tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post1835162045493195159..comments2024-03-29T00:32:33.920-04:00Comments on GROGNARDIA: Thank You for Your Concern but ...James Maliszewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-88774549191848643422010-10-02T15:01:23.352-04:002010-10-02T15:01:23.352-04:00I don;t know about everyone else, but in my case i...<i>I don;t know about everyone else, but in my case it's because it's statistically inevitable that someone will take what I'm saying too seriously and pop up and start offering well-meaning but unsolicited and useless advice on how to run my game better.</i><br /><br>As it stands, most anything I post here is taken too seriously by at least a few people, but you're correct nonetheless: posting about my "inner life" as a referee is a good way to generate some of my odder comments.James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-67033052466310488952010-10-01T06:36:48.408-04:002010-10-01T06:36:48.408-04:00I totally get the point of this post. I've ju...I totally get the point of this post. I've just finished a 6 year D&D 3.X campaign and there were definiately individual sessions which had down points, for a variety of reasons, but that doesn't change my perception of the campaign as a whole. As others say, sometimes the dud sessions for me weren't the same for players too, so when I'm dissapointed or bored I sometimes get confused replies from my players who had loads of fun. :-)<br /><br />Any long-running campaign will have slow patches or sessions that don't work, but that doesn't always make the campaign a failure. I mean, not every episode of your favourite TV show is the best episode and there's almost always one or two episodes you think are rubbish but that doesn't change that it's your favourite TV show. While GMs obviously want to make each game session an enjoyable experience, we all know that every so often it'll fumble and you just need to ride it out and hope next week works out better.<br /><br />You mention that part of your problems are that you're on a sci-fi bent and Dwimmermount is no longer where your primary brain-space is running. In my campaign, we played D&D about 9 or 10 months of the year then paused the game for a break period - part one-offs/short campaign to try out other systems, part just meeting up for meals or board games. It sounds like your group has rejected the need for that, though, and are quite happy to keep on trucking - no small feat after two years of play, so go you! :-)<br /><br />George QAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-27257819708999340262010-09-29T17:05:30.896-04:002010-09-29T17:05:30.896-04:00Only the mediocre are always at their best.Only the mediocre are always at their best.Knightskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08397391662639446678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-38868769530282540562010-09-29T16:57:20.529-04:002010-09-29T16:57:20.529-04:00I've noticed that I (and you, and Jeff Gameblo...I've noticed that I (and you, and Jeff Gameblog and a few other bloggers with lots of followers) tend to talk less about personal discomforts at the table than we used to.<br /><br />I don;t know about everyone else, but in my case it's because it's statistically inevitable that someone will take what I'm saying too seriously and pop up and start offering well-meaning but unsolicited and useless advice on how to run my game better.Zak Sabbathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08812410680077034917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-60073747949710755592010-09-29T16:52:43.030-04:002010-09-29T16:52:43.030-04:00Aos makes a good point. I've run a few sessio...Aos makes a good point. I've run a few sessions where I felt I was just 'phoning it in' but the players ended up loving it. I"m sure some of the player have had off nights as well but as DM we may notice it more as we attempt to run the sessions.<br /><br />We've had our ebs and flows within the campaign but everyone keeps coming back for more and the sessions, after a low energy one, are usually quite upbeat. I think it's the nature of the beast.bliss_infintehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12433733609487959653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-55603990096199881762010-09-29T14:50:22.944-04:002010-09-29T14:50:22.944-04:00For my group we had many more dud sessions when we...For my group we had many more dud sessions when we were younger and had more spare time surprisingly. Now, after 25 years of D&D together, we seem to have down pretty well what works and what doesn't for us. Maybe this is a result of our age and experience but personally I chalk it up to the changes in the game itself. To each his own though.