Category: Random musings

RPGaDay2020 Day 17: Comfort – how often do/should you push yourself out of your comfort zone?

The RPGaDay2020 prompts in a map by dunroaminpress Yesterday in RPGaDay2020 I discussed making your descriptions dramatic. Today the theme is Comfort, and I'd like to look at Comfort zones. Everything is challenging to start with - think about your first day at school, or your first driving lesson, or your first time creating a … Continue reading RPGaDay2020 Day 17: Comfort – how often do/should you push yourself out of your comfort zone? →

RPGaDay2020 Day 16: Dramatic

The original RPGaDay2020 prompts graphic by @WillBrooks1989 Yesterday in RPGaDay2020 I looked at how the GM's descriptions frame the experience for the players. Today the theme is Dramatic. This seems to me to be related. As a GM, how do you make the adventure dramatic? Hint: it's not by making everything a life-and-death battle. Drama … Continue reading RPGaDay2020 Day 16: Dramatic →

RPGaDay2020 Day 15: Frame – framing the situation for the players

The RPGaDay2020 prompts in a map by dunroaminpress Yesterday in RPGaDay2020 I looked at a potential banner for the Toney House in Akorros. Today the theme is Frame. As a GM, what we include and exclude from our descriptions frames the players' interaction with the game and determines their engagement and approach. Give the players … Continue reading RPGaDay2020 Day 15: Frame – framing the situation for the players →

How a moral dilemma turned a mediocre battle to an engaging session

We're playing through the old X2 Castle Amber module (converting to 5e using XXX as a guide), and the party were going after the Sword of Sylaire. Note: This post contains minor spoilers for X2 Castle Amber. If this might be a problem, stop reading now and direct your GM here instead. They had met … Continue reading How a moral dilemma turned a mediocre battle to an engaging session →

RPGaDay2019 Day 24 – Triumph and Day 25 – Calamity

Triumph and Calamity. Those are the inspirations for days 24 and 25 of #RPGaDay2019, following Surprise yesterday. And I'm going to take advantage of being a little bit behind to consider them together. After all, they are flip sides of the same coin. They are both significant events in the story of the campaign. Without … Continue reading RPGaDay2019 Day 24 – Triumph and Day 25 – Calamity →

RPGaDay2019 Day 23 – Surprise

Surprise. That's the inspiration for day 23 of #RPGaDay2019, following Lost yesterday. How much should you try to surprise your players? On the one hand, you don't want the story to be too predictable, and for everything to always run the same way. You want to keep the players on their toes a bit, otherwise … Continue reading RPGaDay2019 Day 23 – Surprise →