Search results

It's pretty clear that the intent of the Time list is to present the fantasy genre as it ought to be, rather than the genre as it has been. I'd hazard several of the panelists have not read any fantasy novels written between 1950 and 1990, and many of the authors and works that fans would expect...

The difference with Game of Thrones is the long winter is something that’s referred to, but not experienced by the POV characters. So the obvious questions that would arise from being immersed in that environment don‘t arise. And like others have said, I engage an entirely different part of my...

Red Hand of Doom included typical questions that the PCs might ask important NPCs, and prepared dialogue responses. In a tidy, bulleted format. I think many new DMs would welcome that guidance.

There’s an element of RPG hobbyists who, like hardcore videogamers who admonish other players to “get good,” feel that GMing games should be difficult. Who take pride in the toil it took them to achieve their hard-won expertise. They learned how to memorize dozens of locations and NPCs, study...

It's funny that the OP asks about 'feel', and most of the posts talk about mechanics. Funny because in my experience with AD&D 1E mechanics faded into the background. When you were faced with a problem, the solution was rarely on your character sheet. If you weren't running a spellcaster, you...

They could present adventures in tiers: Tier 1: Level 1-4 adventure Tier 2: Level 5-8 Tier 3: Level 9-12 Publish two of each tier a year, at 112 pages each. Include suggestions for how to link each of the tiers up to the others (Tier 1 adventure A can link up to Tier 2 adventure A or Tier 2...

Or even study earlier WotC adventures, like the Red Hand of Doom.

Somewhere along the way, the level 1-14/16/20 campaign in a book became the default for D&D and Pathfinder. Even though WotC‘s own research shows 90 per cent of campaigns end before level 10. As with most of the other baffling adventure design and presentation choices, I suspect the real...

They don’t even have to do that. All the advice they need has already been captured time and again in WotC DM Guides and other sources of expertise on adventure and campaign design. The problem is not an institutional ignorance of effective adventure design - the problem is the spotty and...

A lot of people saying because they haven’t had much trouble learning PF2, then it’s not a complex game. But let’s be honest - we’re all uber nerds, and these sorts of forums attract people who revel in analysing and learning mechanics. We are far, far from typical gamers. A more objective or...

The interaction between perception, stealth, avoid notice, hide, sneak, concealed, observed, hidden, and undetected requires a flowchart to work out The dozens of actions and action types, which skills they use, and when they can be used. Weapon traits. Item runes. The dozens of conditions...

I also believe there's a powerful resistance on the part of RPG publishers to providing complete, compact summaries of the rules, out of fear of losing out on sales of those $60 hardcovers. I don't think it's a coincidence that the most effective rules summary in the history of the game, the...

Nailed it. WotC got a lot right with 5E, including the realization that complex, crunchy character optmization was an endeavor much more popular online than in the broad player-base. But they didn't shake off the assumption that every D&D group will be led by an alpha gamer who plays D&D as a...

And yet technical writing and instructional design are professional fields where people get paid a decent salary to do just that - make content easier to learn, reference, and understand by how it's presented. You can take entire courses and get diplomas in the fields. And I can tell you that...

Maze of the Blue Medusa is a good example of innovative presentation. You should read a review of two before purchasing, though - it's pretty gonzo. Barrowmaze is more conventional in content, though it too uses graphics and level summaries to present the dungeon. Both are indie OSR books. Then...

Absolutely. They've taken an extremely conservative approach. Maybe it's an (over)reaction to the more 'modern' layout and presentation of 4E.

The frustrating thing is other RPG publishers have demonstrated innovative and user-friendly ways to present adventures. Smart formatting, straightforward structure, call-outs, flowcharts, graphics, all essential information laid out clearly for use at the table. But WotC adventures are...

I'm having trouble thinking of a situation where you need to look up a mechanic at the table,, but you want to read it explained in a pleasing, conversational, text-heavy format.

Yes, in instructional documentation teaching procedures to new users and providing a reference to experienced users are two different kinds of content. A lot of boardgames have recognized this, and have separate Learn to Play Guides and Rules References. A further level of incoherence is added...

I'll tell you what I don't miss: the farts (looking at you, Bryce).