MerricB
@merricb.bsky.social
Australian gamer and occasional reviewer and blogger. D&D, TTRPGs, various computer games.
The most significant factor in the long-term success of a TTRPG, IMO, is how it sustains being played again, again and again by the same group.
The initial success requires a hook of some sort. Either a quality game+concept (and luck), or borrowing a quality concept from elsewhere.
The initial success requires a hook of some sort. Either a quality game+concept (and luck), or borrowing a quality concept from elsewhere.
May 16, 2025 at 10:32 AM
The most significant factor in the long-term success of a TTRPG, IMO, is how it sustains being played again, again and again by the same group.
The initial success requires a hook of some sort. Either a quality game+concept (and luck), or borrowing a quality concept from elsewhere.
The initial success requires a hook of some sort. Either a quality game+concept (and luck), or borrowing a quality concept from elsewhere.
The series I have the most platinums in is Yakuza - 8 so far - with Final Fantasy having 6 and Assassin's Creed having 5.
There are a lot of VERY good games that I've played, especially story-based games.
There are a lot of VERY good games that I've played, especially story-based games.
May 8, 2025 at 12:18 PM
The series I have the most platinums in is Yakuza - 8 so far - with Final Fantasy having 6 and Assassin's Creed having 5.
There are a lot of VERY good games that I've played, especially story-based games.
There are a lot of VERY good games that I've played, especially story-based games.
I've now owned a Playstation for 3 years. In that time, I've played 111 games enough to get at least one trophy, 57 of them to end credits, and 26 obsessively enough to get the platinum trophy...
May 8, 2025 at 12:18 PM
I've now owned a Playstation for 3 years. In that time, I've played 111 games enough to get at least one trophy, 57 of them to end credits, and 26 obsessively enough to get the platinum trophy...
Reposted by MerricB
My beloved Moonshae campaign is going to be available on the DMs Guild in bundle form. The first bundle is now available, and it's a bargain!
The Rising Shadows Introduction bundle deal is available now from @baldmangames.bsky.social
Get it here: tinyurl.com/mr2y8vt3
With four 90-minute introductory adventures & four 2-hour adventures, this bundle has everything you need to begin your epic journey in the Rising Shadows campaign. #dnd5e
Get it here: tinyurl.com/mr2y8vt3
With four 90-minute introductory adventures & four 2-hour adventures, this bundle has everything you need to begin your epic journey in the Rising Shadows campaign. #dnd5e
May 7, 2025 at 10:31 PM
My beloved Moonshae campaign is going to be available on the DMs Guild in bundle form. The first bundle is now available, and it's a bargain!
Reposted by MerricB
The ebook package for my 5e book of ten 5e subterranean adventures, Ruins of the Grendleroot, is on sale for $5!
shop.slyflourish.com/collections/...
#dnd #ttrpg
shop.slyflourish.com/collections/...
#dnd #ttrpg
Fantastic Adventures: Ruins of the Grendleroot (PDF + Map Pack)
Ruins of the Grendleroot is a book of ten easy-to-prep and easy-to-run adventures for the fifth edition of the world's most popular fantasy roleplaying game. Designed for characters of 1st to 5th level, these adventures take place in the caverns, chambers, tunnels, and ruins of Blackclaw Mountain, within which lurks a
shop.slyflourish.com
April 28, 2025 at 1:13 PM
The ebook package for my 5e book of ten 5e subterranean adventures, Ruins of the Grendleroot, is on sale for $5!
shop.slyflourish.com/collections/...
#dnd #ttrpg
shop.slyflourish.com/collections/...
#dnd #ttrpg
Ran a session last night with a monster from Kobold Press that could hide in sand as a bonus action. When used with the 2024 rule that one character finding it, finds it for all - felt pretty good.
Wish the rest of the 2024 hiding rules were well written and explained. (Errata has not helped).
Wish the rest of the 2024 hiding rules were well written and explained. (Errata has not helped).
April 29, 2025 at 1:58 AM
Ran a session last night with a monster from Kobold Press that could hide in sand as a bonus action. When used with the 2024 rule that one character finding it, finds it for all - felt pretty good.
