Rules and Rulings for Darkness in Classic D&D

On June 20, 2024June 20, 2024 By Travis MillerIn game mastering advice, house rules3 Comments

I want players to feel like their characters are in danger the moment they step into the dungeon. Making darkness a danger that players must deal with is one way to do that.

Can Vs Should

On May 23, 2024May 28, 2024 By Travis MillerIn game mastering advice, musings8 Comments

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?

On May 16, 2024May 16, 2024 By Travis MillerIn game mastering advice, sandbox2 Comments

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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Role-Playing Games Do Not Emulate Genres

On May 2, 2024April 11, 2025 By Travis MillerIn assumption busters, design theory, fiction, musings, storytelling, sword-and-sorcery, video games, writing11 Comments

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 …

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Tolkien’s Elves, Dwarves, and Hobbits Don’t Belong in Dungeons & Dragons

On April 18, 2024April 18, 2024 By Travis MillerIn game business, inspiration, musings, sword-and-sorcery27 Comments

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 Much Backstory is Necessary For a Homemade Sandbox Campaign?

On April 4, 2024April 15, 2024 By Travis MillerIn game mastering advice, inspiration, my campaign, sandbox4 Comments

How much backstory and history do I make for my sandbox campaigns?

The Basic Structures That Role-Playing Games and Stories Have In Common

On March 28, 2024October 13, 2025 By Travis MillerIn game mastering advice, storytelling

There are some basic elements of story that are helpful for a game master to know. This post is about those elements and why games and stories share them.