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Death Saves Alternatives

Before we dive into any changes, let's review the basic rules first. Death Saves in D&D 5e: What they are and how to use them . Death saving throws are an important part of Dungeons & Dragons 5e. They decide if a character survives after being knocked out by damage. The summary of the rules for them is: Rolling a d20: At the start of each turn after a character drops to 0 hit points, roll a d20. A roll of 10 or higher is a success, while a roll of 9 or lower is a failure. Stabilisation: If a character rolls three successes before three failures, they stabilise and are no longer in danger of dying. If they roll three failures, they die. Stabilisation Methods: Allies can stabilise a character by performing a DC 10 Wisdom (Medicine) check. If successful, the character becomes stable and stops making death saves. Healing: Any healing spell or potion that gives the character 1 hit point or more restores them to consciousness and resets the death saving throw count. Understandi...

Death Saves Alternatives

Before we dive into any changes, let's review the basic rules first. Death Saves in D&D 5e: What they are and how to use them . Death saving throws are an important part of Dungeons & Dragons 5e. They decide if a character survives after being knocked out by damage. The summary of the rules for them is: Rolling a d20: At the start of each turn after a character drops to 0 hit points, roll a d20. A roll of 10 or higher is a success, while a roll of 9 or lower is a failure. Stabilisation: If a character rolls three successes before three failures, they stabilise and are no longer in danger of dying. If they roll three failures, they die. Stabilisation Methods: Allies can stabilise a character by performing a DC 10 Wisdom (Medicine) check. If successful, the character becomes stable and stops making death saves. Healing: Any healing spell or potion that gives the character 1 hit point or more restores them to consciousness and resets the death saving throw count. Understandi...

Further GM Tips

 Introduction trope revised Rather than bump into each other in a tavern, and then spotting a cloaked figure in the bar to get information/quest. Have the characters individually been asked to meet here by an acquaintance they all share During Session 0, ask each player   How their characters feel about turning up on time? How they answer this dictates how and when they arrive. As they arrive, this is a way for characters to introduce themselves, by their looks, actions and then when they sit. What's the first thing they do when they enter the tavern? What do they order? Do they tip the bartender? Where do they sit at the table? What do they do if someone is sitting where they wanted to sit? Now they have all arrived, rather than a cloaked figure in the corner trope, the figure sits down at the last seat at the table, and can cut straight to the chase as they have been invited there with something like “Good, good you are all here, I find introductions tiresome, let'...

What is "Stars and Wishes"?

How the Stars and Wishes Feedback System Works "Stars and Wishes" is a feedback tool designed to enhance communication and improve the gaming experience. It consists of two main components: This system stands out for its straightforward and positive approach. Instead of dwelling on negatives, wishes turn potential critiques into opportunities for improvement. This method keeps the group focused, strengthens storytelling, and helps maintain enthusiasm throughout long campaigns What are Stars and Wishes? What Are Stars? Stars represent the positive aspects of the game session. Stars highlight the standout moments in your TTRPG session - the ones that made the experience enjoyable and memorable, such as memorable role-playing, clever strategies, or engaging storytelling. When sharing stars, players and GMs should focus on specific actions or events that added to the session. The key to effective stars is being detailed and genuine. Instead of saying something vag...

The Future

With December to March Rotation locked in now, what does the future bring? December 2023 rotation Last Rite of Seafire D&D by George Advanced Fighting Fantasy by Joe Mix by Andrew W and Richard T Village of Hommlet OSE by Graham The Last Hurrah D&D 5e by Helen Future Rotations WFRP campaign by Chris MG2e Traveller game by Richard T medley of indie story games ("The Indie Dozen") by James Star wars edge of the empire game by Shaun Fading Suns by Mareen Hard to Bard D&D 5e by Mark C ??? by Ben Ravenloft (1983) with OSE/AD&D by Graham Others in the mix but no rotation identified or selected Game Master  Jo F Dark Heresy 2e - Harrlock's Legacy Dredd Mouseguard Forbidden Lands Game Master  Dan C Dark Heresy 2e D&D 5e Game Master Richard T D&D 5e - Wild beyond the Witchlight D&D 5e - Theros System Star Wars - Scum and Villainy Game Master  Richard C D&D 5e - Isle of the dreaded accursed D&D 5e - North Hammer SAGA Game Master  Mark C Er...

