Focal Point

Credits
Authors: John Arcadian,

Walt Ciechanowski, Phil Vecchione
Publisher: Martin Ralya
Editor: Martin Ralya
Art Director: John Arcadian
Graphic Designer: Darren Hardy
Layout: Darren Hardy
Cover Artist: Juan Ochoa
Cover Designer: Darren Hardy
Interior Artists: John Arcadian,
David L. Johnson, Avery Liell-Kok,
Matt Morrow, Elizabeth Porter
Indexer: Martin Ralya
Proofreaders: Robert M. Everson,
Daniel Milne
Capitalist Tool: Kurt Schneider
enginepublishing.com
PO Box 571992
Murray, UT 84157
Focal Point: The Complete Game Masters
Guide to Running Extraordinary Sessions
is copyright 2015 by John Arcadian,
Walt Ciechanowski, and Phil Vecchione, all
rights reserved, and is published by Engine
Publishing, LLC with permission.
All artwork is copyright 2015 by
Engine Publishing, LLC, all rights reserved.
Engine Publishing, the Engine Publishing logo,
and the truncated gear device are trademarks
of Engine Publishing, LLC.
Gnome Stew, The Game Mastering Blog,
and the Gnome Stew logo are
trademarks of Martin Ralya.
Mention of , , or TM products and services
is not intended as a challenge to those rights
or marks, or to their holders. All such products
and services are the property of their
respective owners.
The Engine Publishing logo was
designed by Darren Hardy.
Published by Engine Publishing, LLC
in July 2015.
In memory of Aaron Allston, who taught us how to create amazing worlds, and
Robin Williams, who showed us how to bring them to life.
A special thanks to John Stavropoulos for his insight and feedback on the draft
of Chapter 15: Safety on the Set. Thank you for helping me understand the
complexity of such an important topic, and to find the right words to convey it
clearly. Phil Vecchione
Dedications
For Paula - Who was not in my life for my previous book dedications,
but who will be in my life for all of the rest. John Arcadian
To my father-in-law, Col. Richard Poch, who always
encouraged me to reach for the skies. Walt Ciechanowski
A special thanks to Martin Ralya, who started this whole thing years ago
when he took a leap of faith with us and asked us to write with him,
first on Gnome Stew and later at Engine Publishing. Phil Vecchione
Credits, Legal, and Dedication
Contents
Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
How to Use this Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Lights...
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
10
Chapter 1: The Studio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Chapter 2: The Set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Chapter 3: Special Effects Scenes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Chapter 4: The Props Master . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Chapter 5: Green Screens and CGI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Chapter 6: The Soundtrack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Camera...
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
77
Chapter 7: It Starts With a Script . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

Chapter 8: Preparing the Shoot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Chapter 9: And... Action! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Chapter 10: Keep Filming! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Chapter 11: Lunch Break . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Chapter 12: The Final Shoot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Chapter 13: Thats a Wrap! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Action!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
155
Chapter 14: Quiet on the Set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156

Chapter 15: Safety on the Set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Chapter 16: Playing Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Chapter 17: Improvising Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Chapter 18: Permits and Regulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Chapter 19: Film Crew . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
About the Artwork . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Contributor Bios . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Table of Contents
Foreword
Im dangling from a chain in a well that my gang just poisoned with benzene, pleading for my life. High above me, a very upset Gunlugger named Hector is smoking a
cigarette, pondering whether to toss his smoke down and burn me alive. My name is
Whimple, and Im an NPC.
A minute ago Whimple didnt exist, but then a minute ago my wasteland gang had
the upper hand. They were a nameless horde that had overrun Mopars hardhold and
soured her precious water forever. Now they had turned tail and run, leaving one of
their own behind.
I picked his name from a list and decided he would be a lovable, treacherous losera
craven wannabe road dog with a lot of inside knowledge and few scruples. In my head
he would be played by James Ransone, Ziggy from The Wire in assless chaps and body
armor.
The moment Hector throws him down the well he starts pleading. Dont kill me!
Whimple shouts, I know stuff, dude. I know the back way into Lord Gorbachevs
valley! Totally secret, dude!
Greg, playing the notably unhinged Hector, looks dubious. Is this guy for real? he
asks. I give him a look that says maybe you should use the tools at your disposal to find
out. Greg smiles and Reads a Person, which is a thing his character can do in Apocalypse World, the game were playing. He rolls well and gets to ask a couple of questions,
which I am obligated to answer truthfully.
Is this clown telling the truth? Yes . . . ish.
What does he want me to do? See the value in keeping him alive.
What does he intend to do? Kill you, the very first chance he gets.
And in that moment Whimple became part of our game. He went from nothing to
a wonderful, plot-driving NPC in moments, and his trouble-making potential was
unlimited.
This little vignette serves to demonstrate all three parts of this book in one grimy,
post-apocalyptic nutshell. As GM I was building interesting stuff just as fast as my
players could throw new situations and choices at me.
Entertainer, storyteller, and facilitatorFocal Point is absolutely stuffed with advice
to help you up your game in all three areas. I particularly love the challenges that
close each chapter, which ask you to directly apply what youve learned, at the table,
in play. Its a really smart approach to honing practical skills.
You already entertain, tell stories, and facilitate, of course, and chances are you do it
well. We all have room to improve, though, and approaching the weird art of GMing
thoughtfully can pay big dividends. Focal Point is loaded with good ideas that can
make your games easier, more memorable and more fun, but its up to you to find the
gems and apply them. I hope you do!
As for Whimple, well, hes still down in the benzene hole for now. But hes got big
plans . . . really big plans . . .
Jason Morningstar Durham, NC June 2015
Foreword
Introduction
The truest experience of any roleplaying game happens at the table.
Of all the activities that occur in and around roleplaying games (RPGs), the core of
what we do happens at the table. It is when we are gathered around the table, as game
master (GM) and players, that we actively engage in the creation of a story. It is when
all of the prep and management comes to fruition and a unique experience is created.
Its during this time, sitting across from the players, that the GM has her most challenging role to play. Its at that time that the GM has to divide her attention and
faculties across three disciplines and manage each one sufficiently to provide the best
experience possible. Each discipline can be seen as a facet of the GMs role: entertainer, storyteller, and facilitator.
Focal Point: The Complete Game Masters Guide to Extraordinary Sessions addresses all
three facets of GMing. Its focus is on how to perform this mental juggling act while
sitting across from a group of players at the focal point of the gaming experience:
actual play during sessions.
This book represents the end of a journey which began four years ago when I started
Never Unprepared: The Complete Game Masters Guide to Session Prep (Engine Publishing, 2012). At the time, I thought Never Unprepared was going to be a standalone
volume. One of the comments I received in the critiques of the book was that it didnt
cover advice on campaigns, and so a year later I teamed up with Walt Ciechanowski and together we tackled that larger topic in Odyssey: The Complete Game Masters
Guide to Campaign Management (Engine Publishing, 2013).
While writing Odyssey both Walt and I realized that this journey was not done
there was one more big, related topic to cover. In fact, its the largest topic: running
a game at the table. Because this subject is both broad and deep, we brought in a
third writer, John Arcadiansomeone whose GMing style was different from both
of oursto help us tackle this topic as a team.
As a GM, John is an entertainer: He love props and he loves to draw his players into
the game by creating a world that they can see as well as touch. Walt is a storyteller, a
professional game designer who has written numerous adventures and run countless
adventures for his gaming groups. Im a facilitator, with years of both professional
and personal experience creating productive and cohesive groups who work together
to create deep stories.
Focal Point brings the cycle of GMing activity full circle, from prepping sessions to
managing the campaign that includes them to running the game at the table, which
in turn gives rise to new ideas for more sessions and takes the campaign in new directions.
Roleplaying games are meant to be played, and with Focal Point we set out to help
GMs improve each of the three major facets of GMingentertaining, storytelling,
and facilitatingto explore more worlds and create more stories.
Phil Vecchione Buffalo, NY April 2015
Introduction
How to Use this Book

Focal Point: The Complete Game Masters Guide to Extraordinary Sessions highlights
the most common activities involved in running a game, categorizes them by role
entertainer, storyteller, and facilitatorand provides techniques and advice to improve in those areas. Its intended to be read away from the table, reflected upon, and
acted on later, during sessions.
As in Never Unprepared and Odyssey, in Focal Point well break each role down into
discrete activities and then deconstruct those activities to understand why theyre
important and to explore the various ways to accomplish them well. Focal Point is
complemented by Never Unprepared or Odyssey, but you dont need those books in
order to take full advantage of this oneits designed to stand on its own as a resource
for running extraordinary sessions.
Why a Book about Running Game Sessions?

GMing is a craft that benefits from constant improvement. Whether its a new GM
just trying to run a session without panicking or a grizzled veteran working to master
a specific aspect of the craft, no one gets better at GMing by accident. And at the
table, during play, is where all that hard work pays offwhen youre actually running
sessions.
Play is the focal point of roleplaying, and by extension its also the focus of GMing.
We believe this topic more than merits a book all to itself, so we wrote one. In so
doing, we tried to capture the universal elements of GMingthe things which, no
matter what style of game or particular system you run, are common to virtually every
GM and virtually every game.
While its impossible to document the multitude of activities a GM must manage
while running a game, Focal Point sets out to define and describe the major activities
that we all perform. The most common tasks that a GM performs break down into
three major areas, or roles: entertainer, storyteller, and facilitator.
The Three Roles

Being a GM requires constant mental juggling. During the course of running a game,
you must balance a multitude of game elements while monitoring the status of your
players and making real-time adjustments to the game and/or story, all the while being entertaining and engaging. Its a job for the ambitious.
Understanding the three key roles involved in GMing is critical to getting the most
out of Focal Point, so lets look at each of them in turn.
Entertainer
As the entertainer, the GM takes on the voices and mannerisms of multiple
NPCs. She uses interesting maps and miniatures during combat. She creates
props to hand out and playlists to help set the mood of the game. The entertainer gets everyone into the game, helping them immerse themselves in their roles.
The entertainer represents the parts of the GM that are projected outward to
the players: the voices you use, the props you employ, and the soundtracks you
play. A strong entertainer is captivating to watch and enhances the story and the
game through their contributions.
Storyteller
In his role as storyteller, the GM doesnt literally tell his players a storybut he does
tell stories during the game. Some GMs create the framework of an engaging story
and then hook the group into the plot, making adjustments, often on the fly, as the
players actions create unexpected and exciting changes. Other GMs tell small stories in the moment, when they introduce a new NPC or location, but dont come to
the table with a plotted adventure for each session. But all GMs are storytellers in one
or more ways (just not in the sense that they dictate stories to their players).
This role encompasses the elements of GMing which are involved in facilitating the
collective story that the group tells at the table: the creation of dramatic tension in a
horror adventure, aggressive scene cutting to bring about a frantic pace, and the ability to quickly move a scene back into the path of the player characters (PC) if they
passed it by. A strong storyteller creates tension, making hearts pound with anticipation, and helps to create drama that can move people to tears.
Facilitator
As facilitator, the GM creates a safe environment in which everyone in the group can
let down their guard and relax their inhibitions. She helps to create harmony at the
table, and she eliminates distractions. When there is conflict she helps to bring it to
resolution. She softens the loudest voices and raises up the quietest ones. The facilitator helps to bring the group together to make it more than the sum of its parts.
The facilitator role involves everything that helps to keep the table focused on the
game: managing the rules, resolving conflicts that arise, and helping the group to collaborate. A strong facilitator creates a strong table of players who work well together
and help each other have a memorable experience.
Three Sections and a Metaphor

In keeping with the division of GMing into three roles, weve divided Focal Point
into three sections, one for each role. Weve used the metaphor of moviemaking as a
framing device, both in the division into sections and throughout the book, because
it offers some excellent parallels to game mastering.
Each of the three sections of Focal Point addresses a different element of GMing, and
each is focused on one of the three major roles. Seen through the lens of moviemaking, the sections are:
LightsThe set, the props, and the soundtrack.
This is the arena of the entertainer.
CameraFraming scenes, the opening, the climax,

and the cliffhanger. This is the realm of the storyteller.
ActionSafety, collaboration, and managing all the
moving parts. This is the domain of the facilitator.
Why Three Authors?

Each of Focal Points authors is an experienced GM who specializes in one of the
major roles. We wanted a unique perspective for each section and role, and having
three authors seemed like the simplest way to accomplish that. In addition to their
respective specialties, each author brings years of GMing experience running both
home and convention games, and a background in the RPG industrywriting and
designing games and supplementsto the table.
As in Odyssey, each author is represented by a different icon. This makes it easy to see
who wrote which bits. (If you dont much care who wrote what, the icons are deliberately unobtrusive and shouldnt get in your way.)
John Arcadian
Walt Ciechanowski
Phil Vecchione
Challenge Yourself
No GM is perfect. When you consider each of the three rolesentertainer, storyteller, and facilitatoryou can probably tell which one youre strongest in, which
one youre weakest in, and which one falls somewhere in the middle. If you want to
improve as a GM, take an honest look at your strengths and weaknesses in these areasand if you have trouble seeing them yourself, enlist your most forthright players
and ask them to help.
Even an experienced GM likely hasnt mastered all three roles. The best GMs continually push themselves to be better. They look for ways to test their limits and to
round out their skill set. They look for challenges in the types of stories they tell, the
systems they run, or the ways they can wow their players at the table.
Once you have an idea of your strengths and weaknesses, though, there is an urge to
jump in and decide to become better at everything right now. Dont dilute your focus
by trying to improve many things a little bit at the same time. Instead, pick something that you wish you were better at doing at the table, and focus on how to improve
specifically in that area.
Create a GMing wishlist composed of things you want to try and skills you
want to improve. Look over that list and ask yourself, If being better at one
thing on this list would drastically improve my game, which one would it be?
Then focus on improving that area, using the information provided in this book
and applying it your game. Add notes into your prep to remind you to do certain
things, or make index card reminders to keep behind your screen or next to your
laptop.
To help you transfer what you learn from Focal Point to the gaming table, weve
included a challenge at the end of each numbered chapter. These challenges are
system-neutral; you can use them with any game. Theyre designed to help you
apply concepts from a particular chapter to your game.
If you already know how you want to challenge yourself, great! Pick a challenge that
works for you. But just in case youre not sure where to start and want to leave it up to
Fate, you can roll dice instead:
1. Choose your GMing experience level and roll to determine the number of
challenges to tackle during your next few sessions:
a. Novice: 1d4-1
b. Experienced: 1d6
c. Advanced: 1d8
2. Determine the chapter: Roll 1d20 (reroll a result of 20)
3. Determine the challenge: Roll 1d6 and compare the result to the list of
challenges in that chapter
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until you have a list of challenges equal in number
to your first die roll
Theres also an achievement in the Challenge section of each chapter. When youve
completed all of that chapters challenges, you unlock that achievement. Good luck!
Were Getting The Band Back Together

Readers of Odyssey will recognize the fictional gaming group featured in Focal Point:
Gemma, the GM, and her players Renaldo, Patty, and Adam. We got a lot of positive
feedback about these folks, so we brought them back to help illustrate the problems
and solutions we discuss in Focal Point.
Its a Marathon, Not a Sprint

GMing is an incredibly satisfying activity. Its a complex craft requiring aptitude in a
diverse set of skills. Along the way GMs develop a style and a toolbox of skills, and
their games are shaped by those choices and by their strengths and weaknesses. But
you should never be afraid to pick up a new tool or sharpen a well-worn tool just a bit
more, and its in that spirit that we wrote Focal Point. We hope you enjoy it.
Artist: Avery Liell-Kok
10
Chapter 1: The Studio

It has all led to this, Gemma said. The treks through the
Jungles of Andilore, the fight against the Heretic and his
forces, the strange ruins that turned out to be the colony
ship that seeded the planet, and now you stand before the
controls with the white crystal in hand. Patti, what does
Zembara do?
While I was never trusting of these humans who came into
our jungle, I want to help James get to his fathers planet and
defeat the Red Empress and her fleet, Patti said in her best
alien voice.
Balmer reloads his gun and gets ready for trouble. Im
smirking, kind of hoping this will go badly, Renaldo said.
Switching to his Balmer voice, he added, We took out the
Heretic too easily. He erased the damage marks from his
character sheet as Balmer applied a healing crystal.
Gus, the owner of the game store where the group was
playing, called to Gemma, Patti, Renaldo, and Adam from
behind the counter. Hey guys, closing time. I know this is
a climactic moment, but weve got five minutes. Remember,
Countermay tournaments are moving to Tuesdays, so for the
next few months youll have to find a new play space or come
on a different night.
Oh man! I forgot about that, Gemma said. My apartment
doesnt have enough space. Anyone else? Renaldos newborn
made gaming at his place difficult (too many distractions),
but they could play there if they had to. Pattis apartment was
as small as Gemmas, and while Adam had plenty of space, it
was always messy and that made it tough to game there, too.
The Studio
11
Where You Play Matters

These first few chapters cover some topics that might seem tangential to gaming, but
theyre not really tangential at all. Its often the subtle things that have the biggest
ongoing impact on the game. Before we get into using psychological cues, employing
sets and props to create wow moments, and portraying your non-player characters
(NPCs), we need to talk about the constantsthe things you dont often think about
because theyre not directly part of the game. The first one is your gaming space, the
place where you play.
It might seem like a small thing, but environment matters. It matters much more
than cursory consideration would suggest. All you need to game is a table, right? And
depending on the game, you dont even need that. In some ways thats true: You can
make any space work for gaming, but if you have to fight against the space itself to
keep people focused and to keep your players engaged, then thats effort and energy
that you dont have accessible for all the other important elements of the game. If you
can make the space where you game work for you and support your game mastering
efforts, then all of that other important stuff will be easier.
You can look at a
game space like a
movie studio. A studio is generally a
large room where you
get a bunch of people
together to pretend to
be other people and,
using some stage direction, rules on how
to interact with each
other, and an overarching concept, to
create a story together. That sounds a lot
like gaming, doesnt
it?
Artist: David L. Johnson
The storywhether in the studio or at the gaming tabledepends on all of the

people involved, but its also dependent on the space itself helping everyone get into
character. If the movie is a pulp-action jungle adventure but the studio is tiny, then
the vast, expansive feel of the jungle will be absent. On top of that, theres just no
room to work. If the space is big enough for everything to fit but props from the
previous scenes are scattered about, then its not going to look or feel like a jungle.
In a roleplaying game, your players are taking on the role of both actor and audience.
Their attention is already divided. So if the space is working against them keeping
focus and staying in character, you have to do a lot more work to try to keep the game
running smoothly. Fortunately, this is a solvable problem.
12
Chapter 1
Scouting the Location

In movie-making terminology, scouting a location is the act of finding the perfect place to shoot a scene. For our purposes, it is determining what space is best
for you to play your game. You wont always have the perfect space, but if you
try to find a space that eliminates as many issues as possible youll have a much
better gaming experience.
There are a slew of questions you can ask yourself when scouting for the best
location possible:
What is my dream space like?If you had phenomenal cosmic powers
or all the money and tech of Tony Stark or Bruce Wayne at your disposal,
what would your ultimate play space be like? Take a few minutes to dream
about it. Think of the challenges you have in your games and what kinds
of solutions the space could provide. Figure out your ultimate play space
and then work backwards from there to more realistic options, noting the
underlying ideas that are most important to you.
What elements benefit the game Im going to run?Having the
ultimate no-holds-barred play space is one thing, but how can your play
area benefit the specific game youre about to run? Do you need a big table
for miniatures and scenery? Would a few chairs in a circle help your players
interact with each other and roleplay? Would the basement actually be a
more atmospheric play space for a dungeon crawl than the living room?
Focus your thoughts on the game youre running and determine what
works best for that specific game.
Is the space a place where you can be comfortable acting?Is the space
too public? Are the other people there making you feel embarrassed
when you stand up to swing your imaginary broadsword? Being able to
be unrestrained in a gaming space is incredibly important. Some people
like performing for an audience, though; for them, a public space can be
a benefit.
What is the best space we actually have access to?All other questions
aside, what space do you actually have available to you? Gaming anywhere
is better than gaming nowhere. If the space you have available to you is
mediocre, maybe one of the players would be willing to host the game or
a better space might be available at the local game store.
How can I make the space I have access to more viable for gaming?If
youve found the best space available to you, what can you do to make it
work better? Can you bring in a new table or change the wall decorations?
What about the simple act of changing where people sit to emphasize
character connections? Look at what youve got and see what you can do
to make it better for your game.
The Studio
13
Your Space Sets the Basic Atmosphere and Tone

Go and sit in one of your players usual chairs and look at the studio from her viewpoint. What does it look like to her? What is in her field of vision when she is looking
at you? Where would her eyes wander? Imagine how you look while narrating a scene
and pick out anything that would pull your players out of the moment. Would that
cat poster on the wall drain the gravitas youre trying to inject into the dukes speech?
Is the blank beige wall just boring to look at? As you look around, youll think of
other questions to ask and things to consider.
These might seem like innocuous details, but theyre all elements that are permanently there in your players minds. Each player has a different view of the space and
thus a different idea of it. While theyre building a mental image of the game and
the story in their minds, theyre using the same gray matter that processes the visual
input from their eyes. Our vision is our strongest sense, so everything in our field of
view is going to affect the games we run. Want proof? Check out the sidebar before
moving on to the next section.
Visual Cortex Exercise

Take a moment and try to envision a spaceship wrecked on a red desert planet, the survivors crawling out of the ruined hull. Really try to get a firm, strong image in your head.
Get ready to pick out three vivid details of the scene to describe.
What was the first thing you did when you really got down to envisioning the scene and
picking out the details? Did you close your eyes? You may not even have realized you
did itit just happened the moment you tried to really get some interesting details out of
the scene. That was your visual cortex trying to stem the flood of competing information
from your eyes. Without that information from your eyes mucking up the processor, you
were able to imagine the scene more clearly. Try to envision the scene in the same detail
with your eyes open and then with your eyes closed. Can you get as much detail when
your eyes are open?
Now try this: Stare at one object in your field of vision, a chair or the pattern on the floor.
Close your eyes and try to imagine a differently shaped chair or pattern. Did you have
to work harder to get something different in your head? If youve got distracting things in
your players field of vision, it becomes harder for your narration to create mental images.
Making the Visual Cortex Work for You

You can do some things to control what information your players pick up from your
gaming space. First off, remove anything that would be very distracting to the theme
of your game or the mood you want to evoke. Even if you only move it for the few
hours a week that you game, getting rid of the most distracting elements will help.
14
Chapter 1
Second, add elements that help increase immersion. Change the artwork on
the walls to something that fits your game. Put elements in the players fields
of vision that will help inspire or draw them into the themes of the game. For
your macabre vampire game, grab a cheap plastic skull from a Halloween store
and stick it on the bookshelf in a players field of vision. Hokey? Yes, but as the
players eyes wander, hell have a constant reminder that death is just over the
shoulder of one of his companions. Contrast that with having a model starship
from a popular TV show in the same spot: Your players minds will constantly
be picking up that image and trying to tie it to things they remember from the
show.
Finally, even if it isnt specific to the game you are currently running, bookshelves full of gaming books are always a good background and theyre likely already
a part of many permanent gaming spaces. While they wont remind everyone of a
single genre or theme, they will build connections to the act of gaming. If you want to
really emphasize the themes of your game, rearrange your bookshelves to put books
of a similar theme behind your spot at the table. As their eyes wander to other sci-fi
themed books during down-time, players will start thinking about other games and
solutions to problems that might not otherwise come to mind.
Never Leave Home Without Your . . . Sheets?

If all else fails, cover the walls with some plain, non-patterned bed sheets. Cheap
sheets hung on the walls provide a nice blank canvas for the imagination. With the
addition of a couple of removable hooks and a few bucks spent on sheets, you can
completely change your play space. You can even pick colors that emphasize different
moodsfor example, light pastels for a happy environment or dark reds for a lush but
dangerous feel. If you hang them on curtain rods instead of hooks, you can even use
them to simulate stage curtains. Suddenly, the environment becomes a stage where
living, breathing characters seem to come to life.
Sample Play Spaces

Subtle changes to your play space can have a surprisingly big impact on player immersion and interaction, but sometimes a bigger change is needed. Entirely rearranging
your play space can help you emphasize different aspects of the game.
The Standard Gaming TableA Good Option for Most Games

Your garden variety gaming table seats four or five people and leaves room in the
middle for maps and miniatures. It can be hard to keep drinks, snacks, pencils, and
books out of the map area, though. This basic setup works well for many games
because it gives everyone a place to sit and focuses their attention on whatever is in
the center of the table.
The Studio
15
The Circle of ConversationRoleplaying- and NPC-Heavy Games

Grab a bunch of comfy chairs and set them up in a circle. This turns communication
between players into the key element of your play space and focuses everyones vision
on a shared central area. This is a handy setup for games that are heavy on roleplaying and character relationships and light on dice-rolling. The central visual space also
feels more in line with a 1:1 scale, helping players envision NPCs as life-sized entities
that they interact with, rather than seeing them as miniatures on a table.
The Scenes the ThingFor Great Impact, Go to Hyper-Focus

Need to really emphasize the in-game physical terrain? Cover the entire table with a
full scene or diorama, like what you might use for a tactical wargame. This will focus
all attention on one element of your game and give it incredible impact. Better yet,
remove the table entirely and make the scene the only thing the players can interact
with. While this is an extreme change, it turns the play space into a thing of wonder
that cant help but captivate players.
Get Up On Your FeetGames that Benefit from

Acting Out Characters
If you want to really keep everyone focused on whats going on at the table, replace
the chairs that let you sit back and get comfortable with bar stools. While this can
help people focus, it can also become annoying during long gaming sessions. If the
session is going to involve players moving into the spotlight in turns, another option
is to set your gaming area up like a pool table. Everyone who isnt involved in the
scene moves away from the table to watch from the sidelines, while the players at the
center of the action stay at the table and are the focus of everyones attention.
An added benefit of using bar stools is that they make players higher relative to the
table, giving them a different perspective on the game and making them feel like they
have greater control over whats going on. This is great for simulating a massive battle
that involves the PCs, or the plotting and intrigue of a cyberpunk planning session
before the main mission.
On LocationEvoke a Specific Feeling by Going Somewhere Else

Need to get the players really involved in a scene? Go there. For one session, take
your play space on the road. To evoke a sylvan feel, play in a wooded part of a local
park. To evoke the feel of a clandestine meeting between spies, play in a fancy hotel
restaurant. Gaming in public can feel odd, but so is painting your body blue to go
to a football game. If youre not completely comfortable with the idea, play in public
only when you dont think things will look too out of the ordinary to passersby. But
so what if you have some dice and character sheets on the table at a fancy restaurant?
If you go to St. Elmos in Indianapolis during Gen Con, and if youre lucky, Billy the
waiter might even jump in and tell you stories from his old gaming days.
16
Chapter 1
Despite having the same essential table structure, the atmosphere

of the gaming space changes the tone in these 4 locations.
The Studio
17
From Garage to Kitchen to Basement

Once upon a time, during a hot and humid summer, I ran a game where all the PCs
were vampires of one sort or another. Unfortunately, I ran it in the garage at 2:30 on
Saturday afternoon. Everyone showed up and came into my nice suburban house, then
tromped out to the garage where we had tables set up. It was the best space available
to us at the time and once we strung up some sheets to cover the tools, the fluorescent
overhead light cast pale, sunken shadows upon our faces that actually worked out well.
Even though I got to do some fun things with that spacelike opening the garage door
to let in the deadly sunlight at a crucial, near-death moment for one characterit was still
always a hot, dusty garage.
When we moved to a players kitchen/dining room area, the game completely changed
tone. It was more comfortable, but the players family was always around and we never
felt at ease acting out the characters and scenes to their full dramatic potential. After a
few sessions, another player offered up his basement if we would help him clean it out.
We took a full Saturday and stacked all the various boxes in a corner, threw some carpet
on the cold stone floor, moved a thrift store table down the stairs, and built ourselves
a gaming space that lasted us for a while. Something about it being a basement, and
being underground, made the vampire game feel right, and the space worked equally
well for the next fantasy-themed game we played.
Gaming in a shared space, like the dining room, never felt right for that campaign. There
was always too much going on apart from the game. The moral of the story is that kitchens are always kitchens and garages are always garageswhatever your play space
is will bleed into your game, and its important to have a space thats yours if possible.
Challenge - Achievement: Studio Boss

1. Take your game on location for one session to increase immersion.
2. Remove the table for one night to help emphasize roleplaying and
conversation.
3. Draw out your current gaming space on a gridded piece of paper, like a
map.
4. Do challenge 3, then draw out your dream gaming space in the same way.
Hold these maps side by side and see if there are improvements you can
make to your current space.
5. Sit in a players chair and look at your normal GMing position. Change
one thing in each players field of vision to improve their game experience.
6. Write a secret clue in big, bold marker on an index card and place it
somewhere in a players field of vision. Never mention it outright, but
subtly reference that it is there and let the player pick up on it.
18
Chapter 1
The library? Seriously? We can game there? Renaldo had

Gemma on speakerphone while he changed his daughters
diaper, and he turned his nose up at the critical hit the baby
had made on her roll to poop.
Of course! Gemma said, a smile on her face. I just
checked with the librarian and they have public meeting
spaces available. We have to put down a deposit to guarantee
the room for four hours every Tuesday, but we get it back
when were done with the room. I just told them to keep it
as a donation and they gave us the room for the next three
months. I was hoping I might talk my boss into letting us
use a conference room at work, but this works out so much
better!
Renaldo was the second player shed told, but it made her
smile every time. The library meeting room was huge, and the
conference room table was perfectly sized. It should be: Some
architect had taken a lot of time to think about that space and
how to make it conducive to groups of people getting together
and having a meeting.
Gemma hung up with Renaldo and got ready to call the next
player. The game was saved, and this space was even better
than her local game store. It would just be them, so no more
trying to talk over the loud card players at the other tables.
Now, how to not look weird carrying in all of the props she
was going to use in the next session? Ah, screw it, she thought,
its the librarysome of the staff might want to play too!
The Studio
19
Chapter 2: The Set

Patti and Adam both had a class on Tuesdays, and the
library room was booked on Thursdays, so off to Adams
house it was. The dining room there was large, but it was
always cluttered and the gaming table was always messy. As
Gemma moved her wheelchair back so she could grab a new
mini, the edge of the very small table caught the rubber of her
wheel and piles of books, character sheets, half-opened mail,
and the map with all of the scenery on it slid onto the floor.
Not amused, Gemma said, So, when does your class end?
Patti and Renaldo began picking everything up, while Adam
moved into the kitchen to get something to clean up the soda
spill.
Rushing back into the dining room, Adam answered Gemma.
Its bad, I know. Im sorry, but its only for a month. I cleaned
yesterday, but then Shelly started moving in and we had to
move a bunch of stuff out of her room. Ill have something
better for us next week.
After the table was back to its pre-collapse state, Gemma
began to pull things out of her cart and arrange them for the
next scene. She had to ask three times for people to move their
books and sheets so she could set up. After about 15 minutes
of wrangling, she had the next map drawn, but Patti was
already on her phone checking her emails. Renaldo began
studying the map, but then got distracted by a sourcebook
and started thinking about things his character could buy.
Adam had been moving a box of unpainted minis out of the
way, but now he was looking through it to see if he could find
a better representation of his character.
Restraining the urge to raise her voice, Gemma sighed and
said, I miss the library. It was clean.
20
Chapter 2
Dressing the Set

Sticking with the movie studio analogy, if the studio is the play space as a
whole, then the set is where your game actually takes place. Its where the magic
happens. In most cases, that means the table on which you play and everything
that gets put on that table. But lets expand that definition a bit and consider
the set as the physical space in between you and your playerswhere the game
lives in their imaginations.
Your players look across this set at each other, or at you, when they roleplay their
characters. When theres something on set, like miniatures or terrain, they
stare at it. When youre describing an incredible landscape or a vicious monster
about to snap them up in its jaws, and they close their eyes to picture it in their minds,
theyre still interacting with the set. When they look at their characters, your players
see the set out of the corners of their eyes. The set is the mise-en-scne, a French film
term which means everything that is within the boundaries of the camera.
For our purposes, the eyes of all of your players, collectively, is the camera. Their fields
of vision overlap to make the area in the center a kind of arena theater with an audience on all sides. The next time youre at the table with your group, imagine each of
them projecting a five-foot conical beam from their eyes. Notice how many of those
cones intersect or overlap that central area as you game. Notice what its like when
you do something really interesting or put an impressive miniature on the table. That
right there is your set. The set is where you build your game and make it come alive.

