It’s a new year and a fresh start! It’s also time to revisit games once enjoyed but had fallen to the wayside because of adulting and life in general. After meeting up with gaming peeps over the holidays, we decided to schedule a Zoom session.

It was truly a Christmas miracle that five adults managed to seamlessly secure three free hours on a Sunday afternoon, since we’ve been having difficulty syncing up our dates. It helps that it’s January and that all of us reside in colder climates, so we hole up in our caves and roll dice in lieu of literal hibernation.

That meeting and the game session inspired me to write this article about getting back in the RPG saddle after a brief or long pause. (For us, it was a four-month hiatus.) This is from the player’s perspective since I don’t have anything yet to add on the DM’s viewpoint.

• Clearing the Calendar

First things first. Nail down the date and time to meet and play. I use both a planner and an online calendar (Google) to ensure that I have both the date and time cleared for the session. Double-booking is problematic, so I increase my efforts not to have that happen.  We also try not to schedule games on a weeknight during the school year.

• Deciding on the Campaign

Not all RPGs are based on just one campaign. In our group, there are several talented DMs who will run a one-shot or continue months or years long campaigns. The DM asked us which game we would prefer to play. Surprisingly, we opted to play the campaign where our characters were low-level (level 3); most of us chose to play another type of character. (I’m playing a charismatic and unwise bard named Ella. I’ve never played a bard before and so far, so good.)

• Preparing for the Game

Because it’s been awhile since playing this particular game,  I try to add in at least an hour beforehand to prepare and review notes from the campaign. Also, I click onto the D&D Beyond website and pull up the character sheet, reviewing hit points and used spells.  I locate my trusty dice bag, pens and/or pencils, and blank paper for notetaking. (Your DM will be grateful for planning ahead. Our game ran smoothly because both the DM and players were prepared.)

• Gameplay

The main points of playing are to have fun, venture through the campaign, and keep characters alive! Although we do our best, nothing is perfect, and sometimes the imperfect moments make the adventure more interesting. I’m happy to note that we played our game (5e). Our DM was kind and let our characters take a long rest so we were ready to resume gameplay with restored hit points and spell slots. Nobody’s character died, so it was a successful adventure so far!

What are your strategies for rebooting your campaign after it’s been on ice? We’d love to hear from you!

If 2022 could be summed up on a d20 dice roll, it would have been a 3.

Between ER visits, surgery #1, post-operative complications, more ER visits, car troubles, pet illnesses (our eldest cat was diagnosed with diabetes and now requires shots twice a day), medical appointments, a referral to an out-of-town research hospital, more car troubles, a cranky and unreliable laptop computer, consultations, and surgery #2, this was the year that this PC travelled tougher and uncharted terrain of this crazy dungeon crawl we call life.

Why did I not say 2022 was a critical miss? Although Constitution was -2 and hit points were low,  I made all my saving throws and was fortunate enough to wake up from both procedures, leaving drafty hospital gowns and daytime television behind for flannel pajamas and welcomed seasons of Andor, Boba Fett, Mandalorian, and Obi-Wan.

Despite all the distractions, I was able to accomplish some gaming goals this past year, and have some goals for 2023:

Gaming Highlights of 2022

• Writing for Gnome Stew! This is my 10^th post, and including this one, I co-wrote and/or wrote nine of them in 2022. It’s been a joy to discover unique topics about gaming and to write for a wide audience. I’ve learned a lot about blogging, gaming, and writing from the other Gnomes. (Thank you for working with me.)
• Reading and finishing two amazing in-depth books on RPGs: Slaying the Dragon by Ben Riggs and Of Dice and Men: The Story of Dungeons and Dragons and the People who Play It by David M. Ewalt. A bonus for me, not necessarily for him, was meeting Ben Riggs in an elevator on accident and fangirling over his book before he could finish his first cup of coffee.

• Playing RPGs with friends, attending Gen Con in Indianapolis, and participating in more events.

Goals for 2023

• Becoming a proud owner of a fancy dice tray, since an upcycled, cardboard tray doesn’t quite suffice anymore.
• Hoping to start a new campaign (5e) as a DM.
• Playing more RPGs with friends, attending Gen Con in Indianapolis, and participating in the Orc Stomp.
• Purchasing one of the Gnome Stew t-shirts from the merch store. (I’ve been eyeing them for a while.)
• Researching and writing more unique articles for Gnome Stew.

What was your biggest achieved RPG goal(s) in 2022? What do you hope to accomplish in 2023?

Is there a player in your group who always shows up late to the table, no matter how hard they try? Do you have a PC that struggles to keep up with the dice rolls during a fast combat round? Do you have someone in your party who forgets important details and often needs a reminder?  Is there someone who attempts — but fails — to keep track with accounting or bookkeeping in the game? Do you have a player who  accidentally pressed the delete button on the online character sheet before saving?

If you have experienced one or several of these as a DM or a fellow gamer, you may be running a game for — or playing with — someone who struggles with neurodiversity. In this article, I will discuss neurodivergence and neurotypical brains, and then will provide some helpful tips for both neurodivergent and neurotypical players in RPG.

