the-huntsmans-homebrews

Knife Theory

actuallybestrpgideas

When writing a character’s backstory, it’s important to include a certain number of “knives”. Knives are essentially anything that the DM can use to raise the stakes of a situation for your character. Anything that can make a conflict personal, like a threatened loved one or the appearance of a sudden enemy. They’re called “knives” because the players lovingly forge them and present them to the DM so that the DM can use them to stab the player over and over again.

The more knives a player has, the easier it is for the DM to involve them in the story. So it’s important to have them! When breaking down a backstory, it kind of goes like this:

Every named person your character cares about, living or dead (i.e. sibling, spouse, childhood friend) +1 knife [EDIT: a large family can be bundled into one big knife]
Every phobia or trauma your character experiences/has experienced +1 knife
Every mystery in your character’s life (i.e. unknown parents, unexplained powers) +1 knife
Every enemy your character has +1 knife
Every ongoing obligation or loyalty your character has +1 knife
Additionally, every obligation your character has failed +1 knife
Every serious crime your character has committed (i.e. murder, arson) +1 knife
Every crime your character is falsely accused of +1 knife
Alternatively if your character is a serial killer or the leader of a thieves guild, those crimes can be bundled under a +1 BIG knife
Any discrimination experienced (i.e. fantasy racism) +1 knife
Every favored item/heirloom +1 knife
Every secret your character is keeping +1 knife

You kind of get the point. Any part of your backstory that could be used against you is considered a knife. A skilled DM will use these knives to get at your character and get you invested in the story. A really good DM can break your knives into smaller, sharper knives with which to stab you. They can bundle different characters’ knives together into one GIANT knife. Because we’re all secretly masochists when it comes to D&D, the more knives you hand out often means the more rewarding the story will be.

On the other hand, you don’t want to be a sad edgelord with too many knives. A buttload of knives just means that everyone in your party will inadvertently get stabbed by your knives, and eventually that gets annoying. Anything over 15 knives seems excessive. The DM will no doubt get more as time goes on, but you don’t want to start out with too many. You also don’t want to be the plain, boring character with only two knives. It means the DM has to work harder to give you a personal stake in the story you’re telling together. Also, knives are cool!! Get more knives!!!

I always try to incorporate at least 7 knives into my character’s backstory, and so far the return has been a stab-ity good time. Going back into previous characters, I’ve noticed that fewer knives present in my backstory has correlated with fewer direct consequences for my character in game. Of course, this isn’t a hard and fast rule, it’s just something that my friends and I have come up with to help with character creation. We like to challenge each other to make surprising and creative knives. If you think of any that should be included, let me know.

EDIT: I feel I should mention it’s important to vary up the type of knives you have. All 7 of your knives shouldn’t be family members, nor should they be crimes that you’ve done in the past. That’s a one-way ticket to repetitive gameplay. Part of the fun is making new and interesting knives that could lead to fun surprises in game.

rpgs-are-neat

I love this! I’ll be introducing this concept to the 2 (count em, TWO) groups of new players I’m DMing for now.

chandri

This is so incredibly well-put!

the-huntsmans-homebrews

This is brilliant

inky-duchess

Fantasy Guide to Medicine: Cold and Flu

Nature is our pharmacy. Here are some herbs to clear colds and flus.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. Research must be done on these before use.

Garlic – This is an antiseptic and can be used as an antibiotic.
Onion – Onions can be used treat coughing. Chemicals in onion can treat respiratory issues.
Thyme – Thyme can be used to cure respiratory infections and coughing. It also relieves stomach issues.
Sage – Another antiseptic. This can be used for to treat the sinuses. (Cannot be used by pregnant/breastfeeding women)
Cayenne powder – Cayenne is used preventative measure for a cold or flu. It can lessen the duration of these illnesses.
Peppermint – Used for lowering fevers and treating upset digestion.
Chamomile – It calms the nerves, improves sleeping patterns, curing pink eye and reduces fever.
Lemon – Can be used to fight flus and colds as well as reducing phlegm.
Nettle Leaf – contains vitamins and minerals to hydrate the body and destroy certain toxins. It can be used as an immune booster and to prevent illnesses.
Elderberry – Elderberry supports the body’s immune system even during illness.
Yarrow- Used for colds and flus. It can shorten illness if used correctly. It can combat fevers by sweating the patient. This is suitable for sick children.

inky-duchess

Fantasy Guide to Medicine: Painkillers

Nature is the world’s most expansive pharmacy. In a time before pills and hospitals, herbs were used by physicians to heal people. Here are common herbs used to treat pain. Disclaimer: Always research side effects. This a writer’s reference not a medical journal. I am not a doctor and if I was I’d be House.

Cloves

You can use cloves to treat a range of conditions. Cloves relieve the pain with headaches, arthritis, and toothaches.

Willow Bark

Nature’s aspirin. This bark was used to treat headaches and other afflictions. You can crush it into powder to make tea or chew the bark (unless you have a toothache then it is advisable not to) It has side effects of course. It can cause upset stomachs, lengthen bleeding time and slow your kidneys. Adults can take this but it can be poisonous in children.

Turmeric

The spice in curry. It is a natural pain reliever, helping relieve inflammation.It has an antioxidant that helps protect the body from harmful cells. It can help many conditions, including: indigestion, ulcers, stomach upset and psoriasis.

Meadowsweet

Meadowsweet is a pain reliever and an anti-inflammatory. It relieves arthritic pain and inflammation.

Valerian Root

This is used to treat pain by calming the nerves. This is a slow acting treatment.

Ginger

Ginger is an anti-inflammatory. The Chinese used it for thousands of years to cure pain. It helps with nausea, menstrual cramps, arthritis, headaches, and muscle pain.

Disclaimer: This is a Fantasy Guide. Never use remedies until sure of their use. Again I am NOT a doctor.

bardicknowledgeblogger

inky-duchess

Fantasy Guide to Common Poisons

Poison is one of the best ways of dispatching a character, political enemy, unwanted spouse or annoying neighbours. Here are some of the top interesting poisons and if you don’t choose any, I’ll be adding a post on how to create your own poison. Please don’t kill anybody in real life (there I think that covers the legal side). Let’s kill some characters.

Nightshade

Or as it is more commonly referred to as Belladonna is a poisonous flowering plant. All of this plant is poison but the berries are infamously toxic. It is called Belladonna (pretty woman) as it was a cosmetic. It is poison yet it is used today in modern cosmetic surgery.

Hemlock

Hemlock is a flowering plant. All parts of the plant contain poison. It causes paralysis, mostly in the respiratory system.

Cyanide

Cyanide is a poisonous chemical. It kills by latching onto iron in the blood and constricting them, not allowing them to to transfer oxygen.

Batrachotoxin

This is a neurotoxin that lives on the sking of dart frogs. One frog has enough toxin kill around two dozen people. The poison attacks the nerves, causing paralysis.

Azaleas

Common flowers that are poisonous. It’s symptoms are nausea, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, coma, and death. It takes six hours to work.

Arsenic

This poison causes gastric distress, burning pain, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea. Arsenic is almost virtually indectable only found when a high dose is used or if there is an almond smell off the corpse.