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luckthebard · 1 year

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So a few thoughts on C3E51, and narrative and encounter design. First off - I loved the episode and thought it was incredibly exciting and engaging and a fun gameplay time. But to engage with a few of the criticism points I'm seeing, I will also say:

At this point I'm assuming the encounter was always planned to end with some version of the outcome we ended up with. Is that railroading? Sure, I guess, but it's also pretty standard D&D encounter design. The "win condition" here wasn't stopping Ludinus entirely, but rather to what degree they could mess up and stall his plans through sabotage. And frankly, I think they actually did pretty well! They destroyed the key in the Feywild and some of the batteries here, and it seems like Ludinus's plan did not go perfectly for him; so I imagine now they have time to react to a very slow and imperfect version of what he was trying to unleash. And that is the next narrative beat we had to get to in order to continue the story.

I know they rolled very low this encounter and many things did go wrong but even with that I came out of the episode thinking of this great quote from Star Trek: "It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness; that is life." And that's sometimes an important story beat to hit! It certainly propelled Vox Machina forward after the fall of Emon, and the Apogee Solstice events seem to be performing a similar narrative role for Bells Hells.

To back up my interpretation here, there are a few things Matt did as a DM to signal that a failure here was not an Ultimate Failure and the point moving forward would be reacting to something fixable. The first was Ludinus's reaction to the machine breaking and his quickly covered up fear and uncertainty - he's trying to convince himself he "won" by the end but not as confident as he could be. The second is the fact that Matt took a lot of pains to point out in detail that team Orym, Laudna, Ashton could still see the beam of red shooting up into the sky at Ruidus. The moon prison hasn't been broken, it is breaking, and their efforts likely determined how badly and how much time they have to address it.

Anyway, wanted to push back against the "the encounter was unfair" or "railroading is bad" I've been seeing - the encounter was the encounter and served its purpose, and I recommend highly listening to Matt, Brennan, and Aabria talk about "railroading" in their GM roundtable to get a sense of it as a neutral rather than negative game design strategy.

There's a part 2 to this post but it was also long so it's HERE

#I actually had a whole other half of this discussion that I'm just going to make its own post about the former PCs and their role here #but this was already getting too long #meta #game master strategies #critical role #cr spoilers #oops initially posted this with some of the other post's thoughts still included #please go see that one for more elaboration on that

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cody-helix02 · 2 years

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Sooo in the DM round table they talked about doing bathroom voices and betrayer gods so my brain thought:" Why not draw them as these Betrayers or like half and half ?" 🤣😉 It is a work in progress and I am currently colouring it....I don't know when I will finish it buuuut I wanted to show the lineart of it ☺️ I hope it is obvious who is who 🤣 And yes I heavily used the thumbnail pic from the video as refrence cause it is friggin cute!😌 And before somebody asks...Aabria gets more details when I finished the colouring ☺️

#critical role #exandria unlimited #dm roundtable #matt mercer #brennan lee mulligan #aabria iyengar #betrayer gods #fanart #work in progress #unfinished drawing

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raiinbowwitch · 2 years

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this whole dm roundtable is just

matt: being humble

aabria: matching that energy

brennan: YOU'RE FUCKING INCREDIBLE BRO LOOK AT THIS BOOK ITS A CONTINENT YOU'RE AWESOME

#critical role

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legit9thlunaticwarrior · 2 years

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Hey bestie!!! 👋

Can we please be blessed with a Wardlow Smut based on Chains by Nick Jonas?

Maybe MJF had mentioned how "whipped" he his by his girlfriend and he laughs "You have no idea."

a day before the contract signing events; bestie sent me this. im going off what we talked abt in dms and using the lyrics to the song as dialogue (not exactly a songfic) also double gif bc this is my page. this whole segment gonna keep yall wardhoes fed for a while, mama’s gotchu. i tried to do a soft!dom but that idea fell apart faster than a dollar store dinner tray. can we also talk bout the vein in his neck in the gif below? lordt

|remember to leave feedback and i love all you heathens|

‘Chains’ 18+ Wardlow (Michael) x fem!reader

^with their feud heating up, max decided to take assuming cheap shots at michael and reader’s sex life^

- CW: restraints (handcuffs), honorifics (sir) *ooh cheeky switch up*, dom/sub dynamics, hella subspace, mild slapping, degradation/praise, squirting, use of flogger (on body and coochie; taking things literal, aint we donna?), return of ‘puppy’, the fucking word for “good tears” (help me out what is it), sweet af aftercare - shawn spears (ronnie), max being a cunt - recycling the title of ‘the vixen’, this series isnt really timelined, just reusing things; also im takin matters into my own hands - thanks to @unusual-tomorrxw for assistance

3rd Person POV:

Another week, more bullshit from Max. Him and Y/N were once close, some would call them best friends. This week, they had their bogus contract signing; just more nonsense to delay Michael beating the shit out of him. Y/N was in gorilla with her boyfriend and the poor guys stuck bringing him out. She had tried to convince them that if this had to happen, let her take him out. But no, Max had to have these poor souls do it. One of the jobbers said it was time to go so she kissed Michael and he was gone.