The Set
21
Clear the Set

Now that weve looked at why the space between you and your players is important,
lets start making it work for you. The first step is to clear out the clutter. To help your
players stay engaged, you need the area where you play to be free from the kipple1 that
goes along with gaming.
Imagine that youre watching a movie scene set inside a spaceship, and the actors and
crew have left all of their backpacks, lunch bags, and scripts laying around on the set.
Can you suspend disbelief when you see fast food wrappers next to the control panel
during a red alert? Or when backpacks and clipboards are cluttering up the gunnery
stationthe one with all the futuristic holographic displays? Probably not, and the
same is true for your gaming space: Seeing all that kipple in your play space is just as
distracting to your players.
You need some of this stuff around, certainly, but the defining trait of true kipple is
that it accumulates as if by magic, under its own powerand you dont need all of it.
A simple box lid separates the gaming space from the clutter of the game table.
Clear the Kipple without Being a Dictator

How do you get that pristine set where the players can game and stay engaged, but
without being hated by your players for constantly chiding them about kipple? By ruling with rewards and configuring your place space to deemphasize kipple.
1
22
Kipple is a term coined by Phillip K. Dick in his novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? to
describe piles of junk that just seem to spontaneously accumulate and grow of their own volition.
Chapter 2
Rule with Rewards

Make it a rule in your games that players are responsible for their play space.
Those that keep it clean get a small reward in the gamemaybe an extra plot
point or some extra experience. The reward should be something small, a minor
benefit in the game youre currently playing. Gently remind them of the rule at
the beginning of each session and give the reward at the end of each session.
Use Your Play Space to Deemphasize Kipple

A nice flat table is great, but if you can create a backstage area for all the props
and ephemera of the game, then the actual set becomes a space solely for the
game. A set of folding tables nearby, a cardboard box that everything goes in when
not in use, or clipboards with built-in document holders for every player can all help
keep gaming supplies neatly contained until theyre needed.
Put On Your Assistant Director Hat

As the GM, you juggle a lot of things when you run a game, from NPCs to plots to
notes to books to diceand more. You cant be a great storyteller, or a great actor, or
a great manager, when youre futzing around trying to find the right markers for the
battle map.
Have you ever run a game where there wasnt enough room at the table, it took too
long to run a combat, the sessions always seemed to run long, or your dice were never
where you needed them to be? All of those issues have one thing in common: You can
solve them by taking some time to organize yourself and your materials.
In filmmaking, the assistant director is the person who manages the progress of filming, logistics, the health of the crew, and all of the other myriad little things that go
into making a movie work. As the GM, unlike the director of a film, you dont get an
assistant directorso you have to become your own assistant director.
Every couple of sessions, put on your assistant director hat and look at your gaming
space and materials with an eye to identifying problems and finding solutions for
those problems. In your assistant director role, ask yourself these questions:
What are the limitations of the space?Can you hang things from the
ceiling? Can you change the lighting? Is there enough room for everyone?
Can you move the table to make more room? Will a bigger map fit on the
table? Are people easily distracted because were all too close together?
What do you really need at the table?Anything you dont need at the
table might be kipple, and finding it a better home will help the game run
more smoothly. Are the extra miniatures really necessary? Can you just
make photocopies of the monsters you need instead of bringing the whole
pile of books? Can you switch to PDFs for some (or all) books and access
them from your tablet? If you go all-digital, do you have a good way to take
notes? Would a mini-screen be better than this full-sized one?
The Set
23
How can you make the stuff we need easier to use?Once you know
what you actually need at the table, be it maps or scenery or props, you can
look for ways to streamline usage. Can you draw maps out beforehand on
big sheets of paper? Can you afford a low-resolution projector for maps? If
you use one, does the dimmer lighting make it hard for players to see their
character sheets? Can you sort your miniatures by encounter or creature
type to make deploying them faster?
Sitting down and thinking through these problems and solutions should be done
separately from running the game. Running a game is very social, while managing
your play space is a solitary task. Dont try to optimize your play space mid-session.
Compact . . .
If youre the kind of GM who likes to be prepared for every eventuality, that tendency
might lead you to keep more stuff on hand during games than you really need. Putting on your assistant director hat can help you here as well.
How many pencils and pens do you really need? Which dice do you actually use? Are
you bringing every miniature you own when a subset might do? More generally, what
are you carrying around that you think youll need, but which you rarelyif ever
actually use? That stuff is getting in the way of using the stuff you actually need.
Bring a small box to your next session. At the end of the session, stick everything you
actually used during the game in that box. Compare whats in the box to everything
thats outside the box, and consider whether you could skip bringing some or most of
the stuff you didnt use to the next session.
. . . And Contain
Once youve eliminated kipple from your stash of GMing material, the next step is
to put everything in a central, organized place. For my own on-the-go setup, I like
to use a small carrying case originally intended for files. I pack it with folders, books,
and smaller boxes. Specialized fishing tackle or tool boxes often work quite well if
you need lots of compartments, but its usually harder to put books in them than it is
in a file box.
When Im GMing at home, I let myself use a larger plastic rolling cart with many
small drawers. Inside are metal tins of dice, small boxes of minis, a drawer for writing
tools, whatever books Im using for the next game, and a few folders of the character
sheets and maps I needall evaluated for utility while wearing my assistant director
hat before each session. This evaluation process is like a pre-game meditation ritual. I
organize everything beforehand so that its easy for me to access during play without
slowing down the action.
And thats the important part: You have to set your stuff up in the way that works
for you. Experiment with your organizational system until youre happy with it, and
remember to put on your assistant director hat between every couple of sessions.
24
Chapter 2
Separate the Set from the Rest of the Play Space

When you separate your set from the space around it in some way, you turn it
into a place where your players can engage with the game world in a discrete
way. The distinction between set and not-set is a mental one, and you can make
it clearer by creating a boundary between the set and the rest of your play space.
In movie terms, you can think of this as stage design.
Stage Design 1: Create a Central Focus

Materials Needed:
One themed element that acts as a centerpiece to draw your players focus
If youre running a game that uses maps and miniatures, the map is your focus by default. But if youre
not running that sort of game, you can separate your
set from the rest of your place space simply by placing
an object or two in the center of the tablejust like a
centerpiece at a holiday dinner. But what sort of object
should you use? It depends on your game, but in general
you want something that:
Emphasizes the tone and theme of your game
Creates a visual impact and commands the space
Draws the players back to the game every time

they look at it
Doesnt obstruct players ability to look at one
another
For a Fiasco game set in the advertising world during the 1960s, I picked up an old
rotary phone at a flea market and put the phone, along with a few empty liquor bottles
and some tumblers, in the center of the table. The phone became a prop that people
would pick up and answer when acting out their characters actions, and the player
whose character was always drunk would swing around one of the bottles whenever
he acted out his rampages. The prop centerpiece acted like a laser guidance system to
drag wandering eyes and minds back to the central space and the themes of the game.
The centerpiece doesnt have to be something that the players can physically interact
with, though. For example, you can use a statue of Cthulhu or a gargoyle for a horrorthemed game, or a map of the area where the PCs are questing for a fantasy game.
You can also swap out the centerpiece mid-game to instantly shift the tone and move
everyone into a different mental space. If youre okay destroying that old phone, break
it in half at a key moment to emphasize the absence of communication. Replace the
creepy statue with a more upbeat sculpture to show that the PCs are winning the war
against the dark forces opposing them. This is a simple technique to put into practice,
but it works well to signal the shift in themes during the game.
The Set
25
Stage Design 2: Box Theater

Materials Needed:
Option 1A cardboard box and a cutting tool
Option 2The lid from a large plastic storage box
Option 3A blank canvas (the kind thats stretched over a wooden frame)
Option 4One furring strip of wood approximately 8 long by 2 tall by
2 wide, cut into four pieces: two 1 5 sections and two 2 sections
You can also separate your set by literally walling it off from the rest of the table. This
is particularly effective if you use battle maps and miniatures. The play space becomes
the arena in which the game world exists, its borders clearly defined. Even if all you
do is put all the minis in a trimmed-down cardboard box, the game world is now no
longer part of the table; it becomes its own space.
Ideally, the walls of your box (whether cardboard or wood) should be 2 or 3 high
and should cordon off a good-sized chunk of the tableenough that the walled area
dominates the space. You can accomplish this quickly and easily by cutting the sides
of a cardboard box down to a usable height, dropping the lid of one of those big plastic
storage boxes in the middle of the table, or flipping over an art canvas.
Feeling more crafty than that? Pick up an 8x2x2 piece of lumber and ask your local
home improvement store to cut it down into four smaller pieces. Lay them out in a
rectangle to neatly segment your play space. Want a permanent frame? Join the ends
of the wood with nails or wood glue to create a sturdy separator that looks a lot better
than a cardboard box.
26
Chapter 2
Stage Design 3: Raise The Stage

Materials Needed:
Whiteboard or dry-erase panels approximately 2 x 2
Option 1Aluminum pizza stands and one roll of duct tape
Option 2One furring strip of wood approximately 8 long by 1 tall
by 4 wide cut into two sections (a 2 long section and a 1 4 section),
and 2-4 small screws
Lets set aside the movie set analogy for a moment and think about stages for live
theater. All stages have one thing in common: They are higher than the area around
them. That small distinction puts them in a physically different space, and its a great
psychological trick that we can make use of for gaming.
This is an incredibly easy build
with some impressive results.
Start by going to a home improvement store to find dryerase (whiteboard) wall panels. These generally cost about
$5 for a 2x2 panel or $10 for
a 2x4 panel, depending on
what the store stocks. One
side is covered in a dry-erase
paint that is perfect for gaming. The other side is usually
dark brown, and you can add
a grid for miniatures to that
side with a silver permanent
marker. This gives you a twoside mapping surfacenow to raise it up off the table.
There are two simple ways to raise this set:
Metal pizza standsThese are metal brackets about 6 or 7 inches high
that restaurants use to hold pizzas. Theyre cheap and can be taped to the
dry-erase panels for stability. Using two at the edges of a 2x2 panel will raise
your set while also creating a space underneath for books and kipple.
WoodGet an 8 furring strip cut into three pieces (two 2, one 1 10) and
screw them together in an H shape. Set your dry-erase panel on top of this
frame to raise your set above the table. It wont be as high as the pizza stand
option, but it does still offer a bit of storage space underneath the panel.
The Set
27
Working with Wood

In two of these stage designs, I mention doing a bit of woodworking. If you arent the
woodworking sort, dont panic! These are in no way complex builds and are easy to
achieve even if you dont own any truly dangerous tools, but there are three things you
should know before you get started:
Wood doesnt have to be expensiveHigh-quality wood is expensive, but for
our purposes a cheap piece of wood called a furring strip is perfect. They
generally cost $2-$4 for an 8 length of wood (the width varies). Ask someone
at the store where they are and then paw through the pile for one that suits your
needs. Make sure you get one that isnt treated with chemicalsraw wood is your
friend, and it can be stained if you want to go the extra mile.
Lumber sizes are not exactIts an oddity of the lumber industry, but a 4 wide
piece of wood is usually 3.5 or 3.75 inches wide, but it is sold as 4 wide.
And even if the stated measurements are accurate, cutting will change the length.
A board thats 8 (96) long cant be cut it into four 2 sections because the saw
blade is about 1/8 wideyou lose about 1/2 from the overall length of the
board, if not more. If you arent cutting it yourself, ask whoever is to cut it to length,
but overall to make sure the pieces are equal. Its better to have two 1 11 boards
than two boards of different lengths.
Hardware stores can make cuts for youMany hardware stores have a saw
sitting around in the back and will make simple cuts for you. Usually this is free,
but sometimes they charge a small fee to avoid having to cut complex projects.
They can only make simple cuts (like turning an 8 board into four pieces or cutting
a 2x4 panel into two 2x2 panels) and sometimes youre better off marking off
your cuts with a pencil and ruler before asking them to fire up the saw. Make sure
to describe exactly what your end goal is to the person doing the cutting. (Also,
a word of general advice: Be nice to the person who is trained in the use of
industrial-grade powered cutting tools.)
Challenge - Achievement: Set Designer

1. Put a central, focusing element into the game space that fits the theme of
your game, and encourage your players to interact with it if possible.
2. Put on your assistant director hat and compact all your GMing materials so
they fit into a small storage container.
3. Find three props that fit the theme of your game and introduce them into
the central area at different times during the night (whenever there are
significant scene changes).
4. Build a raised set or create a box theater for your next game that uses
miniatures.
5. Institute a kipple reduction plan as a rule for your game, and reward your
players with an in-game benefit for following the rule.
28
6. Sit back and look at your table for a few minutes. Write down three things
you could add to your setup that would improve it or remove distractions.
Chapter 2
Gemma rolled into Adams dining room and came to a

sudden stop. She rubbed her eyes. Was this the same place?
The table was immaculate and the junk around the room was
stuffed into cardboard boxes. There was a smaller wooden
table next to her spot at the table.
Hey! Glad youre here early, Adam said. I found this old
table at a thrift store and it looks like its perfect to fit your
books and stuff off to the side. Ill move it after the game so
stuff doesnt pile up on it. I also had a talk with my roommates,
and now we have a rule that if the table isnt clear by 4:00
pm on the day of a game, whoever has stuff on it has to do
dishes for a week.
Adam, thats awesome! Gemma paused. But the table still
isnt big enough for the mapeveryones books are going to
cover it up like last time. Gemma knew her players well: If
there was empty space, theyd fill it quickly enough.
Oh, yeah. Hold on. My dad helped me make this. Adam
pulled out a wooden frame. Its a raised platform we made
with some blocks of wood and an old piece of paneling. Now
we can put the map up higher and people can keep papers
under it.
Gemma threw her arms around Adam. Finally! She could run
a game without having to deal with junk getting in the way.
The Set
29
Chapter 3:
Special Effects Scenes
Gemma was in her apartment, banging her head against her
desk, trying to come up with something that would make this
game memorable. The change of locations had created a lot
of distractions, but Adams place was working out for now
and they could go back to the library in another few weeks.
However, Gemma was worried about how to make this game
something they were going to talk about for years to come.
She had been plotting out ideas, but everything she came up
with just felt tired and familiar.
Her players knew how she thought and what sorts of twists and
turns her plots usually took. They had also started figuring
out how she had run her combats and were always picking
off the magic user or support tech well before those NPCs got
to use their powers to make the fight interesting. As she was
trying to come up with something new, Gemma found herself
playing with some of the models and PVC figures on her shelf.
And thats when she knew what she needed to do.
That Wow Moment:

Channeling Your Inner Eight-Year-Old
There are many things you can do with your games to keep your players immersed
and focused on the world you are all creating together. You can craft the narrative to
be unique and interesting, you can keep the spotlight on the players and encourage
every one of their ideas, and you can engender a feeling of satisfaction by making
successes easy but not extreme, but one of the most powerful things you can do is to
create a wow moment by engaging them with something awesome and unexpected
that completely changes the paradigm. In special effects-laden blockbusters, there is
usually one moment fairly early on where the movie creates an epic feeling by hitting
you with a gratuitous, shiny visual moment.
After the thunderous music and brief description to tie you into the story that starts
in media res, the opening to Star Wars: A New Hope shows two ships engaged in a
life-or-death chase that instantly makes you want to know more. For the quality of
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Chapter 3
effects in movies at the time, especially in the science fiction genre, this scene
was mind-blowing. Laser blasts and a chase, and then the screen is filled with
a giant ship that dwarfs your vision for far longer than it should, the sounds of
the action still going on way up at the front of the ship doing the chasing. By
the time you are introduced to the first two speaking characters, you have been
shown that the scale of this movie is going to be epic.
That is a special effects moment, probably the quintessential one, and these sorts
of moments engage the senses in incredible ways, setting you up to keep that
sense of wonder and amazement throughout the rest of the movieor, in our
case, the game.
Creating a Special Effects Moment: The Basics

How do you make special effects moments in your games? There are three key elements that must be present, and if you have all three of them in a scene it will probably become a wow moment.
Engage the senses
Make it different from the usual fare

Go big

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Engage the Senses

Even though most of the experience of tabletop gaming comes from social interactions and spoken narratives, as a GM you have to engage the senses to really get into
your players heads. This could come from the incredible narrative so strong that it
builds the image of the evil sorcerers lair in the players minds, but you can also engage the senses directly by using eerie music complete with crashing thunder and by
showing the players an image of the lair. These elements will support the narrative
youre building and focus three of the players senses on the idea and mood you want
to create.
Make It Different from the Usual Fare

In many action movies, the Big Bad Evil Guy (BBEG) is rarely taken out in the same
manner as his minions. After pumping every minion in the building full of bullets,
in a dramatic moment the final bad guy is pushed out of a window, because to just
take him out like the throw away characters would feel mundane and anticlimactic.
To make a big moment feel special, you have to shift the paradigm away from what
your players expect.
Go Big
Grand gestures are the bread and butter of movie moments. Its rarely a private and
rational act that wins back the lost love. There is never an easy code to disengage the
bomb or activate the self-destruct mechanism in a tense action scene. Going big in
terms of scale, action, or excitement helps disengage the scene from the usual fare
and makes every action exaggerated and special in some way. Anything done against
the backdrop of a big set piece or an extreme consequence feels special, even if the
action or the mechanics of the game is on par with how things are usually done. For
example:
Scaling the branches of a tree that has been turned into a house is a chase
scene in a unique place.
Running across the tree-branch bridges and climbing through the vines
and gigantic leaves of an entire city that is housed in a single tree is an
extreme situation.
Fighting on the rooftops of a city is thrilling because of the danger of a
fall that could kill you.
Fighting on the rooftops of a city floating in the clouds is epic because

surviving the fall would require a miracle.
Analyze Your Scenes for Special Effects Worthiness
Like so many techniques that help you improve your GMing, you can determine if
your scene is going to have that special effects quality by turning the rules above into
questions. When you plan a scene that you want to be a wow moment, ask yourself
these three questions about it:
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Chapter 3
Does it engage the senses directly?

Is it different from the usual fare?
Does it go big in some way?
For example, say you have this scene in mind:
The PCs will be chasing the BBEG out of his snowy lair. There will be a
chasm that he gets across to buy some time and eventually get away.
Ask the three questions, and you wind up with this much more interesting version:
The BBEG will escape and run down the side of the snowy mountain, getting over a chasm that will delay the PCs. Ill put on some chase music and
drape a white sheet over some cardboard boxes to create the actual chasm
(Engage the Senses, Go Big). Since we usually do straight-up combats, the
PCs dont usually do chase scenes, and if they fall down the chasm it will
mean almost certain death. Ill let them know that beforehand and reinforce
the idea by making one of the BBEGs minions fall off one of the small platforms of ice that can be used to cross the chasm (Different From the Usual
Fare, Go Big).
Even though the essence of the scene is the same as the original version, the one that
incorporates the three guidelinesengage the senses, make it different, and go big
is the one most likely to be remembered. This version takes the basic concept and adds
some shine and polish to make it a special effects moment.
When and Where to Use Special Effects Moments

Special effects moments create that wow factor, but they often take more time and
effort to bring about. The good news is that they arent the sort of thing you need to
do all the time. Using a special effects moment is a matter of timing and understanding the flow of your game. One moment like this will set the tone for an entire night.
Trying to force two or three special effects moments into a single game session may
detract from the story or the characters. Special effects moments are best used sparingly and only when you want to create a great emphasis around a particular element
or scene.
There are three places in a game session where you can easily place special effects moments to get the most bang for your buck:
Right at the beginningA special effects moment that wows at the start
of a session will set the tone for the entire evening and will get your players
excited and engaged from the outset.
As the finaleMovies often have a climactic finale, and sometimes saving

the best for last is a good choice. If youre planning a special effects moment
for the end of the session, try to find a way to hint at and foreshadow it so
that your players get excited about building to that moment.
33
Spread across the entire sessionIf you have to run a short session or
are running a one-shot that you wont likely revisit, turning the entirety
of the session into one giant, extreme moment increases the impact of the
moment exponentially. It wont just feel like a short gaming session or a
one-shot, but a session that was hyper-focused on one incredible element.
Your players will mark the entire session in their minds as something
mind-blowing instead of it just being one awe-inspiring moment during
a normal session.
Watching for Wow Moments

When I started gaming at conventions instead of just amongst my friends, I noticed
my eyes constantly being drawn away from my game and into others games. At first
I didnt really think much about it, until I noticed that the games that drew my attention
were doing something awesome that I wasnt doing at home. One game had a large
golden chalice in the middle of the map and a small amount of orange crepe paper to
simulate fire. When an NPC died, that NPCs miniature got thrown into the chalice. Another game had a large castle prop taking up the entire table and a giant army arrayed
against the PCs. The PCs werent fighting all of the miniatures that were on the table, but
the epic scale made the grand battle the center of attention.
I also noticed that in some instances, I would catch players and GMs narrating what
was occurring. I would hear people talking about blowing up giant robots or jumping
out of airships and acting out their pleas for help from other characters. These were the
moments that drew my attention away from the game I was currently engaged in, and
I later realized that they were the moments that I remembered from those conventions.
The games I was in, or running, werent bad, but they didnt have that wow factor when I
stacked them up alongside whatever was going on at other tables. These moments were
what set me on a path of looking at ways to improve my own games and focusing on
how to keep my players eyes and thoughts on what was going on in our shared space
using wow moments.
Some Tools and Techniques for

Creating Special Effects Moments
Well go into more detail about the specifics of creating special effects moments later
in the book, but here are some baseline ideas and concepts that you can use to create
special effects moments in your games.
Flip the Paradigm

Paradigm shifting ties into the idea of making a special effects moment different from
the usual fare: Find some element of your game and change how it happens. If you use
maps and miniatures in all of your games, change the paradigm and go completely
narrative in one scene. Remove the miniatures and the map from the table and
34
Chapter 3
interact with your players in a more direct way, maybe even changing the play
space to a conversation circle instead of a standard table setup. In this way, you
will emphasize the narrative elements and remove the representations that the
group usually uses to interact with the game world.
If you normally use miniatures and your moment is something that would be
best served by representing the action scene with figures, change the scene from
a horizontal one to a vertical one. Have the miniatures actually move up the
map in some way. This will make the players think in new ways and have to interact with the same rules in a different manner. Their circumstances for failure
may or may not change, but their perception will.
A paradigm flip doesnt need to change the physical space or its representation, but
often a change in the physical setup helps emphasize the flip. You could flip the
paradigm by setting a combat on a moving platform like an airship or a train, or you
could place a narrative-driven scene in a setting vastly different from the norm. For
example, if your game involves paranormal investigators in a late Victorian-themed
world and your normal gameplay style is to scour through the dingy streets chasing
vampires, you could have the PCs snatched by royal guards who clean and present them with new clothes as they are called into the halls of society to deal with a
troubling issue for the queen. Their normal approach to questioning and searching
out their undead adversaries will need modification if they are to do so within the
confines of courtly life and the politics that go along with it.
A vertical crawl up a cliff side to rescue a comrade held in a cage is achieved

with old metal shelving, twine, and some blue foam to make ledges.
35
Make the Boring Bits Unidirectional

Whenever an NPC starts to fill the players in on some element of the backstory for
the game, players eyes glaze over. This is common in all games and no fault of the
GM. Players focus on their characters, so its easy for a player to tune out if a scene
doesnt actively engage her character in some way. The alternative is that a player tries
to engage with the moment and the narrative effect is ruined, leaving important details and information by the wayside. To keep these moments focused and impactful,
make them unidirectional by creating them beforehand.
In a steampunk game, the bombs the PCs needed to disarm had speakers on them. I
recorded sound files to play from those speakers. Each bomb had a new piece of information about why the bomber was setting the bombs. The players leaned in to listen
to thesevery basicsound files that I recorded on my phone. No one interrupted,
and they asked if they could listen to them again. Creating the files wasnt hard: I just
pulled up the voice memo recorder app on my phone and acted out the part. When I
played those sound clips later, I got a much better response than if I had tried to narrate the same information on the spot.
With a little more effort, this effect can be taken
far enough that it becomes an incredible moment which engages multiple senses. If you have
access to a video camera, a light bulb, and some
cardboard, you can create a shadow puppet play
on a wall and record it for later viewing. Then,
as you begin to narrate the story in game, you
end in the middle of a sentence that picks up
in the video as you play it. The narration turns
into the scene that could be occurring in one of
the PCs heads and you add an interesting visual
element to the game.
In a similar vein, you can create a short video
of a narrative scene. If youre running a game Turning a backstory into a shadow
play can make it interesting
set in a world that comes straight from a movie,
playing just a snippet from the movie with a dif- and more engaging and it isnt
ferent voice track, or even editing bits and pieces hard to do with the miniatures
together with free movie editing software, can
you are already using.
create an impressive narrative moment. Playing
in a world of your own creation? You can take screenshots from a video game and
put them together in a montage, or use bits of art from the setting or pictures of the
miniatures posed on terrain that you use in-game.
Dont be concerned if you cant put in all the fancy elements youd like or make a
pre-recorded narrative that sounds like a polished film trailer. Putting hours of work
into a special effects moment is fine if you enjoy doing it, but the end goal is to engage
your players and keep them focused, not win an award. Do the work that you feel you
need to do to engage the players with the tools that you have, but dont stress out
over making it perfect.
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Chapter 3
Move Bits of the Fictional World into the Real World

Although we play in fictional worlds created inside of our imaginations and
through our storytelling, we can emphasize those creations by bringing bits of
them into the real world. Is an NPC the crux of a certain scene? Dress up as that
NPC or get one prop that represents that particular NPC to use as a costume.
When you deliver dialogue from that characters mouth, players will use the
costume elements to shape their idea of the character.
Giving your players something that exists in the game world and is relevant to
their characters will also help them anchor themselves in the narrative. Does
your game involve them all joining an organization or a military squadron?
Give them pips to attach to their character sheets that represent their rank, or make
the specialized squad badges out of cheap sculpting clay. That gives each character a
physical connection to the squad. If a scene involves haggling over pay or delivering
a ransom, throwing a bunch of metal replica coins on the table creates a link to the
importance of the money in the scene.
If you want to emphasize a particular element of your game by bringing it into the
physical world, you can create a prop of that element. Is the MacGuffin a sacred
knife? A prop bought from a costume store or an old toy can become a physical representation of that item that your players need to get their hands onand protect. You
can print out a map on parchment paper as a simple physical prop, or, in a modern or
futuristic game, hand your players a map displayed on a tablet. These dont have to be
works of art: Merely having them in the real world helps to focus players attention on
those elements and keep a constant mental connection to the game world.
Challenge - Achievement: Special Effects Guru

1. Pick three scenes that you want to be especially impactful. Ask the three
questions from the Analyze Your Scenes for Special Effects Worthiness
section about those scenes and see if theres room for improvement.
2. Create or find a small prop that you can give to each player to tie them
into the narrative and theme of the game world.
3. Create a scenario that flips the paradigm by changing your table setup or
the gameplay parameters of a familiar type of scene (e.g., reimagining a
horizontal chase as a vertical one).
4. Record a narrative beforehand and use that to convey backstory or other
detailed information to your players.
5. Flip the paradigm by making the consequences of failing a particular

scene extreme. Even if theres secretly a failsafe, ensure that your players
have a sense that failure means the end.
6. Make the first scene a special effects moment by using an impressive prop
or effect that sets the tone for the rest of the game.
37
Okay. Make your jump roll, but dont forget what youre
going to fall into if you fail, Gemma said, smirking impishly.
Patti looked at the 3-D map hanging on the wall. Gemma
had said they were going to be doing something interesting
this game, but she had no idea it was going to be like this.
Hanging on the wall was a piece of cork board covered by
a star-patterned sheet of cloth. All of their minis were stickytacked to pins, and there were wooden blocks tacked to
pushpins to represent the debris floating around them in
space.
Patti rolled her jump skill to push off of a piece of debris,
guessing that her incredible acrobatic skills would probably
make sure she succeeded, but looking at that map and knowing
her character would drift into the infinite void of space if she
failed made her uneasy. As she moved her miniature, Patti
said, I spend a plot point, just to make sure . . .
Gemma smiled. She knew that when they had triggered
the totem in the ruins, they were expecting it to turn into
a spaceship. That was what happened last time. Instead,
it teleported the entire room out to space near a drifting
spaceship, and she got to use her wall map idea.
They all kept looking at the map with trepidation, trying to
figure out how to push off of one piece of floating debris and
time it so they could catch another one. Even though the rolls
were the same as they would have been on the ground with a
simple negative modifier, her players were looking at the game
in a totally different way. Gemma knew that they would be
talking about this session for a long time after it ended.
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Chapter 3
Chapter 4:
The Props Master
Walking into Adams house for the fifth session of their
game, Patti and Renaldo stopped in the doorway. Covering
the entirety of the table was a four-foot long spaceship. It
was crude, made of painted foam, and enormous. The ship
covered all of their play space and was raised up about a foot
off of the table. Gemmas head popped out from behind the
model, a giant grin on her face.
Patti said, What the . . .
Gemma said, Oh, hey guys! Like it? Its the Red Empress
flag ship. You planned to assault it tonight with your new
ship, so I brought it along.
Seriously? Wow! How long did that take you to make?
Patti said, peering around at all the small painted bits and
what looked like robots that were tacked onto the outside of it.
Less time than you would think. Its not the prettiest ship
there is, but itll . . .
Make the lessek run before the imperials know you breached
their borders Patti and Renaldo said together, finishing a
line from Gemmas favorite movie. Adam came in from the
kitchen with a plate of nachos, went to set them on the table,
and then reconsidered. He looked around and saw no space
that could be used without impacting the giant flying battle
fortress. Clearing some books off the shelf and piling them on
a stack of papers that appeared to be tax documents from the
previous decade, he put the nachos on the shelf and grabbed
his stuff. I cant wait to shoot some holes in this thing, he
said with a grin, poking at the giant ship.
The Props Master
39
Gemma reached forward and pulled a section of it apart,

revealing the interior and the gridded map there. Everyones
eyes widened just a little bit more.
Becoming a Props Master

So far weve looked primarily at the psychological impact of where you play and how
to bring special effects into the mix. Lets shift gears and talk about something purely
practical and hands-on: making stuff. This chapter is full of tips and plans to help
you build scenery and sets, choose the right tools, and repurpose things you might
not normally associate with gaming to create incredible terrain and set-ups that draw
your players into the game and increase engagement.
The Miniatures the Thing
Because this chapter is focused on building terrain and sets, the advice in this section
is most beneficial to games that make use of miniatures in some way. But your game
doesnt need mechanics that require miniatures or a grid to make use of terrain and
sets in order to get some of the benefits that come from using them. Having a physical representation of the game world, especially one that works in three dimensions,
helps players visualize the game and work within a common, shared visual framework. Even in games that call for grid-based mapping, I prefer to use maps without a
gridit gives my players a mental anchor that connects them to the game. Encourage
your players to interact with your sets and scenery however they like.
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Chapter 4
Dont Go Broke Making Stuff

Expensive premade pieces of terrain and miniatures made expressly for gaming
are really cool, but you dont need to spend money on a deeply detailed replica of
a castle or cave system to put alongside your miniatures to get the same benefit.
You can spend big bucks on cool sceneryand I certainly havebut you dont
need to spend a lot.
More than likely the scenery youre making or using is only going to appear in a
single session, and the small-scale details are likely to get missed in the heat of
the moment. To that end, I offer this all-purpose advice: When making a piece
of scenery or a prop, take as much time as you feel comfortable with to get the
quality you feel is necessary for your purpose.
Obligatory Disclaimer
Two last things before getting into the building advice. First, the techniques and tips described herein are pulled from multiple sources that are more detailed and exact when it
comes to carrying out different builds. The goal of this chapter is to give you the basics
and inspire you as to what can be done, but detailed instructions for crafting terrain and
scenery would fill a book in their own right. The basics herein will get you started; for
more details, I recommend seeking out some of the many books and articles on these
topics.
Second, the tips and techniques that are broadly described herein often involve cutting,
gluing, sculpting, and manipulating objects in ways that may fall outside their intended
uses. Be safe. Wear appropriate safety gear. Work in well-ventilated areas. Never
expose yourself to harm. Always make sure your vulnerable bits (pretty much all of you)
are far away from any object that can damage you. Look up more detailed information about working with various materials and learn from the lessons and mistakes other
people have made rather than making your own.
Whatever you find in this book that inspires you, and whatever techniques you try yourself, remember that actually doing it is at your own risk and you are solely responsible
for any results or damage that come from your building attempts.
A Prop Masters Toolbox

You will work with many different materials when you set about building your own
scenery, and its good to have many different tools at your disposal. Rather than
buying all the tools you might need at once, take a more need-oriented approach to
equipping yourself. Take time to think out the piece of terrain you are going to create
and then research ways to create it with a specific material or in a specific medium.
See what others use and search out the names of tools and how to use them in order
to determine what is going to work best for you. That all being said, here are some
common tools that I have in my toolbox that are useful in many types of crafting.
The Props Master
41
Rotary Tool
A rotary tool is a very small motor that you can attach different blades, saws, grinding
discs, and drills to in order to perform many types of crafting tasks. I suggest getting
one with a cord rather than a battery, as the battery will always run out on you exactly
when you most need it.
Fine Scissors/Heavy Duty Scissors/Tin Snips/Side Cutters

Scissors, you may be surprised to learn, come in a variety of styles and weights.
Heavier scissors can cut heavier materials easily, while fine or precision scissors may
be the only way to get that truly delicate corner. Tin snips cut tin well, but they also
have the weight to cut many other materials without issue. Sometimes tin snips are
the only thing that can get the job done. Side cutters are very good at making delicate
cuts in tough materials.
Box Cutters/Fixed Blade Utility Knife

Keeping to the cutting theme, often the cuts you need to make are better done with
a long, straight edge. A box cutter is a good start, but sometimes you need a smaller
utility knife, such as an X-Acto knife, to cut out the proper shapes.
Knife Sharpener/Whetstone
Knives and scissors dull with use. Getting a blade sharpener or a scissors sharpener
will help you retain the edge on some cutting implements. The finer the edge, the
harder it is to adequately sharpen. A manual sharpener made for kitchen knives will
often rest on a table and has a coarse and fine sharpening V in it. Pulling a blade
through it will sharpen both edges at the same time. Motorized ones are expensive,
but decent manual ones can be purchased for around $10 to $15. A whetstone or a
multi-function sharpener will have more options for sharpening, but require more
training in its use if you want to avoid cutting yourself.
Needle-nose Pliers
Some of the scales we work at when making scenery requires a more delicate grip
than our fingers can get. A good pair of needle-nose pliers is essential.
Metal Ruler/T-Square
A metal ruler provides a nice edge to draw a straight line with or guide a cutting instrument. A small T-square lets you do this with a right-angled edge or easily match
up and cut a corner without slipping.
Self-Healing Cutting Mat

Self-healing cutting mats are made of a synthetic rubber material that will take many
cuts before becoming damaged. They also hold materials in place through friction,
making it easier to cut with precision.
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Chapter 4
Screwdrivers (Tiny and Regular)

Screwdrivers will be called for fairly infrequently, but you may find yourself needing
very tiny screwdrivers if youre modifying a toy or other found item. The flat edges on
a large screwdriver can also be used as a makeshift chisel for small plastic items, but
tin snips or side cutters are often cleaner and safer.
Stick Glue/Wood Glue/Superglue/Hot Glue

If you make things, you will come to love and hate glue of all sorts. Stick glue, the
kind used in elementary school, can actually hold well and is easy to apply. Wood glue
and superglue can hold many sorts of objects together very cleanly, but application can
be messy if not carefully controlled. Hot glue will be your best friend and your worst
enemy: It will hold the best of many substances, but requires a glue gun and a few old
rags to wipe up spills before it sets.
Gloves
Plastic or thin cotton gloves are great accessories to prevent your hands from getting
covered in glue or paint.
The Props Master
43
Cheap Miniature Vise Grip or a Metal Armature Helping Hands

Crafting anything often requires that two pieces be held in just the right place or
held together for a good amount of time. A miniature vise grip with a tilting head
can make it easier to keep things in the right place. A helping hands device will
also hold things in place, but in a more limited way and with less precision from its
alligator clip hands.
Paints and Brushes

Painting is a an entire sub-domain of crafting and every material you work with will
be different. Acrylic paints are a generally safe bet for most materials and can often
be purchased fairly cheaply in sets of multiple colors. Brushes come in many sizes and
shapes, and each craft or medium will work better with different types and sizes or
brushes.
Tape
Though not often used on the finished crafted object, tape will be essential to holding things together or creating tools. I like transparent tape for holding objects for
permanent joining and electrical tape when I need a very tight grip.
Sandpaper in Many Different Grits

Sandpaper is a useful tool to rough up a surface you need to paint or glue together.
Course grit sandpaper can also provide a more rustic, or worn down look if you want
your terrain to look scratched or worn.
Finding Scenery in Everyday Items

Often, the best scenery and set pieces are the things you dont actually have to build.
They are pre-made objects that can be repurposed as gaming scenery with little to
no work. Items that can be repurposed are everywhere. The black cloth storage cube
that you use for storing clothes can be emptied and flipped over to become a giant
mysterious alien cube. The cheap toy train set you find at the thrift store is the perfect
size for miniatures and creates a great steampunk set piece with a little bit of paint.
The cheap bonsai tree plants that decorate your office are the perfect size to add some
atmosphere to the fight in the enchanted forest when they are set on top of your map.
Almost anything, when placed next to miniatures, can be perceived in an entirely different way and make great gaming scenery. It only takes a little imagination to build an interesting gaming terrain out of found items, and scale works to
your favor. Because miniatures are often at such a small scale, ordinary objects like
a glass bowl are huge in comparison. Take one and fill it with some water and a
toy shark, then cut the edges of a cardboard box to be flush with the top and open
into the bowl. Draw a crude map on the box top and lay strips of cardboard across
it a for a bridge. One glass mixing bowl and a dollar or two worth of cardboard
or foam board and you have the perfect shark tank for a super-spy villains lair.
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Chapter 4
Look at the world around you with a questioning eye that asks, How can I use
that in my game? This will turn up gaming scenery everywhere.
There are two categories of found items that are especially good for repurposing
and which will work as a source of gaming props: toys and decorative objects.
Toys
Toys of all sorts have great utility when turned into gaming scenery. Plastic
robots are often the right scale to represent mechanized suits. An arm-mounted
foam-dart launcher becomes a rocket ship. Construction trucks and toy cars
become part of a cityscape. A plastic dinosaur becomes a life-sized dinosaur.
A cheap helicopter toy becomes an excellent prop that the PCs can use to escape
a burning building. Go Big by using an
inexpensive toy gyrocopter that actually
flies. Hide it out of the players sight and
keep the controller handy. When they call
for evacuation from the combat zone ingame, fly it in and watch their eyes widen.
Play sets are another great investment because they include, or are themselves, terrain. The superheros underground cave,
A toy train, slightly modified robot toys,
the construction site with robotic claw
and a wrist mounted dart launcher
arm, the jungle tree fort, the pirate ship,
create a sci-fi battle, all acquired at a
the pink princess castleall of these items
thrift store for under 5 bucks.
can instantly be turned into complete pieces of terrain for your games.
Decorative Items and Other Objects that

Work Differently at Scale
An upside down candle holder and

brass bookshelf set the scene for PCs
battling in an ancient temple.
Items that are decorative in nature actually

work incredibly well for gaming scenery.
A brass platform candle holder picked up
at the thrift store becomes an instant sacrificial altar when turned upside down. A
large round mirror with a small amount
of diluted blue paint becomes an excellent
reflecting pool. A brass statue of an interesting figure that stands a few inches tall
becomes a giant statue sitting in front of
a temple. Many decorative objects can be
repurposed if you imagine them in a different scale.
The Props Master
45
Similarly, things that seem ordinary when viewed at their regular size become strikingly different when viewed at the scale of your miniatures. Look around the room
youre sitting in right now and youll probably spot many objects that could work as
interesting gaming scenery and terrain.
With a little modification, those grey, shoebox-sized plastic storage
containers with drawers can be viewed as futuristic mobile command
centers.
A black lamp on the flexible metal arm becomes a generator and the wires/
scaffolding that lead to the underground base. Punch it up by using a red
light bulb to represent an impending explosion.
A laser pointer with the button taped down becomes a laser drill cutting
into a gigantic energy crystal that looks very much like a d12 or the
tracking dot on a giant cannon.
As in the shark tank/glass bowl example above, cut a cardboard box so

that it is flush with a Lazy Susans height and create a terrain piece that
rotates when the PCs step onto it, emphasizing the mechanical nature of
the clock tower and highlighting the deadly fall should they fall from it.
Simple bailing twine makes for great rope at a miniature scale, and it can
be tied into a spider web that the PCs have to cross in order to get out of
the dungeon. Cover the rest of the dungeon with decoration spider webs
from a Halloween store to enhance the effect.
Modifying Premade Items

Often a found item works just fine as a prop as-is, but sometimes you need to modify
it just a bit to make it work. Here are some general guidelines and tips on how to
modify premade items. You can often find detailed instructions online for specific
items by asking the right questions: Web searches like how to cut brass or how to
repaint a toy train will bring up information from experts that can help you get it
just right.
Painting and Gluing

When you find yourself needing to repaint a found item to make it work, you may
want to consider sanding it first. Paint and glue often take better on a rougher surface,
so get your sandpaper out and rough it up before applying paint/glue. Depending on
the color, applying a white or grey primer first may be advisable. Whenever working
with paint and glue, get plenty of ventilation.
Cutting and Reshaping

Your rotary tool is a great resource when it comes to most crafting, but its usually the
best tool for cutting toys or decorative items. If you have to remove something tiny,
like a sticker or extra antenna nub from a plastic toy, a sanding cone is often your best
bet.
46
Chapter 4
Cutting bits and pieces off is often best left to a side cutter, which has the power
and strength to cleanly cut through most small objects but the precision to get
close to the edge. Whenever working with a cutting tool, never force it if there
is much resistance. Try a different approach or tool, or look up more information
on how to work with that material and cut it.
Sculpting (Advanced Technique)

Sometimes you might want to add something onto a found object. Making the
addition out of sculpting clay is a good way to cover up a hole or create a specific
attachment for a toy. Custom action figure-making tutorials contain a wealth
of information for working with all sorts of sculpting techniques, but here are
the basics.
Form the sculpting clay into a rough version of what you need, and then use a toothpick or fine knife to cut away bits and sculpt it into the exact shape youre after. This is
very delicate work, and its easy to cut yourself when working at such a small scale, so
be careful. After youve got the shape and the sculpting where you want it, you need
to cure the clay. Sculpting clay often cures with time or heat, so baking it in an oven
or dipping it repeatedly for 30-second intervals into a pot of boiled (but not currently
boiling) water is sometimes required to get it to cure. The number of times it will
need to be dipped depends on the thickness of the sculpted item. The boiling water
technique is often necessary if the sculpting clay is attached to an object that should
not be put into an oven, like a plastic toy. Check the instructions that came with the
clay for appropriate ways to cure it (and tips on shaping it).
Hot glue is another interesting sculpting medium. Squeezing it out of the glue gun
and layering it into shapes can create transparent effects or energy blasts. You can
build a skeleton from a paperclip or other wire to sculpt around, though it will still be
visible inside the glue. Use a toothpick or the end of a paperclip to sculpt the glue to
create various effects like fire, an energy blast, choppy waves, or an ethereal, ghostly
shape. You can tint the finished product using a diluted paint mixture.
A repaint of a bright
yellow kids ship turns
it into a great battle
cruiser, while plastic
bongos only need to be
turned upside down
to become a docking
apparatus.
The Props Master
47
Simple Tricks for Modular Walls

