There has been so little readings that I found interesting from last week (one, in fact) that I've decided to include some posts from yesterday which explains for the late post.
This would probably be my last Questing's Readings for the year since I'll be leaving for holiday season. Once I'm back though, I can't promise that I can keep this feature up since I'll be entering into a full-time job and the hours aren't kind. Hopefully, you've enjoyed every post that I've recommended and I'll be able to settle down with work pretty soon to bring you more great post from the RPGBN.
Musings of the Chatty DM
Cross-Class Training: GMs, Teachers & Managers
Phil giving a lesson on 3 traits that can be used in the workplace and also as a GM. There are certainly more real-skills that can be applied to GMing but those 3 that he mentioned I agree wholeheartedly.
Newbie DM
NewbieDM Tutorial: The Battlemap Part III
The final installment to this very cool series on making maps and how to print/use them for your real/virtual game. I really enjoy the series and would try to find the time some day to try it out.
Worlds In A Handful of Dice
The RPG Course – A Session of Praedor
An interesting read about a session of Praedor, a Finnish RPG.
November 25, 2009
November 19, 2009
What is My Gaming Community Like
More than a week ago, I asked a Burning Question about your gaming community for this month's blog carnival. Since I haven't been getting the response that I was hoping for, I thought maybe I should start off first, describing what the gaming community is like in my hometown in Borneo.
Where is your gaming community located?
I live in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. On the world map, we would be the northern part of Borneo where the tallest mountain in South East Asia is located. Our state is sometimes known as the Land Below the Wind.
How big would you say it is?
There is barely what I would call a community in KK. Everyone that I've played with were introduced to the game by me or had heard about it in passing but haven't actually played it, even that is a rare breed to be found. If I really had to count the handful of us, I would probably put it somewhere between 30 to 50 people at most.
What games are being played? Are there any games more predominant than others?
If anyone who has any inkling of what a P&P RRG is, the second name that comes to mind is probably Dungeons & Dragons. I've only heard someone mention Talisman once so that's an exception. Besides us who play Dungeons & Dragons (4E currently), I don't think there's anyone else playing other games. Some of my group mates have played White Wolf games before but we're sticking to 4E.
Is it easy to find other players and GMs outside your gaming group?
Easy but only because all the DMs I know that already playing in my group.
For players, there are many that have shown interest but we are unable to fit them into our group. We are suffering from a huge gap between the player/DM ratio with probably 10 willing players for each DM (and in my count there's only 4 of us who has DMed before).
If I was looking to join another group outside my own, I probably have a much better chance just starting my own again.
Are there any community activities being run like conventions or something to attract new players?
No, it's a gaming desert here in terms of community activity or conventions. There just isn't enough people to make any sort of these activities worthwhile. One of my group mate is keen on bringing up the community but so far any semblance of community activity would be this Facebook Group page that we started for D&D gamers in KK.
Hopefully by next year, we'll have something more concrete.
How many game stores are there in your community? Do they run any RPG-related activities?
I used to work in the only one in town until it was closed a few months ago although it mainly sells just Magic: The Gathering. The shop didn't participate in any of the D&D related activities for retailers from the beginning.
The only other place that I would call a game store is where my current group plays at. It's a boardgame cafe where you order drinks while playing the boardgames they have available at a certain rate. The boardgames are for sale too. The reason why we're playing there is because there is this nice, big round table that is big enough to fit our battlemats and group together.
Is there a LARPing community?
Nope but there's a cosplaying community if that counts for anything.
How does the wider community look at the gaming community?
I would say that we are pretty much an alien group. People here give us the weird stare and curiosity glances when we are playing. I've never encountered the satanic scare when I was playing in a catholic school so it seems like we are relatively left alone.
Alright. Now that I've done my part, don't be shy and tell me about your gaming community.
November 18, 2009
Questing's Readings - 15/11/09
Sorry for the really late post. This week's highlights we have a series on making battlemats, making interesting villains and finding more uses for your minions.
In other news, the RPGBN Advisory Panel Election polls has just ended and Micheal Wolf from Stargazer's World will be representing the community from now on as the voice of RPG bloggers in the network. Congrats and may his role make a better RPGBN.
Campaign Mastery
Increase game attendance with great session reminders
What to put in a session reminder? Let Johnn answer your questions. I think session reminders are really a great tool to pump your players up before the game, especially if the session only happens once or twice in a month or longer.
