Don't you just hate railroading? ugh.

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It’s not really a “house” - It’s Kolat Towers. Kolat Towers is a pair of wizard towers surrounded by a small compound. There’s a lot of spare rooms.

Blubber28,

They already lived together huh…

So they were roommates?

DmMacniel,
@DmMacniel@feddit.de avatar

Oh god they were roommates!

ahdok,
@ahdok@ttrpg.network avatar

Heh… well, the party uh… “acquired” Kolat towers, a pair of wizard towers with a large attached compound - and converted the place into a home base. Kolat towers has enough space to house about 50 people comfortably.

AOCapitulator,
@AOCapitulator@hexbear.net avatar

I didn’t realize until now that this is your work, very well done!

ahdok,
@ahdok@ttrpg.network avatar

https://ttrpg.network/pictrs/image/568e01ca-bd90-4de8-8a46-56ac76d4a6f3.png

sammytheman666,

But… what is railroading here ?

ahdok,
@ahdok@ttrpg.network avatar

Just a little joke.

“Railroading” is when the DM of your game removes choices, or only gives you once choice for where the story is going next. Because “your place” and “my place” are the same place, the joke is that this is a railroad story - it’s just a joke, not serious.

sammytheman666,

Huh. Okay. I missed that joke sorry with the title. But yeah, thank you, I know what railroading is.

Gormadt,
@Gormadt@lemmy.blahaj.zone avatar

Funnily enough railroading doesn’t really bug me if it’s done in more broad strokes

Basically the players talk about their goals with the campaign in session zero and the railroad is basically the road trip getting the stuff the players want to do done

The broad strokes are things defined beforehand but the finer details are purely up to the players

So basically a wandering road trip rather than a railroad

ahdok,
@ahdok@ttrpg.network avatar

“Railroading” is often used overbroadly to the point of meaninglessness. My title here is supposed to be poking fun at that a little.

As a negative term “railroading” is supposed to refer to when you actively prevent the players from exploring or doing something they want to do, and that should work, because it doesn’t follow a set path you’ve planned out:

Example: you plan for a villain to taunt the characters, fight them briefly, and then escape. The players do better in the combat than you expected, and would have removed all his HP, so you bump the HP up, then on his turn have him cast dimension door to escape. When a character counterspells the dimension door, you give him counterspell to counter that counterspell. When a second counterspell happens, you have one of his mooks pull out a scroll of counterspell and use it… Because you need him to escape for your plot, so you force it.

That’s negative railroading. It’s much better to let them succeed, then alter your plans for future sessions accordingly. Maybe there’s more to the evil scheme than just this one guy, maybe they won the day and stopped the threat and the next arc is something else (and maybe you can re-use that dungeon you already planned out)

It’s perfectly okay, and in fact often a good idea, to plan out the broad strokes of your story in advance, you need to plan something and you can’t plan for everything - so having a good idea of what’s coming is usually the right move - it’s only bad if you refuse to let the story go to other places.

Gormadt,
@Gormadt@lemmy.blahaj.zone avatar

My friend you put that exceptionally

sammytheman666,

Yesterday, I had a bad session, and I wish to have a second opinion.

There is railroading, a concept that you talked a lot about, and I wish to present to your wisdom this new concept that I will call : gagging.

Gagging is when a DM… talks to much. Maybe it’s describing every single action and consequence, maybe it’s overdescripting areas and people, maybe it’s not letting the players talk enough when it’s their time, it’s something in between these 3 and more.

Every player know not to interrupt the DM. So that also means that as the DM, you might want to consider if what you are saying matters enough, interests the players, is required or not, and if your players are receptive to it to some degree.

I think it’s a bigger problem whenever a DM is following a module… badly. By badly, I mean they want to convey everything the module tells them to convey, but they also try to put their spin on it, making them talk more hesitantly, slower, with more pauses. If they would just read the descriptions aloud, it would be smoother and faster. If it were their creation, they probably could give details and descriptions easier since it’s theirs. But when DMs try to go in between and don’t prepare enough, it makes every description a crawl that you stop listening to midpoint because you know it won’t really matter enough to force yourself to listen to it.

