Is an area of Wildemount caribbean or spanish influenced?

November 12, 2022Zoltar Leave a comment

is an area of Wildemount caribbean or spanish influenced? The Menagerie Coast definitely has some cultural inspiration there!

— Matthew Mercer (@matthewmercer) March 17, 2020

Oh wow, that means a lot! Thank you!

— Matthew Mercer (@matthewmercer) March 17, 2020

One must fight Emmy with Emmy…

— Matthew Mercer (@matthewmercer) March 17, 2020

Matt Mercer DM Tips: Player Character Deaths!

November 12, 2022Zoltar Leave a comment

MATT: Hello. My name is Matthew Mercer. I’m a voice actor and the Dungeon Master on Critical Role here on Geek & Sundry, and today’s topic is the joyous, wondrous event of player character death. [music] In running most RPGs there is the inevitable scenario of a PC falling in battle without means of recovery. Months or years of character development and investment gone in a flash. Now how do you guide your players through such an intense scenario and move forward in a positive way. I mean it’s the danger you must maintain in your game if it’s to hold any real weight and stakes for the players. In the earlier levels it can really be a constant, real threat. It can be a emotional and difficult scenario to see through as a GM so be ready and here are some ways to hopefully make it easier for the player to digest, and make it a real powerful and memorable moment for the game as a whole. First, let the players know that when you begin the campaign that player death is indeed a real possibility. Make sure they understand that fact early in so as you progress it doesn’t catch them off guard when it does happen for the first time. At least, as off guard as it would. It’s going to catch you off guard regardless, but, you know what I mean. Now when the moment does happen, don’t gloss over it. Explain the death as cinematically as you can, letting the epic final moments ring out in the party is a powerful if incredibly sad, moment. Now, outside of a non-recoverable corpse, or a death that destroys the body instantly, consider letting the player get a few last words out as a battle cry or inspiration to their friends to carry on that will allow a very clear crystal moment for that character to really be remembered by the rest of the players and the PCs for that matter. If there is no resurrection recourse for the PCs give some time to let the group mourn in game, in character and perhaps, if in game time allows, hold a role playing wake. Try your best to play up the warriors wake with celebration of their life over hanging on to the sadness of death instead. It really helps the players kind of digest in a positive light and tell rousing stories of great memories they had with their party member and kind of just overall gives a better and more healing spin on the whole experience. Also, let the player of the deceased character write an epilogue for their tale. Perhaps as a way to get down those unspoken words they never really got a chance to say before their untimely end came. After the session is done in which the character falls, maybe shortly in the future, depending on gauging it, go out with the players to get drinks or a fine meal to celebrate the memory of the character as just a group of friends sitting in a restaurant somewhere. It really also helps to get rid of all the tension of the moment and let you guys remind yourself that it’s just a game and you’re all friends still having a good time even when the sad moments happen. As soon as it feels comfortable after the session, go ahead and speak directly with the player about the excitement of getting to create a brand new character and all the endless possibilities for trying out new skills and abilities. Brainstorm new character story ideas and how they would fit into the current campaign. If they’re still really attached to their dead characters, perhaps you could brainstorm a way to have the new character involved in the backstory of the deceased PC so that a spiritual successor is found and it carries the torch. You can discuss with the other players ways to keep the memory of the fallen in the game as you go on. They could craft bracelets of remembrance they refer to in the future during moments of tension. Perhaps they could name their new keep after the dead. They could use their name as a war cry in future struggles. Things like that. Ways to keep the memory of that character alive as they play on. There is sometimes difficulty in incorporating a new character into a long-running adventuring party. Filling a hole in a long-established rapport can be strange and finding a way for you, the GM, to bring them in without feeling too forced can really be an interesting challenge. Trust me. It sucks. I recommend finding a way to tie them to the main narrative threads or the current overarching quest. Talk with the player about this, and talk with your other PCs about being receptive, as much as their PCs can be, to a new ally. The new PC can be related to, or a friend or ally, to the deceased PC, wishing to avenge them and see their goal to completion in their honor. The new PC could even be an off-screen NPC from another player’s character’s backstory, with that player’s permission of course, already tying them to the party and giving them inherent stakes in the story. The new PC could have strongly aligned goals with the party and having heard of their proven skills and renown wish to ensure the best means of success for both of them. They could even arrive to the party with extremely essential information, or an essential artifact of the main quest, quickly tying them to the fate of the adventuring party. The new PC could have a long history with the main antagonist – wishing to tear them down for personal reasons, and they seek like-minded allies to achieve this goal. The new PC could even pick up the reins of a non-essential NPC you introduced that the player took a shine to and bring them to the forefront of the story as a PC now. You inform the player of what you had developed regarding that NPC and their story and let them take that and run with it for the future. These are all options and ideas of ways to do it, and there are many others that you may want to research on your own, but I hope that at least these will be somewhat helpful in tackling this somewhat difficult circumstance in your game. Well thank you so much for watching. You can see other episodes of GM Tips here on geekandsundry.com. I’m Matthew Mercer and I’ll see you on the internet. [fantasy music] [Geek & Sundry theme music]

