Ok, so we’ve established the basics of RPGs. A GM, a group of players. Usually dice, pencils, only one rubber, paper, rulebooks (or e-readers). Depending on whose house it is, some degree of refreshments. However, there are extras, some particular to different GMs, some to different styles of play. Soundtracks we’ve mentioned before, getting more … More Gimmicks

Following on with my nuts and bolts look at RPGing, there is one particular thing GMs struggle with (well, I know I do), and that’s the plot idea. This is clearly a universal problem – if you look at films coming out, you can’t fail to see they’re running out of ideas. Follow-ons, remakes, even … More Inspiration

It’s funny, I imagine most people’s idea of a role-player, aside from all the unflattering (and often true) stereotypes does not include someone who follows the rules. By role-playing, which generally puts you outside normal society, you are somewhat of a rebel. Not as fashionable as a punk, perhaps, but still a rebel. The truth … More RULES

Continuing my articles about the nuts and bolts of role-playing, I’ve gone topical. Campaigns are generally the big guns of RPGs, they’re the things you always remember. A good campaign leaves a proud GM, and a group of players wanting more. A campaign is not just a group of sessions, for instance my cyberpunk cops, … More The campaign trail…

Continuing my irregular discourses on the mechanics of role-playing, I’m taking a brave step. We’ve established that GMs can put a huge amount of work into their games, for you, their players, to enjoy. My question is, what can you as a player do, to recognise this. It’s brave,as this is one of those things … More How to make your GM happy

This basically follows on from my last piece, which sort of left us at a very small cliff-hangar of creating a new system. Clearly that’s what I did. I had a few basic wants. I wanted a generic fantasy system such as is found in literature or films (at least partly inspired by the late … More Grey Anatomy…

The thing about role-playing, is as you go on, trying new systems, new expansions, it’s clear no system is perfect. The first proper system I tried was Tunnels and Trolls, which glories in some of the best weapon tables you’ll find. Then when you play another fantasy system, you’re wondering why they’ve only got 2 … More Create…

I may be running vaguely parallel to the other bloke here, in still discussing GMing games. Given that I’m writing about RPGs, there’s a limited field here. So, GMing, the art of running a role-playing game for the enjoyment and satisfaction of your group. Ok, there are a hell of a lot of RPGs, lots … More Similar but not the same…

OK, as we’ve previously gathered on this series of ramblings, we’ve been doing this a long time. Sure, some people along the way have ‘grown out of it’, but not us. It led me thinking, is gaming changing with technology, and if so, is that a good thing? When I started out, it was paper, … More The future’s bright…

EXPLANATORY NOTE – GM = GAME MASTER, PERSON WHO RUNS THE SESSION,CAMPAIGN,ETC, OK? GMing. A specialist part of a specialist hobby. If you’ve got to be ‘different’ to role-play, you’ve got to be especially so to want to actually run a game. On first thought, it can sound great. You are god, you control everything. … More The perils of being a GM (or what’s the point)