Running RPGs for Noobs - Forest City Comic Con 2014

rpgs for

N00bs

forest city comic con 2014

Mathew hoy !

@mathewh [email protected]


today’s topics

Getting started: play!

tools for game masters

starting out

magic in the game

challenges

q&A

play


find a game

check bulletin boards at your local game shop.

take part in free rpg day.

join a club.

join a game

organized play.

attend events like project play:

projectplay.ca

join online games!

why should you play?

to learn character creation, progression.

watch how other gms run games, solve problems, handle combat, etc.

learn from other players.

also helps you choose a game to run and intros you to other games you never considered.

rpg tools

for noobs


rpg resources

RPGS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH $$$ BUT DON’T HAVE TO BE!

YOU CAN DO A LOT WITH JUST A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, MONEY, AND AN OPEN MIND.

and youtube. youtube is great.


you don’t have to pay

LOOK INTO FREE GAMES.

ALL PATHFINDER RULES ARE FREE ONLINE, INCLUDING MONSTER STATS!

getting adventures

Need adventures?Pathfinder comics have maps!

get adventures online!

adapt adventures from other games to yours.

sourcing minis

anything is a mini!

As cheap or $$ as you want.

be open to ideas and solutions.

making maps

i draw my maps by hand in photoshop.

i use a HUION PRO 610 TABLET - $80.

stuck for ideas?

need a fast adventure idea?

buy a pack of magic: the gathering cards.

visit reddit.com/r/loremasters

visit epicroll.net


http://epicroll.net

lay of the land

need a map or terrain?

get a chessex playmat.

or, make one with large graph paper, white boards, or cardboard.

or, move away from terrain altogether!


starting out

setting the stage

establish house rules and common knowledge.

Establish expectations of and for players.


getting started

New around here?

read your rule book but don’t worry about the complex rules yet.

You probably won’t need to know advanced drowning rules in your first game.


forging ahead

change the rules if they suck, they’re only a suggestion anyway.

never, ever quarrel over rules. push on, side with players, and fix in post.

talk to folks who fight with you over rules. remove them if need be.


be adaptable

be flexible.

change the game as you go along.

don’t force players to action.

welcome players

new players?

have players intro themselves to others in-game. repeat often.

introduce new players to the game in familiar ways.


master illusionist

make your world adapt to your players, not them to it.

if you make a mistake Remember: no one but you knows.

That boss monster they 1-shotted? an illusion. Forgot a key npc in the castle? put them in an upcoming tavern.


toolbox


my toolbox - op

obsidian portal - $

I use it to manage pcs and npcs, items, house rules, maps, and an adventure summary

Google docs/sites

my toolbox - maps

find maps online

or DRAW maps & dungeons BY HAND

HUION PRO 610 TABLET - $80

my toolbox - dice

dice, either physical or digital.

have at least 2 full sets (to share).

my toolbox - time

doodle.com

helps schedule game sessions, esp with large groups of players.

my toolbox - terrain

dwarven forge - $

modular terrain and super expensive. Backed kickstarter and got a deal.

has some limitations…

put magic in the game


magic in games

hint at things.

be subtle.

be challenging.

let players shine.

magic in games

every few sessions, try to blow their minds.

use handouts, maps, treasure, lore, and more.

eg: Shadowrun

magic in games

use a wiki, website, or email to give players A chance to reflect on something they might have missed.

leave clues to larger (or smaller) things in there for them to discover.


magic in games

involve all players but if you’ve lots of them, just Focus on one or two each session.

include previous out of game jokes or good times into your sessions.


challenges

challenges

dice towers

hearthstone

amazon.com

digital tools

# of players

schedules

q&a?


contact

keep in touch!

@mathewh

[email protected]

!

At project play on nov 23, will be part 2 of this preso, all about creating an adventure from scratch.


rpgs for

N00bs


Running RPGs for Noobs - Forest City Comic Con 2014

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Transcript of Running RPGs for Noobs - Forest City Comic Con 2014