Judge wannabe

Are you new to DCC? Are you loaded down with questions to ask before you begin play? Explore this section for answers and insights -- and ask your own questions -- about getting started with the Dungeon Crawl Classics Roleplaying Game...

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mattlevaggi
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Judge wannabe

Post by mattlevaggi »

Hi. I'm looking to start judging my first game and after some online research picked DCC as my system of choice.

The core book, whilst fantastic, has left me with some questions. Namely as to the treasure tables, mechanics for encumbrance and what you should be showing players on the tabletop (if anything!).

There is some sage advice on these topics and also some guidance to go with your own preference from other systems.

My question to those more experienced judges out there is what resources did you draw on to fill these gaps?
Should I be trying to find an old copy of D&D and do some homework on DCC's inspirations or am I just completely over thinking this...
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GnomeBoy
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Re: Judge wannabe

Post by GnomeBoy »

mattlevaggi wrote: Mon May 25, 2020 11:02 am the treasure tables,
Not really certain what the question here is, unless it's "how much treasure should I dole out?"

My answer is "would it be fun to give them a lot of treasure? Would it be fun to see what they do with it? Would it be fun to see how many adventures could be sparked off the back of the idea that they have a lot of treasure?" Then give them a lot.

If keeping them poor sounds better, keep them poor. Treasures are small or far between. They have enough to more-or-less survive, but they stay hungry to the lure of wealth.

Neither will break the game. Especially if it's giving you the game you want. Not every campaign has to run the same way. Okay, this time at 1st Level you give them 1 million gp. Next time, treasure is hard to come by.... mix it up.

mattlevaggi wrote: Mon May 25, 2020 11:02 am mechanics for encumbrance
There really aren't any. Go with common sense. Be as flexible as your need for verisimilitude will let you.

mattlevaggi wrote: Mon May 25, 2020 11:02 am what you should be showing players on the tabletop (if anything!).
Again, I'm make an assumption, and I think you're talking about maps. Again, it depends on your situation and what would be fun without getting in the way of play. I'm assuming that it's not a face-to-face game at the moment... So it depends on the tech everyone has access to and how adept you all are with it... If I'm missing a more obvious side of the question, spell it out for me... :D
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Raven_Crowking
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Re: Judge wannabe

Post by Raven_Crowking »

mattlevaggi wrote: Mon May 25, 2020 11:02 am Hi. I'm looking to start judging my first game and after some online research picked DCC as my system of choice.
Good choice! Welcome aboard!
The core book, whilst fantastic, has left me with some questions. Namely as to the treasure tables, mechanics for encumbrance and what you should be showing players on the tabletop (if anything!).
There are no treasure tables.

Use common sense for encumbrance - and if someone is carrying a lot, feel free to penalize their actions using the Dice Chain.

I use theater of the mind. I might sketch out something quick, or show a visual aid.
There is some sage advice on these topics and also some guidance to go with your own preference from other systems.

My question to those more experienced judges out there is what resources did you draw on to fill these gaps?
Should I be trying to find an old copy of D&D and do some homework on DCC's inspirations or am I just completely over thinking this...
Mostly overthinking, I think.

DCC assumes that you will just keep using whatever you used before where there is no specific rule, or that you will do what you wish.
SoBH pbp:

Cathbad the Meek (herbalist Wizard 1): AC 9; 4 hp; S 7, A 7, St 10, P 17, I 13, L 8; Neutral; Club, herbs, 50' rope, 50 cp; -1 to melee attack rolls. Hideous scar.
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Vanguard
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Re: Judge wannabe

Post by Vanguard »

My rule for encumberance is to limit the number of items a character can carry to their strength score. We use some custom rules to track rations and torches, but we count stuff like that in bundles vs. individually tracking the number - ie, a bundle of torches is 1 item against that limit. Things like sacks do not count against it either, as they weigh nothing unless they're full.

Characters who exceed the limit move at half speed and roll -1d on the die chain.
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mattlevaggi
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Re: Judge wannabe

Post by mattlevaggi »

Thanks everyone for your helpful advice.

