Everyone has one of those nights/weeks/months. D & D has become a drag or you just can't muster the energy to play or DM the game. However, you do not want to give up game night. What do you do for that much needed break from the beloved game? Taking the wife/girlfriend (or husband/boyfriend for you gamer chicks!) might be nice, but this is game night! So, what are your suggestions to break the monotany of "kill the orc"? What are your favorate alternatives?
P.S. - This is for you, farewell2kings! Does this meant that I do not get that ticket now? ;-P
Illuminati is a blast. So is Car Wars. You could pull out the Uno deck. Just make sure that there are no kids around when the more "creative" uses of the Uno deck are being played out. Strip Uno should get left at home with your better half. Or You could rule the world with Risk.
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So, what are your suggestions to break the monotany of "kill the orc"? What are your favorate alternatives?
We really enjoy playing the Munchkin card game. We also really enjoy Settlers of Catan. Carcassone is also a really great game in a somewhat similar line. Sometimes we will play a round or two of Champions or Star Wars for a change of pace, but we always seem to come back to D&D.
When I was in my early teens, when the pen and paper thing got to be too much, I pulled out some plastic swords and I let people throw tennis balls at me (spells) and swing for the head. If they could make a touch, or wrestle me down, I gave their characters xp. If they couldn't, I beat them up a little. I guess this was early LARPing. I'd also take minis off the table and arrange them around the room for truly epic scale.
When I was 14 I took a player into a dark bathroom. His character was alone and in a water filled cave with no light source. I told him to stand barefoot in the tub and face the wall (for maximum sensory deprivation) and I tossed in alka seltzer and rubber sharks. I snuck up and whispered behind his head. It all freaked him out. Sky was the limit back then.
“And so, we played the game again. One last time. It didn't matter that there were no monsters — Pardue saw the monsters. We did not. We saw nothing but the death of hope, and the loss of our friend."
Director of Narrative
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“And so, we played the game again. One last time. It didn't matter that there were no monsters — Pardue saw the monsters. We did not. We saw nothing but the death of hope, and the loss of our friend."
Jumpin' Jesus on a pogo-stick!!!
(anyone who does not get The Jade's reference and was alive in the 80's loses 1000XP)
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Director of Narrative
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This doesn't help at all, but I wanted to be fair to the "what else" core of the question.
When we don't play the main campaign we usually do one shots or PvP arenas. All of these are on the fly adventures and we usually designate who's gonna run it. In my group of seven, everyone has DMed except one quasi-newbie, so someone's always got an encounter or scenario they've been thinking about since last time they've runa campaign.
A long time ago we would play Risk or Axis and Allies, but these days now that we're all married old men we tend to just take the break that this twisted life gives us. It really surprises one's significant other when you stay home on one of your game days. I've tried to get them to lose some money to me in dominoes, but so far no takers.
P.S. - This is for you, farewell2kings! Does this meant that I do not get that ticket now? ;-P
Hey thanks!!! You'll be glad to know I haven't written a ticket in 13 years.
These are the alternatives we use on game night:
Settlers of Catan (a favorite of our group)
Axis & Allies (none of the women want to play this one except for my friend Tina--my gaming group is 50% female, so...)
The Hunt for Red October (late 80's board game by TSR, graphically pleasing and fun to play, if not a real hard core wargame)
From 2002 to late 2004 we didn't play D&D at all...I was burned out on 2nd edition, I thought. Now that my DM burnout is creeping in on me again, I'm thinking the edition has nothing to do with it....I'm just having trouble getting it up....the mental energy to run a game and do all the game prep required to run a game effectively. I'm perfectly fine playing...I love PLAYING D&D, but the DMing energy is draining away....I want a little blue pill.
I want a little blue pill.
I am wracking my brain as to whether you want a viagra (in which case your games of D&D must be fairly interesting) or to return to the Matrix and forget there might be anything else to the universe.
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The D&D boardgame would work! Three-Dragon-Ante played for nickels, dimes (not those dimes!), or quarters is pretty fun.
Either option lets you still play D&D but without the whole filing system of running a game. You could even roleplay the TDA games by rolling up characters and if any "disagreements" arise during the game, you could "take it outside", go mano-e-mano, have a gentlemans duel, whatever to settle the disagreement. Pick something like 3rd-6th level and a kill doesn't kill, just disables (so you don't have to keep rolling up dudes). Damn, I wanna play now too.