Wish the rest of the 2024 hiding rules were well written and explained. (Errata has not helped).
Wish the rest of the 2024 hiding rules were well written and explained. (Errata has not helped).
The time on the weekend I didn't spend playing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was spent thinking about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
April 28, 2025 at 3:45 AM
The time on the weekend I didn't spend playing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was spent thinking about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
It's one of the few 3.5E books I didn't pick up. That and Tome of Magic.
Meanwhile, my campaigns made EXTENSIVE use of Magic of Incarnum.
Meanwhile, my campaigns made EXTENSIVE use of Magic of Incarnum.
April 24, 2025 at 5:36 AM
It's one of the few 3.5E books I didn't pick up. That and Tome of Magic.
Meanwhile, my campaigns made EXTENSIVE use of Magic of Incarnum.
Meanwhile, my campaigns made EXTENSIVE use of Magic of Incarnum.
How many times do you have to run a published adventure to really understand its potential?
For some of them, once is definitely not enough! (And yeah, there are published adventures I'd *definitely* run again).
For some of them, once is definitely not enough! (And yeah, there are published adventures I'd *definitely* run again).
April 24, 2025 at 5:26 AM
How many times do you have to run a published adventure to really understand its potential?
For some of them, once is definitely not enough! (And yeah, there are published adventures I'd *definitely* run again).
For some of them, once is definitely not enough! (And yeah, there are published adventures I'd *definitely* run again).
The mechanics aren't well distributed or balanced. Vex is just so, so good for the dex paladin in the group. While others feel like "whatever".
Thankfully, I haven't had to deal with topple/pushing much.
Thankfully, I haven't had to deal with topple/pushing much.
April 24, 2025 at 2:04 AM
The mechanics aren't well distributed or balanced. Vex is just so, so good for the dex paladin in the group. While others feel like "whatever".
Thankfully, I haven't had to deal with topple/pushing much.
Thankfully, I haven't had to deal with topple/pushing much.
I was just thinking about how much I hate the Steady Aim ability for rogues... So random for me to get upset by, but still...
April 24, 2025 at 1:49 AM
I was just thinking about how much I hate the Steady Aim ability for rogues... So random for me to get upset by, but still...
There are things in it which are fantastic improvements... but so much stuff that I dislike as well.
Never had an edition - including 4E - which gave me this reaction.
Never had an edition - including 4E - which gave me this reaction.
April 24, 2025 at 1:40 AM
There are things in it which are fantastic improvements... but so much stuff that I dislike as well.
Never had an edition - including 4E - which gave me this reaction.
Never had an edition - including 4E - which gave me this reaction.
In D&D 2014, the shadow was incorporeal, and that was represented in the mechanics by making it resistant to normal weapons and giving it resistance to elemental damage.
In D&D 2024, they removed the resistance to normal weapons and gave it more hit points. BUT KEPT ELEMENTAL RESISTANCES!
In D&D 2024, they removed the resistance to normal weapons and gave it more hit points. BUT KEPT ELEMENTAL RESISTANCES!
April 24, 2025 at 1:35 AM
In D&D 2014, the shadow was incorporeal, and that was represented in the mechanics by making it resistant to normal weapons and giving it resistance to elemental damage.
In D&D 2024, they removed the resistance to normal weapons and gave it more hit points. BUT KEPT ELEMENTAL RESISTANCES!
In D&D 2024, they removed the resistance to normal weapons and gave it more hit points. BUT KEPT ELEMENTAL RESISTANCES!
I *really* liked D&D 2014. But I feel that I may need to homebrew the game a lot now to get the game to a place that I like.
April 24, 2025 at 1:20 AM
I *really* liked D&D 2014. But I feel that I may need to homebrew the game a lot now to get the game to a place that I like.
I am not a big homebrewer. I like using the pieces of the rules other people have designed to create my adventures and campaigns.
But D&D 2024 has gone in a direction that I dislike. A lot of the underlying philosophy of character abilities and monster design is antithetical to how I want to play.