I tend to improvise a lot as a GM, so building things that fit a specific purpose sometimes doesnt work for me. I like to build scenery that is modular and which can be used
multiple ways, and walls are a great example because they come up so often. Ive got
one simple trick that I keep going back to for making walls: I scavenge the pieces from
wooden building-block tower games.
Applying a coat of gray to the blocks and
letting it dry gives it a base coat. I then use
a permanent marker to draw a stone pattern
onto the blocks and presto: instant dungeon
walls that I can use to build any shape I need.
Different paint colors and patterns create different types of wall, and if I want to make
something specific I can always hand-paint a
door or a unique pattern onto a few blocks
that I can slot into the other more generic
walls.
Papercraft
Papercraft models are some of the cheapest and easiest terrain and scenery pieces
you can get, and most of the ones you can
purchase look fantastic. There are also many
sites that have free papercraft models of
stuff like buildings, spaceships, monsters,
and other things that work well as scenery.
Making papercraft models usually involves
three main steps: printing, cutting, and assembling. Most models you purchase from
a company will have instructions for assembling that particular model, but here are
some tips to help you out.
Paper Weight
Heavier paper is more stable and holds its shape better. You can purchase 110-pound
cardstock that is a heavier weight than regular paper from any office store. It will be
less flexible than paper and thus can be cut into intricate shapes much more easily. If
you need something even heavier than cardstock, use cardboard comic book dividers.
The non-glossy ones are cheaper and often work with home office printers. They dont
typically come in 8.5x11 or A4 sizes, but they do provide a sturdier surface that can
hold some weight.
48
Chapter 4
Coloring
Papercraft models often come in color and black and white versions and look
best when printed on a color printer. If that isnt an option for you, coloring
the paper before you cut it out will give you a decent looking model with some
visual texture.
Cutting
Cutting the paper for papercraft is easiest with a utility knife or box cutter,
but standard scissors will work well in most cases. Be sure to watch out for any
gluing tabs (small tabs meant to be glued to the inside of another piece of the
model) so that you dont cut them off.
Scoring and Folding

Once you have cut your pieces out, assembling the papercraft often requires scoring
the spots where you need to fold it. Scoring is the act of drawing a line across the
paper so that you can create a clean fold. A scoring tool is great, but a thumbtack is
often adequate to score the folds. Tape it firmly to a pencil or chopstick to give it a
handle thats easier to hold. When it comes time to fold your papercraft, place your
metal ruler along the scoring line for a neat fold.
Gluing
A glue stick is often a good method for hitting just the fold tabs or join points of a
papercraft model. Simple white glue is generally more than enough to hold papercraft
together, but one that bills itself as a tacky glue or quick drying is often worth it. If
youre not using a glue stick to apply glue to small areas, squeeze the glue into a small
bowl or onto a piece of scrap paper and apply it with a paintbrush. You can clean your
glue brush with warm, soapy water or paint thinner, or just use cheap brushes for your
glue and throw them out when youre done.
An Unexpected Papercrafting Resource: Cardboard

Papercraft is a great way to get good-looking terrain that works on a miniature scale,
but when I want to create something impressive for a specific purpose I use cardboard.
As a 10-year-old with a love of arts and crafts, I made a model of Castle Grayskull
out of old cardboard boxes. It wasnt pretty, but it was big and epic and it lasted for a
good long while before the ThunderCats set it on fire and I got grounded for a week.
If you want to go big, use cardboardand keep these things in mind.
A Box Cutter is Essential

Smaller utility knives dont have enough power or strength when cutting cardboard,
unless you are doing fine detail work. A box cutter is the perfect tool for cutting
cardboard.
The Props Master
49
Getting Cardboard
A major benefit of working with cardboard is that its sturdy and cheap and you can
find it almost everywhere. Old cereal boxes are much more flexible but less sturdy than moving boxes, which can be purchased fairly cheaply and provide nice big,
square surfaces to work with. Boxes of a similar weight can be gotten free from almost
any retail store just by asking nicely. You can also work with foam board in the same
way that you can with cardboard. Its a bit more expensive, but can sometimes be
sturdier and easier to paint and glue together. (More on this topic in the next section.)
Shaping
You can apply papercraft model ideas to cardboard, but often youll be working
with simpler shapes. Find pieces big enough and plan your projects out beforehand.
Searching online for cardboard craft projects or looking at kids craft books will lead
you to some pretty impressive projects.
Glue and Tape

Like papercraft models, cardboard can be joined together with glue, but masking
tape will often hold things together better. If youre using glue you can often improve
a plan you find online by creating gluing tabs along the edges of pieces that are
meant to be joined together. This will enable you to attach your pieces without visible
exterior tabs.
Painting and Decorating

Painting a cardboard model of significant size often takes a fair amount of time. Fortunately, cardboard is a medium that takes spray paint well. This works well for a base
color to remove the cardboard look. After it dries, better paint and fine details can
be applied with paintbrushes. With only a base level of paint and some minor details,
a cardboard model can look somewhat cartoonish or childish, but this can still work
for your game. Taking extra time with the painting step, however, can lead to impressive results for a model that was inexpensive to build.
Learning the Art of Foam Crafting from Wargamers

When I think of impressive terrain and set pieces on a miniature scale, my mind
always goes to one place in particular: miniature wargames. Tabletop skirmish games
rely on interesting terrain and scenery, and a lot of time and effort goes into selfcrafted terrain. We can borrow many ideas and techniques from this field and apply
them to creating scenery and set pieces for our games.
Wargamers often craft terrain out of polystyrene foam because its easy to cut and
shape. Working with polystyrene foam is an art unto itself, but even if youre not an
expert its cheap and can create many interesting structures. Lets go over some of the
basics.
50
Chapter 4
Getting Foam
Polystyrene foam is available from most big-box hardware stores and can be
found in the insulation aisle. It is sold in varying thicknesses and width/height
combinations. You can also find it in old coolers and packing material from
shipping boxes, but these sources wont usually yield nice big sheets that are easy
to cut. Hunt around to find the cheapest ones you can and avoid foam that bills
itself as having been treated with special chemicals.
Cutting Foam
Polystyrene foam cuts well with a serrated knife, such as a cheap kitchen steak
knife or a large bread knifethe kind you can acquire from any thrift store. Some
people use hot wire cutters to carve out shapes, but Ive found serrated knives often
work best. If you want to use a power tool for the job, an electric kitchen knife can
save your wrist from some pain if youre cutting large sections of foam. Ive also been
known to use my scroll saw to cut out large shapes when making big props, but I usually default back to the kitchen bread knife.
Getting smooth cuts in polystyrene can sometimes be difficult, but its usually just a
matter of pressure and a steady hand. Waxing the sides of your knife can help it move
through the foam smoothly. If you want to smooth or sand the foam, get a piece
of scrap foam and rub the smoothest edge you can find against the area you want to
smooth. A slightly damp cloth can also work well to clean rough edges.
Shaping and Joining

Polystyrene foam can be stacked to
create terrain that rises high and covers a large area. You can join foam
pieces with wood glue and use toothpicks to hold it together while it dries.
You can build square or angled buildings by cutting the foam and connecting pieces together to form walls and
a ceiling. Foam pieces that have been
stacked high can be carved as if they
were a single piece to create a tall prop
with a specific shape (e.g., a mountain).
Using Foam Board
A custom Foam Board bunker with wire

ladder and blue foam turned into terrain
make a cheap but impressive scene.
Many pieces of wargaming terrain incorporate foam board to create smooth structures or additions to more rocky pieces of terrain. Depending on what you are making, using a piece of foam board will provide a thinner piece of foam with a paper
coating on each side. This paper can be peeled off of one side to provide a foam-like
surface (wet it first for an easier time). Foam board crafts much like cardboard, but
cutting it is best done with a box cutter or a rotary tool.
The Props Master
51
Effects
Once youve got a basic shape for your foam prop, you can use a thin wooden pencil or
a utility knife to draw shapes in it. Applying pressure will cut out the shapes and leave
them as a small indent into the wall. These should transfer past the painting phase,
but you may want to exaggerate any shapes or patterns you want to be visible under
paint. Applying a glue seal (more on this in a moment) and adding in gravel and sand
can create a rocky terrain with texture.
Sealing and Priming

Painting foam can be a tricky thing. Since polystyrene is a plastic foam, it doesnt
play nice with the solvents in spray paints and other paints. You always want to put
down a primer coat when working with foam. You can use a spray paint to do this if
it is marked as being foam or plastic safe. A better, and cheaper, option is to get some
PVA glue (white glue like you used in school, but make sure it says PVA) and water
it down to make a sealant. With a brush and a 50/50 mixture of glue and water, you
can seal the entirety of the foam prop and then apply a layer of priming paint by hand
or with a spray can.
Painting
Once youve got the base sealing layer down, you can apply other paint layers to create
a finished look. Dry brushing (getting a bit of paint on the brush and then wiping it
off on a scrap piece of foam or paper until it is nearly dry, then dragging it across the
prop to create highlights) is a great way to get texture and make very realistic looking
props. Painting is what turns most wargame scenery from a foam shape into a work
of art.
Prop Ideas in Foam

After reading that last section, you may be thinking
that building foam props and
terrain sounds like a lot of
work compared to modifying found items or doing papercraft or cardboard terrain.
In some ways it is, but foam
sculpting is a crafting option
that can yield incredible results.
Wargamers usually work
with a large table and interesting pieces of terrain that can be used for cover in miniature battles. For a tabletop
RPG, our goals are usually a bit differentand engagement is at the top of the list.
Here are a few ideas to spur your creativity.
52
Chapter 4
Giant Tower
Cut multiple hollow circles or squares from the polystyrene foam and glue foam
board floors to the bottom of each circle. Stack the circles and connect them
with toothpicks to create a giant tower. For a modern game, use squares instead
of circles to create a skyscraper.
Focal Object
Foam that is stacked and glued together can be carved into a sculpture of any
sort, perfect to use as a central focus or to build a physical representation of an
item that the PCs are chasing after in the game.
Uniquely Structured City

Without the need for flat surfaces to accommodate multiple models (e.g., squads of elven archers) in a wargame, you can use foam pieces of all shapes and sizes and connect
them to each other to create three-dimensional spaces. An underwater compound
could be created by building walls, rooms, and shapes that are connected by foam
bridges and supported by foam girders on the undersides to raise them to different
heights. Building the walls out of polystyrene and then using foam board for removable ceilings and floors can create interior rooms that PCs move between and explore.
Islands in the Sky/Sea

Foam islands of varying sizes and shapes can be created and then raised to different
heights to create floating islands for an airship to navigate around. Using clear plastic
cups as bases underneath to raise them higher, a crude illusion that the islands are
floating can be achieved. Setting the islands directly on a blue cloth makes a cheap
but impressive scene for a pirate game.
Stone Ruins
Is the final set piece for your campaign going to occur in open-air stone ruins? Using
a single sheet of foam for the base and carving out small accent elements (like stairs
or raised walls) can create impressive stone ruins. You could even carve out individual
rocks from scrap pieces of foam and use them to build Stonehenge-like plinths.
Earth Elemental
Cutting out rough foam stones and sticking them together with toothpicks in a basic
bipedal shape can create an impressively large earth elemental. The PCs can knock
sections off the elemental and you can pull pieces of it apart and re-form it as the
battle progresses.
The Props Master
53
ChallengeAchievement: The Props Master

1. Set a budget of $10 and go to a thrift store. Find as many items in their toy
or house wares section that could be used as found-item props. See how
much raising the budget to $15 increases your options.
2. Build yourself a set of reusable walls by painting wooden blocks or using

toy building blocks that connect to one another.
3. Craft a basic piece of foam terrain to act as a set piece for a climactic scene
or an interesting puzzle (complete with clues carved into the walls with
a pencil).
4. Create an impressive set by using scale and a found object or a crafted

propsomething huge that dwarfs your miniatures.
5. Find some free papercraft terrain and use it as a stage for the very first
scene of the session to get that wow moment at the beginning of the
game.
6. Using found objects or crafted objects, create an interesting set piece that
changes the paradigm in some waylike a shark tank in a glass bowl with
actual water or sky-islands that seem to float at different heights.
54
Chapter 4
You really want to push that final rod into the reactor?
Gemma said, grinning with her hand over the red crayon
embedded in the foam ball in the center of the giant ship.
Ummm . . . maybe we should rig some kind of timing
system, Adam said in his James Dorlan voice. Yknow, just
in case.
In the booming voice of his character, Balmer, Renaldo said,
I think we should just do it and duck behind something,
but . . . After a few minutes of discussion and die rolls, the
group decided to rig a timing mechanism that would give
them enough leeway to get to their ship. They all decided that
Gemma was too likely to do something big and dramatic.
Once they were safely tucked inside their ship and rocketing
away, Gemma asked everyone to take their minis out of
the ship model that sat on the table. She carefully put back
the pieces of the ship and reached underneath to unlatch
something. Grabbing a small string no one had noticed, her
devils grin at full power, she yanked and the ship model flew
apart with a giant pop. The foam went flying everywhere and
red streamers and glitter shot out of the model.
Everyone looked around for a second in awe, pieces of the
ship laying all about. A few exclamations of excitement were
uttered and Gemma picked up the mechanism that had been
rubber-banded together in the center, holding everything in
place until she pulled the lynch pin. With a sheepish grin, she
said, It actually took a little longer to make than I let on . . .
The Props Master
55
Chapter 5: Green
Screens and CGI
But what kinds of things are on the walls? Its important!
Renaldo looked exasperated.
No, its not, said Gemma. Theyre walls, standard walls
made of two colors of brick. Two colors. Like every other wall
in this maze. Theyre like all the other walls youve seen, just
the pattern is different!
I check them again for secret passages and access points. I
get up real close. That guy disappeared into thin air and there
are no teleport signatures. He must have something in one of
these walls. A secret passage or something, Renaldo said as
he rolled his dice, failing again. What are the walls like. If I
could just envision them I could figure this out.
Raising her voice, Gemma said, The walls are stone, with
mortar between themtwo colors of brick. Umm. I dont
know. Theyre walls and there is something there, youre just
not getting it! Gemma threw her notes in the air. She couldnt
think of how to describe it without giving it away. Renaldo
just wasnt picking up on the clues and she couldnt think of
a way to make it any clearer.
How do you describe whats special about walls? She got
stuck on this train of thought and couldnt think of a way
to turn Renaldo onto the right path without giving away the
really interesting twist she had come up with.
Ah-hah! I check all of them for loose bricks, Renaldo said.
56
Chapter 5
DescriptionsTheater of the Mind

So far weve talked about ways to use your physical game space, props, and special effects moments to enhance your game. These are all great secondary aids to
creating an immersive experience by engaging your players senses. When you
get down to it, however, most of the game is built on the interactions between
you and your players and the words you all use during those interactions.
Most of the game, and the narrative surrounding it, occurs within the players
minds, and your most frequently used method of bringing scenes to life is verbal
description. You dont need to be a master writer with a vibrant and detailed
description for each and every element in a scene to make it come alive, but you
do need to look at how you describe scenes so that they can be as vivid as possible.
Your Individual Style
You have your own personal, and completely unique, style of speaking and narration when you run a game. Like an auteur director, one whose films all reflect their
personal style strongly, you should identify the elements of your GMing style and
emphasize them to create impact. What you say, how you say it, and how you adjudicate your games will change with each game you run, but your style will always be
your style and will contain elements that can only be found in your descriptions and
narration.
Green Screens and CGI
57
Defining Your Style

Lets perform a quick exercise to help you define what is unique about your style so
you can help emphasize your strengths. Take a piece of paper and make three columns: LIKE, UNIQUE, and DISLIKE.
Start with the LIKE column and write down five things that you like
about your GMing style
Next, move on to the DISLIKE column and do the same thing.
These should not be things that you consider necessarily bad or good in
others eyes, but things that you personally like and dislike about your style.
With these 10 items in place, the next step is to pick out some unique elements and
identify how best to use them.
Choose the element you like best from the LIKE column and write down
how it is uniquely yours.
Choose any element from the DISLIKE column and describe how it
enhances your style.
Choose the thing that you think your players like the most and write
down why they enjoy it.
Choose the thing that you think your players notice the most from your
DISLIKE column and note how it can help you keep them engaged.
Choose one thing from either column that you think makes the game fun
for everyone.
You should now have a chart that shows elements of your style that you both like and
dislike, and a center column that points out how those elements combine to create
your unique GMing style. Important safety tip: The things you like and dislike about
your style are not necessarily beneficial or detrimental to running a good game.
For example, I once gave an NPC the very stupid name Pyul Cue, taken from the
pool cue hanging on the wall. That name detracted a bit from the seriousness I had
hoped to inject into the scene, but because I followed the lines of the players interest
in that character with the funnybut memorablename, Pyul Cue became a key
figure and led them on to the next part of the plot. Had I just given him a bland name,
the players might have dismissed him quickly and I would have had to struggle to find
a way to connect them to the next scenes in a personal way.
Though your GMing style, with all its highlights and flaws, is uniquely yours, there
are always ways to improve as a GM. Once youve created your LIKE/UNIQUE/
DISLIKE chart, theres one more thing you can do with it: Pick two things from the
DISLIKE column and one from the LIKE column that youd like to work on. Then
write down a way to improve in those three areas.
58
Chapter 5
For my chart, I would choose:

Rush the ends of gamesSet an alarm for an hour before quitting time
and begin focusing on the ending point for the night.
Fumble for descriptive wordsKeep a list of descriptive words that I can

reference when Im fumbling.
Dont waste a lot of time with descriptionsThere are many times that
my players might be better served by having good descriptions of an area.
Ill write down more descriptions for important plot points and use them.
LIKE
UNIQUE
Improvise
a lot from
player
actions
1. What you like besthow is it uniquely yours? Fumble for

descriptive
I improvise by picking up on almost everything words when Im
the players bring into play, making the world improvising
and story a jointly created thing.
Use
interesting
visual
elements to
support my
descriptions
DISLIKE
2. One element from DISLIKEwhat about it Bad at coming up

with names
makes it unique to your style?
The pauses in my speech when Im trying to
think give players time to interject things that I
can riff off of to continue the story along.
Emphasize
player
success
3. What do you think the players like the most?
Dont
waste a lot
of time with
descriptions
4. One element you think the players notice the Rush the ends of
most from DISLIKEhow can it help you keep games when I get
them engaged?
tired
Get players
incredibly
excited
when they
are tackling
action
scenes
My emphasis on player success makes the PCs

seem like heroes who kick ass at everything and
that invigorates the players.
Pause in my
speech very often
When I come up with bad NPC names, the

players remember those charactersno matter
what.
5. One element from either column that makes Tend to make

the game fun for everyone.
references to
TV shows and
When my descriptions default to the miniature movies or default
or the external influence without being incred- to changing my
ibly original, my players tie into the same thing ideas to fit the
Im thinking of and can act with assurance that physical props or
they know what they are facing.
miniatures we
have on the table
59
Build Your Body Language Vocabulary

We convey as strong a message through our body language as we do through our
words, but rarely do most people think about how they move when they speak. Actors, politicians, poker players, and those who speak publicly often study and craft
the vocabulary of their body language to make sure it isnt conveying a message that
runs counter to their words. GMs should do the same. We often act out characters
and try to convey their attitudes and the themes they represent, but we dont always
pay enough attention to how our bodies communicate that message.
The grumpy travel officer who wont let you leave the planet until you pay the fee isnt
defined solely by the tone of your voiceits in how you raise your shoulders so you
look down on your players and how you contort your face to display displeasure. These
visual cues will speak more loudly than just describing the NPC as grumpy.
Even when youre not acting out a character, your body language sends a message.
Your players will pick up on the set of your shoulders or the way you smile and get
wrapped into how you are describing thingsfor example, revealing that youre feeling rushed or arent sure where to go next. Have you ever had that player who always
seems to know that theres a trap up ahead? Never play poker with her.
She knows how to read the twinkle in your eye as you describe the clear hallway
that looks like the others and branches off to the left. Nothing about what you said
hints at a trap, but youve got a tella characteristic behavior, such as a twitch in
one eyelid when youre lyingthat reveals to her that something isnt normal about
that hallway.
That isnt bad in and of itself. You can use your tell to hint at the trap without directly
telling the players or you can suppress it so that they have to use in-game cues to determine whether or not the party is in danger. But you cant make use of your tells if
you dont know what they are.
Practice Vocabulary with Your Mirror Image

Whether youre good at using your body language or need some work to make it feel
natural, practice helps. Take some time before your next game and sit in front of a
mirror. Stare at yourself for about two minutes before doing anything else. Look at
each part of your body separately and try to disassociate them from the whole image
you have of yourself.
Once youve done this, start putting on your best mood faces. Imagine an NPC and
try to make your face and your body convey that NPCs feelings and mood. How does
he hold his head? How does he turn his body to convey the theme you want your players to pick up? What makes him feel like a distinct individual when you act him out?
Youre going to look a little odd to yourself, but get used to it. When you do it in the
actual game, your actions will be more subtle because youre switching to that NPC
without all the prep work, but youll convey the NPCs mood better and the players
will be more likely to pick up on what youre trying to get across.
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Chapter 5
Our pictures of ourselves are composites, made up of many pieces of information, but are rarely formed by consciously watching ourselves as we use body
language. You might smile and build an image of yourself, smiling, based on
how people react, but chances are you rarely watch yourself smile; you likely
arent used to how that actually looks. This is why, when doing these exercises,
you need to look at each part of your body as discrete from the rest of you.
Do the same exercises while describing various scenarios. Look at yourself
and talk about the hallway with the traps or the alarms that are blaring as the
PCs get chased by the security guards. If you dont feel you conveyed what
you wanted to convey, try it again and see what you can change about how you
hold your body to express the message more clearly. If you feel odd doing this,
remember that youre the only one looking and that you have as much time as you
need to practice.
Find the Right

Words Before
You Game
Words, terms, designations, phrases, explanations, namesthere are
many ways to describe
a scene, but the nature
of gaming doesnt often
give you time to find
just the right way to say
what you want. In other
words, its hard to come
up with the right words
on the spur of the moment.
Writing things down
beforehand, by contrast,
lets you put the general
idea down during your
first pass and then improve upon it during the
editing phase. You have
the time to think deliberately about whether
each word sends the right message and to change it if it doesnt work as well as youd
like. You dont have that same luxury at the table. You can write down flavor text and
read it aloud, but that often kills the conversational tone that arises from making up
descriptions up on the fly.
61
But theres a good middle ground between those two extremes, as well as a simple
technique you can use to make sure you evoke the right moods and themes: writing
lists. You may or may not know exactly what youre going to describe when the players
get to a certain scene, but you can give yourself an arsenal of terms to use as needed.
You merely have to write a list of the words that bring up the images you want to get
across during that scene.
Lists of Descriptive Terms

With a thesaurus handy, you can start writing down words and phrases that describe
the mood and feeling you want to convey, taking the time to edit and improve upon
your basic ideas. As an example, heres a list for a castle that you think your players
will wind up exploring in a modern-day supernatural campaign:
Dusty
Eerily still
Quiet
Barren
Decrepit
Empty
Desolate
Chipped stones in the crumbling walls
Shafts of light and shadow that illuminate the dust motes of a previous
age
The lonely howling of the wind through the abandoned passageways
The disarray of the rotted books spilling off of the crumbling bookshelves
and onto the cold, gray stone floor
The childrens songs sung by voices no longer attached to living bodies,

echoing and garbled, as if theyre coming from far away and being filtered
through a pool of fetid water
The lantern light visible through the windows moves in fits and starts at a
height just a few feet off the ground, as if carried by some invisible force
too small to easily move it and struggling with the effort
As you can see from the list, some terms are simple adjectives that are easy to grab and
attach to any element of the scene. Others are complete phrases intended to evoke a
feeling or to more fully describe some element of the setting.
Creating this list of descriptive words and phrases beforehand allows you to spend as
much time editing it as you like (or as you have available for prep). You might start
with simple words and phrases, but as you look up synonyms in your thesaurus, page
through books that inspire you, or watch a movie that makes you feel the way you
want your players to feel, youll start to come up with more powerful and evocative
phrases. When youre referencing your list during play, your descriptions will likely be
more vivid and evocative than what you could have come up with on the fly.
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Chapter 5
Lists of Objects
Lists are also a great way to determine what elements would exist in a scene
set dressing and props, to return to our movie theme. One of the areas that I
often ignore as a GM is describing those specific elements. I might state that a
fight is taking place in a restaurant kitchen and leave it at that, but if the players
know about all the cooking implements and other objects in that kitchen then
theyll be more likely to come up with creative ways to use them. So before I
write up that scene, I make a list of the various objects that might be present:
Knives
Sinks
Green tile walls
Clean metal tables
Racks of spices
Large frying surface
Industrial ovens
Hanging racks of
pots and pans
Metal pantry shelves

full of dry goods
A walk-in freezer
Large white plates

Sprinkler system
Dishwasher
Boiling water
Spray hose
Griddles
Heat lamps
Cutting boards
Surprised chefs
White hats and

frocks
Resources for Adjectives

It helps to use a few different resources when youre picking out descriptive terms and
elements for a scene. I use images of scenes, or an image that feels like the scene, to
jog my memory about what might be present there. I also use a writers aid called an
adjective list. Much like using a thesaurus to find synonyms, adjective lists are often
grouped by mood or subject. A collocation dictionary, which lists words that appear
frequently with other words in books, can also be helpful. Lastly, I like to use descriptivewords.org, which lists adjectives alphabetically and by category.
NPCs: Describing a Cast of Thousands

Typically, NPCsincluding monsters, quest-givers, political enemies, and any other
sentient creature in the game worldare the element of the game with which the
PCs will interact most often. So how do you effectively manage and maintain interesting NPCs?
The 3/2 Rule for Memorable NPCs

There are lots of techniques for making your NPCs vibrant and unique, but personally I like to use the 3/2 Rule. Its simple: Take any basic NPC concept and describe it
with three unique elements, and your players will remember two of them.
The three elements create a framework around which the players can build a mental
image of the NPC, but why will only two of those elements stand out? It has to do
with the number of elements our brain needs to differentiate between similar things.
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When theres only one difference, we feel that one object is an imperfect copy of the
other. When there are two differences between similar objects, our brains note that
there are major variations between the objects. When we have three differentiators
available, the brain selects the two elements that interest the person the most and
fixes those in her mind.
Need a wise old man for an encounter? You might describe him as follows:
Huge bushy mustache that looks like a broom
Wearing old armor from a war 30 years ago
Has an arm that was replaced by a steam-driven hand

Your players will remember the old man and describe him as the guy in the old armor with the mechanical arm, the bushy-mustache guy with the old armor, or the
guy with the big mustache and the steampunk hand.
Describing an NPC in terms of three unique elements will trigger just the right
amount of variation from whatever mental template a player has for the NPCs archetype, or basic concept. For example:
Captain of the Guard
A deep scar cut into the

temple above his left eye
Long, flowing blond hair

A red brooch in the
shape of a skull with
a serpentine dragon
wrapped around it
Businessperson
Head shaved completely

bald
A clean blue suit with
large shoulders
A tattoo on her right arm that stretches down to the fingers
Evil Sorcerer
Black hair that is cropped short and spiky
A large knotted wooden staff, the top of which is constantly on fire
An icon of a giant, swirling, mass of chaotic energy on the front of his

black robes
Casting Sheets
Keeping track of all of your NPCs and their descriptions while also making sure your
players remember them can be a daunting challenge.
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Chapter 5
You can make it easier on yourself by creating a casting sheet. In movie terms, a
casting sheet is a list of all of the descriptions of the characters and actors needed
for a particular production. Repurposing this idea for gaming, you can create a
list of NPCs and their descriptions so that you have an easy-to-reference list of
NPCs at hand whenever you need it.
Creating a casting sheet is easy: Its basically a table with columns for name,
description, and any other columns you need for your specific game, plus room
for an image. As long as you address name and description, you can make the
other columns optional. Casting sheets can also be broken down onto a stack of
index cards with GM-specific information on the back and general information
on the front. When an NPC is present in a scene, put her index card in front of
you so that your players have a constant visual reminder of that NPC.
Here are some good things to include on a casting sheet (or casting cards):
NameYou can leave this column blank temporarily if you dont want
the players to know a characters name before theyve interacted with him.
Conversely, if the PCs know a lot of NPCs by reputation its good to
display their names even if theyve never appeared in a scene.
DescriptionProvide a 3/2 bulleted list here. You want just enough
information so that the players will remember who the NPC is by her
description.
ImagePutting in a picture of every NPC makes remembering them

even easier. Photos of actors are a good option, as are pictures from stock
photo sites and the portfolio sections of modeling and casting agency
websites.
GM-specific informationYou can also keep all of your NPCs organized
with a column of GM-specific information so that you remember
connections or secrets that the players shouldnt know. When you share
your casting sheet with the players, leave this section out.
ChallengeAchievement: Green Screen Guru

1. Write up five NPCs using the 3/2 Rule.
2. Create a descriptive list of words that evoke two different moods or

themes in your game.
3. Sit in front of a mirror and practice gestures and body language.
4. Define five unique elements of another GMs style to see how he does
things differently than you.
5. Create a descriptive list thats full of complex phrases which evoke strong
connections to a mood that you want for one particular scene.
6. Create a casting sheet which includes all the NPCs in your game and
hand out the edited version to the players.
65
Picking up the thread from where theyd left off last session,
Gemma said, You all turn the corner, chasing the small . . .
multi-limbed . . . creature with the red hat and see an empty
corridor, the same as the others youve come across in this
maze of city streets.
Renaldo rolled his eyes and everyone else sunk down a little in
their chairs. They didnt want to get into this again. Gemma
just smiled. This time she was prepared. Pulling out her list of
words, she said, Everyone make a Notice roll.
When they had all revealed their results, she continued. The
red and brown stones form a pattern that you cant quite
make out. Theres definitely something in the ochre-colored
stones that looks slightly different. Stepping back and looking
at it at the correct angle, you notice that the . . . motif . . .
makes a sort of shape thats familiar to you. Its kind of like
that Vitruvian man, you know, this thing, she said as she
pulled up a picture on her tablet, but the pattern has a . . .
digitigrade . . . turn, kind of like a dogleg to the left.
Wait a minute. Wait a minute! How did I not get it?!
Renaldo said. I grab a spike from the groundheres a Plot
Point so there is an iron spike on the ground for me to grab
and I jam it into the oddly colored bricks!
Gemma smiled. The creature re-forms, his . . . quintessence
. . . pooling until he transforms from a two-dimensional form
to a three-dimensional one. Im sorry I didnt explain that
better last time.
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Chapter 5
Chapter 6:
The Soundtrack
I check one more time for traps. We dont want to be killed
before we get to the empress, right? Adam said.
Gemma sighed again. This was the final session, and they
were already two hours in and not yet past the first part. She
was going to have to cut some things. Everyone was focusing
too much on the fact that she had thrown a trap at them. She
wanted to get to the fighting and the big speech, but they were
all cautious and knew the system could be deadly.
The seer materializes from within Zembaras nanocloud. She
speaks in her . . . ephemeral voice: I will scout the way ahead
for you, now that you have freed me. Her nebulous form goes
flying down the hallway and Gemma made a die roll. . .
. Theres nothing. She comes back and gives you the all clear,
telling you that time is running short.
Ah-ah! Thats just what you want us to think, said Renaldo.
The seer got corrupted before. This is probably a last-minute
trick!
Gemma shook her head and looked around for the ibuprofen.
Subtlety, Mood, and Engagement

This chapter is called The Soundtrack, but its about all of the many things that contribute to the mood of your gamethe subtle auditory and visual cues that make your
players feel like theyre there and keep them engaged. But why is that stuff important?
Doesnt the game itself and the way you describe things set the tone and mood for the
session? Yes, they dobut by adding another layer to the experience you can increase
engagement even more.
The Soundtrack
67

To demonstrate this, lets compare two horror movies: a typical slasher flick and a
slow-paced film about a haunting. In the slasher flick, there are moments of tension
followed by explosions of gore when the killer jumps out and chops, bites, or chainsaws someone into little pieces. Thats great for jump scares, but once you calm down
those scenes dont leave much of an impression on you afterwards.
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Chapter 6
In the haunting movie, however, the tension comes from watching someone go
through a scenario that you could be going through yourself. The protagonist
walks into the attic and thinks he sees something out of the corner of his eye
just before the light goes out. Then, for what seems like an eternity, he moves
through the dark room, hoping that what he saw wasnt real. Whether or not
he gets out without being attacked, hell never trust his homeformerly a safe
placein the same way. And when its done well, the slower, more suspenseful
scene will stick with you.
After seeing that movie, you might find yourself reading a book alone in the
house. You glance up at a closed door and, just for a second, wonder if something might be behind it. How do you know something isnt behind it? What
if it opens ever so slightlyprobably on its own (you hope), but maybe not . . . What
if something has always been back there because whenever you come into this room,
it hides behind the door? Is something watching you right now? Close your eyes and
imagine that youre being watched, and then try to shake that feeling. Its not easy to
shake!
Much of that effectiveness comes from the subtlety of the latter approach. When you
want to immerse someone in an experience, subtlety works better than directness.
Thats why filmmakers spend so much getting the soundtrack, lighting, and sound effects just right. It tunes the audiences experience in ways that more obvious elements
of the film cannot.
Creating Mood
So how do you create mood effectively? How do you help your players focus and pick
up on the subtle cues youre laying down? There are a few techniques you can use to
get players onto your wavelength.
Subtly Turn the Focus Onto the Players

Your players interact with the game world through their characters, so that tends to
be where they focus their attention. Whenever youre trying to convey something important or make sure the players pick up on something, find a way to put the character
or player at the center of what you want them to remember. For example:
Jorgen is wounded and bleeding heavily. You figure youre about halfway
through this level. How many cure spells do you have left? Okay. The scratching at the door intensifies and you hear a THWUMP as the door is slammed
into by something that sounds A LOT larger than the things you faced before.
Bringing up Jorgens bruised and bloody state makes his player more likely to be
thinking about the danger he might be in. Its much more effective than merely emphasizing the sounds at the door and the fact that another attack is imminent. Thats
the message you want to conveysomething is coming to get you, moving might be
a good ideabut pointing out the impact to the character first primes the pump for
the message to be received and acted upon.
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69
Getting Pavlovian
Were a lot more susceptible to suggestion than we would like to admit, and there
are many ways to get people to associate simple concepts with more complex moods.
Do you draw with dry erase markers on a map? Start using those to color-code your
players expectations. Draw enemies in red, draw trustworthy things in blue. Draw
beneficial items in green on note cards and hand those out. Never let on that youre
doing this; instead, just say that youve got a system so you can remember various
things in your notes.
Get your players used to this over
a few sessions and then hold up a
marker of the appropriate color as a
clue. Is the duke, who seems trustworthy, actually out to get them?
Hold up the red marker and then
use it to write a note from the duke
to the PCs. Its a good bet that at
least some of them have picked up
on red meaning danger in the context of battles, and that theyll pick
up on that cue.
If youre skeptical about this technique, watch The Godfather. Whenever an orange was onscreen, it usually signified that death or violence
was about to happen, generally to
whoever interacted with the orange.
The folks who made the film took
great pains to work this subtle message into different scenes and to associate the orange with death for a
reason: It wove a narrative thread
through the piece and gave them
another tool to reinforce the feelings they wanted to convey to the
audience.
Whatever Lola Wants

In a game I ran long ago in a galaxy far away,
the dulcet tones of Sarah Vaughan crooning
out Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets were attached to a particular PCs arch-nemesis, Lealia
Bellemar. Whenever her machinations were underway, I would play that song, slowly ramping
up the volume as the scene progressed. After
some time, the player would twitch every time
the song came on. Even though that game was
years ago, he tells that even today, from time to
time, he hears Whatever Lola Wants on the
radio or in a movie and it sets him on edge.
Subtlety, repeated cues, and the slow integration of that song into the game created a longlasting effect that really cued my player into
Lealias plotting and made it stick with him. It
hasnt changed his life, but his brain gets that
little tickle whenever he hears that song. That is
the power of subtlety.
It also makes for a good laugh when that players wife calls and tells me that she sometimes
plays Whatever Lola Wants in their house just
to see her husband get twitchy.
Start with the End Goal and Work Backwards

One approach to creating a particular mood for a scene is to think about how its
likely to end and keep that in mind as you employ the techniques in this chapter.
With the likely (though not certain) ending in mind, write down a phrase, concept,
or single word that sums up the feeling you want to evoke in your players by the end
of the scene. Use that card as your litmus test for your actions: Ask yourself if what
youre doing brings you closer to that goal or drives you further from it.
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Chapter 6
If you want to take things a step further, brainstorm other ways to evoke a
theme or mood and add them to the note card. Jot down anything that could
help you in the moment, when youre juggling so many balls that its easy to lose
sight of your goalreferences, evocative terms, and the like.
Using Music
Music is powerful and subtle, which is why so much effort is taken to get movie
soundtracks just right. Using music to build mood in a tabletop RPG can be
hard to pull off just for this reason: It takes a lot of effort to get just right. A
typical game session might run 3-6 hours, and managing a soundtrack of music
snippets, each 3-10 minutes long, throughout the entire session consumes a lot
of your energy. By contrast, if you dont count the title scene and credits, a movie
soundtrack typically runs for about a quarter of the movies running time. This is
because, generally speaking, music is used in two ways in movies:
As background, where its subtle and doesnt interfere with what is going
on in the scene
As a punctuation to a scene, boldly stating that a certain mood is in effect
If you model your music usage on these two elements, you can cut down on the effort
required and create a musical accompaniment that really enhances your game.
A Background Soundtrack That Doesnt Detract

Using a soundtrack without distracting your players can be a fine line to walk. Movie
soundtracks take great pains to make the ups and downs of the music match up with
the actions and poses of the actors exactly, ensuring that a happy beat doesnt occur
when a person should be reading sadness from the screen. At the gaming table, you
dont have that luxury, but you can make sure the soundtrack doesnt get in your way
while still being effective. Heres how.
Create a set soundtrack and moderate the moodYou dont want to
keep futzing with what song to pull up next, so find as many songs as you
can that evoke the moods you want and create separate playlists for each
mood. You can then pull up a playlist and let it go without having to worry
about finding just the right song or switching to something thats out of
sync with the mood you want. Filling your playlists with enough songs
and turning off the repeat option will make sure you dont get stuck on the
same background song for every combat.
Ditch anything with vocalsOne of the first things you want to do

is make sure you get rid of anything with intelligible vocals. If you can
understand the words in a background track, then you can get caught up
in them. The exception to this rule is when you want to bring about the
mood that the song portrays exactly, but then its less of a background
piece and more of a punctuation piece.
The Soundtrack
71
Keep the volume controlledA soundtrack shouldnt get in your way,

but sometimes the volume crescendos and you find yourself having to talk
over it or drop the volume manually. Whatever program you use to play
your music, see if it has a volume leveling option or just make sure the
knob is turned down. Its better to not hear the music than to have to
talk over it. Where the sound comes from can also be a factor. If its all
coming from the same area where you are trying to speak, its competing
for attention. Pick up a cheap set of speakers and see if you can affix them
under the table so theyre out of the way and the sound comes from a
more central location. If you have the time and inclination, set up a more
impressive system and put the speakers behind the players. Because they
cant see where the sound is coming from, it draws them into the game
world.
Use music only when neededEven musicals have talking bits in

between the songs, so dont worry about filling every second with sound.
Use music when it supports a particular mood, but leave it out when you
arent aiming to get your players feeling a certain way. It will make it more
impactful when you do use it.
Personal Theme Songs as Punctuation

To get music to evoke a particular mood, think about giving everyone a theme song.
Ask every player what song they think about when they think of their characters and
stick those songs in a playlist. When you want to showcase a certain character or put
everyones mind on that person, cue up that characters song and let it go at a volume
that doesnt overpower your voice. The players will appreciate knowing that its their
characters time to shine and will usually rise to the occasion, using the audio cue to
take charge of the scene.
You can also assign songs to important NPCs to play up their influence. Even if it
doesnt come about subtly, having a set soundtrack with songs representing players
and NPCs instantly shifts the tones and signals that a certain mood is at work in the
game.
Finding the Right Music

Finding just the right music can be a challenge, but its worth it. Soundtracks to
movies and video games are a great source for songs that work well for gaming.
Soundtracks to movies are among the cheapest things you can purchase at used CD
stores, and theyre often found at thrift stores. There are many online sites that collect remixes of old video games scores, either in 8-bit beeps and bonks or orchestral
remixes of songs that were originally 8-bit.
If you are really craving the music from a particular video game, see if its available
for purchase with the game. Often independent games and older games have their
soundtracks packaged with them when you purchase them as a digital version. If you
just need a particular song, video sites like YouTube make songs from video games
available online, often from official sources.
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Chapter 6
Sound Effects
While background music can help your players get into the right mood, sound
effects can make them feel like theyre actually in the game world. Something
as simple as water dripping while theyre exploring a cave or the sound of a large
truck engine revving as they sneak into a military base can really draw players
in.

