The practical arts and methods applied to gamemastering.
11
votes
8answers
493 views
GMing an unorthodox setting the players know NOTHING about
Just a while back, there has been a question concerning GMing a setting the players know better than the GM. Now, let me ask you sort of an inverse of that question. I.e. how to introduce and ...
11
votes
6answers
572 views
How can I make my adventures more bard-inclusive?
For whatever reason, it seems that no one in my campaigns ever chooses to play a bard. I am beginning to wonder if it has something to do with the adventures I construct as our game's DM. These ...
11
votes
5answers
465 views
What is a challenge to a Perfect character?
Solars are Perfect at whatever skills they choose to develop and use. This doesn't make the job of the storyteller easy. Perfect in this case means a charm that allows them to avoid a roll entirely ...
11
votes
5answers
302 views
How can I stop a large level disparity from being a problem?
In my campaign, my players each have several different characters at the home base. Every session, they pick which one they want to play. However, some players always use the same one and so have more ...
11
votes
4answers
426 views
Is there a reason to ignore/adjust the Wealth By Level chart?
While reading this
Cohort Question I was kinda struck by a quote in there and instead of asking an unrelated question in that area I figured it would be good to make a separate question.
The quote ...
11
votes
3answers
240 views
Does an emissary of power HAVE to be known?
The Emissary of power power states that people recognize you as the arbiter of the entity that gave you the power. Could you play it though as if the entity of the power is unknown, and not easily ...
11
votes
5answers
328 views
Variants of letting players shop for items
During a game (at least during DnD), there always comes a time when characters need to re-supply, sell stuff, and buy or upgrade their items. I've seen a couple of different variations of how to do ...
11
votes
6answers
202 views
Rebalancing Experience Point Totals?
Say that through legal game play some player characters have gained a lot more XP than others. Should the referee take steps to rebalance the player characters, or just let it go as it is part of the ...
11
votes
8answers
438 views
How much plot guidance is too much?
I've played in many games that were extremely railroaded. There was basically only one feasible course of action and we, as players, were expected to take that route. (The GM would get very upset if ...
11
votes
4answers
621 views
How do I run a maze scenario without using a map?
Inspired by a question on another site, what's the best way to add a labyrinth to an adventure scenario without making the challenges contingent upon player skill at mapping or navigation?
I'd like ...
11
votes
4answers
302 views
How would you play test an RPG before all of its rules are complete?
I've been writing my own RPG, mainly to address some of the flaws / frustrations I've come across in other games. Luckily, I've found a few willing participants to help test the rules and mechanics in ...
11
votes
3answers
262 views
Stopping rule questions from overrunning encounters
A common problem I observe is that the players start flooding the GM with questions regarding rules during an encounter (within and outside their respective turns). From the perspective of a GM, how ...
11
votes
3answers
1k views
New GM Advice - How to best use an Adventure Path
I'm new to tabletop RPGs (although I have been interested for a long time, just had difficulty finding like-minded companions, and the funds required to get some of the stuff).
When I was finally ...
11
votes
2answers
233 views
Tasks for a split party
I'm running a 4th ed game, but I don't think that makes a difference in this case. Last session my party decided to split up for a couple tasks. The hybrid bard/rogue and the avenger (affectionately ...
11
votes
5answers
477 views
What can be done to encourage players/character to use rituals more?
An on going issue I have is with my players is that they leave a very large amount of power untapped in the arsenal of things they can do, namely rituals.
As a DM I use them all the time, but the ...
11
votes
4answers
221 views
Building a sense of desperation
For a GUMSHOE game I want to build up the suspense through the more subtle, but very effective, buildup of a sense of desperation. This is a medical drama and the characters will be in quarantine. I’m ...
11
votes
3answers
265 views
Are there tips on reconciling the playing differences in this group?
My Werewolf game is going along quite swimmingly to the point that the players will ask that I keep the server (We play using maptools) open so they can discuss the plotline for hours after each ...
11
votes
4answers
303 views
Adding comic relief
As a GM, I would like to add comic relief to my sessions.