But D&D 2024 has gone in a direction that I dislike. A lot of the underlying philosophy of character abilities and monster design is antithetical to how I want to play.
April 24, 2025 at 1:18 AM
I am not a big homebrewer. I like using the pieces of the rules other people have designed to create my adventures and campaigns.
But D&D 2024 has gone in a direction that I dislike. A lot of the underlying philosophy of character abilities and monster design is antithetical to how I want to play.
But D&D 2024 has gone in a direction that I dislike. A lot of the underlying philosophy of character abilities and monster design is antithetical to how I want to play.
Reposted by MerricB
The Lower Twelve – a City of Arches Supplement: Sly Flourish Patreon Exclusive
https://www.patreon.com/posts/lower-twelve-of-126938980
#dnd #ttrpg
https://www.patreon.com/posts/lower-twelve-of-126938980
#dnd #ttrpg
April 24, 2025 at 12:45 AM
The Lower Twelve – a City of Arches Supplement: Sly Flourish Patreon Exclusive
https://www.patreon.com/posts/lower-twelve-of-126938980
#dnd #ttrpg
https://www.patreon.com/posts/lower-twelve-of-126938980
#dnd #ttrpg
I was trying to remember which of the other JRPGs I was playing recently where damage type also mattered a lot - and now I remember it was Yakuza: Like A Dragon (and Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth).
Because each character had different abilities, your choices mattered.
Because each character had different abilities, your choices mattered.
April 24, 2025 at 12:15 AM
I was trying to remember which of the other JRPGs I was playing recently where damage type also mattered a lot - and now I remember it was Yakuza: Like A Dragon (and Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth).
Because each character had different abilities, your choices mattered.
Because each character had different abilities, your choices mattered.
Just drop it on them. Let them figure it out... :)
April 24, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Just drop it on them. Let them figure it out... :)
Thinking about magic weapons in D&D 5E and 2024:
merricb.com/2025/04/24/i...
merricb.com/2025/04/24/i...
I Want Magic Weapons to Matter - Merric's Musings
There’s part of me that wants to put monsters that can only be hit by +1, +2 or even +3 weapons back into the game. And you’re wondering, “Why do you hate your players so much?” “I’m an old school DM....
merricb.com
April 24, 2025 at 12:01 AM
Thinking about magic weapons in D&D 5E and 2024:
merricb.com/2025/04/24/i...
merricb.com/2025/04/24/i...
Imagine a monster with the following immunities and resistances:
Immune: non-magical weapons
Resistant: magical weapons of less than +2.
Very alien to the 2024 D&D mindset, but something I'm considering introducing to my game.
Immune: non-magical weapons
Resistant: magical weapons of less than +2.
Very alien to the 2024 D&D mindset, but something I'm considering introducing to my game.
April 23, 2025 at 3:39 AM
Imagine a monster with the following immunities and resistances:
Immune: non-magical weapons
Resistant: magical weapons of less than +2.
Very alien to the 2024 D&D mindset, but something I'm considering introducing to my game.
Immune: non-magical weapons
Resistant: magical weapons of less than +2.
Very alien to the 2024 D&D mindset, but something I'm considering introducing to my game.
Approach *may* be intended to work with the target using the Dash action. And if a rogue, also Cunning Action to Dash. (The wording with Flee sort of implies that).
It's very imprecise, though.
(Also, shout "Approach" to a creature on top of a 60-foot cliff!)
It's very imprecise, though.
(Also, shout "Approach" to a creature on top of a 60-foot cliff!)
April 23, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Approach *may* be intended to work with the target using the Dash action. And if a rogue, also Cunning Action to Dash. (The wording with Flee sort of implies that).
It's very imprecise, though.
(Also, shout "Approach" to a creature on top of a 60-foot cliff!)
It's very imprecise, though.
(Also, shout "Approach" to a creature on top of a 60-foot cliff!)
I may have lost a couple of days because I discovered Blue Prince.
April 22, 2025 at 2:27 AM
I may have lost a couple of days because I discovered Blue Prince.
Mixing 4E material with 5E? Heresy! ;)
April 22, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Mixing 4E material with 5E? Heresy! ;)