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1.TEN TIPS FOR STRESS-FREE GAMEMASTERING
2.HUMOR IN ROLEPLAYING Some Tips For the GM 3.WORLDBUILDING: Settlements & Societies - The Basic Information 4.WORLDBUILDING: Creating a Distinctive Culture 5.WORLDBUILDING: Creating Customs For Cultures Optional Methods 6.GM RESOURCE: An Encounter Checklist 7.REFERENCE: Uncommon Words As Potential Names 8.REFERENCE: Non-English Words As Potential Names |
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1. TEN TIPS FOR STRESS-FREE GAMEMASTERING
by Kevin Davies
First Published: January 5, 2000 by The Gaming Outpost (Netzine):
http://www.gamingoutpost.com
Like many gamers, when I first entered the hobby, I thought that it was desirable and even necessary to have rules to account for the outcome of every possible Character action or environmental condition. Thick rulebooks were the norm, although roleplay games were typically thin on descriptive and inspirational background material.
While Gamemastering a gaming group over a 10 year period, my outlook was altered by two factors: first, that many of the rules established by the games I played didn't provide what I thought was an 'adequate simulation' of the actions I was trying to recreate in my adventures, and second, that so many rules inevitably led to numerous game stoppages requiring rulebook consultations and occasional player debates. Additionally, I rarely had the time to prepare a detailed adventure in advance for the weekly session -- I was forced to 'wing-it'. Drawing on my experiences as a GM I've put together the following tips for stress-free and fun-filled Gamemastering.
1. | Make having fun your goal. More than anything else, keep in mind that the primary objective of playing any game is for everyone to have a good time -- the GM and all the players. The satisfaction of having spent your time well, in the company of people whose companionship you've enjoyed, and together experienced an adventure, is what it's all about. |
2. | Give everyone a chance to participate. Both the GM and players need to cut others some slack -- especially if they're new to roleplaying. Offer roleplaying suggestions where appropriate but don't roleplay other people's Characters for them. While you should not discourage the louder, enthusiastic players, they should not be the only ones who get to influence the outcome of the game; make an effort to involve shy or quiet players by asking each player in turn (after describing the current game events that pertain to their Character), "What are YOU doing now?" |
3. | Play with people you like. You should not feel obligated to play with people you dislike or who dislike you. If you think you've given another player a fair chance to 'fit in' with your group and they continue to be abrasive or disruptive, tell them, in a 'friendly way', what they're doing that's upsetting and give them the option to change their behavior or leave the group. |
4. | There are two types of games: Character Hostile and Character Neutral. Tell the players which style you're using (or give them the option of choosing) before gameplay begins. Character Hostile games were common in the early days of roleplaying and most often take the form of 'dungeon crawls'. A Gamemaster creates an environment full of nasty creatures hoarding lots of treasure, while the players, knowing full well that the GM is out to kill their Characters (and in some cases, the Characters are out to kill each other), enter and try to emerge wealthy and in one piece. Character Neutral games are best for realistic scenarios and prolonged campaigns. The Gamemaster, rather than taking the side of the Creatures and Gamemaster Characters and competing against the player's Characters, instead presents situations and conflicts that contribute to making the most interesting story possible. Situations which allow Character development and the accumulation of a 'personal history' should be pursued. |
5. | Use the simplest rules you can find that make sense to you. I personally prefer a system where either a d10 or d100 is used for practically all rolls; occasionally I include d6's for a smaller numeric range of inflicted Damage. All Skills are expressed as a percentage; all Stats (rolled against when no Skill is available or applicable) are factored up to a percentage. Details of specific 'current conditions' can be included as modifiers to your action resolution rolls by applying +/- 5% toward the target number (Action Value) prior to rolling. Simple. Fast. Effective. The rules you choose will often reflect the seriousness of the stories you wish to roleplay. Humorous games, where Character death rarely occurs (though great pain and embarrassment is frequent), are well suited to a minimalist system -- even diceless. Serious games, where Character death is a real and ever-present danger, may require more specific rules, to convince the players that the GM is unbiased when they reveal that a Character has taken a bullet to the leg and must now suffer wound trauma. Use the level of detail that is right for your game. Be consistent and fair. |