FH
Hey, F2K, I dig it. Just take a break from DMing - we've all done it and sometimes you just need your creative juices to charge back up. The Muse needs a vacation too!
Hmm...what do me n' my hubby do...
Play board games. Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit. I'm not allowed to look at the Trivial Pursuit questions, though - I have a really retentive memory and have a habit of memorizing the questions & answers. :P Go, Chess and Dominoes are good too. My other half kicks my ass at dominoes, though - he used to play it for cash growing up, so he's used to the game.
I love the card game NetRunner (based on Cyberpunk 2020). Awesome game. I love it terribly. It's not produced anymore, unfortunately. First game I played (against my other half) I stomped him. Thoroughly. I played the Corporation and set a nice set of traps for him (playing the Hacker). Ice Pick Willie is my freakin' hero.
Now I'm itchin' to play again...
Computer games. Love them. My other half & I play DDO together when we have the time.
I'm trying to get him to play Three Dragon Ante with me. The Treasure Chest from Crystal Case makes a perfect accompaniment, methinks.
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“And so, we played the game again. One last time. It didn't matter that there were no monsters — Pardue saw the monsters. We did not. We saw nothing but the death of hope, and the loss of our friend."Jumpin' Jesus on a pogo-stick!!!
(anyone who does not get The Jade's reference and was alive in the 80's loses 1000XP)
"I think I have found a magic gold piece. I give it to the innkeepers each night, and every morning I awaken to find it on my desk."
This guy played too much D&D?
From 2002 to late 2004 we didn't play D&D at all...I was burned out on 2nd edition, I thought. Now that my DM burnout is creeping in on me again, I'm thinking the edition has nothing to do with it....I'm just having trouble getting it up....the mental energy to run a game and do all the game prep required to run a game effectively. I'm perfectly fine playing...I love PLAYING D&D, but the DMing energy is draining away....I want a little blue pill.
I feel your pain. Might I suggest the following these work for the thread question in general as well as you in particular. Try another (less rulesy) game with a completely different flavor. My personal picks (though both are currently out of print) would be DC Heroes by Mayfair Games (2nd or 3rd Edition), or Ghostbuster (or Ghostbusters International) by WestEnd Games. Both are a lot of fun and pretty light in the Grapple Checks, DR, Fasthealing, SR, Blindsight, and Taking 10 while stressed departments. Second go to Gen Con (or Orgins or some other big game Con). I haven't gone to Gen Con in a long time, but every single time I did, I came away with a dozen campaign ideas. The secret at a Con is to try for a variety of games because each new game with each new group is about as close as you can get to that first wow moment you had gaming. You all remember that moment dontcha?
That last bit (going to Gen Con) doesn't do much good for most people now, but trust me next year.... Next year....
;)
GGG
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“And so, we played the game again. One last time. It didn't matter that there were no monsters — Pardue saw the monsters. We did not. We saw nothing but the death of hope, and the loss of our friend."
This gave me the chills...
Now that my DM burnout is creeping in on me again, I'm thinking the edition has nothing to do with it....I'm just having trouble getting it up....the mental energy to run a game and do all the game prep required to run a game effectively. I'm perfectly fine playing...I love PLAYING D&D, but the DMing energy is draining away....I want a little blue pill.
...and this analogy just disturbs me (no matter how true it is).
As a follow-up to GGG, try playing in an entirely new setting and/or game. GURPS, Palladium, True20, etc.
At this time are group is playing space marines. I do not have to Dm. I get to blow up mutant giant fidler crabs, shoot up giant vine creatures from outer space and dogs. Big dogs, big evil vicious blinking dogs from hell.
A game I would like to play again would be Alternity. It was quite random and lots of fun.
I have also played D&D miniatures or Star Wars miniatures, when I just did not want to DM.
Illuminati is a blast. So is Car Wars. You could pull out the Uno deck. Just make sure that there are no kids around when the more "creative" uses of the Uno deck are being played out. Strip Uno should get left at home with your better half. Or You could rule the world with Risk.
Car Wars is loads of fun but pretty complicated. I suspect most older groups have some players that where not raised on games like Battletech but came to D&D later. Such groups probably should stay away from something complex like Car Wars.
