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923 pieces · Titles A–Z
Elemental
I jump at a chance to review microgames and microgame-like products; there's a certain Zen-like beauty in a game that is complete unto itself, done in a small format.
Empiricism
M. Joseph Young tackles David Hume's assertion that our imaginations are limited by our experience, and considers particularly what that means for creature design.
Enchanted Worlds: Starter Kit
If there is one place where the would-be RPG publisher goes wrong, it is when they think like an amateur instead of a professional.
Entering Avalon
I thought I'd try my hand at something different than advice/idea articles. Here is an intro that I wrote for my dark fantasy setting Avalon .
Episode 10: Even More Trouble (or, What Snaps Your Disbelief Suspenders?)
This week, I’m getting in Trouble. You see, this week, we’re going to talk about women. And whenever you talk about women, there’s Trouble a brewin’.
Episode 11: A Potpourri of Goodies
A quick note before we get started. I’d like to spend just a moment or two talking about the White Wolf "publicity stunt". Those of you who don’t think that this has anything to do with game design, go stick your heads…
Episode 12: Death, Sex, and Milwaulkee (Part 1)
Sean Jaffe's game design column will now be having a regular weekly spot here on the Gaming Outpost. Look for it every Wednesday.
Episode 12: Death, Sex, and Milwaulkee (Part 2)
I gazed under half-lidded eyes at the bustle of people moving back and forth in front of the booth. The lightning domes and lack of sleep where having a hypnotic effect on me. "Wake up, knucklehead." Gareth rattled my…
Episode 12: Death, Sex, and Milwaulkee (Part 3)
I was looking out the front doors of the Wyndham Milwaukee, waiting for a cab and trying to clear the drunken haze from my spinning skull. Rain spattered the glass in time with the knots in my stomach. Peter was in the…
Episode 13: Soul Food
"You know what you should make a game about?" My father asked in his habitual bemused tone. He asked the question at least twice a week."Whats that?" I asked between chews. "Rather than having the&uh..characters in the…
Episode 13: You Are What You Eat
I decided to link up the subject matter of this column with the symbolism of the number thirteen. You know, Bad Luck. But nothing was coming out of that, so I thought about other meanings that latch on to ol’ #13 and…
Episode 14: Dreaming Amidst Dogma
I seem to have returned to Times Square.If youve never been here, I really cant do this justice. Josh dragged me out here at the absurd hour of 3:06 AM, claiming his usual argument. "I cant write anywhere normal."
Episode 14: The Secret is in the Crust, Part One
And it got me thinking. Thinking about geography, plate tectonics, water deposits, river ways, forests, deserts, winter wastelands and soon enough, I had forgotten all about my beloved half-mad Ork Shamen and had my…
Episode 15: The Opiate of a Brave New World
I choked on what felt like liquid light. My skin tingled, but the sensation was like when a truly great piece of fiction or music causes goosebumps& multiplied by a thousand. I lost my balance because for a split second…
Episode 16: Just Three Letters: "S. E. X."
This week, we're gonna talk about sex. Specifically, we're gonna talk about the problems with addressing… Thingie… in your homebrewed roleplaying game. There's a lot of them. A whole lot of them. It's a big topic, so…
Episode 16: On Mothers and Missiles
If youre looking for lists of keen powers and stuff, youll have to wait until next week. But I promise I WILL deliver. That said, Ill admit it. Im an equipment goob.
Episode 17: Powers to the People, For Better or Worse
Thats right, I wear a machine-tooled lightsaber handle on my belt. A very expensive one. You know why? Because I am a geek, thats why. A damn proud geek.
Episode 17: There Was Supposed to be an Earth-Shattering Kaboom!
Well, the world didn't end on schedule - God must be an RPG designer - which means I get some more time to develop Orkworld. I've got a ton of stuff to talk about and not a whole lot of space to do it. I've gotta be…
Episode 18: The Massacre at Pier 24
"Uh.... Jesus. Is ...uh... anyone here still alive?"They blinked."Bueller?"They stared and continued to blink.
Episode 18: Three for the Price of One
You get a treat this week. Three columns for the price of one. A lot of people say I ramble, but this week, I'm concise. I got a lot of ground to cover.
Episode 1: So You Wanna Be A Rock 'n' Roll Star?
Welcome to the first installment of what I hope to be a long and prosperous relationship. My name is John and I'm one of those rare breeds who can't quite sum up his profession in one neat, little package.
Episode 20: The Business of Design
This week, I'm a bit too busy actually writing Orkworld to write about it. My head's so far into the words that I can't spare the time to write about something I'm writing about. If that makes any sense.
Episode 21.5: A Quick Update
One of the most important things you can consider for your RPG is its cover. Eric Rowe always tells me that he doesn't understand why small press guys don't spend all their money on the cover and ditch the interiors. I…
Episode 21: A Busy Week
Orkworld, written by John Wick and illustrated by Thomas Denmark, will be available at Gen-Con 2000. The format of the book is still up for grabs (with a few certain variables), but if you're at Gen-Con, you can go home…
Episode 22.5: Confessions of a Wrestling Fan
Not too long ago, I did a review of the Nintendo game Wrestlemania 2000 here at the ol' G.O. Folks who have known me for a while know that I'm a die-hard wrestling fan from way back. But I got e-mail from at least four…
Episode 22: Bards and Hags and Shaman… Oh My!
Thomas is working hard on the cover… and speaking of that little cover thing - oh my god! Do you guys have opinions on covers, or what?!? Lots of folks sent e-mail and posted about that cover. They liked this one,…
Episode 23: "What's His Mother's Name?"
Writing the rules for character creation, I've come to a realization. It's something I've been thinking for a long time now, but I just couldn't put it into words. Maybe its because I was writing games for other people…
Episode 24: So You Want to be an RPG Artist?
I have a little surprise for you. Thomas Denmark has done us the honor of writing a little essay about the work he's been doing. He also sent us three more sketches for the book, all of which are outstanding.
Episode 25: How I Spent My Scottish Vacation: A Tale of Root Canals, Food Poisoning, Templars and Irish Terrorism
On my very first night in Scotland, just down the block from that Emerald Isle where my grandfather was born, Mr. David Donachie is on the phone, looking for a late night dentist while I'm running for the loo every ten…
Episode 26: Cutting the Fat
Imagine James Wallis, my wife and I sitting in a little Chinese restaurant eating really good noodle soup. Imagine that same James Wallis talking to me about game systems. The guy who created The Adventures of Baron…