6. | Only roll dice when necessary. There are two situations where it is desirable for a GM or player to roll dice: a) When an action resolution result is required that can't reasonably be provided by a direct GM response, and b) When you want to scare a player into thinking that you've got something up your sleeve and thus keep them on their toes -- this is an artificial means that the GM can use to instill tension into a situation when the players' roleplaying skills are not capable of adequately providing it for their Character. At any other time you can simply provide a description of the outcome of a Character's action attempt. |
7. | Don't hold back a Character. If a Character's desired action seems at all plausible (given the genre you're playing) let them attempt it and use the outcome (successful or not) to stimulate the plot of the adventure. Some GMs will limit their players by stating that their Character can't even attempt a specific act. This will only result in timid players and a less exciting game. Try not to deny Characters the opportunity to attempt things -- let the players set their Characters' own limitations based on their experiences of past failures. |
8. | Play to the Characters. Try to get to know each Character's distinctions and then over the course of the adventure provide at least one event or encounter specifically geared to their interests, skills expertise, personal traits, or weaknesses. If another Character takes the bait instead, go with it. However, if you've constructed the situation correctly, it should be clear that the party must address the situation through the targeted Character. |
9. | Go with the flow. This is crucial to stress-free Gamemastering and difficult for some to apply. If you've established an outline or script for your plot in advance and the Characters take a sudden turn which causes them to omit a location or event, let it go. Remember, the Characters don't know what cool thing they've missed -- they're responding to events as they've encountered them. Concern yourself with what 'logical' encounter or event the Characters would experience on their new course, rather than worrying about what they could have seen. |
10. | Let the Adventure write itself. If you're GMing without a predetermined and detailed plot, pay attention to what the Characters say and do and use their successful actions (and failures) as windows of opportunity to introduce Gamemaster Characters and events (e.g., a crisis or opportunity requiring a quick response) into the developing story. When you confront the Characters with an event or encounter try to consider two or three possible outcomes to the situation and how they might impact on the plot. Just ask yourself: "What 3 possible things could happen next?" Then, when the Characters act in response, you can smoothly present whatever events that flow logically from the situation. If the Characters act in a way that you did not consider, again, go with the flow and see where it leads. You will often be thrilled by the results. |
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PLAUSIBILITY: A silly idea is great, yet it must still be 'plausible' within the twisted logic employed by the universe of the storyline, in order to seem reasonable to the Characters and ultimately acceptable for the players. The Characters must seem like they're in a real place. Not everything can seem totally ludicrous; there must be a grounding of internal logic, even if that logic appears somewhat skewed from the perspective of the Character, especially if they are an otherworldly visitor.
CULTURE CLASH HUMOR: Make an act deemed 'common' and insignificant by the propagator's culture 'insulting' or a taboo to the culture that they're currently visiting. This is a great way to initiate misunderstandings and get a Character into hot water.
HORROR HUMOR: Describe an act which based on the standards of your culture would be considered 'horrible' (e.g., someone is grabbed and used as a ram to bash down a door), then make the reaction of the 'victim' the opposite of what would be expected (e.g. the victim is proud to be used as a ram because it raises his status among his acquaintances for being a part of such a useful accomplishment).
HUMOROUS OBJECTS: Objects should be impractical and bizarrely constructed. However they must also be useful and valuable to the Character in some way in order to be successfully employed for gameplay.
GAG CONSTRUCTION -- BUILD ON ONE THEME: When constructing a gag, focus on the one or two shticks you're pushing, and build those -- without adding other stuff which distracts from the focus or references alternative sources in another direction -- thus, diminishing the main gag. Build the gag through the name(s) you use, references, behaviors, traits, etc. Everything should work together -- nothing should distract the reader to muddy the picture you've been painting with your words.
GAG CONSTRUCTION -- DESCRIPTIVE TEXT AND THE RULE OF THREE: A good device when presenting a list of examples of a specific thing is to describe three (occasionally 4+), all valid for the subject, but with the last also humorous (e.g. for desirable but unattainable high-tech inventions: cold fusion, perpetual motion machines, and peanut butter that won't stick to the roof of your mouth).