Also if your burnt out do you really want to play yet another game with the opportunity to have long rule arguments? In my opinion burn out should be handled with simple and fun activities that don't require anyone to learn a huge set of rules for a one off break.
Certianly there are fun group card games. Trivial Pursuit is enjoyable and also gets people involved and interested. Ever play a game called Balderdash? We have this at a cottage I go to every year or so and it is a riot.
Of course if your group really is made up of hardcore gamers who all already know the rules then games like Battle Tech or Advanced Squad Leader are perfectly alright.
Our group has a few favorites when we want a change from D&D:
Amber Diceless RPG - This game always turns out being a blast, since there's a lot of PvP plotting, drama, and we're unfettered by level restrictions. Fast to start and fun to play.
Shadow Run - We haven't played this for years, but it's been a staple in the past. I had an owl shaman hobo that subsisted on rats end up marrying into the Royal family of Japan.
Battletech - not played often, but something that gave us a break from the role play and let us enjoy the imagined bliss of crunching metal and the dreamy flash of energy weapons. Ahhh, sweet destruction.
There's been other games, such as Toon, Rifts, and other brief ventures into alternate systems, but we always come back to D&D, or one of the others mentioned above.
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Car Wars is loads of fun but pretty complicated. I suspect most older groups have some players that where not raised on games like Battletech but came to D&D later. Such groups probably should stay away from something complex like Car Wars.
Is Car Wars still actively marketed, or at least revived? I remember it from school but it seemed to die a death round about 1990.
Back in high school, we played a lot of Talisman 2nd Edition. Still got all of the sets for it (except the Dragon one).
Most of the people in my group are also strategy game freaks and they all love a good board game. If one or two people can't make it for a D&D session, the rest of us get together for board games. Some of our favorites:
Arkham Horror
Twilight Imperium
Fury of Dracula
Empire Builder and all its cousins
Return of the Heroes
Betrayal at House on the Hill
I'm the Boss (guaranteed to make someone cry!)
Power Grid
Ursuppe (where you get to play a bunch of amoebas!)
Settlers of Catan and its expansions
Any of the Munchkin games
And lots of others. One of the guys collects board games as a hobby, and he's got a whole room devoted to games, so there's always something to do when we have a night off D&D.
--Fang
Of course if your group really is made up of hardcore gamers who all already know the rules then games like Battle Tech or Advanced Squad Leader are perfectly alright.
Here's an old joke from an old gaming group of mine:
"Hey, anyone up for a quick game of Squad leader?"
We play Magic the Gathering or Munchkin when we don't feel like playing more D&D.
I'm trying to find a copy of Apples to Apples to bring and show to the group. I played it at a summer camp this year and loved it.
I'm trying to find a copy of Apples to Apples to bring and show to the group. I played it at a summer camp this year and loved it.
Target carries it. You're right, it's a ton of fun. Just don't play too many games in a row-- burning out on Apples is easy...
The board game ideas above are great. Something like Settlers of Catan is good, because you can play a couple of games of it in a night. Gillotine (a WotC non-collectible card game) is a lot of fun. 3 Dragon Ante is good for an almost poker night feel-- just make sure everyone has enough cash to loose 5-7 rounds straight. That's because it can take a while to get your hand strategy sorted out and implemented.
Movies were another good idea; throwing popcorn at Buttercup and cheering the Dread Pirate Roberts can't be beat. The Star Wars movies also go over well...
Amber Diceless RPG - This game always turns out being a blast, since there's a lot of PvP plotting, drama, and we're unfettered by level restrictions. Fast to start and fun to play.
But somewhat inaccessible if you haven't read all ten books.
And this is from a diehard Amber-geek who attends AmberCon US every year. In preference to Gen Con.
The Star Wars movies also go over well...
Well, three or four of them.
GGG
Call of Cthulhu - It'll be a one-night-stand any way you slice it.
Ia! Ia! Great Green God!
Ia! Ia! Great Green God!
Paranoia is twisted fun.
Talisman is an excellent and easy to play board game.
We used to play Troll ball! (Anyone remember that game from Runequest?)
In the old days, the 1st edition bard and barbarian used to find the highest cliff they could find, dive off the edge and plummet to the ground. They'd dust themselves off and keep doing it and who ever died first lost. Well, that really isn't an alternative game to play but it was one of our ways to make fun of the falling rules in D&D.
