Colville suggests that starting in a tavern is a chance to show off the setting in a microcosm. Put folks there that represent various factions or attitudes prevalent in the setting. When I ran a Savage Pathfinder game and had my players start in a tavern, I had some incurious off-duty town guards, the dillettante son of the mayor. I couldn’t figure out a way to work in the diabolist church (I set my game in Cheliax), but I did have a choice of several “first jobs” for them to take.

Look, maybe he was a paladin of Sune. (Or Calistira, if they’re playing Pathfinder.)

An actual exchange in a group my wife was in, back before we were even dating:

Player: “I wanna catch the stone from his sling! What should I roll for that?”

DM: “Damage.”

Volo sure has a lot to answer for.

I have promised myself a rogue named “Duncan Disorderly” but have yet to actually play him.

Put the “Master” in “Game Master!” ~Professor DM, Dungeon Craft

…

What does that mean?!

POODLE WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?!!