GAG CONSTRUCTION -- NAMES: One of the best tricks to establish a humorous situation is to make the name of something or someone amusing. Examples follow:
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1. | Geographical Location |
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2. | Population: Size, Racial Mix, Health, Special Skills and Abilities |
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3. | History: Record & Legend |
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4. | Community Secret |
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5. | What Unusual Taboos or Restrictive Laws Exist in the Community |
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6. | How Do the Inhabitants Perceive:
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7. | Extent of Contact With Other Communities & It's Impact on the People |
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8. | Industry: Main Resources, Goods & Services Produced |
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9. | Level of Technology & It's Impact (Old and/or New) |
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10. | Level of Mana (Supernatural Force) Locally & Its Impact |
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11. | Economy: Economic Health and Means of Trade |
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12. | Current Mode of Government & Political Scene |
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13. | Main Goal and/or Desire of the Community |
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14. | Main Dilemma Standing in the Way Of Achieving Community Goal |
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1. | Ask three questions: what if, if only, and if this continues then
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2. | Take customs from various cultures, combine and exaggerate them. |
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3. | Take problems faced by cultures on Earth and provide them with unheard of solutions. |
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4. | Highlight a specific quality of a Character (e.g., a Known Skill, Ability, or Attribute). |
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5. | Take a practice that would not be conceived of in our culture or something we strongly disapprove of and make it the norm in another culture (e.g., women having their breasts removed once they decided not to have any more children). |
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Any Encounter experienced by the Player Characters during a roleplay game should do one or more of the following:
1. | Provide PCs with new information which they can use to advance the plot of the adventure. |
2. | Reveal something new about the environment, the lifeforms, and cultures of the area. |
3. | Permit the Characters' personalities a chance to develop by engaging others and experiencing new people, opinions, cultural customs, traditions, and attitudes, and things. |
4. | Highlight a specific quality of a Character (e.g., a Known Skill, Ability, or Attribute). |
5. | Offer an opportunity to further the Player Characters' goals and ambitions. |
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One of the tricks for humorous or exotic adventures is to use names that are actually descriptive of their owner. While it is always possible to go for the direct and obvious words (e.g., Dirtbag the Nasty), it is often more interesting to use less common words from slang or other languages. Another potential reference for names is a pop culture reference (e.g., Mean Mr Mustard or Bungalo Bill). Provided below are some uncommon words (and their definitions) which you may find useful as names for Characters or Places in your adventures.
Addle | rotten, putrid, worthless |
Ambsas and/or Amesace | 2 lowest numbers in dice, bad luck |
Amadou | firebrand, live coal, torch, light, flambeau, match, cresset, ember, agitator, instigator, rabble-rouser, terrorist, troublemaker, mischief-maker, wreck |
Anathema | curse, devoted to evil, something hung up |
Baksheesh | bribe |
Bale | [Icelandic] Evil |
Basilisco | braggart, cowardly knight |
Bauble | short stick, ornamented with asses ears, carried by licensed fools; child's toy |
Belladonna | poison |
Bender | drunk, drunken binge |
Bobby | police officer |
Boffin | research scientist |
Borachio | drunkard |
Brigante | marauding, quarrelsome, robber pirate |
Bromide | one given to trite remarks |
Bunko | a trick |
Burble | to mutter nonsense |
Burke | to murder by smothering |
Cad | low, vulgar, nasty |
Cadger | scoundrel |
Cagmag | offal, bad meat |
Canard | hoax, to make a fool of, duck |
Claquer | someone who provides false applause |
Codswallop | nonsense; mineral water; weak beer |
Coggeshall | foolish, madness, stupidity, drawing the wrong conclusion |
Conker | large nosed person who hits things to break them; horse chestnut |
Corydon | rustic, brainless sheep-herd. Lovesick |
Covin | legal term for a conspiracy, collusion, fraud, deception |
Coystril | knave, varlet, coward, knight's attendant; 2 edged dagger |
Cozen | a cheat, a sponger, lives off others |
Crudel | cruel one |
Cuspidor | spittoon |
