Obviously, preparing to run a 4th Edition game has gotten me remeniscing about Dungeons & Dragons games past. This hasn’t been woolgathering about the “good old days”, or Old School nostalgia, or even deeper contempation about the Edition Wars as it has been me trying to recall how I used to do this. The skills, … Continue reading
Over the years I’ve written a lot about binders, journals, notebooks, file cards, and wikis for use in capturing data, tracking and planning all sorts of information for roleplaying games. In my ongoing quest to explore all possible solutions, I have managed to overlook the simplest solution of all, the very first method I ever … Continue reading
For weeks I have had anxiety about running my first 4th Edition Dungeons & Dragons game. I’ve been playing since 1978, but this system is so unlike any previous edition. Some of the people I’m running it for will have been playing it since it was released, so they’ll be better versed with the rules … Continue reading
There is a huge connection between the media I consume and my mood. I’ve always said, when you’re dealing with an escapist you have to look not only what they’re escaping to but what they’re escaping from. Economic collapse, bird flu, mass murder, reality shows, no thank you. I’m starting to track what I read/watch/listen … Continue reading
For this character to make any sense, you first have to go watch this video (possible NSFW, no nudity but suggestive Twinkies imagery, zombie violence, and scantily-clad women). Then you’ll understand why I had to write this character up. I figured a Soviet Hero would make a good Necessary Evil character. Agility: d6/d10, Smarts: d6, … Continue reading
Just the other day I realized that the current Dungeons & Dragons core rulebooks don’t actually say “4th Edition” on the cover. It’s just “Dungeons & Dragons”, the only edition in print so obviously the only edition you need to worry about. In the circles that I run in, however, no one refers to it … Continue reading
While designing my very first skill challenge, I started getting ideas. The scenario is that there’s a very isolated elven village deep in the woods, with no established road or trails, and the player characters have to find it. It’s very similar to the “Lost in the Wilderness” Skill Challenge example presented in the Dungeon … Continue reading
One of the things I like about Savage Worlds, from a gamemaster’s point of view, is that when creating NPCs and monsters you can just make stuff up. Write down whatever attributes you think are appropriate, add Edges, Hindrances and Powers and run with it. You don’t have to figure out the point cost, what … Continue reading
Race: Human Attributes: Agility d8, Smarts d10, Spirit d12, Strength d4, Vigor d4 Skills: Fighting d4, Guts d6, Knowledge: History d6+2 , Knowledge: Latin d4+2, Knowledge: Ancient Greek d4+2, Knowledge: Ancient Egyptian d4+2, Notice d8, Persuasion d12, Shooting d4, Taunt d8 Charisma: +2 Pace: 5 Parry: 5 Toughness: 5 Edges: Arcane Background (Super Powers), … Continue reading
Race: Human Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d4, Spirit d6, Strength d8, Vigor d8 Skills: Fighting d8, Guts d6, Investigation d6, Notice d6, Stealth d10 Charisma: +2 Pace: 6 Parry: 6 Toughness: 6 Edges: Arcane Background (Super Powers), Power Points, Attractive, Sweep Hindrances: Arrogant (Major), Delusional (Major, thinks he talks to Satan), Mean, … Continue reading
