Ask The GMs: Essential Game Master Skills

March 2, 2010 from Campaign Mastery
Filed under: Adventure Prep, DM Advice, Game Mastering, Play, RPG Hub, advice, behind the screen, campaign setting 
What are the essential skills of a GM? Loz is a frequent contributor to the comments here at CM. So when he submitted a question to Ask The GMs, we were inclined to pay close attention. Here’s what he had to [...]
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Behind the Screen: Pickup Games…

February 18, 2010 from StupidRanger.com
Filed under: RPG Hub, behind the screen 
We’ve been having a significant problem in our group lately getting a regularly scheduled game together.  This is largely due to Real Life getting in the way, but it has put a damper in the amount of material for [...]
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Olde Worlde – my first encounter in my first game as referee

February 7, 2010 from Ubiquitous Orcs
Filed under: RPG Hub, behind the screen 
This is a cross-post from my "official" game blog for my online play-by-post S&W game. I was really nervous about this first encounter, having up until now only been a player. Would it be too hard for the players?&nb[...]
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Behind the Screen: Pet Players?

February 2, 2010 from StupidRanger.com
Filed under: RPG Hub, behind the screen 
Have you ever been playing in a game where there was one member of the group always got a little extra treasure or a bit of circumstantial luck that kept them out of harms way?  Perhaps this person was a significant oth[...]
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Swords & Wizardry Play-by-Post – already in progress, actually

February 1, 2010 from Ubiquitous Orcs
Filed under: RPG Hub, behind the screen 
I know I announced a while back that I was maybe going to gather up a play-by-post RPG using Swords & Wizardry Core Rules on the Reaper Miniatures forum.Well.... following a hectic end-of-December/start-of-January, I[...]
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Downsize Your Disasters: GMing catastrophes in your RPG

January 18, 2010 from Campaign Mastery
Filed under: 3.x, 4e, Campaigns, DM Advice, Game Mastering, RPG Hub, behind the screen 
We hesitated before running this piece, which was written prior to the disaster on Haiti. It is certainly not our intent to trivialise what has occurred or in any way to be insensitive to the ongoing emergency there. Ul[...]
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Paint On A Canvas: A Personality Metaphor

January 14, 2010 from Campaign Mastery
Filed under: Encounter Design, Game Mastering, RPG Hub, advice, behind the screen 
Tony Scott, in the interviews that accompany “Beverly Hills Cop II” states (while discussing the casting of Brigitte Nielson for that movie) that his background is in painting, and that casting is like putti[...]
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Behind the Screen: Wherein I admit my failings…

January 12, 2010 from StupidRanger.com
Filed under: 4e, RPG Hub, behind the screen 
Hello, my name is Dante and I have a problem. Today I admit an uncomfortable truth: I have never read any of the Drizzt novels or pretty much any other Forgotten Realms related novelizations. Before I hear the “doo[...]
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A Grand Conclusion: Thinking about a big finish

December 1, 2009 from Campaign Mastery
Filed under: Adventure Prep, Campaigns, DM Advice, Encounter Design, Game Mastering, Game Mastery, Hero system, Inspiration, RPG Hub, Running Encounters, behind the screen 
I know I’ve written about this before (An Epic Confusion, Or How To Stage A Blockbuster Finish), but I’ve been thinking some more about big finishes to campaigns, prompted by the fact that my superhero campai[...]
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The Whimsy Factor

December 1, 2009 from Ubiquitous Orcs
Filed under: RPG Hub, Swords and Wizardry, behind the screen 
Preface - Rumours of my demise have been greatly exaggerated.Recently I got to take part in yet another PbP RPG implosion. This time it was a 3.5 game refereed by a self-proclaimed novice, for which a small amount of the[...]
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Behind the Screen: Game Chatter and Plot Progression…

November 25, 2009 from StupidRanger.com
Filed under: 4e, RPG Hub, behind the screen 
Over the past weekend, our D&D group got together to play.  Since several of our group members are parents and Busy People, it is usually a few weeks between each of our gaming sessions.  This usually causes a seri[...]
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Wherein the Penny Arcade guys have a great idea…

November 5, 2009 from StupidRanger.com
Filed under: 4e, RPG Hub, advice, behind the screen 
It’s rare that excellent D&D ideas get generated from Twitter, primarily because of the word count… but today I was pleasantly surprised!  Gabe over at Penny Arcade posted up this example of how their gr[...]
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Ask The GMs: PC Choices and Consequences

