Performance Check Archives - Tribality https://www.tribality.com/columns/performance-check/ D&D / Role Playing Sun, 20 Jan 2019 07:27:58 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://www.tribality.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/cropped-logo-2020-icon@2x-32x32.jpg Performance Check Archives - Tribality https://www.tribality.com/columns/performance-check/ 32 32 Asymmetrical D&D: Ravenloft-ish https://www.tribality.com/2019/01/20/asymmetrical-dd-ravenloft-ish/ https://www.tribality.com/2019/01/20/asymmetrical-dd-ravenloft-ish/#respond Sun, 20 Jan 2019 14:00:58 +0000 https://www.tribality.com/?p=26239 A work-in-progress look at one potential solution to run an asymmetrical D&D 5e game with local and remote players who are on vastly different time zones.

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]]> https://www.tribality.com/2019/01/20/asymmetrical-dd-ravenloft-ish/feed/ 0 RPGification (Super) Smashes Back https://www.tribality.com/2019/01/11/rpgification-super-smashes-back/ https://www.tribality.com/2019/01/11/rpgification-super-smashes-back/#respond Fri, 11 Jan 2019 14:00:07 +0000 https://www.tribality.com/?p=26156 A look at the last entry in the Super Smash Bros. franchise, and how it uses several traditional RPG elements to tremendous effect.

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]]> https://www.tribality.com/2019/01/11/rpgification-super-smashes-back/feed/ 0 Feedback Debt in Tabletop Games https://www.tribality.com/2019/01/03/feedback-debt-in-tabletop-games/ https://www.tribality.com/2019/01/03/feedback-debt-in-tabletop-games/#comments Thu, 03 Jan 2019 14:00:02 +0000 https://www.tribality.com/?p=26103 Way back in September 2017, I wrote about technical debt and why it matters for tabletop design and play. While I remain happy with this piece, I’m disappointed in myself for not writing the necessary follow-up sooner. In a lot of ways, it’s the more important article to write. Technical debt doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It exists in a codependent relationship with its partner in crime – feedback debt. Feedback debt is a direct contributor to technical debt, and […]

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]]> https://www.tribality.com/2019/01/03/feedback-debt-in-tabletop-games/feed/ 1 5e Magic Item Patterns for Alternate Crafting: the Bags https://www.tribality.com/2018/12/05/5e-magic-item-patterns-for-alternate-crafting-bags/ https://www.tribality.com/2018/12/05/5e-magic-item-patterns-for-alternate-crafting-bags/#respond Wed, 05 Dec 2018 14:00:43 +0000 https://www.tribality.com/?p=25875 A look at alternate crafting patterns for four magical bags found in 5e. This continues the alternate crafting series for all 5e SRD magic items.

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]]> https://www.tribality.com/2018/12/05/5e-magic-item-patterns-for-alternate-crafting-bags/feed/ 0 Thanksgiving Treats for 5e https://www.tribality.com/2018/11/22/thanksgiving-treats-for-dnd-5e/ https://www.tribality.com/2018/11/22/thanksgiving-treats-for-dnd-5e/#respond Thu, 22 Nov 2018 19:25:00 +0000 https://www.tribality.com/?p=25814 Happy American Thanksgiving! Holidays are a magical experience. Fights break out with your racist family members. You cry over childhood trauma. Your family sits awkwardly with your aunt’s eighth husband and act like he’ll stick this time, while already forgetting his name. You also eat delicious food and feel horrible about yourself later. This is truly the American holiday experience. Luckily, adventurers are more active than the majority of us, their evil family members are probably liches instead of racist, […]

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]]> https://www.tribality.com/2018/11/22/thanksgiving-treats-for-dnd-5e/feed/ 0 Slashers, Cults, and Unseen Terror https://www.tribality.com/2018/10/19/slashers-cults-and-unseen-terror/ https://www.tribality.com/2018/10/19/slashers-cults-and-unseen-terror/#respond Fri, 19 Oct 2018 17:28:21 +0000 https://www.tribality.com/?p=25458 A look at Halloween, Halloween 3, what they have in common, and how to use both as a model for you tabletop roleplaying games.

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]]> https://www.tribality.com/2018/10/19/slashers-cults-and-unseen-terror/feed/ 0 Five Magic Items with Spooky ATOMBments https://www.tribality.com/2018/10/11/five-magic-items-with-spooky-atombments/ https://www.tribality.com/2018/10/11/five-magic-items-with-spooky-atombments/#respond Thu, 11 Oct 2018 15:12:22 +0000 https://www.tribality.com/?p=25420 A look at five magic items for use with D&D 5e that require something more than a standard attunement slot. Also, it's October so they are spooky!

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]]> https://www.tribality.com/2018/10/11/five-magic-items-with-spooky-atombments/feed/ 0 How Do We Define Character Success? https://www.tribality.com/2018/10/04/how-do-we-define-character-success/ https://www.tribality.com/2018/10/04/how-do-we-define-character-success/#respond Thu, 04 Oct 2018 13:00:43 +0000 https://www.tribality.com/?p=25402 As one might suspect when taking care of a tiny new human, I do not have a lot of time to actively run and play tabletop games, at the moment. When I’m not making sure my children don’t wander into some danger like the worst SIMS characters, I’m trying to make sure my job doesn’t explode in a fiery mess that makes international news. In short, as much as I love carving out a few hours to roll some dice, […]

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]]> https://www.tribality.com/2018/10/04/how-do-we-define-character-success/feed/ 0 5e Magic Item Patterns for Alternate Crafting: The A’s https://www.tribality.com/2018/09/27/5e-magic-item-patterns-for-alternate-crafting-the-as/ https://www.tribality.com/2018/09/27/5e-magic-item-patterns-for-alternate-crafting-the-as/#respond Thu, 27 Sep 2018 15:44:49 +0000 https://www.tribality.com/?p=25376 Alright, here we go. We’re back, and we’re finishing up all the rest of the SRD A’s for magic items. It’s a long list, covering a lot of very cool items. As before, I include my notes as to my design ideas behind them, and how to vary the patterns up for your own game use. As always, the hope is these patterns can be a direct port into any game world, but I have been around long enough to […]

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]]> https://www.tribality.com/2018/09/27/5e-magic-item-patterns-for-alternate-crafting-the-as/feed/ 0 5e Magic Item Patterns for Alternate Crafting: The Strange and Legendary https://www.tribality.com/2018/09/13/5e-magic-item-patterns-for-alternate-crafting-the-strange-and-legendary/ https://www.tribality.com/2018/09/13/5e-magic-item-patterns-for-alternate-crafting-the-strange-and-legendary/#respond Thu, 13 Sep 2018 15:10:55 +0000 https://www.tribality.com/?p=25287 As it turns out, I was a liar last week when I said I would finish the A’s this week. Not because I just didn’t finish the A’s, either. Instead, I realize legendary, game-altering, strange items are still waiting for coverage. The pattern system should be flexible enough to tackle the items without much effort, while conveying a strong sense of purpose behind each of them. As luck would have it, the next three items alphabetically cover exactly the gap […]

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