Great Content I've seen in May '23

A Better Damage System: https://whatdoyoudorpg.blogspot.com/2023/01/my-better-damage-mechanics.html.

It makes damage taken more ambiguous, while still respecting hit dice. It also makes the impact of damage more meaningful.

5e quick character generator: https://fastcharacter.com/

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RPG Blog Carnival: Beyond Vancian Magic

Hello Friends! I'm thrilled to be hosting December's RPG Blog Carnival topic, Beyond Vancian Magic ! I'm not a hater, but I'll admit I prefer different systems being different, and clerical and magic user magic systems are basically the same. I'm looking forward to seeing your interesting takes and contributions on evolving past that kind of magic system. While I chose this topic about half a year ago, it's come up recently on r/osr, in the post Vancian Magic - What It Is How It Works and Where Did It Come From? Here are some ideas to get you started if you don't already have something in mind: Creating entirely new magic systems, or emulating those of other works, such as those by Brandon Sanderson or Jim Butcher. Spellcasting based on the undead turning table, as illustrated by ktrey of d4 Caltrops suggested using in Alternative Spell Casting . Expand on existing the existing "Vancian" system: Make spells truly Vancian, so that they a...

On Names

Note : There are a lot of external links in this post. None of them should be affiliate links If they are, please let me know . Note2 : This has been bouncing around in my brain informally for a while, but putting it to pixel was prompted by Rook’s post on names on Beneath Foreign Planets as part of the RPG Blog Carnival . There’s a lot of great material that comes from these prompts. I encourage you, dear reader, to check that out. Note3 : Link to the GDoc version this post was originally composed in. On Names One of the holes new Game Masters fall into while playing D&D-esque games is names. I’ll start with random NPC names first, to get the subject out of the way: Make a d20 or d100 list of names for each gender, and for families. Either stick it on the fourth panel of your DM screen, or pre-roll five of each, and stick those lists on your fourth panel. If you need a list of real world names, use an onomastikon . Onomastikon “What is an on...

Item Durability

Item Quality Items come in three grades: Superior: masterwork items, four notches. They usually cost ten times the normal cost of such items. Most magic items are always made from masterwork base items. They may provide a minor intrinsic non-magical bonus (+1 to hit for weapons, a reduction of 1 to armor item penalties, or a +2 on tool use checks). Standard: a typical item, three notches. Poor: a poor quality item, two notches. They have a -1 penalty (-1 to damage for weapons, -1 AC for armor, or -2 on tool use checks for items). Notches Notches represent wear and tear equipment has taken. They affect performance in the following ways: Weapons Odd notches (first, third, etc.) inflict a -1 penalty to damage. Even notches (second, fourth, etc.) inflict a cumulative -1 penalty to hit. Armor Odd notches inflict a -1 penalty to checks due to damage. Even notches inflict a cumulative -1 penalty to AC. Items This requires some interpretation by the GM. In...

Elemental Reductions

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