Do you include a "beach episode" in your campaigns?
As in a session where the plot doesn't move forward, no combat, and it's just the PCs shooting to shit and having fun in an exotic location?
My group's pretty weeb so yeah, they're kind of a dumb tradition. I remember the first one I personally kicked off was more of a bath house episode: after finally acquiring all our party members and marching for days on end, my paladin had the bright idea that a nice hot soak might be good for morale. So he went and dug out a hige hole, lined it with this waterproof skin we had, and instructed the druid to fill it up using their create water cantrip. One wizard's scorching ray later, and we were all laughing up a storm sitting naked in hot water. A hearty meal, courtesy of our wizard and ranger, and we were soon so chill that the DM sent fairies to party with us and guide us to our objective.
that sounds extremely awkward and/or boring
No shit? Having breather parts with some jokes and worldbuilding and introducing some new NPCs is incredibly important in pacing. You cant have grim dark on the, blades edge, on a mission, three seconds before midnight tension all the time before darkness induced apathy sets in. Seeing a burned down tavern is much more impactful if you remember visiting that place and had some drinks there a couple sessions before. It also gives structure to a campaign.
>>46837149
Yeah, it's called shopping.
There's still fighting, though. I don't think they've ever bought something more than some ammo or potions without at least throwing a punch.
>>46837149
Half my players need to be directed around like a herd of sheep for anything to happen if they're placed in a remotely open environment. A beach episode would probably stagnate within the first fifteen minutes unless I made a suggestion, which more than likely be a competitive series of beach activities, which could only go on for so long.
That said, I do try and run holiday themed sessions if given the opportunity, even if it's something as minor as the characters suddenly having Santa hats on their heads for no explained reason. I'd like to make it a tradition for all the characters, living and deceased, to put on a dance number at the end of the campaign, but I haven't gotten that far yet.
>>46837149
yeah. after every major event or closure to a chapter or sidestory there's always at least one session where everyone's being themselves IC and they're trying to cool off after the crazy shit.
Then in their relaxing, the hook for the next crazy thing happens, and the roller coaster ride starts anew
>>46837149
Yes.
Anima includes an actual waterpark and suggests a beauty pageant quest for it, so I just decided to be faithful to the core material.
>>46838146
do you play kung fu movie style games?
otherwise fun
>As in a session where the plot doesn't move forward
It should, even if it's only a little. Something as simple as getting some useful item is enough to assuage any minor guilt the players might have over spending an entire session just relaxing.
Beach/Hotspring/Public Baths episodes should be sidestory-esque, but they shouldn't be so far removed that cutting the episode has no impact on the story.
>>46837149
Yup.
As with everything else, it left 3 PCs unconscious and in jail, one in jail for fighting and public drunkenness and the last pretending he didn't know them until the next day when it was time to move on.
>>46837149
yes, I also include a nipponese hot springs sauna episode and a summer festival episode where PCs can try to catch goldfish and stuff
>>46837149
>As in a session where the plot doesn't move forward, no combat, and it's just the PCs shooting to shit and having fun in an exotic location?
We had one of those in the other DM's game. It's Warhammer, so some moments of levity and relaxation are nice.
>>46837149
>the frumpy bookworm is actually superhot, hotter than the default hot girl
I'm so tired of this stupid fucking trope, it's such an obvious neckbeard fantasy.
In real life nerd girls are never hot, they're average or ugly. And they're never perfect girlfriend material, they're either complete bro-tier or absolute shit. Make them like that in fiction and you get much more interesting characters and love interests.
>>46840442
Say's the neckbeard.
>>46840442
I hope you know all that shit is either projection or over analyzing
>>46840442
This is actually true. Women almost do everything for attention and "social". The ones forced into "nerdy" territory are rarely a catch.
>>46837991
Maybe if your group is extremely awkward and/or boring.
We've had semi-exposition filled sessions that moved the plot forward as in allowed us to make sense of some things, but it was 90% of us dicking around and bantering IC. So kind of?
>>46840442
I really hate this version of Velma, not for retarded robot reasons like you, but just because it should be the classic pairing of slender model and plump and lush (high test to my fellow /fi/tg/uys) girl.
>>46837149
>Sexualizing Velma
>>46837149
>As in a session where the plot doesn't move forward, no combat, and it's just the PCs shooting to shit and having fun in an exotic location?
