Recent content by Scott Christian

It's left up to the skills the player wants their character to focus on. If they are great at persuasion and performance, yet terrible at athletics, then odds are the player is describing their character as charismatic. If they are great at sleight of hand, and terrible at persuasion and...

I am really sorry to hear that. I have been lucky. All my DMs (all six of them) over the past twenty years have been spot-on, as have been most of the players. I feel lucky. Hopefully, your luck will change, and you'll roll a 20 with your next DM.

Yes, it does. Thank you for the detailed explanation. I appreciate you taking the time to detail the difference.

In our city, we have an entire industry for paid DMs. It is all in person, and the locales vary from the library, to the game shops, to breweries, to smoke shops. To my knowledge (I was asked to be a DM but can't be due to time restraints), there are about a dozen DMs. It's $25 per person for a...

Players adding to the fiction, especially setting, is not player-driven? I'm definitely listening. It's not. And that was why I asked the question and have several other posts positing that player-driven is the same as simply playing with a good table. They are the same. Now, rulesets can ease...

I will say this, when I run my system, there are no ability scores, just skills. That said, these skills can seem to mirror some of the "classic" abilities. I am not sure there is a way around that. I just liked the idea of not tying an ability to your class. It makes the character development...

That's fair. Although Rime starts out sandboxy with Ten Towns, but then definitely gets on the linear path later. And Tomb is definitely sandbox, but with little work, it can become very linear.

I know this is a bit out of the box, but I would go to the bar (or whatever hangout you prefer), have drinks or tea or coffee, and discuss your character. Have fun with it. Tell your ending. Have others tell your ending. Enjoy some good food. Laugh. Toast. Listen to some good music if you can...

They are Adventure Paths, and therefore, can be played linearly. Their setup in the book is linear.

I loved running Skull & Shackles for Pathfinder. Rime of the Frostmaiden for D&D 5e was also good. And while I haven't played it, Crown of the Oathbreaker by Elderbrain looks fantastic. I read the prelude, and it was in depth, yet still made you think - this is going to be awesome. (Huge VTT...

I mean, would I try it? Sure. But, would a lot of people boycott? Yes. The real question is: Would they ever attempt it? And, even more importantly, if so, why? And there is not good reason for the why.

I realize your motivations that you write in the beginning can change. But we are talking about player-driven experiences. I would hope they can change over time, especially since the game is driven by the players and GM. I was responding to: But you mention the two of the three classic...

Then how is it different from any D&D campaign run by a decent or good DM? Even in the adventure paths I have played in, which last a good year, all the things you listed: milestones not dictated, being generally broad, GM inserts some for plot, being able to change, and allowing for buy-in, are...

I am a little more confused now, so sorry if this comes off as ignorant. But it seems to me all you are describing here is a character's backstory and a session zero, which most people running a campaign do. Things such as: Making sure characters are compatible Having a reason to work together...

I agree. To have traits, ideals, connections, and flaws built into a backstory that the PC comes to the table with is excellent. It helps define their motivations and gives rationale to their actions. But predetermining a "personal milestone" when the character hasn't actually interacted with...