The Soundtrack
73
Sound effects take a little more time and effort to work in, as they often require a
more manual approach. Dont be afraid to edit together sound effects into a loop.
One free program that can help you create loops pretty easily is Audacity. It can be
downloaded online and is a fairly powerful audio editor. Of course there are other
programs available for purchase that focus on creating loops or working with sound
effects, if youre willing to make the investment.
One other issue with using sound effects is finding the ones you want. There are many
different sound effect CDs marketed at Halloween, and you can buy professional
sound effect albums, but theyre often expensive for gaming soundtrack purposes.
I recommend a resource called the Free Sound Archive (freesound.org), a collection
of sound effects uploaded by users. There are lots of sound effects available and the
variety and quality are often surprisingly good. Downloading a few and combining
them in a loop can create some very effective background sounds to intersperse with
your music.
Using Lighting to Create Mood

Another subtle factor that you can control in your games is the lighting. While lighting isnt as easy to change as music, tweaking it can create an effect that enhances or
completely changes the mood of your game. Making the light redder while describing
how the blood of its victims coats the walls of the vampires lair can be a surprisingly
powerful way to immerse your players in the scene.
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Chapter 6
The Bulbs the Thing

One easy way to change your lighting effects is by using different types of light
bulbs. Get a cheap lamp with multiple sockets on flexible arms and put different bulbs into each socket. Now you can change lighting effects in a moment by
switching individual bulbs off and on as needed. You can also achieve interesting effects by using a single socket lamp with a dimmer switch and gradually
increasing the illumination from an accent light bulb of a different color, as in
the example of the vampires lair.
Lower wattage light bulbs create a softer light than typical bulbs. Mix in colored light bulbs with the lower wattage light bulbs and you can create the greenish tinge of the leaves in the elven forest or a somber blue undertone as the PCs fail
to save a child from danger.
You should also look at bulb temperatures. If you use a halogen light that registers as
close to 6500k (degrees Kelvin) as possible, your light will have a very blue feel to it,
like daylight, unlike typical bulbs, which have a color temperature of around 2700k
and a yellowish tinge. You can also order a package of cheap lighting gels or lighting
diffusion filters online. Form a metal frame out of a coat hanger that places the gels
about 6 away from the bulb (no fires, please!) and you can create multiple lighting
effects with a single bulb.
Placement and Timing
Setting the mood through lighting is as much about the lights location as it is about
its color and temperature. A single light placed at your feet and pointing into your
face while the other lights are turned down makes an incredibly eerie look for a mystical NPC who is conveying a message to the PCs. Strong lighting that glares down
from above creates a feeling of unease and can emphasize the danger of a scene where
the PCs are on trial or being questioned. A single low-intensity light in the center of
the table, surrounded by darkness, emphasizes the closed-in feeling of being trapped
in a cave while being hunted by a monster, while light streaming in from giant windows removes some of the separation between the natural world and the space where
you game.
Just like music, lighting effects can be subtle background cues or punctuation for the
mood of a scene. Planning for only one scene with a special effect is a good goal and
helps you create impact that will carry through to other scenes with no extra effort.
For example, you could create lightning in one scene with a bright light that can be
manually (and quickly) flicked on and off in time with a thunderclap sound effect. If
you do this just as youre beginning to describe the PCs travel through a bleak, rainy
landscape, that will stick with your players for the rest of the scene.
When in doubt, making the very first scene of your game the one where you try to
create mood through lighting and sound effects is good practice. The players are more
ready for direct narrative at the beginning of the game and the mood cues you place
here will linger for the rest of the session.
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75
ChallengeAchievement: Mood Master

1. Use one special bulb to create an interesting lighting effect that immerses
your players in the game.
2. Choose three moods you want to emphasize throughout your game and
create three playlists with 10 background songs each (non-vocal, nondistracting) that fit that mood.
3. Find a personal theme song for each PC and major NPC and use these as
cues for their turns in the spotlight.
4. Make the very first scene of your game a blockbuster with special effects
and mood cues that will set the tone for the rest of the game.
5. Connect a color with a mood in your games and use that color to
subconsciously draw your players back to that mood during later scenes.
6. Spread visual reminders that fit themes of your game throughout your
gaming space to increase engagement.
As Gemmas hand hovered over the bottle of ibuprofen, she

noticed a video game in her bag and got a great idea. She
grabbed her tablet and went to her music files. She found the
fifth track from the soundtrack and hit play. Thunderous,
ominous, fast-paced music erupted from the speakers,
accompanied by an alarm klaxon as Gemma turned down
the room lights and flicked on a lamp with a red bulb at her
feet.
You guys hear some rumbling down the hall. It sounds like
one of the blast bay doors closing, Gemma said.
Listening to the music and seeing the red light, Patti looked
concerned. I know this gamethats the music that comes
on when youre in the race level. Our security bypass probably
wore off. Go, go, go!
The groups entire attitude changed. Everyone seemed on
edge, and they started moving their minis more quickly down
the corridor on the map. Gemma smiled.
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Chapter 6
77
Chapter 7:
It Starts With a Script
Gemma smiled as she turned off the lights. The gaming room
was now lit only by the two large candles burning on the
center of the table. Adam, Patti, and Renaldo took their seats
around the table as music from a nautically-themed movie
soundtrack played on Gemmas tablet. Gemma told them
to each take three gold coins from the pile of plastic coins
amassed between the candles. As the music trailed off, Patti
was the first to speak.
So where were we again? I remember being captured, but
we escaped. I think we made it to the coast of the island with
a few weapons, but I dont remember if we rolled for heat
exhaustion. We should probably start thinking about food,
too.
Of course, Renaldo said. He sighed as he fidgeted with his
eye patch and bandana. Sometimes Pattis attention to detail
irked himhe just wanted to roleplay.
We killed the other pirates and we have the treasure chest,
Adam said. We were heading to their ship. If theres anyone
aboard, we have to kill them.
Or parlay, Renaldo said. They dont have any more officers
and we have the Templars lost treasure! Im sure we could
cut a deal.
I dont know, Patti said. In spite of being waylaid by the
rival pirate band, I thought getting the treasure was too easy.
There must be something else afoot.
Gemma chuckled to herself as she opened her adventure
notes. The group was going to be so surprised!
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Chapter 7
Okay, she said in her usual time-to-get-down-to-business

GMing voice. Youve been following the trail of the rival
pirate band and you discover, to your great surprise, that the
tracks dont come from the coastline, but from up the hill
near the high outcropping just above the tree line.
I have a bad feeling about this, Patti said.
Adam said, We put down the chest and sneak up.
Okay, Gemma said. You move into the shrubs and crawl
up the rest of the way. The top of the hill is flat, and sitting
at its center is a small, enclosed ship with a giant balloon
attached to the deck. Steam rises from a smokestack towards
the rear.
Youve got to be kidding me, Renaldo said. He pulled off his
bandana and eye patch in a single frustrated motion.
I thought this was a Caribbean pirate campaign, Patti said,
frowning. I dont think any of us thought to take the Pilot
Airship skill. Lets hope we dont come across a computer!
You put your crappy steampunk all over my pirate game,
Adam said. He yawned as he spun one of the coins.
Gemma started to panic. She needed an adventure for tonight
and she had thought a skyship fantasy adventure shed
recently picked up would be just the ticket. Looking around
the table, she now realized that the players, while accepting
a bit of magic and the supernatural, really had no interest in
steampunk antics. It was going to be a long night.
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Artist: Matt Morrow
Why Is Having a Good Shooting Script Important?

A script provides the blueprint youll use to guide your players through the game
session. Guide doesnt have to mean railroad, and script is just the term that
fits the movie metaphor were using throughout Focal Point. For our purposes, even
if you walk into a session with no adventure notes whatsoever, theres a scriptor
something like oneinvolved in some way.
Scripts come in all shapes and sizes, from highly detailed pre-packaged adventures
to broad outlines (like the ones in Engine Publishings Eureka: 501 Adventure Plots
to Inspire Game Masters) to hastily scribbled notes to simply winging it. All of these
are valid scripts and whether they work for a particular GM is a matter of taste.
Whether a script is a good shooting script is another matter. A good shooting script
should have the following elements.
It works within the boundaries of your campaign.
It interests the PCs.
It holds together and lacks obvious plot holes or exploitable plot elements.
It suits the PCs and has appropriate challenges.
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These elements should be present whether the adventure is the size of a phone
book, a few scrawled notes on a cocktail napkin, or even just all in your head.
Lets get something straight from the beginning: A shooting script is what you,
the GM, walk into the session armed with in order to manage a session. It need
not be written material, or if it is then the written material is only a portion of
the script. Whats in your head is just as important, if not more, than anything
written down.
Does the Script Reflect the Campaign?

Gemmas first mistake was choosing an adventure that didnt really fit the tone
of her campaign. Up to this point shed been running a historical Caribbean
campaign that had a touch of the supernatural, but nothing that took the players out
of feeling like they were playing in the West Indies circa 1690. The anachronistic airship obviously violated that premise.
Whats important to note here is that whether the adventure fits your campaign has
nothing to do with the quality of the adventure. To Gemmas credit, the published
airship fantasy adventure that she bought could be really well-written and entertaining in a fantasy or steampunk setting. Unfortunately, it just wasnt a good fit with
what shed already established over the course of the campaign thus far.
Directors NotesGiving a Script the Personal Touch

It can be quite tempting, especially with a well-constructed published adventure, to run it
as-is without any modification. After all, the author wrote all of the pieces to fit together
and you dont want to risk screwing it up because you wanted to substitute your recurring
adversary for the one included in the adventure, right? If the plot hooks seem to fit well
enough to bring the PCs on board then its mission accomplished, isnt it?
Well, no. While its certainly possible to run a fun session with an unmodified adventure,
personal touches make it that much more interesting for the players and keep their interest high. It also feels more personal to them when the adventure feels like it could only
happen this way for their particular group and not just any random bunch of characters.
Having the victim in trouble be related to one of the PCs or introducing an adversary with
unfinished business with the group is much more fun than Victim X is being terrorized by
Generic Bad Guy.
One word of cautionthe worry regarding screwing up is a valid one. When you give
an adventure the personal touch, make sure that it all still holds together. Its fine if the
victim came to the PCs because hes related to them, but having an old adversary behind
the scheme because this time its personal! often isnt enough of a motivation and can
break the verisimilitude. Also, make sure that patterns of behavior are consistent from one
adventure to the next. If an NPC is shown to lack curiosity in adventure one, then having
her suddenly acting like a sleuth because you wanted to write her into adventure three is
going to be jarring. While you should always add a personal touch, dont try to bang
square pegs into round holes.
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Does the Script Interest the Players?

Regardless of whether the adventure is appropriate for the campaign, it has to grab
the players interests. While the appropriateness of an adventure is a prime consideration, getting buy-in from the players is going to mitigate problems down the line.
Players that arent gripped by the premise may get passive-aggressive, become frequent absentees, spend more time out of character than in character, or otherwise
disrupt the flow of the campaign. If your players arent happy, youre unlikely to be
happy yourself while running the campaign.
Note that Im using the term player, not player character. While a player usually
judges a plot hook with the mindset of his PC, the adventure really needs to capture
his interest; in some cases this is one and the same, in others its not. A player will
tend to rationalize joining an adventure even if its a poor fit for his PC, but it rarely
works well the other way around.
An easy way to gauge player interest is to look at the style and tone of the adventure.
Some players love a good dungeon crawl; other players absolutely loathe them. Some
players relish in the opportunity to spend a session heavily involved in court intrigue,
while other players just want to know what dice they can roll to get it over with. An
adventure may include political, religious, or social themes that would upset one or
more of your players. If you want player buy-in, these things need to be considered
and addressed.
Plot hooks are usually the first sign of whether an adventure is a good fit for the players. If theyre a roving band of mercenaries with hearts of steel, they probably arent
going to take a job with little pay, even if the cause is just. On the other hand, if they
tend to be heroic then they probably arent going to perform a mission for a shady
executive.
Plot hooks are also a good way to personalize the campaign. Maybe they normally
wouldnt help an impoverished village, but one of the PCs has family there. Maybe
they normally wouldnt take the job from that executive, but she can open a door for
them in their quest against the Big Bad.
Finally, the types of challenges present can also signal player interest. Perhaps while
your group loves cleaning out monstrous strongholds, they arent fans of traps and a
stronghold with an overabundance of them wont hold their interest. If your players
dont enjoy buying gear and trying to survive the journey to their destination, then
they arent going to enjoy a session solely devoted to getting from Point A to Point B.
Example: Club Blood

In this example, the adventure is about a vampire nesting in a night club that is
popular with local college students. The PCs are college students who investigate the
supernatural. This example shows how to identify three key features: hooks, useful
contacts, and NPC substitutions.
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In addition to hooks (which weve covered above), useful contacts are NPCs that
the PCs know who would be useful to the adventure. Some of these contacts
may need to be leaned on if a particular player cant make it to the session and
her character isnt being played by someone else.
The NPC substitutions section is really only necessary if youre adapting an
adventure prepared by someone else. In this case you are identifying the adventure NPCs that you can replace with characters from your own campaign as
well as any modifications you need to make them fit.
For the purposes of Figure A1 there are three PCs. Misty is an athlete and
can sense the presence of the supernatural. Deshawn is a computer hacker and
electrokinetic. Susan is an occult specialist and magician.
Figure A1
Club Blood
NPC Substitutions
The afflicted NPC can be swapped out for Ruth.
Mistys friend Sadie can be the friendly bartender NPC.
Hooks
Its a college hangout! What more is needed? Susan isnt the clubbing
type, but for fun lets say a formerly introverted friend of hers convinces
her to come. Misty and Deshawn would obviously be intrigued by
Susans clique getting more social and confident.
If Susan cant make the game then I could either NPC her (she can take
Ruths place) or I can have an introverted classmate of Misty or Deshawn
(Tyler would work great!) suddenly undergo a personality change.
Useful Contacts
Thus far the group has yet to encounter vampires and the vampire in this
adventure isnt the traditional horror movie type. We need a vampire
expert perhaps Vincent Claive, a former priest that now spends most of
his time drowning his sorrows in local bars when not hunting vampires.
Also, Three Circles Books probably has a wealth of information in their
occult section.
Finally, Sadie can provide extra muscle if Misty is unavailable.
Does the Script Hold Together?

Once youve decided that your adventure is appropriate and the players are likely to
enjoy it, youll want to review it carefully and identify any plot holes. Plot holes can
be damaging in many ways: They could short-circuit an adventure, they could lead to
an evening of arguments, they could leave the PCs chasing red herrings, or they could
simply stink of railroading. No matter what script you use, youre going to want to
make sure that everything flows logically from one part of the adventure to the next.
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When scanning for plot holes, remember that genre conventions are not plot holes,
even if they arent realistic. Of course a supervillain is going to put a heros boyfriend
in an elaborate death trap that gives the hero time to save him, and of course the
key clue that enables the PC master detective to solve the case borders on the supernatural. (He recognizes that the boots have mud from two different sites on them?
Really?) So long as the PCs identify these things as genre conventions then they are
not, by definition, plot holes.
Here are some typical plot holes to watch out for:
Lack of clear villainous motivationMost villains do not perform
evil acts simply because theyre EEEEVILLL, but instead have rational
motivations for their actions (or at least motivations that seem rational to
them). Some may even believe that they are on the side of good, with their
evil actions being unfortunately necessary. If youre reading the adventure
and wondering why the villain is going through all the bother, then she
probably lacks a proper motivation.
The late entranceAs a rule of thumb, if you want your PCs to solve
a mystery then they need the clues up front. Introducing the real villain
three-quarters of the way into the adventure is not only dirty pool, but it
makes the players feel like they wasted the preceding sessions.
Irrational actionsIf you review the adventure and find yourself
wondering why an NPC acted a certain way, chances are its an irrational
action that the author used purely to move a plot element forward. There
are times when an NPC could act irrationally, of course, but these should
be prompted by a stimulus such as fear or overconfidence. Remember that
genre conventions arent irrationalthe evil overlord usually does blab his
entire plan before leaving the PCs in a deathtrap that they can overcome.
Relying on curiosityI once read an adventure where the PCs were

passengers on a ferry when an abandoned ship appeared in the foggy bay
next to them. The adventure simply assumed that the PCs, being PCs,
would investigate on their own. A little tweak would have given them a
properand much more interestingmotivation.
Relying on coincidenceWhile coincidence can be used to great effect
in some genres (of course a PC in a soap opera campaign has an evil
twin!), its overuse can damage credibility, especially in an investigative
campaign. In such cases, it needs to be reasonably foreshadowed or the
PCs are going to get stuck.
Too many red herringsWhile not a plot hole per se, one too many red
herrings can really derail an adventure and sap player enthusiasm. While
red herrings can make things interesting, they should be quickly resolved.
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The outrageously obscure clueSometimes advancing the plot hinges

on an obscure clue that the PCs just cant find or decipher. Even worse,
sometimes you might think a clue is obvious without realizing how
obscure it actually is, and your players will become justifiably frustrated if
you dig in your heels because they cant figure out an obvious clue.
Chapter 7
Plot advancement hinging on a dice rollIf getting the PCs from

Point A to Point B involves succeeding on a dice roll, you can bet that the
characters involved will fail it. GM fiat (often known as fudging) tends to
rear its ugly head in these circumstances, making the players feel as if their
actions, even in failure, dont matter.
Overreliance on a particular character or circumstanceIf youve tied
key elements of an adventure to a particular PC or circumstance, you run
the risk of that character or circumstance disappearing too soon. If you
dont have a back door built in, your adventure could quickly fall apart.
Once youve identified the plot holes, you have two choices (technically three,
but I wouldnt recommend just ignoring them!). First, you can fix them. Some
plot holes only require a few tweaks in order to fix; others may require a bit more
work. Second, you can deem a plot hole terminal, which means that it basically
sinks the whole adventure. Fortunately, terminal plot holes are rare; almost any plot
hole can be smoothed over with a little thought. Typically, terminal plot holes are
simply ones that require too much time to fix, and you just might not have enough
time. In such cases you can simply hold off on running the adventure until youve had
time to address the plot hole.
Scene Identification
For pacing purposes, its a good idea to get a sense of what scenes are necessary to occur within the adventure and which scenes can be trimmed if time is an issue. Pacing
tends to be more important in games that meet less than regularly or when you want
to finish within a certain period of time. Its also helpful to know what scenes you can
add in if you find yourself with extra time.
Typically, there are five types of scenes or encounters in any given adventure:
Core
Supplementary
Cutting room floor (CRF)

Additional
Replacement
Core scenes are those that must happen in order for the adventure to move forward.
Facing the Big Bad is the classic example; so too is the old man in the tavern who
gives the PCs the treasure map.
A supplemental scene is one that adds value to the adventure (you would definitely
like to run it), but can be left out for pacing purposes. A space pirate ambush on the
way to the colony world and a look into the complicated personal life of the PCs
superior officer are good examples of supplemental scenes.
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Conversely, a CRF scene is one that you feel needs to be excised from the adventure.
These arent necessarily bad scenes or encounters; they just dont fit with the dynamics
of the group or their situation. A classic example is a brief encounter designed to coax
the PCs to investigate a murder; this is unnecessary if the PCs are police investigators
and are simply assigned the case.
An additional scene is one that isnt included in the adventure, but which can be
added in if you need to stretch time or give the PCs a boost (e.g., extra experience,
a helpful clue, a magical artifact, additional character-building). These scenes might
be built into the adventure (youve identified it as additional, even if the adventure
doesnt treat it as such) or they might be scenes you may add from another source. The
classic additional scene is the random encounter table in all of its many permutations.
Finally, a replacement scene is one that replaces another scene. This is usually because the new scene fits the campaign dynamic better than the original. While this
may be a core scene, other types of scenes may also be replaced. For example, if your
fantasy world only has humans, then a hobgoblin ambush doesnt make sense. The
replacement scene would cast them as human bandits or change the nature of the
encounter entirelyperhaps the PCs come across a victim of a robbery fending off
hungry wolves from inside an overturned wagon.
Directors NotesDont be Afraid to Cut

Whether because the adventure was pre-packaged or we spent a lot of time crafting it,
we GMs often have a natural tendency to try to use all of our material. In the case of
the former, we tend to look at the product as a whole, rather than its component parts,
when determining whether its a good fit for the gaming group. In the case of the latter,
we designed the adventure with the group in mind so we tend to think all of the scenes
should be included as presented.
That said, its worthwhile to step away from the all-or-nothing approach and evaluate
each segment of an adventure on its own. Every group has its own chemistry and some
segments of an adventure are better fits than others. If your group generally likes handwaving the journeys from place to place, then you may want to cut the travel encounters,
or at least limit them to the ones critical for the adventure. Another group may not be into
speaking in-character. In this case youll want to boil down the big party scene aboard
the star base to a couple of social skill rolls.
A word of caution: Some games rely on scenes to give adventurers the experience they
need to handle later challenges or the clues theyll need to progress to the next plot point.
If you eliminate these segments, make sure you give the group the opportunity to acquire
those things some other way. Hopefully, youll do it in a way that suits their chemistry and
theyll never even notice that you made the change.
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Example: Journey to the Goblin Cave

While Im offering an example here, most of the time you dont need a separate
document to distinguish the various scenesa quick letter (e.g. C for core,
A for additional, etc.) or note appended to each scene in the adventure document is enough (or, for a CRF, simply eliminating the scene) will do fine. Youll
only really need extra paper for new additional or replacement scenes that you
develop.
For purposes of illustration, however, well create a document that lists each
scene and offers notes on why the scenes were categorized the way they are. This
is a simple fantasy adventure where the PCs are a party of adventurers hired by
local villagers to clean out a goblin cave. The session here is about the journey to the
cave.
Figure A2
Journey to the Goblin Cave

Scene 1 - The Villagers ask for Assistance R The PCs are already journeying
with a caravan. Why not have goblins attack the caravan and get away with some
important loot?
Scene 2 - The Treacherous Swamp CRF Given that the first scene is a roadside
attack of opportunity rather than a sudden raid on a village the goblins have left
alone, a new secret path through the swamp doesnt really make sense and kills
the sense of urgency.
Scene 3 - Dire Wolf Ambush S The PCs should already be hot on the trail tracking - this is a good soften them up encounter, but easily excised.
Scene 4 - A Villager in Peril S While we dont have villagers now, theres
nothing to say the goblins havent been raiding a local village, and the escaped
Marlena seems like a fun NPC to play!
Scene 5 - Cave Entrance Guardians
Fine as written.
Additional Scene - Now that the PCs are in more immediate pursuit, its likely
that the goblins may leave a patrol behind to deal with them (or they could
be tracking down the escaped Marlena!)
Are the Challenges in the Script Appropriate?

One of the biggest problems when deciding whether to use an adventure is whether
the challenges presented are appropriate for the PCs and the game. In many cases,
appropriate also means winnable, although this isnt true for every play style (oldschool fantasy games, for example, often include the potential for total party kills
its up to the players to avoid them). Believe it or not, this issue is more prominent
when GMs use published adventures rather than designing their own.
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Why? Because GMs can easily fall into the trap of believing that a published adventure has already been vetted and should have appropriate challenges as long as the PC
group falls within its guidelines.
Unfortunately, individual groups often dont match the guidelines for what publishers consider an appropriate PC group for their games. They make assumptions about
what the majority of groups playing in their system will look like, and this can vary
considerably from your own group. By contrast, when you design your own adventures you usually have your particular group to model it on, unless youve designed
the adventure independently or the groups make-up changed between adventures.
Here are some things to look out for when assessing challenges:
Will the players find the challenge interesting?Having appropriate
and interesting challenges is all well and good, but if the players dont enjoy
a particular challenge then it just becomes a tedious obstacle. Make sure
your challenges are a good mix of what your group enjoys and minimize
the types of challenges they dont enjoy.
Does the challenge advance or hinder the adventure flow?If your

players dont enjoy combat scenes very much, then forcing them to wait
two sessions to advance an investigation because there are large tactical
battle scenes planned probably isnt a good idea. On the other hand, if
your group enjoys tactical combats and has maximized their characters to
take them on, then they probably wont appreciate a bunch of investigative
or social challenges with little combat (or, worse, hand-waved combat) in
between.
Does the group have the skill set?When preparing an adventure,

highlight the challenges and ensure that the PCs have what they need
(or will have by the time they get there) to defeat it. If a fantasy challenge
requires a particular spell, then youd better make sure the PC magician
has it. If the martial challenges are brutal, then the adventure may not be
suitable for scholarly investigators of the occult. If the climax involves the
PCs jumping into starfighters to take on the villains capital ship, then
theyd all better have some level of piloting skill.
Do the challenges exhaust the PCs too quickly?One of the critical

mistakes that novice GMs tend to make is to match the opposition to
the PCs. This is problematic because youre giving the PCs only a 50/50
chance of winning, absent GM fiat, and theyll probably exhaust most of
their resources in the process. Also, a challenge that is evenly matched
for the PCs wont be if theyre at half-strength when they get to it.
Remember that assessing challenges is an art, not a science, and its okay for the occasional challenge to diverge from expectations (whatever those expectations are for
your game, play style, and genre of choice). What is important is that the players are
enjoying the adventure and that, when they fail, they still feel like they could have
won if things turned out just a bit differently. What you dont want is a bored group
that feels like the challenges are tedious or that their actions are futile.
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Chapter 7
Documentary ReelSplicing the Film

I once had the privilege of playing in a group that had three regularly rotating
GMs (as well as a few players who would occasionally take the chair). One of
these GMs, Bob, meticulously crafted a large dungeon, talking it up for months as
the two GMs before him ran through their campaigns. He was bursting with pride
and his enthusiasm was infectious.
When the time came for him to take the chair, he took us all on a wild ride through
an old-school, retro-style fantasy dungeon that was a lot of fun. I could tell that hed
put a lot of thought and work into his design and each location was bursting with
descriptive details. Wed made our way through about a quarter of the dungeon
when everything went wrong.
We encountered an evil wizard who, finding himself outclassed, used an intricate
teleportation device to escape and gather allies to come back for a rematch. We
examined the device in the meantime and learned that it could open a dimensional
window into any location in the dungeon. It worked simply by touching the device
and thinking about where one wanted to go or, more frustratingly for Bob, about
anyone with which the user was familiar.
While the dungeon was designed as an old-school romp, we did have a mission:
A noble was imprisoned deep in the dungeon and we were hired to free him. As
it turned out, the noble was known to one of the PCs. We simply had that PC use
the device to open a window to where the prisoner was held and scooped him
right out of his cell! With said noble free, we high-tailed it out of the dungeon and
back to civilization to receive our reward, which now far exceeded the risks we
took. An adventure that was supposed to take months of real time to finish was
wrapped up within a few sessions.
Bob made several mistakes, but the big two were poor planning and not thinking
on his feet. Merely limiting the teleportation device to places we knew within the
dungeon would have prevented us from short-cutting the adventuresplicing the
film, if you will. Once he realized that we were going to use the teleportation
device ourselves, he could have done some editing on the fly to remove the find
person detail.
While theres no way to anticipate every film splice, and indeed because players
should be encouraged to be creative splicing film is often the inevitable result, poor
planning can often result in adventures ending long before their time.
Roll the Film!

Its very important to look over a script before you start filming. It needs to naturally
integrate with the rest of your campaign, have encounters that flow smoothly, and
coax emotional investment from the players. Any of the elements weve gone over in
this chapter can wreck a session if it isnt considered and, if necessary, fixed before
play.
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One word of caution before we move on: Dont be afraid to take chances and try
something new. Just because your group loves combat doesnt mean they wouldnt
enjoy a mystery adventure once in a while. Similarly, if the PCs lack a necessary skill
then you may not need to toss an interesting adventure if a minor NPC or gadget
could make those occasional rolls (as long as they arent major aspects of the adventure). The goal of this chapter is to help you determine how well an adventure fits your
group and game, not to put you in a straitjacket.
Now that youve got your appropriate script in hand its time to prepare yourself for
actually running the adventure. Well cover this in the next chapter.
ChallengeAchievement: A Well-Prepped Script

1. Play one short session with a published adventure that you havent read
before starting play. Ask for feedback. What personal touches were missed?
2. Create/use a mystery adventure that has no combat encounters whatsoever.
3. Increase the challenge level of three encounters so that the PCs cant
succeed by just throwing themselves at them.
4. Create a mystery that is simple and straightforward and see how many red
herrings the players generate on their own.
5. Rewrite a plot hook so that it is atypical of the groups usual hooks.
6. Ask each player to tell you something that theyd like to see in the next
adventure. Design an adventure incorporating everything they asked for.
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Artist: Matt Morrow

Chapter 7
Gemma chuckled to herself as she opened her adventure

notes. The group was going to be so surprised!
Okay, she said in her usual time-to-get-down-to-business
GMing voice. Youve been following the trail of the rival
pirate band and you discover, to your great surprise, that the
tracks dont come from the coastline, but from up the hill
near the high outcropping just above the tree line.
I have a bad feeling about this, Patti said.
Adam said, We put down the chest and sneak up.
Gemma grinned. The hill crests and you see a small campfire
with three agitated pirates around it. Theyre playing cards
and one of them just accused the other of cheating. You also
notice that they seem to be guarding a hole in the ground.
Lets hit them while theyre distracted! Adam said. He always
enjoyed a good combat, especially when the odds were even.
Quietly, Patti said. We dont know whats in the hole.
That is a good plan, Renaldo said. But Francois, of
course, leaps up with a cutlass in each hand and twirls them
menacingly, offering the pirates a chance to surrender before
things get ugly.
Gemma giggled while Adam and Patti sighed. It wasnt
prudent, but Francois was Francois and their characters,
Paulos and Red Kate, leapt up from the grass to join him.
Red Kate brandished a cutlass of her own while Paulos relied
on capoeira. It was a quick combat, with Paolos kicking
flintlocks out of pirates hands while Francois and Red Kate
dispatched their foes handily.
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When it was over, Gemma said, You look into the hole and
notice that it leads down into a large open caverna hidden
cove! Theres a pulley system to lift large objects up and down,
with a ladder nearby. Anchored in the cove is a frigate. Its
flying a black flag with an embroidered red skull.
The Bloody Skull, Patti. Its our rivals ship!
Now thats funny! Renaldo said, laughing. They wanted to
take the treasure aboard their ship, and now we are granting
their wishpost mortem, of course!
Gemma nodded. You can also see that the majority of the
crew are Maroons, and the way they are being treated by
the pirates in charge show there isnt a great deal of love lost
between them.
My kinsmen! Adam said, smiling. If we take out the leaders
it shouldnt be much of a problem getting the crew to work for
us, especially since we have the means of paying them in that
treasure chest!
Then what are we waiting for? Renaldo said, miming pulling
out a sword. Lets get ourselves a ship!
Gemma grinned as the group started planning how to approach
the vessel. She quietly reflected on that steampunk adventure
she had almost used. While a skyship sounded cool at the
time, she had to admit that the secret cove fit the campaign
much better and the group was really getting into it. Besides,
shed found a few encounters in that airship adventure that
shes easily modified for tonight, including this assault on the
ship; the players would never know the difference.
It was going to be a fun session!
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Chapter 7
Chapter 8:
Preparing the Shoot
After swaying the crew to their side, the intrepid pirates sail
their stolen ship out of the hidden cove on a gust of wind
provided by a magical rune embedded in the coves wall.
Patti, having researched real-world piracy and the ships of
the Golden Age of Piracy on her own time, quickly took the
lead in ensuring that the ship was sailing smoothly. Renaldo
was having fun engaging the crew in friendly banter while
Adam climbed up to the crows nest.
Gemma quickly glanced at her notes and addressed the
group. Okay. Thanks to the Sea God rune in the cove youre
underway and your sails catch the wind as you emerge into
the sea. Renaldoexcuse meFrancois leads the crew in a
rousing pirate song as Paolos . . . Give me a Hard Perception
roll, Adam.
Adam made the roll, adding the appropriate modifier for the
increased difficulty. I succeeded! he said. And by a healthy
margin.
Good, Gemma nodded. Paolos uses his spyglass and
notices another ship coming around the island flying a black
flag.
Frank and Kate, weve got company! Adam said.
Wonderful, Patti said, sighing. Yet more rivals.
Obviously, Renaldo said. He smiled. Why risk the dangers
when you can wait for someone else to do it and just take it
from them?
Were we the only pirates stupid enough to brave the dangers?
Adam said. He turned to Gemma. How big is the ship?
Preparing the Shoot
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Pretty big, Gemma said, although she was caught a bit

off guard by the question. She paused to flip through the
rulebook. It has 12 more cannons than you.
In other words, Renaldo said, were toast if we fight it.
It may not come to that, Patti said. Were probably lighter
and faster. We could try to outrun it. What are the chase rules,
Gemma? Can we prepare the ship for battle while extending
our lead? Where is the wind blowing? How many crewmen
do we have to commit to both?
For a moment, Gemma looked like a deer caught in the
headlights. Shed assumed that the players would fight the
enemy ship and hadnt read the chase rules very closely. Now,
in the heat of the session, she had to stop the game and figure
out that subsystem while her players wondered why Gemma
was unprepared for a sea chase in a pirate game.
Why is Preparing the Shoot Important?