October 29, 2009 from Campaign Mastery
Filed under: Adventure Prep, At the table, Campaigns, DM Advice, Game Mastering, Game Mastery, Play, RPG Hub, behind the screen, campaign setting 
How can you make the players feel like their actions have an impact on the world? Sometimes, the simplest questions have the most complicated or profound answers. So it was with some trepidation that we’ve ap[...]
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Behind the Screen: Using motive to your advantage…

October 22, 2009 from StupidRanger.com
Filed under: 4e, DM Advice, RPG Hub, behind the screen 
Tonight, I had an opportunity to talk about campaign building with e from Geek’s Dream Girl who was working on her own storyline.  This quickly got me thinking about how I put storylines together, and here we are.[...]
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Behind the Screen: Dungeon Pacing…

October 21, 2009 from StupidRanger.com
Filed under: 4e, DM Advice, RPG Hub, behind the screen 
In my current campaign, I designed a small single-level dungeon for our players to explore.  Now, our group is comprised of several people that have children, so often our gaming sessions get punctuated by real life fam[...]
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Ask The GMs: Giving Players The Power To Choose Their Own Adventures

October 12, 2009 from Campaign Mastery
Filed under: Adventure Prep, At the table, DM Advice, Game Mastering, Play, RPG Hub, behind the screen, campaign setting 
How do you create a campaign that gives the players absolute freedom but still leaves the GM in control? Recently, Campaign Mastery was asked, Is it possible to create a truly player-choice driven campaign (within [...]
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Ask The GMs: “Let’s Split Up.” – “Good Idea, we can do more damage that way!”

October 5, 2009 from Campaign Mastery
Filed under: Adventure Prep, Campaigns, Game Mastery, RPG Hub, Running Encounters, behind the screen 
What are the best ways to handle splitting the party up – especially over the long term? An interesting question was asked of us recently: I’m planning a pretty good science fiction game that will most [...]
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My Biggest Mistakes: Magneto’s Maze – My B.A. Felton Moment

September 28, 2009 from Campaign Mastery
Filed under: At the table, DM Advice, Encounter Design, Game Mastering, Hero system, Play, RPG Hub, Running Encounters, behind the screen 
There came a time when I had to move out of the city (where my players were), and back to the small town in which I had grown up, for financial reasons. That would spell the end of most campaigns, but I had willing play[...]
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Simple Rules: Varying gaming schedule…

September 4, 2009 from StupidRanger.com
Filed under: DM Advice, RPG Hub, behind the screen 
It is expected as we continually search for ways to make our gaming better that trends will emerge.  Periodically, one of these simple rules will be “discovered” that can really take your gaming group to the[...]
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Keeping Secrets at the Table

August 31, 2009 from Beneath the Screen
Filed under: Player Advice, RPG Hub, behind the screen 
The Dungeon Master's jaw rested very comfortably on the floor as he stared down at his notes - eyes wide. "The... the dragon... dies?"Cheers erupted from the table."Success!""Huzzah!""For the Mountain Dew!"The Dungeon Ma[...]
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Behind the Screen: Speeding up combat in 4e

August 28, 2009 from StupidRanger.com
Filed under: 4e, RPG Hub, behind the screen, gm tips 
Up today is another topic from our GM’s Jam that took place at GenCon this year, continuing on from where I left off yesterday.  It was another audience question, once again relating to 4e D&D: How do you spee[...]
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Lessons from LARPing: Delaying Death

August 27, 2009 from Beneath the Screen
Filed under: RPG Hub, behind the screen 
Every so often, LARPing teaches me a little something that I can bring right to the table (if you don't know what LARPing is, read this post!). This little lesson deals with killing off characters - a topic I discussed n[...]
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Behind the Screen: Killing Players…

August 26, 2009 from StupidRanger.com
Filed under: 4e, DM Advice, RPG Hub, behind the screen 
I had the great opportunity to take part in a panel at GenCon called the GM’s Jam with Zach from RPG Blog 2, Chgowiz from Old Guy RPG Blog, Tony from RPGCentric, and bonemaster from The Bone Scroll.  It was cool, [...]
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How Much Is That Warhorse In The Window? – Pricing Of Goods in D&D

