What’s your favorite tip or trick for running games?

  • GlyphOfAdBlocking@kbin.social
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    1 year ago
    • I like the investigation plot generation technique from TechNoir. Basically you have a 6x6 table of random plot points (people, places, rumors, things, factions, and items). Pick 3 randomly, and that is the seed of the plot. The PCs are pulled into it with a hook (in TechNoir the players pick 2 people from the list that their PC is connected to.) Then each time they would uncover a lead, another random element from the table is added in.
    • For my current Electric Bastionland game, I am using the Wikipedia list of car manufacturers as my name list. Previously, I had printed the Name of the Year brackets and used those.
    • Whimsy cards are awesome to add a bunch of mayhem to the game. I used them for the first time last Sunday, and my players loved them.
    • Every time the dice are rolled, there should be a consequence. If the PC has time and resources (and the action is possible in the world) it is done. If they are trying to pick a lock, and there is no consequence for failing, don’t roll. A failed roll at this point would just bog down the game with more rolls.
    • Don’t hide traps from the players. Solving the puzzle of how to defeat the trap is more fun than stumbling blindly into damage.

    Edit: A word