Spokane D&D 5th Edition Wednesday Group
Posted by Hawke at Oct 05, 2014 05:10 PM - Filed under: DnD, 5th Edition, Dungeons & Dragons, D&D Next, rpg, D&D, Gaming Group - Forming new group, players wanted.
I have been using 5th edition with a group at Merlyns since June 2014. I would like to start a new 5th edition group on the 2nd & 4th Wednesdays of each month, beginning October 22nd. Session would be 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm (can adjust +/- 1 hour in either direction as needed to suit participants). Will meet at 1312 N. Monroe (near Maxwell & Monroe, just south of Hoffman's Music near downtown Spokane). Who's interested?
As a footnote, the Merlyn's group has been through 2 campaigns since June and I am currently running the third. I am nearing wrap up of the current campaign using 5th edition (but running in Tomb of Horrors), and I won't be continuing with the late-night schedule we ran there (10:00 pm past midnight) once the campaign is finished. Also I do not want to continue at Merlyn's, it is much more comfortable and quiet at my offices. :-)
I am going to open up a couple more seats for this group, just in case there are any last minute cancellations. Generally I do not like to have more than 6 players (plus the GM) at the table to keep the speed up to date, however, I do have mechanisms to keep larger groups going quickly and smoothly if it turns out everyone does show up. So do not be discouraged in joining by the larger attendance number, again it is to allow for the common likelihood of 1 or 2 last minute cancellations that unfortunately happen all too frequently.
Also, to give people a heads up, I do already implement a few house rules:
* If the number of players gets around 6 or more, then I implement rules to keep the game play flowing quickly, I use little egg-timers (mini-hour-glasses) ranging between 30 seconds to 90 seconds, that is the time each player, when it is their turn, has to declare and resolve their actions (of course that is more during combat and structured times, not so much during dialog/role-play situations). This works out fine because you can be preparing your actions while other players are taking their turns, and it keeps the game from bogging down with larger groups.
* I award more experience points for R-O-L-E-playing over R-O-L-L-playing. You will still get your standard XP for combat. Since 5th edition is so great at developing a rich starting background for characters, better than any previous version of D&D, I expect you to play your characters in line with that background. The better you do so, the more fun everyone will have as an automatic reward, and you get the added XP bonuses for taking actions directly appropriate to ROLE-play over ROLL-play. For example, if your background includes avoiding combat and trying to find other solutions, you will not lose out on XP for properly playing your character in the right circumstances.
* I use a hit location and critical details modification to combat (still only the same single d20 roll and damage roll, but with specific details). This just requires me to do some quick, simple, math calculations and a chart cross-reference, but does not require any additional rolls. This has minimal impact on game play speed, but greatly enhances the detail, and also increases the riskiness of combat. This includes giving (and receiving) stuns, bleeding, detailed injuries, etc.
* I do NOT allow a full HP recovery from one Long Rest. Short rest recuperates as many HP as your level. Long rest recuperates as many HP as your level plus your CON. Specific injuries (broken bones, damaged cartilage, etc.) may have to be healed separately either by magic, herbs (I provide detailed lists of healing herbs available in the world), or longer (days) rest periods, to heal up such criticals.
* Cantrips are modified to be more inline with their original intent, I bring back the 1st edition cantrips, and for those classes that have unlimited casting you get to do so, but the 5th edition cantrips that should be 1st level spells, are moved back to where (I belive) they belong. In running several groups now, the current 5th edition cantrip use, rather than balancing out spell casters, actually makes unbalanced in the other direction. My approach (I believe) is better balanced, and allows more creative use of cantrips, which is what made them so great when they were first introduced long ago.
1312 North Monroe
Suite #114, Spokane, WA
Red brick building with white trim and green awnings over windows. South of River City Music, and north of Hansen & Jaeger Funeral Home. Since it is after hours, you may need to knock on the front (west side) door for a volunteer to let you in.
I am going to open up a couple more seats for this group, just in case there are any last minute cancellations. Generally I do not like to have more than 6 players (plus the GM) at the table to keep the speed up to date, however, I do have mechanisms to keep larger groups going quickly and smoothly if it turns out everyone does show up. So do not be discouraged in joining by the larger attendance number, again it is to allow for the common likelihood of 1 or 2 last minute cancellations that unfortunately happen all too frequently.
Also, to give people a heads up, I do already implement a few house rules:
* If the number of players gets around 6 or more, then I implement rules to keep the game play flowing quickly, I use little egg-timers (mini-hour-glasses) ranging between 30 seconds to 90 seconds, that is the time each player, when it is their turn, has to declare and resolve their actions (of course that is more during combat and structured times, not so much during dialog/role-play situations). This works out fine because you can be preparing your actions while other players are taking their turns, and it keeps the game from bogging down with larger groups.
* I award more experience points for R-O-L-E-playing over R-O-L-L-playing. You will still get your standard XP for combat. Since 5th edition is so great at developing a rich starting background for characters, better than any previous version of D&D, I expect you to play your characters in line with that background. The better you do so, the more fun everyone will have as an automatic reward, and you get the added XP bonuses for taking actions directly appropriate to ROLE-play over ROLL-play. For example, if your background includes avoiding combat and trying to find other solutions, you will not lose out on XP for properly playing your character in the right circumstances.
* I use a hit location and critical details modification to combat (still only the same single d20 roll and damage roll, but with specific details). This just requires me to do some quick, simple, math calculations and a chart cross-reference, but does not require any additional rolls. This has minimal impact on game play speed, but greatly enhances the detail, and also increases the riskiness of combat. This includes giving (and receiving) stuns, bleeding, detailed injuries, etc.
* I do NOT allow a full HP recovery from one Long Rest. Short rest recuperates as many HP as your level. Long rest recuperates as many HP as your level plus your CON. Specific injuries (broken bones, damaged cartilage, etc.) may have to be healed separately either by magic, herbs (I provide detailed lists of healing herbs available in the world), or longer (days) rest periods, to heal up such criticals.
* Cantrips are modified to be more inline with their original intent, I bring back the 1st edition cantrips, and for those classes that have unlimited casting you get to do so, but the 5th edition cantrips that should be 1st level spells, are moved back to where (I belive) they belong. In running several groups now, the current 5th edition cantrip use, rather than balancing out spell casters, actually makes unbalanced in the other direction. My approach (I believe) is better balanced, and allows more creative use of cantrips, which is what made them so great when they were first introduced long ago.
1312 North Monroe
Suite #114, Spokane, WA
Red brick building with white trim and green awnings over windows. South of River City Music, and north of Hansen & Jaeger Funeral Home. Since it is after hours, you may need to knock on the front (west side) door for a volunteer to let you in.