Dinkum | [Australian & New Zealand] true, genuine, real, honest, sincere |
Doddypol | blockhead, foolish, silly |
Dotterel | doting old fool. Bird, easily approached and caught |
Dulcarnon | a puzzling question, horns of a dilemma |
Dulcinea | lady love of Don Quixote |
Dunghill | coward, villain |
Ephesian | a jolly companion |
Erinyes | avengers of wrong. 3 daughters of Gaea (Earth) & Darkness: Tisiphone (Avenger of Blood), Alecto (Implacable), Magaera (Jealous One). |
Fanfaron | swaggering bully, cowardly boaster, vain, wearing of finery and lace worn by military men, ostentatious display |
Farrago | a confused heap of nonsense. Cow meal mixture |
Fash | excited, anger |
Fiasco | a complete failure |
Filch | steal, rob, pilfer |
Flibbertigibbet | mischievous gossip, Puck |
Flotsam | garbage floating on the water |
Fob | hoax |
Galimatias | gibberish |
Ganelon | black-hearted, treachery, jealousy |
Gowk | fool, simpleton |
Gras | fat |
Greegrees | [African] amulets, charms, fetishes |
Grog | booze, spirits |
Grognards | 'Grumbler': A nickname given to grunt soldiers by older, cynical, weathered veterans |
Guniff | thief |
Hancubites | street bullies. Others include: Muns, Scowerers, Mohocks |
Havoc | military command; to massacre without quarter |
Hillman Imp | British Car |
Hoberd | a fool |
Hokey-pokey | nonsense, cheap ice-cream |
Jackal | a toady, does the dirty work for another |
Jackanapes | pert, vulgar, apish little fellow, a prig |
Jeames | a flunky, an assistant |
Jetsam | garbage thrown overboard |
Juggins | simpleton, gambler, squanderer |
Kitsch | bad taste and social ineptness |
Klephts | robbers who hang out in the mountains |
Knave | [Australian] male youth, servant, dishonorable rascal, flirt (knave of hearts) |
Larrikin | young ruffian, hooligan |
Lich | a corpse |
Loggerheads | squabbling, fisticuffs, blockhead |
Lorel | worthless person |
Louper | vagabond criminals who roam the countryside robbing & running |
Malkin | grotesque puppet |
Miching | skulking, sneaking, mischief |
Moloch | influence demands you sacrifice what you hold most dear |
Moonrakers | simpletons; feigned stupidity by smugglers when raking a pond for smuggled brandy when encountered by excise taxmen: they tell them they're raking for the moon as reflected in the water |
Muff | awkward at sports, effeminate, dull, stupid, blundering, dolt |
Muggins | fool, simpleton. Mug |
Mumpers | beggars, cheats, spongers, wretches |
Olio | mixture of meat, vegetables, spices, boiled in a stew pot. Any hotchpotch of ingredients |
Ondit | rumor, gossip |
Onus | burden of responsibility |
Peccant | sinning, morbid, inducing disease |
Pecksniff | a hypocrite who forgives wrongdoing in nobody but himself, and does heartless things as a duty to society |
Placebo | flatter, innocuous medicine, A fake pill. |
Placid | Mild, peaceful, serene |
Plonk | [Australian] Red biddy-pinkie. Cheap red wine. |
Plummy | Good, rich, desirable; or, speaking as if with a plumb in one's mouth |
Praters | [British] Pious Beggars who specialize in street hymn singing and evangelizing. They spout passages of the Bible and lace their talk with Bible references. |
Prog | to forage for food, to poke about |
Pumpernickel | petty German princlings, who make a great show of etiquette, with revenue almost nil. Coarse rye bread. |
Ragamuffin | a sorry creature in rags |
Rodomont | bragging, blustering leader |
Sanguine | bloody, full of vitality, vivacious, confident, hopeful |
Sciron | [Greek] Robber slain by Theseus. He forced travelers to jump off a cliff into the sea where they would be devoured by a sea monster |
Scourge | whip, lash, diseases that carry off great numbers |
Scunner | distaste, loathing |
Sitzkrieg | sitting war. phony war |
Skamble | ramblings, worthless |
Slubberdegullion | base fellow, nasty oaf, one who does things carelessly |
Slugabed | lazy, a late riser |
Split | to betray secrets, tell tales, give away accomplices |
Squab | short fat plump person |
Stephon | rustic lover |
Strafe | sharp, sudden, bombardment or machine gunning of people |
Strappado | [Italian.] Mode of torture. victim's hands are tied behind his back, pulled up to a beam by a rope, then dropped to dislocate the arms |
Sycophant | sponger, parasite, servile flatterer, professional prosecutors who blackmail wealthy citizens with threats of prosecution and litigation; blackmailers |
Uriah Heep | toady, malignant hypocrite, malicious |
Venal | a person that may be bribed, willing to lend support, exert influence, or sacrifice principals for mercenary motive and selfish gain |
Wag | humorous person, given to jest |
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8. REFERENCE: Non-English Words as Potential Names
by Kevin Davies
One of the tricks for humorous or exotic adventures is to use names that are actually descriptive of their owner. While it is always possible to go for the direct and obvious words (e.g., Dirtbag the Nasty), it is often more interesting to use less common words from slang or other languages. Another potential reference for names is a pop culture reference (e.g., Mean Mr Mustard or Bungalow Bill). Provided below are some non-English words (and their definitions) which you may find useful as names for Characters or places in your adventures.