Call of Cthulhu is another excellent pace changer.
But somewhat inaccessible if you haven't read all ten books.
And this is from a diehard Amber-geek who attends AmberCon US every year. In preference to Gen Con.
Never stopped us from playing it. In fact, I didn't read the second series until well after the first campaign ended, and didn't even read the first series until we actually started the game.
Most of our players didn't even bother reading the books until after the end of the first game, and some still haven't. The books help, but they're not really necessary unless you're GMing.
Edit: I'm not a big enough Amber-geek to go to the con (but I don't go to cons in general, so...), but I do get my daily Amber fix by playing online. Chronicles of Amber MUSH! Woohoo!
Movie Night is great, even better when you get your gamer friends together and everyone picks a movie. Funner when you pick out what characters would do what in the movie.
A recent one is "Split Second" with Rutger Hauer in it. Hard to find, but dammit, it's worth it. "Four Brothers," "Final Fantasy: Advent Children" and "Mind of Mencia: Season 1" rounded out the night.
Next time it'll be "Boondock Saints" - 'cause that movie is just awesome.
So, what are your suggestions to break the monotany of "kill the orc"? What are your favorate alternatives?
Are you looking for specific RPGs or just general interests? If you are talking RPGs and you are tired of just killing orcs, pick up an independent RPG from your local store or order one from online. 3.x does a great job of encouraging "kill the orc" but there are many, many other games out there with game mechanics that specifically encourage deviating from the 3.x mode of gaming.
As ever,
ACE
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You could always grab some old copies of the original Traveller and make characters for a few hours.
No, seriously, character creation is the best part of that game, and is itself a game. Sooo fuuuuun!
No, you can't be serious! ;-)
My players are so interested in character creation that one of them always has to do all the character creation for the rest of the lot.Maybe my players are an abnormity, but most of them are not exactly very eager to get rule experts (including the nuances of PC creation)... ;-)
Greetings,
Günther
P.S.
Settlers of Cathan
Risk
Shogun (tactical table top game)
sometimes movies
... and yes, as you guessed, my group is largely male.
Burn out syndroms are not as much of an issue, for we meet just once a month, i.e. enough prep time for the dm.
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You could always grab some old copies of the original Traveller and make characters for a few hours.
No, seriously, character creation is the best part of that game, and is itself a game. Sooo fuuuuun!
I havent played Traveller in years, but i have been meaning to pick up all the old stuff as well as the new. Perhaps i should quit thinking about it and just do it.
Thoth-Amon
No, seriously, character creation is the best part of that game, and is itself a game. Sooo fuuuuun!
That's usually been the funnestest part for me anyway.
RPG Superstar 2013 Top 32
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“And so, we played the game again. One last time. It didn't matter that there were no monsters — Pardue saw the monsters. We did not. We saw nothing but the death of hope, and the loss of our friend."Jumpin' Jesus on a pogo-stick!!!
(anyone who does not get The Jade's reference and was alive in the 80's loses 1000XP)
So depressing that Tom Hanks' career started with a Canadian after-school special designed to teach kids about the evils of D&D......
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So depressing that Tom Hanks' career started with a Canadian after-school special designed to teach kids about the evils of D&D......
“And so, we played the game again. One last time. It didn't matter that there were no monsters — Pardue saw the monsters. We did not. We saw nothing but the death of hope, and the loss of our friend."Jumpin' Jesus on a pogo-stick!!!
(anyone who does not get The Jade's reference and was alive in the 80's loses 1000XP)
Was that not the worst movie ever? Simply horrible.
Thoth-Amon
So, what are your suggestions to break the monotany of "kill the orc"? What are your favorate alternatives?Are you looking for specific RPGs or just general interests? If you are talking RPGs and you are tired of just killing orcs, pick up an independent RPG from your local store or order one from online. 3.x does a great job of encouraging "kill the orc" but there are many, many other games out there with game mechanics that specifically encourage deviating from the 3.x mode of gaming.
As ever,
ACE
Actually, this thread was started for farewell2kings benefit. He was whinning about, er, mentioning that his creative juices has stopped so I was trying to help him out.
So depressing that Tom Hanks' career started with a Canadian after-school special designed to teach kids about the evils of D&D......
