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Episode 28: "Evil" is "Elf" Misspelled
If I met Bayushi Kachiko, I'd be scared to death. Nothing in her life happens by chance. If I met Kachiko, it's because she wanted to meet me. That means, she wanted something from me.
Episode 29.5: A Moment of Melancholy
I was just sitting here, listening to Sarah McLachlans song, Angel , and I had to start writing. See, it was about eight months ago, on a Sunday afternoon, in the AEG offices, when I put that CD in the player, forwarded…
Episode 29: More Evil
In this installment, John takes a quick look at the money issue again, and then dives into the elven society.
Episode 2: You Can’t Please All The People All The Time, Part One
Unfortunately, not everyone agrees with that policy. In fact, if we want to be honest with each other, which I think we do, it’s a whole lot more fun writing a bad review than a good one."
Episode 30: Lets Get Laid (Laid Out, That Is)
I like a book thats easy to read. I dont like reading encyclopedias. And I dont believe that books with bigger word counts are necessarily better books. I believe in the Bard when he says that bit about brevity and wit.…
Episode 31.5: A Miscellany of Thoughts
As we get closer to deadline, these little episodes get shorter and shorter. I suspect thats because as I make each decision, I have less to say. I also suspect that this last bit is the most boring part of game design.…
Episode 31: Let's Get Laid (Laid Out, That Is) Part 2
Not a lot of words this week, but three big pictures. Im crunching in as much editing/advice I can into the pages Ive already written, and I dont have a lot of time for you guys. However, Ill give you what time I do…
Episode 37, Part 4
For those of you keeping score, this is the penultimate chapter of Episode Thirty-Seven. That means there's one more on the horizon. After that, one more Episode to wrap things up, then we'll start on Volume Two of this…
Episode 37: Part Three
I know, I know. Ive been a very bad boy. I should have gotten this done while at the con. I should have stopped by the booth and written it out while the show was still going.Bad John. No biscuit.
Episode 3: What Jery Jax Did
Before we begin, let's get one thing perfectly clear: J. Jery Jax did not "ruin" Warhamster. A lot of hardcore Cottonworthy fans will tell you that. They are wrong. Mr. Jax's contributions to Warhamster are innumerable.
Episode 4: "There is No Return from This."
"Two years ago I decided to delve deeper into the dark world of the mafia through a medium that I could 'comfortably' do so without fear of prison or death. I chose to create a realistic simulation of the life of a…
Episode 4: The Bonnie Principle
"The first thing they taught me in sewing class, John," Bonnie tells me, "is this. You can have something cheap, now, or pretty. Pick two." Jenny and I both laughed. I'd heard that before, but the way Bonnie said it…
Episode 5: A Conversation With Joe Cottonworthy
This is a transcript of a telephone conversation held between Mr. Cottonworthy and myself a few weeks ago. I thought about editing it down, but then, liked the natural flow of the conversation, and felt edits would just…
Episode 5: The Saga Begins
Let me tell you something about that Wheel of Time thing. It’s a fragment of what Greg’s got on his little world of Glorantha. Maybe a particle on a fragment. A molecule on a particle on a fragment. Eric Rowe once told…
Episode 6: Quote Any Chris Isaak Song
Stop drinking? That was easy. Asking Jennifer to marry me? That was easy. Six teeth extracted from my mouth in one day? That was... Okay, that was tough. Leave AEG? The hardest damn thing I’ve ever done in my life.
Episode 7.5: The Bonus Column
In the forums, Ed Healy asked a whole bunch of very good questions. Since a lot of folks have been asking for a few more “down-to-earth” game design considerations, I thought I’d take a minute or two and jot down my…
Episode 7: Nothing Up My Sleeve, Part One
You are in a dark room. You aren’t alone. There are others there with you, seated at tables, much like yourself. There is a slight glow coming from the lamp in the center of your table, just enough to cast shadows, but…
Episode 8: Nothing Up My Sleeve, Part Two
Last week I talked about shamanism, magical realism (a term I hate as much as I hate “genre”), and I eluded to a fellow named Hermes Thrice-Great. Let’s talk about him for a while.
Episode 9: Asking for Trouble
I’ve been trying to think of a cute and clever way to do this, and it just ain’t happening. So, this week, you get it quick and dirty. After all, we are talking about Trouble.
Exodus
Everything you know about Saurians is correct, but you don't know everything about them.
Expanding an Idea: "You can't do that."
Sometimes the GM has to tell the players they can't do something. Here are some tips for GM's and players on how to deal with it.
Expanding an Idea: 2 for the price of 1
I think I've battled my way out of the flu cloud I've been in so let's get back on track.
Expanding an Idea: Clues in your Writing
Taking MJ's article on Graffiti and expanding on ways to help add importance to writing at the right times.
Expanding an Idea: Critical views
Why is it we assume it's the other gamer with the problem?
Expanding an Idea: Did he say Orthography ?
Sometimes it's fun to use big words or drop names to throw PCs off the track for a while. Here are my thoughts on it.
Expanding an Idea: How much fun is up to you
Who says the GM is the only person who has to work to show your group a good time? There's plenty of jobs to go around for the players too.
Expanding an Idea: In or Out of Characer?
Sometimes out of character ideas can be just as good as in character ideas. Let's see if we can find a way to make them both work.
Expanding an Idea: Keep 'em Busy
Sometimes keeping players busy and keeping the action moving is a good thing.
Expanding an Idea: Let the Players Plan in Private
Is is necessary for the GM to know all of the player's plans? Let's find out.