August 10, 2009 from Campaign Mastery
Filed under: 3.x, Advice/Tools, Campaigns, DM Advice, RPG Hub, behind the screen, campaign setting 
It doesn’t take much more than a quick flip through the pages of “…And A 10-foot Pole” to realise that it’s an extensively-researched volume. Aside from breaking history into twelve periods [...]
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Breaking The Bank: controlling treasure in D&D

August 6, 2009 from Campaign Mastery
Filed under: 3.x, 4e, Adventure Prep, DM Advice, Game Mastering, RPG Hub, behind the screen, campaign setting 
Many monsters come with treasure in D&D. Taken at face value, these can quickly overwhelm a campaign. I thought I would run through a few measures that the GM can use to control how much hard currency the party gets [...]
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Behind the Screen: The Evolution of a Roleplaying Session…

August 4, 2009 from StupidRanger.com
Filed under: RPG Hub, behind the screen 
Over the weekend, I experienced a very strange session.  Our group had just arrived at the first major town at the end of the last game night.  I had laid out several interesting places for them to hurry off to, howeve[...]
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Personal Plot at the Table

August 3, 2009 from Beneath the Screen
Filed under: RPG Hub, behind the screen 
If your group enjoys writing detailed backstories for their characters, well... your a lucky, lucky dungeon master. Don't take it for granted! Use those backstories! Personal Plot, aka character-specific plot, can lead g[...]
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Learn To Say “Yes”

July 31, 2009 from Beneath the Screen
Filed under: RPG Hub, behind the screen 
"Yes" can be a powerful word. In improvisational theater, actors are taught to always "say yes", because it opens doors for the scene to continue. "Saying Yes" does not always imply actually saying the word "Yes" of cour[...]
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The Nimble Mind: Making Skills Matter in RPGs

July 30, 2009 from Campaign Mastery
Filed under: 3.x, 4e, Adventure Prep, At the table, DM Advice, Encounter Design, Game Mastering, Game Mastery, Player Advice, RPG Hub, Running Encounters, behind the screen 
Someone once asked me why D&D bothers to include skills at all. After all, the GM generally tells the players anything they really need to know (rather than seeing all his hard work in preparing the game crash and b[...]
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The Top Shelf: Hand-Painted Monster Tokens

July 30, 2009 from d20 Blonde
Filed under: At the table, RPG Hub, behind the screen 
Not only Etsy an excellent time-suck, it's an awesome place to buy gifts... and - as I've discovered lately - to find unique gaming tools. [...]
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Plot Hooks in the News: Prisoners Escape by Hijacking Helicopter

July 29, 2009 from d20 Blonde
Filed under: At the table, RPG Hub, behind the screen 
Three prisoners escaped from a Belgium prison by hijacking a helicopter recently and, while I've had this particular game opening bouncing around in my head for a while, reading the article made me REALLY want to run it.[...]
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Dino-Pirates of Ninja Island

July 27, 2009 from d20 Blonde
Filed under: At the table, RPG Hub, behind the screen 
This week, he's featuring my favorite Dino-Pirate, Victoria. She's like my fantasy alter ego. Except she has red hair.[...]
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5 Tips for Dealing With PC Death

July 26, 2009 from Beneath the Screen
Filed under: RPG Hub, behind the screen 
It's a dirty dark Dungeon Master secret that we don't actually want to kill PCs. Many Dungeon Masters, especially new ones, when faced with a character on the verge of death will bend reality itself to keep them alive, o[...]
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Top 10 New Dungeon Master Mistakes

July 25, 2009 from Beneath the Screen
Filed under: RPG Hub, behind the screen 
And how to avoid them! As a note, even veteran DM's can make some of these errors so don't forget to be careful! A tabletop can be a crazy place, but to avoid a rebellious player uprising keep these tips in mind.I think [...]
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A DM’s Dilemma: Dealing With Deadlines

July 22, 2009 from Beneath the Screen
Filed under: RPG Hub, behind the screen 
The end of the school year. The end of summer. The end of that amazing institution known as unemployment. What do these things have in common? Potentially, a swift end to your tabletop game. Obviously, every so often an [...]
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Holidays in D&D: Part Seven – The Conclusion!

July 17, 2009 from Beneath the Screen
Filed under: RPG Hub, behind the screen 
So ends my series on the use of holidays and festivals in D&D. I may revisit the topic in the future, but for now I've got a shopping list of potential posting topics that I'm eager to get going on. Here is a recap o[...]
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Holidays in D&D: Part Six – Party Time!

