Carnival Row Revised

If you’ve been watching the second season of Carnival Row like I have, you know what an awesome setting it is. The season finale just dropped last Wednesday and it seems like a good time to remind you that there’s actually an official Carnival Row RPG using the Cypher system! And it’s free! It came out with the show’s original first season in 2019 but it’s been a lifetime since then so it’s worth looking at what new Cypher System options you could use if you want to dust off your Carnival Row RPG pdf and head back into the Burgh.

Better Worldbuilding with People

Today I want to talk about a thorny problem: race in gaming and how baked in racism is to fantasy and sci-fi. Specifically, I want to pass on my tips on how to avoid perpetuating it when you make your own world, or modify an existing world. I know this makes a lot of (white) people uncomfortable and that includes me, but hopefully you stick around anyways because this stuff is important.

ChatGPT and RPGs

The generative AI ChatGPT has been in the news lately for all sorts of reasons, most of them panicky. A lot of people are worried about how ChatGPT can change the world but there are also beneficial uses too! For example, it can be a really awesome resource for tabletop gaming.

Everdell Species for Root RPG

I love Everdell. It’s a wonderful, wholesome game with fun and tactical mechanics, plus it’s full of potential for an RPG adaptation. A frontrunner candidate is the Root RPG, and today I’m here with some mechanics ready to go!

Sample Scion Band as Demigods

After reviewing Demigod I’ve been wanting to update my characters for my home Scion game and show you what demigod characters look like. It took a bit because my roster is growing so sorry for the late post but here are some demigods for your own games!

Character Development in Star Trek Adventures

One of the best parts of Star Trek Adventures is how characters can change and grow through play. The inclusion of creating (and updating) Supporting Characters is a big part of this but PCs and Major NPCs can also change as a result.

And Around the Corner for Wanderhome

It’s been a bit since I posted here about Wanderhome, but it’s never left my heart. I’ve been quietly plugging away at a few different projects including a sequel to my supplement Down the Wandering Road. At long last that sequel is ready for the world to see!

Safety in Gaming by TTRPG Kids

I’m here with a special bonus post because I came across something important that lots of people need to see. Steph over at TTRPG Kids wrote up a post about safety tools for gaming with kids. This topic is important for every gaming table, and Steph does a great job of breaking it down for younger audiences.

If you haven’t thought of using safety tools with kids, this is your guide for doing so. Mostly, though, I think people are resistant to safety tools in general because it seems like a lot of work or like gaming groups won’t be able to do it productively. If little kids can do it, though, anyone can. Steph points out Consent in Gaming by Monte Cook Games which is a very excellent (and free!) resource and Steph does a great job of showing how to personalize it.

Anyways, this is just another reminder to use safety tools at your table and a shout out to Steph for a great summary.

Repost: Settings with Canon

With so many awesome games based on franchises, I thought it would be a good time to repost this article from a few years ago. I think it really helps and might inspire people considering games based on established stories. Originally I cited A Song of Ice and Fire Roleplaying and Adventures in Middle-earth to Star Trek Adventures and Mouse Guard but the list is even longer now. Tales of Xadia and The Terminator RPG are out, The One Ring has a new second edition, the Dune RPG, Avatar Legends, the Stargate RPG… There’s a lot out there, and I’m here to help you figure out how to play.

Repost: Creating Superhero Settings

If you, like me, are still excited about Moon Knight and looking forward to seeing In the Multiverse of Madness then you’ve got superheroes on the mind. With the new season of Mistconceptions out as well it’s a great time to think about a superhero game with the system of your choice (consider Sentinel Comics RPG if you don’t have a favorite). To that end, here are a few tips from way back in 2018 for giving yourself a world to set those superhero stories in!