Matt Mercer DM Tips: Getting Players to Roleplay

November 11, 2022Zoltar Leave a comment

THIS IS A AN AUTOMATIC CAPTION TEXT from YouTube, so it’s not “perfect”. My advice is to use it just to help people like me that are not english speaking, to understand the Video/Podcast MATT: Hello! My name is Matthew Mercer. I’m a voice actor, and the Dungeon Master for Critical Role here on Geek & Sundry, and welcome to today’s episode of GM tips. Today’s theme: getting your players to engage in more roleplay. [music] Now, I want to preface this with the idea that you cannot force your players to roleplay. Some just may not be comfortable with it. Some may not be into this game for heavy RP, and instead want more of a Diablo-like kill shit, take loot experience– and that’s totally fine, it’s totally great– a little worrying, but totally great! However, you can certainly engage them with some of the following tips, and you may be surprised which elements they pick up and end up liking. My first recommendation is to talk to your group in advance about wanting to actually RP more in the campaign. You don’t want them being caught off-guard with an aggressive change in GMing style that asks more of them. It puts them in a weird, awkward place where they feel like they have to perform more for you. You want it to be natural and fun, so listen to them. Engage with their eagerness, and adjust your expectations accordingly. Next, if the group is on board, have them develop some written background stories, or history about their character, or general personality traits if they haven’t already. I mean, not everyone has to write a multi-page backstory, you just have to have a half-page or one-page history that helps them become more invested in their character, if anything. It aids them in finding elements of their history and informing them of their own personality traits, impulses, and general reactions to elements they may encounter throughout the campaign. It’s a useful tool for anyone involved. You can even award bonus experience or some other small reward if you feel inclined if you need just a little push to finish it– which you will, because we’re all human beings who are busy… and lazy… I’m very lazy. Some systems, like fifth edition Dungeons and Dragons have a whole section of the source book on characters, personalities, and backgrounds that can be a great guide to fleshing out a character’s personality– or just rolling for it if you just don’t give a [beep]. Get comfortable enough with your early NPCs and their dialogue points to try and engage players with a lot of eye contact and direct gestures. Do not read the entire encounter off the page, because they’ll disengage immediately and not really be willing to meet you on a level that you’re not willing to meet them. When you begin your endgame foray into upping the RP with your players, you really need to speak to them as the NPCs in the same nature that you wish them to RP in return. Make direct eye-contact with whichever party member or members who are leading that encounter. Lean in and gesture, or point them when asking a question for their character! Let them know that they are in the moment, and this is their moment to seize! When a player begins to describe the gist of their response instead of in-character, gently remind them to try and respond in-character, like, “Great! How would Durmans ask that question to me, the jailer?” or “Sure! And as those angry thoughts fill her mind, how would Leila express that verbally?” Now, players, sometimes a different or silly voice can help. Textures, speaking in a lighter place in your palate, or something that’s a little different than your normal speaking voice. Fun voices and accents are by no means necessary for the game, but they can help you as well as your fellow players and GM separate your in-character dialogue from your own thoughts and comments in the game. Physicality helps too! Think of how different your character would hold themselves compared to you. Would they sit up straight, broaden their shoulders– or curl up and act like a crazy person? Maybe they give giant, bombastic gestures! You may find yourself physically embodying your character in RP moments more often once you think on these little details. For all you GMs, you need to be patient. For some players, it’s a really big step in letting go of their own insecurities and embracing the play that makes these games so wonderful. Don’t expect a huge, sudden change. It may just take a while– sometimes a very long while, if at all. Be supportive. Compliment players after a session for good roleplaying and don’t scold them for any missed moments or opportunities during the session. Players, also be supportive to your other players and willing to elevate your less comfortable players. Let them have the spotlight. Pay attention to them when they’re speaking, and back up their statements with your own in-character moments: “Indeed!” or “Exactly, Leila!” if they make a good point in RP. Most of all, have fun! Even just the slightest shift in this direction can lead to some of the most immersive RP experiences, but you have to make sure that all these experiences are still fun for everyone involved. That’s the key to the game, and that’s the key to making your players want to engage more on a roleplaying level. Anyway, I hope these tips have been useful to you at all. You can find more GM Tips here on geekandsundry.com. I look forward to seeing you somewhere on the Internet in the future. [Geek & Sundry musical theme] [fantasy music]

