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Because Marc Miller got it right from the get-go. ;)

As a general observation, no system can be a perfect simulation or emulation of its subject. The goal of any design for a simulator or emulator is to reduce the error to the point where it is inconsequential for the purpose for which it is being used. In the case of tabletop roleplaying...

Appreciate the compliment. It expands on my Blackmarsh setting and puts a spotlight on traditional adventure sites—while also using cultural and religious conflicts as a key driver for campaigns. For now it open to late pledges and the unedited draft is available to backers...

Keep in mind that the goal in bankruptcy is to pay off as many debts as possible. So whatever money is available gets divided proportionally among the creditors, based on how much they’re owed. But some debts are tied to a specific asset, something the bankrupt person or company owns. For...

I did some digging and found several articles similar to this. https://www.cozen.com/news-resources/publications/2020/is-your-consignment-really-a-consignment It appears that if you are going to commit a high value amount of inventory for consignment, there are some steps you should take...

Thanks for posting the interview! Also, I appreciate the work you've done over the years in doing the OSR New Roundup.

My Kickstarter for Into the Majestic Fantasy Realms: the Northern Marches is now in its last three days. https://batintheattic.blogspot.com/2025/06/into-majestic-fantasy-realms-final.html

For those interested, I have released several additional previews showcasing the book's content. Previews www.batintheattic.com/majestic_fantasy_realms/MFR_Preview_01.pdf www.batintheattic.com/majestic_fantasy_realms/MFR_Preview_02.pdf...

I just posted my second preview focused on the Southlands and the Kubar Steppes. Preview @ https://www.batintheattic.com/majestic_fantasy_realms/MFR_Preview_02.pdf

Thanks for the reply, but it’s worth pointing out that you didn’t actually refute the argument I made. Instead, you shifted the conversation, reframing my position and softening your own, without addressing the core contradiction I raised. Let’s break it down: You Avoid Refuting My Point by...

You're shifting the goalposts here. In the post you quoted, I explicitly said: "The story is discovered through play, not authored in advance." That’s a direct rejection of story arcs or pre-planned narratives. You claimed I was referencing “story arcs” or “stories planned in advance,” but...

It is about your interests, your own words make that clear: You didn’t say one player, or an isolated moment. You described the entire table, players plural, doing what they wanted. And you made it clear that if their choices didn’t meet your threshold for stakes or pathos, you’d step in and...

I’m pointing out the inconsistency in criticizing the authority of traditional referees while giving a pass to similar practices, just because they're framed differently or not enshrined in system mechanics. By your own admission, you still put your thumb on the scale to ensure the campaign...

Thanks for the clarification, but I think this cuts to the heart of the issue. You're saying that you're fine with players doing what they want, until it stops being interesting for you. At that point, you intervene to move things along, skip ahead, or ask players to clarify what they’re...

Let’s not reframe the issue. The core fact remains: without you as the referee, the campaign doesn’t happen. It doesn’t matter what authority the rules distribute or limit, if you dislike the direction the players want to take, you can always walk away. Whether it’s “stakeless shopping...

Sure, as long as it’s acknowledged that you’re putting your thumb on the scale so the campaign reflects your creative agenda as well as the players’. And since you’re the referee, that gives you an effective veto, regardless of what the system claims, because without you, the campaign doesn’t...

So when players are engaged in what they want to do, even if it's aimless wandering or just in-character fluff with no real stakes or pathos, you step in and "move things along" if it doesn’t meet your standard for dramatic weight? That sounds less like freedom and creative collaboration and...

An observation on this: in many campaigns, regardless of play style, the issue isn’t whether the players win, but how they win. Eventually, players become skilled enough to handle all but the most dangerous threats. But even then, challenges remain. The nature of the complications shifts...

After reading up on Burning Wheel and talking to friends who’ve played it extensively since release, I’d describe it more precisely as a game that challenges a character’s beliefs and motivations in dramatic ways. How those challenges play out can vary significantly, often depending on player...