I don't force that on players because that would be fucking stupid.
If it happens naturally by PC decision then sure.
>>46840442
> And they're never perfect girlfriend material, they're either complete bro-tier
?
>>46840442
>In real life nerd girls are either ugly or crazy
FTFY
>>46841137
>either
>implying either of those items necessarily excludes the other
>>46837149
>just the PCs shooting to shit and having fun in an exotic location
We call this "the campaign".
>>46837149
We had one in the Way of the Wicked AP.
>>46840917
That's not fan art. It's from the newer show.
>>46840956
You get a golden star of good GMing.
>>46840993
You're mistaking drawings for real life again anon.
Please seek help. We're really worried about you.
My PCs are anti-comfy, so no.
In fact, please kill me now.
>>46841925
C'est ne pas une pipe, faggot.
Laugh it up but we've actually had a few "Beach Sessions". One where we cleaned up the beach of trash and ended up fighting a monster, and another where there was a sandcastle building competition for the town, and once again fought a monster. Some other lengthy beach portions of sessions as well, but then the game is taking place in a beach town.
>>46840442
Awkward dorky girls with secret huge tits/amazing ass/killer legs are real, rare as unicorns but they're out there.
And you shouldn't knock on bro-tier girls, they make for great friends. Even for okayish girlfriends when times are dry.
>>46842859
None of them play tabletop though, at least not willingly. Unless their boyfriends drag them to it
>>46842845
So combat is mandatory in every session of yours? You sound like a shit comic book writer- every book, a fight
>>46842984
>combat is mandatory in every session
I like the part where that's what I said, instead of didn't.
>>46842984
>None of them play tabletop though, at least not willingly
Nigger do you have any idea just how lacking your understanding of how incapable you are of understanding just how many people there are in the world is?
>>46843172
But anon tabletop is only for ugly neckbeards like u :^)
>>46843337
Why you say hurtful things like that.
>>46837149
>As in a session where the plot doesn't move forward, no combat, and it's just the PCs shooting to shit and having fun in an exotic location?
This is the campaign, yes.We're playing Chuubos
Fantasy does not have bikinis
it breaks immersion
>>46837149
Absolutely not. If my players have their PCs remove their burkhas, I make damn sure to kill their characters. You have to stomp down hard to keep the game from becoming magical realm.
>>46837149
No, but I will in everything I ever run from this moment onwards.
>>46843907
Your fantasy is deficient in sexiness and breaks my immersion, mate.
>>46838204
I've run that scenario as well.
The Acrowarrior did well for herself. The Daimah Nephilim got into sugar and caffeine, and ran amok.The NPC healer got brought into the SAW murderpark while the players were having fun.
>>46843337
Cool mirror trick
>>46845760
having a mirror wall is a cool mirror trick?
yeah you know what, I needed an excuse to post this.
So here.
>>46847398
I wanna know more about Lemongrab
>>46847398
Storytiem?
Sure. I'm running a game where the players are celebrity superheroes.
They are constantly doing things that aren't related to the main plot. The dirty secret is that the side plot stuff is all still related to the main plot in some way. I personally love that they ignore stuff constantly. Big hero that we all know is missing? His daughter is looking for him frantically? Fuck it lets go clubbing.
The game is full of moments like these. My players are fucking great celebrities.
>>46842859
>okayish girlfriends when times are dry
Don't do that, man.
Don't date a dorky girl out of boredom or thirst, they end up getting attached and falling for you, and then when you want to end it because you found yourself a "normal girl" they take it really hard.
Dorks shouldn't suffer, dorks deserve happiness, girl dorks too.
>>46838327
I'm reminded of the Hot Springs Planet episode of Outlaw Star where the "real" reason the crew goes to the planet is to get some rare magic bullets for the main character's magic gun, but hey since we're here anyhow may as well take advantage of it right?
>>46850718
Which is funny because they cut that episode when they originally showed the series on toonami, and a lot of people were like "whoa, where'd he get those weird draining caster bullets?"
>>46837149
Yes, great times to just flesh out characters if the group's on board with it.
>>46840442
Hot dork girls occur in the same ratio as hot dork guys, but don't let real life get in the way of you projecting as hard as possible.
>>46838165
This.
It's right out of the classic books.
