Here's how I run my Swords and Wizardry campaign. I don't know how any of it turns out. I don't care what direction the players decide to go. In practical terms, here's how that works. I created a map. I created a rough history of the setting, a Yes/No list of what was in it, …
Category: game mastering advice
The Dichotomy of “World” Focus and Character Focus
All the WoTC versions of the world's greatest adventure role-playing game have put the player character into the foreground. Their character are supposed to be the most interesting thing to your players. I admit, at one time, I think I would have agreed with that. Why shouldn't the player be more excited and more emotionally …
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Developing Your Skills As a Game Master
If you want to get better at game mastering; think of the piece of game mastering that you avoid. That thing is probably what you need to work on. Think of the adventure type, the campaign type, monster variety that you actively avoid because it is hard. I'm not talking about how you avoid dungeons …
More On Religion
The Cleveland Museum of Art currently has a Shinto exhibit displaying idols, portable alters, offerings, ceremonial clothing and embroidered silk screens. I am very fortunate to have seen it because it is the only place in the US that will have the exhibition. We were not allowed to take photos but there are several images …
Random Encounters Convey Information
A lot of people dislike random encounters. The way random encounter tables have been written in most gaming products over the years is why. They are usually treated as a way to provide minor challenges to players or to deplete their resources along the way to an adventure site. I use them for those purposes …
You Do Not Need to Roll For Everything
You don't need to roll dice every time a character takes an action. It's OK, it is preferable, to just say, "Yep, you do it," and move the fuck on. Basic assumptions I make when I DM: Characters are competent. They can perform basic tasks necessary for adventuring. They can tie knots, climb ladders, put …
What’s Your Genre?
Genre makes a big difference when you are deciding what sort of challenges to put in front of your players. This is especially true in certain genres. If you are playing Call of Cthulu then at some point there should be an encounter with knowledge that man should not know. If you are playing a western …
Grumpy Wizard 
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