Neurodivergent and Neurotypical Brains

The Cleveland Clinic provides a useful definition: “The term ‘neurodivergent’ describes people whose brain differences affect how their brain works.”   Examples of neurodivergence include but are not limited to ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), Autism, Down Syndrome, and Dyslexia.  Neurotypical people do not have these differences.

I am well versed in neurodivergence. I write about this topic as one of those people who struggle to navigate a neurotypical world.  Diagnosed later in life at age 38, it was a relief to discover that ADHD is not a gigantic character flaw but rather a cluster of symptoms of a medical diagnosis that needs to be managed. I still struggle with executive functioning. Like with all other things I either must do or like to do, executive functioning affects how I show up to the RPG table and participate.

Tips for Neurodivergent Players

As a neurodivergent player, I believe that there are two elements I need to bring to the game: accountability and communication. Under these elements are some tips that may help new or seasoned players have successful gaming sessions.

Accountability

• Although we struggle with neurodivergent brains, we still need to abide by the rules (within reason) of the game and of the group.
• As an example, if struggling to arrive on time to a session (this is a condition called time blindness), find out when is the best time to leave home or log on to a Zoom session and set an alarm. It is generally better to be early so the rest of the group isn’t kept waiting.  If you’re playing a one-shot game at a con, timeliness is imperative. If you’re late, your spot may be given to someone else.
• It’s okay to ask for clarification in a session, even if others do not need to. (I usually need assistance if there are multiple steps involved.)
• It may take longer to fill out the character sheet, and if you need more time, you can ask to meet with the DM or another player in advance. There’s no shame in asking for help.
• Having said that, if the DM or other players are disrespectful, exclusive, or insensitive, it’s a good idea to have a discussion or find a more inclusive group.

 Communication

• Depending on how well you know the other gamers at the table and how severe your symptoms are, it may be a wise idea to communicate with the DM and/or the group. If they do not know, they will not be able to accommodate you.
• I am open about ADHD and communicate with the DM and other players, not to expect special treatment, but to let others know that executive functioning is slower, my responses may be slightly delayed, and I get overwhelmed easily. This may provide some understanding with others.
• Be mindful of symptoms pertaining to communication. If you tend to interrupt or blurt while someone is talking, find a way to pause until the person is finished. (Sometimes I count to myself) If you make a misstep, apologize.

Tips for Neurotypical Players

Although I am unable to write from a neurotypical perspective, I can communicate what can be helpful for a neurodivergent player. I write this with both DMs and players in mind:

• If you’re one of the lucky ones who have a neurotypical brain, that’s awesome! Please try to be patient with gamers who are a couple paces slower, who ask you to repeat something, or forget a detail. We are also painfully aware of these differences and still attempt to dig our self-esteem out of the mud, so please be kind.
• If you see another player struggling to keep up with the mechanics of the game, please help.
• If the DM is running a game for a large party, offer assistance and encouragement. Even a simple “good job”  or “way to go” means a lot.
• If you have PCs with sensory issues, consider dimming the lights. Keep music to a background level. If possible, have comfortable chairs for the group, especially if the session is lengthy.
• Sometimes, neurodivergent players move more often or use stim tactics (I draw while I’m listening). If they are not disrupting gameplay, consider allowing them.
• If you are teaching something new to a player, handouts are helpful.

What are your experiences? Are there any helpful tips you would like to share?

I’m currently reading David M. Ewalt’s book Of Dice and Men with the large d20 featured on the cover and I keep looking at the dice. I remember purchasing new dice, a dice bag, and dice earrings when first visiting Gen Con back in 2010. I attribute my renewed love of gaming and dice to two people: my friend Gina and my husband Steve.

It’s a rite of passage to own a dice bag, even as a middle-aged adult. When I played D&D as a kid in the 1980s, I don’t remember owning a fancy dice bag. I think I had the basic polyhedral set encased in a small plastic box.  Fast forward to the 2000s with websites like D&D Beyond and other apps where dice can be rolled virtually. Steve prefers to “roll the dice” using a virtual app. I tried the one on D&D Beyond a couple of times, but that quickly lost its appeal.

In this article I am going to compare the advantages and disadvantages of using polyhedral versus virtual dice in RPGs. (You can also use a giant stuffed d20 that I bought at Gen Con this summer!) Although D&D is my go-to RPG, it can also apply to other gaming systems.

Polyhedral Dice

The word polyhedral (pronounced polly-heeee-drull) fascinates me and is primarily used in the D&D universe, but dice are used in other games as well.  I believe the six-sided dice is the most used one; I remember playing Yahtzee all the time as a kid using the five six-sided dice. Anyhow, here are the advantages and disadvantages of using polyhedral dice in RPG.