I wrote a long rambling response and then the forum logged me out and I lost it. Suffice to say I'm going to take Raven CrowKing's advice on encumbrance as it keeps things simple.

GnomeBoy, yes I meant maps and I was kind of hoping that some of the restrictions will be lifted by the time this first game happens but I take your point and I'll have a look at what online play tools are available but it does seem daunting to a novice. I was also referring to tools at the table for keeping track of PCs positions compared to opponents in combat encounters and I'll give theatre of the mind a go.

As treasure tables don't exist I'll try an adventure module and just see how loot is handled and what works for the players.
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Raven_Crowking
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Re: Judge wannabe

Post by Raven_Crowking »

mattlevaggi wrote: Mon May 25, 2020 1:15 pm Suffice to say I'm going to take Raven CrowKing's advice
Abandon Hope, All Ye Who Enter Here.

:D
SoBH pbp:

Cathbad the Meek (herbalist Wizard 1): AC 9; 4 hp; S 7, A 7, St 10, P 17, I 13, L 8; Neutral; Club, herbs, 50' rope, 50 cp; -1 to melee attack rolls. Hideous scar.
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GnomeBoy
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Re: Judge wannabe

Post by GnomeBoy »

Raven_Crowking wrote: Mon May 25, 2020 3:15 pm Abandon Hope, All Ye Who DON'T Enter Here.
There. Fixed that for ya. 8)
...
Gnome Boy • DCC playtester @ DDC 35 Feb '11. • Beta DL 2111, 7AM PT, 8 June 11.
Playing RPGs since '77 • Quasi-occasional member of the Legion of 8th-Level Fighters.

Link: Here Be 100+ DCC Monsters

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herecomethejudge
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Re: Judge wannabe

Post by herecomethejudge »

mattlevaggi wrote: Mon May 25, 2020 11:02 am mechanics for encumbrance and what you should be showing players on the tabletop (if anything!).[...]
Should I be trying to find an old copy of D&D and do some homework on DCC's inspirations or am I just completely over thinking this...
For encumbrance, there's a good system for $1 here: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/20 ... racker-DCC

For the tabletop, nothing's needed although sometimes we use little action figures, plastic animal figurines, army men, etc. to act out a battle if it's complicated -- no grid or anything, just positions. Some modules also have visual handouts to give players.

And no, there's no need to dig up D&D. Get some official DCC RPG modules, read through them, and that should get you going. If you really want more, you can look up some examples of live play on YouTube to see how others do it. It's not complicated once you get into it, and the modules generally offer a lot of helpful guidance.
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Re: Judge wannabe

Post by AMLopez »

I have just started Judging DCC and I can tell you this (As someone who has been DMing Dungeons and Dragons since 1980), I HATE treasure tables. Most of the time the treasure is given to players with no regard as to why the monster would even be carrying it. If a level 0 person, as stated in DCC, would probably never have enough money to buy a full set of plate mail in his lifetime, then it would probably not be likely that the band of goblins who robbed a poor farmer would come to possess said armor. Also, if those same goblins are easily defeated by level 1 heroes, then it is unlikely that they would be able to amass a pile of thousands of gp worth of treasure from robbing peasants and commoners. Even in D&D I made treasure much rarer than the tables suggested. Finally, why is it that everything on the floor in most adventures is a gold piece? Why not copper? silver? electrum?
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runwolf007
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Re: Judge wannabe

Post by runwolf007 »

Not so much on topic as with a tangent with the encumbrance idea...

Easy way to keep track of ammo is snagging toothpicks and aquarium gravel (Magic is rare in DCC but can paint or Sharpie a magic one) for sling stones and arrows.

Treasure wise take a lesson from the real life casino and lottery industries. Give some trickle pay outs, a nice pay out once in a great a great while. That's how they keep people coming back for more but stay in business :). If some dragon's hoard gets released into some small hamlet it will crash the economy and the party will be hated (a loaf of bread is now 10gp!).

On the other hand going Monty Hall will have every grifter and con man trying to get their fingers into the party's money :)

You can play play either extreme (if it came to that) in a good way "be careful what you wish for".
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