Max had been spewing the same stuff he’s been for the past few weeks and Y/N decided she’d go out there. Suddenly, ‘Roundtable Rival’ by Lindsey Stirling blared through the arena and The Vixen went out. Pink heel boots, plaid black skirt and one of her boyfriend’s merch shirt; ready to stand by him. She got up the steps at ringside and Ronnie tried to stop her, “Don’t even try it.” she spat. She walked past Max, making sure to bump his shoulder, and went over to Michael. She picked up the mic that was in front of him, “Don’t let me interrupt boys, you were saying?” she was passive aggressive in her words. Michael had tried to reach for her hand and of course Max had to comment, “Wardlow, you think those handcuffs are an obstruction for you but ah, I thought you’d be used to them by now. Considering how whipped you are for that little lady standing next to you.” “Max, you better shut up while you’re still living-” He knew he struck a nerve. “What? With those wine-stained lips, she’s nothing but trouble. Why not tell the great people of Long Island that you aren’t the sweet, wholesome couple you claim to be? That you two really like some rou-” She grabbed him by the collar, ready to clobber him. “Stop. Talking.” He had a shit-eating grin on his face. Max gripped her face, squishing her cheeks together “Who knew this sweet thing was such a whore-” In a second, Michael was on his feet but Y/N had put her arm out to stop him. “Looks like he really is a bitch for you.” Her fist connected with his jaw and she got him to the ground, putting him in a chinlock. He was slamming the canvas in a tap out as they were both screaming, “Who’s the bitch now Max?! Why you gotta do me wrong?” She was pulled off him and brought back to the locker room.

Once she was alone, she broke down. Embarrassed was an understatement. Her family watched the show and now she was worried they would view her and the man her parents called their son differently. She heard the door knob turning and quickly dried her tears. “Baby? Are you okay?” Michael’s soft voice tugged at her heart. “Yeah, I’m fine.” “No you’re not.” His hands cupped her cheeks. The two spent time talking about what had happened. “Michael, can we go back to the hotel and you show me who’s really in charge?” she asked meekly, without looking up at him. His thumb tugged at her bottom lip gently, “You know how to ask for what you want.” he stated in a low tone. “Please Sir?” “Louder.” he growled. Her voice raised a bit with a hint of whining behind it, “Please Sir!” “Good girl. I’ll take care of you.”

~at the hotel~

He had her naked on the bed with her hand cuffed to it. He knew she was still in a state so he was easy with her until she gave the word to do more. She savored the gentle, soft, slow touches along her body. Down her cheeks, kneading her breasts, down her tummy and sides. His hands landed on the plush skin of her thighs. She had given him permission to use their mini flogger tonight, one hand left her thigh to pick it up from beside her. “Are you sure you want it tonight? Say the word and I’ll stop, baby.” “I want it Sir.” He started on her thighs building up how hard he was whipping her, letting her warm up. When he started hitting harder, she bucked her hips up so he landed one hit to her glistening heat; earning a sweet, strangled moan. “You like that, don’t you puppy?” Her brain was already going numb from the use of the flogger alone. Once there were enough light red drags on her gorgeous skin, he stopped and ran his hands over the marks to sooth them. His fingers circled her slit as she whimpered. “You know, Max may think I’m the one who’s whipped. But here you are, cuffed to the bed for me to do whatever I please, letting me decorate your skin with this whip.” His voice is low and authoritative. “You’ve been getting involved in this little feud too often now. Maybe I should cuff you to the bed and leave you there until I get back from the shows. That way you’ll stay out of trouble.” The combination of his hand on her pussy and his filthy words were sending her into a deeper headspace; she didn’t even notice his lips attaching to her clit until she let out a cry. “C’mon, you can take it.” he mocked. Michael held her hips down, his grip enough to leave soft bruises. The lewd sounds of him sucking and licking at her dripping and aching cunt that had the familiar bubbling feeling make its approach. He knows this woman’s body inside and out, so he spoke up, “Cum.” The single word had that knot undone in seconds. Did he stop? No. Not when he was on a mission to rid her mind of the events that took place a few hours ago. When she tried to close her thighs around his head, he pulled away and grabbed the flogger again. He landed a few more blows to her pussy and her thighs until he noticed tears. “Color?” “Green!” she said quickly. Though she said ‘green’, he ceased the whipping and put the toy down. Her hips jolted when he cupped her heat again. “You’re gonna cum for me again, then you’ll get my cock puppy. Got it?” She nodded. “Words.” “Yes, Sir.” Starting with two fingers, he pumped in and out of her cunt, fingertips dragging against her most sensitive spots within her. Another finger was added as his other hand groped at her breasts, tugging at her hardened nipples. Y/N shivered and came on his fingers. His movements only slowed as she rode out her high. When she was down, he pulled his hand away and sucked her juices off his fingers.