Comic relief is the inclusion of a humorous character, scene or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work, often to relieve tension.
...
11
votes
5answers
345 views
How to deal with intimidating amount of rules in Shadowrun
I started to read about Shadowrun as a setting and I'm currently reading the rules and they are really intimidating. There's a lot to know as a player since every aspect of the game as it's own set of ...
11
votes
6answers
210 views
How can I add underworld intrigue to my Dresden Files game?
In D&D/Pathfinder/RIFTS/Shadowrun-type games I've played in the past, corrupt nobles/merchants, thieves' guilds, megacorps, ancient evils, and various religions with a flakey axe to grind were all ...
11
votes
5answers
397 views
How do I encourage player-GM storytelling collaboration without “breaking” my game?
I've DM/GM'd for several gaming groups, young and old, and have found that one of the things that separates my younger players from older players is their eagerness to elaborate/collaborate in the ...
11
votes
6answers
215 views
How to introduce item descriptions
One of the things that I dislike when running a session is how a great majority of the items are bland - a short sword is a short sword, a bow is a bow, an arrow is an arrow.
After sitting on it for ...
11
votes
8answers
266 views
Using Boardgames or Card Games to improve GMing or Playing [closed]
Do you know of any cases of successfully using props or cards from board games/card games (all kinds) to run a campaign, ease preparing for a session or the playing itself?
I am interested both in ...
11
votes
2answers
251 views
Tips for keeping track of NPC stats and conditions
Is there a good paper based solution to keep track of NPC stats so they are avaliable when you need them in-game but don't take hours to keep up to date?
I have a bunch of NPC notes and lists of ...
11
votes
4answers
297 views
Maintaining balance with a very large group
I played DnD 3.5 while in the military and due to a shortage of DMs, was constantly flooded by players. Some of my games would include up to 10 or 11. I discovered quickly that balancing for this in ...
11
votes
1answer
249 views
How do I handle someone who never ever wants to pull?
I am getting ready to host my first game of Dread and the question that is really bugging me is what happens if a player (and I have one in mind) absolutely refuses to pull every single time?
Dread ...
10
votes
10answers
829 views
Is It OK To Sic Assassins On My PCs?
L5R has the most specific example in my immediate memory. In one game, the players were in a diplomatic situation and a Shosuro Shinobi (ninja) was sneaking around to stir the pot. This was a ...
10
votes
7answers
429 views
Ending combat: should I “kill” monsters prematurely?
Out of time constraints (my group can generally only meet for 3-4 hours every other week), as a GM I frequently find myself prematurely "killing" off monsters when it seems clear to me that the ...
10
votes
6answers
666 views
How do I pick monsters of appropriate CR for parties with superior armour?
As background, my low-level PCs managed to come into a "king's ransom's" worth of cash (due to poor planning on my part as DM, I'll admit) and now have purchased armour/enchantments that give them ...
10
votes
4answers
197 views
Introducing Guest-Stars in Ongoing Campaigns
I've got a situation I'm dealing with tonight and that I've dealt with before, but I've never had rpg.se to ask about it. So here goes:
Are there any tried-and-true methods for dealing with ...
10
votes
4answers
209 views
Do I need to stat out & measure everything?
I am preparing a session that contains a fair amount of absurdity. Many of the creatures and situations that my players will encounter will probably not be encountered again.
On the one hand, I know ...
10
votes
3answers
256 views
Dealing with a disgruntled player leaving my campaign
So I've been running a game of Shadowrun over the internet for the past few weeks online, and I've had a hectic personal schedule, so I haven't been able to do lengthy sessions. I've got a player who ...
10
votes
5answers
303 views
How can I create a more serious atmosphere when playing with siblings?
At our gaming table the players are always making jokes, and some make nonsense noises for some strange reason. My players generally act like hooligans.
Getting a new group is not an option – they're ...
10
votes
3answers
186 views
Is buying game ebooks practical?
