly becomming my mentor. Even great naturally born rangers like myself have to have one, and after this battle I am confident I can learn and increase my power under Stride’s mentoring.. I feel I have like A THOUSAND reasons to do so. In the other hand I think the rest of the party is not ready for such advancement yet.

We will all collectively pay for my training I say! the talent must be rewarded. Tomorrow me and my personal squadron will go killem all, I will hardly sleep tonight.

Playing CyberPunk Between D&D Games.

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Cyberpunk 2020 is an easy game to play for a small group – even 2 players – unlike a D&D group that falls apart without a minimum quorum. The modern setting of Cyberpunk lends itself well to short games, two to four sessions, rather than the months-long epic of fantasy. And I cannot overemphasize the crucial importance of regular meetings to build a larger group.

Technology + Punk

The Role Playing Game of the Dark Present

Cyberpunk works on a D10 system similar to the D20 of D&D. Roll D10, add skills ability points and add modifiers against a Difficulty Class number, which is an arbitrary number assigned by the DM. The DM is called the Games Master. I would describe the game mechanic as the same pretty girl only wearing a different dress with fewer accessories.

Cyberpunk 2020 was first published in 1990. Same as D&D, it uses a class system and 3D6 to roll Ability Scores, but D10 for all else. The setting is current and follows the thematic Sprawl Trilogy of early Cyberpunk literature originated by William Ford Gibson in his 1984 novel Neuromancer and later encapsulated in the film he wrote, Johnny Mnemonic. The setting is easy to understand because you can read it in today’s headlines: American/European financial collapse, a one world order of corporate feudal lords, the global social unrest, the terrorism and anti-terrorism corporate terror games (read: blood for oil), the technological breakthroughs happening throughout society from Twitter to iPads to personal GPS in mobile phones to space tourism and the conversion of the international space station into a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) hotel offering corporate clients a box at the opera – and the freedom from whatever remains of Terran law for corporations like Monsanto to experiment…

This was fantastic stuff when it was written in the 1980s long before Facebook profiles and cell phones became common among school children in 2012. The conspiracy theories in 1980 were largely restricted to the assassination of JFK, but conspiracies today include the outrageous alien control of the Bilderberg Group to Obama’s birth certificate. The world has globally warmed up to the themes and darker setting of Cyberpunk 2020 as well as the nuttier notions of a Sarah Palin for president.

The Internet can be highly interactive in Cyberpunk 2020, and some technology is a little further advanced than what’s commonly available. There are cars that are electric and some that can fly, but the majority are still powered by internal combustion engines despite the end of oil. The rich or connected can have bionic or cybernetic implant enhancements from the best and trendiest clinics, while “ripper” Docs work to enhance the less affluent from parts stolen off the dead for practice and profit. People still Google for information but hackers steal information using homemade computer decks and modified smart phones to actually enter the Net with their consciousness, giving them the speed they need to hack past advanced security wards but leaving them open to deadly I.C.E.

Where the Haxor of 2020 Lives
Microcosmos in a Microcomputer

For Cyberpunk 2020 hackers, The Internet is a Tron experience akin to the fantasy of D&D.

 

The game has 10 Player Class Types:
1. Rockerboys – the musicians, modeled on punk rockers
2. Solos – the ex-soldier muscle types
3. Netrunners – the hackers
4. Techie – the mechanics
5. Med Tech – the healers
6. Media – the celebrities
7. Cops – the police
8. Corporates – the wage slaves
9. Fixers – the suppliers
10. Nomads – the homeless gypsies who band together in families

It is really just a matter of imagining yourself in one of these 10 roles and wanting to role-play in a modern setting that is very close to the real world. Expect lots of action.

Nestor Quintero plays ranger Dylan

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Here, the message wrote by Nestor:

“I will not write this in third person, and needless to say I do not have an assistant to do this for me.

What I do is look continuously for new things, always wanting to see the beginning and end of each tale. Maybe that is why I have lived in 4 different countries already, [somewhat] speak a few different languages, can program software and even have a session of video games and tennis in the same day. Even my music taste is incoherent and awkward.

However, I am happy in Poland since 2009, with no plans of leaving any time soon and welcoming the snow and gladly spending time with other expats.

This is the first RPG (tabletop) I ever play, being a mestizo I chose to be a half-elf. With my outstanding combination of great skill and with high quality beyond belief dice rolls, Dylan has become the top premium super extra combo hero of the party. Notably, Dylan is the the party’s tracker, bow user, critical decision maker, dragon slayer, tactician, strategist, cook and most importantly: source of inspiration for the rest of the party members.

New players are suggested to follow Dylan’s ways.

This said I think it is clear I’ve enjoyed this experience! ”

Nestor

 

Tips For New Players

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After roleplaying for a while I have encountered several tendencies that prevent players from fully enjoying this experience. Here I list a few tips that will surely ease the new player’s impression of RPG gaming:

  1. No one can say anything wrong in a role-playing game. There is no wrong or right answer or decision – unlike in life. That’s why we call this a game.
  2. Forget feeling fear. You are going to appear foolish at some point in the game. Just accept that this is part of being entertaining and being entertained from play. Relax.
  3. Give yourself permission to laugh and enjoy yourself in the company of the other players.
  4. The game is not a competition. It is a social, shared and collaborative experience.
  5. Ask the DM.
  6. Tell the DM.
  7. Fruit and snacks that can be served in a big communal bowl is the best at table snack.
  8. Be descriptive. Do not rely on jargon. Applying a “Bull Rush Feat” is not the same as running full-tilt at an opponent, hitting him at the hip and taking him 10 feet backward to the floor or off the cliff….

R. A. Whipple: The Dungeon Master

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R. A. was a corporate public relations counselor when he experienced a career change after coming to Poland in 2001, eventually accepting he did not fit to the cutthroat local business model that invested this satellite of Reagan’s “Evil Empire” with rampant nepotism and bagmen. While the artery of his career financially bled him out over 10 years; he provided English-language conversation practice to many companies who sold his service to innumerable unmotivated and unprepared students in every dust-ridden corner of Warsaw where he traveled to many unheated, coffee-less conference rooms filled only by the sound of one hand clapping at 7am. Inevitably insolvent and indentured into declining health, he transitioned to a starving author reasoning he was halfway there anyway. The bitter lesson harkens back to Ronald Reagan’s story of The Little Red Hen: market capitalism disassembled by rampant socialist cultural programming and an unproductive, resource expending hampster wheel. Tear down this wall, in deed.

Welcome To My Greyhawk
The Creative Cowboy

Today R.A. focuses on activities to develop his creativity with the financial blessing of his long-time Polish girlfriend and the social support of his tabletop RPGs players, who inspire and entertain him. He is in a different world now, the World of Greyhawk, and the air is better there.

He plays all the non-player characters and describes the scenario, which the players experience. He especially likes playing with people who have never played RPGs before.

Initial Note About Our D&D Campaign

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The Premise:

Greyhawk, September 517

(We follow our Julian calendar to keep season familiarity.)

1st level adventurers find themselves arriving at Malm, a trade crossroads deep within the dark Elfwood of Celene, the kingdom of the Elven folk. Here they begin to discover secrets that will eventually lead them, in unexpected ways, to the dimly lit corridors of power within the Elven Realm: Alfheim.

The area is dangerous, as many hazards logically cohabit regardless to the whims of a wandering hero. 1st level adventurers need to rely on their wits more than their force in order to live to fight another day.