Ridding himself of his remaining clothes, he stared down at his lover. Soft, submissive, sweet Y/N; all his. When they first started exploring this aspect of their relationship, let’s just say noise complaints were common. That’s how Max knew what they were up to. Thin hotel room walls and nosy stable-mates. He watched as she desperately started grinding her hips against nothing. He rubbed his tip up and down her slit and slowly pushed in. Her tight cunt welcomed him in greedily, the deep groan he let out at the feeling of her squeezing around him. “You are doing so good for me. Always a good girl for me.” She tugged at the cuffs, feeling the need to claw at his shoulders and back or tug at his hair; just the need to touch him. “Sir~” His eyes met hers, “What puppy?” She struggled to form the words so she gave him one. “Harder.” The word left her lips and he immediately threw her legs over his shoulders, practically folding her in half, and thrusted into her harder and faster. She tried to get out of her restraints but he only laughed, “Trying to break the chains?” Her whimper was only adding fuel to the fire as he fucked into her harder.

After pulling two more orgasms from her body, she was completely dazed. Her brain couldn’t form a full thought so when she spoke, it was just babbles and incoherent mumbles. With her legs still on his broad shoulders, he saw the outline of his cock bulging in her tummy. He gripped her hair to make her look down, “See how deep I am babygirl?” The sight was sending her closer and closer to the edge. Y/N wanted to tell him she wanted to cum but the words wouldn’t come out, he slowed his pace slightly. His hand went up to gently smack her cheek to break her daze, “C’mon puppy. Be a good girl, use your words. Tell me what you want.” She struggled once more. “Aww, did I fuck all the manners out of you? Does my dumb little puppy want to cum?” She nodded as more tears fell. He got close to her ear and told her “I can feel you. Do it.” It felt different this time, “That’s it; make a fucking mess.” The idea that she was so fucked dumb that she squirted for the first time only made him pound into her faster, chasing his own release. She felt him throb inside of her and then felt him paint her walls white. Her eyes fluttered shut as she was so spent, letting out a weak “Sir~” He tapped her tear-stained cheeks lightly, “Hey, hey; it’s okay. Baby, it’s me; it’s Michael. No more Sir.” She whimpered as he pulled out of her and felt their cum spill out of her used hole. As soon as he undid the cuffs, her arms wrapped around him like a koala. “Can you let go of me for one moment so I can run you a bath?” he asked gently. Y/N let go and he gave her a sweet kiss before going to the bathroom.

When he came back, he scooped her up and she immediately clung onto him. Before he could put her in the tub, one word left her lips: “Join.” When she got to this state, her speech was limited. Michael set her in the tub and got in behind her, pulling her back against his chest. He trailed kisses from her neck to her shoulders as he rubbed her sides and her tummy; trying to bring her back to normal.

“You were so good for me, puppy.”

“I’m so proud of you.”

“You took everything so well, princess.”

“I love you so much.”

