Contending with high-level play

Before anyone embarks on this blogpost, be aware that Shim is writing this in the middle of the night, having entirely failed to get to sleep, and may not be particularly reasonable right now.

Three Men in a Horror Story (to say nothing of the dog)

I'm slowly working my way through the British Library's Tales of the Weird series, as I've picked up a few and kind relatives have sent me others (What can I say? They know me).

Prepping for highly mobile encounters

My Necropolitans campaign is, I imagine, quickly approaching a confrontation between the PCs and another of their (many, many) enemy factions. Naturally, as the GM, I want to prepare properly for this. Suitable ranks of lowly mooks must be arrayed to hurl at them in futile battle, and Named NPCs must be properly conceptualised and characterised.

On Loot and the Law

Killing things and taking their stuff has been a staple of the RPG genre since it first coalesced. Depending on party, players, game system, and genre, this is more or less of a problem. Some players will delight in hauling a cartful of tattered chain coats, rusted axes, unwashed bedding, assorted crockery, tables, doors, and whatnot back to town and insist that the local costermongers purchase all of it. Others find stripping fallen foes of their arms and armour detracts from their sense of heroism.

A haunting problem

For today's game, I thought I'd mix up the usual run of half-weasel-half-chainsaw monsters and ex-soldiers who've made regrettable life choices, and let the PCs encounter a haunt.

I was moderately excited about this, because I love the concept of a haunt. Here's a problem you can't simply hack or spellcast your way around!

On nude teleportation

There's an occasional debate in GURPS-related circles (I can already see some of you pulling hats down and turning abruptly away; I promise this will have some broader relevance) about teleporting people out of their clothes.

Life-threatening failures and stress mechanics

Recently I was listening to Sorry Honey, I Have to Take This (an actual play podcast focused on Delta Green) and picked up a nifty idea I don't remember coming across before.