If you like #Eberron and have always said "What could I do with artifacts from Thelanis," this post is for you. https://t.co/2GGwg5AGy0
— Keith Baker (@HellcowKeith) December 20, 2016
DnD
Disappointed to hear that Yawning Portal wont have a special edition
@mikemearls Disappointed to hear that Yawning Portal wont have a special edition release with a black/silver cover to match my Volo pic.twitter.com/p8cr8pAL1D
— GravyKingpin (@SCRSDnD) January 15, 2017
They can't all be special! Then special would be normal. And we'd invent a new special, which would be new normal, and so on, endless loop. https://t.co/H4RaorykOS
— (((Mike Mearls))) (@mikemearls) January 16, 2017
In other words, we didn't do another special cover because we don't want to send civilization as we know it into ruin. This time. #wotcstaff
— (((Mike Mearls))) (@mikemearls) January 16, 2017
@mikemearls The Realms are in good hands. This time. ;}
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) January 16, 2017
@mikemearls I mean, I kinda understand that but….seriously? You wouldn't release a SE with the classic Tomb of Horror's face on it??
— AcceptablyPsycho (@AccPsycho) January 16, 2017
But is it worth ending civilization? Answer is actually yes. More seriously, we want to make SEs feel special, avoid too many. #wotcstaff https://t.co/7wuA8nENv7
— (((Mike Mearls))) (@mikemearls) January 16, 2017
I’ve been teasing my players…
@ChrisPerkinsDnD I've been teasing my players about the fact that there are no living dragons in my world for a long time, best reveal idea?
— Bodie (@bodieh) December 22, 2016
A humanoid NPC they know and/or admire turns out to be a shapechanged metallic dragon. #WOTCstaff https://t.co/Y5T8CdM43q
— Christopher Perkins (@ChrisPerkinsDnD) December 22, 2016
Player under the effects of Invisibility is on a Broom of Flying. Is the broom invisible?
@Carminis_Vigilplayer under the effects of Invisibility is on a Broom of Flying. Is the broom invisible? What if it’s being held not ridden? i'd say yes if character was holding it when turned invisible #wotcstaff
— (((Mike Mearls))) (@mikemearls) December 31, 2016
A piece of RPG design advice after thinking a lot about the Warcraft movie
I am now going to give a piece of RPG design advice. It came to me after thinking a lot about the Warcraft movie. 1/???
— (((Mike Mearls))) (@mikemearls) January 6, 2017
First, apparently what I do when I am stuck in bed, sick as heck, is think about random movies. A fevered mind leaves no stone unturned.
— (((Mike Mearls))) (@mikemearls) January 6, 2017
Above all else, an RPG needs forward momentum for its player character. It's even better if the opposition has that, too.
— (((Mike Mearls))) (@mikemearls) January 6, 2017
I think of it like this – in absence of active opposition, what does this character do? The answer is that character's forward momentum.
— (((Mike Mearls))) (@mikemearls) January 6, 2017
The answer should always be something that your players want to do. D&D's core design is clever b/c its answer is "gain levels".
— (((Mike Mearls))) (@mikemearls) January 6, 2017
Becoming more powerful and getting more tricks to use is fun. It's a simple, easy, fun answer that solves a mountain of beginner barriers.
— (((Mike Mearls))) (@mikemearls) January 6, 2017
A lot of design stumble because they lack a good answer. It's either vague or not particularly gripping.
— (((Mike Mearls))) (@mikemearls) January 6, 2017
The absolute worst answer is "Do nothing." Player characters must always be agents of change. They must want to do stuff.
— (((Mike Mearls))) (@mikemearls) January 6, 2017
Obviously individual players can opt for that, but I'm talking about at the design level, where you need to provide a good, default answer.
— (((Mike Mearls))) (@mikemearls) January 6, 2017
The old d6 Star Wars game did a good job of this via its templates – they had clear ambitions. You knew what your character wanted.
