jappel
October 28th, 2003, 11:51 AM
So, what are the phrases that strike fear in the hearts of the PCs when uttered by the referee/GM? (Or should, at any rate!)
To get the ball rolling:
- "Roll for initiative!"
- "Hmm, this should be interesting..."
John
To get the ball rolling:
- "Roll for initiative!"
- "Hmm, this should be interesting..."
John
far-trader
October 28th, 2003, 12:08 PM
I find two old standby's for grabbing lagging attention at the table always fun graemlins/file_23.gif
scenario 1:
GM chooses one of PC's at random and asks them to roll a check. GM may also roll some dice at the same time. GM says something like "Hmm, OK, please continue." Player's paranoia and interest heightened (Did something see us? Hear us? Did we miss something? Look again!) graemlins/file_21.gif
scenario 2:
GM rolls dice on table (not the book as usual) behind screen, loud noise of dice attracts interest, GM scribbles some notes (behind screen), rolls some more dice on table (in case not everyone has noticed) and makes some more doodles (behind screen), looking up at the players the GM asks what each character is doing or where they are then makes one more roll and some notes before returning to the point in the adventure where they were (again with more player interest and paranoia) graemlins/file_22.gif
scenario 1:
GM chooses one of PC's at random and asks them to roll a check. GM may also roll some dice at the same time. GM says something like "Hmm, OK, please continue." Player's paranoia and interest heightened (Did something see us? Hear us? Did we miss something? Look again!) graemlins/file_21.gif
scenario 2:
GM rolls dice on table (not the book as usual) behind screen, loud noise of dice attracts interest, GM scribbles some notes (behind screen), rolls some more dice on table (in case not everyone has noticed) and makes some more doodles (behind screen), looking up at the players the GM asks what each character is doing or where they are then makes one more roll and some notes before returning to the point in the adventure where they were (again with more player interest and paranoia) graemlins/file_22.gif
theSea
October 28th, 2003, 12:33 PM
"It smells like... DEATH!" :eek:
After two sessions my players are learning that the ref rolling dice behind the screen, followed by the the words "oh my" usually do NOT bode well....
In the same vein as far-trader's suggestions - at random intervals, I like to ask for clarification of ambigious actions ("okay you're climbing down the ladder. Where's your shotgun again?") followed by a die roll or two. Rolling dice for no apperent reason before a door is opened is usually good too.
I'll also call for the occasional roll against INT - sometimes there's something to notice - sometimes there ain't.
--michael
After two sessions my players are learning that the ref rolling dice behind the screen, followed by the the words "oh my" usually do NOT bode well....
In the same vein as far-trader's suggestions - at random intervals, I like to ask for clarification of ambigious actions ("okay you're climbing down the ladder. Where's your shotgun again?") followed by a die roll or two. Rolling dice for no apperent reason before a door is opened is usually good too.
I'll also call for the occasional roll against INT - sometimes there's something to notice - sometimes there ain't.
--michael
kaladorn
October 28th, 2003, 03:27 PM
I see we have some old Paranoia GM's around....
Some other ones:
"It seems quiet enough."
"It'll be a milk-run."
"What could possibly go wrong?"
"The NPC seems honest enough."
"What could possibly go wrong?"
"It's just a routine inspection."
"You're in the middle of a civilized area. Do you really think you need to be carrying a boat load of guns?" (Correct answer: YES. DUH!)
"It's quiet and everything is running just like it is supposed to."
"Oh.... hmmmm..... Where did you say you were standing? Exactly?"
"Who's on third watch?"
Some other ones:
"It seems quiet enough."
"It'll be a milk-run."
"What could possibly go wrong?"
"The NPC seems honest enough."
"What could possibly go wrong?"
"It's just a routine inspection."
"You're in the middle of a civilized area. Do you really think you need to be carrying a boat load of guns?" (Correct answer: YES. DUH!)
"It's quiet and everything is running just like it is supposed to."
