Author Archives: Brent
Let’s Play an Interesting RPG, episode 3: Gamma World, part 3 of 3
The Let\’s Play group plays a different RPG every week. In our 11 November 2011 session, we played Gamma World, a post-apocalyptic game of goofy adventure The Group: Let\’s Play an Interesting RPG About the group (with instructions on joining or watching our games) This session\’s Google documents: cards and map The System: Gamma World … Continue reading
Let’s Play an Interesting RPG, episode 3: Gamma World, part 2 of 3
The Let’s Play group plays a different RPG every week. In our 11 November 2011 session, we played Gamma World, a post-apocalyptic game of goofy adventure The Group: Let’s Play an Interesting RPG About the group (with instructions on joining or watching our games) This session’s Google documents: cards and map The System: Gamma World … Continue reading
Let’s Play an Interesting RPG, episode 3: Gamma World, part 1 of 3
The Let’s Play group plays a different RPG every week. In our 11 November 2011 session, we played Gamma World, a post-apocalyptic game of goofy adventure The Group: Let’s Play an Interesting RPG About the group (with instructions on joining or watching our games) This session’s Google documents: cards and map The System: Gamma World Rules complexity: … Continue reading
50 Games in 50 Weeks: Old School Hack
Old School Hack is a study in contrasts, as it attempts to balance old school sensibilities with modern, player-driven design ideas. On the one hand, players roll 6 stats and choose classes like thief, magic user, and elf (yes!). On the other hand, they get Awesome Points for being awesome, which they must use to … Continue reading
Let’s Play an Interesting RPG, episode 2: Old School Hack
The Let’s Play group plays a different RPG every week. In our 11 November 2011 session, we played Old School Hack, a reworking of classic D&D using modern design principles. Note: The RPG “Grimm,” mentioned in this episode, is currently on sale for US $20 on DriveThruRPG. Thanks to Jeff Dougan for pointing this out. … Continue reading
Let’s Play an Interesting RPG, episode 1: InSpectres
The Let’s Play group plays a different RPG every week. In our 4 November 2011 session, we played InSpectres, a game of goofy spectral investigation. It’s basically Ghostbusters. Let’s Play an Interesting RPG About the group (including how to join or watch) This session’s Google document The System: InSpectres Rules complexity: Moderate (80-page book) Availability: … Continue reading
How Not to Release Something Horrible from the Never Never (A Primer for New Players of The Dresden Files)
A few quick pointers on approaching a game of Evil Hat‘s Dresden Files RPG: The major themes of the Dresden Files include investigation and magic (including the Occult). Good backstories include one or both of these. Pick Aspects that relate to either your character’s inner struggles, or other people (particularly other players and known antagonists). Once your … Continue reading
Player Rx: How to react when thrown a curveball
Your character’s fighting an evil sorcerer, and he turns to your character and reveals that he’s kidnapped your character’s sister. How do you respond? As a player, you’re often given cues for your character to react to. It can be tough to decide exactly how to react. Does your character have an emotional scene? Will … Continue reading
Exploring The Lost Kingdoms
Michael Garcia’s The Lost Kingdoms is a GM aid, meant to provide a ready-to-use framework for a typical fantasy kingdom. And that is its biggest problem. On the one hand, The Lost Kingdoms may be useful for new GMs who want a generic fantasy town with the barest bones of backstory. The setting’s background–wild kingdoms locked away behind a gate, recently re-opened for adventurers–is a great idea. The document lists a few common locations–a tavern, a weapons shop, … Continue reading