I am looking into buying some game rules books as ebooks, but I want to know if anyone else has done this. Ebooks/PDFs are cheaper and easier to get, but I am wondering if that is worth the trade off ...
10
votes
2answers
156 views
Any advice for writing a historically accurate adventure?
I have some players who are requesting that I write some historical adventures. However, I am having a bit of a hard time keeping things historically accurate while still allowing there to be things ...
10
votes
3answers
386 views
How can I emulate TV Shows with only 2-3 main characters?
I watch a lot of TV. Probably too much.
Shows like Buffy the vampire slayer and Firefly have a whole slew of characters, which is perfect for a gaming party as you fill in the slots to the point you ...
10
votes
2answers
448 views
How can characters with low Fighting and Shooting contribute in combat?
I've run a few rounds of Savage Worlds, and I like the quick character generation and minimal bookkeeping. I'm a little frustrated with a phenomenon which is hardly unique to the system: in combat, ...
10
votes
4answers
184 views
How do you handle the use of unrelated skills in the Dresden Files?
Back into the breach with our weekly Dresden Files game, and because of the lapse in time between sessions/people missing as much as anything else, I had some unique situations occur.
One of the ones ...
10
votes
5answers
307 views
How to go from a humorous campaign to a more serious one?
I am currently running a D&D 4E game. The game started off kind of goofy (we have a thrikreen rogue with glowing blonde hair, an ale-obsessed dwarf battlemind, a ditzy human wizard, and a dwarf ...
10
votes
1answer
267 views
Do you have to reveal your NPC's aspects?
Important NPCs may have hidden aspects that PCs are supposed to assess somehow before using them: can such a NPC invoke one of his hidden aspects without the GM revealing it to the players?
Example:
...
10
votes
1answer
533 views
Resources for 3D printable RPG props?
I would like to introduce more map-based props (figures, terrain, obstacles, etc.) into my game. In particular, I'd like to be able to use a 3D printer to make props specific to whatever encounters a ...
9
votes
6answers
502 views
How can I introduce twists to the setting without asking the players
I'm starting a new game tomorrow and I'd like to throw something unusual at my players. The setting is a typical Tolkien-esque setting and the players are aware of that..but I'd like to introduce ...
9
votes
5answers
396 views
How Can I Make Supplies Matter In D&D 3.5e?
On long journeys we always forget to track supplies so I am looking for a way to make supplies actually matter in D&D 3.5.
9
votes
3answers
473 views
How do I deal with two players who dislike each other and disrupt the game?
I have lately had a problem with some players in a campaign I am running. Basically, they don't get on well together, for various reasons. I don't really understand it, but then again, I am looking in ...
9
votes
12answers
498 views
How do I design a Christmas-themed horror adventure?
'Tis soon the season and I want to treat my players to a Christmas-themed adventure as part of my ongoing horror campaign. I want to keep the horror element, but I don't mind mixing in a bit of humor ...
9
votes
9answers
400 views
How can I speed up combat with a large number of enemies?
I'm DMing for a campaign where the player characters will sometimes face small squads of creatures, most recently six ground troops and two archers helping out. In this setting, these creatures ...
9
votes
11answers
772 views
How to mitigate glass cannon syndrome in Pathfinder?
This is the more gamey part of my other question, What to do when your character is just too good?
In D&D 3.5e and Pathfinder, damage output grows very, very quickly. Much more quickly than hit ...
9
votes
6answers
245 views
What are the pitfalls when swapping characters between players?
I have a plot hook that I want to use where the entire player character team gets gassed and wake up feeling "different". I want to simulate that by swapping characters between the players for one ...
9
votes
4answers
346 views
How to make spell components relevant again?
The spell components mechanic has always seemed a bit ham-fistedly handled in D&D since 2nd edition. What should be an interesting way of defining a wizard generally becomes "I have my pouch" and ...
9
votes
4answers
187 views
How can a GM aid switching between the immersion and the meta level?
In recent adventures, I've often employed and supported using the meta level (i.e. thinking, joking and referencing about the game's contents with reference to our cultural context) for everyone's ...
