I've Lost My Compass

Canning Rings=Improvised Drawing Tools

I Needed to Draw Some Circles

But my compass was nowhere to be found.  I've done so much minimizing in the last two years that I don't know whether my cheap little compass was a victim of my purging or not.  So I brainstormed for a minute and figured some canning jar rings would make the right size circles for the tower levels I needed to make for Orphone's seclusium.  I was able to map out levels 1-4 , completing level 1 (or ground level) enough for use and roughing levels 2-4 out with the intent of adding more detail next RPG work session.  I still need to map a subterranean level (doesn't have to be round) and get those Section 6 questions answered; so maybe a work session or two away from getting this Orphone business behind me and on to finishing the prep for Scenic Dunnsmouth (maybe, we'll see what I really feel like tackling!)

Orphone's Tower Levels 3 and 4

#RPGaDay2018 Day Nine

Day 9 Question:  How has a game surprised you?

Pass.


Day 9 2016 Question:  What things are a part of your ideal session, other than the actual game?

Whether I'm a player or DM, I need lots of water to drink.  Tea is another beverage I like to have, especially if it's cold outside or my throat is getting tired from talking.  Good snacks are another nice thing to have on hand, unless I'm playing an online session.  Eating on camera makes me self conscious in a way that is not conducive to playing.  From my perspective as a DM, it's ideal to have enthusiastic and engaged players.  If we switch to my player perspective, I still thinks it's ideal to have engaged players as well as a DM that knows how to do their "thing."  That encompasses presenting an interesting setting with a variety of challenges and adjudicating those challenges as needed.  DMing is somewhat akin to herding cats.

Lamenting We Will Go

Mobile Campaign "Bag of Holding"

I've recently taken my gaming show one the road.  Here are the gaming materials I've brought along for the last few trips.

DM's Dice, players' dice, and writing instruments

Everything gets stuffed into a zippered pouch that measures 13 1/2" x 9 7/8".

Mobile Campaign Folder and The Doom Cave of the Crystal-Headed Children Module

 I bring a folder containing the relevant campaign notes, modules, and character sheets I anticipate I'll need.  There are also a few random and die drop tables printed out and tucked in the folder.

Boneworm the Mapbook

XxY

Campaign Notebook, LotFP Bookmarks

 Along with the campaign notes in the folder, there are the campaign notebook and mapbook (graph paper notebook.)  Yes, lol, I named that particular "mapbook" Boneworm.  I don't know why.

Campaign Notes and Character Sheets

Post-Its and 3x5 cards

DM's Dice

Rules and Magic! Get yours here!

  I bring along 3x5 cards, Post-It Notes, my DM Dice, three other sets of polyhedral dice, pens, and pencils.  Last, but certainly not least, Lamentations of the Flame Princess: Rules and Magic.  I have a hardcover copy, and if I'm dragging my tablet around, a pdf copy as well.  It can be handy to have more than one during character creation, but I don't think it's necessary for er'ybody to have a copy at the table.  My tablet also has Vornheim, an RPG tome I find useful for my city creation "style."  I will elaborate on my use of Vornheim in a FUTUREPOST.   Buy yours here!  So these were the tools of the trade for my last few trips up to Seattle.  One of those trips I got the coveted "table seat" all to myself on my train car and got to spread my campaign stuff out on it to work on the trip up!  So fucking gratifying!  My goal is to run a game on the train.  The adventure The Doom-Cave of the Crystal-Headed Children was LotFP's 2014 Free RPG Day adventure.  I'm prepped to run it, but the characters aren't quite there on the map yet!  Expect a review of this, once I've run it;-)