Luckily, this is the last week of school so I should be able to focus on gaming more. Next week I hope to finish that darn Kobold Hall raid that I started all of those months ago. I also hope to branch out and try some other games. Gamma World has been on my mind ever since its release. And I just can't wait to try out the D&D Virtual Table.

       Overall, I am incredibly excited to be more involved in the gaming community.

*Feel free to tweet me @ravenclawrebel*

          Because I have used Kobold Hall in the past, I feel very comfortable using it again. I am really excited to see what will happen when/if they get out of the Hall. I recently bought a few supplements and I am thinking of creating my own fascinating campaign. Of course, I am going to be using a few pre-gens for support. But I think I can do this.

           I am really excited about my new group. I am also very happy because I now have a whole day to game rather than a couple of hours after work. I hope to have a great time DMing. And I promise to blog much more regularly to keep everyone in the loop.

Wish me luck!

Meg

                First and foremost I have become familiar with NightBane. The basic premise of this tabletop RPG is that a parallel universe exists filled with monsters. One day, in the not too distant future, the two universes connect and NightBane emerge in the form of children. These children grow up not knowing their true nature until they are put in to extremely stressful, sometimes life threatening situations. This can happen at any time during their life, but usually occur after puberty. Most players play the role of one of these NightBane.

                I really enjoyed trying this game because it is so different that Dungeons and Dragons, specifically 4^th edition. The emphasis is on roleplaying rather than combat. You can even receive extra experience points for avoiding conflict. This is great for me as I am a pacifist at heart. That and my character looks like a 3 foot tall furry doll. All in all, not that impressive compared to the rest of my party, especially when one happens to be a panda the size of a cop car.

So far, I view my trial of NightBane as a huge success. I am learning a lot, a little about RPGs but mostly my limits/expectations of RPGS. I hope to continue playing NightBane as well as try out some new tabletop RPGS. As always, let me know if you have any suggestions or comments. You can also follow me on Twitter @RavenclawRebel.

I have other responsibilities such as work, school, family and friends that fill up my time. Most weeks it is hard enough just to fit work and school together, much less social activities. Maybe it was the stress or just the annoyance of my players cancelling every week. I am not adverse to work and preparation. I just don’t see that point of putting in all that time and effort in to the game anymore. I am fed up with staying up all night to prepare for a game just to find out that all but one of my players doesn’t feel like playing.

I am giving up DMing and going back to being just a player, at least for now. I really just want to sit back and enjoy myself. . I even created a new character today for such an occasion. DnD is just no fun on the other side of the table. Maybe I will go back to it in time. But before that can happen, one of my players will have to take the DMing reigns.

Tell me what you think. Has anyone else had this problem? What did you do?

I am going to put their faces and character names on them to help them get in character. They are all new players so they are kind of uncomfortable role playing. I can relate. This is my first time DMing. We were all a little shy around the game table. That is until the action began.

I threw in some kobolds and all uneasiness melted away. They each took turns slicing and blasting the kobolds to oblivion. And they loved it! Although as the DM I’m supposed to be playing “against” the PCs, I felt proud to see them work as a team. The cleric got the hang of alternating between stabbing kobolds and casting healing spells. The rogue deciphered the strange abbreviations on his power cards and pulled off some pretty impressive moves. And most importantly, the wizard learned about taking cover. He was bloodied four times. Overall, it was a great game. They survived the first two encounters. The next two start tonight.

Let me explain. I love destroying monsters. I appreciate a well cast fireball at evil minions to cause their timely death in a raging inferno. I empathize with power crazy cleric using the dark powers bestowed upon her by the dark goddess. I even get a kick out of a righteous paladin spearing baddies with his Holy Avenger. But recently, I just can’t get in to character ( or in to the game at all).

I recently started attending an ongoing campaign at my local FLGS. (That’s Friendly Local Gaming Store for those less traveled in the Realm of Geekdom). We are currently following a published adventure, exactly as written. Our entire “adventure” feels like a never ending math lesson.  

An excerpt from the DM: “You have to make a skill challenge now. Pick any skill that is Charisma based….Who has the highest rank in that skill?....Who is assisting?.....Add 2 to your score….You beat that challenge. Now you have to make a skill challenge that is Wisdom based.”

Don’t get me wrong, I love DnD. I realize that these rolls are an important and necessary part of the game. But I want to role play. After all, isn’t the whole point of Dungeons and Dragons to be able to step in to the shoes of a hero? Isn’t the best part entering a world full of magic and mystery? DnD is supposed to be a place where you can fight a dragon for his treasure and then meet your friends at the pub afterwards to celebrate.

It is a role playing game. I want to have fun! I want to diplomacize the crap out of shopkeepers for free swag. I want to climb up a frickin cathedral to catch the mysterious cat burglar. But I can’t because those options aren’t in the published adventure. And the DM doesn’t feel comfortable enough to steer away from what was written.

I understand that he isn’t comfortable with letting his PCs run amok. If I was in his shoes, I’d probably be scared to death. So many lives are at stake. And the rogue wants to steal the golden artifact rather than return it to his rightful place and end the thousand year war. I can see why he would automatically say no to his request to roll a thievery. But this is game is all about leaving our comfort zones behind in the real world. It is a game where we get to run wild and have the times of our lives.

So guys, can we please at least talk to the bartender before we take that job on the wall? Or at least sit down and have a pint? I want to enjoy this amazing world in the little time I have left (before the DM kills me).