GamesTopica
There's Fun in Table Chatter too
Although most DMs like to reduce game chatter as much as possible on the table, this post shows how it could actually be conducive for your game.
Greywulf's Lair
More Creative Uses for Minions
A more out-of-the-box approach to enhancing the use of minions, adding on to what Sly Flourish has done (see below).
NewbieDM
NewbieDM Tutorial: The Battlemap, a guest post by Jonathan Roberts
NewbieDM Tutorial: The Battlemap Part II
A great guest post series on how to make sweet looking battlemaps using GIMP and some design thoughts of what makes a good map.
Sly Flourish
Creative Uses for Minions
Some ideas on how minions could do more other than just acting as fodder for the PCs.
The Spirits of Eden
Thinking Up An Interesting Villain
Wyatt giving advice on how to create villains with depth. I mostly agree with his philosophy of thinking them as characters instead of just some evil guy that the PCs need to defeat.
Worlds in a Handful of Dices
The RPG Course - Lecture Seven
A very interesting read on RPGs in social life and how RPGs are being used in the real world and some issues related with RPGs in the context of social life (e.g, sexuality).
In other news, the RPGBN Advisory Panel Election polls has just ended and Micheal Wolf from Stargazer's World will be representing the community from now on as the voice of RPG bloggers in the network. Congrats and may his role make a better RPGBN.
Campaign Mastery
Increase game attendance with great session reminders
What to put in a session reminder? Let Johnn answer your questions. I think session reminders are really a great tool to pump your players up before the game, especially if the session only happens once or twice in a month or longer.
GamesTopica
There's Fun in Table Chatter too
Although most DMs like to reduce game chatter as much as possible on the table, this post shows how it could actually be conducive for your game.
Greywulf's Lair
More Creative Uses for Minions
A more out-of-the-box approach to enhancing the use of minions, adding on to what Sly Flourish has done (see below).
NewbieDM
NewbieDM Tutorial: The Battlemap, a guest post by Jonathan Roberts
NewbieDM Tutorial: The Battlemap Part II
A great guest post series on how to make sweet looking battlemaps using GIMP and some design thoughts of what makes a good map.
Sly Flourish
Creative Uses for Minions
Some ideas on how minions could do more other than just acting as fodder for the PCs.
The Spirits of Eden
Thinking Up An Interesting Villain
Wyatt giving advice on how to create villains with depth. I mostly agree with his philosophy of thinking them as characters instead of just some evil guy that the PCs need to defeat.
Worlds in a Handful of Dices
The RPG Course - Lecture Seven
A very interesting read on RPGs in social life and how RPGs are being used in the real world and some issues related with RPGs in the context of social life (e.g, sexuality).
November 10, 2009
Burning Question - What is Your Gaming Community Like?
In conjunction with this month's blog carnival on Community, I thought this would be an appropriate question to ask.
What is Your Gaming Community Like?
Here's some follow-up questions to guide your answers.
- Where is your gaming community located?
- How big would you say it is?
- What games are being played? Are there any games more predominant than others?
- Is it easy to find other players and GMs outside your gaming group?
- Are there any community activities being run like conventions or something to attract new players?
- How many game stores are there in your community? Do they run any RPG-related activities?
- Is there a LARPing community?
- How does the wider community look at the gaming community?
November 9, 2009
Questing's Readings - 8/11/09
This week's highlights would be on a couple of post on free softwares that are useful for creating props for your game.
Critical Hits
Pain of Campaigning: Literature and Adventure Planning
As GMs, we've all had our moments when we read/watch a great piece of media entertainment and tell ourselves that we want to run a campaign just like it. Here's some advice on how to adapt your favorite books into a campaign but I think the best advice is the last one. Never be afraid to admit that you stole your ideas from somewhere.
Game in the Brain
Some Open Source Tools for Game Material Production
A list of free open source softwares for from simple writing to 3D animation. Useful to say the least.
Geek Related
Preparing Image Visual Aids For Your Game
A step-by-step tutorial on how to extract images from PDFs to use them as visual aids.
RoleplayingPro
Your Prefect D&D Character: Part 1
My group hasn't use the first technique and I personally would like to see it being used in my group once, I think it really helps to build characters that are easier to fit into the campaign feel and can potentially increase the fun the players are having with their characters.
The RPG Anthenaeum
Eight variations on the standard pit trap
Getting tired of the old pit trap where a character simply just falls into? Here's some ideas to modify or add more uses for the pit trap than just a hole on the floor.
