Propping Up Your Game with Maps

It's been a while since my last post - where I ambitiously declared I'd not only post thrice a month, but also that I would publish something by year's end.  That plan failed miserably, as public declarations tend to do.  So we'll see how many posts I write before falling off the blogging wagon again.

As it happens, the Blog of Forlorn Encystment, and through there, Prismatic Wasteland, are welcoming bloggers to join them on the writing-about-maps bandwagon.  So this is a good enough reason for me to write again.

Much like our favorite Hobbit, I do love maps.

"Oh, I do love maps.  I have quite a collection of them!" - Bilbo Baggins, according to the 1977 Rankin-Bass TV movie The Hobbit.

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While online games have their place and purpose, by their nature they prevent the use of tangible props that players can hold and feel and manipulate (and taste and smell and break).  My favorite prop at the table is maps.  (My second favorite is scrolls in general, as both scrolls and maps look the same until unrolled and read.)  

Unrolled maps are examined by all players (and presumably PCs) and provide not only directions to new treasures and locations, but are an efficient means to loredump on your group without boring them to tears with 30 minutes of read aloud box text.

In theory, these at-table props can be elaborate and represent hours of work using fancy inks and fonts and artificially aging paper using coffee and heat (mine aren't) or just hasty markings with enough color, symbols, and words (my maps) to get the party to seriously consider heading that direction as soon as possible (but preferably not until next session, so I have time to better prepare the following of said map).

Regardless of what the actual prop looks like, players love them.  So before your next in-person session, I recommend you grab some paper, sketch a map, roll or fold it up, and hand it to the players the next time one of them searches a body, book, or box.

Watch their eyes light up and your game-world expand with a simple sheet of paper. 

Even if PC curiosity won't get them moving, player curiosity will.  As RPGs are games for players and not PCs, take advantage of this meta curiosity and use maps.

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A cursory search on YouTube found several videos on how to make fancy maps for table props.  Maybe I should take the hint and make a proper map instead of crayons on printer paper the next time we play.

Advancing NPC Parties

Many DMs add NPC Adventuring Party to their Random Encounter tables or deliberately add them as rivals/allies/enemies/all of the above to specific adventures and/or campaigns, because recurring NPCs are often a good thing.

Truly recurring NPCs tend to be leveled by DM fiat, but not everyone wants or needs that in their games.

I know I don't.

So here is a 2d6 table for us all.  NPCs are PC-equivalent adventurers and retainers are their hirelings and henchmen.

* Casualties are probably dead, but could also be captured, stoned, missing, turned, cursed, quit, fired, retired, or otherwise not returning.  Whether or not any casualties are recovered falls under DM fiat, although recovering said casualties makes for a solid adventure for PCs seeking a purpose.  

** Magic items can be permanent, single-use, or charged. 

*** Magic items are lost through use, destruction, or actually being lost (to bribery, capture, whatever). These latter are potentially recoverable.

**** Monetary rewards is straight cash value of coinage, gems, jewelry, and art objects.

***** Non-magic, non-monetary rewards are statues, lands, titles, marriages, favors, trade goods, etc.

****** One or more NPCs and retainers gain a level, which ones are DM fiat.

******* I highly recommend using Hobgoblinry's Last Lantern-bearer mechanic for your games.

Art by David A. Trampier - I believe from the AD&D DMG or PHB

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This table is inspired in part by Battletech's lifepath tables.  

Reading through the list suggests a high-magic world, which is kind of true for me.  That said, most of the permanent (and many non-permanent) magic items in my games tend to be double-edged, bringing quirks, flaws, and imperfections along with the useful abilities, so I don't mind more magic items in the game world.

Especially when the PCs get ahold of them, because such items make most players think before using them.

 

Making the Most of a Cancelled Session

Our second session was cancelled due to reasons, so I invested the time in working on my DM binder.

By DM Binder, I mean the 1.25 inch binder filled with document protectors that I can use as a reference without flipping through multiple books, a pile of printed pages, or bookmarked websites.  

While I already had a pile of printouts, I also did some research on FB, which led me to these threads on ENWorld.  There is also this post at the excellent blog Don't Split the Party about pregame prep and available tools to make me feel inadequate in my preps.  

As I write this, I realize that I will need to divide it into two parts: running the game and building adventures.  Maybe even subdivide them by general, urban, wilderness, dungeon - although I shouldn't need the wilderness for the foreseeable future.

Since I am currently running a B/X game, my focus is on what will help me running those games.

Jayemdae Tome, art by Donato Giancola

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In no particular order are:

A one-page of major house rules.

A one-page of the various ways PCs can gain XP.

The tables from the Gamemaster Screen from New Big Dragon Games Unlimited (worth the money); they are just all the B/X charts in one spot for ease of use.

A list of random names, 20 each for Humans/Halflings, Dwarves, and Elves.

A running list of encountered names and places.

The d20 list of what a failed save at carousing brings you from Jeff's Gameblog.

A dynamic list of rumors - my goal is to keep it at d30 and eventually incorporate PC antics.

The Hazard System v.03 from Necropraxis.

Lists of Smells and Sounds from Dungeons and Dragons Colour - lots of d100 lists there, both for keying a location as well as the more random things the party encounters.  I use these two for when a 1 isn't rolled on the hazard check.

Telecanter's Voices, Creepy Combat Commentary, What You Did While You Were a Werewolf, and What Are the Monsters Doing.

Several of the d100 tables from d4 Caltrops, particularly d100 Tells for Traps, but also Why This Hireling Decided to Join, This Secret Door Opens..., Why is This Door Stuck?, Where is the Key for This Locked Door?, So You've Been Brought Back from the Dead..., Rumored Remedies for Curses/Energy Drain, and Magical Mishaps & Calamitous Curses.  

Speaking of curses, I found these Random Curses at Dyson's Dodecahedronn - other cool things there, as well.  For example, his character sheets, which we use.

Six Tables of Unusual Kit from Another Hamsterish Hoard - for when bodies are searched.

Since B/X doesn't have an Identify spell, I have this for inspiration from Archade's Tower; I don't use it as-is (it's written for DCC), but the ideas are sound.

I find all of these useful both for things that have happened as well as things that may happen down in the depths, as well as the city streets.

As might be imagined, this is a definite work-in-progress, but I wanted to share.  

Also, it looks like I will need a larger binder, and certainly more document protectors.

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In addition, I created two smaller folders for my players, who only know 5e.  It's mostly just the chart compilation in my binder, a page on how to earn XP, a page of big house rules, and the spell options.

What's in your binder?