Advantages

• The physical motion of rolling the dice and anticipating the results are part of the fun.
• It’s fun to compare dice at the table (unless your dice are sub-par.)
• Physically rolling and seeing a 20 is much more gratifying than seeing one on a screen.
• Not only are dice used for gaming, but players collect them.
• If your dice are producing too many critical misses (which is a 1), you can purchase a dice jail to place them in. (Based on my rolls in my last RPG, I’m considering it.)
• Not only can you invest in dice, but you can purchase fancy trays to roll them in. You can create your own, or purchase fancy ones from companies like Wyrmwood.

Disadvantages

• If you’re playing a Zoom session of RPG, you may not see the dice rolls and will have to rely on the DM’s or player’s word.
• Dice can become missing or lost; your dice may become mixed up with someone else’s if you have the same color/style/type, and you will most likely need more than one set.
• You will need to have a physical space to roll the dice.
• Dice collecting, including the bags, dice, and trays, can become expensive.
• If you have fur or human children, your dice may disappear.

Virtual Dice

If you are tech savvy and would rather push a button than roll physical dice, virtual dice may be the way to go. RPG Simple Dice is available on Google Play. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of using virtual dice in a game:

Advantages

• The game may go faster by touching a button to roll, and DMs may prefer virtual dice to save time.
• If connected with other gamers, everyone’s dice rolls can be seen online.
• Virtual dice are better to use if physical space is an issue.
• Using virtual dice, especially with the sound off, is quieter than rolling dice.
• Virtual dice can be safer, especially if you have small children and/or curious pets.

Disadvantages

• It’s not the same as rolling physical dice.
• Rolls can be disadvantageous, and you can’t put virtual dice in dice jail. (Unless there’s an app I don’t know about!)
• If you have a bad signal, this could delay gameplay.
• If your technology goes awry, you won’t be able to use the app/website.

What are your thoughts? Do you prefer to physically or virtually roll the dice in a game?

Dr. Lisa Su states that “Gaming brings people together.”

There are benefits and drawbacks of playing RPGs with people we know versus people we don’t. There are advantages and disadvantages to gaming with the people we are closest to, and the people we’ve never met. This article discusses playing RPGs with friends, family, and strangers.

RPGs with Friends

Playing with your besties is usually the easiest way to go. There’s a standing Friday or Saturday night game at your favorite bar or basement, so no one must think of where to go or what to do that night. It’s already pre-planned!  Here are the pros and cons of playing RPGs with your friends.

Advantages to RPGs with Friends

• I know this firsthand. RPGs have brought me closer to friends, especially during difficult times. RPGs can build relationships within a campaign.
• A cohesive group is stress-relieving and a lot of fun to play.
• Having an establish playing time (weekly, monthly, etc.) will keep players in touch with each other.

Disadvantages to RPGs with Friends

• Conflicts can happen and players can have hurt feelings. It’s worse if players take sides.
• Gaming only with friends prevents others from joining the RPG circles.
• It can be awkward and affect the friendship if one or more of the players leave the group.

RPGs with Family

At a family gathering, especially if members are stuck inside due to inclement weather, RPGs can be a lifesaver. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of gaming with beloved family members.

Advantages to RPGs with Family

• A good RPG session can replace awkward conversations, steer away from sensitive topics, and avert unnecessary family drama.
• The rules in RPGs use a lot of math, which is a great review for all participants.
• A good storyline is a good opportunity for bonding with family members. Nothing keeps the family together quite like a good RPG battle!
• This is a great multiage activity, as 9-year-olds can play along with grand and great-grandparents! Both tweens/teens and seniors can be hard to entertain, so it’s a great time to introduce them to RPGs.

Disadvantages to RPGs with Family 

• Time constraints can prevent a good gaming session.
• Figuring out who will be the DM and which game and version to play could be problematic.
• If there are too many players, it could be difficult for the DM to handle.
• Unless characters are created in advance, learning the game can be challenging.
• Some family members are hesitant/reticent to use technology like D&D Beyond, so, you may want to team up a non-techie person with someone who is comfortable and patient.

RPGs with Strangers

            This one is a tough one for me, but recently I’ve had a change of heart. A couple of people who I didn’t know previously joined one of my groups. It turned out to be a great experience! Here are the good and the bad when gaming with strangers.

Advantages to RPGs with Strangers 

• Gaming with strangers livens up a session and a potentially stagnant campaign.
• Strangers in RPGs can quickly become friends.
• Unless one of the strangers is a rules lawyer, strangers are usually easy to play with, as they want to fit in.
• If you are gaming with strangers at a Con, if the game is not going well, you can always leave.

Disadvantages to RPGs with Strangers 

• When bringing a new player into the group, the dynamic changes, and not always for the better.
• If the player does not fit in well with the group, it can be an uncomfortable experience.
• If you are gaming with strangers at a Con, it’s four hours of your life you won’t get back.

Do you prefer to play with family, friends, or strangers? Please share your experiences!

Like any vacation, Gen Con is a mixed bag of mostly fun and minor frustration. Sometimes you roll a 20 and occasionally you roll a 1. This year was a mixed dice bag, but I’m grateful to have the opportunity to visit Indy, enjoy the Con, and hang out with my gaming fam. In this article, I will be addressing the good and the bad parts of the adventure.