<br /><br />I didn't realize your group has only been gaming together for 10 years. Hopefully you will get 10 more out of them at least. Good gaming to you and yours!cibethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16815626047653230637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-62283643905638726342010-09-29T14:17:52.605-04:002010-09-29T14:17:52.605-04:00There's really no way to look at someone comin...There's really no way to look at someone coming to an old-school blog with the advice to drop everything and play Paizo Adventure Paths as anything other than an explosive and fragrant threadcrap. It's equivalent to going to a vintage car forum and advising the regulars to go with a kitted-out Honda CRX. It didn't really even merit a response in the comments.Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00155926145150934199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-56770548783900021112010-09-29T14:11:45.855-04:002010-09-29T14:11:45.855-04:00Well said. Keep it real.Well said. Keep it real.Roger G-Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08594440701279968693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-6395308978190985132010-09-29T13:57:43.948-04:002010-09-29T13:57:43.948-04:00Dylan has a bad night & all the newbie folkies...Dylan has a bad night & all the newbie folkies are tryin to save his soul from that dreadful rock'n'roll. Jaded DM alert! geez<br /><br />The "reality" aspect of James' posts, & how he has come to balance his passion for RPGs w/ the responsibilities of adulthood is the reason I find his blog so interesting & refreshing...<br /><br />It isnt like he is some Henry Darger-esque DM who is dreaming up myriad worlds that will never interact w/ a PC - instead his DM style fits into the reality of his life & how much he can spend on gaming which considers HIS ENJOYMENT as well... I'm sure if he was simply using pre-made adventures his interest would peter out rather quickly...Holmentzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13705085040356135179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-35049243238887278362010-09-29T13:26:09.443-04:002010-09-29T13:26:09.443-04:00Interesting - it's the exact opposite of readi...Interesting - it's the exact opposite of reading about Chatty DM's 4e Gears of Ruin campaign on his blog, where he seemed to want to make every moment a Crowning Moment of Awesome, only to swiftly burn out and crash the campaign.<br /><br />I think there's a lot of truth in what you're saying.Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01173759805310975320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-41827317479820487732010-09-29T13:17:23.077-04:002010-09-29T13:17:23.077-04:00Ditto what Robin said. :)Ditto what Robin said. :)Deltahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00705402326320853684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-61740068268447972512010-09-29T12:00:24.690-04:002010-09-29T12:00:24.690-04:00Dynamic range is not only natural, it's a must...Dynamic range is not only natural, it's a must. People who feel that "firing on all cylinders for every minute of every session" are going to burn out. They'll argue against me, I know. But I've seen it too many times, with (honestly) no exceptions. Then again, sometimes life just rolls you a low Wis, and there you are.<br /><br />With no valleys, all the peaks just turn into a new, albeit exaggerated, baseline.<br /><br />As a side note, the enthusiasm and inherent fun of your current campaign come through in spades James. I envy your players :)migellitohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17106614212764056058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-56676337213446086222010-09-29T11:59:47.612-04:002010-09-29T11:59:47.612-04:00JM: I won't remember that I was tired and unfo...JM: <i>I won't remember that I was tired and unfocused in Session 52</i><br /><br />Hehe. You wouldn't have, but I bet you will now.Christina Leahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05129618630890394036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-12553644991307269822010-09-29T11:51:52.241-04:002010-09-29T11:51:52.241-04:00One other thing I've noticed is that a session...One other thing I've noticed is that a session that's a dud for the referee may be really awesome for the players. We got bogged down in an endless combat on Sunday night and whereas I found it to be grueling and unfun, my players loved it.Aoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00145284080419502886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-88574747471743373812010-09-29T11:43:40.805-04:002010-09-29T11:43:40.805-04:00In my experience, long campaigns also have plenty ...In my experience, long campaigns also have plenty of different themes or types of sessions. Some sessions (or series of sessions) have more action and combat. Some sessions focus more on the interpersonal relationships of the player characters. Some on their relation to the world around them. One player shines in one sessions while the others stay in the background; then the next session its a different character that is the focus of attention.<br /><br />In short, variety in sessions is good too.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12508594597349248576noreply@blogger.com