Author: Phil Vecchione

With the new year, I started up a game of Underground as my way to break out of my slump. The results have been quite promising, and I am having a lot of fun running this game. Part of my pledge in breaking my slump was to shake things up and do things differently from how I have run games in the past. To that end, I implemented some new techniques for managing this campaign. One of those techniques includes a more formalized way of reviewing…

This article is long overdue. I had intentions of playing SoE before I wrote the article about the game mechanics, but alas the Autumn is a very busy time for me at work, and quickly my time to organize a game and test drive SoE evaporated. As not to delay things too long, I will review the game mechanics as someone who has 30 years of gaming, and hundreds of systems under my belt. So let’s take a tour of the mechanics of Shadows of…

Last week, Matt and I had an opportunity to get a private tour of the new campaign management software, Realm Works, with Rob and John from Lone Wolf Development . Our tour lasted two and a half hours and we got to see every nook and cranny of the software. I am going to do the play-by-play about what we saw, and Matt is going to be adding the color commentary. Disclaimer- Phil is a backer of the Realm Works Kickstarter. Further Disclaimer – After…

In line with the New Year, New Game challenge, and as a way to break out of my slump, I have started up a new campaign in an old game system: Underground. My plan to break the slump was to change things up and get out of the old habits I used to run my sessions and campaigns. To start that off on the right foot, I changed up how I put together the campaign by making a stew of some of the best campaign setup techniques…

I have in the past (here and here) talked about my love for the Story Forge Cards. This is going to be another one of those moments. If you have not gone out and gotten this great inspirational tool, I beg you to read this article to see another example of how cool these cards are, and then go order a pack. If you are already a card carrying member of the Story Forge, then let me take a few minutes to show you a…

I had every intention this week of writing an article about using rules outside of their initial design, and the pitfalls and opportunities that surround that. That was the plan, and I promise that at some point I will come back to that topic. Instead, I wanted to talk about something that I think every GM who has been behind the screen long enough has encountered… a slump. Not The S Word?! Slump. S-l-u-m-p. There I said it. I have been trying to avoid admitting…

I have always loved a good conspiracy. I am drawn to the ideas of cabals, cover ups, and the intricate machinations of a good conspiracy. A conspiracy is a great foundation for any kind of RPG – from a plot to assassinate the King, to secret drug testing on school children, to a galactic corporation looking to subvert an entire planet. Today I am going to reveal my secrets about what makes up a good conspiracy, and how you can build a conspiracy of your…