Random Encounters Disarm Chekov's Gun

Sep 14, 2024 · 2 min read · Theory White Wolf Blorb

Chekov's gun poses a real threat to some games.

If a group playing Vampire: The Masquerade ('VtM') encounter a Ravnos, spinning illusions, and confusing mortals, then the next time they hear about unusual events, they will assume that the Ravnos did this. Clearly - the Ravnos is part of the plot! After all, VtM draws …

The Module Decalogue

May 17, 2024 · 13 min read · Design Aesthetics Blorb

Ronald Knox wrote ten rules on how to avoid ruining a murder mystery with an unsatisfying solution. They apply very well to writing and running RPG modules, with a little alteration.

And just like any module or murder mystery, I'm going to start with a problem, then undress it slowly.

How to Ruin a Story

Suppose your …

The Cost of Shared Narrative

Feb 24, 2024 · 3 min read · Theory Blorb

RPGs with a shared narrative mechanic - where players and the GM both come up with interesting people, results, and situations - come with a cost. They pull focus away from the puzzle elements of the RPG, and that's my favourite element, so I can't see myself enjoying shared narration mechanics.

Let's start with an …

Running an RPG in Real-Time, All the Time

Dec 26, 2023 · 4 min read · Realtime Blorb

Last year, I got excited about the idea of tracking realworld time over downtime . Shortly after I implemented it in my campaign, and it served the entire table, very well.

The Perspective Flip

Real-time RPGs look strange if you look at them from the wrong end. Let me turn it around for you:

The players are just …

Dungeons Need More Space

Apr 23, 2023 · 3 min read · Blorb Theory

The dungeon ecosystem doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but I think Tolkien has a fix.

Wandering Monsters Don't Make Sense

I love the formula. In the cold depths, something approaches, and it wants to eat you.

Deep underground, you tread carefully, then stop as you hear heavy footsteps. Or perhaps those aren't feet? …

Always Say the Target Number

Jan 8, 2023 · 3 min read · Blorb Theory

A player rolls the dice, and the table watches the result, like a roulette ball bouncing about. Rothgar has a +4 to make the jump, but the chasm demands a Target Number (TN) of 12.

The player rolls 2D6...

1               (( _______
2     _______     /\O    O\
3    /O     /\   /  \      \
4   /   O  /O \ / O  \O____O\ …

Real Time Passing Between Games

Nov 21, 2022 · 6 min read · Theory Blorb

RPG Vloggers chatting about Gygax note on real-world time-synchronization have got me thinking about really using this rule. In case you haven't heard the idea - Gygax demanded that every day which passes in the real-world, one day passes in the game. The troupe starts and ends their games somewhere safe, like a …
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System Realism Matters

Sep 2, 2022 · 2 min read · Realtime Blorb Theory

A hundred paces down the dark tunnel, you see dozens of goblins dancing round a fire and singing about eating anything that moves.

At this point the crew begin to plot.

Could we just stay here and shoot at the goblins? We should be able to get a load of arrows off in three rounds.
If we run back to where we avoided …

I Want Realistic Dragons

Jun 14, 2022 · 2 min read · Theory Blorb

Weighing into an ancient (or at least senile) fantasy debate, I'd like to go back a step. The debate usually goes like this:

An elf punching a dragon to death because of monk-training isn't realistic.

1    You think dragons are "realistic"?

No, but a certain semblance, in certain regards, to reality, which …