I’m a former professor of religious studies turned hospital chaplain that has a love for old-school roleplaying, particularly original D&D (3 LBBs) and B/X D&D. I’ve been playing since 1980. If you enjoy pondering the esoteric nature of early D&D, or just want to poke around and see what another player does in his old-school games, then you might find something of interest here.
My Approach to Running a D&D Game
What follows are some of my views on running a D&D game. I am not advocating the correct way or best way, merely my approach to the game, along with some of the expectations I have for players who agree to participate in my games.
- The focus of my games is on the exploration of the setting (whether dungeon exploration, wilderness exploration, or some kind of settlement exploration).
- I do not see my role as one who provides a “story” for players to enjoy. There are no predetermined plots, no adventures with set endings, and no orchestrated storylines that need to be followed. I prepare a setting for players to interact with and explore, and I make rulings and adjudicate actions attempted by players using a framework of agreed upon rules or, in the absent of a rule, my best judgement based on context and circumstances.
- I do not allow players to introduce elaborate character “backstories” purported to have occurred outside of play, or prior to the start of play. A playing character’s exploits and relationships develop during actual play through exploring the campaign setting. In my games, unless otherwise stated, nothing of note has happened to any playing characters prior to the start of play. Playing characters are relatively new adventurers with limited experience in a recently adopted class/role. If you’re the kind the player that really wants to bring a backstory to the table explaining how cool, powerful, mysterious, wronged, dark, and/or funny your character is, then I encourage you to find another game that caters to that kind of play and character creation.
- I do not fudge dice and rolls are made openly. I do not hold the view that fudging rolls is sometimes ok for the benefit of the game or “story.” In fact, I believe fudging dice devalues decision-making and consequences; it also undermines player agency. Sometimes a string of bad luck happens. If a random roll of the die results in a character dying, then the player can just roll up another character.
- I strive to adhere to whatever rules are being used to facilitate consistent play. Anytime I introduce a rule change or new house rule, players are notified so that they always know the parameters of the game and can make informed decisions during play. I do not force players to play in a “black box.”
- I do not hold the position that roleplaying is synonymous with some kind of play acting. You can play a role in a game without acting. While talented players capable of imitating various roles with amusing accents are welcome in my games, such theatrical immersion and acting are not required or expected. Players may simply describe what their characters are doing or trying to accomplish.
- While games like D&D contain combat and violence, and at times my games may explore adult themes, I do not run games that include any form of sexual violence. None. I’m not interested in that kind of game. Characters will not be exposed to such violence, and I expect players to avoid having their characters engage in any sexual violence. Players in my games that attempt to roleplay any form of sexual violence will be dismissed from my game.
- No lone wolf characters, and no playing in divisive ways that undermine, injure, backstab, betray, or kill other characters in the group. While this might be a valid form of play in another person’s game, I have no interest in running this kind of game or playing with such players. I believe D&D is a cooperative game involving a group of players working together as they explore a setting. I find excuses like, “I’m just roleplaying my character” lame. Instead of expending so much energy attempting to justify why you undermine group play or try to go it alone, try expending an equal amount of energy coming up with plausible reasons explaining why your character would want to join and work with a diverse group of adventurers.