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Making your own setting for a campaign is great fun, but sometimes you want to use one that already exists. Perhaps you’re short on worldbuilding time, or there’s one setting you’ve always wanted to run a game in, or the game you have planned is … read more »
Special recurring guest host Jim is back, and this time it’s not even to talk about the law! Instead, he joins Oren and Chris in a discussion about their favorite monsters from TV, books, RPGs, and beyond. Or at least, that was a plan before … read more »
We’ve had deep and meaningful topics for long enough; it’s time to argue about roleplaying mechanics! In today’s episode, we explore the ways some systems let you build whatever character you like, while others make you play the game how the designers mean for you … read more »
Ariel, Chris, and Oren describe the difference between showing elaborate spectacle and simply telling what happens. They discuss how showing can invoke deep emotions and contemplate when telling is warranted. Listen to hear how writers enhance storytelling with showing and telling. Read more »
Not every roleplaying game can be Primetime Adventures, with a single rule for resolving all conflicts. Some have to be more complex, and that isn’t always a bad thing. I champion Torchbearer’s light and resource tracking system on a daily basis, and it’s as complicated … read more »
We’ve talked before about overpowered character abilities, but that was only scratching the surface of all the balance issues that roleplaying games wrestle with. It’s one thing to have character options that are more powerful than they should be, but what about the weapons those … read more »
The setting is an integral part of any roleplaying game, because no one can roleplay in a vacuum. Sometimes the setting is adapted from a pre-existing story, and sometimes it’s created from scratch with a specific game in mind. A game’s setting can even be … read more »
Oren, Mike, and Chris dissect spell mechanics across roleplaying systems. They talk about the best and worst magic systems, and discuss the challenges inherent to building rules for magic workers. Read more »
Rules are absolutely essential to roleplaying games. We wouldn’t have much of a ‘game’ without them. They give us a structure in which to tell epic stories of heroism and, of course, to murder orcs for their precious copper pieces. Unfortunately, not all rules are good. Read more »
When I mention mechanics in a roleplaying game, most people will think about attacking with a sword or using magic to blast their enemies off the face of reality. That’s not what we’re talking about today. Instead, it’s time to examine the rules that govern … read more »