Role Playing RSS

While on tabletop gaming adventures, the actions we take and the way we resolve encounters, conflicts or other situations requires the use of directives that help us determine their outcome. Depending on the game or the way we play, they can be interpreted loosely, as guidelines, or strictly, to the letter. Regardless of how they are applied, the word we use to describe them feels constrictive and stiff: rules. As you may well know, this means they can, or are meant to, be broken. But before you do that, you should always make sure you learn said rules and fortunately,...

Ever wondered how a real tabletop role-playing game rules expert goes about running his games? Do you think there is a rite of passage to become a great game master? From the outside, looking in, the role of GM (or DM if you play Dungeons & Dragons) can seem like the most complicated pastime ever. Fortunately, it becomes a lot simpler once you start and, to be frank, we've all been beginners at something before. As intimidating as it might seem, the only way to learn is by doing, even though some days will be more glorious than others. You...

For many players, beginners or seasoned, discovering new horizons can be a challenge. But fortunately, our hobby’s landscape has more to offer than meets the eye. It isn’t always easy to see past the giants ruling over the modern world of pen and paper games. Many assume that the only game to play is Dungeons & Dragons. You could go as far as saying that some people think tabletop role-playing games and D&D are one and the same. And while Dungeons & Dragons is indeed the most widely played and popular role-playing game out there, said games are not just...

For anyone who has experienced playing tabletop role-playing games, it will come as no surprise that no two gaming groups play alike. This is largely attributed to the fact that rules in RPGs are only there to guide players and help resolve the outcome of certain situations. How the majority of games are run will depend on the Game Master’s (GM) and the players’ play style. The other defining factor is the adventure itself: is the GM running a published module or did he create a campaign from scratch in a world of his own creation? Let’s look at the...

When we play tabletop games, we often take roles. It’s a necessity with games like Dungeons & Dragons or Call of Cthulhu. It’s a tool for better immersion in board games. Artwork and graphic design are major contributors to helping players visualize the situations they find themselves in during the course of the game. While our imagination takes care of creating a believable experience, this process is guided by the look and feel of the physical components of the game. Abstract games in the vein of card games like Skip-Bo or dice games like Yahtzee do not need fancy artwork...