When Did “Old School” Dungeons & Dragons Become “New School” Dungeons & Dragons?

On June 15, 2023January 19, 2024 By Travis MillerIn 5E, design theory, game mastering advice, musings11 Comments

What is the point in time and design ethos when "new" D&D becomes fundamentally different from "old" D&D?

Revisiting an Assumption: Who are OSR Games For?

On June 1, 2023September 17, 2024 By Travis MillerIn 5E, blog dialogue, D.I.O., musings6 Comments

When the OSR was new, nobody thought anyone born after Gary Gygax was kicked out of TSR would be interested in classic games. That might be changing.

Thoughts About Time and Value

On May 18, 2023June 26, 2023 By Travis MillerIn musings9 Comments

I want some of your lifetime and attention.

A Lesson Not Learned By the Gaming Industry

On May 11, 2023December 4, 2024 By Travis MillerIn assumption busters, crowd funding, game business, musings18 Comments

At some point in the 80's, someone at a game company called TSR noticed that there were more players than game masters. They came up with a hypothesis: If you make books for players instead of game masters, you can sell more books. That seems obvious but it turns out that this is not a very good long term strategy.

a collection of books on medieval history. The Northmen by John Haywood, Kings and Vikings by P.H. Sawyer, Crusaders by Dan Jones, Europe in the High Middle Ages by John H. Mundy, A History of the Vikings by Gwyn Jones, Life in a Medieval Village by Joseph Gies, Life in a Medieval City by Joseph Gies, Life in a Medieval Castle by Joseph Gies, A World Lit Only by Fire William Manchester, Medieval Cities by Pirenne

Why Do Gaming Grognards Love History?

On April 27, 2023April 28, 2023 By Travis MillerIn 2E, inspiration, musings7 Comments

Old school RPG gamers tend to have a deep interest in history. In this essay, I explain why that is and what effect it has on the style of game we run and play.

Swords-and-Sorcery is the Intersection of Heavy Metal and Old School D&D

On March 30, 2023December 28, 2024 By Travis MillerIn music, musings, sword-and-sorcery1 Comment

Sword-and-Sorcery is the common link between old school Dungeons & Dragons and heavy metal music.

Musings About the OGL Drama

On January 12, 2023February 8, 2023 By Travis MillerIn 5E, game business, musings6 Comments

I don't want to write about this. I'm tired of reading about it. I'm tired of thinking of about it. I have nothing to say about the legal issues involved. I do have some things to say to the hobby gamers.