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Grumpy Wizard

Essays on Sword & Sorcery Fiction, Classic Adventure Gaming, and Heavy Metal Music

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Category: game mastering advice

You Can Play It Wrong.

On December 15, 2022December 29, 2022 By Travis MillerIn assumption busters, game mastering advice, musings11 Comments

"As long as everyone is having fun, you are playing it right." Bullshit.

20 Questions About Magic In Your Milieu

On December 1, 2022December 1, 2022 By Travis MillerIn game mastering advice, inspiration4 Comments

Magic is a key ingredient in any classic fantasy adventure campaign. Here are 20 questions to think about when you are creating yours.

Building Blocks of A Sandbox Campaign

On November 24, 2022November 29, 2022 By Travis MillerIn game mastering adviceLeave a comment

Sandbox campaigns have a set of requirements that other campaign styles do not. Make sure your sandbox has these toys if you want it to succeed.

Ask the Grumpy Wizard: What’s the deal with level recommendations in modules?

On August 25, 2022August 29, 2022 By Travis MillerIn game mastering advice5 Comments

I answer reader email!

Lessons Learned From Horizon: Forbidden West

On August 11, 2022August 10, 2022 By Travis MillerIn design theory, game mastering advice, inspiration, video gamesLeave a comment

Here are three lessons I learned about world and scenario design from the Horizon video-games that apply to tabletop role-playing games. #TTRPG #gamemastering

Getting Started With The OSR: Part 3: Put Story In Its Proper Place

On June 23, 2022December 2, 2022 By Travis MillerIn design theory, game mastering advice, musings21 Comments

Emergent narrative is a fundamental concept of Old School Renaissance gaming.

Getting Started With The OSR: Part 2 : Play a Retro-Clone.

On June 16, 2022June 16, 2022 By Travis MillerIn game mastering advice, recommended8 Comments

The number of games in the OSR is overwhelming. I think the best place to start is with a retro-clone.

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writer Travis Miller, long beard long hair

I write about tabletop role-playing games, sword-and-sorcery fiction, storytelling, and heavy metal. 

The friendships I’ve forged while playing adventure games, listening to heavy music, and sharing stories saved my life and made it worth living.  

I live in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. America’s most underrated city.

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The Alexandrian

B/X Blackrazor

Hite Studios

Ten Foot Pole

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Delta’s D&D Hotspot

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From Kuroth’s Quill

Welcome To The Death Trap

Age of Dusk

Thews You Can Use

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Whetstone: Amateur Magazine of Sword & Sorcery

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RPG Ramblings

Unknown Worlds of the Merril Collection

Are you sure you want to do that? The box of DOOM. I was a guest in the swanky Immortals Inc. recording studio this afternoon. My wife's orchids are starting to bloom. She gave me one to brighten up the Grumperie. Saw a @kingbuffaloband show last night. The two openers were fantastic as well. I finished Volume I and now I am ready to go on to Volume II.  It's been a while since I read these and they are better than I remember them. One of the local game shops is... unique. Piles of stuff everywhere. Sometimes I find a good deal on a scarce and obscure item. #flgs I'm writing a dungeon room a day in 2023. I have a post about it on my blog. Finishing up my annual reading of The Hogfather. I always marvel at Terry Pratchett's skill. Happy Hogswatch!

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