12/11/2022 0 Comments Can a dungeon master be a playerIf the weighty rules of that system don’t appeal, you can still explore the setting with the recent and excellent Shadowrun Anarchy system, which maintains the setting but opts for a greater focus on storytelling. Looking for something with a more futuristic slant? The latest edition of the Shadowrun ruleset is awesome, melding traditional fantasy concepts like elves and dragons with a cyberpunk sci-fi aesthetic. Equally important, they both have active and engaged player bases, ongoing support from their respective publishers, and time-tested rules that hold up to whatever situation you throw at them. ![]() While RPG faithful can spend hours debating the merits of each, I’m here to tell you that they’re both excellent game systems, with robust rules to cover any classic fantasy adventure you’d like to explore. If you and your friends want the “classic” RPG experience, I recommend one of the two dominant games in the field – the latest (5th) edition of Dungeons & Dragons, or its cousin, the Pathfinder Role-Playing Game. The landscape of modern role-playing games is vast, with all sorts of games that cater to different fantasies and styles of play. Your choice of game (and the relevant title you take on as the person running the game) is your first big decision. But in the years since, numerous terms have been applied, depending on the game – game master, narrator, storyteller – each meant to imply a slightly different focus for the person directing the flow of the story and action. Dave Arneson and Gary Gygax originally released D&D in the early 1970s, and those early adventures were predominantly concerned with crawling through underground dungeon complexes, so the person running the game had an obvious moniker. I used the term “dungeon master” in the headline of this column because it’s the word most people connect to the concept. ![]() If you want to jump ahead to running a session, check out Part 2. We’ve got to start somewhere, and if you’re serious about running an RPG, the first lesson is that prep before sitting down at the table is as important as the actual game. A lot of the strategies for the actual running of a game are going to be in a future installment. It’s a surprisingly big and complex topic, but we’re starting today with some basics – what to play, how to think about your players, and what to prioritize as you prepare to sit down for your first adventure. ![]() We’re going to divert a few times in the coming months from the regular schedule of individual board, card, and role-playing games, and discuss some of the ins and outs of running your own RPG game for your friends. As I told those enthusiasts, while there’s no catch-all advice that is going to be perfect for everyone, there are some guidelines that should point you in the right direction. I’ve received numerous emails over the years from prospective DMs who want to start playing, and are looking for some suggestions on how to get started. But if you’ve never tried to run a role-playing game, the whole process can feel intimidating. The experience of a shared narrative leads to tons of laughs and fun memories. I’ve made some of my closest friends sitting around a table playing role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons.
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