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On the Move!
Well, I've finally taken the plunge. I've been spreading myself far too thinly for a long time, so I'm bringing all my points of access into one location ( Read more... ) -
An Idea I've Been Toying With.
To me all role-playing games are a matter of exploring the self. This removes one major layer involved in enjoying narratives. There is no interpretation. In the common linear narrative, you must identify with some character in order to decode or interpret the message of the thing; what happens to them informs how you look at yourself ( Read more... ) -
A Fresh Start? Naw....
While I've been struggling with Scattershot presents: Universe 6 (SpU6), thinks¹ have been roiling around in my mind ( Read more... ) -
Downtime
Just dropping a note to let you know. I'm taking some time off to focus on a huge project.
I finally solved (finished designing) Scattershot!
I plan to begin drafting yesterday (actually I did). If you want to keep up with this development, you can start by heading over to it's development blog.
Look for big things soon!
F
p.s. The simplest way I ( Read more... ) -
Why Can’t Gamemasters Play the Rules?
Ever notice?
Ever notice that in most typical role-playing games there simply are no rules that the gamemaster must follow. In fact, there is a sad lack of rules for them at all.
Why is that?
I’m thinking it is because the mentality where the game system stands in for physics when it comes to the preternatural. It would follow that, as the figure of ( Read more... ) -
Typically Speaking
Okay to put this back together and see what we get out of it.... In order to have a common starting point, I'll talk strictly about typical play happening almost everywhere since the late '70s ( Read more... ) -
Complicated Spotlighting
Some designers use the idea of 'adversity' in setting up games. Typical gamemasters are supposed to craft and throw adversity at their players. That'd be interesting, except these games also instruct to adjust this adversity to what the players can handle. So how is it adverse? If it's too much, it shuts down the players (and likely their fun ( Read more... ) -
Spotlighting II
In the early days, typical games were set up so the gamemaster (GM) shared his milieu with the players. The typical basis was one of discovery and that required the unknown. Typically, the unknown was permitted knowledge only for the GM (even when some of its origin was with the player or players ( Read more... ) -
How About a Change?
The ground covered by the Lumpley Principle is well trod. But what if it isn't the center of your game theory? What if the whole idea of apportioning 'credibility' and the conflict over whose 'turn' it is, doesn't fit your ideal at all ( Read more... ) -
Mode Clash: the Root of the In Character (IC) / Out of Character (OoC) 'Problem?'
I'm sorry about how picky this sounds, but I thought I might open this up for consideration. I got the idea from a blog about user interfacesYou've probably heard it before; I've heard it everywhere. Sometimes you even see it in the rulebook. Some kind of rules or suggestion that all talk at the table is IC. Or to limit OoC talk. Or advice to ( Read more... )