I'm already where I am and I'm not in Iowa.

One of your more recent shows made me think that my gaming group's Pathfinder game is kind of "old school" dungeon crawl. We have been playing the same way since high school, with a map and rooms with monsters in them and the treasure chest with the trap and all that. We do a good job of developing our characters' background and making sure all the PCs jive together but the thing that is lacking is plot and believability. I was wondering if one of you could offer some tips on how to get us out of the old school rut we are in. What are the elements you guys use that make for a deeper game in which the PCs actually grow and develop in noticeable ways?

One of things that my gaming group often does is hand out extra xp or items for creating and expanding on some "contacts." These could be friends, family, old rivals, or any other type of person you may have met along the way. This will help the GM find a way to make a story line out of it. Another thing we have done with D&D is grab a module and finish it then expand on it from there. You meet plenty of NPCs and enemies along the way that would prove to be a great story line in the future. Another way to expand is pick a different setting. If you are usually in a town full of underground dungeons and such you should venture to a deserted tropical island or something different from the norm. It will be a dungeon crawl but it will at least be a new setting.

Hope this helps!

I'm no host, but I know what I like out of games and a little bit of how to achieve it. First of all, I trend towards games that are built to do what I want to get out of a game. However, if you're in a situation where that's not an option there are a few things to consider. Mechanizing character development incentives playing the character. Some people don't want or need this. That's fine. But if you're wanting to break molds in your group it's something to think about.

A game like PF is all about balance, ostensibly. I wouldn't mess around with the guts of that game in order to achieve player buy in for character growth. I also recommend against granting XP for doing it. It really creates a disparity between those that are doing it and those that aren't. The answer for something like this is adding a currency. Be it plot points or fate points, make a system where a player is able to make small chances using this currency that they earn for RP. I'd also mechanize the process by which this currency is earned so that it just isn't handed out by pandering to what the GM thinks is good RP. Aspects in FATE or Beliefs, Traits, and Instincts in Burning Wheel work much this way.

Have each PC draw up a small list of pithy statements that briefly touch on what the character is about. What he believes in, what kind of enemies he has, what motivates him to do what he does. That kind of stuff. When he follows these things in ways that might not favor him or his party, reward him with plot points. Let him spend said plot points to add bonuses to his rolls or allow rerolls. Additionally, let him save up points and spend them to allow him to change or add items on that list of character statements.

This may or may not work for you, but it should at least get your group thinking about new ways to approach gaming.

I like it. Thanks. I'll suggest this at our next game on Sunday.

Going out to all hosts: If you were able to add one Booter to your gaming group, just one, who would it be? Ignore all issues of geography and other pesky issues reality poses.

maniah because she makes me clothes

I have gamed with a few people who regularly make me food and they tend to get good stuff in game when I'm running. but none of them make me clothing.

if I can grab her and someone who will shelter me as an in-house tabletop RPG consultant I will have no further unattended material requirements

Churcher. I have played with him in multiple con games and he is a fun guy to game with. He can do serious as well as funny. Plus there would be an endless supply of traveler jokes. Oh and I'd make him run Traveller.


There are too many runner ups to list.

Dan:When you talk about "the most haunted city in america", were'd you get that. Personally I understand there are no haunted places just haunted people but quick Google search shows places like Salem MA, San Francisco, California, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, New Orleans, Louisiana, etc.

I've never heard that about St Louis, either, though I've heard about the hauntings in St. Louis cemetery and St. Louis cathedral, neither of which are in St. Louis.

There's the exorcist thing, and another handful of places, but I've never heard of a proliferation to compare to, say, New Orleans.