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Is Your DM "Dialing-in" Combat?

Started by RPGPundit, April 22, 2024, 08:57:24 PM

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RPGPundit

April 22, 2024, 08:57:24 PM
There's different ways DMs can make combat interesting, or boring, for different groups of players.
#dnd #ttrpg #osr


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1stLevelWizard

#1
April 22, 2024, 09:12:09 PM
More often than not, I'll describe the really big combats with some details but I never get out of hand. My usual friend group keeps it light, but we won't just roll dice. It'll go something like:

Player describes their action: "I swing my sword at the goblin" or perhaps "I loose an arrow at the goblin"
DM describes its outcome: "...and you strike it!" or "...it whizzes past it."

I've gotten quite good at describing different ways a monster/pc/npc can be struck with various attacks and spells. It's enough to give them a good mental image, but I don't have to monologue either. Nothing ground-breaking, but it works.
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RPGPundit

#2
April 22, 2024, 10:41:03 PM
The straightforward methods are usually good.
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Tod13

#3
April 23, 2024, 09:49:14 AM Last Edit: April 23, 2024, 10:03:52 AM by Tod13
I think "dialing in" is a modern/translated version of the English colloquialism "phoning it in", which means to make the motions of doing something, without putting in actual effort or really taking part or doing it right - maybe even only appearing to do it.

In USA English, "dialing in" usually means the same as "fine tuning" something - making changes to make something etter, more efficient, etc.

Exploderwizard

#4
April 23, 2024, 10:08:42 AM
Good video. I like to keep combat descriptions simple. Since I also like to run sandbox style games I don't bother designing custom built combat arenas because where and when combat takes place are often up to the players unless they get ambushed or something. Part of good tactics for the players is knowing where to arrange a battle to their advantage and proper battlefield preparation. Charging in to a foe's home turf and engaging in combat on their terms is rather foolish and should be avoided when possible. 
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Domina

#5
April 23, 2024, 06:02:44 PM
Is there some reason this had to be a video rather than a few paragraphs of text?

Klytus

#6
April 23, 2024, 08:28:37 PM
Quote from: Domina on April 23, 2024, 06:02:44 PMIs there some reason this had to be a video rather than a few paragraphs of text?

The video makes him money and a few paragraphs of text don't.
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#7
April 23, 2024, 09:42:43 PM
Erased as totally unnecessary and because this site does not have an actual delete (that I know of at least).
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Eirikrautha

#8
April 23, 2024, 11:37:51 PM
Quote from: Domina on April 23, 2024, 06:02:44 PMIs there some reason this had to be a video rather than a few paragraphs of text?

Pundit always posts his thoughts as videos.  You know this.  Your question is Irrelevant at best.  If this is the quality of your contributions to this site, maybe you should go back to trolling.  Oh, wait, you are...

Tod13

#9
April 24, 2024, 09:42:20 AM
Quote from: Domina on April 23, 2024, 06:02:44 PMIs there some reason this had to be a video rather than a few paragraphs of text?

I'm a reader, not a watcher. But Pundit is one of the very, very few people whose videos I enjoy. It's worth watching, entertaining, and it starts with Meatball!

Domina

#10
April 24, 2024, 10:59:24 AM Last Edit: April 24, 2024, 11:02:17 AM by Domina
Quote from: Eirikrautha on April 23, 2024, 11:37:51 PMPundit always posts his thoughts as videos.

Why?

Quote from: Eirikrautha on April 23, 2024, 11:37:51 PMYour question is Irrelevant at best.

It's quite relevant to finding out why he posts videos instead of writing a post like a normal human being.
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