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Tuesday, March 5, 2013

The Bard of Avon as Dungeon Master


Yesterday's post was deep and theoretical, and even went so far as to contain a quote from Shakespeare. In that same vein, here is another excellent quotation from the Bard of Avon, Shakespeare himself:
Play, music!
(As You Like It, 5.4.174), Duke Senior

The intention here, if I may take a moment to play literary critic and apply the textual interpretation skills I once learned in school, is to enjoin the reader to visit YouTube and other places, find cool music, and listen to it. "Plug in thine ipod," he virtually says. "Rock on." So, put on some epic music (I suggest this: Two Steps from Hell Epic Music that Matt likes) and think deep thoughts about the adventuring and DMing advice that we get from William Shakespeare, the greatest Game Master of all time:

On traps and other dungeon hazards:
 "Some Cupid kills with arrows, some with traps."
Much Ado About Nothing (III, i, 106)
City Adventuring:
“Officers, what offence have these men done?

DOGBERRY
Marry, sir, they have committed false report; moreover, they have spoken untruths; secondarily, they are slanders; sixth and lastly, they have
belied a lady; thirdly, they have verified unjust things; and, to conclude, they are lying knaves.”
― William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing
Charisma not a dump stat:
To be a well-favoured man is the gift of fortune
― William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing 
Phantasmal Force spell, old school:
Doubt thou the stars are fire;
Doubt that the sun doth move;
Doubt truth to be a liar
 ― William Shakespeare, Hamlet
Demons summon other demons, don't nerf:
Hell is empty and all the devils are here.
  ― William Shakespeare, The Tempest
Beware charm person spell, especially when aimed at your spellcaster in the back rank
My only love sprung from my only hate!
Too early seen unknown, and known too late!
Prodigious birth of love it is to me,
That I must love a loathed enemy.
 ― William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
 Iron rations are expensive. Make a fucking map.
O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?*
 ― William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet 
Temple of the Sun God is not discounting raise dead spells today, sorry dude, roll up a new one.
When he shall die,
Take him and cut him out in little stars,
And he will make the face of heaven so fine
That all the world will be in love with night
And pay no worship to the garish sun
 ― William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet  
*I know. It means "why." But it's funnier this way, and could also stand for "Don't split the party."

EDIT: this game is easy -- I invite other bloggers to discover the gaming wisdom of Shakespeare. Just pull up a page full of his quotes and start interpreting.





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