An Interview with a GM - Richard T

When did you first start playing RPGs and what were they? Probably when i was around 10 with a friend whose father had the old Traveller little black books and Warhammer fantasy roleplay. Also a bit of D&D 4E at university. What was the most memorable part of those sessions? It’s a long time ago now but i think it was a combination of it just being the two of us and the extreme lethality of Warhammer! Why did you start GMing? Lots of reasons! I wanted to play some of the 2D6 games that others weren’t GMing, I love the rules for building sectors and worlds in Traveller (especially combined with some of the Stars Without Number ideas), and because i’ve been at the club for a couple of years now so it felt like it was time to give it a go! How long have you been GMing? This will be my first time other than running a small D&D one shot for a couple of friends. What systems have you GMed? Only D&D 5e before, but i’m looking forward to running some 2D6 systems. What are the p...

A Goblin’s Guide to Surviving

So you want to be a Goblin, but you don't want to be hunted and despised all your life, have stones or worse thrown at you or be killed on the whim of some other adventure? Here is some guiding steps for survival.... Step 1. The best defence is running away. Step 2. Avoid dark, damp, smelly, enclosed spaces. It maybe tempting to give into your natural instinct to skulk in some cozy cave or sewer somewhere. But in this world, these places are filled with monsters and… blech… eww… adventurers. People and things who won't think twice about skewering and/or possibly eating a lone goblin. Step 3. Move to the big city. The countryside is simply riddled with anti-goblin prejudice. But nobody notices nothing in the bustling byways of Waterdeep or Baldur’s Gate. Keep your nose clean(ish), find honest (or at least inconspicuously dishonest) work, and keep yourself to yourself. With so many other things to care about, nobody will even notice another goblin hanging around. Step 4. Make’m l...

Pick a game any game - December Rotation picks are up for your voting

December to March Rotation games are up for your selection Hobbits Hole Roleplaying Club - December to March Rotation https://forms.gle/JBn8xNkXKHcJdLCZA Last Rite of Seafire System D&D 5e Game Master George Port Blacksand System: Advanced Fighting Fantasy Game Master Jo F Walking Dead and Swords and Sandals System Free League and 2D6 Game Master Andrew W and Richard T   The Village of Hommlet System Old School Essentials Game Master Graham The Last Hurrah System D&D 5e Game Master Helen

Interview with a GM - James

When did you first start playing RPGs and what were they? I started in the late 90s, which IMHO was the worst time to get into the hobby! First game was my friend's Ravenloft campaign. What was the most memorable part of those sessions? I was about 15 and thought it would be a lark to play a character who was bascially Lord Flasheart from Blackadder. It was all giggles and catch-phrases until the character's girlfriend got eaten by spiders.  After that, he grew up a lot! It was really rewarding to see how much the character changed over about 6 months of play, especially his relationship with the other character (a stern paladin). By the end of the campaign, he was unrecognisable. We also made our own SciFi game, which could best be described as a "hot mess"! Why did you start GMing? To tell my own stories with friends. How long have you been GMing? Since the early noughties. To start with I wasn't really interested in mechanics but as I've tried more sys...

Interview with a GM - Graham

When did you first start playing RPGs and what were they? My first experience with RPGs was stumbling upon a box of RPG stuff in my Grand Parent’s attic when I was about 12. It had the first edition D&D red and blue basic/expert books, Tunnels and Trolls, Grimtooth’s book of traps and some others I forget.    I was pretty captivated by it all and I was allowed to take it all home. I read the D&D stuff and ended up running my own adventure for my younger sister and our cousins. They loved it!  I then, shortly after, started a new school and met some other students into similar stuff and we formed a club. We called it Roleplaying Club, which was rather uninspiring, and a kid into drama showed up and offered to make us a poster. He did a good job but finished it with the tag line ‘Guaranteed a Good Time’, which granted us ridicule around the school. He was rather disappointed when he finally sat down with us and realised it wasn’t a drama club.. What was the most mem...

