tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1954394848487110923.post8905584763287945580..comments2024-03-24T23:21:24.747-04:00Comments on Gothridge Manor: Player Monster KnowledgeGothridge Manorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11371740532802642972noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1954394848487110923.post-4094795104690381872012-02-10T02:20:21.247-05:002012-02-10T02:20:21.247-05:00"I got stuff in my head that's gonna make...<i>"I got stuff in my head that's gonna make you lose sleep."</i><br /><br />I don't know if my players will lose sleep over the stuff in my brainmeats, but they certainly won't be feeling comfortable at the table.faoladhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03691952430041394614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1954394848487110923.post-27877244560845383702012-02-09T16:12:35.172-05:002012-02-09T16:12:35.172-05:00"GMs cannot be lazy."
Awww! ;)
Serious...<i>"GMs cannot be lazy."</i><br /><br />Awww! ;)<br /><br />Seriously, though, I agree.Treyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04647628467658839351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1954394848487110923.post-42082231503515335062012-02-09T04:10:37.900-05:002012-02-09T04:10:37.900-05:00David's point about changing name only is a go...David's point about changing name only is a good, simple starting point, just to throw players off, and as The Dave suggests, it's only very specific descriptions or particular effects that could have them work out what a creature actually is, assuming the characters don't recognise it in game. Then it can get those new names, which if done well can even add a lot of flavour to the world, by implication even.<br /><br />Re those particular effects, the petrify to liquefy type change is likely to be a lot of fun for everyone in the room, and wake the players up. Unless they signed up for something strictly by the old books, and even if they did in the sense that back in the day it <i>was</i> new, there's no harm in keeping things lively and fresh.Porkyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00604351052444947490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1954394848487110923.post-40732706208819996012012-02-09T01:06:17.371-05:002012-02-09T01:06:17.371-05:00I know back in the early 80s when we were playing ...I know back in the early 80s when we were playing as kids (pauses for some reflection.. good times) our DM wouldn't let us look at the book while we were at the table. Then he would never say 'You came across some trolls'. He would describe them and make us figure out what they were. It was almost like he wanted us to study outside our RP time, like a good adventurer should. The MM was equivalent to learning the local flora and fauna.The Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13670101962259531452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1954394848487110923.post-91878866593630299432012-02-08T21:55:50.574-05:002012-02-08T21:55:50.574-05:00More or less exactly what I was going to post over...More or less exactly what I was going to post over on Peter's page. But since you said it already, I'll save myself the effort and just say that I agree 100%. (Probably no surprise to anyone who reads my blog, since I'm currently in the midst of a weekly new monster feature.)Dennis Laffeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03053699552003336733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1954394848487110923.post-65504017146209505392012-02-08T21:54:48.705-05:002012-02-08T21:54:48.705-05:00Like I said on Peter's blog, if you're usi...Like I said on Peter's blog, if you're using the monsters name from the MM, then you have to expect them to use what they know! <br /><br />If you don't use the name, and only describe what it is... Or give it the name the locals call it...David The Archmagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11649391406526258069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1954394848487110923.post-36096166619571790652012-02-08T20:36:54.665-05:002012-02-08T20:36:54.665-05:00Creating monsters that deviate from the norm actua...Creating monsters that deviate from the norm actually makes a lot of sense. PCs don't come all in one flavor. There are different classes. And even within a class, there are variations. Not all magic-users have the same spells for example. So why not have monsters of the same type with at least some variation in capability? It makes a lot of sense.Chris C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08655640273250716377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1954394848487110923.post-25775079090312774412012-02-08T20:07:01.302-05:002012-02-08T20:07:01.302-05:00Thanks for the shout out - and I'll be sure to...Thanks for the shout out - and I'll be sure to link this when I finish typing up my followup post.Peter Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14246000382321978462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1954394848487110923.post-1842836569489611152012-02-08T19:48:17.569-05:002012-02-08T19:48:17.569-05:00Nothing can really be done about players reading t...Nothing can really be done about players reading the books. Metagaming is hard to control. However you're right that some knowledge is known by the PCs because of their training, etc. The trick is deciding how much they actually know.Zanazazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04980968371007703230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1954394848487110923.post-26340794894737409862012-02-08T18:50:05.813-05:002012-02-08T18:50:05.813-05:00When I started gaming I had a DMG and eventually a...When I started gaming I had a DMG and eventually a players handbook. After about two years I had a Monster Manual 2. But it was too late, almost every monster I ever had or ever will make is homebrew.<br /><br />I recycle them, players eventually figure things out, but I highly recommend the practice. Just remember, if you make the monster, the players end up naming them.<br /><br />Be wary that the monster you love and think is bad-ass and terror inspiring, may end up being renamed "Mag-babies" or "Fugglers".Zzarchovhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07714805545939725730noreply@blogger.com