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.
Tag: dungeonsanddragons
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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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 …
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 Much Backstory is Necessary For a Homemade Sandbox Campaign?
How much backstory and history do I make for my sandbox campaigns?
The Basic Structures That Role-Playing Games and Stories Have In Common
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.
How Do I Create Random Generation Tables for a Sandbox Campaign?
In last week's post I wrote about how random generation tables have some uses but they also have some drawbacks. The biggest drawback I find is that the tables created by other GMs or designers often have assumptions and contexts that don't fit whatever campaign setting I'm running. The major drawback of random generation tables. …
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