There are an infinite ways to respond to another infinite number of inputs; neither you or I want to see an article that long so…. Let me start by abstracting things completely (well almost). Whenever a player affects play, as a gamemaster, you have basically two choices, indulge or contest. (I believe you can work [...]

In the first part of this article, I explained how to put on your ‘gamemastering cap’ and look at the complications in your game. This time I’ll talk about how to manage those complications deliberately…to have fun! Life is So Complicated Forget micro-managing your game or its complications. The players are going to throw things [...]

See the second part of this article when you finish I hope you don’t mind if I mangle an olde Shakespearean aphorism…well more of an antimetabole. This is at the heart of the con-game known as gamemastering. “You must avoid the Control of Illusion to have the Illusion of Control.” — Fang Langford Now I [...]

It is having fascinating world, scenarios and characters? Being able improvise, but not railroad? Perhaps if one lets players act whenever / however they like? I’m a big proponent for keeps things moving; is that it? Maybe a perfect gamemaster can handle a split party with perfectly equal spotlight time? Memorizes all the rules? Is [...]

Lately, I’ve been working on the Scattershot presents: Advanced Mechanics, ‘Naked’ Playtest Edition for Scattershot as a relentless drive towards getting playtesting started. Gnome Stew recently mentioned some of my seminal work on game (and character) design. Excerpt: Advanced Mechanics, ‘Naked’ Playtest Edition Solitaire Play Solitaire play is when you play apart from your group. [...]