The ideal TRPG mechanic steps in to answer a question that no one in the group feels comfortable answering or wants to answer. (1/3)

— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) August 10, 2018

To me, comfort is about letting bad stuff happen without being a dick about it. In other words, the dragon eats your character because the rules/dice say it happens. If the DM just decides to kill your PC, that's lame. (2/3)

— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) August 10, 2018

The desire for a random answer, in my experience, comes from a desire to be surprised. Good random encounters are like this – does the guard patrol happen to walk by just as we climb down the castle wall with the crown jewels? Let the dice decide. (3/3)

— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) August 10, 2018

As an aside – wandering monsters get a bad rap because as presented, it can feel like a random, pointless fight. Think of it instead as a random plot complication, seeded with PC-relevant events (your nemesis rides into town) and it can be a lot more fun.

— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) August 10, 2018

A quick thought on RPG design before I dive into a project – I think the quality of a TRPG session is determined by this ratio: 50% players, 25% rules, 25% scenario design. Players does not include the DM. The DM's skill puts a cap on how much fun you can have.

— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) August 7, 2018

Our three factors add up to 100. If you wanted to reduce a theoretical DM to a number (which is not cool, but they're theoretical so we can get away with it), we'd rate a DM from 1 to 100. That number is the max the other three factors can add up to.

— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) August 7, 2018

In other words, incremental improvements in system and adventure are wasted if the players and DM don't have the skills needed to take advantage of them. TRPG dev has traditionally focused there, but I think much of the effort has gone to waste.

— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) August 7, 2018

BUT! Before you despair, we can improve things by making players and DMs better. Thanks to streaming and easy access to video creation, we can finally have useful conversations and communication about player and DM technique.

— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) August 7, 2018

Text is pretty bad at that stuff. Watching someone DM or play well (for your definition of well – techniques vary) is the best way to improve. I think that's another reason why streaming has helped TRPGs so much.

— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) August 7, 2018

I get where MIke is coming from on the GM’s role, but I think framing it as a limiter is the wrong model. Were i to use a model like that, I would suggest that the GM is a force multiplier with a given value, which can be more or less than 1. That's more positive, which I like.

— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) August 9, 2018

Over on @rdonoghueThe assertion that GMs can’t improve bad scenarios (as just one example of the value GMs can bring to a session) also feels wonky. 's feed he just pitched GM skill as force multiplier, which I think is a strictly better way to think about it. Addresses this exact issue.

— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) August 9, 2018

Hey I was looking over the Giant Soul Sorcerer UA, which is awesome btw, but did you intend for Soul of Lost Ostoria to work on cantrips as well as regular spells? yes

— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) August 18, 2018

If you used wristpocket to hide a deck of cards, could you pull out one card at a time? If the DM allows it, sounds like a fun use!

— Matthew Mercer (@matthewmercer) August 20, 2018

would a Keytar exist in Ebberon? They have flying ships and more, so maybe music can be more advanced than standard settings?
…Asking for a bard friend approved

— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) August 16, 2018

The Rick and Morty comic I've been tinkering on for months is finally out today.

It's nice to finally hold it in my hands. pic.twitter.com/62AUPuyMT2

— Pat Rothfuss (@PatrickRothfuss) August 29, 2018

Watch A Conversation on Rick and Morty vs. Dungeons & Dragons, Part 1 from dnd on www.twitch.tv