The main point of gagging as a concept to me is not so much to force players down a specific path without their input, as railroading is more or less that but with nuances, but more a way to keep the players from talking and inputing their choices, dialog or interactions into the game.

Since DMs have the mike when they talk, and since interrupting them is taboo (which I fully agree with), it then becomes very important to weight what they say and how they say it in a way that don’t turn players off.

And yes, yesterday I had what I would call a gagging DM. It wasn’t the first session with them, but probably the last, as I lost complete interest in the campaign. Not only because of the gagging of course. But it fucking sucks for me to leave a campaign in which I had some amount of fun, but not enough to stick around.

ahdok,
@ahdok@ttrpg.network avatar

Generally speaking, if the style of a table just isn’t right for you, and you’re not having fun, it’s better to drop than it is to just carry on attending and feel miserable about it.

However, you may not want to drop in some instances - maybe the DM is a close friend and you want to support them, maybe you don’t have any other options for campaigns to join, maybe you’ve got sunk costs and you’re near the end and you just want to see it out, etc…

In that case you could try talking to the DM about it to help them improve… Not in a “hey you suck” kind of way, but in a “Can we talk? I’ve got some suggestions that might help make the game better” kind of way.

If it’s a close group of friends you could try running a side campaign or a mini-campaign yourself, and, provide the group examples where the game runs a little better (not in a “you’re doing it wrong let me show you” kind of way, just in a “hey I have a mini-campaign I’d like to run” kind of way.)

Remember that no DM is perfect, and everyone is learning and improving all the time, and that the primary purpose of playing together is to have fun.

sammytheman666,

I thank you for your advice. I dropped out, as I’m not particularly close to the DM or the group.

Funny enough, except for 1 player everyone has been a player at my table before for several months. It felt kinda weird to be amongst ex-players at the table. So it’s not like I wanted to stay at all costs. Plus I had a few… unspoken differents with the DM. Not big and bad things, but some things that we never talked about before I became a player at his table.

What do you think of my concept ? About gagging ?

Another good example that made me had my jaw dropped for real was the time that we had a new player (nice!) intro into a tavern (classic) but then the DM bulldozered over the introduction and sent us straight to our objective before we had time to say anything more than Hi. I felt gagged as never before that time.

Plus for me as a DM, players talking to each other in character is GOLD. It’s precious. It’s fun. It explores their characters and bond them together tightly more than quests or NPCs ever could. Plus it saves your preps for next session as time goes by. So for me, going over that and taking it away is like watching a DMPC doing all of the saving. It’s a no-no squared.

ahdok,
@ahdok@ttrpg.network avatar

I haven’t heard “gagging” used as a specific term of art, in tabletop, but I have heard it used in improv circles.

It’s normally pretty bad to shut players down at the table. As a DM, you should normally be happy that your players are roleplaying, it means they’re having fun and you get a little break where you can just sit and listen, or think about what you’re going to do next.

There are a number of cases where you do want to stop players talking too much.

  1. If one player monopolizes the roleplay/spotlight, as a DM you might want to close them down to let the other players have a go… It’s generally best to interrupt with something that brings a quiet or shy player to the forefront.
  2. Sometimes you genuinely want to interrupt a conversation for narrative impact - maybe in a light-hearted game, a character is about to reveal their deep dark secret, and you want to interrupt the discussion with a fight to make a comedic cliffhanger. Maybe your scenario has things happening in real-time and you’re tracking how much time the PCs “waste” talking their plans over.
  3. Sometimes, players can get bogged down planning what they’re going to do next in excruciating detail - like they think there’s a big threat in the next room, so they spend an hour discussing plans for which spells to put up, what items they’re going to use, who’s going to focus on what tactics etc etc. This can often be an activity that takes whole sessions, and isn’t that interesting - so you might want to put a stop to that. The best way to do this is if you have an NPC voice in the party who can get fed up and suggest they wrap it up. It can be a very good thing to move the characters on if you know for sure the planning is meaningless (e.g. If you know the next room is empty and all the enemies are gone)
  4. If you’re running a game to a tight time schedule, it can be important to keep the pace of the game up. The most common situation for this is a one-shot, where you want to get to the conclusion within a set time limit. If you have a limited number of hours for a scenario, you need to get through your content.