The Good

There were a lot of good moments at Gen Con 2022, but for brevity’s sake I’d like to highlight three memorable events: one features an author, another a game store, and the third is the hotel stay.

Elevator Fan Girl

Steve and I are in the elevator going down to breakfast and there’s a sweet, shy man holding a sign that has the Slaying the Dragon book cover. (This book was referenced in an earlier Gnome Stew article-check it out!) I exclaimed and said, “Hey, I’m reading that book!” The man quips, “Hey, I wrote that book!” Ben Riggs probably wanted to fetch his coffee and escape from this elevator fan girl, but he was gracious. Steve and I stopped by his booth several times to have our copy signed, but the elusive Ben was away, so we ended up with a signed book card. That would suffice.

Good Games Indianapolis

We strolled down South Meridian Street, people-watched (lots of cosplay here), and ventured to Good Games Indianapolis. It’s a nifty shop that is much bigger inside than it looks from the outside. I can’t say enough good things about the staff and the merch, as they were friendly and helpful. I left the store with a Bard miniature for a new 5e character, a jumbo D20 die, and a game called Cat Lady.

Hotel

We were lucky in the lottery this year and ended up staying at our favorite place, The Hilton. The staff was also gracious to us and allowed us to commandeer a table and play our annual Saturday night game in their bar area. Check-in and check-out were seamless, and the discounted breakfast was tasty. Also, I had a new haircut, hot stone massage (highly recommend!), and a pedicure.

The Bad

I like to focus on the positive without being too Pollyanna about it. There were only a few blips this con. For us, the bad was due to limited mobility, schedules, and weather.

Limited Mobility

Unfortunately, I am currently experiencing post-op complications which limits my mobility to walk long distances without pain.  So, I couldn’t visit the Con as often as I would have liked. But I made my own fun by getting a new haircut, a massage, and a pedicure. (The spa at the Hilton is terrific! I made new friends there.)

Schedules

  This is the one bad instance that we can control, and moving forward, will do. Steve GMs four games for the Con, and that is awesome and all, but we hardly saw each other. Next year, Steve will either limit the number of games to run, or we will coordinate schedules better, so we have some time to spend together.

Weather

  Luckily, except for the Food Trucks, the Con is held indoors, so we’re not stuck inside on a tropical island. However, it rained most of the weekend, and it made travelling a little more difficult. Other than that, it wasn’t a big deal.

 Did you visit any conventions this year? How were your experiences?

I could share many gaming phrases that I’ve learned over the two centuries I’ve lived in, but will exercise restraint and share 5 of them with you that I’ve found on my long RPG journey. I’m leaving the more colorful terms out (sorry swearers). Although my experience is heavily D&D based, I have played Pathfinder, so I think the terms can be somewhat interchangeable.

• Old Word: Dungeon Crawl

The word Dungeon Crawl was one the first terms I picked up as a youth in the late 1970s. Originally, a Dungeon Crawl was simpler, more goal-oriented, less story-based although there is a setting and a background, located in a dungeon or another closed-in type of scenario. Basically, the players needed to make it through the adventure without dying in a trap (D&D 1e is notorious for that) or being obliterated by monsters. Survive the encounter, kill the monsters, and steal their treasure.

Not only does the Dungeon Crawl formula work for RPGs, but also for board games (Gary Gygax put this term on the map with board games around 1975), and later, computer games. I remember playing several Dungeon Crawl computer games on the PS with Steve when I was attending library school. Sometimes you don’t have the spoons for a story but only feel like hacking monsters and pilfering their loot.

• New Word: Meat Shield

Although this is not a new term in RPG, it’s a new phrase I picked up in a recent campaign. One of my friends plays a Fighter, and he’s always first, front, and center when entering a room or taking hits from enemies. He always used the term “Meat Shield” and I thought it was interesting.

Basically, a Meat Shield refers to a character that battles on the front lines. It’s usually a fighter-type because they can wear more protective armor and wield the strongest weapons. Their hit points also tend to be higher so they can take a hit (or several). A Meat Shield needs a cleric or other type of healer on standby to help the fighter cure wounds and restore hit points.

• Old Word: Rules Lawyer

The Rules Lawyer is that annoying Player who has read and reread and reread the manuals and knows the rules verbatim. This person knows the ins and outs of the game down to the page number and paragraph, argues with the DM and other players, and squeezes every little detail to take advantage. They will outwardly challenge the DM at every corner, even though they should know that the DM runs the universe and has the final say.

In the past, I’ve dealt with rules lawyers, and they annoy the heck out me and many other players. As a busy big-picture narrative-based player who just wants to participate in a fun story and escape life’s challenges for a while, the last thing I need is a person who causes drama by arguing with the DM at every turn. Also, unless the DM is paid, most are volunteers giving their heart, resources, and time to make sure the party’s having fun. Rules lawyering sucks the joy out of the RPG experience. If you happen to be a Rules Lawyer, stop it. Please. It’s not worth ruining a campaign and risking friendships just to be right.