>>46837149
I did something like that for a valentine's day session: the leader of a tribe they befriended was lonely and took to drinking, so the other members took to stealing to fuel his addiction and it caused problems with the local town. The party ventured off to win over another tribe's female leader for him. Nothing got done in main story terms, but it did make some big changes and got them some allies.
Also the leaders were ogres and the shrek jokes never ended.
>>46850789
Well, the episode did have boobs in it, which makes it totally inappropriate for western television.
>>46850578
Dorks deserve to be bullied
>>46850889
>hot dork guys
Don't exist
Help anons, how do I forcefully add beach episodes into my Bloodborne/Lovercraftian universe ?
>>46837149
Kinda. Purely RP sessions where the characters usually fuck around, get drunk and do things.
>>46840917
>>46855088
>lovecraftian
Pretty much everything comes from the sea, just come up with something.
>>46855191
so basically hentaï with sand and tentacles ?
Beach volley with the king in yellow ?
>>46855336
>Not eating calamari with the DJ King of R'lyeh
Yall cowards don't even smoke sanity
>>46837149
>Not making your entire campaign a beach episode
Will video games ever be this great again?
I had a literal beach episode planned for one campaign.
The PCs were going to be attacked by a tentacular kaiju beast.
Shame it fell through before we got there.
>>46850047
Your players sound awesome and you should value them. And don't kill their favorite NPCs this weekend. Please.
>>46840442
>steretyping this much
there aren't neckbeard in my dnd parties, would you believe this?
>>46840442
Hot girl who likes ultra nerdy shit here
I feel bad for you famalam, you'll see one someday.
>>46856837
Which favorite NPC?
>>46857014
I bet you're fucking ugly and only think you're hot. Post picks
>>46857014
>Making this claim without backup
>Making this claim without backup on 4chan
>>46857082
Fist of the Center. Fist of the West is a fucking TREASURE
>>46857397
That's not happening yet. Relax your face
>>46857268
>making the claim that there are no hot nerd girls without backup
Post picks of all nerd girls.
>>46857014
Can confirm. This person is so fucking beautiful.
>>46857157
plz no bully
>>46857599
Damn. Bruises and scars in chicks turn me on. I might be broken.
![Hanako+so+how+s+everyone+on+this+fine+day_f8f67b_4648028[1].png](https://i.imgur.com/SFqQr9k.png "Hanako+so+how+s+everyone+on+this+fine+day_f8f67b_4648028[1].png")
>>46857599
>>46857599
okay lexxie
>>46857599
>lexxie harford
Reverse image search exists now, anon. Try again.
>>46837991
>I don't have breather games for players after some serious shit they've just went through in recent campaigns
Pleb GM detected.
It really doesn't have to be a true beach episode, but not having breather game after tasking campaign is suicidal.
>>46840442
>In real life nerd girls are never hot
>Never
>>46857676
Worst girl
>>46857014
will you please the sex with me
>>46855003
Hot dork guy here. Suck a dick. We exist by the dozens. DOZENS!
>>46855003
Yes they do
I mean, I'm not one, but one of the guys I play with is, if the attention he gets from women is any indication.
>>46837149
We have breather episodes between every plot arc of the game as we've gathered the next McGuffin and further waylayed the BBEG's plans.
As we are generally headed back to our home when this happens, a small city located on a tropical island, to deliver the McGuffins and share the news from the outside world, these often happen to be literal beach episodes most the time as well.
>>46855336
>>46855191
>CoC beach episode
>you're in New England
>the beach is rocks
>the water is 50 degrees
>everyone is wearing scarves and blazers because it's fucking cold
>instead of picnicking you go inside and have a nice bowl of clam chowder
comfy
>>46857157
pls no bully
>>46845760
>Tryint to strawman so much it makes you literally blind
>>46837149
I did a breather/joke session of pure RP with my players. Their clothes got stolen when they were all taking nice hot bath after spending previous two months in mountainous wilderness.
This turned in no time into a Breaking Bad campaign, lasting for 7 game sessions, with blow, hookers, conspiracy, enigmatic drug dealers and fucking Hob from RoboCop 2
It was really, really fun to play
For adventuring, hunting trips in a lord's forest is always a relaxing experience.
For cyberpunk, time off at a nice hotel where jobs are put on the wayside is a nice way for the runner team to bond and combat burnout.
