Post by Aerin, the half-elf priestess on May 28, 2013 21:50:39 GMT -5
You must know the rules well enough to serve as Game Master (GM) because players will be relying on you to answer questions and solve problems during game play. If you have played other D20 role playing games, then this game should be easy to learn. If you are new to role playing games, then you should read Chapters 1 – 5. These chapters will give you enough information to begin playing and you can learn the rest as you go along.
You also need to create your own world or use a campaign setting to play in. This game is very adaptable and can work in almost any campaign setting. Another important duty is helping players create their characters. Each player will need a TIER character sheet, which is located on the TIER website under "Official Full Downloadable Content". You must also provide D20 dice or access to an online dice roller. Additionally, you may want to provide figurines. These items help everyone visualize the battle, move characters and enemies around, and organize the game.
Using monsters in combat: All monsters, animals, and creatures have a Difficulty Rating (DR). This number directly relates to the average character level of the party members (party level). For standard battles, the GM should generally choose monsters that have an equal or lower DR than the party level. For boss battles, however, the boss may be 1-7 DR higher. There are many different ways to challenge a party. You may want to use a few high-level monsters or many low-level monsters.
You may also want to create your own unique monsters. I encourage this idea because you can create specific monsters that are suited to challenge the party. When doing so, make sure to allocate all statistics correctly and give monsters appropriate Masteries. For example, a monster with high Strength should have Strength-based Masteries like Power Attack or Blocking I and II.
Villains are important for plot, combat, and role play. They often threaten or challenge the party. They also have a focus or main goal that drives the storyline. Here’s a few tips on how to create a villain: you make a villain as you would a normal character. He should be at least 2 or more levels higher than the strongest party member. He needs class skills and Masteries that counter the party in multiple ways.
If you do not want to waste time creating all the statistics, simply do the following: choose Masteries that you want your villain to have, then choose some of the best statistics of each player in the party and add them to your villain. For example, if a player has +30 attack roll, a villain may have +30 or higher attack roll. For saving throws, a villain should have two very high saves (maybe Fortitude and Will) and one average save (maybe Reflex). This creates a weakness for your villain that the players will have to discover in order to defeat him. For skills and special abilities, if a player has +20 Spot check, make sure your villain has at least +20 or higher Hide check and maybe an Invisibility spell. Villains should also have minions.
Minions are monsters or weaker non-player characters (NPCs) that help the villain. Minions should be 1-3 DR or levels weaker than the party. You do not need to develop statistics for weaker NPCs. Simply choose Masteries that they need and use 2/3 of the same statistics as your villain. For example, if your villain has +30 attack roll, the weaker NPCs should have +20 attack roll. If your villain deals 15 damage with a melee attack, the weaker NPCs should deal 10 damage with a melee attack.
Most importantly, make sure the game is fun. A good Game Master will challenge the party with tough battles, but a good Game Master also allows players freedom to make creative choices and do what they want. Sometimes players find creative ways to defeat villains or they find solutions that you never thought of. This is okay, never get mad about it. You can always trick the players with surprising storyline or find ways to challenge them in the next battle. Not every battle has to be epic or super dangerous. Having an easy battle is sometimes good for you and everyone. Just make sure everyone is having fun, including yourself.
You also need to create your own world or use a campaign setting to play in. This game is very adaptable and can work in almost any campaign setting. Another important duty is helping players create their characters. Each player will need a TIER character sheet, which is located on the TIER website under "Official Full Downloadable Content". You must also provide D20 dice or access to an online dice roller. Additionally, you may want to provide figurines. These items help everyone visualize the battle, move characters and enemies around, and organize the game.
Using monsters in combat: All monsters, animals, and creatures have a Difficulty Rating (DR). This number directly relates to the average character level of the party members (party level). For standard battles, the GM should generally choose monsters that have an equal or lower DR than the party level. For boss battles, however, the boss may be 1-7 DR higher. There are many different ways to challenge a party. You may want to use a few high-level monsters or many low-level monsters.
You may also want to create your own unique monsters. I encourage this idea because you can create specific monsters that are suited to challenge the party. When doing so, make sure to allocate all statistics correctly and give monsters appropriate Masteries. For example, a monster with high Strength should have Strength-based Masteries like Power Attack or Blocking I and II.
Villains are important for plot, combat, and role play. They often threaten or challenge the party. They also have a focus or main goal that drives the storyline. Here’s a few tips on how to create a villain: you make a villain as you would a normal character. He should be at least 2 or more levels higher than the strongest party member. He needs class skills and Masteries that counter the party in multiple ways.
If you do not want to waste time creating all the statistics, simply do the following: choose Masteries that you want your villain to have, then choose some of the best statistics of each player in the party and add them to your villain. For example, if a player has +30 attack roll, a villain may have +30 or higher attack roll. For saving throws, a villain should have two very high saves (maybe Fortitude and Will) and one average save (maybe Reflex). This creates a weakness for your villain that the players will have to discover in order to defeat him. For skills and special abilities, if a player has +20 Spot check, make sure your villain has at least +20 or higher Hide check and maybe an Invisibility spell. Villains should also have minions.
Minions are monsters or weaker non-player characters (NPCs) that help the villain. Minions should be 1-3 DR or levels weaker than the party. You do not need to develop statistics for weaker NPCs. Simply choose Masteries that they need and use 2/3 of the same statistics as your villain. For example, if your villain has +30 attack roll, the weaker NPCs should have +20 attack roll. If your villain deals 15 damage with a melee attack, the weaker NPCs should deal 10 damage with a melee attack.
Most importantly, make sure the game is fun. A good Game Master will challenge the party with tough battles, but a good Game Master also allows players freedom to make creative choices and do what they want. Sometimes players find creative ways to defeat villains or they find solutions that you never thought of. This is okay, never get mad about it. You can always trick the players with surprising storyline or find ways to challenge them in the next battle. Not every battle has to be epic or super dangerous. Having an easy battle is sometimes good for you and everyone. Just make sure everyone is having fun, including yourself.