July 15, 2009 from Beneath the Screen
Filed under: RPG Hub, behind the screen 
In conclusion of my Holidays in D&D series, here's an encounter your whole group can enjoy!I ran a festival for my 3.5 Dungeons and Dragons group this past year - a holiday based specifically around actions the chara[...]
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Ask The GMs: An Epic Confusion, or how to stage a blockbuster finish

July 14, 2009 from Campaign Mastery
Filed under: 3.x, Adventure Prep, Campaigns, DM Advice, Encounter Design, Game Mastering, Game Mastery, Inspiration, RPG Hub, Running Encounters, behind the screen 
How much, if at all, should the final villain of a long running campaign pull his punches? My campaign boss [villain] is a high level wizard with access to epic spells, and my party just made 20th level. They are o[...]
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Campaign Continuity: Ever get that nagging feeling you forgot something?

July 13, 2009 from Beneath the Screen
Filed under: RPG Hub, behind the screen 
Posts don't write themselves while you're LARPing (or recovering from LARPing), so Flashman85 is here to fill in with a guest post. Enjoy!It's bound to happen: Whether you're writing book sequels, making a TV series, or [...]
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Holidays in D&D: Part Three

July 7, 2009 from Beneath the Screen
Filed under: RPG Hub, behind the screen 
You make your ways through the crowded streets, passing by various buildings, some of which appear to be small privately owned shops, or minor pubs like the one you tried to gain entry to before. Likewise, these taverns [...]
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Holidays in D&D: Part Two

July 5, 2009 from Beneath the Screen
Filed under: RPG Hub, behind the screen 
Happy Fireworks Day to everyone! In honor of the holiday, and as a follow up to some holiday flavor, I present the second part of my ode to holidays in your Dungeons and Dragons game.Incorporating holidays and celebratio[...]
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Holidays in D&D: Part One

July 3, 2009 from Beneath the Screen
Filed under: RPG Hub, behind the screen 
Your first step onto the docks sends a chill of excitement down your spine. The city streets are densely packed with creatures and races from all over the world, dressed in armor, robes, and garish outfits hailing from c[...]
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Plot Hooks in the News: Ooze in the Raleigh, NC Sewers!

July 2, 2009 from d20 Blonde
Filed under: At the table, RPG Hub, behind the screen 
There are colonies of "sludge worms" living in the sewers beneath Raleigh, NC. Video of the pulsating masses has made its way across the internet and, while authorities are claiming they're totally harmless, in an RPG, t[...]
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A DM’s Dilemma: Dealing With Powerhouse Parties

July 2, 2009 from Beneath the Screen
Filed under: RPG Hub, behind the screen 
Before I get too far into anything, there's a fantastic post over at Ravyn's blog Exchange of Realities. It doesn't have to do with the topic of this post but I just wanted to send a link her way because she's written up[...]
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Plot Hooks in the News: Severed Feet Across Canada

July 1, 2009 from d20 Blonde
Filed under: Mutants and Masterminds, RPG Hub, behind the screen 
In recent months, a bunch of severed feet have turned up in various locations in Canada. [...]
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Awesome Resource: Conspiracy Theories

June 25, 2009 from d20 Blonde
Filed under: RPG Hub, behind the screen 
Many provide a precious nugget that could be used to set up an entire campaign or a simple one shot.[...]
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Feedback Required: Mini M&M Campaign

June 22, 2009 from d20 Blonde
Filed under: At the table, Mutants and Masterminds, RPG Hub, behind the screen 
Would you want super-Supers? Like, powerful enough to fly so fast that you can cause the Earth to spin BACK IN TIME?[...]
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Confessing a Guilty Pleasure…

June 20, 2009 from d20 Blonde
Filed under: RPG Hub, behind the screen 
... and you don't get much trashier than Twilight.[...]
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Meta Gaming at its Finest

June 19, 2009 from d20 Blonde
Filed under: At the table, RPG Hub, behind the screen 
Crap! It's almost 9! SPEND THOSE STYLE POINTS WHILE YOU CAN![...]
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Sizzle Cards: A fun way to add excitement to a campaign!

June 17, 2009 from StupidRanger.com
Filed under: RPG Hub, behind the screen, gm tips 
Over the weekend one of our frequent commentors and all-round good guy, Todd Bradley, invited us to a D&D game that he is running.  This marks the first time that Stupid Ranger and I have played D&D with a  gro[...]
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