Johnn's RPG Musings Archives - Roleplaying Tips

Kill GM Procrastination With Your First Move

When game master procrastination hits, I do what I call my First Move. Nail your first move, and prep instantly gets a lot easier.

8 Ways To Use Riddles

Roleplaying Tips Newsletter #0798 I have rivers without water,Forests without trees,Mountains without rocksTowns without houses. I love riddles. You’ve probably got a book of riddles on your shelf, too. But when your campaign or adventure theme does not support classic dungeon riddle play, how do you put riddles in your campaign? Here are a few […]

How to Use the Other Kind of Intelligence

Recently I challenged you to place a spy in the party. In response, RPT reader Joshua Barry wrote in with some excellent tips on Tactical vs. Strategic spying with some great fantasy examples I’d like to share with you today. Let’s dive in! [graphic-divider] I’d like to expand on your definition of a spy and look […]

The King’s Man

I watched a crime show last night. Turns out the thug who was busted on suspicion of capping the victim is an undercover federal agent. A King’s Man. Today I want you to add a spy in your game.

Megadungeons: Drama Works Best When There Are Contrasting Moods

Today’s Musing is part of this month’s RPG Blog Carnvial about megadungeons is brought to you by RPT reader Ydars who wrote in response to my recent piece about how Dang Megadungeons Break My Heart. He’s got some great ideas I want to share with you: Dear Johnn, Megadungeons are difficult beasts to run because […]

Dang Megadungeons Break My Heart

The problem with megadungeons is I get bored of them and the campaign stalls. But here’s four clever ways to drop them into your games and use them well.

How to Avoid a TPK When GMing Intense Encounters

With the Encounter Intensify Technique you increase the stakes during an encounter to give your players a jolt of adrenaline. Just when you think it can’t get worse or more desperate, it does.

A reader asked me how to avoid wiping the party, because I advised picking a moment when encounter outcome seems dubious. Pick a low moment for the PCs to ramp up that intensity.

It’s just like in the movies. Something bad happens to the hero. As the hero struggles, something even worse happens, putting the audience on the edge of its seat.

How to Make Your Encounters More Intense

Static RPG encounters become predictable. We roll initiative. PCs choose their targets. Grind until the last hit point. However, there’s a concept I’ve penned in my upcoming 5 Room Dungeons book called Intensify. Use this technique to make encounters come alive, surprise the PCs, and keep your players thoroughly entertained.

Monster Challenge

Had a great game of Out of the Abyss on Friday. Lots of funny gameplay stories came out of it. Here’s two, plus a monster challenge for you.

Trick Question For You – All Players Count

Here’s a trick question for you. If you have Bob, Yuan, Amy, Bjorn, and Alejandro in your group, how many players do you need to design for to have more fun at every game? The answer is…

Explosive Session Starts – Part II: Stakes and Consequences

Roleplaying Tips Newsletter #0738 Explosive Session Starts – Part II: Stakes and Consequences Last Musings I spoke of explosive sessions starts. After social time, inject energy right away so the session feeds off that the rest of the night. And, it turns out, the quality of how your session starts depends a lot on how […]

Explosive Session Starts – Part I: The Cajun Spice List

Here’s how to take an existing planned encounter and ensure it has spice for an explosive session start.

My powerfully-human way of getting players off the Kill-For-XP Track

Roleplaying Tips Newsletter #0732 My powerfully-human way of getting players off the Kill-For-XP Track A Roleplaying Tips GM wrote in with this problem: Johnn. My players are all about the XP! “If I can’t get XP for it, there’s no point.” Short of “I’ll give you XP if you can tell me what this quest […]

The craziest jerk I’ve been yet

I’ve done something terribly good and amazingly evil in my campaign. I don’t know whether to cackle in glee or hang my head in shame. Here’s what’s happening.