Turn Down the Thermostat
(And keep it there)
I once had a professor who, every class period, would walk into the classroom, crank the thermostat down as far as it would go, and get to teaching.
That first Tuesday was rough. Halfway through class we were all shivering and complaining. He just looked at us and said, “Bring a sweater Thursday.”
I brought a sweater that Thursday and every class after. And once I got used to it, I learned to love it.
(The backstory is that he went to university in Belgium and would work with his window open in the bitter winters. For serious brain work, he said, he preferred temperatures below freezing - it was invigorating and helped him stay focused.)
When you test a new idea at your table, it can be as difficult as sitting in a chilly classroom in short sleeves.
Your players might complain, even if the idea or change you’re making is good for your game.
The first time you say, for example, “you need to declare what you’re doing in combat within a few seconds of your turn starting, or you’ll lose your turn to indecision and take the Dodge action” will be met with some pushback. But you only need to actually enforce it once! (That’s not a necessary house rule, for the record, but if you’re running for eight or nine players, it definitely is.)
Stay consistent! Keep that thermostat turned down, and they’ll bring a sweater.
Speaking of house rules, tomorrow’s Open Thread will be inviting you to share your favorites, so stay tuned for that!
Also, after long thought and ponderment, I’ve decided to turn on paid subscriptions here on Substack. I’ll have my entire catalogue of published adventures available for paid subscribers, as well as letting them in on the behind-the-scenes of adventure planning and writing as that happens. It gives folks a way to support my work and a way for me to thank them for it, and I think both of those are pretty cool.
Hibernating with a Town of Bearfolk (5e) - Kobold Press
Deep Dive - The Revenant - Dump Stat Adventures
Do you have any advice or tips to help overcome writers block? - Sage Advice
Dead Goblin Hole - Dyson’s Dodecahedron
d100 - Wilderness Landmarks & d100 Overland Discoveries - d4 Caltrops
Now get out there and tell a story!
Peace,
Maximilian
If you’ve not already subscribed to d20 Digest, you can join for free! New subscribers get a complimentary copy of Zassan the Slaver, my DMsGuild silver bestseller, too.