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A Weblog for Game Masters

Posted by Zonk on from the roll-to-avoid-gamer-funk dept.

Martin Ralya writes "Treasure Tables is a weblog for game masters (GMs, the folks who run RPGs), with posts on a variety of topics -- from professional GMing to drinking at the gaming table to blogging your game sessions. The blog is focused on providing tips and ideas that are useful to GMs of all backgrounds and skill levels."

15 comments

  1. Johnn Four too by MrScience · · Score: 5, Informative

    See also Roleplaying Tips, a weekly e-zine that has been going strong since 1999. Every week he dispenses useful advice, and the write-in tips are invaluable. I've been getting it years, and it's been great.

    --

    You quitting proves that the karma kap worked. The most annoying of the whores shut up. --CmdrTaco

    1. Re:Johnn Four too by Hakubi_Washu · · Score: 4, Informative

      I absolutely agree, while often RT doesn't apply to my groups style of play there are some real gems in it. Another nice source is http://www.gamegrene.com/, though they update slowly...
      On a related note I'd like to point any worldbuilders out there to http://www.zompist.com/, Mark Rosenfelder's "Virtual Verduria", one of the most complete worlds, especially on language and culture, that I've ever seen.

    2. Re:Johnn Four too by MadMoses · · Score: 2, Informative

      Another blog with interesting discussions about roleplaying is the The 20' By 20' Room. Check it out.

      --

      Do not be alarmed. This is only a test.
  2. Oh man. by Seumas · · Score: -1, Troll

    I'm amazed that people still play RPGs on paper anymore. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure it's fun for some people . . . But there's too much of a stigma with it and it's too closely associated with LARPers (of the "two magic two magic two magic!" spitwad hurling, cardboard sword, towel-caped variety.

    I got into AD&D when I was about ten to twelve years old, but only insomuch as I liked reading the monster manuals and created a couple campaigns of my own (mostly for the writing challenge). I never actually played the game. I did try playing some StarWars D&D variety type of thing once, though. It was pretty lame. A bunch of (semi) grown men sitting around a table eating pizza rolling dice and describing what they're going to do to kill some imaginary creature while the DM toils away for ten minutes at a time trying to figure out what to do next or what the rules are.

    Meh. Gimme Neverwinter Nights or something any day. Videogames don't have the social stigma that fat bald guys in a basement do.

    1. Re:Oh man. by nekojin · · Score: 2, Funny

      No, video games have the social stigma that they cause you to kill without mercy.

    2. Re:Oh man. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      It must be horrible to go through life limiting your own enjoyment based on what other people might think.

      Don't worry though - once you get old enough, you usually learn enough self-confidence to enjoy what you want, without having to resort to checking with other people first.

      It really is liberating :)

    3. Re:Oh man. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      I wish people assumed I was a cold-hearted killer. It might make my life a little easier.

    4. Re:Oh man. by Seumas · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      Videogaming makes you a conservative?

    5. Re:Oh man. by Seumas · · Score: 0, Troll

      On the other hand, I like being able to breathe, without having to inhale stale unwashed sweat from my fellow gamers. I don't have that problem when those gamers are on the otherside of an internet connection or a well-spaced-out LANparty design.

    6. Re:Oh man. by Hakubi_Washu · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Hm, I've been gaming for over ten years now, but I've yet to recognize a gamer who doesn't come freshly showered... Of course, if we decide to do a three day gaming marathon, most don't on the second day, but that happens at LAN-parties as well (And they tend to sweat more, because of the PC heat...).
      Frankly, I think you're trolling on an inadequate "fact" (FUD about gamer hygiene), but fail because most people who actually read and cared enough to answer on this article already knew it to be stupid. I suggest you don't bother trying the "gamers don't have girlfriends" routine as well, my wife wouldn't agree and I bet my co-players' partners wouldn't as well... Maybe the "gamers don't get out often" might still work, but you should seriously drop the info about computer gaming at home then, because we have to leave the house to get together at least...

  3. Stigma? Who cares? by mindaktiviti · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I sure don't.

    The problem isn't the stigma. The problem is your inability to enjoy a completely legitimate hobby because of some silly stigma attached to it through disinformation. If you have a problem with the stigma then educate those you care about the game, everyone else can go fuck themselves because to you their opinions should not matter.

  4. Game Master? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    More like Gay Master.

  5. RPG drinking game by RedLaggedTeut · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Drinking at the table" - I can see it now:

    - your character loses another five hitpoints: drink a glass of vodka

    - your character gets hit by a spell of confusion: drink 2 glasses of vodka

    - your character gets hit by a fireball: drink one glass of pepper tequila.

    - you drop below the table: your character dies

    --
    I'm still trying to figure out what people mean by 'social skills' here.
  6. questionable ads on the site? by Comrade64 · · Score: 0, Redundant


    Wow! speed read some of the adds on the site...

    There are some T-shirts advertised on the site that read "G33k" with the two threes formed by polyhedral dice...BUT from the small pic and a quick glance, it looked like they read "GOOK". OMG!

    --
    If you are reading this, then you are one of those people whom I just can't take seriously.
  7. This would work great in reverse! by mindaktiviti · · Score: 1

    To reward great roleplaying (although there would be some balance because the really great role players would end up being the drunkest worst role player (or maybe even better?)).

    (Me)DM: Ryan, you've managed to convince the dark ranger to give you the whereabouts of the hidden cave of Argploop, where the magical vorpal longsword +5 resides.
    Ryan: "Cool! What about roleplaying experience?"
    DM: "Fuck that! I got something better..." *pulls out bottle of rum*
    Ryan: "Woohoo!" ...*a few hours go by*...
    Ryan: "Alright, I got an idea how we can get more experience points! Let's go door to door, knock and then stab whoever answers and just keep doing this"

    (Editor/DM's note: I actually have a guy named Ryan in my gaming group and him and this other guy actually did this, and me being the inexperienced DM let it go on for about 4 houses until finally they met a huge ogre that lived among the fellow townsfolk. Good times)