Weve just spent a chapter going over the suitability of your scriptthe adventure
so with that all resolved we can launch straight into playing, right?
Not so fast.
An adventure is usually more than just a barebones outline or sketchy thoughts. Generally, you (or someone else) have put in quite a bit of work fleshing out scenes, creating challenges, ensuring that key elements flow together, and determining what rules
are needed where. For meatier adventure notes, this is a lot to keep track of! That said,
there are quick and easy ways to manage your preparation so that you can communicate the script more easily to your actors, the PCs.
This chapter is designed to help you get organized so that you can manage your session smoothly and efficiently without having to stop to pore through rule books or
reread portions of the adventure.
Understand Your Goal

A good director organizes her shoots so she knows which scenes she needs to shoot
each day. Similarly, you should get into the habit of understanding what youre trying
to accomplish in each session. You already know where youre starting based on the
previous session and you should have a general idea, based on your groups dynamic
and the length of the session, of where the session will end. You need to be prepared for whats in between.
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Note that this section isnt titled Set Your Goal or even Acknowledge Your
Goal, but Understand Your Goal. The goal is to be prepared, inasmuch as
possible, to run a fun session; understanding comes from keeping the following
points in mind.
An adventure is rarely a straight lineUnless youve created a rigid,
linear scenario (Room A leads to Room B leads to Room C), chances are
your group will have choices to make at various points. These choices can
affect the shooting goal.
You dont have controlIts all well and good to sketch out every scene,
but your players arent married to your script and will often go off in
directions you didnt anticipate. You need to plan for this and adjust your
goal accordingly on the fly.
Time is relativeGame time and real time rarely match; so too with
anticipated game time and actual game time. You never know what the
players are going to cling to or let go; you also have little control when the
rules contract or extend a scene. You may think that a scene involving a
couple of brigands trying to hold up the PCs will only take a few minutes,
only to find that parlay and several interesting combat rolls have eaten
up an hour of session time.
Rules reflection and arguments take up timeThis can be folded into
the above bullet point, but its worth parsing on its own. Nothing can
bog down a session or eat up more time than having a rules argument
or flipping through rulebooks to find the correct implementation. In
addition to taking time directly from the session, rules arguments can also
indirectly influence the pacing of the rest of the session. A player unhappy
with a rule may drag the pace down, or the correct implementation of
a previously forgotten rule may bypass a key scene, bringing the group
closer to the session goal ahead of time.
If you arent prepared, it can be a short sessionBeing prepared is more
than just having enough material to get the players to the goal you have
prepared. You also have to have enough material to move the goalposts
when the original goal looks like it may be achieved early or the players
deviate from your anticipated path. If you dont, then you may end up
wrapping your session much earlier than intended.
Now these points are all well and good, but how specifically can you prepare for a session? Preparation involves three areas: rules, scenario, and players. With those areas
in mind, were going to look at three methods of preparing for your shoot: cheat
sheets, flowcharts, and insurance.
If you like to wing it or run games with minimal prep, those topics might sound intimidating or time-intensive, but they really arent either of those things. Heck, you
might even find that spending a few minutes doing these for each session may actually help you make things up on the fly.
Preparing the Shoot
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Directors NotesConvention Games

When I run convention games I consider it a point of pride when I introduce new players
to a game by showing them the rulebook and then proceeding to ignore said rulebook
for the rest of the session. Why? At a convention I only have a fixed amount of time
to conclude an adventure and I dont want to waste time flipping through pages of a
rulebook to clarify things. I also feel that its more important to give the players the overall
experience with the game than to get bogged down in rules minutiae.
To that end, when prepping for a convention game I tend to use customized character
sheets that highlight all the important statistics and, where possible, include rules mechanics alongside traits, abilities, and the like. I also make a custom cheat sheet featuring the
relevant rules and try to limit them to a page or two. During the session I refer only to the
character sheets or the cheat sheets; I improvise everything else.
Ive adapted this to great effect in home games. I generally use convention rules for
the first session while slowly introducing subsystems as they become important. I tend to
make cheat sheets for home games, and I try to limit implementation to one subsystem
per session. For example, the first session of a space campaign may take place entirely
inside a space station (basic rules), the second session may require ship-to-ship combat
outside the station (starship rules), and the third may start with plotting a course to another
system (using the space navigation subsystem).
By boiling rules down to their essence and offering them up to the players in manageable chunks, Ive found that players pick up the various subsystems far more easily than
if I assumed theyd each read a thick rulebook on their ownespecially if they dont
own the rulebook!
Highlighting the RulesDesigning a Cheat Sheet

Obviously, understanding the rules is a huge boon when running adventures. That
said it is surprising how many GMs dont know most of the rules for the game theyre
running (or not so surprising, given that the average rulebook is hundreds of pages
long). While the missed rules are usually circumstantial or uncommon applications,
Ive been in games where even core rules are misunderstood (see the House Rule Assumptions sidebar).
An effective way to ensure that your session runs smoothly is to read through your
notes, identify what portions of the rules will be used, and create a rules cheat sheet
that acts as a handy reference tool for those specific rules. The cheat sheet can be as
sparse or detailed as you likeit could be a bulleted list of appropriate rules and page
number references, or you might prefer to summarize rules in greater detail. (In the
latter case, youre doing what many publishers do on their GMing screens.)
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Three points of note when making a rules cheat sheet. First, dont bother writing down rules you know off the top of your headmost games have a core
mechanic thats easy to remember and you dont need to give it prominence
on a rules cheat sheet. If, however, you have players that dont understand the
base mechanic (which is pretty likely if youre running a store event, convention
game, or simply have a new player in your group) then you may find it helpful to
put the core mechanics on the sheet.
Second, dont feel that you have to regurgitate everything from the rulebook.
While I recommend putting everything down and simplifying rules for public events, your home game is more informal and generally unfettered by time
constraints. Its usually easier to flip to the appropriate page and find a rule
rather than waste prep time distilling everything into cheat sheet format. That said,
technology does simplify that process: If you have the rules in a digital format, you
can bookmark, hyperlink, and sometimes cut and paste to your hearts content. Some
games even have sites hosting hyperlinked rules.
Third, personalize your rules cheat sheet based on your session. If youre running a
superspy campaign and anticipate an exciting car chase this session, then you should
have the vehicle rules highlighted. If you had the car chase last session and dont anticipate one this session, remove the car chase rules from the cheat sheetit reduces
clutter and opens up space for other circumstantial rules that may be useful in this
session.
Artist: Matt Morrow

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House Rule Assumptions

While you shouldnt usually need to put common mechanics on a rules cheat sheet,
be sure to refresh your memory on how they work from time to time anyway. It always
amazes me when I discover that my gaming group as a whole interprets a rule a certain
way that is clearly wrong and has been doing so for quite some time. It can come as
quite a shock when they learn that theyve been doing it wrong.
When this happens, be prepared for some resistance. Often these unofficial house rule
assumptions get started because theres a clear advantage for the PCs, and they may
have relied on this advantage when designing or upgrading their characters. In these
cases its entirely up to you whether to enforce the original rule, but if you do then you
should give your players some leeway in adjusting their PCs accordingly.
StoryboardingDesigning a Flowchart
In film, storyboards are essentially comic books that illustrate how scenes should
play out. They enable directors and others involved in the films production to understand whats supposed to happen during a shoot. You cant apply this concept to
gaming in its entirety because of the unpredictability of player actionsand other
thingsthat can, and usually do, send sessions off in unexpected directions.
What you can take from storyboarding is the element of mapping out likely paths
for the PCs. This gives you an idea of what you need to prepare (and which rules to
highlight on your cheat sheet). To create a flowchart, simply map the decision points
that you expect your players to make during the session and then draw lines to the
next scene based on each decision.
A session flowchart is very similar to a dungeon map: On a dungeon map, each door
and corridor on the map represents a decision point; on a flowchart, the scenes are
the decision points. If the PCs entered Room 5 and there is a door to their left and
another in front of them, chances are that their next moves will be to explore whats
behind each door and then make a decision as to which one to go through. You can
make similar guesses about what theyll do next on a flowchart.
Figure B1 provides an example flowchart for a supers campaign. In the last session,
the PCs discovered an alien attack on a government research facility and they forced
the aliens to flee. For todays session, the GM knows the starting point (the aliens
flight) and the likely endpoint, getting inside the alien mother ship.
While brainstorming the flowchart, the GM anticipates that the PCs will pursue the
aliens, but its also possible that the PCs will let the aliens go for now and try to figure
out what attracted them to the facility. Shes listed both options on the flowchart.
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Figure B1
START
Aliens are
fleeing facility
Yes
No
Pursue?
Investigate
whats important
at the facility
Space Chase
Mothership
Defenses
Interview staff
Poke around
Uncover alien
ship held in
secret hangar
Into the
Mothership
Yes
FINISH
Seek help
accessing
computer
Access
computer?
No
Following the flowchart gets the PCs to the mothership one way or another. They
may do this by directly pursuing the aliens or by discovering an alien ship inside the
facility that is transmitting a beacon. If the PCs break off their pursuit, then they may
still get the information they need by going back to the facility. Simply following the
flowchart gets the PCs to the session goal.
Lets take a deeper look at two things about Figure B1. First, the flowchart can also
highlight the rules needed for the session. Theres obviously going to be some combat,
but if the PCs directly pursue the aliens then chase rules may be involved. Investigating the facility requires skill checks and social interaction, as well as possibly tapping
a computer-specialist contact. Youll want to note page numbers on the rules cheat
sheet (or even just jot them down on the flowchart).
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Second, while this flowchart seems fairly exhaustive theres always an opportunity for players to go off the trail. In this case, they may
break off pursuit and decide not to investigate
the facility. The GM could then either have a
government scientist from the facility approach
them or have the aliens (after determining that
the PCs are a clear threat) send another strike
force to destroy them, leading the PCs back into
space.
Keep an Eye out for

Character Upgrades!
When designing cheat sheets or
flowcharts make sure you take into
account any PC upgrades that
happen between adventures. I
once designed an elaborate mystery that I thought would take up
an entire session. I failed to take
into account that a PC had upgraded her psychic powers, and
she figured out who the murderer
was in seconds. Oops.
In any event, a flowchart can help you avoid losing your place and keep the session generally
on-target, making allowances for player innovation. Obviously, your planned endpoint (FINISH on the flowchart) may not be where the session actually finishes, but you can pick it up next
session, using the actual endpoint as the new START.
Another benefit of creating a flowchart is that it makes you think critically about every decision the players make, and may even flag a question or decision point that you
hadnt thought about. It also may prevent leaps of logic, where you expect the players to go from Point A to Point B without giving them enough of a reason to do so,
because you can see what the players have to work with in terms of decision-making.
Accidents HappenTaking Out Insurance

During production of a film, unanticipated events can throw a spanner in the works
of a shoot. An actor may get sick, a prop or scenery may be damaged, or weather
conditions may delay shooting. Similarly, your game session may be plagued by unforeseen events. Anything from forgetting your adventure notes or character sheets to
a player cancelling at the last minute to a power outage can potentially derail a session
before it starts.
Taking out insurance is merely taking the steps you need to take before a session to
ensure that the session runs smoothly regardless of unanticipated events. Here are a
few tips on taking out insurance:
Never plan on every PC being present at the sessionEven if everyone
pledges to be there, real life can often sideline a player at the last minute.
If your session relies on a particular PC being present, then your session
could be over before you start.
Have a plan in place for absent PCsThis could be as simple as making

each session self-contained in order to make absences logical, but this is
easier done in some games than others. Whether you chose to ignore
absent PCs, run them like NPCs, or have another player play them, make
sure you have a plan.
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Set a quorumA quorum is the minimum number of players to play a

session. Ensure that everyone at the table knows what this quorum is and
that if it isnt met the session is cancelled. If you like, set an alternate venue
if the hosting player cant host for whatever reason.
Keep a backup of your notes handyA gaming session was once saved
because I was able to access my Dropbox account at my friends house. Its
also a good idea to keep a hardcopy in case your connection is bad or your
laptop/tablet battery dies (and yes, Ive opened up my bag at a session only
to discover that Id left the power cord at home).
Similarly, keep backups of character sheetsNot only are they useful if
someone doesnt show, but having backups also enables you to reference
the sheets while designing challenges in your adventures.
To help illustrate taking out insurance weve provided an example of an insurance

sheet, Figure B2.
Figure B2
Insurance Sheet: Summer is Fleeting Campaign

Tamsin Ravenholme
(only play if three players are available)
Role: Healer and Necromancer

Absentee Notes: Fades into background played when necessary by
Jason
Considerations: In the third adventure Tamsin is supposed to receive a
request from a ghost. This would be weird if Im talking to myself, so the
ghost possesses and talks through her instead if Dharma cant play that
session.
Sir Mikhail Idanovich
Role: Warrior
Absentee Notes: No worries. We play at Jasons house so if hes not
available then there is no session!
Kuina the Brave
Role: Swashbuckling rogue
Absentee Notes: Disappears, likely due to a quick score elsewhere
Considerations: When the PCs need thieving skills and Cyndi isnt at the
session then theyll have to hire help
Torin Goldhammer
Role: Runecaster
Absentee Notes: Played by the GM.
Considerations: Ken plays Torin to use magic sparingly and when
mundane means are exhausted.
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An insurance sheet should be developed prior to the campaign and updated as necessary as the story progresses. There should be an entry for each character on the
insurance sheet, noting the characters role, absentee notes, and considerations. There
should also be a general understanding as to a quorumhow many players need to
show in order to play?
The characters role is what she brings to the table and what you need to replace if
she doesnt show. In practice, this might be unnecessaryyoull likely remember the
roles of each player.
Absentee notes is what happens if the player doesnt show for a session. This is generally where you note if someone else is playing the character, if she becomes an NPC,
or if shes moved off-camera for the session.
Considerations is a catch-all for anything you need to remember if a character
doesnt show. This is a good place to note those parts of an adventure where the PC is
expected to shine, how the regular player generally plays his PC, and how to replace
the character if he is moved off-camera.
Roll the Film!

It should go without saying that preparation is the key to a great session. Even if you
tend to wing it, youll still want to ensure that all of your tools are available and have
plans for cancellations or other issues. In fact, you may want to try a cheat sheet or
flowchart to see if it enhances your usually improvised approach.
Now that weve checked the script and prepared the shoot, its time to roll the film!
The next chapter covers launching the actual session.
ChallengeAchievement: A Well-Prepared Shoot

1. Randomly pick three adventures (your own or published scenarios). Write
the adventure goal for each of them in a single, clear sentence.
2. Create a flowchart of scenes connected by the clues/information needed

to make choices.
3. Ask each player to create a fully-designed back-up character that is tied to

the current adventure.
4. Have each player submit an upgrade wishlist for their next character
achievements.
5. Create and implement a house rule for the next session.
6. Run a game without opening a rulebook. Use a one page cheat sheet
instead, if you like.
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Documentary ReelThe Forgotten Clue

Its no secret that I love running investigative adventures. I love giving my players a
mystery and watching them unravel it, get to the heart of the mystery, and resolve
it. I enjoy peppering my adventures with clues for the players to find and interpret,
flagging red herrings while honing in on the true culprit. I also pride myself in ensuring that the critical clues get into the players hands by having different means of
delivery. That said, one area Ive sometimes fallen short in is judging red herrings.
Im using the term red herring here as a false leadit looks like an avenue that
will help the PCs solve a mystery but is actually a dead end. Some red herrings
are easier to spot than others and some are simply resolved through process of
elimination. Where I tend to fall short is determining how long I should let my players spend on a red herring and when to throw them a lifeline.
During a modern occult investigative campaign my players spent the better part
of the previous session chasing down a red herring and only resolved it at the
beginning of the current session. The group then decided to pursue yet another red
herring. I wasnt sure why my players didnt associate what theyd learned from the
previous red herring with another clue that should have pointed them in the right
direction. Still, it seemed like my players were having fun interacting with NPCs
while chasing down this new red herring, so I just went with it. Before I knew it,
the session was over.
While cleaning up, I was surprised when one of my players told me how frustrated
he was that theyd burned two sessions on false leads and were no closer to solving the mystery. I asked him why hed ignored the Big Clue, especially in light of
the previous red herring, and he responded with a blank stare. It turned out that in
the course of the last two sessions hed completely forgotten about the Big Clue,
and a quick show of hands informed me that everyone else had forgotten it as
well. Had we not had that conversation the group would likely have burned yet
another session the same way.
While I still dont think having players spend time hunting down false leads is a
bad thing, having them do it out of frustration over something the player, not the
character, forgot is a bad thing. From that point forward I resolved to recap what
important things the PCs learned up to date at the start of the session while also
encouraging my players to write things down as they discovered them.
Gemma was surprised that the group cut right to the chase,
but she was prepared. Shed anticipated this possibility when
designing her flowchart and she had notes on her cheat sheet
covering the chase rules. Without skipping a beat, she opened
the rule book and flipped to the appropriate pages.
Okay, the chase is on! Make a navigation roll to judge the
winds and the pirate ships speed.
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I made it, Adam said. Can we outrun it?

Its definitely gaining ground, Gemma said. You just arent
sure you can get out of cannon range before they can fire.
Darn, Patti said. Were going to have to prepare for a
volley.
It may help if we give them reason to think were surrendering,
said Renaldo, and once they get in range, we can hit them
with everything weve got before making a run for it!
Sounds like a plan, Patti said, nodding. Lets see how
many guns we can line up aft.
Gemma smiled. It looked like she was going to get her combat
after all. If shed assumed the PCs ship was faster, rather than
working through the chase rules, shed never have gotten to
that scene.
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Artist: Matt Morrow

Chapter 8
Chapter 9:
And... Action!
Gemma cursed under her breath as she took the elevator up
to her apartment. She hadnt intended to spend all afternoon
shopping and she certainly hadnt counted on the bus being
late. As it was, she was 15 minutes late for the game. Adam
and Patti were waiting by her door; Renaldo was late, as
usual.
Gemma greeted her friends and let them in. She quickly
gathered her gaming stuff, not wanting to waste any more
time. Adam and Patti continued their conversation from the
hall; Adam was enjoying the foibles of Pattis latest crazy
date. Gemma had only just turned on her laptop as Renaldo
burst through the door.
You wont believe what happened to me on the way here!
he said as he sat down.
Gemma cut him off. Save it. Lets get started.
She began describing the scenethe PCs were deep in
negotiations with the strange inhabitants of a remote island.
Unfortunately, no one was listening. Patti, complaining about
the restaurant staff from the previous night, didnt hear
Gemma cut Renaldo off, so she asked him what had made
him late. Frustrated, Renaldo launched into a tirade about
traffic etiquette and someone who had cut him off and stolen
his parking space.
Trying to take command of the room, Gemma raised her voice
and said, You are negotiating with the tribe.
Adam cocked an eyebrow. Wait a minute, negotiating with
the tribe? Werent we fleeing from another ship when we left
off?
And... Action!
105
No, Patti said. You had to leave a bit early. Were past that
point. We set anchor near an island.
Thats right, Renaldo said, nodding. What were we
negotiating again?
Forget that, Adam said. What are we doing for dinner? Im
starving!
Gemma sighed as the players debated the merits of Chinese or
Italian. It was going to be a long session.
Why Is Starting a Session Well So Important?

The beginning of a session is much like the first block of a television series (or, for
those of you who stream your TV shows, the first few minutes). This is the part of
the show that is designed to hook the viewer and foreshadow the plot elements to
come. Similarly, a good start to a roleplaying session hooks the players interest and
telegraphs the session goal and some of the challenges they may face. A good start to
a roleplaying session should do all of the following things:
Alleviate outside distractions before they interfere with the game.
Draw the players into the session.
Remind the players of what has gone before.
Quickly, efficiently, and, most importantly, entertainingly thrust the

players into the action
All of these elements need to work in tandem, as missing any one of them can hinder
the flow of the session. Similarly, the excitement generated with a strong opening
can carry the players well into the session, helping them gloss over the slow bits and
encouraging them to move forward when they get stuck.
Social Hour
Gemmas main problem in the opening fiction was the lack of a social hour. She assumed that Adam and Patti already had their discussion in the hallway and she wasnt
about to sacrifice more time for Renaldo, whod arrived late. As a result she had to
fight a losing battle between starting the session and the more immediately interesting conversations that had nothing to do with the game.
Generally, giving everyone a chance to socialize or vent between the time they arrive
and the start of the session helps minimize such disruptions during a session. This is
especially true of older gamers who dont have a lot of free timethe session is their
social hour, no different than a poker night or catching a movie with friends. They
want to talk about their week and hear similar stories from their friends.
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In spite of the name, social hour doesnt have to last an hour. You can also
combine it with a meal if your group is in the habit of eating during a game;
in fact, in these cases your social hour may even be mid- or post-session rather
than at the beginning.
Directors NotesThe Problem of Camaraderie

At this point in my GMing career Ive run many convention games. While these can
be (and often are) intimidating, convention games never suffer from an unfocused
start. When several strangers gather around the table for the event, theyre ready
to game and look to the GM to get things moving. If theres a muddled start, it is
usually due to lack of preparation on the GMs part.
Gaming with strangers in a convention context stands in marked contrast to a
home game, where everyone knows each other. Not only is social hour more
prominent, but other factors, such as lateness and disruptive behavior, are more
common. It can be difficult to lower the boom, especially when your friends point
out that its just a game (and theyre right!).
That said, following the advice in this chapter helps to bring a bit of that convention
formality to your familiar table. While this advice wont eliminate distractions, it will
help to minimize them.
Acting Like Adults

Over the years Ive seen lots of attempts to curb player disruptions. The most
common of these is If you said it then your character said it, but other variations
include the instant wandering monster, hand of god, or loss of XP if someone
makes an out-of-character joke or otherwise disrupts the session. All of these have
one thing in commontheyre utter nonsense.
Trying to enforce proper behavior is nonsense because its childish behavior.
Rather than have a rational discussion about possible issues, the GM is using the
game in a passive-aggressive way to get what he wants. This rarely goes well
because childish behavior begets childish behavior. Ive seen good PCs get suicided and Ive watched fun sessions suddenly devolve into shouting matches after
a player was hit with one of these tactics.
The best advice I can give you is that if a player does something distracting, just
explain why you think the distraction is an issue and politely ask her to stop. Most
of the time people dont even realize that theyre distracting everyone else, as they
delivered their joke or shared a story while the affected players characters were
off-camera. In any event, the dispute can be handled calmly and intelligently,
rather than becoming exercises in petty vengeance.
And... Action!
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Setting the Stage

Anyone whos seen a movie set is familiar with the clapperboard, a board with an attached strip that is clapped to inform everyone that the camera is rolling. Equally
important is the information displayed on the clapperboard, which tells the actors
and crew what scene is being shot. On a finished film, the same is accomplished for
the audience by use of an eye-popping pre-credits sequence or catchy opening credits.
Similarly, a good way to begin a session is to set the stage, instantly informing the
players that its time to begin. A good stage-setting also helps the players get their
heads in the game and start thinking like their characters. Here are a few suggestions to help set the stage:
Have the social hour in a spot other than the gaming areaIf the players
have to physically move from one spot to the next, then theyve already
received a powerful signal that its time to start the session.
Change the atmosphereDimming the lights, lighting candles, turning

off a radio or television, or even the act of putting up a GMing screen are
all signals that the game is about to begin.
Select a song to represent the campaign and play it as a signal to get

startedIf youre feeling really ambitious, create an opening montage
that can be played on a laptop or tablet.
Ask a player to provide a recap of last sessionOnce other players start

hearing familiar events from the previous session they tend to listen, if
only to correct the other players recollections!
Write a short cut scene that players can read to set the moodThis is
mild metagaming (as the PCs likely wont have this knowledge) but its a
fun way to subtly encourage the players to get involved in the adventure.
See Figure C1 for an example of a cut scene that sets the stage, gives a
little metagaming insight into important NPCs, and points the players
towards a possible plot.
All of these suggestions have one thing in common: They offer a concrete signal that
the game is about to begin. This signal minimizes the problem of trying to talk over
players, as it grabs their attention in the way that adding yet another voice to the din
cannot. Once you have their attention, though, you need to get them focuseddo
they remember where they are? With that in mind, lets move on to recapping.
The Importance of Recapping

Recapping is a valuable tool that helps ensure a smooth start to the session. A lot of
real life happens between sessions and its easy to forget what happened in past adventures. This can be especially essential if the players are mid-adventure and need to
recall clues and other facts in order to successfully complete the scenario. Without a
good recap, players may stumble through investigations or botch key social interactions because they simply forgot what happened before.
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Figure C1
Tournament of Dread Cut Scene

Lady Rachel sullenly looked out of her window at the field being prepared
for the days events. Merchants were setting up tents that would hold their
wares while the castle cooks were already preparing food in the makeshift
open air kitchen. Villeins were clearing the tournament area that would be
used for archery, jousting, and other combat arts while craftsmen built the
seating area. A few knights were already practicing with their horses. She
could even see some of the local wizards preparing rituals and illusions that
were sure to delight the faire-goers. Her father had pulled out all the stops
for this faire, and he should be proud.
Unfortunately, she couldnt share his pride.
She grunted softly as Teresa pulled the laces tight. The maid was doing her
best to get Rachel ready, but her mistress wasnt being very accommodating.
Teresa tried to lighten the mood.
I cant wait to see the jousts, she said as she stood back to admire how
the gown favored Rachels form. She frowned as she noticed a crease and
adjusted it. I see Sir Willem from Seibolt Barony is out there.
Rachel frowned. She knew Teresa was trying to be helpful, but it wasnt
working. Rachels father made it clear that hed offer his daughters hand to
the winner of the tournament, but Rachel wanted no part of Sir Willem or
the vicious woman shed gain as a mother-in-law. She tried to change the
subject.
I dont see Sir Acton practicing?
Teresa smiled behind her mistress back. She knew how much Rachel fancied the young local knight, although the Baron would rather she marry
outside the barony.
I hear hes come down with a cold or something, but he still plans to joust.
Lady Rachel frowned. Sir Acton stood a good chance of beating Sir Willem,
but if hes not healthy then that was in doubt.
Thats strange, Rachel noted. Last night he was in top form. When did he
get ill?
Teresa shook her head. He seemed fine at the knights feast last evening.
He must have caught it in the evening.
Lady Rachels eyes narrowed as she watched Sir Willem charge at a quintain. She knew he could never hope to beat Sir Acton, and he knew it too.
Did he or his mother have something to do with Sir Actons sudden malady?
And... Action!
109
Its worth noting at this point that you shouldnt jump to the conclusion that if the
players cant remember what happened during the last session then theyre obviously
not interested in your campaign. Im thinking of one player in particular (though
Ive known others) who regularly forgets adventures hes played in yet really enjoys
playing, and he has nothing but good things to say about our games. He just deals
with a lot of pressure in his work and family life and doesnt have the bandwidth to
remember adventure details.
Figure C2
Recapping Checklist for The Guns of Purgatory

Long-Term Goal: To eliminate a notorious gang led by the ruthless Devil Dannon.
Short-Term Goal: To escort and protect a stagecoach carrying critical medical
supplies.
High Points: You prevented robbers from stopping the stage as it went through
Dry Gulch; you captured one and got him to talk. He told you that Dannons
Gang was holed up nearby.
Complications: Its possible for you to get the jump on Dannons Gang now, but
doing so might put the stagecoach at risk. Its likely that Dannons Gang would
move on by the time you get the stagecoach to Happy Valley. Also, Robbie
Tanner took a bullet last session and hes going to need medical assistance.
Unresolved Questions: Youd changed routes at the last minute yet the robbers
still found you.
Example: Recapping Checklist

Our example recap is from an Old West themed campaign, The Guns of Purgatory.
The PCs are hired guns deputized by an overworked marshal whos trying to end the
schemes of notorious criminal Devil Dannon and his gang. The PCs variously alternate between protecting people and rooting out the gang.
While Figure C2 is probably written a bit more formally than you might write it, it
illustrates the kind of information that a good recap should include. The biggest thing
to note is that no attempt is made to give a blow-by-blow account of the previous session, which is one of the most common mistakes in recapping. Offering a 15-minute
monologue is sure to lead to the players not hearing the relevant points.
The example starts with Long-Term and Short-Term goals. While these could be
relabeled campaign and adventure, or even adventure and session, the structure of your adventures could vary substantially and these goals could mean different
things based on how you parse them. Generally, the long-term goal addresses what
the PCs ultimately hope to accomplish while the short-term goal is their current stepping stone in that direction.
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Chapter 9
Virtual
Recapping
One way to ensure effective recapping is to post
it on a wiki, in a shared
cloud, or in some other
virtual space. This not
only enables the players
to read the recap when
convenient but, if theres
technology at the gaming table, enables them to
refresh their memories during the session.
If you go this route, dont
be afraid to hand it to another player to maintain
(or players, if its a shared
file). This helps even busy
players stay engaged
with your campaign.
High points are just that, the big elements that

the PCs faced. In this example, its likely that the
PCs had several scenes involving the stagecoach
along the way, but its the attempted robbery and
subsequent information gleaned that will propel
them to make decisions in this session.
Complications are factors that may influence any
decisions the PCs may make. In this case, taking an early crack at Devil Dannon may leave the
stagecoach, which carries vital supplies, exposed,
and one of the PCs isnt healthy. That said, eliminating Devil Dannon now accomplishes the long-term
goal before the villain can cause more trouble!
Unresolved questions are those things that should be
burning in the back of the players minds. Understand
that these are questions you should have heard the
players ask, rather than extra information that you
are planting now. If at least one of your players doesnt
say, Oh yeah, thats right! when you mention these,
then they probably werent questions in the first place.
Artist: Matt Morrow

And... Action!
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Start with a Bang

Once youve started the session, its always a good idea to lead with something to get
the players juices flowing. Nothing saps enthusiasm more than simply asking What
are you doing? as most players arent in the right frame of mind just yet. Youre much
better off igniting their imaginations with a stronger open.
An effective opening scene does two things. First, it gets the players into the game
world quickly and has them making decisions in character, even if its just to roll dice.
Secondly, it either reflects the tone of the overall campaign or it foreshadows some
element of the upcoming plot.
Here are a few ways to introduce a strong opening:
If the characters are a mercenary band, throw a combat scene at them. You
can frame it as the climax of an unseen adventure or simply a particularly
challenging random encounter on the way to their next mission.
Have the PCs aid or run afoul of an NPC that seems incidental now, but
who then pops up later as important to the session. This works well if the
NPC crosses swords with them, only to turn up down the road as the
trusted henchman of a powerful NPC who the characters need to work
with.
Put the characters in danger. Maybe theyre on board a star-liner that

suddenly has an emergency or an avalanche threatens them as they cross
a mountain pass.
Drop the mystery on them. The PCs are at a grand ball when a butler
opens a closet and a body falls out, or theyre out for dinner when they
hear the sound of muffled gunshots from the kitchen.
Have the characters arrested for being at the wrong place at the wrong
time. If your genre supports it, maybe the true culprit shares a face or
enough similar characteristics to one of the PCs.
In any case, its important that these openings arent particularly challenging or lethal. Remember, youre trying to get their creative juices flowing; empowering them
with successes in areas that they are supposed to be good at will do that, having them
dramatically fail or die will not. Finally, be careful with opening scenes where you
need the PCs to fail in order to establish a plot point; players generally dont like
scenes that smell like railroads.
Roll the Film!

All of the advice in this chapter really boils down to this: You want to quickly engage
your players so that the session runs smoothly and is entertaining. Allowing social
time minimizes distractions during the session. A clear signal to the start of the session helps get the players ready. A strong opening takes those ready players and gets
them into character and prepared to deal with whatever you throw at them.
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Chapter 9
Of course, sometimes you arent ready for what they throw at you! Fortunately,
this is the topic of the next chapter, Keep Filming!
ChallengeAchievement: An Exciting Start

1. Start your session in a different way than usual.
2. Use a cut scene to start the session.
3. Begin a session with an action scene, even if the previous session ended
with no hint of one.
4. Ask a player to tweet a recap (no more than three entries, or sentences).
5. Work an NPC into your opening who wont be used again for at least
another session.
6. Put your social hour in the middle of the session rather than at the
beginning.
Documentary ReelThe Long Recap

Several years ago I was running a campaign that had three big problems. First, we were
playing on a weeknight after everyone got out of work and we were lucky to get three
hours of actual session time; most of the first hour was usually eaten up (pun intended)
by dinner and conversation. Second, I had six players, which made it difficult to give
everyone adequate spotlight time. Third, I always wrote a short recap for the players to
read, but I rarely made more than one copy, preventing the players from all reading it at
the same time. Given that some players read more quickly than others, this tactic ate up
a sizeable chunk of session time. (I suspect this would be less of a problem today with
the ubiquity of smart phones and tablets.)
Needless to say, time was an issue.
This wasnt helped by the fact that one player insisted on recapping at the start of the
session. He didnt want a quick recap; he essentially asked for a blow-by-blow account
of the previous session and kept asking questions until hed gotten it. While the rest of the
group complained, I soon discovered that they didnt remember much from the previous
session eitherthey just didnt want to waste session time recapping. It was obvious that,
with such a large group and a short session window, no one was particularly invested
in the game.
What I learned is that if you need a long recap, then something is seriously wrong with
the flow of your campaign. While the group size:session time ratio was the culprit in this
case, Ive also noted it in multi-session mystery investigations and dungeon crawlsafter
a while, players forget why they are there and revert to autopilot mode. I learned to
tighten up my sessions with a strong goal for each that enabled the players to start fresh
each session with little recap necessary.
And... Action!
113
Artist: Matt Morrow
Gemma was upset about being late, but she knew it wasnt
her fault. She promised herself shed keep a better eye on the
clock next time. For now, she had to deal with the fact that she
was losing time. She looked through her notes and adjusted
accordingly. The big reveal about the island could wait for
next week.
When Renaldo arrived, Gemma let him regale Adam and
Patti about his parking lot incident. While the three were
chatting, Gemma used the time to get set up and address the
dinner situation.
After several minutes, when it seemed like the players were
winding down, Gemma dimmed the lights, lit a candle, and
played the song she always used to open their sessions. The
other three went silent as they pulled out their character sheets
and dice bags, ready to play.
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Chapter 9
Gemma smiled. Last week theyd made the initial attempt

to negotiate with the tribe, but per usual theyd done a
particularly bad job of it. There was no rational reason for
the tribe to trust them. What was needed was something
that would bring them together anyway. During the time
between sessions, Gemma had thought about it and come
up with what she thought would be a great way to start.
Okay, she said, last time youd just landed and were
speaking with the advance party of a local tribe. As Im sure
you remember, Francois tried to use sign language but ended
up insulting their leader about his prowess.
Adam chuckled as Renaldo flushed red at the memory. Please
dont remind me, he saidtoo late, of course.
Maybe Red Kate should give it a try, Patti said.
Gemma had other plans. Give me Perception rolls. Those
of you that made it note that no one seems very interested in
you. They seem distracted by some rustling in the trees. You
look just in time to see a giant crab emerge from the large
leafy bushes! A second crab bursts forth from the trees on the
other side and, judging by the blood-curdling scream from the
jungle, theres likely a third lurking about as well!
Time to show these locals what weve got! Adam said.
Paolos draws two pistols from his bandolier.
Red Kates sticking with her cutlass, Patti said. Im not sure
what bullets are going to do against those shells.
Thats why I carry two! Renaldo said, grinning. So are we
dividing up or taking them on one at a time?
Gemma grinned. There was nothing like the promise of a
good combat to get their pirate juices flowing!
And... Action!
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Chapter 10:
Keep Filming!
After making allies with the local tribe, the PCs learned that
the tribe had a protectora giant octopus that the tribes
shaman could commandwhen a tentacle reached out of the
water and crushed one of the giant crabs that had almost
cut Paolos in half. Fortunately, a combination of a magical
potion that Red Kate kept for just such an occasion and the
magical salve smeared onto Paolos wounds by the shaman
put the pirate back into a half-healthy state.
As the other two were tending to their friend, a local lookout
rushed into the village and excitedly shouted that another ship
was on the horizonthe pirate ship that had been dogging
the PCs since theyd left the Island of the Templars Treasure.
Gemma smiled. Everything was in place. Now that the
characters had the villagers trust, they could easily convince
them that the new pirates were a threat. All they had to do
was let the shaman send the giant octopus after the pirates
and the PCs could escape in their own smaller ship. Gemma
could now close this chapter and move on to the next threat
for the characters to face!
What should we do? Adam said. Its obvious that the
pirates know were here.
What about the octopus? Renaldo said. As Gemma had
suspected, he wasnt ready to go toe to toe with the pirates
after what Paolos had just been through. Unfortunately, Patti
didnt see it that way.
I dont know, guys, using the octopus seems like a cheat.
This is our adventure, after all, and we should be able to
handle our own problems. I think we should take the ship out
and face them once and for all!
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Chapter 10
Adam didnt look too sure. We almost got sunk last time,
and we were just trying to slip away. I think theyre too
strong.
Patti dug in her heels. They only look strong. Gemma would
never throw anything at us that we couldnt handle with a
little thought. Besides, the tribe has been very helpful and
hospitable. If their guardian cant handle the pirates, then
wed be responsible for its loss. Thats not a good repayment
of the debt we owe.
Youre right, Renaldo said. If we die, at least our deaths
will be honorable, and if one of us manages to survive then
well know where to find the treasure.
Indeed, Adam said, nodding, and, if it comes to that, we
can ram the pirate ship and light the last of our gunpowder.
That way the other pirates dont get the treasure either.
Sounds like a plan, Patti said as she looked to Gemma.
Inwardly, Gemma was panicking. What had seemed like the
obvious and expected solution was now off the table and,
should the PCs face the pirate ship, this campaign would
come to an abrupt end.
Why Is It Important to Keep Filming?

Theres a key difference between a game and a story: The outcome of a game is uncertain. When writing a story the author has complete control over the direction of
her plot and characters; while she may change her mind in regards to a plot twist or
whether a character lives or dies, ultimately she remains in control. The very nature
of a game, on the other hand, leaves the outcome in doubt, unless the sides are so
unfairly matched that the outcome is a foregone conclusion. In such a case the participants often feel the game is not worth playing.
Similarly, it can be easy to jump to the conclusion that a gaming session is going badly
because you didnt expect the players to go in a particular direction or for the dice to
roll as poorly as they did. But if your session is so tightly plotted that the randomness
of combat or a player thinking outside the box can derail the game, then youve likely
missed the point of roleplaying games.
Keep Filming!
117
Whenever you play a game that has an element of randomness, unanticipated events
are bound to happen. Some of them may even threaten the course of your adventure
or campaign. In such cases, its important to remember that these are the kinds of
things that make your campaign unique. Heck, Ive run the same adventure six times
at a convention and each ran very differently based on player decisions and random
rolls. Once youve learned to embrace the randomness, dealing with unanticipated
events becomes much easier!
In this chapter, were first going to delve into five common problems that tend to derail a session: the missed clue, bad dice rolls, roleplaying issues, team tension, and the
chaotic player. After that well look at ways to right the session, including railroads,
gentle persuasion, and letting the dice fall where they may.
Directors NotesDont be Afraid to Pause

In Odyssey: The Complete Game Masters Guide to Campaign Management (the previous book in this informal trilogy), I mentioned that I once ran
a campaign that had a great mystery at its heart. It was billed as a medieval
fantasy set in 9th century Britain but, unbeknownst to the players, they were
actually operating in the World of Darkness setting. I quietly dropped clues
as they explored the world, preparing to pounce on them with an aha! moment when they finally confronted the local bishop, to whom theyd been
unknowingly blood-bound.
During the game Id inadvertently thrown a challenge at them that was too
powerful for them to handle. Predictably, they fell and I was presented with
an almost total party kill. Trying to think fast, I introduced the replacement
PCs while info-dumping the nature of the world on the remaining PCs in
the hopes of keeping interest. It was a panic move, and it showed. I simply wasnt thinking clearly as I saw the remnants of my campaign swirling
around the toilet bowl.
What I didnt share in the Odyssey anecdote was that just before I called
my friends to end the campaign, Id come up with a great way forward. Unfortunately, that great way would only have worked if I hadnt info-dumped
all of the secrets. Had I taken a few minutes to gather my thoughts or even
ended the session early, I probably could have had that burst of inspiration
and kept an enjoyable campaign viable.
When the unanticipated happens, dont be afraid to step away from the
table for a bit. It really is okay to say I didnt expect that. Ill need some
time to adjust my notes. So long as the players dont feel that youre trying
to railroad them back onto a preordained path, theyll likely appreciate that
you want to reflect on what theyve done. One final word of caution, though,
some players may take this as a threat and offer to change their decision just
to keep the game going. Dont let them!
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Chapter 10
The Missed Roll/Clue

One of the most common accidents occurs when a vital plot element is missed
and the adventure comes to a grinding halt or, more often, heads off into a sea
of red herrings. Sometimes this is due to a bad dice roll; other times its because
the players either missed interacting with the vital plot element or completely
misinterpreted its meaning.
For failed dice rolls, the best advice is to not call for die rolls if the players are
about to get a vital clue; they should get it without rolling. (Id rather not relive
a Call of Cthulhu moment when my player missed a Spot Hidden roll and didnt
notice large holes in the backyard, each of which held a dead sheep.) If you still
wish to add an element of chance to the encounter, then make the die roll about interpreting the vital plot element rather than discovering it. In this way, the dice aid
the player in her reasoning, rather than determining her PCs ability to uncover it.
Alternately, you can build back doors. A back door is a second (or third!) way for the
players to get a vital clue if they happen to avoid learning it the first way. For example,
there may be two witnesses to a crime scene; one may not give good information but
the second one might. Another example is trying to bait an assassin to mention where
hes striking next. If he doesnt offer the information, then it may be possible to get
that information from hacking into his records or burglarizing his apartment.
Another way to look at a back door is not as a back door at all, but as the long way
around. In other words, the players eventually get the clues they need to reach the
end of the adventure, but using their skills and abilities at various junctures may make
the trip faster.
Sharp-eyed readers may notice that the alternative, building back doors, can work
just as well for dice rolls simply by calling for a different roll or having another PC
make the roll. While this is technically true, having an immediate reroll to invalidate
the missed roll just seems like a pointless exercise. The players will wonder why you
just didnt hand them the clue (and, in retrospect, you probably should have!).
Note that this is not the same as giving the player a second opportunity to make the
roll if she revisits the scene or comes across new information that makes a second dice
roll plausible.
Example: The Clue Map

A clue map is a good way to keep track of the various clues in a crime scene; Figure
D1 provides an example. Obviously youll only append a clue map to particularly
investigative scenes. A clue map works for social interaction as well as clue-gathering.
When making a clue map youll want to identify the following types of clues:
Core clueA clue that the PCs need to have, regardless of how well they
roll or investigate. These clues contain the bare minimum needed to move
forward with an investigation, and should be given to the PCs rather than
relying on a dice roll.
Keep Filming!
119
Superior clueSomething extra that is appended to a core clue.

