The Heart Monitor
10 Spelljammer Story Hooks
I am excited to share that D&D Beyond has recently released a free module, Spelljammer Academy, on D&D Beyond! In nearly the same week, new images from the James Webb Space Telescope have also been shared. It seems that this week, space is the place! Thus, I find my mind brimming with inspiration and ideas. I wanted to share a few ideas you can use as inspiration for your first forays into the exciting world of Spelljammer!
D&D News: DMsGuild Partners with Roll20!
Lately, there always seems to be some news for D&D and RPGs. It is a very exciting time to be in the hobby. . .I was especially excited to see the recent announcement from DMsGuild and Roll20 announcing a partnership which you can read about in more detail here. This is a big deal for all of us who run games using Roll20 and I will tell you why.
So Long and Thanks for all the Memories: A Tribute to The Malted Meeple
This weekend marks the end of an era for me and is a reminder that all good things must come to a close. The Malted Meeple, the board game cafe where I really came into my own as a Game Master, sadly is closing for good. . . .Today’s article is dedicated to all of the memories of The Malted Meeple and all the friends made along the way.
Five Ways to Improve Your Session Zero
I am a Game Master who has been running session zeroes for years and I have a process that I like to go through; however, I am always learning new things, reading about new best practices, and trying to improve all my sessions. In my opinion, session zero is the most important session as it either consciously or subconsciously drafts up a social contract, gives the players a roadmap of the campaign, and gives players and the GM the opportunity to discuss the hard and soft limits of any content they wish to experience within the campaign.
Late Campaign Tip: Loose End Checklist
Today I want to talk about how to prepare to wrap up a campaign, tie up those loose ends, and give your players the satisfying ending that will excite them and give your campaign the ending it deserves.
If you love what you do. . .
. . .this week and next we are taking a break from this “work” to celebrate something else that we work hard at every day—our marriage!
Now You Are Asking the Right Questions
In a previous blog post, I gave several tips for online play and today I wanted to dive deeper into the topic. I especially want to highlight ways to ensure that each player has their time in the spotlight and gets to shine. I think it comes down to making sure you are asking the right questions in your sessions as a Game Master and giving each player an opportunity to speak.
Using the Three Villain Model in Your Campaign
For me and my writing, all good things come in threes and villainous factions are no different. If you did not know, I really like villains; not because I root for the bad guy, but because they often offer a great foil for our heroes to face and can come with unique motivations and goals of their own. Nearly all villains fall into one of these three categories.
Give The People What They Want!
Over the past few weeks I had something pretty unique happen not once, but twice. Each session ended with the players using all of the resources at their disposal, some great character synergy, and no small amount of luck and one way or another the big boss fight I had planned was over much sooner than I anticipated. It was truly memorable and enjoyable for the players, and rather frustrating for me as a Game Master, especially due to what feels like wasted prep. But here's the thing, it isn't important to me as a storyteller as long as the players are having a good time, making memories, and are able to tell a great story for years afterwards. Sometimes you just have to give the players what they want!
Spelljammer: Adventures in Space Confirmed!
Last week was the first D&D Direct program and we got to see a slew of new product announcements, content updates, and even a movie announcement. Nothing captured the attention of the internet more than the announcement of the return of Spelljammer, updated for D&D 5e. . . .While some have considered Spelljammer to only have a cult-following, the reception of the return of Spelljammer has been overwhelmingly positive. I for one am excited to explore Spelljammer along with my players and the rest of the D&D Community.
World-Building with Board Games
Today we’re going to talk about a unique way you and your players could work together to help build the world. . .It puts less pressure on the Game Master to have to come up with an entire world from the ground up, encourages the players to be creative and take a part in the fun world-building process and at the same time it encourages the players to buy into a world in which they helped create. Consider starting off your next campaign with a game!
Take A Break
Taking a week or two off for a vacation allows us to recharge, come back with fresh ideas, and to polish up our existing ideas. It also allows us to focus on something other than our campaigns and worldbuilding. We can unplug and be at rest (or play) and in this way we avoid burning out. The font of creativity is only so deep and we must give it time to refill as we recharge.
Homebrew Mythology
Like the ancient Greeks (or any other culture really) we as Game Masters and as players are engaging in a form of storytelling and of myth-weaving. We get to see our myths live, grow, change and take form. It is the closest thing to pure magic that I have ever experienced and it is what keeps me coming back to RPGs time after time. But what can we as storytellers learn from our ancient predecessors? How can we use mythology to make our stories better?
One-shots vs. Campaigns: What Does Each Have to Offer?
One week ago today Open Heart Games ran our first Call of Cthulhu one-shot (Call of Cthulhu: Edge of Darkness). All the players who participated had a great time and we look forward to running more one-shots in the future! Here at Open Heart Games I also run a variety of campaigns and very much enjoy them too. This got me thinking about the differences and indeed the benefits of one-shots vs. campaign play.
The Benefit of Helping Others
Being able to share our experiences with others is how we teach, learn, and grow as Game Masters. . .We are all a part of this wonderful community and share this passionate hobby. Helping others can help you prepare for the challenges in your own games. Who knows? Perhaps the true treasure really is the friends we make along the way and the gifts we share with others.
We Scare Because We Care: Why Consent in Horror RPGs is so Important
A week from today Open Heart Games will be dipping our toes into our first non D&D RPG on Roll20.net. (As of the writing of this article, there are still slots left for those who are interested!) We will be running the legendary Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition module: Edge of Darkness. For many, Call of Cthulhu has obtained near mythic status amongst roleplaying fans as THE Horror RPG. . .One of the topics I have wanted to tackle for a long time is that of the importance of player consent and player agency when running any RPG but it feels especially relevant when running horror RPGs as the genre has more chances of running into content that makes players uncomfortable.
Advice for Remote Play
When I was recently at Ravenwood Castle, it occurred to me that I am well into my second year of running role-playing games almost exclusively online, a fact that I reflected on in a previous blog entry. I was speaking to a new friend about how running games in person is so different from running games remotely and that got me thinking about how I had to learn to run my games differently when I began running sessions remotely. Being the naturally curious and research-driven person that I am, I began a deep dive into the web to discover the best way to translate the excitement of roleplaying from the tabletop to the digital realm when I decided to begin running games online. Here are some tips and resources that I have found useful.
The Mid-Campaign Check-In
. . .a Session Zero. . .is basically where the Game Master sits down with the players and sets expectations and ground rules for the session. The Game Master also discusses potential plot points, major factions, and other important details. So is it possible to do a Session Zero mid-campaign? The short answer is no, but I think it is possible to do something similar with a Mid-Campaign Check-In.
Why I Heart Hoop & Stick Con!
Tomorrow Abigail and I will travel to Southeastern Ohio to attend Ravenwood Castle’s 10th annual Hoop & Stick Convention! A four-day gaming convention raising money for Extra Life. . .in a castle!! It is an exciting time for us. . .because Hoop & Stick is a convention near to our hearts.
Reflections on Writing
Coming up with new and exciting ideas for sessions or new worlds to explore has never been a problem for me, but writing it all down… that sounds a lot like work. . .