• New Word: Session Zero

This is another interesting phrase I haven’t heard of until recently. I think it’s an excellent concept. Basically, Session Zero is a session before starting the official campaign, although some groups like to dive in and start after the discussion. It’s a forum for open communication that answers questions such as how many people in the game, which game system to use, how often the group will play, will this be in-person, Zoom, or a combination/hybrid, and ground rules, and what is expected at the table.

Based on research, I found that the GM and players can reset and have a Session Zero meeting to change the campaign, clear the air, and solve any unresolved issues. Session Zero could be used in lots of settings, not just for RPGs.

• Old Word: Total-Party Kill (TPK)

Also known as a wipe, Total Party Kill is when all the characters of a campaign die in an adventure or an encounter. Fortunately, I haven’t been in many scenarios where this has happened although there have been some close calls. I’ve played in a quick dungeon crawl on New Year’s Eve with pre-made Level 1 characters and we were obliterated quickly. What an interesting way to ring in the new year, but it was a lot of fun.

There are some reasons why a TPK happens: choices on the part of the players, several critical miss rolls by the PCs or several critical hit rolls on the part of the monsters, or if monsters completely outnumber the party.

So, what are your favorite terms? What new words did you pick up playing RPG?

Dice in a Glass

In many gaming circles, especially if participants are underage, alcohol is not served or imbibed, so it is a non-issue.(Coffee, Cherry Coke Zero, Mountain Dew, tea, or water will work just fine.) However, there are other gaming circles that meet in bars, cons, darkened basements, or restaurants where people may or may not enjoy that frosty mug, a glass of wine, or a spirit.

Imagine this scenario: you are participating in Dry January, Sober October, or becoming sober on a more, let’s say, permanent basis. You may be giving up alcohol for Lent or for another spiritual observance. Or you want to pay more attention to your health and fitness. You still want to participate in RPGs and other gaming activities. How do you navigate the social aspects of gaming groups and gatherings without drinking and without people asking about it?

In this article, I will share my journey with gaming before sobriety, and then discuss and provide tips on not partaking. (For those of you over 21 who drink socially, this is by no means an anti-drinking article. Carry on and Cheers!)

Drinking and Gaming

I started travelling to Indianapolis to Gen Con with my husband, Steve, back in 2010. We met up with friends, participated in gaming sessions, and I would sometimes attend the Writer’s Workshops. Meeting for dinners in Downtown Indy was always a treat.

Until recently, I didn’t notice that wine remained a constant companion, and I would indulge in several glasses of wine late into the evenings. Cabernet was my BFF. I didn’t think anything of it. Drinking was part of the experience. Every year, we would do the same thing, rinse and repeat. I’ve lost count of the number of glasses of wine I’ve had in the past ten plus years. If alcoholism was a class in D&D 5e, it would be a high-level rogue assassin, both stealthy and deadly, for me.

Fast forward to March 2020, around St. Patrick’s Day, when the world shut down due to the pandemic. To distract us from the fear of the outside world and of this unknown plague, our group started a campaign in April 2020 via Zoom. The game provided us a respite while we were sequestered to our homes. Right next to my gaming sheet and dice bag was—you got it—a full glass of wine. I was drinking. A lot.

My character, Veara, a rogue assassin that I have mentioned in a previous article, tended to be angry and combative in our game. I remember drinking while playing, numbing out, and trying to forget what was happening in real life.

The wine drinking eventually caught up with me, and on September 17, 2020, after a sobering diagnosis of AFLD (Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease), I was scared into abstinence.  I put away the wine glass for good and joined AA (Alcoholics Anonymous).

At this writing, I am over a year and a half sober and pleased to report that the liver damage is reversed. During the difficult journey in sobriety, Veara emerged into a better character, and I became a better player. In fact, I was able start with a new character named Thia.

In 2021, Gen Con was held later in September. The “soberversary” date happened during the time. So, Steve and I invited our core group of friends, and at midnight, we celebrated with donuts. (Note to self: don’t eat sugared donuts in a black t-shirt. Trust me. It’s not pretty.) I celebrated the con as a newly sober gamer.

