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D20 and D&D I'm sorry if my points weren't clear. D&D has indeed always been customizable, which is one of its strengths. Despite the fact that each edition has been associated with a particular setting (OD&D with Greyhawk and Mystara, AD&D with Dragonlance and the Forgotten Realms, etc.)...

What I like about D&D -It's the baseline. As one of the oldest and most widely distributed rules systems, most role-players are familiar with it, and it's relatively easy to find D&Dx players. -It's heroic fantasy. As someone who grew up on the works of L. Frank Baum, Lewis Carroll, the...

Good haul! Here are my thoughts on these books: Baylon 5 Core rulebook--Which edition? The latest D20 one is pretty good, but any of the three or so versions of JMS's space opera is a good resource. Trinity D20 Core--Sadly, a game that came, went, and died. If you like White Wolf's flavor and...

D&D3.5 environmental books I have all of the D&D3.5 environmental books, but my favorite in terms of unique value is Sandstorm. I've used all of them, but that's the only one without a D20 rival that has more extensive rules (Frostburn/Frost & Fur, Stormwrack/Seafarer's Handbook and various...

Schedule crunch My current gaming group, whose members range in age from early 20s through late 30s, manages to meet most Tuesday nights from about 6:30 to 11:00 p.m. Take away the first hour for setup, the inevitable "Did you watch the latest episode of ... ?" and dinner, and that's still...

I've also got both Cityworks and Cityscape, and I agree that they're complementary. Cityscape indeed has nicer production values, with full-color illustrations of example cities and the standard WotC D&D3.5 trade dress. Both do a decent job of describing the typical neighborhoods in a fantasy...

Dungeons & Dragons 4e ideas I would also stick with the existing three books, although I might structure them differently. Player's Handbook 4e -Abilities I like 'em all, so I'd keep Str, Dex, Con, Int, Wis, Cha. I'd try to streamline figured stats or various adjustments (lifting, dodging...

Party leadership Ideally, the party leader is Player Character trusted most by the others to make decisions on their behalf, hopefully with some input and brief discussion. In actuality, it is often the most assertive gamer, whose character may or may not be qualified to lead. A Chaotic Neutral...

Real groups in play Yeah, I've had groups that paid attention to continuity/plot, setting and history, and to Player Character development, and I've had those where people were impatiently waiting for their turn to kill and loot, distracted by books or electronics, or more interested in...

Do gamers need a map and miniatures? I've also been role-playing and G.M.'ing since about 1982 and have used miniatures on and off through the years. I have fond memories of painting the early lead-based figurines back in AD&D1, then using counters sporadically, then relying on my gamers'...

A good science fiction adventure Well, it depends on the subgenre of science fiction you're talking about. Cyberpunk should have intrigue, noirish urban atmosphere, and interesting technology, whether in cyberspace or as potential gear/enhancements. Lethal combat, potential backstabbling, and a...

Modern monsters Without getting into current U.S. politics (since the country is fairly evenly divided right now, anyway), here's some thoughts: -What does our modern culture label as "monstrous" and why? Some things don't change: Cannibals (Jeffery Dahmer), child abusers, and those who lack...

Why you should watch "Avatar: the Last Airbender" I agree with those who posted above that Nickelodeon's "Avatar: the Last Airbender" is worth watching, and not just because the late Mako was one of the voice actors. Now in its second or third season (I've already preordered the season...

Money in games Yes, I would play in a setting with no money. In many D20 settings, money is rather abstract ("credits" in many space opera worlds) or a wealth difficulty check (especially for modern or superheroes). Also, currency is as much a function of a centralized government as of...

Short-term games I agree that there's nothing wrong with short-term campaigns, if that's what your group prefers. Here are a few more suggestions: -Hang on to your Player Characters records. Perhaps, at some point, have each role-player bring his or her favorite fourth-level P.C. and create a...

More on alignments The rules in various D&D3.5 books are specific on how a Paladin who has done evil must atone for his sins if he wants to continue serving his deity (and to regain his abilities). A clever evil character will continue to do as he pleases but work hard to avoid confrontation...

Alignments Yes, for a more realistic game, you can just not use alignments, as many D20/OGL settings have done. However, in a world where multiple deities exist, Clerics heal, Paladins smite, and Necromancers pervert the natural order by raising and controlling undead, it's hard to use the...

Homebrew vs. published settings First off, I must admit to being a worldbuilding Game Master, with more than 5,000 years of continuity running from heroic fantasy through steampunk, modern/superhero, cyberpunk, and space opera eras. Much of it is in outline form, but each genre/setting is...

Tiger mech in Belgium I must have somehow missed that when I visited Brugge earlier this year, but I will have to find a way to work the mechanical tiger into a steampunk/fantasy scenario sometime... Very cool!

Campaign ideas I sympathize. Here are a few suggestions: -While I also prefer to start Player Characters at first level, how about offering new (sub)races and classes? Unearthed Arcana and Savage Species have some options. -If your settings are too "vanilla," try creating some cultures based...