Worlds in a Handful of Dice
The RPG Course – Lecture Six
I'm so envious that this guy gets to study in a RPG course at uni and it's really nice of him to share his thoughts about what he learns. It's interesting to see what are being taught in a RPG course. In this post, he talks about pervasive games.
Critical Hits
Pain of Campaigning: Literature and Adventure Planning
As GMs, we've all had our moments when we read/watch a great piece of media entertainment and tell ourselves that we want to run a campaign just like it. Here's some advice on how to adapt your favorite books into a campaign but I think the best advice is the last one. Never be afraid to admit that you stole your ideas from somewhere.
Game in the Brain
Some Open Source Tools for Game Material Production
A list of free open source softwares for from simple writing to 3D animation. Useful to say the least.
Geek Related
Preparing Image Visual Aids For Your Game
A step-by-step tutorial on how to extract images from PDFs to use them as visual aids.
RoleplayingPro
Your Prefect D&D Character: Part 1
My group hasn't use the first technique and I personally would like to see it being used in my group once, I think it really helps to build characters that are easier to fit into the campaign feel and can potentially increase the fun the players are having with their characters.
The RPG Anthenaeum
Eight variations on the standard pit trap
Getting tired of the old pit trap where a character simply just falls into? Here's some ideas to modify or add more uses for the pit trap than just a hole on the floor.
Worlds in a Handful of Dice
The RPG Course – Lecture Six
I'm so envious that this guy gets to study in a RPG course at uni and it's really nice of him to share his thoughts about what he learns. It's interesting to see what are being taught in a RPG course. In this post, he talks about pervasive games.
November 2, 2009
Questing's Readings - 1/11/09
It's November and the former board of the RPG Bloggers Network have made their decision. Dave Chalker has made an announcement, after deliberating through the 6 proposals that were submitted, they have trusted the reins to Duane O' Brien from A Terrible Idea.
You can read what the future holds for the RPGBN in Duane's inauguration post but it doesn't seem to imply much drastic changes. Time will tell and we'll see in the first month.
Of course, a new month means a new topic for the blog carnival. This month, the carnival is hosted by Uncle Bear where he ask bloggers to share their thoughts on community; a fitting subject since he started the Role Playing Media Network and with the recent transition of the RPGBN.
Not only does this topic comprised on the online community but to the off-line as well. It would be interesting to see some post that describes their gaming community outside the US.
This week's readings has been pretty fruitful as there are good advice in various areas from GMing, adding elements into your game and some RPG-related history.
A Buttefly Dreaming
Adding Fear to Your Game
Since last weekend was Halloween, here's some pointers on how to instill fear into your game and how not to.
Campaign Mastery
Legendary Achievements: Colouring Your Campaign with Anecdote and Legend
How the Guinness Book of Records can help to improve your description.
Ask the GMs: PC Choices and Consequences
Great advice, especially if you are running a sandbox (some of the advice even points to that direction), on how you should decide how your PCs' actions have an impact on your setting.
Critical Hits
5 Tips For Running Dungeon Delves
Although these advice are aimed for running short delves, it is still good advice for any DM who is running a long-running campaign.
Purple Pawn
Dr Thomas Radecki’s List of D&D Related Deaths and Violence
An interesting link to murder cases during the 80s scare that this insane psychiatrist claims that D&D was the cause of it.
The RPG Anthenaeum
Five ways to recycle an old D&D campaign
Some elements in a campaign that can be reused even in the same campaign.
Level up your creativity with an 'imaginary bank account'
Few GMs underestimate the power of carrying a notebook in your pocket when an idea pops in. Here's another way you can organize your inspirations and ideas that comes to mind.
The Spirits of Eden
Creating Controlling Powers
Although aimed at developing new controller powers, this is a very good insight into the mechanics of controller powers. While useful for homebrewers, I also think this is useful for min/maxers.
Wyatt's Advice On Play-by-Post Recruiting
I don't play-by-post but these advice should be useful for anyone who plans to start. You obviously shouldn't take advice from a guy who has predominantly played online for 5 years *wink*.
Whitehall ParaIndustries
Looking Back: Elements of Complexity
Groups and Complexity
A breakdown listing different types of game complexity and how groups relate with game complexity. I admit that I do have my own taste of complexity and this could explain why I'm also adverse to some others.
You can read what the future holds for the RPGBN in Duane's inauguration post but it doesn't seem to imply much drastic changes. Time will tell and we'll see in the first month.