Sobriety Tips

If you are cutting back or in recovery, here are some tips to help you navigate sobriety in a gaming setting:

• Have a list of numbers programmed in your phone in case you need to call someone. Gaming groups or DMs are not equipped to counsel you during a campaign but do share with a trusted clergy, therapist, friend, or family member who can provide guidance if you are struggling. Again, planning is ideal.
• Please do not expect others to stop drinking around you because you are not. (This was a hard lesson to swallow.) Have some beverages in hand: coffee, soda pop, tea, or water are my staples. There are also nonalcoholic beer and wine you can purchase and bring to games.
• If you are gaming in a bar or restaurant, it helps to sit at the end of the table in case you have to leave the table to take a break without being disruptive. (Be sure to communicate with your DM beforehand.)
• If you are out of town at a con, consider attending meetings in-person or on Zoom, especially during times you are not gaming and are tempted to drink. (Happy Hour comes to mind.)
• If the drinking in your gaming group interferes with your sobriety, you may want to consider joining a group that does not partake during the game. Or, if possible, check with your DM to see if you can Zoom in so you have some distance.
• Sometimes you may feel pressure from family or close friends to partake and it can be hard to say no. A good comeback is to tell them that you are allergic. (If you are an alcoholic, that is not a fib.) You can always say you are cutting back for health reasons, or you can offer to be the designated driver. A simple no thank-you will suffice.  No one, even family, has the right to make you feel uncomfortable about your preferences, especially in sobriety. Protect yourself
• There are sober groups out there, but Alcoholics Anonymous is the one I am affiliated with: https://www.aa.org/

Conclusion

I have shared my story about drinking and gaming, entering sobriety, and provided tips on navigating sobriety at a con or another group setting. I hope this will help you or someone you care about in the gaming world who struggles with sobriety or just wants to cut back.  As a DM or a PC, what are your experiences in the gaming group?

Good, Evil, Chaos, Lawful, which direction does your character go?

When I started playing D&D in grade school back last century, the D&D Player’s Handbook was carved on stone tablets. Okay, I am exaggerating, but I was around for the first and subsequent editions in the early 1980s. For some reason, alignments were a big deal.  In 5e, I recognize that the restrictions on alignments have been loosened. I mean, you can play an evil Paladin now if you really want to!

However, in another game that I have played in for 9 years and counting, I play a lawful good cleric, who strays away from her alignment and her faith, and my character had to atone for it. My cleric’s fall from grace brought another interesting element to the story.

In this article, I would like to discuss character alignments in the D&D 5e gaming system, monsters and alignments, and the advantages and disadvantages of playing characters with opposing alignments.

Defining Character Alignments

The word alignment is tossed around a lot of tables in the RPG community, so let’s define it.  What is the definition of alignment? According to the D&D Player’s Handbook, “Alignment is a combination of two factors: one identifies morality (good, evil, or neutral), and the other describes attitudes toward society and order (lawful, chaotic, or neutral). Thus, nine distinct alignments define the possible combinations.”

Also, creatures who do not have rational thought are classified in the D&D Player’s Handbook as unaligned. (The Gelatinous Cube comes to mind first. Don’t ask me why.)

The Good, the Bad, and the Indifferent: The Nine Character Alignments

Let’s start with the good alignments because it’s probably good karma. Here they are, paraphrased from  the D&D Monster Manual, the D&D Player’s Handbook, and my own RPG experiences:

• Lawful Good (LG): these characters and creatures are rule followers for good causes. They never break rules. Think of the traditional Paladin as an example. Many Clerics are also Lawful Good. I have played a Lawful Good character (the one that fell from grace).  Gold and Silver Dragons are also Lawful Good.
• Neutral Good (NG): Characters and creatures who are Neutral Good have the best intentions and actions and do the best they can to help others but keep self-preservation in mind. Frodo from Lord of the Rings (LOTR) has been considered as having a Neutral Good alignment. Most of the characters I play now are neutral good, because lawful good hasn’t worked out so well. (See above.)
• Chaotic Good (CG): Good intentions, but inconsistent and unpredictable. (Squirrels come to mind with this alignment.) They are on their own timetable and have their own moral code. Djinni, Elves, and Faerie Dragons are examples of Chaotic Good.

Let’s continue with the bad. Admittedly, I wrote an article recently about the best evil classes, and it felt a little strange because I’ve always played characters with good alignments. Perhaps the critics portraying RPG as demonic worship and evil in the 1980s and 1990s is etched in my head. Anyhow, here are the evil alignments:

• Lawful Evil (LE): Although evil in morals, beings with this alignment value logic, order, structure, and traditions. (Think of the mirror opposite of Lawful Good.) Blue and Green Dragons are Lawful Evil; Devils, Dracoliches, and Vampires are also Lawful Evil.

• Neutral Evil (NE): The term sociopath comes to my mind when playing someone with a Neutral Evil Alignment. These beings do whatever they want at their whims without consideration for any consequences. Drow, Flameskulls, Goblins, and Yuan-Ti are considered as Neutral Evil. (I’ve encountered Yuan-Ti and they are nasty!)

• Chaotic Evil (CE): These are the psychopaths of the RPG world. In my opinion, they are the most frightening because these creatures are full of hate and seek out to hurt others. Think of Shadow Dragons, Smaug (Red Dragon) from LOTR,  and Demons.

 And finally, the Neutral alignments, indifferent, meh.  The self-centered and not caring-so-much. The self is more important than others.

• Lawful Neutral (LN): Beings with this alignment are motivated by rules, structure, and tradition. Monks and Wizards tend to be Lawful Neutral. Azers and Spectators are Lawful Neutral.