"Oh.... hmmmm..... Where did you say you were standing? Exactly?"
"Who's on third watch?"
Mythmere
October 28th, 2003, 03:58 PM
"I was hoping you'd do that."
Or keep muttering, "Darwin was right..."
Or keep muttering, "Darwin was right..."
Ganidirsii O'Flynn
October 28th, 2003, 04:26 PM
My all time favorite is the old standby:
"Are you sure?...."
You just can't go wrong with the classics.. :eek:
"Are you sure?...."
You just can't go wrong with the classics.. :eek:
Ranger
October 28th, 2003, 05:30 PM
Not limited to Traveller:
"The door is unlocked and opens easily. What order is the party standing in again?"
"The door is unlocked and opens easily. What order is the party standing in again?"
far-trader
October 28th, 2003, 05:42 PM
And of course the classic "The room appears to be empty." (player panic ensues) graemlins/file_23.gif
Eric
October 28th, 2003, 06:47 PM
Casually mention that one of your PCs is wearing a red shirt. graemlins/toast.gif graemlins/file_23.gif
Shadowdancer
October 28th, 2003, 07:27 PM
"You didn't find any traps."
"You think you've disarmed the boobytrap."
"As for as you can tell, the NPC is telling you the truth."
"What is your AC when flat-footed?"
"Make a saving throw."
"You think you've disarmed the boobytrap."
"As for as you can tell, the NPC is telling you the truth."
"What is your AC when flat-footed?"
"Make a saving throw."
aravain
October 28th, 2003, 09:05 PM
" ...could I borrow a couple dozen of your dice? I don't seem to have enough for this next encounter."
"....oh,.....er,.....wow,....*shakes head*"
"why don't you guys take a 15 minute break, I need to make sure that this all supposed to happen to you at this point..."
"Holy Sh*t!! I'm rolling hot tonight!!!
*rubs hands together*
...and, finally, if the group has somehow been successful despite the GM's best effort:
"great job, guys!....but, were you expecting this ?!!!" ***sound of handfulls of dice***
The sad part is that I seem to run across one of these phrases on a weekly basis! :eek:
"....oh,.....er,.....wow,....*shakes head*"
"why don't you guys take a 15 minute break, I need to make sure that this all supposed to happen to you at this point..."
"Holy Sh*t!! I'm rolling hot tonight!!!
*rubs hands together*
...and, finally, if the group has somehow been successful despite the GM's best effort:
"great job, guys!....but, were you expecting this ?!!!" ***sound of handfulls of dice***
The sad part is that I seem to run across one of these phrases on a weekly basis! :eek:
flykiller
October 28th, 2003, 10:18 PM
taking one of the players into the next room for a few minutes, then coming back and saying nothing.
Richard Saunders
October 28th, 2003, 10:22 PM
Hello.
Yes your hail of gunfire seems to hit him .....BUT.
Your doing WHAT.
Are you shore you want to do that.
Oh well you should have gone the other way.
Bye.
Yes your hail of gunfire seems to hit him .....BUT.
Your doing WHAT.
Are you shore you want to do that.
Oh well you should have gone the other way.
Bye.
kaladorn
October 29th, 2003, 01:23 AM
<rolls a pile of damage dice>
"Oh. That's gonna leave a mark."
or the infamous
"The party is engaged. Everyone else is fighting for their lives. But you, as reargaurd, aren't busy. So you want to open a new door into another unexplored part of the complex. This is correct?"
or
"Oddly, your fire has proved ineffective. Would you like to try again?" (after distinctly NOT rolling any damage dice)
"Oh. That's gonna leave a mark."
or the infamous
"The party is engaged. Everyone else is fighting for their lives. But you, as reargaurd, aren't busy. So you want to open a new door into another unexplored part of the complex. This is correct?"
or
"Oddly, your fire has proved ineffective. Would you like to try again?" (after distinctly NOT rolling any damage dice)
theSea
October 29th, 2003, 10:27 AM
Originally posted by Ganidiirsi O'Flynn:
My all time favorite is the old standby:
"Are you sure?...."
