A flavor question is nothing more than asking the players indirectly to contribute something to your campaign. A good flavor question should allow a player to come up with a creative and sometimes surprising answer. I feel the best way to explain would be through example.

During a battle one of your players sustains an injury to their leg, a simple flavor question would be “That monster really put a deep gash in your leg, do you think you will develop a limp?” On the surface this question seems plain but underneath it can have many implications. For one it gives your player a chance to develop his personality and appearance beyond his initial concept at creation. It also allows the other players a chance to role-play and further develop relationships with the character.

Let us explore another example. When players design their backgrounds and personalities you should ask for a copy. Many times it will be up to you to find way to introduce this information to the other players. If you plan it right the effect can be wondrous. Let us say one player mentions in his background that he often spent time with his friends cutting the purses of wealthy citizens in the market. A good flavor question might be: “What nickname did your friends give you in your childhood”. This gives the player an opportunity to perhaps explain that part of his background and come up with a funny or amusing nickname, the other players might also jump in at the opportunity to create a nickname.

Asking players to name their objects such as swords and shields can be good flavor questions. Again it allows the player to further develop their personalities and can have an exponential effect on role-playing opportunities.

Say the players are arriving at a new town, or perhaps even a home town of one of the players. Ask the flavor question “You arrive at your home town of XXX for the first time in many years. Your uncle owns one of the local taverns; do you recall its name?” This allows the players to directly participate in the construction of the very world they wander. That tavern will become much more than any other tavern they visit and will feel more like their own.

I could really go on and on with the idea but I think you get the idea. Sit for a moment a think of some flavor questions you could ask your players and then share them in the comments below. Till next time, here’s hoping your games are full of fun!

Every detail of the massive muscles that moved beneath the sleek raven black coat of fur covering the beast could be seen by all. A sense of pure hatred emanating forth from behind the stare of the beast’s amber eyes as it focused its gaze upon Traben would reduce all but the most courageous of men to tears. The creature lowered itself low to the ground, perfectly balanced on six paws the size of a giants hand, each bearing talon like claws the length of a dagger. Much like its tail gracefully swaying back and forth, dual barbed tentacles protruded from the feline’s shoulders both as powerful and agile as the legs supporting its tremendous weight.

The trumpets once again pierced the silence as the orator gave signal for the match to begin. The chains of the beast dropped limp to the ground as the collar secured around its neck snapped open freeing the beast at last. Raising his shield and readying attack, Traben took stance moving about as slow and precise as the beast that now stalked him. Calculating each other’s first move, man and beast moved in circular unity waiting for the perfect opportunity to lay blow.

Now directly in front of Traben the beast extended its claws deeply penetrating the sand of the arena. Its powerful muscles tensing for but a spilt second as it sprang with an unnatural speed directly towards Traben, claws fully extended. Simultaneously shifting the weight of his left leg backwards, Traben quickly turned to his left exposing his sword arm to the beast now bearing down upon him. Using the momentum of the turn to further power the blow of his sword Traben turned his motion into a fluid strike, arcing upwards apparently attacking nothing but air in front of him. Just as the beast was about to deliver the deadly blow to Traben’s flank it disappeared from its place reappearing directly in the path of Traben’s sword. Pulling the edge of his sword cleanly across the beasts front legs and shoulder, Traben opened a terrible gash narrowly dodging the beasts own attack.

The crowd erupted in to cheer as the beast fell to the ground. It lay for but a moment before quickly finding its feet and its opponent once again. Backing away ever slowly the beast roared in anger at the sting of the blow. Seeing opportunity in its moment of weakness, Traben pressed with further attack. With a running start he leaped into the air, sword raised high as he came down with a mighty swing, yet his sword found nothing but the sand. The beast had once again displaced itself, this time to his right flank. With lightning speed it countered, the barbs of its tentacle driving deep into the flesh of Traben’s back. Traben released a terrible cry of agony falling slightly backwards from the power of the blow. Pressing forward, the beast lunged down and then thrust himself upwards ripping the barbs along with flesh from Traben’s back sending him spiraling through the air.