She listened to his voice and turned her head to face him. Still a little faded, but cohesive enough to form a sentence. “Maybe being ‘whipped’ isn’t so bad.” He smirked at her statement, “You have no idea, sweet girl. You got me in chains; but, I wouldn’t change this love.”

~~~~~~~

lovely taglist babes (dm or comment to be added) @josiewrites @rubyred1980 @chrisdickinson @xkennyxomegax @night-of-the-living-shred @wwenhlimagines @ecarroll1978 @plentyoffandoms @auburnwrites @heavymetalgirl420

#donna writes #donna's wardlow handcuff chronicles #donna is in love with wardlow #aew #wardlow #michael wardlow #wardaddy #wardlow x reader #wardlow oneshot #wardlow fanfiction #wardlow imagine #wardlow smut #aew x reader #aew smut #aew fanfiction #nick jonas #chains

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bananathebookworm · 2 years

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Brennan aggressively rejecting Matt’s downplaying of all of the work Matt has put into this world is amazing.

#cr spoilers #critical role #dm roundtable

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utilitycaster · 2 years

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Hi hi! This actually isn’t a critical role specific question from me, but you said you’ve been a DM, and I was wondering if you have any tips or tricks for beginners at running a table?

Thank you!

So, DM-ing is a lot of things and it's hard to give a succinct summary so feel free to narrow it down, but here's a few things I have found useful that I haven't found easily elsewhere, or are particularly good notes from things I've watched/read. (For fans of actual play - Matt did some DM tips for G&S back in the day and obviously the GMs of Exandria Roundtable with him, Brennan, and Aabria is good; Brennan's Adventuring Academy is also good and can be listened to as a podcast if that's easier, as can Dungeon Court on NADDPod. The last one isn't explicitly GM tips but Murph is probably the GM whose style I try to emulate most and there's a lot amidst the wacky questions that is worth keeping in mind about how to approach problems as a DM). Also, I failed to keep up with Three Black Halflings but they also had good DM-ing tips.

Don't be scared to say no. Don't be too rigid, but sometimes you are going to have to give a flat no. A lot of people won't do this because they're nonconfrontational or have absorbed too much of the "D&D is fun! Do whatever you want!" philosophy and haven't actually considered that a lot of people do want structure, that one player constantly trying to break the game isn't fun for anyone else at the table, and because the only things the players know about the world and how it works is what comes out of your mouth, you need to provide a consistency within said world. Also sometimes people will be like "can I be this broken-ass build I found on Reddit that deals 700 damage per round but requires a deliberately unintuitive misread of the rules" and you can just be like "nope!" and save everyone a lot of annoyance.

Have a session zero; make sure the party makes sense for each other and for the world and story. Also make sure whatever other tools you use work for everyone. I've said this before but: I play over Discord and I'm often looking at my notes. I'm not going to see someone throw a red card if they're uncomfortable, so I tell my players at the beginning that they will need to speak up if they're uncomfortable, and it's worked out well. Some meta advice on what other DM-ing advice to take: do not listen to the wack jobs who say there is only one way to run a table and that it is coincidentally theirs. Find something that genuinely works for your entire group, what you want, and how you play.

Things to set in the session zero: basic world/party comp including if there's any classes/races/subclasses that don't make sense for said world; absolute no-gos for players (ie, the trigger/this isn't fun for me list) and how you will handle discomfort that arises in the game; house rules. I don't believe in doing most house rules early on - play things generally as written or at least intended until you find something that your group needs that isn't in the standard rules - but I do usually play with Matt's resurrection rules rather than the standard D&D ones but I check with the players first about this.

I think Aabria said she usually plans around the length of the session for each session, and this is pretty reasonable. When I've done significantly less planning than that it's been rough, and usually I don't find that I need significantly more.

Everyone always says "if it's your first time DM-ing, use a module" and like, no one ever does, but consider doing so. It is way easier.

Mistakes happen and don't be too hard on yourself! But also if things are going super off the rails or your players seem very confused, or if the players make a wild but valid choice, it is ok to take a break. You're human; you can say "hey, I'm worried we're not on the same page" or "hey, you did something cool but also I did not prep for that, give me 10 minutes."

CR ratings are really more vague suggestions. I've used kobold fight club to try to build encounters but also I think it's helpful to just accept your first few encounters might be kind of weak, and scale things from there once you get a better feel.

The best part of the GM Roundtable was all of them but notably Brennan talking about how the goal of a DM is to guide the players towards the most interesting resolution because solving things too quickly isn't a story.

It's ok to be on rails. Don't force people outright into choices, but you can guide people towards something specific; a full sandbox-y world is really hard to do. This is also why modules are good because that expectation is set.

Reward good RP. It doesn't need to be mechanical rewards (though someone who's been making consistently interesting and dedicated choices deserves an occasional treat, imo) but if you have players who aren't just running through the basic rules but are actively making creative choices or doing excellent character work and engaging with your world, at the very least make sure they get rewarded with good story.

You are a player too; this is what D&D Court from NADDPod is very good at hammering home. You want to make it a good time for the players! You're also doing TONS more work and if a voice is wrecking your throat, if a topic makes you uncomfortable, or if the party is refusing to follow plot hooks, have a conversation. I think a lot of advice skews either really heavily towards "everything is for the players and you should sacrifice yourself for them and anything less is selfish and mean" or else "the DM is god and if the players don't make the right choice then that's their fault" and neither is correct. You're a player; you're also doing more work. If your plot doesn't interest anyone, then no one's going to have fun, so revisit (and perhaps run a longer/more extensive session zero and do a post mortem, because you are allowed to want to run a specific type of story but you might have needed to be clearer with the players); if an NPC is hard to play you can come up with a reason to change them a bit to make it easier; and if a topic makes you uncomfortable, you're also allowed to throw the metaphorical red card.

Really, I think the biggest theme for all of the above is "don't be afraid to stop and talk if things are in any way not working; do not let a fear of confrontation or breaking immersion set you down a path where no one is having fun."

This was all more on the order of general philosophy so again if you have specifics on like, how to pick monsters or whatever, feel free to ask those, but I find there's often a lot of advice on those specifics and much less on the above. Good luck!

#answered #fearne-and-fire #d&d #long post

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