You Have My Permission To Play How You Want (In Case You Need It)

When people first get into roleplaying games, it can feel like diving into a deep and chaotic sea. There's all the rules, builds, combinations, and mechanical options, but there's also the lore, roleplaying, history, and setting. It can all feel like one giant mishmash, and that can be overwhelming for a lot of players. And it's for that reason that a lot of players (and a lot of Game Masters) tend to stick to archetypes, stereotypes, and classic interpretations. It's sort of like strapping on a life preserver... you're still in the sea, but you've got some support to help stop you from getting lost in the sauce.

However, a lot of the time we can cling to these interpretations, even when the frameworks we were using to support our ideas instead start limiting our ideas. Which is why I wanted to take a moment to do something sort of silly, but which might be helpful for some folks.

You have my permission to be weird. To be creative. Anything you come up with that doesn't violate the letter of the rules, or your GM's edicts for the campaign, is fair game. So go, and be free!

The only limitations are your mind, and the consent of your table.

But before I get into the meat of today's post, remember, don't forget to sign up for my newsletter to get all my updates right in your inbox. Also, if you've got a bit of spare cash that you'd like to use to help keep the wheels turning, consider becoming a Patreon patron! Also, be sure you're following all of my followables, check out my LinkTree.

Lastly, for hundreds of extra articles on gaming, weird history, and for more free fiction, check out my Vocal archive, too!

Who Am I (And Why Does My Permission Matter?)

First and foremost, I am just a guy on the Internet who writes about games. I have also been writing for RPGs for something like 14 years or so now, and a lot of the titles I've put out on the market like 100 Tips For Being A Better RPG Player or 100 Questions To Ask About Your Characters are meant to help players make the most out of their time at the table. However, it's my Unusual Character Concepts series (and the reactions to it) that reminded me to reach out to players who might be hesitating this week.

For folks who haven't checked out my articles like The Hedge Knight or The Janissary, the basic idea of this series is to come up with unusual or unexpected twists on character classes and stories to create something new, unique, and fun. And a lot of folks comment that they hadn't thought of a class in those terms before, or how this background makes something they thought was boring and buttoned up into a much more interesting concept.

There are some players, and even some Game Masters, who aren't used to swimming without that life preserver on. Because while it keeps you safe, it also limits you in a lot of ways. Creative freedom can feel risky, but it can also feel liberating... but sometimes you just need a little reminder of your power. A little push in the right direction.

And I'm happy to give folks a pressure valve.

Because you have always had the power. You can do anything you want when you explore your imagination. However, it can sometimes feel like you're doing something wrong when you step off the well-trodden path. Whether you want to make a Beer Brewing Witch, or a Fire and Brimstone Cleric, you can do all that without even twisting the rules of the game.

So go forth, be weird, and if you'd like even more suggestions, then check out the rest of the Unusual Character Concepts list for yourself!

Like, Follow, and Stay in Touch!

That's all for this week's Moon Pope Monday. To stay on top of all my content and releases, make sure you subscribe to my newsletter at the bottom of the page!

Again, for more of my work, check out my Vocal archive, and stop by the Azukail Games YouTube channel, or the ongoing audio drama channel The A.L.I.C.E. Files! Or if you'd prefer to read some of my books, like my sword and sorcery novel Crier's Knife or my latest short story collection The Rejects, then head over to My Amazon Author Page!

To stay on top of all my latest releases, follow me on Blue Sky, Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, and now Pinterest as well! To support my work, consider Buying Me a Ko-Fi, or heading to The Literary Mercenary's Patreon page to become a regular, monthly patron. That one helps ensure you get more Improved Initiative, and it means you'll get my regular, monthly giveaways as a bonus!

The World's Biggest Walking Robot is a 51-Foot Dragon!

According to Forbes, whom we should trust implicitly in matters of heartless, scaly beasts, there is a dragon that walks among us. This beast is 51 feet look from snout to tail, weighs 11 tons, and it's been terrorizing a town in Germany.

Is there a German word meaning suicidal-stupidity-confused-for-bravery?

What you are looking at is an actual scene from the play Drachenstich, which is part of an annual festival in the town of Furth im Wald. The play is about a dragon invading a town just as the knights are preparing to go off and do battle with another nation, and because Germany doesn't faff about it had this monstrous, radio-controlled dragon built. It is, according to the Guiness Book of World Records, the largest walking robot in the world.

For those of you who want to see it in action (read: everyone who got this far) here's a clip of the beast doing its thing.

You're not imagining things; the ground is trembling. Also, you peed a little.

If you'd like to support Improved Initiative then stop by my Patreon page and become a patron today! If you want to make sure you don't miss any updates like this then make sure you follow me on Facebook and Tumblr as well!