Author: Stan Shinn (Page 72 of 111)

Stan's 5e Rules Summary

November 17, 2014 / Stan Shinn

Stan’s 5e Rules Summary

Here is a 5e rules summary in both landscape and portrait formats. First two pages I print out and hand to players (I use it as a DM as well). Third page is more oriented towards the DM. Basically I run 90% of my games using ONLY the rules on these three pages; seldom are there rules used which aren’t summarized here.

Works great on tablets, as printouts, or (if you have good eyesight) as inserts to customizable GM screens.

Let me know your comments. I’ll make this a living document and edit it to correct any issues, or add any big misses.

Landscape: http://goo.gl/XwZYbE

Portrait: http://goo.gl/W9z83y

____

Change Log:

2014-11-19 Changes (will post by this weekend):

Links: Landscape: http://goo.gl/XwZYbE Portrait: http://goo.gl/W9z83y
Updated Dash rule to read: ‘Dash: Move your speed as an action in addition to your normal move.’
Reworded “Healing” section to reduce redundant content describing stabilization rules.
Removed redundant entries in RANGED ATTACKS IN CLOSE COMBAT and RANGED ATTACKS IN MELEE.
Clarified Disengage to read ‘Disengage: Disengage as your action and your movement doesn’t provoke an opportunity attack.’ instead of 1/2 movement.
Updated ‘Under MOVING PAST FRIENDS AND FOES’ to add that another creature’s space is difficult terrain.
Added under CONCENTRATION that casting another spell only breaks concentration if the new spell also requires concentration.
Updated Hide action to read: “To hide, DEX (Stealth) check, opposed by passive WIS check of creature who might notice you, or active WIS check of creature actively searching for you. ” instead of using INT.
Updated Advantage/Disadvantage to read: “Dis/Advantage: For Advantage, roll 2d20, take better roll. For Disadvantage, take worse.”
Updated Vulnerability to read: “Vulnerability: If target has vulnerability to that type of damage, damage doubled.”

2014-11-17:

Links: Landscape: http://goo.gl/kHTDw3 and Portrait: http://goo.gl/zcg2tg
Original version.

Used as inserts for a GM screen by a fan

Using Expandable Sheet Protectors to Store D&D Modules

November 16, 2014 / Stan Shinn

Trying to protect your old-school RPG materials can be a pain, but I’ve found the perfect solution: Office Depot Expandable Sheet Protectors.

Unlike normal sheet protectors, which are overly snug and can even snag or rip the spine of a classic D&D module, these protects are a bit wider that normal and can easily accommodate 50 pages of material. See the photo here with one of my modules stored nicely inside. Just the thing to allow me to organize my material into 3 ring binders!

ShinnCon II Quick Recap

November 16, 2014 / Stan Shinn

Great Sci Fi minis complements of Marshall!

Today’s game had lots of creepy derelict ship exploration and alien ‘bugs’ of various forms. There was some opportunity to swindle a megacorp (InStarSpec) out of a ship, so the PCs have become pirates essentially, but still en route to Arda and Garda Villis.

You now have two ships and are looking to sell some alien statuettes you picked up to afford some weaponry for the yacht and cargo ship you own.

D&D 5e: Island of Death

November 12, 2014 / Stan Shinn

It’s decided! For the Saturday Night Dice crew’s game-day on Nov. 24, we’ll run a game set in The World of Redmark — my own custom campaign setting. I’ll give you more background on the setting soon. In the meantime, here’s what you need to know for character creation:

Character Creation:

Create a new 1st level character (or reskin your old one). For the lazy, a long list of pregens are here: http://community.wizards.com/forum/player-help/threads/4109696
Use the point buy system in the PHB (same as the League rules).
Allowed races: The core four (Human, Elf, Dwarf, Halfling) plus half-elves.
Allowed alignments: Good alignments.
General Theme: You are heroic, noble characters. Model characters from The Fellowship of the Ring (but not Boromir!).
You all know each other; we can figure out how at the game table, but feel free to start the discussion via email if you want.

Schedule:

We start gaming 10am (Robert, John, Kevin, maybe Todd).
12:30-ish — Mason joins. Jeff joins as well if his day goes well, but his attendance is iffy (Jeff, just IM me your status that day when you know it).
I’ll organize the plot so we have a mini-game in the morning, then we’ll do character connections and backgrounds and such at 1pm or so before easing into the afternoons gaming.
We game till 10pm-ish.

Rules:

I want to parcel out four rules, each for one person to own and be ready to adjudicate for the group if/when it comes up in play:

Fatigue (or whatever 5e calls it): Robert
Downtime (the PHB version, which is different from League play): Mason
Drowning: Jeff
Hex travel times / difficult terrain, etc.: John

Inspiration:

Below is the inspiration for the opening scene — bwahahaha!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl5C_zgMP1Y

No One At the Bridge

by Rush

“Crying back to consciousness
The coldness grips my skin
The sky is pitching violently
Drawn by shrieking winds
Seaspray blurs my vision
Waves roll by so fast
Save my ship of freedom
I’m lashed helpless to the mast

Remembering when first I held
The wheel in my own hands
I took the helm so eagerly
And sailed for distant lands
But now the sea’s too heavy
And I just…I just don’t understand
Why must my crew desert me?
When I need…I need a guiding hand…

Call out for direction
And there’s no one there to steer
Shout out for salvation
But there’s no one there to hear
Cry out supplication
For the maelstrom is near
Scream out desperation
But no one cares to hear”