Travis Miller's Blog About Sword & Sorcery Fiction and Classic Fantasy Adventure Gaming
A few weeks ago I wrote about "a game master's statement" based on some of the artist's statements I had seen at art gallery shows and museum exhibitions. To give an example of what this can look like, I wrote one for a sandbox campaign I'm working on. This is just one way I could …
Continue reading An Example Draft of A Game Master’s Statement
I intended to have a post written and scheduled to drop this morning since I knew I'd be away. I didn't manage it. Instead I'm dashing off a quick post in the hotel room before I get gaming for the day. I expect this will be a great event. I had a good time last …
A game master's statement is a way to communicate to prospective players about how I run games, how I think about games in general, and what I intend to accomplish with a new campaign in particular. Being clear, concise, and honest about I'm trying to do will help a player decide if my campaign is for them or if it's something they are unlikely to enjoy.
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.
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 …
Continue reading Where Do I Fall in the Low Prep Vs High Prep Debate?
Not all stories need a transformation. Certain genres, like sword-and-sorcery, were built around characters who are who they are.
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 …
Grumpy Wizard 
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