Is this "The" way or is it "A" way?
Category: game mastering advice
How I Incorporated Theme Into My Sandbox Game
In RPG's generally and sandbox games especially, theme can be very hard for the game master to create. I do not control or attempt to control the actions of the player characters in the game. If the player characters are the protagonists of their own story and game master has little to no control over what the characters attempt, then how do they become the embodiment of the theme?
You Don’t Have To Be Fancy To Play D&D
Someone on a Dungeons and Dragons Facebook group I follow was looking for someone to teach him how to play D&D. He wanted to play but didn't know any groups. That's not unusual. With Critical Role and other actual play streams, there are a lot of new people in the hobby who weren't introduced by …
World Building: Character Groups
Early in my work on building a setting for a game or story, I want to know the social, political, religious and economic groupings. Character groups are one of the most important elements of your setting. This is true for both fiction and gaming. Characters must want something that is difficult to keep or get. …
The Lovable Murder Hobo
What do I do about "murder hobos" in my games? I encourage them. Many referee's wring their hands about this topic. Personally, I let players do what they want, and then face the consequences. Fictional characters doing horrible things to other fictional characters is hilarious. I like movies like Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, …
Map Heresy
Most of the advice I see about creating a campaign setting starts with making a map. I used to start with a map but I don't anymore. “I wisely started with a map, and made the story fit (generally with meticulous care for distances). The other way about lands one in confusions and impossibilities, and …
The Asshole Rule
There's always an asshole.
Grumpy Wizard 
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