Your picks for April Rotation please

 The form is up and live for your picks for April Rotation https://forms.gle/MR94eDxakFnys1ua9 For more information on each game please see  https://www.hobbitshole.uk/games/proposed-games/april-to-july-rotation The systems being played in April Rotation are D&D 5e, Warhammer, Dungeon Crawl Classics and Troika! The GMs are Andrew W, Chris , Graham, Jason and Liam

Interview with a GM - Dan C

When did you first start playing RPGs and what were they? I think I stared around 2012 maybe playing RPG around then. I think I started with 4e starter set and stars without number. What was the most memorable part of those sessions? I guess it would be leaning , playing characters and being able to just have a good time with friends. Why did you start GMing? I started GM due to likening the platform it gave me to be creative. I was interested it run and trying it and I was the only one to try and run a game with mix results . Being able to Roleplay was all ways the main thing and the world building side I loved. How long have you been GMing? About ten years a little more then that. What systems have you GMed? 4e D&D , Stars without number, 5e D&D ,Cyberpunk Red. What are the pleasures and pitfalls of GMing? The pleasure is down the creative, all the different venues that can be use as part of the game . Coming up with new idea try to get different engagement. The very act...

January Rotation - who is where, why, what and other W's

So who is in what game The When is Januarys Rotation Dragon of Icepire Peak System: D&D 5e Game Master  Jason Adi Chris J Helen H Marco Julia George F Two headed Serpent System Pulp Cthulhu D100 Game Master  Andy Andrew W Carol Freddie M Richard T Graham W Neil Ovion Office System D&D 5e Game Master Dan C Jerrie Josh Kat Ben Callum James Paranoia System Paranoia Game Master  Richard C Mark C Jo Will Liam Mohit Simon H Looking further forward we are looking for GMs and games for Aprils and August Rotations, and beyond. There are a few games in the brewing pot of potential games . Please provide feedback on popularity of options here . If you can let me know what rotation you wish to run these in and if they would be a double rotation game.

Interview with a GM - Jason J

When did you first start playing RPGs and what were they? I played a bit of D&D with my schoolmates in the 80’s. We were very into The Lord of the Rings and the myriad of fantasy books and movies that were popular back then, so discovering a RPG that let you be heroes in those worlds was very cool. It was only last year after I semi-retired that I decided to return to the hobby. What was the most memorable part of those sessions? There are a lot of differences between D&D of the 80’s and today! The game is so much more accessible with its streamlined rules and online tools, and there’s a much broader range of play styles out there. But I still get the same buzz when the group is vibing. What systems have you GMed? Back in the day we just made up dungeon crawls on the fly. We literally decided what was going to be around the corner when the party got there. So this will be my first time running a “proper” pre-planned campaign. What are the pleasures and pitfalls of GMing and wha...

Interview with a GM - Jo F

When did you first start playing RPGs and what were they? Although not strictly an RPG, my mum bought me the Warlock of Firetop Mountain FF book when I was about 10, and I remember being totally captivated by Russ Nicholson’s illustrations.  Then we got a spankingly hitech VCR (which was bloody massive!), and the freshly opened video shop round the corner only had one cartoon in store. Ralph Bakshi’s Lord of the Rings. That film literally blew me away. So became a big Tolkien fan. I got the red D&D basic boxed set for my 12th birthday back in ’84 and played it at lunchtimes at school. Well, I say ‘played it’, I managed to roll up character stats but the rest of the game play was definitely more ‘play’ shall we say. I was more into copying the pictures and drawing maps. But when I left school at 15 and also left RPGs behind. College girls. Enough said. What was the most memorable part of those sessions? For whatever reason it was just exciting. You had these cool books, maps and...