In this in-depth primer Erwan runs through how he manages campaign prep using the Airtable app in conjunction with Node-Based Scenario Design.
The Degenesis core books are deliberately written to make absorbing the game a somewhat indirect process, an exploration rather than a linear download. While I enjoy this because it feels immersive, it’s also a challenge if you aren’t used to this approach. So if you want to learn to play Degenesis and are thinking about starting a campaign but feel don’t know where to start, read on. Read more
Complex published settings like the post-post apocalypse of Degenesis, the magical world of Glorantha, or the transhumanist future of Eclipse Phase can be intimidating for game masters. But running campaigns in such settings can also be tremendously rewarding. What follows are lessons learned from my own campaigns that should help you set up and run one of your own. Read more
Everyone loves getting something special in the mail every month. Dungeon Masters are no different. They’re also very deserving. After all, they dream up adventures, inhabit NPCs, roll up Big Bads, and run game sessions. The players get to be heroes, but the DM has to do everything else. Read more
Sometimes it’s hard for new GMs to get past the nuts and bolts of game mechanics and into actually running sessions. Using a Star Wars: Edge of the Empire campaign I ran for several months, here are some tips that may help you get your first campaign rolling if you’re not relying on a published scenario. Read more
TL;DR: This 240-page book takes years of hard-won experience about how to make roleplaying awesome, and lays it out cleanly and clearly. It’s easy to read, easy to understand, and it provides enough details without becoming a chore to read.
Read moreAs the (unofficial until quite recently) Community Manager for Degenesis: Rebirth, Erwan has been a highly visible ambassador for the game. In recorded game sessions he always appears calm and collected. He’s also very active on the Degenesis Discord and has an encyclopedic knowledge of the game. So it was a no-brainer to ask him how he runs his sessions, and he kindly answered my questions.
Master of the Game explores the nuts and bolts of how gamemasters run their games. What games do they play and what tools do they use to run ’em?
Liam (aka Boganova), is one of the hosts of Mud & Blood, a podcast that focuses on grim, gritty games. I have been continually impressed with his approach to gamemastering, and he graciously accepted my invitation to share his GMing setup. Read more
Gamemastering isn’t as difficult as it’s often made out to be. Is it some sort of mystical power only possessed by a lucky few? Absolutely not. Is it a skill that can be continuously improved? Absolutely. Read more
