This is RPG-ology #62: File Cards, for January 2023. We began a sort of miniseries specifically focusing on tips for running games. There is a sense in which this entire RPG-ology series is about game tips, but with the entry #58: Random Encounters we recognized a more focused collection on the subject, and noticed that … [Read more…]
We again finished the year, and should observe the tradition to post an index of the past year’s articles on the last day. In December of 2021 we published 2021 At the Christian Gamers Guild Reviewed, and in previous years 2020 at the Christian Gamers Guild Reviewed; 2019 at the Christian Gamers Guild Reviewed; Thirteen … [Read more…]
This is RPG-ology #60: Spreadsheets, for November 2022. We began a sort of miniseries specifically focusing on tips for running games. There is a sense in which this entire RPG-ology series is about game tips, but with the entry #58: Random Encounters we recognized this as a more focused collection on the subject, and noticed … [Read more…]
This is RPG-ology #58: Random Encounters, for September 2022. Someone somewhere asked a group of people for tips on running games, rather generically, and it struck me that there were probably several lessons I’ve learned over the decades that have made my games run more smoothly. Two months ago I happened to share one (using … [Read more…]
This is RPG-ology #56: Voices, for July 2022. A couple months back someone on a Facebook RPG group (and I honestly don’t remember which) asked for advice on how to individualize non-player characters. There was some good advice given, including a small bit from me about creating character voices; but the question keeps coming … [Read more…]
This is RPG-ology #53: In the Spirit of Radio, for April 2022. Our thanks to Regis Pannier and the team at the Places to Go, People to Be French edition. This was originally published in the Winter 2004 edition of the Daedalus e-zine, and was forgotten when that publication vanished. However, having seen the French … [Read more…]
No, this article isn’t about dungeons or caves. It’s about a design lesson that I only learned as an adult. As a kid, I skimmed through the Dungeon Masters Guide and the Monster Manuals countless times, planning adventures or just perusing all of the intriguing stuff within. Though this wasn’t playing, it was still magic. … [Read more…]
In part 1 of this series on single-session adventures, Michael gave the broad strokes of adventure design, from the desired playstyle to decisions on system and settings. Now we move into more specific adventure construction advice. If you missed the previous article, find it here: Designing the Adventure part 1 Consider Multiple Environments George Lucas … [Read more…]
Part one of a four-article series on designing and running a one-shot, single-session adventure. See the end of the article for links to the rest of the series. Unfortunately, I’ve never been to a gaming convention, but for years I have been intrigued by the early tournament adventures of the late 1970s and early 1980s. … [Read more…]
This is RPG-ology #27: Cures for Dropping Dice, for February 2020. If you play real role playing games, the dice can be a bit of a problem. No matter how careful you are, sometimes they roll off the table–and players are not always terribly careful. My first role playing game–Basic Dungeons & Dragons first edition, … [Read more…]