“And so, we played the game again. One last time. It didn't matter that there were no monsters — Pardue saw the monsters. We did not. We saw nothing but the death of hope, and the loss of our friend."Jumpin' Jesus on a pogo-stick!!!
(anyone who does not get The Jade's reference and was alive in the 80's loses 1000XP)
True, true. I know it was one in a series of blows to our hobby, but... here's something I posted on IMDB.com: (it made me no friends)
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I think the age you come to this film affects your read on it., 18 December 2004
Author: thejade (thejade@bowiewonderworld.com) from United States
Sure this film was poorly designed propaganda to seed fear into the hearts of parents. We all know that if kids play D&D it's certain suicides all 'round and the dungeon master is buying.
But, the year it was televised, Mazes and Monsters had a value beyond its accidental camp. It spoke to a group who rarely get spoken to. 'I Was a Teenage Roleplayer' could have been the alternative… we role-players wouldn't have cared; we're used to a good bashing. Let the message be negative or satirizing, we were good with it… just show us some hack and slash… show us a sense of community around a table, ala That 70's show sans the nifty smoke.
Sure the dialog was more horrifying than 'The Gorvil' (Sigmund the Sea Monster on steroids, living only to make Hanks whimper), and sure it painted role-players as holding their own on the evolutionary ladder somewhere between monkeys and fudge, but at a time when network TV channels in the US almost never offered up anything out of formula (e.g. kitchen movies with women in peril), along came this quirky gem.
And as a kid, perhaps not the intended target audience, I found the ham handed ending quite poignant. At that tender age I lacked the sophistication to know good acting or writing from bad, yet I continue to see the conclusion as provocative and bold for the form and I wish this TV movie would come out on DVD rather than just VHS.
So, aside from the easy knocking, this guilty-pleasure-from-childhood movie moved me… and that's what they're supposed to do.
_______
BTW, I did get it last year when it came out on DVD. I know. Fie and for shame on me!
Edit: just a thought... I am well aware that Rona Jaffee's over the top ending was not designed to bolster me to want to roleplay more often. So, I'd love to write a letter to her and tell her how her woeful tale was my feel good hit of the summer and how it helped me to become a hardcore gamer and recruit scores of future gamers. I wonder if I could get her address?
Was that not the worst movie ever? Simply horrible.
Thoth-Amon
Nope. Dogs In Space starring Michael Hutchence, hands down.
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RPG Superstar 2013 Top 32
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So depressing that Tom Hanks' career started with a Canadian after-school special designed to teach kids about the evils of D&D......
“And so, we played the game again. One last time. It didn't matter that there were no monsters — Pardue saw the monsters. We did not. We saw nothing but the death of hope, and the loss of our friend."Jumpin' Jesus on a pogo-stick!!!
(anyone who does not get The Jade's reference and was alive in the 80's loses 1000XP)
Was that not the worst movie ever? Simply horrible.
Thoth-Amon
I don't know what's worse: The fact that it exists, or the fact that I own the DVD...
I don't know what's worse: The fact that it exists, or the fact that I own the DVD...
Lol. MY MAN! That two for the guilty sinner's cage!
Make that three...I don't know what's worse: The fact that it exists, or the fact that I own the DVD...Lol. MY MAN! That two for the guilty sinner's cage!
Takes a brave person to admit it, although I feel like we should join backs like in Gladiator and spin with Gladius' drawn as a three man ring of unflankable death.
Perhaps a second game is in order, and not just another D&D campaign, but another roleplaying game that uses an entirely different system with an entirely different feel. Have everyone roll a character for this game and when you get bored, pull them out and have a throw game.
Personaly, I love Shadowrun. It's a cyberpunk roleplaying that still uses a d6 system. Very gritty. Also, consider a relalitvely new and little known game called Cold Steel Reign, with a d100 system, set in an old west style world. Even more gritty.
Magic: The Gathering is a marvelous card game that can be played for hours, and most people who play D&D, at least the ones I know, have played a game or two at one time or another.
Also, consider a multiplayer videogame. Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance is a D&D based game for the PS2, though it might not be the right game if you want a break from "kill the orc," as it generaly involves your character running around killing monsters to get experience and loot so they can kill them better.
One final suggestion, if it's the combat that you need a break from, have a session that's solid role-playing. No dice need ever be roled, except for maybe the occassional diplomacy or bluff check. These games can lead to some interesting character development.