When I am working on a campaign or an adventure I often start with a technique I stole from the game Microscope I usually have some idea or a broad high concept I want to use for a campaign. It might not be more than an image or even an emotional experience like foreboding. It …
Category: game mastering advice
Discomfort is Good
Some of my best game sessions as a game master have come when I was not at all sure about the outcome. I had an idea, I assembled it and presented it to the players in whatever form it seemed most appropriate. The results have been varied but often the response from players is very …
Player Created Adventures
I spent a little time playing Horizon: Zero Dawn last week. If you aren't familiar it's an open world CRPG on the PS4. It combines the older style of CRPGs in that there is a series of quests that lead you through a story and unconnected side quests and errands. The setting is post apocalyptic in the …
What I Do: Characters Come and Go
I run my game every Sunday 1 PM to about 5 PM. Unless I have some family thing, I'm sick or have some issue that would prevent me from showing up, I'm there. I don't expect that my players will always make it. I encourage them to be there but I don't expect it. My …
An Adversarial GM is a Bad GM
The group I play Swords and Wizardry with knows there are consequences for choices. They know that if they have an opportunity to make a fight unfair then they better take it. There are very few toe to toe fights in my current campaign. If the NPC's want to fight, they will try to ambush you or …
Complicating the Interactions
You can have a deep and complex campaign with simple parts. The way you make it complex is by complicating the interactions. The simple parts in my campaign. A misanthropic great druid: He hates people and wants them to stop destroying his forest Barbarian warrior woman who usurped a small fief: Has her own code of honor …
Customize Your Description
Different people see the world differently. I grew up around blue collar tradesmen. Most of my family have skilled trades, farm, or work in factories. Something I learned from that experience is that a plumber looks at a toilet differently than you do. A friend's dad was a linesman for the electric company. We'd be …
Grumpy Wizard 
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