>Get a serious hobby and don't neglect yourself. Too many runners live like hobos saving up for their next augmentation/drone/focus. This will burn you at just as quickly as any drug habit.
-Smiling Bandit
Question:
If the female party members wear bikinis, or equivalent, is groping them alright?
Or just NPCs?
>>46860153
Depends on if you passed the charisma roll to not get slapped and refusal to even communicate after the incident. My sister gave my brother the silent treatment after his friend got caught as a peeping tom
>>46860254
Edit: i mean accidently broke their privacy
>>46837149
Yes, constantly. But it's usually represented by down time in a city. Most of my group is amateur actors, so it's a good chance to do a bit of improv with some established characters.
Beyond that, as DM I also like to do sessions where the heros will bump into villains doing mundane things, like shopping, and get a bit of character development out of them that way.
I like my settings campy.
>>46857014
yeah and my dog is the head of nintendo
get fucked
>>46858462
Nah, there are worse.
>>46860382
Like who? The lesbian?
>>46860847
A certain someone that needs to stay away from the pills.
>>46841137
>In real life girls are either ugly or crazy
FTFY
>>46837149
Sure, though it's usually less of a beach episode and more 'The party dicks around the HQ for a few days during downtime', including irritating the shit out of their superiors, torturing their underlings, and generally acting like The Fonz to their equals.
It's always good for a laugh.
>>46861832
stay alone forever faggot. The gene pool will be better without you
>>46837149
>a session where the plot doesn't move forward
No
>>46857648
I don't think this is a bruise, it looks more like a wine-stain birthmark.
>>46861886
Which one are you?
>>46847398
do tell, dude.
>>46857489
Yeah how in love are you
>>46840442
>He thinks "nerdy" and "attractive" are mutually exclusive
/fit/bros are neither hot nor nerdy
>>46837991
You've never had your party spend a session inside of a town, finding out the local goings-on and interacting with fun NPCs?
>Getting baited into discussing women on a mongolian basket weaving webforum
I had a tournament episode a few sessions ago. Some challenges constructed so the players win at least one each, lots of roleplay opportunities, and drawing attention to the plot point the tournmant was celebrating.
>>46837149
>Do you include a "beach episode" in your campaigns?
No.
But they always happen.
Like players will insist the small hamlet town near the dungeon needs them to do menial jobs.
Or that after the dungeon crawl, rather than returning the Rod of Fates to the magi to help close the demon portal; that a fucking ferry ride up river needed to turn into Love Boat with summoned badgers.
Alright, story time.
I ran a game of Pokemon Tabletop Adventures. It's not a good system, but my group knew d20 so I worked with it. It was coming up to midterms week at college, so after a session I told them that I wouldn't have much prep time, so if they wanted a session they needed to tell me where they wanted to go and roughly what they wanted to do. They told me they wanted to travel north for a few days through the woods to the next town so they could challenge the gym there. With that, we ended session for the day.
I asked one of them 5 days before the session. He said they wanted to travel north through the woods to challenge the gym there.
I asked on skype the day before. He said they wanted to travel north through the woods to challenge the gym there.
I started the session. Immediately, one of the players said "Hey wait a minute. This is a port town, we can rent a boat and travel across the sea to go to this other place!" The others agreed.
Now PTA is a prep heavy system. You can kinda sorta quick stat a single mon in about a minute, but doing anything past that is exhausting. And I had no idea what to do with "other place." I had never described "other place," It had just been a dot on the region map I gave them at the start of the game, and to be honest it was just there because that part of the map looked blank. So I did the only thing I could.
I stalled them. The only boat they could afford with their 13 year old allowances and fight money was in for the next 2 days for repairs. They instead spent the day (and entire session) at the beach, where they learned important life lessons, like that trying to catch a Magikarp by hand while snorkeling is actually really easy, and that Hitmonchan is apparently a god at volleyball (they were challenged by a group of random beach goers to a volleyball match. They were 1 short and were allowed to sub in a pokemon for a member, and Furret and Snorlax both lost at rock paper scissors.)
Not too bad, really.
Merfolk Campaign.
We have literal Beach Episodes.
>>46858462
I think you mean best.
>>46875454
Oh god, I remember this show. It did things to my dick.
>>46843337
Why are they not all playing at the same table?
>>46878875
They are, but there's a mirror on the wall.
Only time I've ever got a "Beach Episode" was after the GM shipwrecked us.