• Neutral (N): These are the creatures who are indifferent, do not take sides, and do not get involved. (Switzerland comes to mind with this alignment.) Druids, Stone Giants, and Humans are known to be Neutral.
• Chaotic Neutral (CN): Creatures, NPCs, and PCs who are Chaotic Neutral generally do not give a hoot. They value their autonomy more than any moral code.  Classes such as bards, barbarians, and rogues have a reputation to be Chaotic Neutral. Cloakers and Cyclops are Chaotic Neutral.

Monsters and Alignments

My findings with going through the D&D Monster Manual are that there are not a lot of monsters with neutral alignments. If the monster is not inherently good or evil, they are generally lumped in as Neutral or unaligned. I guess it makes sense for more monsters to be evil, because if they don’t really care, then there may not be a reason for many encounters.

I also purposely did not include character classes in the evil alignment categories, because in 5e, almost any class can be any alignment. Admittedly, it’s still hard for my 1^st edition RPG paradigm to envision an evil Paladin or a Lawful Good rogue.  Of course, the default is always, always the Dungeon Master.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Different Character Alignments in a Party

So, in this made-up scenario, let’s pretend that the DM allows PCs to play any alignment they wish, without restriction. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of having vastly different alignments in a party.

Advantages

• No one can say the adventure wouldn’t be interesting. Imagine the dialogue, the drama, and the role-playing!
• Players can have more freedom to do things in the game that they wouldn’t do otherwise. (Although I recommend that DMs set firm boundaries, or the campaign could go downhill fast.)
• PCs with evil alignments may take more risks because morals would not necessarily hold them back.
• PCs with evil alignments may be able to negotiate or charm monsters in an encounter so the party would not have to fight them. Warlocks who are evil can make pacts with evil deities and increase the party’s chance for survival. (I don’t think that would work with Chaotic Evil monsters, though.)

Disadvantages

• Allowing evil PCs in a campaign may bring a lot of negative drama (literally!) to the game. Players could use this as a reason to harass others.
• Character clashes would happen if there was a Lawful Good Paladin or Cleric and an Evil Barbarian or Rogue. The DM would have to ensure that all the players are enjoying the game.
• There may be division rather than teamwork in a party, and that could be problematic.
• There may be some unpleasant behavior from the evil characters. Again, the DM would have to set firm guidelines.
• The storyline might be difficult to navigate if alignments are too different, because who is ultimately the enemy?

Conclusion

In this article I have defined the 10 alignments, including the unaligned, in the D&D 5e universe, briefly discussed monsters and alignment, and covered some of the advantages and disadvantages of playing good, evil, and neutral characters in the same party. These advantages and disadvantages are not exhaustive by any means, especially since current editions of D&D are evolving into a more narrative scope and are less rigid in rules since the 1^st edition (trip over a wire and end up with a Total Party Kill (TPK)).  What are your thoughts concerning alignments as a Player Character? As  a DM?

No good can come from a temple like this…

Over a year, almost two years now, passed since the five of us started a D&D 5e RPG online game during the beginning of the pandemic. Now that there are vaccines and boosters available and we are no longer sequestered to our basements, Joe (DM) and I (PC) spoke about switching characters to keep our campaign, called Stonewell, exciting and lively; we believed that introducing and playing a new character would add to the storyline and improve the quality of gameplaying.

So, Veara Snow, my former Rogue/Assassin, was charmed and kidnapped at-will on a ship by Pencheska, Duchess of the Gnawing Chaos, an arch-succubus devil. She was strategically replaced by a formerly captured Sorceress named Thia Snow, who (ironically) was searching for Veara, who was her long lost twin. Although it was difficult to lose a character I had been playing since April 2020, I maintained that it was necessary to explore a new character with a new class, a new personality, and a new skill set.

In this article, based on experience and gameplay, Joe and I teamed up to share the following concepts in a conversational style in this article: 1) the narrative of why we decided to change a character in a long-standing game; 2) how to switch characters seamlessly in a campaign without necessarily killing them; and 3.) integrating the new character into gameplay with the other players. Switching characters would most likely be for the intermediate to advance gameplayer, but novices can learn about changing characters as well.

Why Change a Character in a Long-Standing Game

Joe: Our game is about the players and DMs having fun. If your player is getting bored or feels limited by the character they are playing, it is perfectly fine to have them switch out characters. However, it is important to talk live with the player one to one and understand why they want to change characters.

Lori: I agree that the bottom line about Stonewell is having fun and not taking ourselves and the adventure too seriously. Changing out a character would be a fun way to add a storyline to the campaign and to learn more about the game. Switching from a rogue to a sorcerer will require me to learn more about the class itself and about spellcasting. I have never played a sorcerer prior to this campaign.

Joe: Changing up for a new experience or to have new interactions with the setting and party are great reasons. Creating a new character because they heard of a great new powerful Rogue build is not a great reason- but it’s still not a showstopper. We must listen to our players and find ways for them to have fun in your campaign. That should always be the goal. DM’s concerned about continuity or consistency of the PC group or Campaign storyline should consider this an opportunity to make the world more real and increase player immersion.