Heh heh As in:
"are you sure you want to fire that PGMP in the room full of L-Hyd tanks?"
"are you sure you want to override the airlock failsafes?"
"are you sure you want to power down the nuclear dampers?"
and my favorite
"are you sure you want to use a kilo of TDX for that?"
I also like "which part of 'insidious' was unclear or difficult to understand?" :rolleyes: graemlins/toast.gif
My all time favorite is the old standby:
"Are you sure?...."
Heh heh As in:
"are you sure you want to fire that PGMP in the room full of L-Hyd tanks?"
"are you sure you want to override the airlock failsafes?"
"are you sure you want to power down the nuclear dampers?"
and my favorite
"are you sure you want to use a kilo of TDX for that?"
I also like "which part of 'insidious' was unclear or difficult to understand?" :rolleyes: graemlins/toast.gif
cgriffen
October 29th, 2003, 04:17 PM
After rolling the dice behind the screen,
"Oooooooo." Accompanied by a pained grimace on my face. :D
"Oooooooo." Accompanied by a pained grimace on my face. :D
Keklas Rekobah
October 29th, 2003, 06:17 PM
At any time, in any game, the most feared words that any player can hear from the ref are...
"HAND ME YOUR CHARACTER SHEET."
"HAND ME YOUR CHARACTER SHEET."
aravain
October 29th, 2003, 09:12 PM
Yes,KR...that is the worse the GM can say......and that is why my character sheets are bound to my character notebook and why I say:
"COME AND GET IT!" graemlins/file_22.gif graemlins/file_23.gif graemlins/file_23.gif
There are bonuses for running at my house; mainly the walls are filled with my blades and weapons! smile.gif smile.gif
**Many have tried; no one has done it!!!**
"COME AND GET IT!" graemlins/file_22.gif graemlins/file_23.gif graemlins/file_23.gif
There are bonuses for running at my house; mainly the walls are filled with my blades and weapons! smile.gif smile.gif
**Many have tried; no one has done it!!!**
BetterThanLife
October 30th, 2003, 08:21 AM
Originally posted by kaladorn:
I see we have some old Paranoia GM's around....
"You're in the middle of a civilized area. Do you really think you need to be carrying a boat load of guns?" (Correct answer: YES. DUH!)
Only after they get out into the civilized area. "You did look up the Law Level of this Planet didn't you?"
Other favorites.
"Weren't you listening when I told you about...."
"I know I told you it takes (insert random time, more than one combat round, here) to power that up."
"You want to do what?"
"Hello, I am the H A L 9000 computer."
I see we have some old Paranoia GM's around....
"You're in the middle of a civilized area. Do you really think you need to be carrying a boat load of guns?" (Correct answer: YES. DUH!)
Only after they get out into the civilized area. "You did look up the Law Level of this Planet didn't you?"
Other favorites.
"Weren't you listening when I told you about...."
"I know I told you it takes (insert random time, more than one combat round, here) to power that up."
"You want to do what?"
"Hello, I am the H A L 9000 computer."
theSea
October 30th, 2003, 09:38 AM
Originally posted by Bhoins:
"Hello, I am the H A L 9000 computer." "I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that."
"Hello, I am the H A L 9000 computer." "I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that."
Uncle Bob
October 30th, 2003, 06:26 PM
"This time you can take any weapons you want. Hmm... you all have combat armor, right?"
vegascat
October 30th, 2003, 11:59 PM
You don't SEE any guards.
It opens easily.
"Mommy Mommy Mommy! It's them!!"
It opens easily.
"Mommy Mommy Mommy! It's them!!"
Despasian
October 31st, 2003, 09:16 AM
"What's your marching order?"
"Where are you standing?"
"How close are you to (X)?"
All will immediately start mad scrambles and rapid-fire explanations as to the extensve and detailed precautions that the PC's 'obviously' would have been taking. :rolleyes:
...and yet still have been close enough to pocket the loot without anyone else noticing graemlins/file_22.gif
Despasian
"Where are you standing?"