Of course, a new month means a new topic for the blog carnival. This month, the carnival is hosted by Uncle Bear where he ask bloggers to share their thoughts on community; a fitting subject since he started the Role Playing Media Network and with the recent transition of the RPGBN.
Not only does this topic comprised on the online community but to the off-line as well. It would be interesting to see some post that describes their gaming community outside the US.
This week's readings has been pretty fruitful as there are good advice in various areas from GMing, adding elements into your game and some RPG-related history.
A Buttefly Dreaming
Adding Fear to Your Game
Since last weekend was Halloween, here's some pointers on how to instill fear into your game and how not to.
Campaign Mastery
Legendary Achievements: Colouring Your Campaign with Anecdote and Legend
How the Guinness Book of Records can help to improve your description.
Ask the GMs: PC Choices and Consequences
Great advice, especially if you are running a sandbox (some of the advice even points to that direction), on how you should decide how your PCs' actions have an impact on your setting.
Critical Hits
5 Tips For Running Dungeon Delves
Although these advice are aimed for running short delves, it is still good advice for any DM who is running a long-running campaign.
Purple Pawn
Dr Thomas Radecki’s List of D&D Related Deaths and Violence
An interesting link to murder cases during the 80s scare that this insane psychiatrist claims that D&D was the cause of it.
The RPG Anthenaeum
Five ways to recycle an old D&D campaign
Some elements in a campaign that can be reused even in the same campaign.
Level up your creativity with an 'imaginary bank account'
Few GMs underestimate the power of carrying a notebook in your pocket when an idea pops in. Here's another way you can organize your inspirations and ideas that comes to mind.
The Spirits of Eden
Creating Controlling Powers
Although aimed at developing new controller powers, this is a very good insight into the mechanics of controller powers. While useful for homebrewers, I also think this is useful for min/maxers.
Wyatt's Advice On Play-by-Post Recruiting
I don't play-by-post but these advice should be useful for anyone who plans to start. You obviously shouldn't take advice from a guy who has predominantly played online for 5 years *wink*.
Whitehall ParaIndustries
Looking Back: Elements of Complexity
Groups and Complexity
A breakdown listing different types of game complexity and how groups relate with game complexity. I admit that I do have my own taste of complexity and this could explain why I'm also adverse to some others.
Questing's Readings - Wave Edition
So the Wave has hit and making waves across the RPG bloggersphere. If you don't know what this new trendy topic is all about, well, you're almost as clueless as I am when I first heard it.
For a short explanation, it's a Google platform that combines IM Chat, forum and wiki functionality into one, consequently, called a wave. For an hour long explanation and demonstration, you could watch this video.
Needless to say, such an innovative piece of technology is surely being fiddled with by the hands of those who believe that Wave could be used for gaming purposes. In this edition, here's what bloggers, who were lucky enough to get invites to test out Wave, have to say about using it for running games.
Ars Technica
Google Wave: we came, we saw, we played D&D
At-Will
The Wave's the Thing: Google Wave, 4e D&D, and You
The Wave's the Thing: Running a D&D Wave Game
BoingBoing
Google Wave as an RPG environment
By Decree of the Czar
Using Google Wave with online D&D sessions
How to Start a Revolution in 21 Days or Less
Early Thoughts on Wave and Gaming
Neitherworld Stories
Using Google Wave for RPGs
Pen and Paper Portal
Google Wave + D&D = Do Want
Stargazer's World
Surfing on the Wave
The Spirit of Eden
Playing Online: Google Wave
For a short explanation, it's a Google platform that combines IM Chat, forum and wiki functionality into one, consequently, called a wave. For an hour long explanation and demonstration, you could watch this video.
Needless to say, such an innovative piece of technology is surely being fiddled with by the hands of those who believe that Wave could be used for gaming purposes. In this edition, here's what bloggers, who were lucky enough to get invites to test out Wave, have to say about using it for running games.
Ars Technica
Google Wave: we came, we saw, we played D&D
At-Will
The Wave's the Thing: Google Wave, 4e D&D, and You
The Wave's the Thing: Running a D&D Wave Game
BoingBoing
Google Wave as an RPG environment
By Decree of the Czar
Using Google Wave with online D&D sessions
How to Start a Revolution in 21 Days or Less
Early Thoughts on Wave and Gaming
Neitherworld Stories
Using Google Wave for RPGs
Pen and Paper Portal
Google Wave + D&D = Do Want
Stargazer's World
Surfing on the Wave
The Spirit of Eden
Playing Online: Google Wave
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