Justin Nichol and I continue our discussion, or training, regarding game design. This session (in 5 videos) delves into the way we talk / the way we roll. The topic shifts quite logically from whether & when describing things colorfully works, to gaudy and painful consequences of moment-by-moment decision-making.
You are here
Seminar
What is this table-top role-playing thing? How does it work, what does it do, what kind of designs do which things? I've got some ideas, and so do you. This is where we talk about it - like this!
Some of my posts here present a concept, game title, or a historical hobby event for discussion in the comments, so join in with a will. You'll also find interviews and conversations.
I'm also recording what I guess I call "labs," which are organized and prepared at the Patreon. I run them on Mondays using Discord, and anyone pledging there can participate when they feel like it.
Posted by: Ron Edwards
09 Dec 2018
Games: Wushu, Tunnels & Trolls, Dogs in the Vineyard, Primetime Adventures, Cyberpunk, Trollbabe, Venus 2041, Sorcerer, Champions, Kinfolk
18 comments
Here's the second session with Justin Nichols as I test my current notions of a Design Curriculum upon him. Last time, we talked about the desireable "reward" cycle of excitement, engagement with the procedures, and inspiration. This time it's about a particular structural rubric you can find attached to this post.
Posted by: Ron Edwards
29 Nov 2018
Games: Kinfolk, Circle of Hands, Ghost/Echo, S/Lay w/Me, Werewolf: the Apocalypse, Zero, Marvel Heroic Roleplaying
5 comments
I cannot as yet summarize or eulogize or otherwise "state" my response to Greg's death. It wasn't that much of a surprise, yet was as hard as they all have been. He was a grandmaster of this activity we do, and he was my friend.
This five-video discussion is more of a celebration of encountering his work, with a little bit of reminiscence occasionally. I don't have much to add except for these:
Posted by: Ron Edwards
26 Nov 2018
Games: Stormbringer, Call of Cthulhu, Hero Wars, HeroQuest, RuneQuest, Pendragon, Fading Suns, Ghostbusters, Legend of the five rings, Circle of Hands, Prince Valiant
7 comments
I've been working up a Design curriculum for role-playing for a long while, so when Justin Nichols approached me for a game design discussion that leaned toward mentoring, I accepted without reservation.
Posted by: Ron Edwards
24 Nov 2018
Games: Kinfolk, Dogs in the Vineyard, Lace and Steel, Vampire: the Masquerade, Werewolf: the Apocalypse, Apocalypse World
6 comments
Hey! Alex cleverly informed Paul and me that he wanted to do an interview after we were trapped in the back seat on the way to Lucca from our apartment (in Viareggio? one of those coastal towns). I can now boast that I was able to unburden my soul to a geisha! Because cosplayers count.
Posted by: Ron Edwards
13 Nov 2018
Games: The Clay That Woke, Sorcerer, Champions
2 comments
Last October 31st, I went to the first conference of the Italian role-playing games authors, which has been held during the Lucca Comics & Games 2018 fair, and to which I partook with a small speech with the same title of this post, and with the following abstract:
Posted by: Daniele Di Rubbo
11 Nov 2018
0 comments
Here’s one of the two workshops I presented at Lucca. It was prompted by two short videos I posted here in the past few months: The role of the roll and Emergent plot techniques, which have led me to a generally larger argument.
Posted by: Ron Edwards
11 Nov 2018
Games: Sorcerer, Apocalypse World, Fate, Hong Kong Action Theater, Call of Cthulhu, Lovecraftesque, Dungeons and Dragons 3rd edition, Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition, Circle of Hands, Savage Worlds, Ganakagok, Dogs in the Vineyard
3 comments
In his series of G+ posts based on reading/reflecting on games, Jason D'Angelo mentioned he'd be going through Dungeons & Dragons (1977), by J. Eric Holmes. Unable to resist, I asked him to chat me with about that, and so here we are.
Some of the points in there bear further deep-dives. If you agree, find one or two and say so.
Posted by: Ron Edwards
27 Oct 2018
14 comments
Ron’s ideas for Actual Play Reports have started me thinking about the usefulness of his approach for an upcoming experience I’m going to try in my 9th grade English classes.
Posted by: robowist
20 Oct 2018
8 comments
Usually I wait a week to post Monday Labs, partly to get enough time to edit properly, partly to keep at least something on a regular cycle at the site. But this time I couldn't help myself, it's been only two days and here you go.
Posted by: Ron Edwards
19 Sep 2018
Games: Call of Cthulhu, Tunnels & Trolls, Trail of Cthulhu, Flashing Blades, Apocalypse World, Alternity, Trollbabe, Extreme Vengeance, Champions, Space Master, Blades in the Dark, Planescape, No Country for Old Kobolds, TFT: In the Labyrinth, Usagi Yojimbo
7 comments