I’m a big fan of post-apocalyptic RPG settings and as a result I must have ended the world in two dozen ways already. There are some common ways of bringing about the apocalypse and some of them are a touch cliché. Let’s just say you wanted to try something different to challenge your group of […]
GM Tips: Why your campaign needs a boat
Pierce Fraser is the creator of the HC SVNT DRACONES tabletop roleplaying game and the 8-10-12 dice system that powers it. He’s a long time player and narrator of a variety of systems and settings, and his game is noteworthy for making players decide how to approach problems, instead of waiting for the DM to […]
22 reasons why your fantasy RPG world has so many monsters infested dungeons
There are many different ways to involve exploring underground complexes filled with monsters in a roleplaying game. You and your group might prefer the straightforward challenge of dungeon crawls without much story to wrap the encounters together. Alternatively, you might enjoy games with complex layers of plots and a GM who tries to avoid anything […]
Top 5 Worst Character Backstories for LARP
Kristin Brumley is the creator and executive producer of Basic Adventuring 101, a webseries about Live Action Role Play (LARP). The series highlights women in the hobby as well as in the Indiefilm world, and is currently looking for audience support on their Seed&Spark campaign. Whether you are in a LARP, playing a game of […]
6 insider tips for GMs running a FAITH: the Sci-fi RPG campaign
Looking for improving your GM skills? Tips on running a sci-fi RPG? There are plenty of great advice sites to read and communities like Roleplaying Games on G+ where you can ask for advice. There are ways and means of getting generic sci-fi RPG tips… but perhaps your looking for something special? FAITH: The Sci-Fi […]
12 reasons why silver hurts werewolves
Running a RPG with lycanthropes? Perhaps you want silver to be the element that can harm werewolves. That would make sense… but why? What world building reason can you think up to explain silver’s ability? If you’ve got a great answer to this challenge why not pop it in the comments below? In the meantime; […]
4 reasons why Critical Failures are a bad game mechanic; 4 why they work
Roleplayers are familiar with the Critical Success or Critical Hit rule. The player rolls a natural 20 or similar maximum value and as a result successfully strikes an otherwise impossible target or hits their enemy with such force that extra damage is done. Critical Miss rules are not as common in core rules but they […]
Retractable whiteboard for tabletop melee battles
Some gamers use blackboard tablets, plastic covered maps, tiles and other clever adaptations in order to have re-usable surfaces they can draw on and move minis around on. What about an actual whiteboard? Buy at Uncommon Goods. The whiteboard is made from plastic, paper and tyvek and rolls up. The screen is 9.5″ in length […]
RPG Ideas: 6 alternatives to poltergeists
Sometimes the GM needs to give the players a good scare or challenge them with a standard haunting. A poltergeist often makes sense as the spirit manifests itself initially on a small scale, with clues for the characters to pick up on, and then the drama escalates as the group tries to do something about […]
19 common mistakes new GMs make
It’s not always easy being a GM. You’ve a game to prepare, a world to create and in addition to plot, combat and other in-world intrigue you also have the real world to deal with when it comes to players, scheduling and even finding a venue. Wizards of the Coast’s latest book in the D&D […]