"How close are you to (X)?"
All will immediately start mad scrambles and rapid-fire explanations as to the extensve and detailed precautions that the PC's 'obviously' would have been taking. :rolleyes:
...and yet still have been close enough to pocket the loot without anyone else noticing graemlins/file_22.gif
Despasian
Vargas
October 31st, 2003, 11:35 AM
"But you did that game thing last week".
signless
October 31st, 2003, 06:28 PM
Har!
I think those words actually come from the lips of the most dreaded of NPC's the "Significant Other". From whose lips are also heard...
"Role-playing? Like with masks and whips and stuff?" OR,
"Arent' you afraid people will think you're kind of a geek?" OR,
"I thought we were going OUT tonight!"
I think those words actually come from the lips of the most dreaded of NPC's the "Significant Other". From whose lips are also heard...
"Role-playing? Like with masks and whips and stuff?" OR,
"Arent' you afraid people will think you're kind of a geek?" OR,
"I thought we were going OUT tonight!"
MichaelL65
November 1st, 2003, 07:54 PM
Well, there's always the line of "We might be creating new characters after this."
:eek:
:eek:
MichaelL65
November 1st, 2003, 08:02 PM
Originally posted by signless:
Har!
I think those words actually come from the lips of the most dreaded of NPC's the "Significant Other". From whose lips are also heard...
"Role-playing? Like with masks and whips and stuff?" OR,
"Arent' you afraid people will think you're kind of a geek?" OR,
"I thought we were going OUT tonight!" My wife is still convinced that this involves some sort of devil worship. Especially since we also play DnD from time to time. graemlins/file_23.gif
Har!
I think those words actually come from the lips of the most dreaded of NPC's the "Significant Other". From whose lips are also heard...
"Role-playing? Like with masks and whips and stuff?" OR,
"Arent' you afraid people will think you're kind of a geek?" OR,
"I thought we were going OUT tonight!" My wife is still convinced that this involves some sort of devil worship. Especially since we also play DnD from time to time. graemlins/file_23.gif
notagoodusername
November 1st, 2003, 08:53 PM
Originally posted by MichaelL65:
My wife is still convinced that this involves some sort of devil worship. Especially since we also play DnD from time to time. graemlins/file_23.gif Get her converted. It is *so* much easier if your S.O. games as well....
I never even tried to convert Yvonne, mind, I just sat back and let my friends do it for me. The words spoken by one of my GMs (and long-time friend of us both, I need to add), Simon Smith - "Yvonne, I know it is your flat but stop butting in - either get a character, or leave!" made my game spending and game time much easier... smile.gif
Shane
My wife is still convinced that this involves some sort of devil worship. Especially since we also play DnD from time to time. graemlins/file_23.gif Get her converted. It is *so* much easier if your S.O. games as well....
I never even tried to convert Yvonne, mind, I just sat back and let my friends do it for me. The words spoken by one of my GMs (and long-time friend of us both, I need to add), Simon Smith - "Yvonne, I know it is your flat but stop butting in - either get a character, or leave!" made my game spending and game time much easier... smile.gif
Shane
Nurd_boy
November 2nd, 2003, 01:13 AM
hmmmm....
<click>
oops...
graemlins/file_22.gif (you guess the rest....)
<click>
oops...
graemlins/file_22.gif (you guess the rest....)
Maspy
November 3rd, 2003, 06:53 AM
These are my newest feared words:
"Hey guys, lets try my homebrewed combat system."
Ugh!
"Hey guys, lets try my homebrewed combat system."
Ugh!
TheEngineer
November 3rd, 2003, 07:44 AM
You see ....
just one pair of eyes in the darkness.......
...two meters apart from each other....
just one pair of eyes in the darkness.......
