For the last little while, my desire to run a game again has been slowly rising. I have to assume it's due to watching a lot of videos on YouTube and listening to podcasts on running games (GMing and DMing), and paying attention to discussion in various forums and discord channels. I ran a playtest … Continue reading Fuelling the craft of Gamemastery
Tag: inspiration
Notes from a shelved D&D campaign
I've mentioned previously that I had a plan for a saurial-focused D&D campaign encompassing planar travel and spelljamming. I even started a write-up for it before I got busier writing stuff I could actually publish for money.But what with the pandemic and everything, I didn't ever get around to actually building it into a game … Continue reading Notes from a shelved D&D campaign
Cutter’s Guide to Planar Locations II – Sigil, City of Doors
Ah, Sigil, the centre of the Multiverse, or so the locals would have you think! What can one say that hasn't already filled multiple treatises? For a city of such a small size, there must be be multiple volumes dedicated to each f its many streets, even just to detail all the exotic locales one … Continue reading Cutter’s Guide to Planar Locations II – Sigil, City of Doors
Another short post
It's been a busy few weeks so I haven't had as much chance to write the longer posts that I want to and instead you'll get a couple of shorter ones for now. The Storytelling Collective course continues apace. I just about have my encounter written, I need to sort a playtest or at least … Continue reading Another short post
Ideas for altering 5e’s Inspiration mechanic
There's a lot of other takes on Inspiration out there, and when to award it and so on. I've been toying with the below in my head for a while. Advantage on a die roll is nice, but having it to use for other things would be good too. 1. I know a guyI think … Continue reading Ideas for altering 5e’s Inspiration mechanic
Late to A-Z April 2021 Part II
As they were so fond of saying on Star Trek, "and now, the conclusion." N - New Settings!I have a lot of game settings written up, for various different RPGs. But that doesn't mean my mind isn't coming up with new ideas, and annoyingly flows with them at that.Ideas I need to flesh out a … Continue reading Late to A-Z April 2021 Part II
Late to A-Z April 2021 Part I
As usual, by the time I realise what time of year it is, I've almost missed it!Here's an A-Z of stuff I want to think about/write about/read about/play with in the next year. A - Awakened!I'm thinking up some ideas for a D&D character that's been awakened by the spell. I haven't decided yet if … Continue reading Late to A-Z April 2021 Part I
State of Republic
So, a long, long time ago, when I lived in a different country that's not so far away, I wrote a post about running a D&D game in a Roman-style Republic. I've referenced it a few times in recent months. That last one is probably where this new idea was formed. There, and with my … Continue reading State of Republic
Out West – a game of twenty questions
Another post in the series to flesh out settings, this time we're heading to the Weird West. I've done grumpy dwarf and helpful citizen, this time I'll be a grizzled antihero, like half the folk in the setting. What is the deal with my cleric's religion?You tell me, greenhorn. You worship one of the old … Continue reading Out West – a game of twenty questions
Sky Island Saga – a game of twenty questions
Another in the series of using twenty questions to bump up the setting information - this time we're looking at my swashbuckling romantic fantasy setting, Sky Island Saga. Last time I was a grumpy old dwarf, this time, I'll be a more helpful citizen of a Freehold. Hello traveller, new to the skies? You must … Continue reading Sky Island Saga – a game of twenty questions
Dream settings II – Inspired by others
I went to my drafts folder and found the prompt from my Dream Settings post still sat there waiting, which was odd because I was sure I'd edited the original post previously.Yeah, strange. So I started rewriting the post and then realised it all felt familiar.Here's some stuff I didn't cover last time though. As … Continue reading Dream settings II – Inspired by others
Frostpunk – a game of twenty questions
I was digging around on Dungeons and Possums again, and came across a post that references one from Jeff Rients back in 2011.Now, whatever you think of Jeff Rients (I'm no real fan based on certain views), I think these questions will be useful to flesh out some details in my newer homebrew settings. So, … Continue reading Frostpunk – a game of twenty questions
Draft One Page Campaign Opener – Beyond the Pale
Centuries ago, the good people of the Commonwealth took ownership over the lands of the Pale by conquest and divine right. In the ensuing time, life has been good both for the people of the Commonwealth and the locals, with both seeing great strides in the cause of civilisation. Unfortunately, there are still those who … Continue reading Draft One Page Campaign Opener – Beyond the Pale
RPGaDay 2020 prompt 21 – Push
I'm debating adding some push and pull roleplaying mechanics into D&D. I've talked a bit about this kind of thing before, but I think I can actually make it work this time. Pretty easy really - I want to give players the option of an Inspiration system that takes a cue from FATE points, so … Continue reading RPGaDay 2020 prompt 21 – Push
Draft One Page Campaign Opener – Frostpunk
"The old story goes that the world was once a garden, pleasant and mild, neither too hot nor too cold, and at this time all of the peoples of the world were created.This ain't that world no more. Two great powers rose, and fought, one led by the God of Winter, one by the Goddess … Continue reading Draft One Page Campaign Opener – Frostpunk
Dungeons and Dragons Session Zero for 2020
I brought this up a couple of times during the RPGaDay 2019 prompts, but I need to actively plan my next DM session zero, whenever it might be, and think about what I want to bring to it. First and foremost, let's talk about the big topic going around at the moment - fantasy races.I … Continue reading Dungeons and Dragons Session Zero for 2020
A couple of additions
I've added a couple of pages to the site over the last little while - Firstly, a list of additional material to be used when I'm building Planescape games, on top of all of the official stuff written in the 1990s. I'll be adding to this as I go, and I'm thinking about what other … Continue reading A couple of additions
Late to the party: RPGaDay 2019 prompt 13
"Mystery" OK, so I'm terrible at writing mysteries in adventures. I either write them in such a way that only I get them, or they're really obvious. I have yet to find a happy middle ground. I do, however, love to play a good mystery game. Missing persons, kidnapped persons, treasure hunts with various clues, … Continue reading Late to the party: RPGaDay 2019 prompt 13
Planescape IV – draft rules for Factions part 2 – Doomguard
Time for one of the longest posts I've written! OK, so let's design some new Faction rules.We'll start with a look at the Doomguard, because I think this one is pretty easy - when we look at the rules from the Planescape Boxed set anyway. Eligibility: All races and alignments accepted - but not clerics … Continue reading Planescape IV – draft rules for Factions part 2 – Doomguard
Draft One Page Campaign Opener – Invasion from the Netherverse
High school. Jocks, nerds, cheerleaders, outcasts. Study for the test, write essays, detention.Oh, and monsters walking the streets at night. It all started with some of the kids having fun and messing with an old book they found in grandma’s attic. Soon enough, someone says ‘Klaatu Barada Nantucket’ and we lose our job at the … Continue reading Draft One Page Campaign Opener – Invasion from the Netherverse
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