Another tale from the Exploration of Isenwald campaign! BACKGROUND: The party discovered a smugglers’ ring a few miles outside of Arianport. After clearing out the “haunted” house overlooking the sea, which the smugglers used as a base, the PCs learned more of the smuggling operation. Their archenemies from the south, members of an elite company … [Read more…]
“Magic is a matter of symbolism and intent.” —Randall Garrett, Too Many Magicians Most role-playing games (RPGs) include some kind of magic or occult phenomena as part of the game. This fact makes some people uncomfortable. Some Christians go so far as to insist that any activity—games, movies, whatever—including the portrayal of magic must be avoided in … [Read more…]
Another tale from the Exploration of Isenwald campaign! BACKGROUND: Not long after arriving in the northern land of Isenwald, the party had made an enemy of the selfish knight Banneret. They had defeated his band of knights and custrels in a barrier combat during a spring festival in Arianport. Unhappy with the loss, Sir Andreas … [Read more…]
Michael Garcia returns with another tale from his Exploration of Isenwald campaign. BACKGROUND: Having defeated the Eaters-of-the-Dead after an extended campaign, the party then won control of the Cloister Mine by legal means, namely by out-producing their rival Varyag claimants (envision Russians) in the span of one month. During that time, a third party of … [Read more…]
Role playing games take us to other worlds, other times and places, some which were, some which might have been, some which yet might be, and even some that could not, as far as we understand, be. Because of this, they also challenge us at times to wrestle with answers to questions of morality that … [Read more…]
CGG member Mike Garcia offers some of his copious campaign world documents for the continent of Northumbria. ALCHEMISTS’ TONGUE, THE This was the language created by alchemists in the ancient Aquilonian Empire, over a dozen centuries ago. The alchemical concepts are far older, dating back many millennia, but Aquilonian alchemists codified a set of unique … [Read more…]
Trickles of sweat stung his eyes and slowly worked down his back. This jungle wasn’t anything like the New Jersey Pine Barrens he grew up in. He viewed the dark with the special night vision goggles that made everything look like some bizarre green seascape. Ten years as a city cop had not prepared him for humping through a tropical rain forest. “Pepsi, … [Read more…]
This is the debut article in a series of memorable and entertaining roleplaying sessions from the CGG membership. Michael Garcia kicks things off with a session from his Exploration of Isenwald campaign. BACKGROUND: The party members are southerners that have traveled north for many weeks to foster a business relationship with their employer’s good friend. As … [Read more…]
CGG President Rodney Barnes begins a series about how a Gamemaster can be a Servant to their roleplaying group. How big should your RPG group be? There is not a set answer to the question of how big your group should be. But here are some helpful guidelines to help you in establishing a group … [Read more…]
This article by Charles Franklin originally appeared in The Way, the Truth & the Dice issue 1 in the spring of 1999. It is reposted here with permission from the author. I was watching a classic science fiction film this weekend with my four-year-old son and one scene in particular emphasized the way combat is portrayed … [Read more…]