— (((Mike Mearls))) (@mikemearls) January 6, 2017
So, if you find yourself designing an RPG, always think about what the PCs would do if left to their own devices.
— (((Mike Mearls))) (@mikemearls) January 6, 2017
If the answer is take a nap or sit around doing nothing, think about how your setting or genre assumptions can frame a more active stance.
— (((Mike Mearls))) (@mikemearls) January 6, 2017
And this relates to the Warcraft movie because, fundamentally, the villain is the only one with any ambition in the movie.
— (((Mike Mearls))) (@mikemearls) January 6, 2017
@fectin it's probably the best RPG of the 1980s.
— (((Mike Mearls))) (@mikemearls) January 6, 2017
@mikemearls don't 5e backgrounds help with some of this?
— Dave Clark (@bedirthan) January 6, 2017
Yes! Intent was to help show why you start adventuring. I'm working on <redacted> to bookend the other side of a PC's lifespan. #wotcstaff https://t.co/YRBGTT8UaT
— (((Mike Mearls))) (@mikemearls) January 6, 2017
@mikemearls I’m looking forward to this. “gain levels” is a player’s motive (vs character’s, which is also important)
— 0verwrote (@0verwrote) January 6, 2017
yeah, and I think bridging gap between player and character is a key step in keeping people in RPGs, moving them from beginners to hobbyists https://t.co/7duR0mV0AJ
— (((Mike Mearls))) (@mikemearls) January 6, 2017
Example to follow up my thread – overthrow the evil king is a better RPG set up than stop the evil guy from becoming king.
— (((Mike Mearls))) (@mikemearls) January 6, 2017
First one gives players ownership of destiny, makes them change agents. Second one preserves status quo.
— (((Mike Mearls))) (@mikemearls) January 6, 2017
@mikemearls I ask the players to define: who they were (background/race) what they do (class) and what their legacy could be…
— josh @ bonfire (@joshmosq) January 6, 2017
I love the legacy question! That's a great, relatable way to approach character creation. https://t.co/dFGT8YRrqa
— (((Mike Mearls))) (@mikemearls) January 6, 2017
@Lord_Sicariousthe problem is the way it does that – left to their own devices, players are encouraged to seek out fights, not knowledge. yeah, and interesting that when i asked a few months ago, most DMs did not use XP, instead story awards #wotcstaff
— (((Mike Mearls))) (@mikemearls) January 7, 2017
@ravenheisenbergWithout leadership, the giants will eventually be hunted down and driven to extinction. So killing the king could end giants. cool! Very epic.
— (((Mike Mearls))) (@mikemearls) January 7, 2017
Potion of Giant Size your damage dice are tripled, does that include sneakattack?
@ChrisPerkinsDnD Playing SKT; for the Potion of Giant Size your damage dice from an enlarged when are tripled,does that include sneakattack?
— Mike Doyle (@Smokeontheraze) January 8, 2017
No. Just the weapon's damage dice are tripled. #WOTCstaff https://t.co/9vPJYqBVjQ
— Christopher Perkins (@ChrisPerkinsDnD) January 8, 2017
Wizkids Mind Flayer Trophy Plaque
@wizkidsgames unveils new #DnD trophy sculpture! Mind Flayer Trophy Plaquehttps://t.co/QnmOHJNZXd pic.twitter.com/a3HNtvNppy
— Zoltar Sage Advice (@SageAdviceDnD) February 2, 2017
Any pro-tips for making my NPCs more life like?
@ChrisPerkinsDnD any pro-tips for making my NPCs more life like? I feel like I'm getting better with story characters, but battle is a bore.
— R (@_axin) January 13, 2017
NPCs can feel more "real" when things aren't going their way, or when you show them dealing with failure (either well or badly). #WOTCstaff https://t.co/OzIyyfdIGh
— Christopher Perkins (@ChrisPerkinsDnD) January 13, 2017