of Dice and Dragons

One of the things that most GMs need to do frequently is generate NPCs and Jamis Buck has come up with a tool that will allow you to do this online.

This tool is aimed at D&D 3.5 and allows you to select a number of options including specific classes (up to three), races and the number of NPCs you need generated. You can also choose to have the output done in a “stat-block,” or an abbreviated format. In addtion to the stats you can have the tool give you motivations for the NPC as well.

In the tests I’ve run the tool is very quick, I generated 100 NPCs at a time. The results showed a pretty good sampling of both PC and NPC classes and a wide range of stat scores as well - I ran with all options set to ‘All’ and the ‘Best 3 of 4d6′ for stats.

One cool feature that isn’t mentioned and won’t be seen until you generate an NPC is that for spell-casters a list of spells is generated as well - a real time saver.

I would recommend this if you are in need of some “stock” NPCs that you can grab and go with but would recommend you spend the time to do the major NPCs by hand.

You can check out Jamis Buck’s NPC generator 2 at http://www.aarg.net/~minam/npc2.cgi.

May your dice roll well.

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As is often the case with most role-playing groups getting the evening session started can be a bit trying. Late arrivals, socializing and the “where did I put my dice?” situations are a normal part of every group but take up time and any time not spent gaming is viewed by some groups (okay, almost all) as ‘lost time’ so here’s a tip.

Have two ’start’ times. The first one is when everyone should arrive. This is a great chance to give everyone a chance to catch up, order/eat (my group starts around dinner time) get organized and so on. For the sessions I run I typicall call it, “Administration time,” and use it to make sure I’m ready and give everyone else a chance to do the same. I also use this time to answer any questions regarding the campaign left over from the previous session and to discuss our upcoming gaming schedule. I try not to let this linger more than 30-45 minutes.

The second ’start’ time is when gaming starts ‘for real.’ This is when everyone, including the GM, needs to be in character and focusing on the events of the session.

As always you should adjust this to your group. I’ve played in groups where when you sit down upon arrival you were expected to be in character and others where I was never quite sure if we were actually playing - it always made it interesting.

May your dice roll well.

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It was announced today that there is going to be a D&D chess set released in the fall of this year. I know a lot of people that play RPGs also play chess so I thought that I would pass this along.

You can check it out on the Wizards website at
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/news/20060515a&dcmp=ILC-RSSDND

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The latest issue of Role-playing Tips in now online - Airborne Minis Tips.

It contains a number of good tips for how to handle these on the tabletop.

There are also a number of good tips submitted by readers. Here’s the full run-down of what’s in the issue:

CONTENTS:
–> A Brief Word From Johnn

–> This Week’s Tips:
0. Bottle Caps & D&D Minis?
1. Coffee Stir Sticks
2. Use Dice Boxes
3. Use A Strip Of Sheet Metal
4. Craft A Magnetic Axel Stilt
5. Use Pizza Centre Pieces
6. Use Pill Bottles
7. Use Clear PCV Pipe
8. Create A Q-Tip Stand
9. Use Star Wars Bottle Cap Minis
10. Create Posts With Ballpoint Pens
11. Use Two Bottle Caps And A Nail
12. Use Magnetic, Stackable Miniature Markers
13. Use Two Battlemaps For Normal and Elevated Views
14. Use Snapple Lids
15. Use Film Cannister Caps
16. Conflict Chips
17. Use Trimmed Water Bottles

–> Readers’ Tips Of The Week:
1. An Example Myth (D&D Related)
From: Todd C.
2. Image Sources
From: Loz Newman
3. Customizing Races (D&D)
From: Johan
4. Use Weird News To Inspire Your Campaigns
From: Loz Newman
5. The Pros And Cons Of House Rules
From: Mike Bourke
6. Two Diceless Examples
From: Sean Murphy
7. Rolemaster Initiative Tip
From: Dominique Michaud

You can read it online here.

If you don’t already subscribe I would recommend it, you can do that here.

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We’ve all see them and I think everyone finds that when a juggler is performing well it is an enjoyable experience. As the party is walking through town have one begin a performance or have a member of the party notice it and be drawn to it based on what they are juggling.

Some things to consider for objects:
- Balls
- Knives or swords
- Torches
- Helmets (appropriate to your setting)
- Hankerchiefs
- Metal hoops
- Stones

Work your imagination on this and I’m sure you can come up with any number of objects.

While the juggler himself is an interesting side trip you could use this to introduce new elelments or help along parts of your story.

- There’s a pick-pocket in the audience who may or may not be discovered, possibly much later, “Where’s my money pouch?”
- They recognize the juggler as a former adventurer they know, “Let’s go have a drink and catch up?”
- One of the objects the juggler is performing with has a magical aura picked up by the group.

Have some fun with this one, after all the game should be fun for both the GM and the players.

Be sure to check out these additional encounter ideas

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