Theory (Jan 3-6)
A tale of two Sandboxes
My unexpected descent into the Classical gaming playstyle from Modern Adventure Gaming (aka the modern OSR)
Fixing Moria: Metro System Megadungeon Design - Silverarm
The megadungeon has a creative call to it, this grand and imposing space mapped out for adventure, a beckoning otherworld to explore. People dig superlatives, the biggest, the tallest, the most dangerous, the most powerful, the deepest. But the challenge of making something epic in scope can swamp even the most dedicated GM. It’s very […]
EVERY Initiative Method??
Not really. But maybe, with your help, we actually can. Let's give this a shot. Every now and then I've seen a blog post attempting to cover...
Principles of Conflict
Why wouldn’t a bear flee from a house cat?
In Defence of the Modern (Dolmenwood) Witch
Recently I came across a by Suarachán discussing their annoyance at how vastly different Dolmenwood is compared to how it presented itself in its early s...
Sample Articles
Interesting Social Situations, or The Discourse Post
The OSR space has discussed the importance of framing interesting combats. It has not done the same amount of work to provide concrete advic...
How fragile is your game design?
Exploring the concept of "fragility" in tabletop game design, and why it matters
Good Lore/Bad Lore
For our purposes let’s just say that lore is “setting background”: information about the setting of a campaign. The paradigm is perhaps the ...
GYGAX'S FORTRESS
Gary Gygax is probably the best known name in Role Playing Games -- still, nearly 15 years after his death. Considered Dungeons & Dragons’ ...
Thermodynamics for Game Design - Benign Brown Beast
30 Dec 2024—This is an updated version of my October blog post. The original conatins several factual and mathematical errors, but is archived here
Better Character Deaths in Dungeons and Dragons – WobbleRocket
A look at how to enhance the narrative impact of character deaths in Dungeons and Dragons, though house rules and alternate TTRPG systems.
🏅Rules Are A Cage (and I’m a Puppygirl)
Tabletop RPG rulebooks only serve to restrict and constrain us. So why is that a good thing?
🥉Interesting Social Situations, or The Discourse Post
The OSR space has discussed the importance of framing interesting combats. It has not done the same amount of work to provide concrete advic...
🥈In Praise of Legwork - Sam Sorensen
A question: you ever try to run a campaign with a city in it? Not just a town or settlement or fort, but a proper city, one with an actual street
Theory Medalists
🏆BLOGGIES 2024 - THEORY - WINNERS🏆 🥇 Gold: The 1 HP Dragon @explorersdesign.bsky.social 🥈 Silver: In Praise of Legwork @samsorensen.bsky.social 🥉 Copper: Interesting Social Situations, or The Discourse Post @riseupcomus.bsky.social Voting for #BLOGGIES24 will continue this Friday!
🥇The 1 HP Dragon
Combat as puzzles. A hack on the 16 HP dragon from Dungeon World.