Often this is additional information gleaned from studying a core clue.
Superior clues bring a core clue into sharper focus and cut down on
misinterpretations or red herrings.
Additional clueA clue that isnt tied to the core clue, but is tangentially
related; its discovered when the PCs ask the right questions or use the
proper skills. Unlike a superior clue, which falls back on a core clue if
undiscovered, additional clues can go unnoticed if the PCs fail to spot
them.
Red herringA false clue that may nonetheless be successfully
discovered in the course of an investigation. A red herring can be of
any type (core, superior, additional) but it nonetheless hampers the
investigation by sending the PCs off on a false lead.
Figure D1
Clue Map The Crime Scene

An eccentric Victorian country squire was discovered in his library with his throat
slit and a window shattered. The motive seems to be simple robbery, as valuable
personal effects are missing. The gardener spotted him from the window in the
morning. No tracks were found, but it had heavily rained overnight.
Core Clues: The squire was in his favorite chair by the fire when he was killed.
The squire is retired from the East India Company and often believed that the
Thuggee were still out to get him, even here in England. The window is shattered
and the glass shards are primarily inside the room.
Superior Clues: The squire did not die from the slit throathed been fatally poisoned, but theres no sign of a drink. The squire feared the Thuggee and always
kept a pistol within reach. It does not appear that the squire tried to grab his pistol
at any point. The shattered glass is inside, as it should be, but the way that the
glass was shattered indicates that the window was likely hammered by someone
hanging out of the adjacent window.
Additional Clues: There are no stains on the carpetan intruder surely would
have tracked some mud inside. The floor just under the adjacent window is
wetsomeone opened it and some raindrops got inside. Several valuable small
items are strewn throughout the roomthe burglar-assassin didnt do a very good
job of spotting and taking some easily transportable valuables!
Red Herrings: A neighbors dog was barking at around 11pm the previous night
and several other neighbors and passersby saw the dog chasing someone away
from the estatethis was actually due to an admirer of the neighbors daughter
coming to see her in secret. The dog chased him off.
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Chapter 10
An Ignoble, Dicey Fate

Nothing stops a session in its tracks like a PC that died like a punk because
the dice didnt go her way. While this can be a dramatic moment, its usually
taken in a bad light. The affected player is sidelined until she creates a new
character, and the rest of the players just lost a valuable member of the party to
a quirk of fate, hardly the stuff of epic legends!
If your campaign style is to rigidly enforce the rules to evoke a brutal, uncaring
world, then such a death is par for the course. (There are other styles where this
applies, tooplay to find out what happens is one such approach.) The player
was simply unlucky and thats the way it goes. In such situations the players usually understand this and the loss of the character is lamentable, but part of the setting.
Anything else would be fudging.
In such cases, I humbly suggest that you stick with the rules. If there wasnt a risk
involved then why was the encounter there? If you save the character then youve just
set a precedent that only certain conflicts or situations count. This is likely a case
where its better to roll with the punch and maintain the integrity of your game world.
Still, if the idea of a random PC death bothers you, then another possibility is to use
some sort of fortune currency, such as fate points, drama points, or similarly named
get out of jail free cards (thereby enabling hard fudging by the players). Many RPGs
with a cinematic flavor tend to have fortune currency baked into the rules. You can
easily house rule the same into your game.
Artist: Matt Morrow
Keep Filming!
121
Finally, you can offer a substitution. This is a mechanic that is decided upon by the
group before play. For example, you may rule that any character that dies is actually
only seriously wounded and must spend a certain number of sessions recuperating;
the affected player brings in a replacement character during this period. Once the
original character is healthy again, the player has the choice of either bringing him
back or remaining with replacement.
The Roleplay Gone Bad

This is another case that happens often in my groups. The players need something
from an NPC and all they have to do is ask politely. Naturally, the most socially-inept
PC takes the lead and completely botches the scene. Theres no back-up plan because
I never expected the scene to play so poorly.
Fortunately, there are a number of ways to salvage a poor roleplay encounter if you
dont want to simply roll with the punches (more on this a bit later). Here are a few:
Call for a social skill rollSometimes the dice can save a scene; a success
means that the PC accomplished the goal she was after with the NPC
what played at the table either didnt happen or was interpreted in the best
possible way (note that this can work in reverse as a soft fudge, allowing
roleplay to erase a bad dice roll).
Have a sympathizer intercedeAnother PC or even an NPC may step

in, acknowledging that things got off on the wrong foot and offering to
set it right. This may involve flattery or accepting additional conditions in
order to obtain the goal.
Offer another routePerhaps the host of a party at her mansion wasnt

convinced to hand the PCs invitations, but one of the PCs contacts knows
the caterer. The PCs can now sneak in as servants and dont need to get
in as guests.
Its magic!In a magical world, the NPC could be convinced that the
PC was under a curse or other malady when the bad roleplay took place
(this may even work in other genresa fever or head cold often grants
some latitude).
A word of caution: Employing some of these tactics may transform your campaign.
If you enjoy heavily roleplayed social scenes, for example, dont be surprised if such
scenes are reduced to dice rolling once youve employed the saved by the dice approach, for instance. Similarly, if an NPC sympathizer always picks up the slack,
then youve taught your players that sloppy play still gets things done.
Im Just Playing My Character!

There are times when a player decides to intentionally go off-script. This is usually
for reasons other than whats being played at the table, although if the GM bats an
eye then Im just playing my character! is often the defense. This is the person that
intentionally insults the patron, tosses the object of the quest into a pool of lava, or
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Chapter 10
draws the PCs into a brawl when they were trying to be stealthy simply because
they believe its fun.
In some cases this is passive-aggressive behavior, invoked because something in
the game upset the player (see the Yes, I was Being a Jackass sidebar for more
about this). Maybe the dice havent been going his way or his plan to storm the
castle was rejected. Now hes no longer invested in the adventure and is lashing
out.
In other cases, the player simply enjoys the chaos. Shes whacked the hornets
nest because its fun to watch everyone scatter. On some level she may enjoy the
unexpected challenges that crop up over the course of an adventure and is playing a bit of backdoor GM to make it happen.
In either case, my best advice is to stop the game and have a discussion with the
chaotic player. Ive found that gentle persuasion and rolling with the punches (see
below for both) merely leads to more chaos. Similarly, fudging around the players
actions only makes him push harder. This is just one of those times when having a
calm conversation can reap big dividends, even if it means stepping away from the
game for a while.
Yes, I was Being a Jackass

A few years ago I was playing a Jedi in a Star Wars campaign. We were meeting a
couple of Hutts who wanted to hire us for a mission. Id managed to tick them off by using
mind tricks on their guards as we entered and I got challenged by one of the Hutts. In the
opening round, the Hutt won, hit me with a critical, and I went down like a punk. When I
came to, I decided that I wasnt going to accept any mission from the Hutts.
What followed was an exercise in stonewalling. As I stormed off to sulk, the other players
did their best to get me back on board. I wasnt having any of it. I felt wounded (in spite of
being the instigator in the first placein my sulking Id conveniently forgotten that) and the
GM sat helplessly while he waited for the adventure to continue. If we hadnt accepted
the mission, the session was over as the GM didnt have a back-up plan. We ended up
blowing the entire session on futile attempts to convince me otherwise.
There were many ways that the GM could have handled my situation. The first and obvious one would have been to call me out on being a jerk and settle the issue away from
the table. With a chance to cool off I might have been more agreeable. If not, then the
GM should have given me the option to bring in a new character or simply remove myself
from the campaign, as I was just being disruptive.
Alternately, the GM could have quietly salvaged his adventure. While I still think he
needed to cool me down or remove me, he could also have subtly changed details of
the adventure and Id never have noticed. Rather than Hutts, he could have had Rodians,
Black Sun gangsters, or any number of go-betweens hire the group for an unrelated mission that just happened to follow the adventure notes of the original.
It wasnt my finest moment as a player (and I did apologize for it), but it helped me
understand how to handle similarly intractable players when Im in the GMs chair!
Keep Filming!
123
Railroads
Artist: Matt Morrow
Railroading is a loaded term. Everyone has a horror story about a time when the
players didnt want to take a particular course of action and the GM forced it down
their throats anyway, only for the feared outcome to be realized. Railroads take agency
away from the players and, by extension, sap their enthusiasm for playing the game.
A railroad is not the same as a linear plot, although both have similarities. Both limit
the players actions, but a linear plot does so logically. A typical example of a linear
plot is a gauntlet, which is a series of rooms in a dungeon that can only be entered
in sequence. Another, somewhat softer, example is a murder investigation where the
crime scene only turns up a single clue. While the players are certainly free to investigate other avenues, they understand that only by following the clue are they likely to
get closer to solving the mystery.
Gentle Persuasion
So now the unanticipated has happened and you need to adjust the notes for your
campaign. Do you try to get the players back on track or do you just follow their
lead? There is no right or wrong answer hereit really depends on the nature of your
campaign and how crucial it is that the original plot be followed.
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Chapter 10
Usually when the players agree that the original goal is desirable, theyll want
to find a way to get back on track. Sometimes they may not even realize how
important the original goal is and that, if they knew, theyd certainly want to
accomplish it. In such cases you may wish to employ gentle persuasion to get
them back on track.
Gentle persuasion is exactly what it sounds like: You use subtle methods to
coax the PCs back in the right direction. The difference between gentle persuasion and railroading is that the former contains the possibility of failureif
the players just arent interested, you abandon attempts to persuade them. The
players only feel that theyre on a railroad when you force them into a certain
direction no matter how much they resist.
Here are a few examples of gentle persuasion:
The PC police investigators stumble into a drug den unprepared and end
up in the hospital. The captain assigns new PCs to pick up the investigation,
perhaps even by interviewing the old PCs.
The PCs cant transport the shipment to the waiting star system because
their transport is too damaged from a chance encounter with space pirates.
Another freighter happens by and offers to finish it for them for a cut of
the profits. The freighter captain even hires the PCs on as crew for the
mission.
The PCs abandon rescuing a prince because the evil overlords fortress
seems impenetrable. The princes sister seeks them out and begs them to
reconsider, offering a larger reward.
Each of these examples offers a different reason for the need for gentle persuasion.
In the first, the players understand that the police are going to try and take down the
drug cartel no matter who does the investigation. Its not railroading to continue the
adventure; it just makes sense that the next set of investigators would be PCs. Here
youre likely to encounter minimal resistance.
In the second case, the players still want to finish the mission but events have thwarted them. Both players and GM likely didnt think a small group of space pirates was
going to be a big threat, but a few unlucky dice rolls and critical successes scuttled
their freighter. Fortunately the shipment is intact and the players are probably all too
eager to see the shipment through. In some cases, though, the players may decide
to cut their losses and hand the shipment over to the new captain without seeing it
through. As such, this is probably moderate gentle persuasion.
In the third case, the players have made a choice on their ownthe fortress defenses
are just too strong for them. While the GM is using gentle persuasion to get them
back on track, its entirely possible that the players will reject it. If so, then the GM
has to be ready to accept that the PCs may abandon the mission (they already have,
after all). This is a case of difficult gentle persuasion.
Keep Filming!
125
Going back to Figure B2, the insurance sheet from Chapter 8, the example of the
superhero team fighting the aliens could result, as noted, in the PCs deciding not to
pursue the fleeing aliens nor returning to the government facility to see what they
were after. Based on the circumstances, this could be any of the three types of gentle
persuasion. In this particular case (see Figure D2, below) the GM has chosen to use
Dr. Escardo, an engineer working at the facility, to gently persuade the PCs to return
to the adventure.
Figure D2
START
Dr. Escardo tells
the PCs about the
alien ship & offers
to escort them.
Aliens are
fleeing facility
Yes
No
Pursue?
Investigate
whats important
at the facility
Space Chase
Mothership
Defenses
Interview staff
Poke around
Uncover alien
ship held in
secret hangar
Into the
Mothership
Yes
FINISH
Seek help
accessing
computer
Access
computer?
No
If gentle persuasion works, then youve gotten some semblance of your original session plan back on track. If it doesnt, then youre left with one course of action: rolling
with the punches.
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Chapter 10
Rolling with the Punches

Rolling with the punches is exactly what it says on the tin. Sometimes you just
need to go with what the players give you. For whatever reason, the adventure
has gotten away from you and the players have no interest in coming back to it.
So now what do you do?
Firstly, dont panic.
Secondly, remember that its okay to fail. If the Big Bad wins, then it just adds to
the drama the next time the PCs have to face her. If a treasured character dies,
then give him an appropriate funeral and time for the group to mourn before
moving on. If the PCs failed to save the village, then it gets overrun. Players expect
the occasional failure.
What they also expect, however, are consequences. No matter how many friendly
NPCs are in the village, the players would rather it get overrun because they missed
the opportunity to save it rather than you stepping in to do so in order to save a
treasured set piece. Players want their actions to matter, regardless of whether they
succeed or fail.
Finally, remember that its not solely your responsibility to fill a session. If the adventure goes off-script and youre unprepared to roll with the punches at the moment,
end the sessiondont worry if its two hours early. The players will likely understand
if you tell them that you need time to prepare now that theyve done something unexpected. Some players may even help fill the remaining time by pursuing a playergenerated subplot or returning to a loose end. You may not even need to kill a whole
session; a quick break may be enough.
Rewrites
Generally speaking, a roleplaying session should be like filming a live stage performance: You cant stop filming, rewind the film, and start over. If a mistake is made,
you just roll with it and move on. There are times, however, when you may wish to
consider rewriting a scene. Here are a few examples:
You misinterpreted or forgot to implement a rule which made things play
poorly.
A player misinterpreted or forgot something that her character would
have known (e.g. the player wasnt paying attention when you said there
was a sniper on the roof, but her character surely would have noticed), and
acted unwisely.
A dice roll was miscalculated or an effect incorrectly applied.
A player admits to you that something outside the game distracted her
and she wasnt at her best playing a scene and the result has tarnished the
adventure.
The PCs unwisely wandered into a total party kill (TPK) or most of them
are so grievously injured that they cant continue.
Keep Filming!
127
In most cases, its best to mitigate the fallout rather than replay the scene. If, for
example, a PC died because a combat rule was misapplied, then rather than replay
the combat just let the PC survive (he was only knocked unconscious). If a player
completely botched a negotiation then just give her another chance to negotiate later.
By doing this, you dont waste a lot of time invalidating finished scenes and you
minimize the risk of some players actually preferring the results of the original scenes
rather than the rewritten ones.
If you do feel the need to rewrite a scene, remember that the closer you are to the
rewritten scene, the easier it is. It is much easier, for example, to replay the previous
combat round than it is to roll things back 10 rounds or two scenes ago. Overusing
rewrites can lead to confusion as well as run the risk of fostering sloppy playafter
all, youll let them rewrite it if they mess up, right?
Documentary ReelWho Did I Call?

Sometimes mistakes that lead to unanticipated consequences can still be fun to roll with. I
was running a superhero campaign that was set in a fairly realistic universe (superheroes
had just come onto the scene, and only a small minority had actual superpowers) and
the player characters got to know one NPC, a field reporter, extremely well. This reporter
happened to know the characters in both their super and secret identities, but she didnt
know that they were connected. All of that changed because of an ill-fated phone call.
In a previous scene, the reporter had asked one of the superheroes how she could
contact him. The hero responded by giving her his cell phone number. Later, when the
city was in crisis because of a supervillains plan, the reporter decided to get the inside
scoop by calling her super-friend. While the team was together, I mentioned to my player
that his phone rang. Without thinking, he answered in his secret identity.
Hilarity ensued, as the reporter could easily identify the voices of the exasperated characters without the distraction of their masks. The affected player tried to cover his mistake,
but he just kept making it worse. At some point during this rather amusing and gamechanging development (the most famous reporter in the city just learned their identities
and one of the heroes was a powerful and well-respected CEO and the other a Nobel
prize winner), I realized that Id made a mistake. The player had made a point of carrying two phones and I never mentioned which one had rung. Sure, it was possible that
hed have made the mistake anyway, but I didnt give him the chance to make it.
As it turned out, my player enjoyed the situation well enough that he decided to roll with
it. In addition to dealing with the latest menace to the city the characters now had to
convince the reporter to keep quiet about their identities, which she was happy to doso
long as a few perks came with it! While the campaign plan was irrevocably altered by
this development, it made for a far richer campaign.
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Chapter 10
Roll the Film!

All of this advice essentially boils down to this: Accept that this is a game and not
everything will go your way. Accept it if the players pull the session elsewhere, and
adapt. This advice is very practical and simple but surprisingly difficult to follow at times, especially if you put a lot of hours into developing the interior of
a ruined castle or derelict spaceship only to have the PCs decide to skip it. Remember that no plans need go to waste; you can always incorporate your castle
or spaceship into the game later.
Of course, if your players have drifted and youre stuck for ideas, then it may
be time to call for a break. We cover breaks in the next chapter.
ChallengeAchievement: Running a Smooth Session

1. Review your last session. Change the outcome of your first scene (or the
first that had real consequences). How would it have affected the rest of
the scenes?
2. Create a menu of gentle persuasion techniques.
3. Run one social scene without any dice rolls and one purely with dice rolls.
Which worked better for your group?
4. Roll with the punches at least once in your next session, even when your
gut tells you to do otherwise.
5. Design a clue map.
6. Design a clue map that has no red herrings.
Gemma wasnt prepared for the players to take on the rival

pirates head-on, but she understood their desire for a reckoning.
She warned them that she wasnt going to pull any punches
but Renaldo waved her off, telling her that he was tired of
running. The other two agreed.
Gemma then asked the group for a 10-minute break while she
gathered her thoughts. As the players checked their emails and
texts while refilling their cups, Gemma assessed the situation. A
full-on attack was likely to end in the PCs deaths, but chances
were good that the Templars treasure could sink beneath the
wavesparticularly if the tribe sent their champion, the giant
octopus, into the battle anyway. Gemma could then have the
players create a new party tasked with finding the treasure.
She called the group back together.
Keep Filming!
129
Okay, youve decided to take on the pirates. What do you

do?
We should move as many cannons as we can fore, aft, and
port, Adam said. We just have to keep the pirates off our
starboard side.
I just hope we get close enough to board! Renaldo said. I
want as many of them as possible to taste my steel before I go
down.
Patti smiled grimly. It was great fighting alongside you, gents!
Red Kate prepares six pistols.
Gemma suddenly had an idea. It was a long shot, but what
the heck. Everybody make a Perception roll.
Adam and Renaldo announced that they made it. Red Kate
was apparently too busy filling pistols with gunpowder.
You guys notice disturbances in the water off to your starboard
side as youre moving cannon. Theres a giant octopus in the
water, and it seems to be keeping pace with you!
I told the shaman wed take care of this! Patti said. No
matter, we can probably use the help!
Gemma rolled. The pirate in the crows nest sees it too.
Through your spyglass you can see him animatedly calling the
captains attention to it. Let me make a morale roll . . . wow.
Theyre rattled. Rather than concentrating on you, theyre
turning away.
Awesome! Adam said. Lets swing broadside and let them
have it with their aft facing us!
Gemma couldnt believe her luck. Sometimes the dice were on
her side, and with a single roll shed salvaged the adventure
without taking agency away from the players.
130
Chapter 10
Chapter 11:
Lunch Break
Having left the enemy pirate ship sinkingafter running
aground on a coral reef and fighting off a giant octopus
the PCs once again set sail towards port. Thankfully, their
own ship didnt take a lot of damage and the crew were busy
making repairs.
Gemma couldnt wait to spring her next encounter on the
players, the one that would be the highlight of the evening.
A group of weresharks had capsized a vessel, with only one
passenger surviving. The weresharks tried to pursue her but
the sunlight had thus far protected her, which would change
tonight. With the woman aboard the PCs ship, the weresharks
would be attacking this evening.
Renaldo was getting punchy, as he always did later in the
session, and decided that he was going to throw an impromptu
party on board, cracking open cases of wine and dancing
amongst the crew. He tried to include Red Kate in his antics,
but Patti was having none of it as she patiently checked her
email on her phone.
Adam, youre still in the crows nest, correct? Gemma said.
Yes. Adam yawned as he checked his watch. It was getting
late and his stomach was growling.
Good, give me a roll. Gemma waited until Adam succeeded
and then responded. You spot a rowboat floating in your
direction. A young woman, fashionably dressed but with her
clothes in tatters, lays unconscious within.
Hey, guys! Adam said, barely acting in character, looks
like we have another pirate!
Lunch Break
131
We do? Renaldo said. Paolos pulls out his pistol as he

spins on the deck. He glances over the rail, takes aim, and
plugs her.
What? Really? Gemma looked surprised. The woman was
defenseless and the action was certainly out of character for
Renaldo.
Definitely, Renaldo said. Weve been pursued by pirates,
almost eaten by giant crabs, almost killed by an octopus,
battled pirates againwhat else are you going to throw at us
tonight? Its pretty obvious that the woman in the boat is a
trap. You havent given us a chance to breathe all session!
Gemma couldnt argue with him. This was going to shortcircuit the plot, but she steeled herself for the fact that the
players would simply be blasting things from here on out until
the end of the session.
Why are Lunch Breaks Important?

Gemmas problem this time around is that the players are getting punchy as the session wears them down. Id wager that, given most school and work schedules, many
RPG sessions take place in the evening. Its only natural to get tired as the game
progresses and this leads to sloppy play and sloppy GMing. Sometimes a quick bite
to eat or a stretch is all you need to make it through the rest of the session as a fully
engaged participant.
Breaks also shake things up a bit, enabling everyone to refocus, and ensure that the
rest of the session flows smoothly. Well cover that in this chapter, but first we need
to talk about the length and frequency of breaks in general.
How Long and How Often Should We Break?

Depending on the length of your gaming sessions, you might not need a full-on
lunch break (or dinner break, if you play in the evening). If your sessions typically last
five hours or less then youll probably want to include one 10-15 minute break. For
sessions of three hours or less, a break probably isnt necessary. By default, break midsessionbut if you think a different break point makes more sense (see the Commercial Breaks sidebar), plan accordingly.
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Chapter 11
Directors NotesCommercial Breaks

If you watch a TV show with commercial breaks but without commercials (streaming
it, for example), its quite obvious where the commercials are supposed to fit. A
sudden bit of narration recapping what just occurred or a climactic scene suddenly
fading to black and starting anew indicate where commercials were inserted when
the show aired.
You might also notice that TV shows are usually divided into acts that are designed
to fit comfortably between commercial breaks. Television writers structure these
acts to build tension, set cliff hangers, introduce plot twists, and deliver the climax.
You can use this technique in your sessions as well. If you know that youre going
to have one break then you can build your session into two acts that take advantage of this schedule. Throwing in a plot twist, cliff hanger moment, or big reveal is
a great way to keep your players excited during the break and ensure that theyll
be ready to jump right back in when the session restarts.
For games that run six hours or more, I recommend at least one longer break (20-30
minutes) for dinner and/or a short break (10-15 minutes) every two or three hours.
Whether you wish to include the dinner break largely depends on the time of day
youre running the game; if youre starting in the evening after dinner, your players
probably wont want to eat another full meal in the middle of the night!
While breaks are generally informal affairs in home games, you may still want to
undersell the break by declaring it to be 5-10 minutes less than what you actually
want. In my experience players tend to stretch break time and by leaving yourself a
little leeway you can maximize the amount of time you have left to finish the session.
Figure E1 is an example of a
scene sheet (which youll recognize as being Figure A2,
from Chapter 7, with a few additions) that includes breaks.
The GM figures that the
first two scenes are primarily
combat-related and will likely
consume the first half of the
session. She notes a break just
after that, during which she
can evaluate whether to add
the additional scene based on
how on-the-mark she was with
her timing.
Figure E1

Scene 1 Attack on the Caravan!
Scene 2 Following the Trail
Scene 3 Dire Wolf Ambush
BREAKTIME!!!
Scene 4 A Villager in Peril
(Scene A Advance Patrol Ambush)
Scene 5 Cave Entrance Guardians
Lunch Break
133
Breaking Thought Fatigue
Artist: Matt Morrow
One of the problems with not having a break is that it can lead to tunnel vision or
thought fatigue, which is when the players get tired and simply dont consider alternatives beyond their initial impulses. They may race through a dungeon without
considering traps or secret doors, they may decide to attack anyone who gets in their
way, or they may continually beat a red herring into the ground because they know
that its the solution to the mystery.
Thought fatigue is compounded when the players are feeling frustrated. Whether the
dice seem to be against them, their attempts to follow a clue turn up nothing but red
herrings, or the Big Bad just seems undefeatable, the players start to feel as though
nothing they can do will overcome their problem. In this case, a quick break may be
all they need to recharge their creative energies. (Another option is to offer clues to
overcome the problem, but frustrated players tend to see this as a cheatand it does
little to end the fatigue).
Evaluating Your Shooting Schedule

Breaks are a good time to evaluate your session goal. If your break is in the middle
of the session, is your group about where you expected to be by now? If not, then you
may need to amend your session goal and ensure that the new goal offers a suitable
ending spot to keep your players wanting more.
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Chapter 11
Its worth noting that real time and game time are different: The mid-point
of your adventure notes is probably not the midpoint of your session. In some
RPGs combat can soak up a lot of time and in others a social encounter could
last three times as long as a typical firefight; it all depends on the system and
the dynamics of your group.
If youre running at a slower pace and you still wish to attain the original session goal then you can trim the fat by cutting out or narrating through certain
encounters or scenes. If your group needs to get to the castle by nightfall then
you can skip the orc ambush. If they need to get out of the corporate offices
right that minute then the computer security system isnt as difficult to crack.
To save time, you can identify such optional scenes before the session, so you
can readily identify what to trim.
Conversely, if youre running at a faster pace and you dont want to extend past the
original session goal then you have two choices. The first, obviously, is to end early.
This doesnt have to be a hard end; the players could continue roleplaying or pursue a
subplot in absence of the adventure proper moving forward. The second is to extend
your material with optional encounters. A quick ambush is always a fun way to accomplish this. You may wish to keep a list of optional scenes on hand to introduce if
necessary.
Fixing Your Script

As with battle plans, there is no adventure plot that can survive the game table.
Players frequently approach adventure elements differently than you would and the
dynamics of the game system may also push an adventure into unexpected territory.
Here are a few situations in which you may feel you need to fix adventure issues:
If the players have gone far afield of what youve prepared for them, then
youll either need to find a way to steer them back towards the session goal
or identify a new session goal.
You made a ruling on the spot, but after consulting the rulebook you now
wish to change it.
Your players have come up with more interesting avenues to pursue.
You need to bring in a new PC.
A break is a great time to evaluate and implement any necessary changes before moving forward. In the first example, you may want to think of ways to gently persuade
them to get back on course and implement them as soon as the players return from
the break. Alternately, if youre rolling with the punches this is a good time to jot
down two or three potential scenes (just quick notes at this point) based on where the
PCs are going.
Lunch Break
135
Documentary ReelConvention Breaks

Convention games tend to be tightly run affairsyou only have a set block of time in
which to complete a scenario, and oftentimes some of that time gets eaten up explaining character sheets and the basic rules. In the mad rush to accomplish everything, its
difficult to set aside time for breaks. Without such breaks, however, you run the risk of
wasting more time, because players tend to walk away from tables at random.
One way to combat this is to schedule a break mid-event (or two, if its six hours or
more). Not only does this give everyone time to stretch their legs, go to the restroom,
or get refreshments, but it also standardizes the time when the players leave the table,
minimizing the chance that theyd leave the table during actual play. Youll never get
100% cooperation, of course, but having a break certainly cuts down on absent players
during crucial scenes.
While I prided myself on building one in during my first convention event I ran, I still made
the rookie mistake of not mentioning it when we got started. Without knowledge of an
upcoming break, I had players leaping up from seats throughout the first half of that session (I didnt want to call them out as it was happening). Whether running at a con or in
your home game, make sure the players know when you plan to break!
Example: The Enemy of My Enemy

Returning to our superhero example, the GM has run into a problem. The PCs pursued the aliens into space but were completely unprepared for the mothership defenses; they were neutralized and captured in short order. Panicking, the GM called
for a break.
While gathering her thoughts and nibbling on pizza, the GM came up with a great
idea. The government needs someone to stop the aliens, especially now that the PCs
are captured. They turn to the only people they canformer adversaries of the PCs.
The government offers a clean slate (their crimes are forgiven) if they partake in the
mission.
As her thoughts cascade, the GM decides not to use the villains that the PCs have
previously encountered. Instead, she offers each player the opportunity to create an
adversary from their heros past and leaves the details up to them. In this way, the former adversaries provide some insight into the backgrounds of the heroes themselves.
When the break is over she pitches this to the players. Agent X is a government agent
that has had run-ins with the PCs before; hes the perfect recruiter. Each player is
excited to develop an adversary from the PCs pasts. In one case its an ex-partner,
in another its the catalyst that created the hero, and in the third its a crazed killer
136
Chapter 11
Figure E2
START
Aliens are
fleeing facility
Yes
No
Pursue?
Investigate
whats important
at the facility
Space Chase
Mothership
Defenses
Interview staff
Uncover alien
ship held in
secret hangar
Into the
Mothership
Yes
Rescue Heroes
FINISH
Captured!
Poke around
Seek help
accessing
computer
Create New PCs

- Old Enemies
Access
computer?
No
Recruited by
Agent X
who has been locked up for almost a decade. The players spend the rest of the session
designing their villains and are excited about the next session. As a final bonus, the
GM offers them the opportunity to switch villains, so awesome roleplaying can be
had when the villains meet the heroes.
The GM quickly amends her flowchart to note the changes. This new band will be
taken to the government hangar and will use the alien ship to find the mothership.
Lunch Break
137
Roll the Film!

This is one of the shorter chapters in this book, but in some ways its among the most
important chapters. Not only do breaks help keep your players focused and give you
a breather every now and then, but they can also be real session savers when unexpected developments threaten to negatively impact a session. Being able to step out of
the moment and take some time for reflection can really make a difference. I cant tell
you how many of my adventures were saved because I was able to think for a moment
rather than let something spiral out of control!
One caveat is to make sure that your breaks dont dominate the session. While short
breaks are good, long breaks can make it difficult to get back into the game. This isnt
as much of a problem if your primary reason for getting together is to socialize, but it
makes it more difficult to keep the players engaged in whats happening at the table.
Now that weve made it through our lunch break, its time to sprint towards the end
of the session. This is covered in the next chapter, The Final Shoot.
ChallengeAchievement:
Good Evaluation During Lunch Breaks
1. Add a break to your next session.
2. Adjust the schedule to meet your original session goal.

3. Add a soft scene to your session.
4. Eat beforehand; use your lunch break purely to prep the back end of the
session.
5. Ask for feedback during your lunch break.
6. Let a mistake you made early in the session remain.
Gemma probably shouldnt have had that third slice of

pepperoni and sausage pizza, but it felt good to take a break.
Her players had noted all of the combat in the first part of
the session, but she casually reassured them during the break
that things would probably slow down for a bit. Renaldo was
thankful for that; he hadnt had much of an opportunity to,
as he put it, roleplay.
138
Chapter 11
After 20 minutes of munching pizza, downing sodas, and

picking at cheese fries, Gemma called the group back to the
session by playing the theme song again. As it faded out, she
kicked things off with a short recap.
Okay, youve gotten away from the octopus island and
youre no longer threatened by the rival pirate ship. Youre
busy making minor repairs when one of the crew spots a
small boat drifting in the water.
Im in the crows nest, Adam said. What do I see?
Gemma had him make a Perception roll. Once he succeeded,
she continued.
You spot a rowboat floating in your direction. A young
woman, fashionably dressed but with her clothes in tatters,
lays unconscious within.
Finally, Renaldo said, smiling, someone to talk to rather
than shoot at!
Assuming that shes still alive, Patti said. In any case, there
must be a ship nearby. Perhaps it has booty in it as well.
I hop down from the crows nest to get the crew ready for
plunder, presuming that Renaldo can work his magic once we
revive her.
If a ship exists, Paolos charm will coax that information out
of her in no time, Renaldo said. Both Adam and Patti rolled
their eyes.
Gemma smiled. There was a ship all right, and booty ready
for the taking. There was also a band of weresharks laying in
wait for them . . .
Lunch Break
139
Chapter 12:
The Final Shoot
Gemma panicked as she checked the clock. Adam was moving
away after this session and Gemma really wanted to finish
tonight. Unfortunately, the players had spent so much time
grilling the castaway and ensuring that she wasnt a plant
that they were only now heading to the lagoon where her ship
was wrecked.
And Gemma had less than 30 minutes for them to explore,
find the booty, face weresharks, and make it back to Port
Royal with the Templars treasure. So she did the only thing
she could.
Do you explore the shipwreck?
Obviously! Patti said. Well drop a rowboat and head over
to it.
Umm, okay, Gemma said. She quickly narrated them
through the various rolls to search the ship, including the
submerged hold. Several Search, Swim, and Strength checks
later theyd pulled a couple of chests up onto the top deck,
where Renaldo used his Lockpicking skill to open them. They
were rich!
This seems a bit too easy, Adam said. I look around for an
ambush.
It was too easy. Gemma had planned for the weresharks to
attack while they were exploring the wreck, but she was out of
time. She had pulled them from the adventure.
140
Nope, dont bother making a roll. You all get the treasure
aboard your ship and sail back to Port Royal. Mission
accomplished! I hope you enjoyed your last adventure with
us, Adam!
Chapter 12
I . . . I did, Adam said. He tried to sound convincing, but

it didnt work.
Gemma read it in the others faces. It was a disappointing
end. After the thrill of the first half, the second half of the
session was gobbled up by a social scene that ran way too
long and the rewards, even after being paid by fighting pirate
bands and giant crabs, just didnt feel earned. Adams last
campaign with the group ended not with a bang, but a fizzle.
Why is Finishing Strong Important?