Lori: It all comes down to audience analysis when introducing new PCs. Are the players in your group acquaintances or close friends? How cohesive and flexible is your group? Our group dynamic is cohesive, flexible, and supportive; we have been gaming together for over 10 years and there are the elements of camaraderie and trust. I believe it worked well in our situation. I agree with Joe that the covertness or overtness of the character switch depends on both the group dynamic and individuals in the group. Some players like to be surprised; others would not appreciate the change.

Joe: If you work with your players and coordinate who the new character is, where they are from, etc. you can build stronger immersion and depth of your setting and campaign plot points. Trying to establish a new or growing faction? The new character is related to or is shaped by an experience with that faction. Trying to steer the party toward a location or goal? The new character knows something about it from their past, and it sure sounds shiny! This is a vote of confidence in your setting.  Their new character is a great way to link the party with the world, and you should embrace it.

How to Switch Characters Without Killing Them

Joe: If the campaign is well-established, I would advise against having the player make the new character without integrating the new character’s backstory, motivation, and of course class/race into the setting. This could create dissonant notes in both the party and setting and is a huge, missed opportunity!

Lori: Having a seamless transition of removing one character to introduce another is  challenging, especially when all the characters know each other and are deep into the storyline. It worked in our case because there is a connection between the past character and the current character (sisters separated at birth), that makes the plot more believable.

Joe: Strategies for introducing the new PCs vary depending on your player group and your style as a DM. The introduction can be overt or covert. Roleplayed or narrated. This really depends on your party. One constant is that you should plan it out in decent detail with the player, as the new character can screw up your campaign if their backstory is contradictory or if they botch the transition. If you go the covert route (the other players don’t know this is happening), you must plan the session where the transition will occur.  Veara’s player and I planned out the session where she would switch characters weeks in advance. We surprised my players with Veara’s disappearance, and it worked well because they are willing to be surprised. If your players would find this deceptive or upsetting, do not do what I did. Let them all in on it. However, if you can manage to keep it a secret and the surprise would be welcome, it is worth the planning and extra work.

Integrating the New Character Into Gameplay

Joe: Think of the transition as two separately planned but related actions. Action 1 is the “dismount” of the old character.  This can be a tense and awesome moment, so you will want to plan it with the PC. If you decide to switch out the characters covertly, this can really drive some tense moments where the party will be fully immersed. The tension caused by a covert “dismount” can have huge campaign rewards for the DM and the players.

Joe (continued):This even applies to the player doing the transition. Veara’s player did not know at what moment her old character would dismount- just that it would happen this session. This made it easier for her to roleplay the surprise and shock of failing her saving throw (which we staged- I just cued her when to fail it), and that made the tension seem very real.   Also consider your “dismount” options carefully. Betrayal and kidnapping or plain old “disappearance” are easier to roll back than death, especially if the death is messy or memorable. It also leaves the door open to having the “dismounted” character come back as an NPC or even a PC down the road.

Lori: Having the gift of time to let go of the previous character (I am quite attached to Veara) and preparing for the transition was helpful; I think it made the transition easier. Also, because of the planned staging and execution (no pun intended) of the previous character, the surprise worked.
Joe: “Mounting” the new character (Action 2) is easier- just put them in front of the party with some reason they should join them. We had the new character show up in a group of prisoners the party liberated, and the player simply started roleplaying one of the prisoners. We used “I’m searching for my twin sister” with the Veara switch. The party welcomed her right in. The key was planning the new character and the two transition actions together with the player.

Lori: I agree that staging the new character was easier. We thought that the other players would be hospitable and welcoming, and they were.  Also, because the other players are invested in Veara’s character, they are driven to find her. 

Closing Thoughts and Takeaways

In this article we discussed from the viewpoints of both the DM and the PC of switching characters within a campaign. We surmised the reasons why to change a character, how to switch the characters within the game, and integrating the new character into gameplay with two “actions” within the campaign.

In addition, here are some takeaways when thinking about or switching out the characters:

Joe:

• Do not retcon the party or the campaign to fit the new character in, that breaks immersion.
• Do not penalize your player by making the new character start at a lower level than the rest of the party.
• Keep the actual  “dismount” moment a surprise if you can – even to the player transitioning characters.
• If you do not know if your players will be ok with a covert approach or a staged approach, simply ask them 1-to-1 if they minded if you surprised them with a planned disappearance or death of another player. It gives up some of the tension, but it is better than not knowing.
• Unless the player really wants the old character to die, just have them disappear. Keep your NPC and story options open…

Lori:

• Make sure that the new character fits in with the campaign and not the reverse to keep consistency in the storyline.
• Work out the details with the DM about the new character change, including levels and magic items.
• As a player introducing a new character, be flexible as other characters/players may need time to adjust.
• Be sure to communicate honestly with your DM about expectations for the campaign.

What are your experiences? Would you consider changing characters in an established campaign?