In my experience for one-shots It’s generally good to plan one or two encounters that you don’t “need” and aim to run them, but if your players get into the RP, just quietly drop the random battle on the road. This gives you the flexibility to let them RP if they’re into it, but the content to fill the session if they’re not.

As always use your judgement and try to read the table, pay attention to who’s engaged and having fun, or who’s looking at their phone, and base your decisions on what you think will be most fun for the players.

ahdok,
@ahdok@ttrpg.network avatar

I haven’t heard “gagging” used as a specific term of art, in tabletop, but I have heard it used in improv circles.

It’s normally pretty bad to shut players down at the table. As a DM, you should normally be happy that your players are roleplaying, it means they’re having fun and you get a little break where you can just sit and listen, or think about what you’re going to do next.

There are a number of cases where you do want to stop players talking too much. (This is not exhaustive, just some examples.)

  1. If one player monopolizes the roleplay/spotlight, as a DM you might want to close them down to let the other players have a go… It’s generally best to interrupt with something that brings a quiet or shy player to the forefront.
  2. Sometimes you genuinely want to interrupt a conversation for narrative impact - maybe in a light-hearted game, a character is about to reveal their deep dark secret, and you want to interrupt the discussion with a fight to make a comedic cliffhanger. Maybe your scenario has things happening in real-time and you’re tracking how much time the PCs “waste” talking their plans over.
  3. Sometimes, players can get bogged down planning what they’re going to do next in excruciating detail - like they think there’s a big threat in the next room, so they spend an hour discussing plans for which spells to put up, what items they’re going to use, who’s going to focus on what tactics etc etc. This can often be an activity that takes whole sessions, and isn’t that interesting - so you might want to put a stop to that. The best way to do this is if you have an NPC voice in the party who can get fed up and suggest they wrap it up. It can be a very good thing to move the characters on if you know for sure the planning is meaningless (e.g. If you know the next room is empty and all the enemies are gone)
  4. If you’re running a game to a tight time schedule, it can be important to keep the pace of the game up. The most common situation for this is a one-shot, where you want to get to the conclusion within a set time limit. If you have a limited number of hours for a scenario, you need to get through your content. In my experience for one-shots It’s generally good to plan one or two encounters that you don’t “need” and aim to run them, but if your players get into the RP, just quietly drop the random battle on the road. This gives you the flexibility to let them RP if they’re into it, but the content to fill the session if they’re not.

As always use your judgement and try to read the table, pay attention to who’s engaged and having fun, or who’s looking at their phone, and base your decisions on what you think will be most fun for the players.

Syncrossus,

Reading your comics has accidentally become part of my daily routine, and one of my most favorite at that. Konsi is so cute, and her and Razira are especially cute and wholesome together. Thanks for brightening up my days like this.

AOCapitulator,
@AOCapitulator@hexbear.net avatar

fuck yeah

ahdok,
@ahdok@ttrpg.network avatar

Sadly, we are going to run out in (counts) fifteen comics - at which point I’ll be posting these a lot less frequently, but I’ll still be making them :)

Fortunately, in October… I’ll be drawing a Konsi every day for Gobtober.