Will the dunamancy spells only be available for Wizards and the Echo Knight?

November 11, 2022Zoltar Leave a comment

@matthewmercer Will the dunamancy spells only be available for Wizards and the Echo Knight or will other spell casters have the opportunity to learn some of the spells?

— DnD-Homebrew5e (@homebrew5e) January 16, 2020

Dunamancy is designed to be immediately available for the two Wizard subclasses in the book, but it also outlines how to include these spells for other spell casters as rewards or narrative goals (all up to the DM, of course, who can introduce them however they wish). https://t.co/G30eMcelWM

— Matthew Mercer (@matthewmercer) January 16, 2020

Also, how does String Theory play into this? Does the presence of Dunamancy and the Echo Knight (for example), mean that the echo’s are being pulled from their realities by force? Don’t those other “possible” realities continue to exist outside of this one? Depends on if you enforce String Theory within your D&D world. If you do, then you could consider them temporarily pulled from alternate timelines, then returned to where they once were none the wiser. Or the echoes are just shades taking your own form. 🙂

— Matthew Mercer (@matthewmercer) January 16, 2020

Gods of Wildemount – Lore You Should Know

November 11, 2022Zoltar Leave a comment

Are there any higher education options on Tal’dorei?

November 10, 2022Zoltar Leave a comment

Matt, I’m a new DM running a campaign in Tal’Dorei (pre everything), and I was wondering aside from the Alabaster Lyceum and the Erudite quarter, are there any higher education options on the continent, that are not magic related but something akin to universities? Both of those locations offer higher learning aside from Arcane pursuits, so contain students of all studies. Beyond those, Whitestone might have begun developing a smaller-scale place of learning.

— Matthew Mercer (@matthewmercer) March 18, 2019

Do you think there are Monks in Ashari society?

November 10, 2022Zoltar Leave a comment

Do you think there are Monks in Ashari society? Way of the Four Elements of course fits into their fantasy really well. Or do you envision Ashari as being only druids? Thank you The Ashari are many different types of people. The leaders may often be Druids, but some leaders and prominent figures in their history have been Fighters, Clerics, Monks, Paladins, etc.

— Matthew Mercer (@matthewmercer) March 27, 2018

My map art for the Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount

November 10, 2022Zoltar Leave a comment

Get the first glimpses of my map art for the Explorer's Guide to Wildemount along with an interview with @matthewmercer & myself talking about what you'll find in the book & more! https://t.co/9F3biwl6KG #EGtW @CriticalRole @Wizards_DnD #dnd pic.twitter.com/DCtLzNDChf

— Deven Rue ~ EGtW cartographer (@DevenRue) March 2, 2020

It’s Tuesday in Australia, and Wildemount is in the wild! Got mine from @MilsimsGames. Words by @matthewmercer @jamesjhaeck @ChrisLockey & @JamesIntrocaso look loretastic, and @Wizards_DnD art is wonderful, but first thing was to unfold the absolutely stunning @DevenRue map.❤️🗺 pic.twitter.com/rhQGfMPoIT

— Campaign Coins (@CampaignCoins) March 16, 2020

D&D Sage Advice

Questions on Dungeons & Dragons answered by game designers

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Is an area of Wildemount caribbean or spanish influenced?

Matt Mercer DM Tips: Player Character Deaths!

Matt Mercer DM Tips: Getting Players to Roleplay

Will the dunamancy spells only be available for Wizards and the Echo Knight?

Gods of Wildemount – Lore You Should Know

Are there any higher education options on Tal’dorei?

Do you think there are Monks in Ashari society?

My map art for the Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount

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