When a writer is writing a story, no matter the form or genre, there is a critical element to the story. The writer must know what her characters want. The writer must convey those desires to the reader clearly and as early in the story as possible. If it is a murder mystery, the detective …
If You are a Game Master, Read Steven Pressfield’s Blog
It is a bit of a paradox. In order for an RPG to be a good to great experience, must be treated like a game. There are situations, you present them to the players, the players make choices, you roll dice, consequences happen and you present the next situation. However, utilizing the tools of story …
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Characteristics of Good Game Masters: Humility
A humble game master will be aware of and embrace the fact that her players know things that she doesn't. The humble game master is aware that they make mistakes. When players point out a mistake, the humble game master accepts and admits the error and makes an adjustment if necessary. When the humble game …
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Inspirational Reading: Joe Abercrombie
In the 1st Edition, Advanced Dungeons and Dragons Dungeon Masters Guide is the famous "Appendix: N." As much as I like many of the works on that list, there several writers, novels, films and TV shows which came after and are worth mentioning as some of the more immediate influences on my gaming. This time out, I …
Embedded Stories and How I Use Them
Games, role playing games in particular, have stories embedded inside of them. Why is the dungeon here? Why is there a ruin of a tower with a set of stairs going down into the dungeon? Who built the tower? Who or what dug out these tunnels? These questions lead me to a story that gives …
Game Masters are Illusionists
Human cognition is bedeviled with bias and selective blindness. Stage magicians use these biases and the peculiar way reflexes and gaps in our sense sight to produce "magic." We all know stage magic isn't really magic; the lady in the box isn't actually being sawn in half. It's a trick. We sign up for and …
On the Use of Magik
Kalador, the famous mercenary Kaptain of Hogwater has returned to lend poor low level saps his advice in getting over on the opposition. Be Kareful with magik.
Grumpy Wizard 
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