I find that it does me no harm for the players to be successful in the game, but I do like to jab in issues to what they are doing.
For example, they were successful in leading a war against an Elder Brain, but that win allowed another evil to gain in power, and changed the political landscape in the game permanently.
So it gives them a thing to look towards, but they still succeeded in what they wanted to do.
Not to mention, when they can't find the note in someone's pocket, because their investigation roll is too low, it might be better to tilt the luck in their favor.
So degrees of success: So if a standard success is DC15, and -5 is DC10 to get it with a complication, and -10 is DC5 to mean they fail (maybe they get pointed in the opposite direction, or are given the information in a way that leaves them suspicious).
So after that what happens with the +5? I mean I succeeded already... so I like maybe adding some money into the same pocket, or something like that.
I just got my copy of Knave version 2 and there's this line that stuck out to me:
SCHEME
Think laterally, not linearly. Avoid risky plans that require you to roll dice and instead create plans so bulletproof that success is certain. Use psychology, magic, allies, equipment, and the environment to overcome obstacles rather than relying on ability checks.
I can't wait to try doing that in my next D&D campaign. This was listed under "player responsibilities" and there's some other bangers in there too - like this:
TAKE INITIATIVE
Set your own goals and make your own fun. Seek out adventure rather than waiting for it to come to you.
I wish every player I ever had read that single page. And I wish I had read the "DM responsibilities" listed just one page prior. It's a really great game! I'm also into OSE, or Old School Essentials. What kind of D&D do you like?
@gabrilend My biggest influences would be: Advanced Dungeons and Dragons 2nd, 4th and 5th edition, Pathfinder 2e, Big Eyes Small Mouth, Blades in the Dark, Core20, Kids on Bikes, Alessia
More recently I'm really into Bind rpg (as in I'm planning to run a game of it).
I've also played Vampire, Kids on Broom, Anime 5e (BESM 5e version), and Feng Shui.
I love reading systems, so I have read more than I have played, but a lot of times they don't add anything new. So to me there's a ton of redundant systems out there.
That's why I spent like a year even thinking about putting out Anarchy Realms. I had to have something actually unique on a system level, or else I was just not going to bother.
whoa, sounds like we have un-similar influences! Together, with our powers combined, we could be unstoppable >: )
I love systems, but I like writing them, not reading them. I guess that difference is why I gravitated toward OSR style games and you to AD&D and 4e! Pathfinder 2e I haven't read all the way through but what I did read felt like "the good parts of 5th with the good parts of 4th" which I thought was pretty neat.
Most of the rest I haven't heard of before, alas, that's what we get for contributing to and engaging with a scene. =P
@gabrilend Scheme line reminds me a lot of AD&D2e. You would often need to have plans and followers and hirelings. But I feel like dice rolling has a great place in the game, you just have to figure out your balance for it.
The thing is, dice are needed to make it a game. Otherwise its pretend out in the playground. I mean, I'll MAKE up things for players to roll, cause there is no way I'm going to rely on my opinion on whether everyone and everything involved lines up.
heh true - my roots in role-playing games are directly from the playground, so it makes sense that I'd gravitate away from dice that are hard to roll when you're on a hike or bike ride. Can only really play D&D on a bike when you're in the country though, otherwise the sounds of a city are too noisy.
Also, systems that are so simple you can keep a character sheet in your mind.
@gabrilend I love hearing from people who play outside of how I do. I could run games like that, and usually run intro games off the top of my head.
I just don't like holding too much info in there. Limited space (Johnny Mnemonic style)