Category: Off the Wall (Random Stuff)
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Writing a Players’ Guide for your Game
A great campaign starts long before the first die is cast. I’ve learned that the “Guide” is your most powerful tool for setting the tone.
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Cubicles and Careers
As I struggle with some sudden health issues and work craziness – I offer this in lieu of my usual Thursday post: Cubicles & Careers Funny times!
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Player Technology Part 3 – Dice Rollers
Can a software dice roller really replace the clack of plastic on a table? Back when Fudge dice were the “system less traveled,” I put three digital rollers to the test. While the apps have changed, the criteria for a good digital tool remain the same: Usability, Playability, and Functionality.
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How to play FATE Core
Looking back at the archive, I found this gem from a period where our regular games were on hiatus. If you’ve ever wondered about the mechanics behind the Dresden Files RPG or just want to see how other systems handle “Collaborative Storytelling,” this video is the gold standard.
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A long delay…
… sorry about that. Game has been canceled the last few weeks for personal issues, business trips and vacations so I haven’t yet had a chance to actually test out any of the dice roller software that I’ve promised to review in my next post. I’m hard at work in…
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Player Technology Part 2 – Character Building Software
Hero Lab, PCGen, or the humble spreadsheet? Back in our D20 and D6 days, finding the right digital character sheet was a high-stakes mission. Here’s how the heavy hitters of character tech stacked up when I put them to the test.
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Game Master Tip – Keeping their attention.
Being a GM is a lot like running a business meeting, but with more goblins. If you don’t engage your “team” every seven minutes, you’re going to lose them to the “Apathy Monster”—or worse, cat pictures on Facebook. Here is how I keep the table focused and the action moving.
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Player Technology Part 1 – The Cloud
Gone are the days of the “designated gaming backpack” stuffed with folders and loose-leaf paper. I put Evernote, Dropbox, and Google Drive to the test to see which cloud service could actually handle the chaos of a live game table.
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Player Tip Series #1 – Technology at the Game Table
I make no secret of the fact that I don’t like technology at the game table. But after a year of hauling around a ‘designated gaming backpack’ overflowing with paper, I’m putting my minimalist pride on the line. Can a vintage Nook and an old HTC Inspire make me a…