I hope this doesn't come off as, "get off my lawn, you whippersnappers." I'm a middle-aged gamer who cut my teeth on the D&D box sets of the 80s. I also love a lot of modern games. But I've noticed something of a trend that - while not necessarily a bad thing - tends to …
Category: Game Design
A Few Thoughts on Failure
RPGs are abstract. Sure, some are more “simulationist” than others but there is always an abstract quality to a game that involves mechanics alongside, “tell a cooperative story.” Because RPGs are abstract, you end up with a lot of discussions (and arguments) over things like, “What do Hit Points actually represent?” One area that has …
Diceless to “Now with Dice”
So, a project that I've been working on for a while is finally coming to fruition. In the next couple of weeks I expect to run my first playtesting sessions of a new game I've created. I'll admit, the idea of doing it is kinda melting my brain - because I'll never actually be ready, …
Finite Worlds & the Escalation Mentality
I recently made the mistake of reading the Batman: Metal storyline. My review is straightforward; it was awful. But it got me further thinking about a problem that I have with storytelling in general. Mainly, I suppose, it would be fair to say – Serial Storytelling. Look at D&D. From the time of BECMI, the …
Changes in Attitudes: Dice and Play
I want to expand on some thinking I did after my post about Charisma checks. One of the things that I touched on was the concept of how the dice were used; specifically my comments about old school D&D play and the rulings vs. rules concept. One thing that is important to remember in that …
Game Design is Frustration
I know we all like to complain about the game design of our "favorites" but I'm not here to downplay anyone else's work... I'm here to sympathize. Working out the specifics of a game is maddening. Ever since I moved away from supporting the Adventurer Conqueror King System, I've had this hole in my life …
Charisma = Backwards?
I recently came across the video - Charisma Checks in Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition are TOTALLY BACKWARDS - from Taking20. I don't know much about the channel but they sometimes pop up in my Youtube recommendations and this one caught my eye. One of the really relevant sections starts at about 3:25 when he …
