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Steven Garstone

@stevengarstone.bsky.social

47 followers 36 following 420 posts

Love me some Super Heroes, Movies and anything pop-culture. Somehow stumbled into being a professional Dungeon Master for Dungeons & Dragons.

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Steven Garstone @stevengarstone.bsky.social · Nov 29

I think, just to get my Blue Sky account really started I'm going to give myself a month long challenge. Every day of December I'm going to give an example of a #TTRPG game mechanic that I really love. Only from games I've played & experienced myself.

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Steven Garstone @stevengarstone.bsky.social · 4d

Yeah. This is the foundation behind my original statement. I'm not saying complete elimination, because sometimes its appropriate but very specifically the "habit" of it. Having them happen between every/most adventuring breaks.

Steven Garstone @stevengarstone.bsky.social · 4d

There is the added issue of different players who are happy playing under any circumstances including shopping, while the other players sit there for the session watching some have fun at the expense of the other's game time.

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Steven Garstone @stevengarstone.bsky.social · 5d

I know. It was your second point I was addressing/replying to. I may have misinterpreted you, but it seemed like you were conflating, "The DM wants the players to TPK" & "The players rolled really badly and TPK" were the same thing. I was just attempting to clear that up.

Steven Garstone @stevengarstone.bsky.social · 5d

I wasn't saying that I do or do not play like this. I was saying that those are two separate points. My point was not one of "this is bad" or "this is correct" or even "I disagree". Its that one does not equal the other. A DM's intentions are not the same as bad luck.

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Steven Garstone @stevengarstone.bsky.social · 5d

"Shopping Episodes". Those sort of sessions where the party arrive in a town on their way to their main objective & there's a magic shop with a narrative-unrelated level 20 Wizard with a hilarious voice that the Rogue will try to steal from. Just let them buy stuff & get back to the adventure.

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Steven Garstone @stevengarstone.bsky.social · 5d

Those are two separate points.

1) A DM thinking a TPK is a "win" or being adversarial to the players
2) TPKs happening through natural outcomes of the dice falling where they may

TPKs can happen even if the DM doesn't want them too.

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Reposted by Steven Garstone

Matt Colville? @mattcolville.bsky.social · 7d

"It's true doc! I'm a rabbit alright."

"Shoot him now! Shoot him now!"

"You keep out of this, he doesn't have to shoot you now."

"He does SO have to shoot me now! I DEMAND that you shoot me now!!"

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Steven Garstone @stevengarstone.bsky.social · 7d

I let the dice fall where they may. I have found that players find it deeply unsatisfying if they find out you've been pulling your punches. Especially in D&D, players have SO MANY RESOURCES they can access to turn a desperate situation into a victory. Don't underestimate them. They're creative!

Reposted by Steven Garstone

Catsuka @catsuka.bsky.social · 9d

RIP Renato Casaro, an Italian artist known for his film posters.
He passed away yesterday at the age of 89.

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Steven Garstone @stevengarstone.bsky.social · 8d

Share the last 4 #TTRPGs you played and expose your gaming habits:

Draw Steel!
Dungeons & Dragons (2014)
Cyberpunk 2020
Champions (Hero System 5th Edition)

Jon de Nor @jondenor.com · 9d

Share the last 4 TTRPGs you played and expose your gaming habits:

Draw Steel
D&D
Mage Hunter
Mothership

Sam McGurran @sammcgurran.bsky.social · 9d

Draw Steel
Warhammer Fantasy
Ten Candles
Agon

Steven Garstone @stevengarstone.bsky.social · 9d

Its impossible to prepare for every detail. Two sessions ago my players started doing research into whether Red Dragons naturally preyed upon Green Dragons. No way I could have known they'd ask such a question! But all the stuff I DO have prepped helped fill in the gaps.

Reposted by Steven Garstone

michael swaim 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @michaelswaim.bsky.social · 9d

logging on

Star Trek: Deep Space 9. Kira says to Odo "No, this is about me."

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Reposted by Steven Garstone

Two Point Museum 🦕💚 @twopointstudios.bsky.social · 10d

Why not add some Two Point whimsy to your backlog? 💕

🦕 Two Point Museum: Explorer Edition - 25% off
🏥 Two Point Hospital - 66% off
🎓 Two Point Campus - 90% OFF?!

store.steampowered.com/developer/Se...

SEGA Autumn Sale

store.steampowered.com

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Steven Garstone @stevengarstone.bsky.social · 10d

Definitely the Hero System. Any edition would do but my experience is with 5th. You want a space station that can teleport you anywhere in the world? You want a fortress that transforms into a giant golem? You want a castle guarded by centurions? Your own version of the Batcave? Just spend points!

Reposted by Steven Garstone

Matt Colville? @mattcolville.bsky.social · 10d

Wow! A 7th level adventure in the Timescape where you "confront the mighty herald of XXAXX!" Brilliant!

heart-of-arcana.itch.io/to-defy-the-...

TO DEFY THE STARS - a quest for Draw Steel by Heart of Arcana

Draw Steel - Resist the tyranny of UNISOL, confront the mighty herald of XXAXX in this quest for 7th-level heroes!

heart-of-arcana.itch.io

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Steven Garstone @stevengarstone.bsky.social · 10d

Very envious! I'm really hoping that there will be #DrawSteel books for sale at #PAXAus

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Steven Garstone @stevengarstone.bsky.social · 11d

Age yourself with a film you saw in the cinema as a kid.

Movie poster for Masters of the Universe (1987)

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Reposted by Steven Garstone

Two Point Museum 🦕💚 @twopointstudios.bsky.social · 14d

This is INCREDIBLE 👏 We love it!

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Steven Garstone @stevengarstone.bsky.social · 14d

I was feeling inspired & decided to make a #TwoPointMuseum that doubled up as a time traveller rehabilitation reserve.

@twopointstudios.bsky.social

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Steven Garstone @stevengarstone.bsky.social · 14d

When you arrive in a place that the characters know, but the players do not & the GM gives a massive lore dump about what we, "should" know, but we're only in the place to rest for the night & sell stuff.

Reposted by Steven Garstone

Andie | MargoMods @margomods.bsky.social · 15d

It's always so exciting to see people playing an adventure I wrote!! Check out @riseheroesrise.bsky.social playing the Draw Steel adventure, The Great Thaw of Gryzmithrak Spire!

Rise Heroes Rise! @riseheroesrise.bsky.social · 15d

Watch the first episode of THE GREAT THAW OF GRYZMATHRAK SPIRE by @margomods.bsky.social RIGHT NOW on the channel!

youtu.be/BAw_jD3yADg

Calamity Kobolds! | The Great Thaw of Gryzmathrak Spire Ep. 1 | Draw Steel Actual Play

YouTube video by Rise Heroes Rise!

youtu.be

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Steven Garstone @stevengarstone.bsky.social · 15d

lol. Exactly.

Steven Garstone @stevengarstone.bsky.social · 16d

I always offer my players the opportunity to give a session recap for an Inspiration at the start of my D&D sessions. I actually just wrote up the recap for my Draw Steel game from last week in anticipation for tonight's session. I'm hyped!

Steven Garstone @stevengarstone.bsky.social · 16d

Oh! Ignore that question. Turns out you had already answered. This is epic!

Steven Garstone @stevengarstone.bsky.social · 16d

Was this, "Back!" Against 4 creatures who all got slammed into objects? Either way, bravo!