u/lordak16

So, just to preface, I ran ‘Amidst the Ancient Trees’ first. It was my first CoC scenario, and I don’t feel great about it, but it was overall successful. I changed the setting to a more IRL location, but my biggest complaint was how I played the NPCs.

With this homebrew scenario, it’s on a train. The investigators are traveling from the location of AtAT to Chicago and I thought “how cool would it be to make the travel session be a full on scenario!”

So, they’re on the train and a murder happens. Someone is shot in the neck with a .22. They do to their due diligence and find some things that don’t quite add up, but there’s not much to go on as far as pinning down a suspect goes. They do narrow it down to a single person, but we had to end the session before any questions were answered.

The session was 6 hours long, and I barely talked at all. Most of it was RP between the players discussing possibilities. No combat, no real major discoveries, just investigation and roleplay.

Coming from DnD where combat is almost standard, I’m shocked that the players weren’t disappointed. I even pointed out the fact there was no action and the closest I got to a complaint was that I didn’t “railroad” hard enough to direct their attention. Funny considering they’re literally on a train on railroad tracks.

Ultimately, I think my success came down to knowing the scenario inside and out, and understanding my NPCs motivations. After creating my own scenario I think it gives me a new perspective on how to run prebuilts.

I just wanted to give a quick update on my post from about a month back. I read through each and every comment, and it helped a lot. First, I received a lot of validation, so that was great. Second, it helped me think through a proposed solution for my DM. He really likes critical fails, I really hate them, so where can we find common ground?

For starters, I changed my race to halfling, and I’m no longer a rogue. (Side note: He also rules that nat 20’s are absolute, and I hated that I would roll a 27 on initiative and still go second because someone rolled a 22 with a nat 20. I don’t have the energy to try and fight that battle.) I also prepared to take Bountiful Luck out of pettiness so the only one suffering from nat 1’s would be the DM.

But I think the biggest win was, following the conversation, my DM agreed to apply critical fails to non-proficient skills/checks/attacks. So the barbarian isn’t going to be smacking himself every minute of combat, but the wizard who’s never used a great axe might accidentally plant it in his foot.

I appreciate everyone’s input, even those that agreed that crit fails are normal and should be included in the game. Those conversations helped me form counter arguments and see things from different perspectives. So, thanks to the community, and may you all never roll a Nat 1 again.

I have every other Friday off and I’m looking to fill the void… Namely, I want to fill it with some roleplay… No, not that kind! Roleplay of the monster slaying variety.

Some background on me, I’ve been playing 5e for about 7 years now, and I’ve dabbled in various other systems as well. My longest campaign was a Vampire:the Masquerade campaign that lasted 2 years. I’ve also played Call of Cthulhu and Starfinder.

I’d love to find a seat as a player, but we all know how these things go. So, I’m also willing to DM and guide a story. I’m most familiar with 5e and I have WAY too many 5e books, but if anyone is interested in a new system I also own the Call of Cthulhu Keepers book and Investigators handbook. Some notes on what to expect at my tables:

1. I like to stick to the official rules, at least to start, then if there’s anything that we as a table need to adjust we can brain storm it.

2. I will probably just run an official campaign. Everything is there for me to play with, and I’m not creative enough to build my own world.

3. I like a bit more RP focus. That’s not to say every session has to be as stuffy as a scene from Pride and Prejudice though (I haven’t seen the new one, all I know is growing up my mom was obsessed with Mr. Darcy, and I thought the whole movie was stuffy. Don’t come at me!)

4. Multi-classing is… hit or miss. I don’t like it, mostly because I’m a bad DM and I find it hard to balance. That said… refer to rule one. It’s in the rules, so it’s allowed. I just ask that you have a compelling, narrative reason for why you’re altering your path, and you don’t power game (not the same as min-maxing btw). Scorlocks are badass, but you have to sell me on why your sorcerer, who already has magic powers, is selling their soul for more magic powers.

Alright, this post is long enough already, but if you’re interested in playing, or if you have a spot open at your table, drop a comment, send a DM, light the signal fire, or you can reach me by messenger pigeon. Until then, roll for initiative!