Kyoyeou,

Impatient for Gobtober then!

figaro,

Saaaaame I love them so much. I favorited the author in my Lemmy app so I can jump right to it in the morning 😁

VindictiveJudge,

She may live in her house, but they’re still in different rooms (for now) so they technically each have their own place. Which means Razira asked a valid question, more or less.

uphillbothways,
@uphillbothways@kbin.social avatar

There being a landlord dynamic in this fictional relationship makes it way less cute. The real enchantment was the threat of homelessness all along.

ahdok,
@ahdok@ttrpg.network avatar

The idea that Konsi would kick someone out on the street is pretty far-fetched.

uphillbothways,
@uphillbothways@kbin.social avatar

That doesn't mean Razira wouldn't feel disadvantaged or pressured to react a certain way in the power dynamic. It doesn't have to do with Konsi's internal dialogue. This has been established for reason most commonly in lawsuits dealing with sexual harassment between supervisors and their reporting employees.

ahdok, (edited )
@ahdok@ttrpg.network avatar

First of all, Razira propositioned Konsi, Konsi hasn’t “pressured” her to do anything. Quite the opposite in fact, Konsi tried to talk her out of it at first.

Secondly Razira’s a traveling paladin - she spends most of her time on the road, and only stops in the city occasionally, most days she camps on the road.

Thirdly, both of them have a permanent home in the temple, nobody’s ever going to be “homeless”

These things have all been established in the narrative of this comic already.

Fourthly, Konsi isn’t Razira’s “landlord”. Razira doesn’t “pay rent”. They just live together.

Fifthly, “my house” here is shorthand for a large compound that the adventurers own jointly. Razira is one of those owners as well.

figaro,

It looks like the person asking the question here is speaking from a place of hurt and their own difficult personal experiences, which might have made them sensitive to things that remind them of something that happened to them.

That said, it is extremely clear that there is nothing improper going on. Konsi would probably be 100% aware of some kind of improper relationship in the first place and wouldn’t let it happen.

Anyway. Konsi anime when 😅

Marchioness,

Dude, this is a light-hearted cute comic about people falling in love. It’s not really an appropriate venue for accusing the author of romanticising sexual harassment in the workplace.

uphillbothways,
@uphillbothways@kbin.social avatar

I'm not accusing her of doing that on purpose. I'm informing her that it reads that way to people who've been subject to similar situations in the past.

Marchioness,

If your takeaway from this is that it’s “sexual harassment” then that’s a you problem.

Marchioness,

“I’m not accusing her of doing that on purpose” means you ARE accusing her of doing that, which is fucking ridiculous.

uphillbothways,
@uphillbothways@kbin.social avatar

It absolutely does not. Please stop.

Marchioness,

Oh I’m sorry, I don’t mean to say you accused her of doing that on purpose, I’m informing you that it reads that way to other people.

bradorsomething,

“Konsi’s Home for Wayward Liches”

ahdok,
@ahdok@ttrpg.network avatar

In the previous comic, Addis mentioned that Konsi had “built and hallowed her own temple”

What Konsi actually built is a lodge house for goblins within the city. Goblins who come and join her cause get to live there, while they’re given support and advice on integrating with Waterdeep society (lessons in common, teaching in the law, societal expectations of behaviour, regular baths, etc.) - There’s a shrine to Tymora in the lodge where regular services are held. It can house about 40 goblins.

So… “Konsi’s home for wayward goblins” is… sort of a real thing. Most recently we used it to help rehome a tribe of kobold refugees (we sort of killed their dragon.)

Sunfoil,

Maybe there are good renters protections. Maybe property is so plentiful that rent is less than a loaf of bread and no one is homeless. It’s a light hearted fantasy comic. Your hatred for landlords doesn’t need to be applied to all things.

shani66,
@shani66@burggit.moe avatar

What threat of homelessness? Razira is a paladin, she can, and is expected to, live out of temples and strongholds of her order. Besides there are much bigger power dynamics of you really care about that sorta thing. Konsi literally talks to razira’s god, and they both know it.

ahdok,
@ahdok@ttrpg.network avatar

They both believe that the other one has higher rank and standing. Konsi’s wrong. :)

WeLoveCastingSpellz,

These are my fave part of lemmy

jounniy,

What would Konsi do should they have a serious fight? Throw her out?

ahdok,
@ahdok@ttrpg.network avatar

https://ttrpg.network/pictrs/image/3550a279-0058-4872-9769-512e3f13a38d.png

RIPandTERROR,

Delete this you monster

Konsi no cry

MentalEdge,
@MentalEdge@sopuli.xyz avatar

Serious question: How did you draw this, your vision blurred by the tears borne of the mere idea of sad Konsi?

ahdok,
@ahdok@ttrpg.network avatar

I am too powerful to be stopped.

