Learning Children of a Dead Earth Orbital Mechanics and Phasing.
Children of a Dead Earth was about 1usd because of the steam Summer sale. So I got it. Unlike Kerbal, I KNOW I can skip to the Orbital mechanics and…
Read more →Category: Back to Basics
Methodology Upgrade: Formula, Definitions, Example, and Anki Deck
I updated the Gaming List document to be more actionable. Basically i now added a methodology section as to state how it go about it. My methodology improvement is inspired by…
Read more →My notes in using Zones
Zones (in Fate SRD) is a method of handling the location of a scenario or scene. Instead of working with precise details instead we work with abstract details and we try…
Read more →Session, Act, Scene, and Player Scene.
I’ve come to a better understanding of Pacing, Acts, Scenes and Player Scene after analysing my problem solving techniques, Odyssey – the Complete Guide to Campaign Management, Never Unprepared and having…
Read more →Running GURPS more Narratively
If you want to have less rolls, or probably no rolls as a GM in GURPS here are my notes. One roll per Player Scene. This is the design principle…
Read more →Back to Basics – Occasion to Roll
The occasion to roll is one of those ambiguous elements in TRPGs. I recently thought about some Project Management techniques in a different way that lead me to having more…
Read more →Narrative Mass Combat: Part 2 – Applying Groupings and using Economies of Defense
This post is for GMs who want to tackle mass combat or scale the game at the level of armies and states. Strategikon and the Art of War has rules…
Read more →Back to basics : exploring the fears to enhance immersion
Fear in war should be better explored. There is Fear of the enemy, fear of… … the minor tyrants who use violence and coercion for men to fight a battle…
Read more →Narrative Mass Combat: Part 1 – Groupings and Leadership
3 part post about Narrative Mass Combat. This helps in running Mass Combat since it gives some basic principles to consider. I will give more specific examples and show how…
Read more →hypothesis: I game in the same manner I solve problems
In a discussion on different ways to run Mass Combat with a friend I realized that I cannot imagine how else to run Mass Combat because I can only run it…
Read more →Back to Basics: Listing GMing Techniques
I have a coping mechanism where I break down the mental routes I use and try to hack and analyze them. I can somewhat modify them and get them going…
Read more →Back to Basics Narrative Tool of Scaling; Definition – World Building Game Style?
Scope and Scale: Individual vs Individuals with organizations. If I were to look at the Novels and Stories I’m currently into, they are different from the stories that focus on…
Read more →Back to Basics – Each Session is a Unique Dialogue
Realizing Each Session as a Unique Dialogue is a new mnemonic/coping mechanism and tool for me. A session is not just a Game, but a Conversation where we deep dive…
Read more →Back to Basics: Pacing – Dice Agency and Framing the Narrative
As a GM or Player, what do you think of the activity of Framing the Narrative? Is Framing the Narrative part of Managing Tension and Conflict? If it is, how…
Read more →Back to Basics: Pacing and Tension, Pacing Tool
Two wonderful videos below on Pacing but I’m here to talk about some ways to apply it immediately. Pacing Grid I have my players/PCs names in the left most column…
Read more →Back to Basics: Organizing your session by Challenges, and a reminder on Pacing
Keeping things simple, my players will notice I will be using these mnemonics: Minor and Significant Challenges. Minor Problems/Challenges was covered in Non-Binary Consequences. Basically it is resolved quickly. What…
Read more →Back to Basics: My Game Itinerary
Why it takes me roughly 4 hours to run a game. Part of the Back to Basics because I’ve tried to make my style system agnostic and dependent on Active…
Read more →How to GM Abstract Combat Part 3 – Initiative, Combat for the Non-Combat GM
Part 2 can be found here. This is Back to Basics. Initiative is a simple matter, it is for the Player (not the PC), to act or re-act. The matter…
Read more →Back to Basics – Empathy as the Goal
This is related to my post on the thesis that GMing is very much like Active Listening. Related to my Back to Basics line of articles. I’ve been following Extra…
Read more →How to GM Abstract Combat Part 2 – Economies of Attention
This is Part 2 of How to GM Abstract Combat. Here is part 1. Back to Basics. Economies of Attention is as simple as it sounds. People can only give…
Read more →How to GM Abstract Combat Part 1 – Think in Opportunities
Playing a game like Airsoft requires me to have some mnemonic tools to help improve and to compensate for the the severe lack of combat instinct. Which is not bad,…
Read more →GMing Back to Basics: Gming with very Basic Mnemonics – Active Listening GMing
The most basic mnemonic of GMing is being a good listener. Effective and Scientific Communication Skills are easy to take for granted – but there is a Science and Study on…
Read more →Gravity in everything the PCs do. Some mnemonic tools for your consideration
Things in a game goes along faster when we deal with what is important. We do this in summaries and bullet points, and in other matters. The thing is, what…
Read more →Committed Phase, Game Theory-ish
I talked about schelling point before and I learned to put to words something recently: Committed Phase. Basically its a chemistry term but recently I learned it is a business…
Read more →[GURPS] Sample Rogue, with basic use guide
Rogues are deviants, in party dynamics they serve as a specialized troubleshooter which takes a unconventional approach to problems. Unlike the other members of the party, he is more equip…
Read more →Basic Set Knight Template and a Short adventure
Another Basic Set compatible NPC, although you may want to get your hands on Dan Howard’s article: “Chainmail — Why bother?” for more details on the armor set up. Unless…
Read more →GURPS Quick Adventure
Another GURPS NPC template. Instant Encounter. A bad harvest has forced several freemen to leave their homes to look for supplies to pillage. These warriors are skilled, but not as…
Read more →Basic Set Soldiers, Logistics (adventuring’s less popular expression
Soldiers and Logistics, Translate to Adventurers and Adventures. Some GMing fundamentals I keep revisiting because I always find new ways of using and expressing them. The Roman Legionary 50cp The…
Read more →Basic Set Challenge; Basic Set NPCs
The GURPS 4E basic set is a formidable book to begin with the Table-top Role-playing Hobby. It may just be basic, but the number of games you can have with…
Read more →Basic Set Combat Load (RAW)
Here are some fairly sci-fi Load-Outs. Only the water packs are not found in the basic set, but can be easily found online. These load outs are meant to reach…
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