JAPANESE WORDS (As Potential Names) | |
Bonjin | Mediocrity |
Gunjin | Soldier |
Henjin | Crackpot |
SPANISH WORDS (As Potential Names) | |
Abrazo | Hug, embrace |
Amarillo | Yellow |
Amenazar | To threaten, impending doom |
Amo | Master |
Ampolla | Blister |
Azul | Blue |
Baldio | Waste land, public domain |
Barrera | Barrier, barricade, fence |
Barroso | Muddy, pimpled, reddish |
Belleza | Beauty |
Boca | Mouth |
Brujo | Wizard |
Burro | Donkey |
Caballero | Knight, cavalier, gentleman |
Caballo | Horse |
Caliente | Hot |
Campeador | Warrior, champion |
Castello | Castle |
Caudillo | Strongman, political dictator |
Chico | Small boy, youngster |
Ciudad | City |
Colorado | Red |
Criado | Servant |
Embustero | Liar, deciever, trickster, fibber |
Emigrado | Exile |
Escritor | Writer |
Espada | Sword, matador nickname |
Esperanza | Hope, hopefulness |
Estancia | Large plantation or ranch |
Extraviar | To lead astray, mislay, misplace, lose ones way, deviate |
Hermana | Sister |
Hermano | Brother |
Hostelero | Innkeeper, host |
Ominoso | Omnious |
Optimista | Optimist, optimistic |
Padre | Father |
Pecado | Sin |
Pobre | Poor |
Poco | Little |
Simpatico | Congenial, likable, sympathetic, agreeable |
Tortura | Torture |
Tormento | Torment |
YIDDISH WORDS (As Potential Names) | |
Gonif | A thief or clever person. |
Kibbitz | To give unwanted advice. |
Kvetsch | One who complains constantly. |
Macher | One who gets things done. A mover and shaker. |
Maven | Expert. |
Megillah | A long, boring story. |
Meshugge | Crazy, strange, nonsensical. |
Mishegas | Insanity. |
Momser | Bastard. Clever bastard. |
Narr | A fool or clown. |
Nebbish | An ineffectual, unlucky dope, a nobody. |
Nudge | Pest, nag, bore. |
Nudnick | A yakky aggressively boring person. |
Putz | Simpleton or jerk. |
Shlemihl | Ultimate dope, someone who can do noting right. |
Shlep | To carry, to travel. |
Shlimazl | Unlucky person, a born loser. Bad luck. |
Shlock | Junk. |
Shlub | Ill-mannered clumsy klutz. |
Shmaltz | Sentimentality. |
Shmatta | Cloth rag. Anything worthless. |
Shmedrick | A timid pipsqueak. |
Shmeer | A spread, to grease; a bribe. |
Shnook | A pleasant but pathetic sap. More to be pitied than scorned. |
Shtick | A bit, stage business, a characteristic gimmick. |
Tsuris | Trouble, aggravation. Difficulties |
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