Finding himself on his back, Traben instinctively brought his shield up to bear as the beast pounced to ravage its downed foe. Massive claws savagely battering his shield as he felt tremendous weight bearing down upon him. The monster’s wicked tentacle, low to the ground, swiped horizontally underneath the shields protection, its barbs sinking deep into Traben’s left shoulder once again sending pain coruscating throughout his body. Easily sinking its teeth into the edge of the shield the beast forcefully thrust its tentacle in the opposite direction sending Traven tumbling across the surface of the arena depraved of his shield. To the cheers of the crowd Traben once again found his feet as the monster before him with a powerful swing of its head sent his shield flying across the arena.

Blood now oozing from Traben’s wounds, glistened in the sun off his chiseled features like fresh red paint. It flowed down his left arm meeting his hand where heavy drops accumulated only to fall in great quantity towards the sand. The displacer beast had now wandered some distance from Traben, pacing back and forth like the great cat it was, keeping its ever watchful eyes alert for its opponents next move.

The blast of many trumpets deafened the roar of the arena as the orator rose to give introduction of the coming games to the crowd.

“Good citizens of Woodhaven, I stand before you today humbled and honored to give introduction to a spectacle unlike any you have ever laid eyes upon. You shall bear witness to history in the making, and who other than the mighty Traben, the undefeated champion of countless victories, the hand of The Raven Queen herself to give it to you?”, the orator enthusiastically pronounced, arms elevated upwards towards the sky as the crowd roared to life chanting Traben’s name.

“Surly you expected the fierce Traben to stand before you, an obvious choice indeed, but what opponent could dare lay claim to give equal match to such a titan? I fear no man could hold deed to such a claim and all who have dared before lay fallen beneath the weight of his blade. No, his challenger shall not be of common flesh but a beast born of the world of nightmares, few ever having laid eyes upon one and fewer yet to have lived to speak of it. I present to you the challenger”, continued the orator as his hand eloquently motioned the eyes of the crowd to survey the arrival.

The platform beneath the arena stirred to life with the sound of great iron gears, shaking the ground beneath Traben’s feet as it slowly began its rise to the surface. An eerie silence fell over the crowd as hushed whispers of speculation began to circulate in anticipation.

“Grant me victory or grant me death, but bring me honor in all I do. Avandra guide my blade and I will always see it wielded to your cause”, Traben silently prayed as he tightened the strap of his shield.

Coming to rest at the surface of the arena’s floor the platform abruptly stopped the absent sound of gears only to be replaced by the gasps of the crowd as they laid their eyes upon the beast before them.

As of late I have been working on increasing my at-will roleplaying vocabulary an inspiration derived from my enjoyment of the TV show Spartacus. After watching both seasons of that marvelous show I found myself awed by the manner in which the characters used vocabulary to spice up plain sentences and immediately saw the benefit of using such language at the table thus improving my roleplay.

I sat there with pen and paper writing down some of the phrases they used, always pausing and rewinding to make sure I wrote it down correctly. With a little bit of memorization and practice I now feel I can bring many flavorful dialogues to the table that give my character and NPCs a distinct feel. Allow me to indulge you with a few phrases I have thus plagiarized into my roleplay:

• Would you have me bake in the sun or offer price?
• If you were lost my reason for breath would surely follow.
• Pride, always part of your considerable attraction.
• I pray fortune swiftly returns to your favor.
• Strike with your mind as well as your sword.
• Your tongue moves too freely in your mouth, secure it or see it join that useless leg of yours.
• Apologies, a questions born of good will I assure you.
• Rise dog, more death awaits!
• You think only with your sword and your shield.
• A welcome thought, one that keeps me from the afterlife.
• Your offer is well received, even in the turning away of it.
• If money is owed then it will be paid in due course.
• He sends insult, I will not see it rewarded with swift coin.
• You struck the wiser bargain.
• Even the walking dead eventually return to the grave.
• You have fought well friend, the Gods reward you.
• The agents have already been dispatched to the underworld, the hand behind them yet undiscovered.
• You saved my life, Gods or not, a debt demands repayment.
• The rational course would be to end your life before it further infects mine.
• You do us honor with your presence.
• I fear no amount will save them from the shadows grasp.
• He is the shadow that precedes death.
• I have given thought to your problem and arrived at solution.
• Perhaps such a travesty could be adverted.
• Only the Gods divine the future.
• You are an honorable man and will forever bear my gratitude.
• We are the toast of the city, let us give pause and enjoy it.
• You misunderstand intentions.
• That's your plan? I feel it malformed.
• You have not considered many things, take pause I beg you.
• I've done what I can; his life rests in the hands of the Gods.
• Come, let us negotiate a deal.
• If you have knowledge bring it to light.
• When a man is pressed lies flow with greater ease.
• Straighten your tongue and speak plainly.
• Loyalty can become a crushing weight if not braced with proper support.
• Death comes to us all.
• Ahh, the snake arrives walking as if man.
• Your cunning is sharper than any sword.
• I yet have business to attend and words in search of receptive ears.
• You have picked by bones clean, speak before I reclaim the meat.
• Honey drips from her lips like poison attacking the mind.
• Pull head from ass and use it for once.
• The truth will only unfold if your jaws split and your tongue unfolds in song.
• My hand ever steady to guide your resolve.
• The ego bruises deeper than the flesh.
• Do not press me again with accusation.
• You taunt an injured snake, one that may yet turn and strike.
• A Syrian could swindle the scales from a snake but could never command a charge.
• It is never an easy thing to see friend once loved now absent breath.
• He is but a man and all men fall beneath the heel of their hubris.
• A heavy heart weighs a man's sword.
• Your hand is weighted now float your tongue.
• My mind is taken with other thoughts.
• There is no meaning to glory without your eyes to see it.
• All men fall it is only time and method that defer.
• I fear your resolve grows soft.

I feel this is a great start to increasing my roleplaying vocabulary and I will continue to look for other sources in entertainment to draw from. With time and practice I'm convinced my characters and NPCs will surely be ones to be remember for some time. Till next time!

Virtual Table Top gaming is not a new idea by any means, dozens of such programs already exist, many of them very powerful and effective, not to mention absolutely free. So why even bother with the official VTT when you could simply download your free copy of Map Tools and begin gaming? Well the answer to that question depends entirely on what WoTC plans to do with their VTT and the design decisions they have made while developing the program.

In my opinion (and I have many) the primary objective of the VTT should be first and foremost the attraction of brand new or returning players to the wonderful world of D&D. The very idea of the VTT should strongly appeal to the new or returning player in such a way that it provides them an opportunity to try the game when they otherwise would have passed. This is a win/win scenario for both WoTC and the game itself, WoTC gains new interest in their products while the game benefits from an influx of fresh players and DM’s. Suddenly it is not so difficult to find a solid game or two to play on your schedule (not matter how erratic it may be); you simply open the VTT, browse the games, and then join and play.

With the primary purpose of the VTT being the attraction of new players it must be designed in such a way as to be as painless, simple, and user friendly as possible. New players have a tendency to be overwhelmed by the many rules in the game already (a problem that has seen some relief with the introduction of 4E and essentials) the last thing the VTT should do is add to the learning curve of the game. A true masterpiece would be a VTT that actually makes learning the game simpler and smoother. The VTT must be as simple as clicking start and then playing, a task not so easily accomplished with third party VTT clients especially for those who are not very tech savvy.

Many third party clients offer an impressive amount of customization options and really bring more to the table than the official VTT in terms of customization and options. But when it comes to new players or less experienced players the old adage “less is more” holds true.

The second focus of the VTT should be to emulate the actual experience of a real “sitting around the table” pen and paper game as much as possible. Many third party VTTs fail in this aspect, while the game might actually see improvements (in the eyes of experienced players) by doing such things as vision blocking and automation, these improvements do not emulate a real sit down game where vision blocking is something that is nearly impossible to do and adding in your head is the only form of automation. By including too many unnecessary features you start adding more complexity to the game than necessary and start detracting from the authenticity and feel of what a real sit down game feels like.

The third key element of the VTT ties in with what I feel the primary purpose of the VTT should be (attracting new players) and that is pricing. To be effective the VTT needs to be absolutely free to use for players. The VTT should not be viewed as a product to be sold but rather a marketing device designed to attract new players into the game where the idea is they will enjoy it enough to start purchasing other products and services. Sure, perhaps you could have a premium version of the VTT that adds some non-essential features such as integration with the character builder & compendium into the mix but the free version should be 100% functional, playable, and fun for everyone with the premium version adding only minor fluff.

I await the arrival of the DDI subscribers BETA so I can finally try the software out for myself, until then I remain optimistic of the possibilities. So tell me, what are your hopes for the VTT?