Discarding the theory that there are only certain ways a particular game should be played and experimenting with how it can be played has helped me to get more of what I want than accepting the common advice given by people who are not me and do not want what I want.
Where Do I Fall in the Low Prep Vs High Prep Debate?
One of the debates I see pop up on social media from time to time is "Low Prep Vs. High Prep." Some say you should do as little as possible and improvise because players are going to do things you don't expect anyway. Others say you should do as much as possible so that you …
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Not All Adventure Stories Need A Transformational Arc
Not all stories need a transformation. Certain genres, like sword-and-sorcery, were built around characters who are who they are.
Role-Playing Games Do Not Emulate Genres
A phrase commonly used in conversations about role-playing games is "genre emulation." One might say that Call of Cthulu emulates Lovecraftian cosmic horror or Feng Shui emulates Hong Kong martial arts action films. Role-playing games do not emulate a genre. Role-playing games are one of many mediums that makes up a genre. A RPG is …
Book Recommendation: Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury
Ray Bradbury was the sort of writer and storyteller I appreciate the most. Many great storytellers are not particularly great writers. Many great writers are not particularly great storytellers. Writing is the skill of communication through the written word. One can be good at writing and lousy at storytelling. Most of what gets printed in …
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Tolkien’s Elves, Dwarves, and Hobbits Don’t Belong in Dungeons & Dragons
I don't like elves, dwarves, and halflings in Dungeons & Dragons. We all know the way they look and feel in D&D was lifted out of Lord of the Rings. The inclusion of elves, dwarves, hobbits, orcs, ents, and balrogs (don't get me started on balrogs) into Dungeons & Dragons was a design mistake in …
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How Do I Play A 1st Level Demi-Human In An OSR Game?
I'm not a fan of the non-human character races in Dungeons & Dragons. I rarely play non-human characters and often exclude them as playable classes in my campaigns. It's not because I have a problem with non-human characters per se. I just don't like the way they were implemented in the original game. My preferences …
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Grumpy Wizard 
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