PDA

View Full Version : RPG and Gamemastering websites and blogs



Yora
2013-08-20, 06:30 AM
In my attempts to learn more about how people actually run the OSR games they so highly praise yet seem to have almost plot-less adventure modules, I noticed that most stuff that has been written about the subject and Gamemastering in general, is either found in forums (which by their very nature tend to be rather unstructured and hard to easily browse through) or on small websites dedicated to just these things. And occasionally, there's some really smart things to read about how you can approach preparing for and running a game.

Can anyone recommend and such sites that are dealing with running and playing RPGs? Can be as open or game-specific as you like.

One I frequently come across is Gnome Stew (http://www.gnomestew.com/). Still not quite sure what I really think of it, but they have quite a lot of writers and a huge amount of articles up.

Totally Guy
2013-08-20, 07:39 AM
I find the insights on Ars Ludi (http://arsludi.lamemage.com/index.php/all-posts/) to be pretty eye opening. In a way it's a shame that a lot of the content focusses on his Microscope game after he starts working on it. It's not exactly old school though.

If you're looking for an old school tale check out Luke Crane on Basic D&D (https://plus.google.com/u/0/111266966448135449970/posts/Q8qRhCw7az5#111266966448135449970/posts/Q8qRhCw7az5). The comments are very good too, to a point.

valadil
2013-08-20, 08:07 AM
I blog about GMing. See signature. Lately it's been more about designing a system than running games.

There are a bunch of blogs in my RSS feed about gaming, but I haven't really been paying them much attention lately. Due to life events I haven't had as much computer time as I'm used to. Those blogs have been replaced by podcasts though, and I'm pretty happy with that. Fear the Boot is my favorite but I'm also enjoying RPG Circus and Master Plan.

That said, I still like forums best. IMO the best way to GM is to GM and then talk to other GMs about it. There is wisdom that can be gained from reading and there are definitely ideas you might not stumble into on your own, but the one thing that's improved my games the most is practice.

I'm also strongly of the opinion that there are no absolutes in gaming. Choices will vary from group to group or even player to player. Being able to read what your players want and then finding a way to give it to them is the most important skill a GM can have. I feel like getting your info from a blog is going to restrict you to seeing what the blog's author's group wants. That's not the case in a forum where opinions and problems come from all participants.

Anyway I'm not trying to ward you off from reading blogs (read mine, please!). I've just found forums to be more valuable.

Gemini Lupus
2013-08-20, 04:47 PM
I'm fond of the Alexandrian. (http://www.thealexandrian.net/creations/creations.html) Plus the Under Discussion, (http://undergopher.com/) which is a podcast done by some folks from my local comic shop.

Stubbazubba
2013-08-21, 12:04 AM
The Angry DM (http://www.angrydm.com)

Rondodu
2013-08-22, 12:19 PM
An old, but good one: Places to Go, People to Be (http://ptgptb.org/). There’s also Critical Miss (http://www.criticalmiss.com/).

AKA_Bait
2013-08-23, 09:50 AM
Many moons ago I once wrote most of a DM guide on these boards with collaboration from the playground as a whole. I believe the thread is still accessable, stickied, and can be accessed through the link in my signature block.

Yora
2013-09-21, 05:33 AM
I've come to quite appreciate Papers and Pencils (http://www.paperspencils.com/). Nothing really groundbreakingly new there, but well written and some interesting thoughts.