Roleplay Rescue

Following the first official complaint, I've decided this is to be the last GM's Journal for a while. I've compiled this week's ramblings as usual but, well... you know the drill. It's raw, rough, and all pretty much a mess of random thoughts. Enjoy!

I don’t know why I keep collecting RPGs but I think it’s probably something that most gamers indulge in. Even if you’re not gaming, owning and reading gorgeous books is a big part of the hobby. Other than Dungeons & Dragons, what other great adventure games should we consider playing?  In Season 2, I did an episode asking that same question and shared my thoughts on five games that have had a big impact on me over the last 35 or so years. As that went down quite well, I’ve decided to share my thoughts on three more games that I believe are very much worthy of your attention. Useful Links: Game #1: chaosium.com/basic-roleplaying/ Game #2: trolllord.com/tlgstore/#!/Amazing-Adventures/c/11639154/ Game #3: necroticgnome.com/collections/old-school-essentials Show Contact Details: Voice Message Me: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/message Email Me: hello@rpgrescue.com MeWe Page: mewe.com/page/5c077833bce33a3fe7dd7f04 (or search "Roleplay Rescue") Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue/ (or search "Roleplay Rescue") Patreon: patreon.com/rpgrescue Roleplay Rescue Quicklink: rpgrescue.com

Another mash-up of personal Gamemastering journal entries and awesome call-ins from across the community. This has been one of the hardest weeks of the year so far but also one in which I think I got the most gaming. As ever, it's raw and rough stuff so you have been warned! If you want to read the solo game report from Sunday, find it here: ubiquitousrat.net/?p=5047

Today’s episode builds on my earlier discussions about building a dungeon adventure and generally about getting started as a GM. To keep things simple, I’m going to assume we are building a fantasy roleplaying experience - largely because that’s the most popular genre out there. Along the way, I hope to begin to touch on how building a sandbox goes a long way towards pulling together all the theory on game structures and how to make life easy as a GM long-term. Useful Links: Alexander Macris, “Arbiter of Worlds”: amazon.co.uk/Arbiter-Worlds-Gamemasters-Alexander-Macris The Angry GM, "Game Angry": theangrygm.com/gameangry D&D 1983 Expert Set: drivethrurpg.com/product/116581/Dungeons--Dragons-Expert-Set-Rulebook-BECMI-ed-Basic Old-School Essentials by Necrotic Gnome: necroticgnome.com/collections/old-school-essentials Tim Shorts of Gothridge Manor: gothridgemanor.com   Show Contact Details: Voice Message Me: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/message Email Me: hello@rpgrescue.com MeWe Page: mewe.com/page/5c077833bce33a3fe7dd7f04 (or search "Roleplay Rescue") Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue/ (or search "Roleplay Rescue") Patreon: patreon.com/rpgrescue Roleplay Rescue Quicklink: rpgrescue.com

Witterings, call-ins and replies, and more ramblings from my addled GM brain. As ever, it's another selection of audio journal entries from my own gaming experience. Listen at your peril!

I talked about Savage Worlds back in Season 2, Episode 6 when I spoke about Five Games that I’d recommend everyone at least take a good look at. With my recent focus on creating a multi-genre campaign, something which I believe Savage Worlds would excel at delivering, I decided to talk to someone whose been not just using the game but also writing for it. Frank Turfler been playing tabletop RPGs for at least 35 years and is the voice behind Frank T’s Liner Notes, an Anchor podcast in which he shares what he’s up to with Print and Paste Tabletop Terrain, Techniques, Theory, and other things Tabletop RPG related. Frank creates modular tile-sets that can be printed and assembled in just about any configuration to match the encounter you need, and he releases these through his Patreon. Frank also offers his work through DriveThruRPG under the Middle Kingdoms Adventure & Trading Company. A percentage of all proceeds from his titles goes to the Phoenix Children's Hospital Foundation, which has care centers all across Arizona, USA.  Useful Links: Frank T's Liner Notes: anchor.fm/FrankT Frank T's Patreon: patreon.com/FrankT Savage Worlds: peginc.com/product-category/savage-worlds   Show Contact Details: Voice Message Me: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/message Email Me: hello@rpgrescue.com MeWe Page: mewe.com/page/5c077833bce33a3fe7dd7f04 (or search "Roleplay Rescue") Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue/ (or search "Roleplay Rescue") Patreon: patreon.com/rpgrescue Roleplay Rescue Quicklink: rpgrescue.com

This is the second instalment of GM's Journal this week in which I dribble on about Arcana Gravitas, get a couple more call-ins, and then begin to work out how to get started with writing that genre-bending multi-setting campaign idea. Following advice from Evil Jeff, I figure out which generic and universal roleplaying game I'd like to use and set to. There's even a little bit of self-play going on... if that doesn't sound too dodgy. 