Most sessions begin with players sitting around the table eager and ready to play. Its
an unfortunate reality that, at least sometimes, much of this enthusiasm is sapped by
the time the end of the session rolls around. There are many reasons for this, including fatigue, monotony, indecision, red herrings, being stumpedany of these things
can cause a player to lose interest as the session rolls on.
This chapter focuses on keeping the momentum from the first part of the session
going (or igniting it, if the first part fizzled) and ending strong. The trick is to make
the players feel like theyve accomplished something and make them want to return
for more.
Toward that end were going to look at listening to your players, maintaining focus,
making (or not making) rules adjustments, and finishing at a good stopping point.
Like using a shooting schedule on a film set, working through these elements will
ensure that your session ends strong.
Listen to Your Players

Ive found that its important to listen to your players as much as, if not more than,
they listen to you. Roleplaying is a collaborative process and input from your players is
just as important as your adventure design. By listening to your players and responding to their concerns, you can really tighten up a session and make it sing.
For example, if your players have been grousing about something throughout the first
part of a session, then you may wish to adjust it for the remainder of the session. It
could be as simple as a player constantly failing skill rolls; offering more opportunities
to successfully use his skills could make up for that. If the players are complaining
that there isnt enough combat, then maybe its time to have ninjas drop from the
ceiling just because. Conversely, if theyre feeling beaten down by too many combat
encounters, then you may want to dial them back for the remainder of the session.
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Directors NotesTwenty Minutes of Fun

Can Make All the Difference
Ryan Dancey, game designer and principal architect of the Open Game License, once
noted that game sessions sometimes consist of 20 minutes of fun packed in 4 hours.
While Id certainly beg to differ with that assumption, I do find it anecdotally true that the
fun bits that players remember are often just a small percentage of what happened at
the table, no doubt primarily because that fight with the four-headed dragon was epic!
takes 10 seconds to say but could have taken an hour or two of real-time to play through.
With that in mind, a good finish can certainly wipe away any bitter tastes from the early
part of a session. Maybe the investigation went just a little too long, but ending the night
with an exciting car chase, with everyone taking pot shots at each other while racing
through traffic, can help compensate for that. Perhaps a PC got bested by a rival early
in the session, but she got to do something heroic later when the village was threatened.
Perhaps a player was frustrated because you didnt implement the social challenge rules
properly; a properly run court intrigue scene at the end can wipe that out.
In effect, the back end of a session is all about second chances. As noted in the previous chapter a quick break is often enough for you to recharge and refocus. Stray from
the script a little and make sure that your back end has an exciting finish! As long as
everyone at the table is having fun, youll have time between sessions to adjust your
plots accordingly.
If you hear the same concern more than once from a player, write it down in your
session notes. This will give you a good checklist to glance at while running the rest
of the session. As an example, were going to return to Journey to the Goblin Cave and
look at the notes scrawled by the GM. The notes above BREAKTIME are her
observations; the notes below are her implementations.
Figure F1

Scene 1 Attack on the Caravan!
BREAKTIME!!!
Fiona noted that no one had

tracking - I allowed Wilderness
Lore Instead
Scene 4 A Villager in Peril
Scene 2 Following the Trail

Trent is getting tired of fights his healer isnt suited for them
Scene 3 Dire Wolf Ambush
Marta is complaining about
the linear plot
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Chapter 12
This should ameliorate Martas

concerns - different methods of
entry offered
(Scene A Advance Patrol Ambush)
Trent is perceptive - maybe he
could notice the patrol so the
group can prepare/avoid them?
Scene 5 Cave Entrance Guardians
Keeping Focused
When youre in the latter part of a session, its important to build to a climax. It
may not be the end of the adventure or even a pivotal moment, but it should be a
goal that provides the players with a sense of accomplishment and/or excitement
for the next session. Building and keeping momentum is critical in this phase.
Here are a few ways to keep the momentum going:
Dont get side-trackedIf a minor encounter threatens to explode,
consider nipping it in the bud and moving along, unless the unexpected
explosion is providing a lot of entertainment and can bring the session to
a satisfactory conclusion.
Dont let intra-party squabbling build too much during this part of
the adventureWhile such scenes can be fun, they can also lead to
frustration, bad blood, and the premature exit of PCs.
Dont let small encounters take up too much timeIf you want to build
to a climax but you realize that the kobold attack is going to eat up too
much time, have them flee once a couple of them are killed, or downgrade
their health scores behind the scenes.
Dont let a player side-quest his way into eating up timeKeeping the
group together is often better than allowing one player to hog the spotlight
for an hour. If the PC really must go off on his own, ask the player what he
hopes to accomplish, come up with an appropriate skill roll and difficulty,
let him make the roll, and come back to the party. Oftentimes the player
will retract the request once he realizes that it isnt going to be played out.
Cut the extra scenesYouve probably done this already, but sometimes
youll still need to trim on the fly.
All of these tips boil down to one simple rule: Do whatever you can to sprint towards
the goal and dont let minutiae bog you down.
Rules Adjustments
Were all human (well, unless youre running your game in Gondor or Mos Eisley)
and as such we all make mistakes. No matter how much you prepare or how well you
know the rules, youre going to trip up at some point. You forget when a modifier applies, you misread a power description, or you call for the wrong type of skill check.
When that happens, the outcome of a particular situation may be different because
of your mistake.
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143
When that happens, dont panic. Part of being a GM is making rulings, and provided
that the scene played fairly (if not accurately as far as the system is concerned) then
you probably dont need to fix things beyond implementing the rule properly the next
time around. There are, however, a few cases when you may wish to do something a
bit more substantial:
The PCs have been doing something that the rules as written wouldnt
allow them to do.
The rule makes something more difficult for the PCs
The rules would harm the pace of the adventure
The PCs are suffering from the effects of the improper rule.
In most cases, keeping your initial ruling intact is probably enough to fix the issue
until it can properly be addressed for the next session. If things went drastically off
course because of the ruling, then you may wish to consider a reshoot (see the Reshooting? sidebar).
Figure F2 is an example of a GM considering rules changes for the second part of her
session. In this case, its the first half of the same scenario used for Figure F1. In fact,
you may notice in the latter that a rules adjustment has already popped upthe GM
didnt notice that no PC had the Tracking skill and it was pretty crucial to continuing
the adventure. In this case, the GM realizes that she needs to keep using the substitute skill until at least the end of the session, and likely until the end of the adventure.
Figure F2

No one had the Tracking skill keep allowing them to use Wilderness
Lore for now; stress importance of skill next time I hand out XP
Forgot to add modifiers for ganging up during Dire Wolf ambush
see pXXX next combat
Difficult to keep track of everyones modifiers need to have everyone
state them before making a roll.
Used Surprise incorrectly pYYY
There are three other rules notes in Figure F2. The first and third, forgetting circumstantial rules or misapplying a rule, are common and easily fixed. Generally its best
to move on and properly use them next time rather than do a reshoot.
The second is most often a problem in math-heavy games: Sometimes there are so
many modifiers to keep track of that players simply forget or misapply them. It can
also be difficult to determine whether a particular roll was actually successful or not
when the affected player is juggling four or five modifiers in his head.
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Reshooting?
One of the reasons to stress rulings, not rules is to avoid the need for reshooting,
or rewinding the game so that a key scene can be replayed. (This is sometimes
also called retconning, which is short for retroactive continuity.) Roleplaying sessions often have elements of exploration, and once youve pulled the curtain back
on certain scenes its impossible for the players to conveniently forget them when
rewinding and moving through them a second time. Thus, reshooting is generally
an inferior option in the GMs tool belt.
Whenever a misunderstanding causes a scene to go in a different direction than
if the rules had been properly applied, ask yourself if you adjudicated it fairly
regardless. If so, then you generally dont need to rewind the scene. If necessary,
rationalize why the scene played out the way it did (the wizard was distracted
from casting a useful spell, the starfighters guns jammed, etc).
In other cases, its sufficient to adjust the consequences of the affected scene
rather than rewrite it. If it caused a PC death then he miraculously recovers. Perhaps one character only dreamt that the scene occurred or idly mused about how
an encounter with an NPC would go; now you can reshoot the scene without
actually reshooting it!
Finish, Dont Cut

A final point to remember about
keeping the momentum going is
to finish, rather than cut, your
session. While its great to get
the most out of your sessions,
you dont necessarily need to end
at 11:00 p.m. because youd decided that the session ran from
7:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. If the session goal can be accomplished by
10:20 p.m., then its better to end
early than stretch things out by
starting the next phase and using
up some of the excitement thats
best saved for the beginning of
the next session.
Artist: Matt Morrow
Similarly, if it looks like your session goal is moving out of reach then you may have
to reassess your goal. Can you finish within a few minutes after your normal quitting
time? If so, then you may be better off asking for the groups indulgence rather than
cutting the session short. If not, then you may wish to establish a new goalpost (using
an earlier exciting encounter) and finish a few minutes early rather than push on to
the time limit.
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145
Roll the Film!

In sum, once youve crested the midpoint of the session you should ride the momentum towards the goal, whatever you determine that to be. Dont get hung up on the
small stuff, like rules implementations or less-than-perfect scenes. Dont allow yourself to get side-tracked or unfocused. Do help your players move forward and dont
be afraid to let them dictate where that end point isafter all, you want them to be
excited to come back next session, and nothing does that better than giving them
control of their own destiny.
Congratulations! Youve shepherded the rules through your session from start to finish! Now its time to evaluate your session, which well talk about in the next chapter.
Documentary ReelThe Weak Reshoot

I was once running a modern-day occult investigative campaign where most of the PCs
had magical abilities. Only one did not, and his player made it a point of pride that
he was the Zeppo (with apologies to Buffy the Vampire Slayer) of the group. One of
the things he did believe he excelled at, though, was being the shoulder to cry on and
offering advice.
His moment to shine came during the front end of one session when a troubled NPC
gave him a call. As was typical for this group dynamic we tended to roleplay rather
than roll during social scenes unless we felt the situation really called for it, and there
was nothing here that the NPC was looking for beyond advice or reassurance. For
whatever reason, the players head wasnt in the game and his roleplaying was flat and
uninspired. The NPC thanked him and hung up.
While I didnt think of it as more than an inconsequential scene and quickly moved on,
my player was absolutely devastated. He felt that the scene basically defined his role
and purpose for being in the group and he came up lacking. When we took a break
he took me aside and begged me to rerun the scene. I found his request odd in that my
group as a whole disliked rewrites, but he was so passionate about it that I agreed to
put it to the group.
When we returned from the break, I asked the other players if it was okay, as the rewrite
might have influenced a subsequent scene. The other players allowed it and we played
through it once more. Unfortunately, the replayed scene was only moderately better than
the first and, while the player got the result he wanted this time, it really didnt matter in
the grand scheme of things.
In hindsight, I probably should have simply called for a social roll and then played the
NPC from that point forward as if shed gotten good advice and reassurance from the
PC (e.g., Thank you for the advice, it really helped. Because of it I decided to . . .). It
would have done the same job without wasting session time to make a relatively minor
change.
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ChallengeAchievement: Ending Strong

1. Cut out all soft scenes, even if it means ending really early.
2. Rewrite a scene and compare outcomes. Was it worth running again?
3. Make a list of any player gripes you hear during the beginning of the
session. Implement a solution for each one on the back end.
4. Have a player handle rules questions.
5. Force the group to stay together for an entire session by converting all side
quests into single-roll challenges.
6. Keep track of how long in real time a player eats up doing things outside
the group.
Gonegone nowsankterriblecreatures!
With the party being so cautious that theyd eaten up more
time than planned, Gemma improvised. She described the
castaway falling in and out of consciousness, offering only
vague hints and warnings. She knew that the party didnt
have time to go to the ship, so she decided to bring the fight to
them, instead of waiting for them to encounter the weresharks.
Shes delirious, Renaldo said.
No matter, Patti said. We need to get back to Port Royal.
I agree, Adam said. Perhaps the woman has a family
willing to grant us a reward for rescuing her.
Patti said, Rescuing her from what, I wonder?
Gemma simply smiled and told them that a storm was
coming. Patti ordered the crew to drop anchor to wait it out.
Of course, dropping that anchor provided a convenient way
for the weresharks to scale the hull and get inside the boat.
She tried not to chuckle as the group unwittingly played right
into her hands. The three pirates were about to get the fight
of their lives . . .
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Chapter 13:
Thats a Wrap!
Wow, that was epic! Patti said as Gemma turned off her
laptop and gathered her notes.
Thats easy for you to say, Renaldo said, laughing. You are
the last one standing!
Hey, with Paolos dying breath he lit the powder kegs in the
hull that blasted the remainder of the weresharks! Adam
said. Im the one that went down like a punk!
Patti giggled. You did gut two of them before the third one
bit your head off.
Im really going to miss you, Adam, Gemma said. It wasnt
truly the end, of course. Adam was still going to play remotely,
but the group said goodbyes anyway.
Well, I guess thats it then, Adam said as he grabbed his
coat. At least until next week, when Im playing via webcam!
Gemma chuckled as everyone left. In spite of Adam leaving
she still had a new campaign to plan. Unfortunately, shed
forgotten to get feedback on exactly what that campaign
should be. She hadnt bothered to ask if they wanted to stick
with the pirate theme and, if so, what they enjoyed and what
they thought could use polishing. She sighed as she prepared
to send out an email to solicit her players feedback. It just
wouldnt be the same . . .
Why is Getting Feedback Important?

The common denominator for any gamer is whether she is having fun. Players and
GMs derive enjoyment from participating in a game session; while a fun session is a
worthy reward in and of itself, its valuable to know what made that session so enjoyable or, conversely, what factors inhibited that enjoyment.
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In this sense both positive and negative feedback is important. Positive feedback
tells you whats working and what you should be doing more of in following sessions. It may also tell you what plot elements and questions the players are most
interested in following up on as the adventure or campaign progresses. Finally,
positive feedback is good for a GMs ego: We like hearing good things about
what we do!
Negative feedback generally addresses one of two things: the absence of something a player likes or the presence of something he doesnt like. The first simply
denotes that there was something missing from a session that the player would
have liked to see. For example, The whole session was combatwe didnt get
to do any roleplaying! It could also be something that was downplayed; for
example, you may have rushed through a combat scene before the players were ready
to leave it. This kind of feedback is important, but doesnt signal major problems with
the gameand its easy for you to address in future sessions.
The second type tends to be about more serious problemsthings the players dont
want to see again in the game. Gaping plot holes, railroading, issues with someone
else at the table, heavy-handed GMing, and uncomfortable roleplaying scenes are all
examples of this type of negative feedback.
Directors NotesDo You Really Want Criticism?

This is an interesting chapter to write because theres a dirty little secret underlying feedback: Not all GMs want criticism. We definitely want feedback, but we tend to prefer it
in the form of accolades, or at least affirmation. We dont want a laundry list of negative
feedback. Still, good feedback needs to include negative comments if its going to help
us improve our GMing.
That said, being a GM can sometimes feel like a thankless job. We tend to put more
hours into thinking about the game and planning for the sessions, and we often invest the
most money in products. Its difficult to hear criticism from someone that really only thinks
about the game from the time she arrives to the time she leaves. Unfortunately, thats exactly who we need to hear from, because all of our time and energy has been invested
in creating a fun environment for everyone at the tableincluding her. If we arent doing
that, then were kidding ourselves.
One way to combat this is to avoid open questions (What did you think of that session?) in favor of asking each player to identify one thing he enjoyed and one thing
he felt could use improvement. This will ensure that you receive some affirmation, which
can be a great motivator, as well as some valuable insights into how to hone your skills.
When to Get Feedback

Feedback is traditionally gathered at the end of a session, and even in our increasingly
technological present thats still generally the best time. The players memories are
fresh and you havent put in any time preparing for the next session. If you want the
rawest, most honest opinions, this is the time to solicit them.
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Artist: Matt Morrow
On the flipside, the end of a session can be a time of exhausted euphoria, especially
if your session ends late into the evening. The players are ready to pack their things
and go, and your requests for feedback may fall on deaf ears. The players generally
presume that youre looking for accolades. It was fun is a stock answer, and it can
be as damning with faint praise as saying that your last date had a great personality.
You may wish to employ directed feedback (see below) to get more useful answers.
Alternately, you may wish to gather feedback at other times. Email, texting, telephone calls, and meeting outside the game are all good ways to get feedback and
often make the best use of directed feedback. Conversely, these methods mean that
you may not get the feedback that youre looking for in time for the planning of the
next session.
Lunch breaks mid-session can be great times to get feedback because you have a
chance to make changes to the rest of the session to help things go more smoothly.
Fair warning: You need to be strong for this, as getting strong negative feedback midsession can demoralize you for the rest of the night.
Id caution against getting feedback during the social hour before the game. Not only
does the same potential for getting demoralized exist as with lunch break feedback,
but you might also inadvertently be setting false expectations in your players minds
that youll employ the feedback immediately. For example, if youve planned a session
of political intrigue then getting the feedback There wasnt enough combat last time
just before the game might cause problems.
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Indirect Feedback
While the advice in this chapter is aimed at direct feedback, the kind you request, indirect feedback can be just as important. You gather indirect feedback instinctively,
by judging the reactions of your players as you run the game. A bored stare or a
leafing through a rulebook can speak volumes. Ditto for engaged excitement about
whats unfolding at the table. You can learn a lot just by being observant.
Whats important to remember is that indirect feedback is just as vulnerable to bellyaching as direct feedback. Dont judge your current scene by a players frustrated
stare if the dice had just gone against her for the third time in a row. Similarly, some
players get anxious to hurry things up when experience points are on the horizon
and they just want to acquire a new ability for their characters. Indirect feedback is
a useful tool, but only if you know how to gauge it correctly.
Directed Feedback
Instead of asking a big open-ended questionSo what did you think of tonights
game?try asking direct questions that highlight the areas where you really want
feedback. Not only will you get better feedback, but it provides some insulation from
hurt feelings.
Here are a few examples of directed questions:
How difficult was tonights mystery? Did the clues make sense?
What did you think of the villains motivation?
How well do you think you operated as a group?
Are there any rules that got in your way or that we need to pay more
attention to next time?
What did you think of tonights plot twist?
Are there any lingering plot threads that you want to pull?
I usually combine directed questions with a general question at the end, just to let
players tell me anything else that may be of value to me. This even helps with negative
feedback, as the responses to my directed questions often soften me up to hear the
rest of the bad news.
Another benefit of directed feedback is that it can take some of the sting out of a bad
session. By asking probing questions, youre telling your players that you recognize
that there were issues and youre going to fix them.
Parsing Bellyaching
One thing to remember about feedback is that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
If something personally upset a player then its going to shape how she viewed the
entire session. That doesnt mean her points arent valid, but they should be viewed
through the appropriate lens.
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151
For example, one player may be particularly agitated and frustrated due to his characters lack of effectiveness in combat (or worse, his characters death). While his
opinion is definitely colored by that experience, it doesnt invalidate his feedback that
the combats are too challenging. What it does require you to do is dig a little deeper
for additional details.
Did you misjudge the challenge level? Did the players use an appropriate tactical approach? Were there potential avenues to try or weaknesses to exploit that the group
just failed to capitalize on? Or does the player just loathe combat scenes? Finding out
will help you decide how to react to that feedback.
Documentary ReelYoure Playing a What?

Many moons ago I was invited to play in a medieval fantasy campaign. Id asked the
GM what the group needed and he replied with a spellcaster. I agreed and immediately
set to drawing up a necromancer. Id poured on the horror tropes and made him really
stand out as somebody who would send shivers down someones spine just for being
near him. In addition, I concentrated on mind control, necromantic, and ritual magic. I
couldnt wait to play!
When we started the session, the GM had me introduce myself. I could see the panic in
his eyes as I began describing my character and his capabilities. Hed envisioned that
Id play a more wizardly type with offensive and defensive spells, not a half-crazed
ritualist. I had more in common with the groups adversaries than I did with the PCs, and
some of them thought I was a plant. Needless to say, my character didnt last long.
The GMs biggest problem in this case is that he didnt keep tabs on what I was doing.
(I could also have helped by running my concept by him first.) It was no different than a
fantasy character switching careers mid-campaign or bringing in a new type of character
that short-circuits the main plots. Had he kept in touch with me I likely would have arrived
at the game with a flashier wizard in tow.
Feedback and Character Advancement

Another great opportunity for feedback is character advancement. In games where
the players spend experience (or some other mechanical currency) to enhance their
characters, they typically make those purchases as soon as they get the experience.
I cant tell you how many sessions Ive run that fell apart because I overlooked a new
psychic ability or spell in the hands of a character or, worse, a new direction in a
character concept. There will be players that prefer to think about their choices a bit
longer, but you can always set an appropriate grace period. If the player doesnt get
back to you by then, her character simply cant spend the points until after the following session.
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Chapter 13
Character advancement is also a good opportunity to link the player to the

ongoing campaign. A question like How has this adventure impacted your advancement choices this time around will let you find out if the adventure made
a difference in the characters life. If the answer is Yes, then thats a powerful
statement. If the answer is Not much, then youve gotten some good indirect
negative feedback. (Fair warning: Some players are very mechanically minded
when it comes to building their PCs and no adventure, no matter how much
they enjoyed it, is going to affect the advancement choices they make.)
Roll the Film!

Obviously, the importance of feedback is to gather notes and tips that you can
use for your next session. In this case, negative feedback can often be more valuable
than positive feedback, as you dont want to go down a path that wasnt enjoyable for
everyone the last time around.
More important than gathering feedback, however, is implementing it. If your players have provided feedback at all, positive or negative, its because they want to make
the most of the game. Take it all in stride and use it to craft a better session the next
time around. Your players certainly want their opinions to matter; if you address their
points, then youre showing them that their opinions matter.
Lastly, keep in mind that you wont be able to satisfy every opinion. Sometimes a
players wants or needs are simply out of step with the rest of the group and/or campaign. Thats perfectly okay; all games are compromises, and some fit some players
better than others. In such cases, its best to be up front with the player as to why you
understand her point, but you cant implement a change in her favor because it would
negatively impact the table. This can be tough, but its much worse to pretend to listen
and then sweep it under the rug.
Congratulations! Youve made it from script to wrap-up. Hopefully youve learned
some things that will help you improve your GMing and your campaigns. Now get
shooting!
ChallengeAchievement: Getting Useful Feedback

1. At the end of the session, ask your players for only negative feedback.
2. At the end of the session, have your players ask you directed questions.
3. Ask each player for feedback individually. Does it change from when you
ask together?
4. Send a list of directed questions to the players after the session.
5. Design a series of encounters; have each one address the negative feedback
from a different player.
6. Ask for feedback in the middle of a session and again at the end. How did
the feedback differ overall?
Thats a Wrap!
153
Gemma said, So Red Kate and the castaway row into Port
Royal with the treasure and the credits roll.
Nice, Patti said, smiling.
Okay, guys, Gemma said, before we say goodbye to Adam,
do you want to continue with the pirate campaign or should
we try something else?
I think with Adam leaving its a good time to wrap this and
start something fresh, Renaldo said.
Patti nodded. I agree. Adam wanted to try space opera, and
hes playing via remote now. It kinda fits the theme.
Definitely, Adam said.
Okay, then. Space opera it is, Gemma said, smiling. Now,
can each of you give me one thing that you really liked and
one thing that you thought needed improvement in this last
session?
Sure, Adam said. Ill go first . . .
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Artist: Matt Morrow

Chapter 13
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Chapter 14:
Quiet on the Set
The three agents sat at the briefing table while their handler,
Agent G, gave them the mission briefing.
Agents, this mission is critical for national security. You are
to locate and arrest this man: Sebastian Sorrow, a known
arms dealer here in the U.S. on business. He is staying at
the
Oh man thats funny. Look at this, said Agent Stone as
he passed his phone over to Agent Remo, who laughed in
agreement. They stopped when they saw Agent G glaring at
them.
Oh, sorry, Stone said, slowly lowering his phone.
Agent G continued, Sorrow is staying at the Remington Hotel
on Steele Street, in the penthouse suite. He is expected to be
there for the Another smart phone vibrated loudly on the
table.
Agent Sylk picked up the phone and rolled her eyes, and then
began typing out a message. Sorry, its my Mom, she wants
me to bring home some milk.
Come on, guys! Gemma said, slamming her hands on the
table. You guys arent paying attention. Are you sure you
want to be doing this tonight?
Patty slowly put her phone in the bag at her feet. Renaldo
slid his phone back into the pocket of his jeans. The smile on
Adams face faded away.
The three apologized and sat up straight in their chairs. The
three agents returned their attention to their handler, and
Gemma took a deep breath and started again.
156
Sorrow will be at the Remington through the weekend.

Chapter 14
Why Distractions Matter

A good night of gaming requires that everyone be present not just physically
(or virtually, if thats how you play), but mentally. Playing an RPG, even with
a battle mat and miniatures to keep things straight, still requires a significant
amount of mental processing to imagine the scene, think in-character, and
comprehend and use the rules.
When a player becomes distracted and his mind wanders, he can overlook a
key clue, misunderstand a situation, or forget whats going on in the game. This
often leads to the GM having to stop and repeat information, which can break
the dramatic tension or slow the overall progress of the session.
There are numerous reasons why a player may get distracted, and many of them can be
controlled or at least mitigated. In your role as facilitator of the game, you should be
aware of distracted players and bring them back into the fold. In some cases a nudge is
all thats required, but sometimes you might need to take more drastic measures and
create some table rules to help everyone stay focused.
Players arent the only ones to blame, eitherGMs get distracted, too! A buzzing
smart phone behind your GMing screen or an instant message on your laptop can
make you lose your focus in the middle of a session. When the focus shifts to the
players, such as while the PCs are making plans, its even easier for you to get distracted.
Whenever anyone at the table, player or GM, isnt up to speed on whats going on in
the game, it can lead to a variety of problems. Lets talk about three of the bigger ones.
Whats Going On?
The most important reason that you need to keep the focus on the table during play is
to keep everyone on the same page story-wise. A players ability to contribute to the
overall story is going to heavily rely on her staying in sync with the other players and
GM. When the players mind drifts she runs the risk of falling out of sync with the
rest of the group.
This often manifests itself when a player hesitates when his turn comes around, trying
to recall what just happened in the game. Sometimes the player might subconsciously
have picked up on what was going on and, after a few moments, will jump right back
in. But if not, hell make a move that seems ridiculous or bizarre because hes acting
on old or incorrect information. He might attack an NPC who just surrendered, or
may start talking to the prince after missing that the prince just left the room. This
forces a pause while you and the other players update him and then wait for him to
take appropriate action.
Then there are times when a player is totally lost and has to ask someone to recap what
just happened. This also halts the game, as you have to rewind and either replay the
previous exchange or summarize the current scene for the player. When this occurs,
you run the risk of losing the attention of the other, more attentive players, who
dont need to hear the recap, further perpetuating the problem.
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Grogar, Can You Put Down the Phone?

For groups who play in a deeply immersive style, distractionsespecially things that
cannot be accounted for the in game world, such as smart phonescause players to
break immersion and converse player-to-player. Good players and GMs can try to
nudge someone into paying attention without breaking immersion, but even then it
doesnt always work.
Getting into character takes a few minutes of mental effort and having to break character and then get back into character will slow down the game. This has a ripple
effect, too: The other players have to get back into character as well, and everyone has
to get in sync again.
Worse still, oftentimes when one player breaks character it triggers a chain reaction
and everyone breaks character, bringing the scene to a halt. This can then lead to a
break in the game, which isnt always desirable (especially if youre on a tight schedule). After the break, additional energy and time are required to bring everyone back
to the table, start playing, and get back into character.
Artist: Elizabeth Porter
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Yeah, Yeah . . . I Am Playing

Everyone who shows up to game is there for just that: to game. Theyve made
a commitment to one another to show up at a set time and to play the game to
the best of their abilities. Theyve accepted the shared responsibility of helping
to provide an entertaining evening for everyone present. When a member of the
group becomes distracted or unfocused by letting something outside the game
encroach on the game, its disrespectful to everyone else at the table.
Much to our detriment, weve become conditioned to accept a certain amount
of distractedness from others, as we see people on their smart phones at meetings, in restaurants, or even driving. Many of us arent just seeing it, either:
Were guilty of checking our phone while talking to someone else, and the like. Weve
become accustomed to, and forgiving of, a low-level disrespect from others. This acclimation has made it that much harder for people to remain focused during play.
Why Our Attention Strays

Distracted players are nothing new, but while this problem has existing as long as
the roleplaying hobby its become more prevalent and pervasive with the arrival of
laptops, tablets, and smart phones. Where your main concern in the past might have
been a player losing attention while flipping through a supplement or a copy of Dragon Magazine, now players are assailed by text messages, friend requests, status updates, and torrents of email.
Just what kinds of things cause us to lose focus with the game? Lets look at some of
the most common reasons a players or GMs attention can falter.
Its Not Them . . . Its You

Lets get the hardest one out of the way first: Sometimes players lose focus on the
game because the GM is doing a sub-par job that evening. It could be that your delivery of the material is flat and uninspired, or it could be that the adventure youre
running has failed to connect to the players on an emotional level. Regardless, in this
case the blame falls on your shoulders.
It can be difficult to monitor your own performance as a GM, but you do need to read
the table and see if the players are still engaged. Engaged players are paying attention
and are focused on the action thats currently unfolding, whatever that might be. Unengaged players are reading books, messing with their dice, checking their phones, or
otherwise not focused on in-game events.
Sometimes you know when youre having a bad night, perhaps because of something
that happened at work or because youre under the weather. If you sense your players
attention is fading then you need to take action to bring them back. Often to get them
back you need to up your own game. Consider either using Loud Voices (see Getting
Attention Back, below), to change up your delivery and pace, or just Calling It if you
cannot seem to find a way to inject new energy into your delivery.
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Fatigue
There are times when physical factors like hunger, lack of sleep, mental stress, or the
onset of an illness can cause a persons focus to waver. A person who is feeling fatigue
is not going to have the same mental acuity as someone who is relaxed and well rested.
In times like these, Taking a Break or Calling It are the best ways to regain focus.
Story Pace and Flow

Often players start to disengage when the story bogs down, and this can usually be
traced back to you, the GM, or what you prepped for the session. Its possible that
youve created a problem thats too difficult to solve or stymied an investigation by
allowing players to fail a check for a key clue. Or you may have presented a situation
that requires extensive player planning, which always slows down the pace of the
game.
When a story is well-paced and interesting it commands our attention, even to the
point of shutting out everything around us. Weve all had those moments in a game
where we stop seeing the players and just see their characters. When a story goes too
slow or it fails to engage us emotionally we become hyper-aware of everything else
around us and distractions come out of the woodwork.
If you realize that the story is plodding along, then you need to make some corrections to speed it back up to recapture your players attention. Consider Ninjas Bust
Through the Door to add an element of unexpected action, or Fast Forward Button
to speed up the conclusion of the current scene and get into the next (and hopefully
more interesting) scene.
Moving the Spotlight Around

Its unrealistic to think that every scene can put the spotlight on every character.
More often than not what winds up happening is that the spotlight gets stuck on a
single PC because of the way the scene developedwhich is great for you and that
player, but leaves everyone else out.
While players will stay focused on the game when theyre not in the spotlight, they
usually wont do so indefinitely. If you lose focus and get caught up in a scene, or if
an individual scene is followed by more individual scenes, eventually virtually every
players attention will drift. After all, theyre not called watcherstheyre called
players, and theyre here to play.
When you are running scenes where the spotlight is on one player, or just a portion of
the group, you need to aggressively move the spotlight around from player to player.
This will often require you to juggle several mini-scenes at the same time. Run one
scene until you can find a logical gap and then quickly cut to the next player, and
the next, until you have come around back to the first player. Do this until you have
resolved all the mini-scenes and you can return the group into a single scene.
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Splitting the party is the most common cause of this sort of divided spotlight.
Often a plan will require the players to split up and perform two different tasks
at the same time. By aggressively switching between the two subgroups, even if
youre in the middle of one or more separate combats, you will help every player
stay focused by setting the expectation that their turn will be coming up shortly.
Gadgets
Its impossible to talk about focus and attention without talking about portable
electronics at the gaming table. Some items, such as phones, may not be necessary to the game and can be silenced or put away. Others, such as tablets and
laptops, may be tools for the game as they can contain character sheets, digital
copies of books, or other reference material. These devices all have connectivity and
the ability to multitask, so while theres a great game use there are also a myriad of
non-game uses, from status updates to email to browsing online.
Much of the GM advice Ive seen regarding this topic calls for banning devices at
the table, or for setting restrictions like using airplane mode to prevent email and
other notifications from distracting players. In my experience, though, gadgets are
only a distraction for a small percentage of playersgenerally the ones who cant get
away from their gadgets no matter what the situation. Everyones group is different,
thoughyour group might run most smoothly with a few ground rules.
For most players, checking their device(s) is a symptom of boredom, fatigue, or other
problems noted in this section. If you see someone checking their phone who doesnt
usually take it out during the game, and its not an emergency, consider what might
be causing his attention to drift and take appropriate action.
References at the Table

Another distraction which can crop up is the presence of game supplements and other
reference material at the table. Like digital gadgets, its rare for supplements to be a
primary source of distraction. Usually a distracted player will be drawn to flipping
through books because thats less rude than pulling out her smart phone.
Its best to simply avoid leaving a library of supplements on the table during the game,
unless theyre needed for actual in-play reference. If theyre not needed in play, gather
them up and put them to the sidewhere theyre always available to flip through
during breaks.
Where You Game

The place where you game is another source of potential distractions. If youre at a
convention or in another public setting, distractions abound: other people talking
around you, people walking by, and ambient noise, among others. Even in more private settings, kids, spouses, and pets can distract the group from the game at hand.
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When you pick a location to game, try to scout it out and get a feel for how busy the
area around your gaming space will be. Ideally, find a room or alcove that provides
more privacy. When that isnt possible, then look for the least noisy area in the space
available and position yourself there.
In some situations, especially in convention games, there may not be a way to control
where you play or how much ambient noise surrounds your table. When this happens,
you need to use Loud Voices and make sure youre heard.
Getting Attention Back
Its almost inevitable that, at least once during the average session, someone at the
table will lose focus on the game. When that happens, you have a number of tools
at your disposal for bringing back their attention. Here are some of the best options:
The NudgeA small vocal prompt (my favorite being Pssst) that
reminds the player to return his attention to the table. The Nudge works
best when the rest of the table is paying attention and you have one
straggler.
Silence is GoldenStop talking. As the GM, when you stop talking it

takes just a few moments for the rest of the table to notice. Once everyone
has stopped talking, ask if theyre ready to start again. (If theyre not, its
probably a good time to Take a Break.) This technique is best applied
when the majority of the table has lost focus and is a good way to bring
them all back at once.
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Loud VoicesSpeak up. Raise the volume of your voice, or have an NPC
make a sudden outburst. Theres a reason why theres cannon fire in the
1812 Overturebe the cannon. This technique works best when the lack
of focus was caused by your delivery. It will get attention without breaking
immersion.
Ninjas Bust Through the DoorWith credit to Fred Hicks and Rob
Donoghue of Evil Hat Productions, from whom I learned this technique,
have someone kick in a door and start shooting. Nothing gets the players
attention like an immediate threat. This technique is best applied when
you realize you have been having a story pace or flow issue.
Fast Forward ButtonSometimes a scene just isnt working, or is taking
too long. In either case it may be time to get the scene over with and move
to the next scene. You can trigger this by switching to a more narrative
mode, summarizing the remaining part of the scene, and asking if anyone
else wants to do anything before moving on. Then move into the next
scene.
Take a BreakTake five. Stretch your legs. Get a coffee. After a long
stretch of gaming, it helps to take a break and move around. Use the break
to socialize, talk about what just happened in the game, share a funny
video, or otherwise relax. This is a good solution for when fatigue has set
in.
Call ItSometimes a break wont cut it: You just need to stop playing
and pick things up next session. If its early in the night, consider
using the extra time for some socialization or some casual gaming.
Ways to Hold Attention

While you can never hope to retain 100% attention, here are some good techniques
for proactively holding your players attention:
1. Location, location, locationIf its under your control, you should find
a gaming location that has the fewest possible distractions.
2. Social contractDepending on your group, a few rules about devices

at the table, use of reference material, and what level of side talk will be
tolerated can go a long way to mitigate issues.
3. The listWhen someone suddenly remembers something they wanted to

tell the group, write it down. Create one master list, or have every player
keep her own. Then when you have a break, or at the end of the game, you
can share the stuff on your list. This alleviates the need to blurt things out,
because you know you wont forget what you wanted to say.
4. A symbolChoose an interesting object and set the rule that when that
object is placed on the table, the game starts and the socialization stops.
(For more on this technique, visit Gnome Stew: www.gnomestew.com/
gming-advice/keeping-the-focus.)
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5. Warm-up periodStart your game with some friendly banter and

socializing as youre setting up. Give everyone a chance to talk about
whats going on in their lives before you jump into the game.
6. Pre-game activityTake part in a shared activity before you game:

have dinner at a restaurant, play a board game, or do something else that
everyone enjoys. Like a warm-up period, this provides a venue to socialize
and chat before heading to the gaming table.
ChallengeAchievement: All Eyes on Me

1. Play one entire session with no phones at the table.
2. Split the party and use aggressive cutting to keep everyone focused.
3. Use Ninjas Bust Through the Door during a session.
4. Speed up a scene that you see is dragging by summing it up and moving

to the next scene.
5. Run a scene composed of individual sub-scenes and move the spotlight

around to help everyone stay focused.
6. Have a discussion out of game and establish some rules for managing the
biggest distractions at your table.
Personal Story: The Field of Battle

Recently I was running a convention game at a local venuea college. Space was
somewhat limited and the gaming tables were located in the main hall, adjacent to the
boffer weapon fighting arena. When I sat down to run the game, the boffer warriors
were fighting one-on-one. It was a minor distraction, but one that was easily overcome
by raising my voice and making frequent eye contact with my players.
But as the session reached its climax, so did the boffer fighting: They divided into two
teams and had a battle royal. In the middle of the large combat I was GMing, two
armies of college students with foam weapons and homemade armor were warring with
loud abandon. I stood up at the table and raised my voice to stay above the noise of
the battle raging next to me.
I managed to keep the table focused on me until the boffer fighters began to crash
into the line of chairs that separated their field of battle from the RPG tables. I took it in
stride and began to describe the battle the characters were facing, pulling descriptions
from the actual battle that now surrounded usthe clash of weapons, the sound of feet
scuffling.
I managed to hold my players attention through the climax and, after the boffer fighters
went on break, delivered the conclusion of the session to great satisfaction. I also left
the convention organizers a note about trying to find an alternate location for the RPG
events next year. . .
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There was a knock at the door. Come on in, Gemma said.

Patty came in as Gemma was rolling into the living room to
meet her.
Gemma said, Are you ready for tonight?
Sure am, Patti said. I even set a different ringtone for
work, so if its an office emergency Ill know to answer it, and
otherwise they can wait until were done. Here you go. Patty
handed Gemma her phone.
Thanks, and thanks for being cool about no phones at the
table. Gemma rolled into the kitchen and placed Pattys
phone on the dresser, next to the other three phones. She then
turned her chair and rolled back into the living room where
Patty, Renaldo, and Adam were getting out their character
sheets and dice.
Gemma said, You guys ready to see what Sorrow has to
say?
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Chapter 15:
Safety on the Set
Sebastian Sorrow sat in the chair, hands cuffed behind his
back. His fine silk suit was soiled and ripped due to his
attempted escape from the agents at the hotel. A bandage
was wrapped around his leg; Agent Sylk had shot Sorrow to
slow him down. A dark red spot was slowly appearing on the
bandage.
Sorrow smirked and said, I want my lawyer.
There are no lawyers where you are, Sorrow. Agent Remo
leaned in from behind and spoke close to his ear. Now tell us
where the dirty bomb was delivered, and you might get out of
this with only prison time.
Gemma looked at Renaldo as he rolled the dice. A four.
Screw off, Sorrow said. Im not revealing any of my sources.
The next time you see that bomb it will be raining plutonium
over 20 city blocks.
Renaldo glanced over at Patti; she looked frustrated. Precious
time was ticking away and they needed Sorrow to talk. Patti
shook her head, shrugged, and said, Any other ideas, guys?
Adam smiled. I got this.
Agent Stone walked over to Sorrows chair. He knelt down and
looked Sorrow in the eye. Last chance, scumbag. Wheres
the bomb?
Gemma looked at Adam, but Adam held up his hand to ask
for a moment.
Agent Stone then reached out and grabbed Sorrows wounded
leg and began to squeeze.
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Stone puts his fingers into the wound and was all Adam
could get out before Renaldo cut him off.
Whoa . . . Youre going to torture him? Are you serious?
Renaldo jumped to his feet. I did not sign up for that kind
of game. The other three looked at him in surprise.
Thats when Gemma knew there would be a bigger discussion
that evening.
Roleplaying games are a social activity, and one that is enhanced by interacting with
different people. As people, were the sum of our experiences, both good and bad.
Weve been raised in one or more cultures, with a set of morals (be it prescribed by an
institution or based on personal reflection), and those things can be in alignment or
conflict within ourselves. This makes us very complex social creatures.
Given all that, its inevitable that every one of us will at some point do or say something that seems perfectly normal to us, but which will create ill feelings in someone
else because of their unique matrix of experiences, culture, and morals.
When these conflicts arise they often come with a flush of emotions, which can
drown out the more intellectual aspects of our brain and cause us to react rather than
discuss, or to go silent. This tends to result in the conflict not being handled in the
best way possible, whichcoming back to gamingcreates emotional responses in
others at the table. Left unchecked, this leads to sides being drawn and, as arguments
and tempers flare, what started out as a pleasant evening of gaming becomes a volley
of personal attacks.
This chapter is about avoiding that.
How? By ensuring that everyone at the table has an enjoyable experience, that we
minimize emotional conflicts as much as possible, and that when they do arise we
resolve them quickly. The goal is for everyone, player and GM alike, to feel safe.
Youll see we used a lot in this chapter because were all in this togetherwe share
the responsibility for and benefits of feeling safe at the gaming table.
Defining Safe
In terms of roleplaying and gaming groups, the definition of the word safe includes
the following elements:
Respect for each other
No bullying
Everyone has a voice at the table
We compromise
Respect for the game
We are candid
Lets take a closer look at each of those elements of our definition.

