You could go about it in a more subtle way too. Like a good while earlier having a traumatized NPC tell them about how X uses certain types of plants or something to disguise traps. Then when they get to the area just tell them about the flora there and see if they remembered it. If they forgot, then getting surprise trapped is not unfair imo.
When the party enters the room and you describe what they see, just casually say "You don't see any traps".
That's usually enough.
I once ran a Dread campaign where the players were a group of tourists on a tour through a stalactite cavern. When they reached the deepest point of the tour, they heard an explosion from the entrance and the lights went out. As soon as the lights were out, someone (a disgruntled former employee of the stalactite cavern tour company) killed the tour guide with a crossbow.
The players then had to make their way through the long-abandoned and partially flooded other exit of the cavern.
I gave the killer a heavy, wheezing cough, so any time they spent too long discussing things, I would just cough. That was enough to bring the tension way up again.
I personally hate it based on how it's done in media. All too often a show or game (looking at you, Halo: Infinite) where some nobody comes out of left field and beats down the badass protagonist off screen.
You don't pull some random nobody from left field after all this investment the story puts into the protagonist. There needs to be some development for the new villain, or the "badassery" of them is unearned.
And that fight needs to be on screen. Otherwise it looks like the writer is just a hack that can't actually imagine a plausible fight where the protagonist loses.
21 replies
Thanks for sharing your gooning advice on how to raise tension and make things feel better /s
From one pro to another, I got you bro
You could go about it in a more subtle way too. Like a good while earlier having a traumatized NPC tell them about how X uses certain types of plants or something to disguise traps. Then when they get to the area just tell them about the flora there and see if they remembered it. If they forgot, then getting surprise trapped is not unfair imo.
Foreshadowing is a pretty effective tool, yeah.
Ideally when the thing happens, whatever it is, the players go "oh that makes sense."
It’s not just about fairness. It’s about narrative structure. Set-up and pay-off.
Some GMs love to play against the players, instead of recognizing he’s there to support them.
When the party enters the room and you describe what they see, just casually say "You don't see any traps".
That's usually enough.
I once ran a Dread campaign where the players were a group of tourists on a tour through a stalactite cavern. When they reached the deepest point of the tour, they heard an explosion from the entrance and the lights went out. As soon as the lights were out, someone (a disgruntled former employee of the stalactite cavern tour company) killed the tour guide with a crossbow.
The players then had to make their way through the long-abandoned and partially flooded other exit of the cavern.
I gave the killer a heavy, wheezing cough, so any time they spent too long discussing things, I would just cough. That was enough to bring the tension way up again.
Yo is that the Daedric prince of funny stuff, Herman Moira??
With his magic stick, Wobbufet
i'll be honest, if your players get randomly killed because of a trap, the trap might just be too strong and should do less damage
And then there’s silksong
I prefer to use the Worf Effect
I personally hate it based on how it's done in media. All too often a show or game (looking at you, Halo: Infinite) where some nobody comes out of left field and beats down the badass protagonist off screen.
You don't pull some random nobody from left field after all this investment the story puts into the protagonist. There needs to be some development for the new villain, or the "badassery" of them is unearned.
And that fight needs to be on screen. Otherwise it looks like the writer is just a hack that can't actually imagine a plausible fight where the protagonist loses.
The Worf Effect is specifically when it's established on screen
Craziest goon sesh I've ever heard of
I do this every Friday night. best goon session ever.
My brain jumps to Big Daddy using his drill if you catch my drift
That looks suspiciously like Sheogorath
Because it is
with the groups ive played with, they'll nose dive face first into a trap just to see what happens. and thats only because my turn wasnt first 😂
... Why sheogorath? I know his lyrics are fire but he's got nothing to do with the text here