This one's a bonus bonus episode, so to speak. I rambled on quite a bit over the past few days and was afraid that the next Journal would end up being too long. Given that I was racking up a few good call-ins too, I decided to throw together the next instalment of the Journal early. With luck, you'll enjoy the content and I'll still have enough for a regular episode later in the week too. Game on! 

In Season 1 we explored two major game structures that have stood the test of time: the Dungeoncrawl and the Hexcrawl. Ever since the release of The Chaosium’s “Call of Cthulhu” roleplaying game in 1981, there entered a third major game structure into the annuls of RPG play. Today, I want to have a look at this third structure and outline how you can incorporate Mystery into your games.  Useful Links: The Call of Cthulhu RPG: chaosium.com/call-of-cthulhu-rpg The Alexandrian Gamemastery 101 series: thealexandrian.net/gamemastery-101 Look for "The Three Clue Rule" + "Don't Prep Plots" + "Node-Based Scenario Design". The Angry GM's, "Game Angry": theangrygm.com/gameangry   Show Contact Details: Voice Message Me: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/message Email Me: hello@rpgrescue.com MeWe Page: mewe.com/page/5c077833bce33a3fe7dd7f04 (or search "Roleplay Rescue") Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue/ (or search "Roleplay Rescue") Patreon: patreon.com/rpgrescue Roleplay Rescue Quicklink: rpgrescue.com

What a turbulent week! Full of challenges and essentially draining both mine and my wife's energy. I don't know how I've made it but here I am. Still breathing and very grateful for the journey. Not sure what you'll make of my sparse journal entries this week but maybe there's something of value hidden in there. As always, bear in mind this is raw and stitched together quick clips from throughout my week rather than a polished episode. Game on! 

I am stepping off into the wilds. I am going to talk about the game that I really want to run and I am going to invite you to do the same. This episode is filled with contentious statements and provocative claims. Take it as you like. Even I’m not sure how serious I am about doing this, but I am keen to share the idea. There’s a game that I REALLY want to run. It’s not something that everyone else around me necessarily wants me to run. It’s the game that I want. The world that excites me. That makes me want to get out of bed and start writing. Do you want to know more?   Show Contact Details: Voice Message Me: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/message Email Me: hello@rpgrescue.com MeWe Page: mewe.com/page/5c077833bce33a3fe7dd7f04 (or search "Roleplay Rescue") Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue/ (or search "Roleplay Rescue") Patreon: patreon.com/rpgrescue Roleplay Rescue Quicklink: rpgrescue.com

This episode was largely recorded during the school break when I was off work for a week. It's a mash-up of two elements: the usual ups and downs of my own life as a GM plus a whole bunch of lovely call-ins from listeners who had something to say about losing momentum, the last episode's key moment. There are some heart-felt replies to my question as to whether I am alone in this problem. Clearly, I am not. Thank you to everyone who called in and shared their own perspective on the question of maintaining positive momentum!

Janet Forbes is the Director of World Anvil, a purveyor of world-building advice, a singer, writer of novels and worshipper of cats. Based in London, England, Janet and her husband Dimitris lead a small team in the development of an online set of tools specifically designed for world-building. She is the face of World Anvil on Youtube where she presents an excellent series of tutorials and advice on, you guessed it, building worlds. Check out World Anvil: worldanvil.com   Show Contact Details: Voice Message Me: anchor.fm/rpgrescue/message Email Me: hello@rpgrescue.com MeWe Page: mewe.com/page/5c077833bce33a3fe7dd7f04 (or search "Roleplay Rescue") Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue/ (or search "Roleplay Rescue") Patreon: patreon.com/rpgrescue Roleplay Rescue Quicklink: rpgrescue.com

Another week of random thoughts from my GM's Journal. The main topic is momentum and how to lose it. There's also an unboxing in there plus a wonderful surprise from a Roleplay Rescue supporter. Lots to ponder... as long as you don't mind the raw, rambling peek into my inner life as a gamer. Enjoy!

Do you remember when Frank T called in and asked me about my choice of system for our fantasy roleplaying game? Frank’s getting his wish today because I wanted to respond to the question and didn’t feel like I could do it justice in just a short reply. Thus, I’ve decided to sit down with a few notes and share my thoughts on why I chose Castles & Crusades for my new fantasy adventure campaign. Useful Links: Troll Lord Games: trolllord.com TLG Online Store: www.trolllord.com/tlgstore/#!/Castles-&-Crusades/ Show Contact Details: Roleplay Rescue Quicklink: rpgrescue.com Email Me: hello@rpgrescue.com MeWe Page: mewe.com/page/5c077833bce33a3fe7dd7f04 (or search "Roleplay Rescue") Facebook Page: facebook.com/roleplayrescue/ (or search "Roleplay Rescue") Patreon: patreon.com/rpgrescue