Reading Charlie’s commentary from last week got me thinking about how mechanics affect role playing. Most RPGs are fairly complex games. As such, they can be enjoyed on many levels. This is where the old Gamist/Narrativeist/Simulationist discussion would come in, but that’s really not the point of this post. What is the point, however, is…
Monthly Archives: April 2011
Regular readers know that our group is in the midst of a Swords and Wizardry game. We took a break from that this Saturday to brew, hold babies, and (yes) play games. Knowing: that brewing and/or babies would cause many interruptions we had an RPG virgin (but still a board game geek) joining us we…
Guided by a firm belief that the books are just the beginning, we here at Intwischa are pleased to present “Play By The Rules”, an ongoing series that will provide custom mechanics for your favorite RPGs! These posts will strive to give players and storytellers alike original, creative, game-ready ways to add spice and texture…
My name is Charlie. I’m a mechanoholic. It’s true. My disease compels me to pursue the best mechanical benefit in any situation, regardless of whether my character would actually do the thing or not. I can resist mechanics-driven impulses when playing games like FATE or old-school D&D knockoffs, but when I start playing 4E, all…
For a RPG geek, there’s an undefinable allure to game systems. There’s just something about understanding the rules, how the mechanics fit together, and the consequences they have upon play. As Charlie has mentioned, however, there’s no silver bullet. He has written about how FATE is great for story, but not so effective for detailed…
Guided by a firm belief that the books are just the beginning, we here at Intwischa are pleased to present “Play By The Rules”, an ongoing series that will provide custom mechanics for your favorite RPGs! These posts will strive to give players and storytellers alike original, creative, game-ready ways to add spice and texture…
It all started when I drew a slip of paper from a hat. The words written on it would decide from what caste my next character would come. As it turned out, I drew the “slave” caste. Being a fan of history, I decided to blatantly steal a concept from the past. I created a…
DISCLAIMER: I’m not an actor. I’ve never taken an acting class. Like any good geek, I was curious about the topic, read a book, and now like to pretend I’m an expert. Do not be fooled. You’ve been warned. Intwischa has spoken often of characterful experiences in gaming. Inspired by a recent Lifehacker article to…
Guided by a firm belief that the books are just the beginning, we here at Intwischa are pleased to present “Play By The Rules”, an ongoing series that will provide custom mechanics for your favorite RPGs! These posts will strive to give players and storytellers alike original, creative, game-ready ways to add spice and texture…
I got my start in gaming with the 1989 basic set. The “red box” holds a central place in the bookshelf of my heart (aww, isn’t that sweet?), as it represents the foundation for “what gaming is” in my mind. I’ve played AD&D, D&D 3.5, and D&D 4. I’ve enjoyed each game, diverse though each…