DmMacniel,
@DmMacniel@feddit.de avatar

Awww Konsi in the last… last two… in every panel is so cute and adorable!

ahdok,
@ahdok@ttrpg.network avatar

https://ttrpg.network/pictrs/image/208654b5-80d0-4a2b-8aeb-064e63291339.png

DmMacniel,
@DmMacniel@feddit.de avatar

How many do you have of those face reactions?! Its impressive!

ahdok,
@ahdok@ttrpg.network avatar

Hmm.

https://ttrpg.network/pictrs/image/11a02561-73e2-49fa-9e1a-de368dbc778f.png

Johanno,

Woooow

Dre_Shalom,

Why do you have one named KonsiDead.png??

ANSWER ME

VindictiveJudge,

I’m more curious about the existence of KonsiSlime.png, to be honest.

ahdok,
@ahdok@ttrpg.network avatar

Kyrzin’s ooze.

ahdok,
@ahdok@ttrpg.network avatar

So I can make my DM feel bad if he knocks her unconscious during a fight.

GreasyTengu,
@GreasyTengu@sh.itjust.works avatar

Now im imagining a set of emotes for Mystery, but its all the same image.

BeigeAgenda,
@BeigeAgenda@lemmy.ca avatar

Someone from the Unicode consortium should donate a block to you.

Kyrzin/Konzi emojis!

ahdok,
@ahdok@ttrpg.network avatar

I started these just for fun a couple years ago. I wanted practice drawing different facial expressions, and I was starting playing this campaign, I had drawn the token marked “Konsiyoung” there for playing my character on vtt, and I decided to flesh it out by drawing six faces for Konsi with different expressions (tthose ones here are “angry, cry, dead, grin, stun, and tongue”

Obviously, some of my other players wanted tokens too, so I added those… and then I was running a campaign as well, so I drew some faces for that… and pretty quickly I had about 20 tokens (about half of them Konsi faces)

These tokens look really good in VTT. The thick black linework and pencil texture makes characters “pop” compared to the background, and gives them a distinctive look compared to normal monster tokens (which are usually crops of more detailed painterly art)

https://ttrpg.network/pictrs/image/fb4fb3a3-a0c4-42a3-b093-011e8afa45f3.png

https://ttrpg.network/pictrs/image/2ebbb019-15b8-4cc5-8642-f224fb86e0fb.png

So, I decided every couple weeks I’d draw a few extra tokens to start bulking out the collection - with the eventual aim of providing a nice comprehensive “token pack” for people to use. Because I draw characters in all of my campaigns, it’s pretty lopsided right now. Lots and lots of gnomes and goblins, very few dwarves or elves…

At the moment, it’s a pretty decent collection, if you just want some quick tokens for various NPCs it’s pretty good… but I’m going to keep adding to it.

jballs,

Now I feel like we need to see more of Chicken Bot.

ahdok,
@ahdok@ttrpg.network avatar

That’s Sergeant Peckers… He’s an Artificer-Artillerist’s cannon.

figaro,

Any chance these could become a telegram sticker pack?

ahdok,
@ahdok@ttrpg.network avatar

I don’t really know how to make that, and I don’t use telegram, but if you want to make that you’re very welcome to!

These images work really well as “stickers” on a platform like discord, but they’re a little too complex for emotes. (At emote scale they look a bit confused and jumbled)

If you want the raw files I put them in a public dropbox here

You’re welcome to use these, or any of my art, for any purpose you like. This includes remixing it, using it in your vtt games, using it as an avatar on websites etc. The one exception I have is selling my art for money - if people want commercial-use work from me, they should talk to me about it :)

You don’t have to credit me, but if you want to it’s appreciated.

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