...two meters apart from each other....
theSea
November 3rd, 2003, 09:35 AM
Originally posted by Shane Mclean:
"Yvonne, I know it is your flat but stop butting in - either get a character, or leave!" made my game spending and game time much easier.../me scribbles notes furiously......
"Yvonne, I know it is your flat but stop butting in - either get a character, or leave!" made my game spending and game time much easier.../me scribbles notes furiously......
Jame
November 24th, 2003, 11:19 AM
Not necessarily fear-inspiring words, but good.
Sandman Comics, #9, "The Kindly Ones," Ch. 12
Delirium to Mazikeen:
"Hmph. If you don't let me in, I will turn you into a demon half-face waitress nightclub lady with a crush on her boss, and I'll make it so you've been that from the beginning of time to now and you'll never ever know if you were anything else and it will itch inside your head worse than little bugses."
Delerium got in, but 'cause the boss (no, I won't say his name. Go read it yourself.) wanted her there.
Sandman Comics, #9, "The Kindly Ones," Ch. 12
Delirium to Mazikeen:
"Hmph. If you don't let me in, I will turn you into a demon half-face waitress nightclub lady with a crush on her boss, and I'll make it so you've been that from the beginning of time to now and you'll never ever know if you were anything else and it will itch inside your head worse than little bugses."
Delerium got in, but 'cause the boss (no, I won't say his name. Go read it yourself.) wanted her there.
Andrew Boulton
November 24th, 2003, 01:31 PM
Quoting Gaiman is cheating.
Jame
November 24th, 2003, 01:58 PM
How so?
spank
November 24th, 2003, 02:04 PM
Full Auto
or
Breath Weapon
or
Breath Weapon
Elliot
November 27th, 2003, 12:26 PM
'Guys, I think we should move to a TNE campaign'
Tobias
November 27th, 2003, 12:49 PM
Any sentence beginning with:
"Suddenly...."
Regards,
Tobias
"Suddenly...."
Regards,
Tobias
far-trader
November 27th, 2003, 01:03 PM
Originally posted by Tobias:
Any sentence beginning with:
"Suddenly...."
Regards,
Tobias And my personal version of it... "As you...
as in:
"As you are sitting watch..."
"As you enter orbit..."
"As you leave the airlock..."
"As..." you get the idea smile.gif
All hail the mighty ASU! Bringer of terror! Thief of peace! graemlins/file_22.gif graemlins/file_23.gif
Any sentence beginning with:
"Suddenly...."
Regards,
Tobias And my personal version of it... "As you...
as in:
"As you are sitting watch..."
"As you enter orbit..."
"As you leave the airlock..."
"As..." you get the idea smile.gif
All hail the mighty ASU! Bringer of terror! Thief of peace! graemlins/file_22.gif graemlins/file_23.gif
Jame
November 27th, 2003, 02:52 PM
Hey Andrew, ya never explained how quoting Gaiman is cheating!
Andrew Boulton
November 27th, 2003, 03:03 PM
Too hard an act to follow.
(And I'm annoyed I missed him reading & signing the other week).
(And I'm annoyed I missed him reading & signing the other week).
Baron Saarthuran
November 28th, 2003, 06:30 AM
Have you guys read his (Gaiman's) book, the one with "Gods" in the title? It was shown to me briefly at a party in New Hampshire last week, but lost track of it in the shuffle... is it good?
graemlins/omega.gif
graemlins/omega.gif
Andrew Boulton
November 28th, 2003, 08:29 AM
You mean American Gods, winner of the Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel, Bram Stoker Award for Best Horror Novel, Nebula Award for Best Novel, and Hugo Award for Best Science Fiction/Fantasy Novel?
Yeah, it's not bad...
Yeah, it's not bad...
wa11eye
November 28th, 2003, 11:58 PM
and I rolled a 20
and another 20 this one is going to hurt graemlins/file_23.gif
walleye
and another 20 this one is going to hurt graemlins/file_23.gif
walleye
wa11eye
November 29th, 2003, 12:03 AM
Before we start tonight maybe we should roll up some back up pc.
