Steve Jackson Games Forums - View Single Post - Dungeon Fantasy Players and GMs: What Tips You Would Give to a New Player?

khorboth · 03-22-2017, 06:14 AM

In general:

Embrace the cheese. Roll around in it. There will come a time when you find your characters doing something totally unrealistic and ridiculous. Something you would never do in a non-dungeon fantasy game. When this comes, revel in it and remember that it's why you're here.

More specific:
Speech is a free action. In DF, it's usually more than free. A good over-the-top personality can turn a boring one-dimensional murder machine into a really fun two-dimensional murder machine.

Mechanically:
If your HT rolls to survive are at least 12, and the party has a healer, you're probably going to make it. Get to 12 somehow. Fit, Hard to Kill, somehow.

As a GM, don't push monster active defenses above 10 on a regular basis. Overcoming HP and DR is fun. Missing a lot is frustrating.

Remember that while D&D balanced various combat options so that two-handed fighters and two-weapon fighters did about as well as sword-and-board fighters, GURPS didn't do that. Sword-and-board is usually superior.

Take niche protection seriously. It's no fun when everybody is sneaky.

03-22-2017, 06:14 AM	#8
khorboth Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Denver, CO	Re: Dungeon Fantasy Players and GMs: What Tips You Would Give to a New Player? In general: Embrace the cheese. Roll around in it. There will come a time when you find your characters doing something totally unrealistic and ridiculous. Something you would never do in a non-dungeon fantasy game. When this comes, revel in it and remember that it's why you're here. More specific: Speech is a free action. In DF, it's usually more than free. A good over-the-top personality can turn a boring one-dimensional murder machine into a really fun two-dimensional murder machine. Mechanically: If your HT rolls to survive are at least 12, and the party has a healer, you're probably going to make it. Get to 12 somehow. Fit, Hard to Kill, somehow. As a GM, don't push monster active defenses above 10 on a regular basis. Overcoming HP and DR is fun. Missing a lot is frustrating. Remember that while D&D balanced various combat options so that two-handed fighters and two-weapon fighters did about as well as sword-and-board fighters, GURPS didn't do that. Sword-and-board is usually superior. Take niche protection seriously. It's no fun when everybody is sneaky.