Pharmacists call certain applications of drugs "off label" when a drug is prescribed for a condition it has no approval for. Here are some "off label" tools for game masters.
Hogwater Design Intent
I've been working on a project over several months. I wanted to have it complete by now. I'm making progress but it is much slower than I would like. Hogwater was where my last Swords and Wizardry campaign began. My main intent with Hogwater: Village of Lies is to give referees a village they can …
Superficial Heroism
Most tabletop role-playing games feature heroic characters. In many, if not most of those games, the heroism is superficial. In the best stories, (remember stories are not games) characters are revealed by their words and deeds as the storyteller unravels the story. At the climax of the story, the protagonist has to make a choice. …
“They” are Not Trying To Ruin Gaming
There are people who believe that "they" are trying to ruin gaming. The people who believe this cite various examples of tweets, blog posts, message board forums, videos and games where "they" are trying ruin games and gaming. Is it true? Are "they" consciously, actively trying to ruin gaming? "They" want games and the gaming …
Old School is a Mindset, Not a Ruleset.
Today I am celebrating post number 300 on the Grumpy Wizard blog. Since it is a special occasion I decided to do something different. This is an essay I sent out to my email list back in April. Some readers thought it deserved a wider distribution and so here it is. If you enjoy the …
Twitter and Me
Scrolling through Twitter, is an exercise in self control, managing negative emotions and patience. It is exhausting.
Monster: Armor Demon
The Armor Demon is a minor demon that takes the form of armor. It is not a demon bound into a suit of armor. When encountered, the demon looks like a sinister suit of armor. Each armor demon is unique. Some will look like armor made from the chiton of a giant insect. Some will …
