NPCs
Roleplaying
NPCs are an essential part of every game, but managing them can be a real chore, especially in longer campaigns. In the early sessions, none of the players know who your NPCs are. By the end, your NPCs have developed so much it’s hard to … read more »
Podcast
Oren, Chris, and Mike discuss making NPCs that are helpful to the game. They share tips on how to save time making them, how to use them to better develop the PCs, and what not to do if you want players to like them. Read more »
Roleplaying
You have your gaming group assembled, your basic materials at hand, and you’re ready to start gaming. As a GM and a storyteller, you might feel like jumping straight into the plot lines that will define your campaign, but it’s best to ease into that. … read more »
Roleplaying
Many GMs are familiar with the struggle of writing a one-shot adventure. Unlike a long running campaign, you will not have multiple sessions to develop elements that make successful roleplaying adventures: immersive settings, meaningful characters, and strong player motivations. To get your players invested in … read more »
Roleplaying
As a game master, you want to regularly introduce new enemies into the adventure. When players know that they’ve faced (and defeated) a particular monster before, you run the risk of your game feeling more like level grinding than the epic saga you planned. But … read more »
Roleplaying
I’ve spoken before about how to go about running a game where the PCs never stray too far from home, and now it’s time to talk about the exact opposite. This is the sort of game where the PCs bounce all over the map, perhaps … read more »
Roleplaying
The party leader is the Captain Kirk, Malcom Reynolds, or Gandalf (maybe Aragorn, depending on when you are in the wizard resurrection cycle) of your group. They are at least nominally in charge and the one who provides direction. They often end up making decisions … read more »
Roleplaying
Your players will spend a great deal of time interacting with the non-player characters. The unpredictable nature of running an adventure means that you will be improvising NPCs as often as not. Fortunately, making them up on the spot becomes easy with practice. Read more »
Roleplaying
The idea of a campaign that takes place almost entirely in one area is a strange one to many game masters. A stationary story presents a list of new demands on the GM, but it also creates new opportunities. It allows the players to really … read more »
