Haunted forests and woods are common in old stories because villagers had every reason to discourage children from straying too far or had actually become suspicious of something sinister going on in. In a game it can be much harder to convey the same creepy feeling that dark and oddly silent woods can conjure up […]
Crazy idea? Mathematical waves as magic?
A few roleplaying games lean heavily on the idea that magic is either a special language or mathematical incantations that tap into the heatbeat of the world. This video from the New Scientist highlights those equations that rule the world with an almost exclusive focus on understanding waves. They don’t mean the waves that break […]
Encounter idea: the puzzle table
This is a real life “secret table”. Artist Kagen Schaefer took four years to complete this commission but when you see the demo you’ll understand why. The concept may appeal to GMs looking for encounter ideas beyond looking into treasure chests. It strikes me that a diplomats desk could well have something like this and […]
GM Inspiration: Freaky steampunk bug
This picture was shared by a LiveJournal picture community without credit. If you know the creator please leave a comment – that’s if you’ve not already fled to the next post with a cry of “Eeeew!”. I think this bug is two parts freaky for each part cute. Most of all, perhaps, this picture strikes […]
The Bortle Dark-Sky Scale and RPGs
Have you ever considered tying the Bortle Dark-Sky Scale into RPG mechanics? In particular, using it to influence the strength of magic. The Bortle Dark-Sky Scale is a 9-level scale that measures both the clarity of the night sky’s and the brightness of stars from any given location. You see; light pollution obscures the sky, […]
