Adventurer’s Team-Building Retreat

I heard a story on public radio several years ago that NASCAR had surpassed hockey as the fourth most watched “sporting event” in American television viewership. The commentator theorized that this trend might stem from a shift in American values from team sports to individual sports. Now, leaving aside… that public radio news commentators might…

The Cathedral and the Scaffold: Using (and not using) Balance in your Game

A few weeks ago, I made some glib comments about “balance” and how GMs should just “forget it.” This advice is less-than-helpful because it almost wholly lacks nuance. Today, I hope to expand my “forget balance” comment by providing advice that may well extend far beyond the realm of gaming. The Cathedral and the Scaffold…

Advice: Portraying Characterful Emotions with Method Acting

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…

Let’s Get This Party Started: Non-Mechanical Character Creation Ideas That Work

Like any good team, most parties in a game of D&D have their different positions.  Everything from AD&D to Golden Axe to The Lord of the Rings has an ideal blend of several specialized classes, what some gamers would call a “balanced party.”  In this current age of 4E, it sounds something like Controller/Defender/Leader/Striker.  It’s…

Making Friends: Creating a Character You’ll Love to Play No Matter How Often He Hits

There are two ways to play any game, and that includes a role-playing game: You can play to win, or you can play to have fun.  Unless you’re getting paid, you should be playing to have fun.  If you’re playing any role-playing game, especially D&D, there’s no such thing as “winning”- unless you count not…