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Respect for Each Other

We may not share the same experiences, come from the same culture, or have the
same morals, but we need to respect those things in the others. From gender to sexuality to economic status to religious beliefs, respect means supporting those aspects of
every person and, when we cant support them directly, acknowledging them silently.
We dont critique or mock someone for those aspects of who they are, either outright
or through passive aggression such as snide comments or jokes.
Respect for the Game

We understand that the game is a collaborative, shared experience created by everyone playing for the enjoyment of everyone involved. We understand that our actions
in the game can create emotional responses in others who are sharing in the game.
We acknowledge that the campaign framework, created during the start of a campaign, and the social contract the group has previously established (whether formally
or informally), establish a tone and expected behavior for the game, and we will adhere to that tone so as not to impede or impact play for others.
Everyone Has a Voice at the Table

We ensure all players have the opportunity to speak their minds and be heard by everyone at the table during play. It is the responsibility of everyone at the table, out of
respect for each other, to make sure everyone is given a chance to share their thoughts
and ideas and that those are not dismissed out of hand after they speak. Furthermore,
we must go further to help those who are shy or do not normally speak up by showing
them that their voices matter and their thoughts are of equal value.
No Bullying
We do not tolerate any one player or group of players who, through force within or
outside of the game, exert pressure on others to get their way when the group is making decisions. No one at the table should ever be made to feel the helplessness, fear,
and frustration that come from being bullied.
We are Candid
We agree that when someone has been made to feel unsafe they have every right to
express that to the group without being judged for it. The best way to express those
feelings is to do so with plain, simple speech, and as rationally as possible. Some
people are comfortable doing this face-to-face, while others might prefer the emotional insulationand ability to choose their words more carefullythat come from
using email.
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We Compromise
We agree that when we have reached a conflict of ideas we can work together to
find a way to resolve the conflict and move forward. We look to create a win-win
situation where all parties are satisfied, rather than one side getting their way at
the expense of the other.
What Makes People Feel Unsafe at the Gaming

Table?
In only the rarest case will someone in a gaming group deliberately set out to
make someone else feel unsafe, or to emotionally harm them. Dont game with
these people again, full stop.
Much more common are instances where someone unintentionally makes another
player feel unsafe. Here are some of the most common ways that can come about at
the gaming table.
Cultural Differences
The culture in which were raised as children imprints on us during those formative
years, imparting customs, norms, and taboos. These are often sources of friction. For
example, one person might have been raised in a household where corporal punishment was the norm, while someone else was raised to believe corporal punishment
was repugnant. If the first persons character slaps a kid in the game, that action is
likely to make the second person feel uncomfortable.
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Differences in Morals
Our morals are a combination of societal influences and personal psychology. These
result in a rigid or loose code that we follow through life, and when our code conflicts
with others codes it tends to produce an emotional response. The characters we play
in games also have morals, sometimes similar to and other times quite different from
our own. If one character tortures another during play, as in this chapters opening
fiction, that could easily bother others at the table.
Unearthing Past Experiences

Everyone has endured hardships and tragedies, and even if weve moved past them
theyre not always fully resolved (and sometimes cannot ever be resolved). The scars
of those experiences live in our psyches, often deeply buriedsometimes at an unconscious level. When an action in the game reminds us of one of those negative
experiences, it can flood us with emotions connected to the original experience. The
action, or trigger, might seem totally innocuous to the triggering person, but can be
devastating to the person reliving past traumas.
Simple Misunderstandings
Sometimes missing a bit of information, failing to pick up on someones
tone of voice, or misinterpreting a social cue can lead us to misunderstand
another players actions in-game.
Without that subtext, we see only the
more overt portion of the action, and
that portion can seem hurtful.
Personality Issues
Personalities come in all shapes, sizes,
labels, letter codes, and quadrants.
Some personality types are a natural fit
for the collaborative experience of roleplayingfor example, those who are
naturally outgoing, good at collaboration, or empathetic. Other personality
typessuch as aggressive, boisterous,
and callousarent as ideally suited to
gaming, or are more likely to offend
someone or make another player feel
less safe. These folks may mean well,
but tend to be the ones the rest of the
group has to reign in from time to time.
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Being Offended
The feeling of being offended is subjective
and unique to the offended party. What offends one person may not offend another.
Because taking offense is by nature subjective, just about anything can be offensive
to someone, somewhere. A person with an
aggressive personality might be offended
by someone elses perceived passivity.
Likewise the more passive person might be
offended by the other persons more aggressive behavior.
Its important to understand that being offended is a valid emotional response. Even
if the person who gave offense doesnt
believe she did anything wrong, she must
respect the feelings of the person she offended. This tends to require tuning ones
actions and behavior to the people around
you, and thats not a sign of weakness. Its
a vital life skill that allows people to work,
play, and otherwise interact with people
who arent exactly like them.
Creating Safety
The majority of the time, safety is compromised by accident. This means that
we can mitigate the chances of someone being made to feel unsafe with a bit of
forethought and planning. This planning often involves establishing boundaries
so that everyone knows the comfort zones of each player as well as the acceptable tone and actions within the group. Once those zones have been discussed
there are also ways to help to maintain them during play.
Understanding Comfort Zones

It is important for each player to define, or at least understand, his or her comfort zones. These zones encompass our reactions to different topics and situations that
we encounter. Everyone has three basic comfort zones:
ComfortableThese are things that we can see, discuss, and experience
without feeling unsafe. Were fine with these being played out at the table.
UncomfortableThese are things that we can see, discuss, and experience,

but only in limited amounts or when not described in detail. Taken too far,
these things will make us feel unsafe.
ForbiddenThese are topics which make us feel unsafe no matter how
they arise or how lightly theyre present in the game.
These three categories will be different for each person at the table. One player might
be uncomfortable with a plot that involves the children in harms way, while another
may consider that topic forbidden. Its important to discover and understand what
topics are forbidden and uncomfortable for you and your players, and doing so is
much easier than trying to list every topic with which people are comfortable.
Social Contract
The best way to establish comfort zones is to incorporate them into your groups social
contract. Social contracts are a big topic and are outside the scope of this chapter,
but in a nutshell a social contract is a written or unwritten understanding among
the people in your group about conduct during gaming sessions. (Search for social
contract on gnomestew.com, as well as other gaming sites, for much more information
on this topic.)
As part of your social contract, create a list of the topics that are uncomfortable and
forbidden for each person in your group. Its entirely possible that the same topic will
fall into a different comfort zone for different people. If this happens, assign those
topics to the most sensitive zonefor example, if a topic is comfortable for one player
and uncomfortable for another, it gets flagged as uncomfortable for the group.
The resulting list will establish a set of boundaries for your group at the gaming
table. For you, the GM, it also acts as a list of which topics are acceptable to include
in adventures (comfortable), which ones you need to pay extra care and attention to
when they come up (uncomfortable), and which ones to avoid entirely (forbidden).
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For the players, the list informs them of what in-game actions are permissible, which
ones they need to be cautious about, and what sorts of actions should never come up
during a game.
Campaign Framework
In the previous volume in this accidental trilogy, Odyssey: The Complete Game Masters Guide to Campaign Management, we talked at length about campaign frameworks. A campaign framework is a document that the group creates (facilitated by
the GM) which defines what will be included in and excluded from the campaign.
For example, a campaign framework might specify no steampunk or lots of aliens.
Adding a section to this document for triggers and comfort zones is a great option.
In-Game Warnings
Another way to maintain a feeling of safety at your gaming table is to have a warning
system on handa simple way that anyone in the group can indicate that the current
scene or topic is making them uncomfortable. There are lots of options you can use,
ranging from those that pause the game entirely to those that more subtly indicate to
the group that the tone of a scene needs to change.
The X-Card (goo.gl/EBuAhP), created by John Stavropoulos, is a silent tool used to
indicate when a player is uncomfortable without stopping the game. In its simplest
form, its just an index card with an X drawn on it. Picking up or touching the XCard signals to the group that youre uncomfortable with the current scene, and that
topic is immediately edited out of playno questions asked. No one has to explain
why theyre using the X-Card, and anyone can use it at any time.
Another method is to use safewords, a technique which arose from the Nordic
LARP scene (nordiclarp.org/wiki/Safewords). Brake is a safeword that signals to another player not to increase the intensity of a scene any further. Cut can be used to
signal one of two things: that content has gone too far and play needs to stop, or that
someone is in actual danger (by any definition, physical or otherwise) and the game
must be halted.
New Players
The introduction of a new player, whether permanently or for a guest spot, can throw
off your groups safety dynamicsnot because the new player intends to do so, of
course, but because he brings his own set of mores, comfort levels, etc. The new player
also isnt aware of the groups social contract or established comfort zones.
If a new player is joining the group permanently, its important to revisit your social
contract and incorporate her comfort zones into your groups master list and update
that list accordingly. This may move some topics to more sensitive zones (e.g., something previously listed as uncomfortable might be forbidden after the update).
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If you have a guest player, or youre at a convention and no one knows each
other, you should set expectations up front by talking about the tone of the
game (serious, silly, etc.), the level of cooperation vs. competition among the
PCs, your GMing style, and any forbidden topics. You should also employ the
X-Card, safewords, or some other warning system to enable players to sidestep
uncomfortable topics. By doing these things youll help everyone feel safeand
mitigate the chances of a scene or topic changing that.
When Safety Is At Risk

Its inevitable that at some point youll step out onto the thin ice of an uncomfortable
topic at the gaming table. This isnt a bad thing: Often, being outside of your comfort
zone is a good way to expand your enjoyment of the game and your understanding of
yourself. But when you find yourself on thin ice, you need to exercise caution or youll
plunge into the icy waters and make one or more of your friends feel unsafe.
Slow and Easy

When you venture into an uncomfortable area, whether knowingly (its on your
groups list under uncomfortable) or by accident (someone taps the X-Card,
flagging the topic as uncomfortable on the spot), slow down the game and think
through each beat within the current scene. Uncomfortable scenes should usually be described more vaguely than normal, and should be relatively brief. Avoid
graphic descriptions and abstract the action to reduce the intensity of the scene.
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You may wish to change the narrative style of the game from first to third person to
make the scene less personal. You can also break character briefly and provide a bit of
GM commentary to take everyone out of the moment.
An uncomfortable scene should have a distinct purpose, and should never be included
just for the sake of pushing boundaries or making anyone squirm. Once the purpose
of the scene has been met, quickly close off the scene by using a summary question
something like, You get the information you need, is there anything else youd like
to do before we move on?
Check In
During an uncomfortable scene, take a moment to make eye contact with each other
player and make sure that they seem okay with the scene. If youd rather be more
overt, you can pause and ask everyone if theyd like to continue the scenemaking
it clear that its okay for them to say no. After assessing the group either visually or
verbally, look for signs of increasing unease in your players and adjust the pace of the
scene accordingly.
Take a Break
When the scene concludes, call for a break. Give everyone time to take a deep breath
and unwind. This will reduce any tension caused by the scene and allow everyone to
talk about how the scene made them feel while its still fresh. That will give you useful
information about how to run uncomfortable scenes in the future.
Away from the Table

For some uncomfortable scenes, you may be better off playing them not at the table,
but via email or instant messaging. Those venues make things less intimate and allow
everyone to choose their words more carefully. Make sure everyone knows that this
is an option, and if possible talk about it when youre establishing your social contract
and list of comfort zones.
When the Ice Breaks

There will likely be times when things go wrong and one or more players no longer
feel safe.
This might be because a forbidden topic has arisen during play, a topic no one mentioned proves to be unpleasant, someone forgets about a comfort zone, or a player
finds that something she used to be comfortable with is now unpleasant. When this
happens, its important to address it at once.
Stop!
The best thing to do is to stop the scene. If your group uses safewords, someone will
cut the scene and play will cease. This will give everyone who no longer feels safe a
chance to get comfortable again.
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The worst thing you can do is push through the scene to try to get back to more
comfortable territory. This will only emotionally injure the players who no longer feel safe. Instead, just stop the scene right then and there.
Identify What Happened

In some cases the underlying cause for the break in play will be obvious, but not
always. For example, maybe the scene included more than one uncomfortable
topic and it was the combination of the two that made someone feel unsafe. If
the player or players who dont feel safe are comfortable talking about it, they
should identify the topic or issue so that everyone is aware of it. (This wont
always be the case, and thats okay.)
Determine What Broke and Why

If the players who feel uncomfortable want to talk about it, thats the most direct way
to figure out what happened. But if not, dont make them more uncomfortable by
trying to get them to talk about it or making them feel like they have to justify their
feelings to the group. They felt uncomfortablethats all anyone needs to know.
But if they do want to discuss it, take the time to figure out the underlying cause
(personal experience, morals, culture, etc.) and identify related topics that should also
be flagged as forbidden or uncomfortable. After the game, update your comfort zone
list and social contract accordingly.
Next Steps
If a break is needed, take one and let everyone do what they need to do before starting
up the game again. Everyone recovers their feeling of safety in different ways: by relaxing, getting some space, seeking comfort, changing the topic, having a discussion,
etc. After everyone feels safe again, you, the GM, have several options:
Summarize the sceneRecap the scene, avoiding any deeper discussion
about the forbidden topic, and then move right into the next scene.
Rewind and start againBack up the story to the point just before the
forbidden topic and resume play. Now that all players know to avoid the
topic, play can continue forward along a different path.
Move forward carefullyIf the players who lost their feeling of safety
are comfortable enough, resume play but follow the tips in the When
Safety Is At Risk section (above).
Stop the gameSometimes time and distance from the game will be
necessary, and resuming the game that night isnt the best thing to do.
Playing the game is never more important than the people who play in the
game, so end the session and pick things up next time.
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Removing a Player
Its possible that the best option for making the group as a whole feel safe will be
removing a player from the game. Unless the player in question is malicious, this
should only come after trying to preserve safety in other ways. (Well talk more about
removing a player in the next chapter.)
Always Be Safe
Roleplaying games gives us a medium to explore the complexity of human (and nonhuman) interactions. We can don personas vastly different or remarkably similar to
our own. The experiences that occur at the table, while devoid of any real-world
consequences, are in their own way genuine experiences. From time to time these
experiences can be more than were comfortable with, and when that happens people
can be emotionally hurt.
By understanding what makes us uncomfortable and what we cant stand under any
circumstances, and sharing those feelings with the group, we can work together to
make the game a safe place to explore the gamut of human experience. When we do
go too far, by taking care not to push too hard, or by knowing when to stop, we can
make sure everyone at the table feels safe and enjoys the game.
Personal Story: Gabe and Lucy

In a d20 ModernTM game I ran years ago, one of the players, Myke, played Gabe, a
cat burglar. Gabe had an estranged girlfriend, Lucy (an NPC). The campaign started
with the two of them broken up, but mid-campaign they began to see each other again
and their relationship developed from there and became complex.
As the relationship became more complex, it also became more intimate, and Myke and
I discovered that we were uncomfortable playing out that level of intimacy at the table.
Neither of us wanted to stop exploring the relationship and the drama it created in the
game, so we looked for a way to continue doing so that was more comfortable for us.
We decided to move the deeper conversations and relationship-building scenes to the
groups email list. We both found it was far easier to communicate in-character via
email, and it allowed us to create a rich and realistic relationship between these two
characterssomething that wouldnt have happened at the table, and would have been
absent from the campaign if we hadnt altered our interactions to make ourselves feel
more comfortable.
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ChallengeAchievement: Safety First

1. Lead the group in a discussion of safety. Everyone should identify at least
one topic thats forbidden.
2. Lead a group safety discussion and have everyone identify a topic that
makes them uncomfortable.
3. Implement a method (existing or created by the group) for signaling to

the table that someone is uncomfortable with a scene.
4. Explore a topic your group flags as uncomfortable and include it in the

game without anyone stopping the game.
5. Create a method for conveying your forbidden and uncomfortable topics
to new players who join your game.
6. Before your next session, review your list of uncomfortable and forbidden
topics and see if any have changed or if any new ones need to be added.
The discussion had gone well. Renaldo was able to explain

that he wasnt comfortable with torture in the game because
of some past personal issues. He was surprisingly candid
sharing with the group. The other three had no idea that
Renaldo had come from such a troubled childhood, but
completely understood his aversion for portraying any kind of
torture in a game.
The campaign framework and social contract were updated
to include torture as a forbidden topic, and Gemma said that
she would think of ways to avoid scenes like this in the future.
Renaldo, who had been quite tense after stopping the game,
now looked more relaxed. After a break, he was ready to jump
back into the game.
Gemma thought it was best to just skip over the interrogation
scene. She told the players that they were able to convince
Sorrow to give up the location of the terrorist cell, and play
continued.
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Chapter 16:
Playing Company
Agent Sylk unlocked the door and the team entered the
nondescript suburban housethe safe house of the terror
cell that Sorrow had rolled over on two nights agowith
their guns drawn, expecting a confrontation. The living room
was sparsely furnished but made up for it with a makeshift
explosives laboratory in the center of the room. The three
agents surveyed the room.
Lets sweep the rest of the house, said Sylk, her voice a low
whisper, as she gave the team a hand signal.
You do that, said Agent Stone. Im going to check out
the explosives lab. He moved to the table full of household
chemicals and hardware pieces.
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Remo nodded. Theres a laptop over here thats likely full of

juicy intelligence. We can figure out where the bomb is going
to be planted if I can just hack into it. He sat down in front
of the laptop and started typing.
What?! Are you two serious? Sylks whisper was louder
and hoarser than before. We can do all that after we check
this place for hostiles.Were going to get
Suddenly, the door to the kitchen burst open. Gunmen
poured in and began firing at the agents. Sylk was hit, and
she dropped to the floor.
Raising her voice, Patti said, Seriously! Whats wrong with
you two? I thought we were a team?! She marked down
Sylks conditionbleeding outon her character sheet.
Gemma put down her dice and surveyed the group. Patti was
clearly upset, and Adam and Renaldo both look annoyed.
She had better head this problem off at the pass.
Lets take five, everyone, Gemma said. Now she could take
a few minutes before the game started back up to talk to the
group about teamwork.
A Productive Group Is a Many-Splendored Thing

Broadly speaking, gaming groups can be productive or unproductive. A productive
group is collaborative, communicative, and works towards shared goals. An unproductive group is like an ongoing tug of war with as many ropes as there are people at
the table, with similarly disastrous results.
A Productive Group
What defines a productive group? In my experience, productive groups possess
manyif not allof these characteristics:
They share a common goalEven if they have some secondary goals or
objectives, the players and/or their characters all share a common goal that
keeps them aligned and gives them something to work toward.
They respect each PCs roleWithin the PC party, each team member
has a role and the group trusts that character to take care of the things that
fall under their role.
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Theyre candid but not insultingThe members of the group can

speak to each other honestly, but do so in a way that isnt demeaning
or condescending. This allows them to express opposing ideas without
sparking a conflict.
They listen to everyoneThe group makes sure that every participant is

given a chance to speak and is heard. No one dominates the conversation
and no one sulks on the sidelines.
They collaborate, and no one person dominatesWhen the group comes

up with ideas, they share their thoughts and find ways to incorporate the
best ideas into a cohesive plan. A plan is never the product of a single
person.
Not every group has all of these characteristics in equal measure, but the closer a
group is to this ideal the more productive they are the gaming table.
An Unproductive Group
It will come as no surprise that the unproductive group fails in all the above areas.
Heres a glimpse of what that looks like:
Divided or conflicting goalsThis is a group where individual goals are
placed above any shared ones. These individual goals may directly conflict
with one another, and that conflict will end up in the middle of the game.
Lack of respectSome members think of themselves as above the others.
They think of themselves as better roleplayers, or more experienced with
the system, perhaps because of their tenure as gamers. They look down on
the other players decisions.
Niche-crashingOne or more of the characters has been designed to be
awesome at multiple things, and thus marginalize those characters that
were designed with a specific role in mind.
Abrasive and condescendingThese groups speak to each other in ways

that result in feelings being hurt. Players verbally attack each other when
they disagree.
DismissiveSome players are dismissed, and their ideas are ignored by
one or more of the others.
My way or the highwaySome players have to have things their way.

They dont want to hear other ideas and will make threats if they dont get
to do things the way they desire.
While its rare for a group to have all of these problems, it is possible. Its more likely
that one person (or perhaps a small number of people) in the group will display some
of these traits. Unfortunately, it only requires a couple of folks with these issues to
disrupt the productivity of the whole group.
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Being a Collaborative Group

For a gaming group, productivity is a shared mindset (or collective personality
type, if you well). Unless its put to use in the game, its just potential energy.
Collaboration is the act of a productive group doing something together to advance the game. (Advance can mean different things depending on the game
and group; whats important is that everyone agrees on its meaning.)
Collaboration is based on two principles: teamwork and communication. In
order to be collaborative the group must want to work together towards some
common goal, and must possess the ability to share ideas; agree upon things;
andmore importantlydisagree, ultimately leading them to a decision that is
agreed upon by the group.
It Starts with Teamwork

Players need to understand that theyre in the game to make the game an enjoyable
experience for everyone. Players need to understand that they have a responsibility
to the group, and that the decisions they make in the game are in order to make the
game more enjoyable and exciting for everyone.
Depending on the style of the game and/or campaign, the PC party may also exhibit
teamwork. Parties like a group of dungeon explorers, a league of superheroes, or a
military unit likely work together as a team, and that team structure is built into the
game. Other games or campaign styles may not foster teamwork among the PCs.
Ultimately, it matters less that the PCs work as a team than that the players work as
a team.
As the GM, you need to share that sense of teamwork. The gaming group is its own
team, but it has one goal and that is to create a form of entertainment. You can help
to make the game enjoyable for all by working with the players, not against them.
Then Comes the Talky Stuff

Communication is the currency of collaboration. It is the medium that is required to
present ideas, share them, and combine them into new ideas.
A productive group not only has to have a good attitude about sharing ideas, but its
members also have to actively communicate with one another. The atmosphere within
the group must be open enough that every member can contribute ideas without feeling like theyll be shut down or mocked by the group. The group has to police itself to
make sure that all members are given a chance to share their ideas; the more outgoing
may have to advocate for the more introverted. The group also has to be able to share
honestly. Sometimes people come up with ideas that just wont work, and the group
needs to be able to say that and move on to other ideas.
In groups where everyone gets along, players may tend to take actions without checking in with the group. Even in these groups, its important to check in and share ideas
before taking significant actions.
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Reaching a Collaborative State

When a group has the right attitude, a sense of teamwork, and good communication,
it can reach that collaborative state where the sum of their ideas is greater than any
individual idea. This collaborative state has three hallmarks.
Ideas are Built

A collaborative effort is one where an idea is built from a collection of smaller ideas.
Its not collaboration when one person proposes an idea and the group agrees with
him. Rather, in collaboration, someone poses an imperfect idea and others add their
ideas to address the imperfections by using their expertise, experiences, and knowledge. The group then combines those ideas into a final idea thats stronger than the
original idea.
There are No Stars

A collaborative group strives to be as inclusive as possible. When they build an idea or
come up with a solution, they do so to utilize the skills of everyone in the group, not
to rally behind one person, so that everyone has a chance to contribute and to share in
its success and rewards. For example, in a fantasy game where the partys wizard and
thief can both get past a locked door (the wizard by using a spell, the thief with lock
picks), the group would decide to have the thief pick the lock and reserve the wizards
spell for later in the session, enabling both characters to shine.
Being Collaborative at the Table

Apart from being a good life skill, the ability to collaborate also has a direct impact
on the game. There are many times during a session where the PCs will need to collaborate, and in order for that to happen the players have to be able to collaborate.
Here are three common examples:
CombatIn any life-and-death struggle, a group whose members have
each others backs will fair far better than a group of hot shots each going
it alone. Players skilled at collaboration look out for each other, understand
everyones strengths and weaknesses, and know how to combine their
strengths to defeat the toughest foes. Groups that cant pull together wind
up getting picked off one at time when they get in over their heads. The
greatest challenge to collaboration in combat is when characters try to
showboat and take on the biggest threats solo, rather than combining their
abilities with the rest of the party.
Heists and ambushesScenes where the group needs to come up with
and then execute a plan are natural opportunities for collaboration. In
these types of scenes the players need to combine their ideas to overcome
a challenge that is greater than any one of them can accomplish on their
own. The tricky part is including as many members of the party as possible
so that no one feels left out.
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Puzzles and mysteriesWhen the group is faced with a mystery or puzzle

to figure out, success is contingent upon collaboration. In order to solve
a mystery, the group must analyze clues, fill in gaps with hypotheses, and
draw conclusions. Players who can work together in these situations have
a far greater chance of solving the mystery by being able to attack it from
many angles. The greatest challenge to collaboration in puzzle-solving is
ensuring that everyone can share ideas without being judged or mocked
(which, naturally, makes people less likely to share their hypotheses).
All of That Sounds Like the Players Problem

Is it solely the players responsibility to form a productive group, and to collaborate in the ways weve examined above? Not at all. While its true that the players have
to engage in collaboration, as the GMand facilitator for the gaming groupyou
can help guide the group to make healthy, collaborative choices and steer it away from
destructive, discordant choices.
As the GM, youre part of the gaming group but also separate from the players. You
have the unique position of being an outsider, but one with a vested interest in the
groups behavior. You have the opportunity to help forge a productive group of players
by laying a good foundation, creating opportunities, and guiding the players.

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Laying the Foundation

The origin of a productive group begins before the first session and falls partly under
the umbrella of campaign management, which is discussed in length in Odyssey: The
Complete Game Masters Guide to Campaign Management. In case you dont have Odyssey, heres a quick summary that will lead us into talking about the formation of a
productive group in the context of Focal Point.
The first opportunity you get to create a productive group is when the group is formed.
Ideally, you want to select people who emulate the positive behaviors discussed above.
Watch out for people who display one or more of the negative behaviors weve talked
aboutremember, it only takes a single person to disrupt a group. It may not always
be possible to be that selective, particularly because we often game with people who
are already part of our other social circles and excluding someone can lead to other
problems. Do the best you can.
The next opportunity for forming a productive group comes during character creation. As recommended in Odyssey, create characters as a group and discuss the wants
and needs of the players as well the PCs. Look for places where those might come
into conflict and work to make changes to avoid potential issues. During this time
the group should define the role(s) or niche(s) that each character will fill, and should
respect those niches such that each PC has the ability to excel in an enjoyable way.
Its also during this time that you should set some ground rules or expectations for
the game. As a group, discuss how comfortable people are with intra-party conflict,
have a discussion about safety, and come to an understanding about how productive
the group is expected to be during play.
Create Opportunities
Once the game is underway, your next avenue to guide a group towards collaboration
is the creation of scenes and plots that require a productive group. Any scene where
advance planning is required makes for a wonderful opportunity for the players to
exercise their ability to collaborate. When you create one of these situations, you need
to design it to reward productivity and deal a punishmentnot too severeto an
unproductive group, as negative reinforcement.
Sometimes a group will need assistance becoming productive, and you can employ
an NPC to help mentor the group. The key element here is mentor. You dont want
the NPC to force them to collaborate, nor do you want the NPC to do all of the
PCs work. Rather, you want the NPC to nudge the group into better collaboration
through friendly advice or leading questionsbasically, to get your players thinking
along collaborative lines.
Guiding the Players

There will also be times when you need to act as the facilitator for the playersfor
example, when they work on a problem or come up with a plan. As with a mentor
NPC, youre not there to solve the in-game issue they are working on, but rather
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make sure that the group of players is playing fairly. You need to provide some
amount of refereeing for the group, heading off any negative behaviors and suggesting positive alternatives.
Here are some things to look out for that might prompt this kind of intervention:
The big pictureRemind the players about the goal that the PCs are
working towards, and about the nature of the bigger picture.
RespectIf one player disrespects another, politely call out that behavior
and make it clear that its not appreciated. That includes dismissing other
players ideas and being abrasive to those who speak up.
Niche protectionIf Player A is trying to encroach on Player Bs PCs
niche or role, jump into the conversation by asking Player B a leading
question, such as, As the thief, whats your take on that trap?
Take the temperatureTo make sure that no one gets drowned out,
before the players commit to an action go around the table and ask every
player for their opinion. This can help an introverted player, or someone
who has been ignored up until that point, express her opinion.
Call for a breakIf a discussion becomes too negative or too heated, call
for a break and give everyone a chance to get away from the table. This
will let stress levels drop and, if needed, give you an opportunity to talk to
players individually.
Sometimes It Cant Be Saved

Sadly, there are going to be times when the specific makeup of a group just isnt productiveor worse, is toxic in some way. Opportunities have been given, discussions
have been held with the people causing the issues, but nothing has changed. When
this happens, the group has no choice but to eject the members who are negatively
impacting the groups productivity, and move on. Because friendships and gaming often intertwine, this decision can have other social ramifications, but it must be made
if anyone in the group is going to enjoy the game.
Here are three suggestions for how to handle this as smoothly as possible:
The direct approachIf youre the type of person who can eject someone
from the group directly while avoiding a major confrontation, this is
always the best option.
End the game and start a new groupAnother option is to end the
campaign, wrap things up, and announce that you want a break. After
a short while, start up a new game and only invite the people who work
well together.
Leave the groupIf the majority of the group is okay with a play
environment you find unproductive or toxic, then you may be best off
leaving the group and finding a new one that better suits your preferences.
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Personal Story: Losing My Cool

For the most part, Im a pretty mild guy. I dont raise my voice often, and I am tolerant of
a wide swath of personal behavior within my games. In a Corporation game I ran a few
years ago, one player, who was playing the hacker, wasnt happy with the selection of
the division leader because they didnt think that player would be good for the job. The
hacker player chose not to speak up, instead internalizing their feelings and allowing the
issue to fester. I became aware that there was an issue after character creation but took
a lets see what happens attitude, hoping it would work itself out.
One night the team was on a mission, breaking into an apartment and looking for clues.
For agents in Corporation this is a pretty easy task, as a good hacker can make the tasks
of bypassing security, cameras, and locks pretty straightforward. But things werent going
smoothly, and the game was plodding along. As I looked at the players, I realized that
the hacker wasnt offering suggestions or doing anything proactive, but instead was waiting for the division leader to give him orders. This behavior was a passive-aggressive expression of the hacker players dissatisfaction with the player chosen as division leader.
I tried to break up the situation by suggesting to the hackers player that they might want
to weigh in, and tried to make sure that they understood the game mechanics that were
relevant to the scene. They remained stoic, dragging the operation out as the other players looked on and waited for the hacker to do something.
I was growing increasingly upset at this lack of collaboration, and the effect it was having on the scene and the players enjoyment. After a few more plodding minutes, I could
take no more, and at that moment I lost my cool. I threw my dice into my dice tray with a
loud clatter and barked an expletive at the hackers player. I then called for a break and
walked away from the table to regain my calm. Eventually we came back to the table
and talked about what had happened, but the session was over for the nightand the
campaign ended shortly after that.
Doing It Together
Much like a skilled acting troupe, a collaborative gaming group is an amazing thing
to behold. The players attack problems head-on, develop ingenious solutions by combining ideas, and overcome even the most daunting challenges. In both the gaming
group and the acting troupe, collaboration is a skill that starts with feeling like a team
and actively communicating with one another.
As the GM, you can foster collaboration among the players and cultivate productivity through the structure of the game, as well as through NPC mentors. With some
time and care, a group can reach a collaborative state that allows them to face greater
challenges and adventures.
ChallengeAchievement: Stormin Norman

1. Create a combat scene where the PCs will have to combine their abilities
to overcome their foes or accomplish a specific objective.
2. Create a scenario that requires the players to come up with a plan (such as
a heist). Have the PCs roleplay the planning.
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3. Create a mystery or puzzle that requires every member of the group to

contribute in order to find the solution.
4. Help foster PC collaboration through the use of a mentor NPC.
5. Foster collaboration among players by guiding them through a collaborative

effortfor example, assembling the clues at the climax of a mystery.
6. Design a scene for one or more characters which requires the player(s)
involve to exercise a positive productive trait that isnt one of their strengths
(listening to everyone in the group, for example).
The three agents stood in the kitchen in front of the basement

door. Sylk had a pressure bandage on her shoulder. Lucky for
her, the bullet had hit the top part of her vest and only done
superficial damage. Stone and Remo had acted fast, taking
the lone gunman down quickly and tending to Sylks wound.
It was enough to snap them in line and get their objectives
clear.
The gunman was not alone, and they knew that the others
were in the basement.
Okay, Ill toss the flash-bang, said Sylk.
Then me, said Stone, in and sweep right. The others
nodded.
Me next, in and sweep left, said Remo as he checked his
ammo.
Sylk said, I will follow and clean up anyone left standing.
Sylk pulled the pin on the grenade as Remo opened the door,
and then tossed it down the stairs before Remo shut the door
again. The grenade tumbled down the stairs and terminated
in a loud bang and a flash of light that could be seen through
the cracks around the door.
Sylk opened the door and Stone and Remo went down the
stairs, the sounds of their silenced pistols clacking as targets
went down. Sylk pulled her twin pistols and headed down the
stairs after them.
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Chapter 17:
Improvising Lines
The raid had been fruitful, and the three agents were driving
back to the lab to start analyzing the evidence. Sylk and
Stone were startled when Remo, sitting in the back of the
SUV, suddenly clapped his hands.
I know what to do! Skip the lab and head downtown,
Remo said, I have a contact, umm . . . Dr. Daiyo Teng,
shes a leading mathematician and she can help us crack the
encryption on the laptop so that we can find the location of
the target.
Gemma tried to hide her surprise. Who was Dr. Teng? She
had never heard Renaldo mention her before. She hadnt
prepped a scene with this mysterious NPC. She had set up
a different path of clues for the agentsthe encrypted laptop
was supposed to be a dead end.
Renaldo, Gemma said, how does Remo know Dr. Teng?
Shes one of my contacts. I picked her at character creation.
Gemma had forgotten that Remo had taken the Contacts
trait. Her mind began to race. She would need to make up a
scene fast, and figure out how to adjust her plot so that this
clue would lead them to the target. She took a long sip of
water and let her mind go to work.
Making It Up as You Go Along

To paraphrase German Field General Helmuth von Moltke, No prep for a session
ever survives contact with the players. Or if you prefer: Players will always screw up
all the good prep and planning you have done. A bit tongue in cheek, but somewhat
true! You can do the best possible prep, but once you start running the game anything
can happen. At some point, the players will go somewhere that your prep didnt cover,
and youll need to be able to improvise.
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In Chapter 10: Keep Filming, Walt talked about the need to adjust the story
on the fly as the players do unexpected thingsimprov in action, if you will.
This chapter looks at improv from the angle of cultivating a group thats able
to engage in and is receptive to improvisation. As the GM, you can help your
group with their improv skills and create scenes that provide practice for everyone.
What About that Unframed Book?

Another Engine Publishing book, Unframed: The Art of Improvisation for Game
Masters, offers up essays from 23 game designers and GMs, including the three
authors of this book, that discuss various aspects of improv. Well address some
improv basics in this chapter (for a deeper look, check out Unframed), but well also
cover new ground.
Being Improv-Ready
All games are improvised. Once you start playing, no matter the style of game, the
interplay of actions between player and GM is all improvised. But not all groups are
improv-ready, meaning that they are not all skilled or comfortable enough to insert
an unplanned scene or make up a game element (be it an NPC, an organization, or a
magic item) on the spot.
Improv-ready GM doesnt mean GM who only improvises. An improv-ready GM
can still do plenty of prep and run a linear, planned-out plot, while introducing small
amounts of improv in the form of on-the-fly NPCs or the occasional side scene. So,
too, can an improv-ready GM rely much more on improv and prep very little (or not
at all) before a session. Both GMing styles employ the same improv skills, but they
apply them in different amounts.
But the fact is that if the group, as a whole, isnt improv-ready, then improv will yield
little fruit. Improv is a two-way street, and so both the GM and the players have to be
improv-ready. Only when the whole group has reached this state does improv shine.
What then are the signs of an improv-ready group? How can you tell if you and your
group have the right skills and mindset? To figure that out, lets start by looking at
the skills required to be proficient at improvisation.
Wide Range of Knowledge or Experiences

Improvisation is about taking what you know, dissolving it into its components,
tropes, and so forth, and then being able to use it in a different setting or situation.
The more varied your knowledge, the more raw material you have for improvisation.
Importantly, this knowledge doesnt have to have anything to do with gaming for you
to be able to apply it in a gaming context. Your knowledge of craft beers may come
into play when you improvise a scene featuring a group of dwarven brewers.
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Sense of Story
Improv involves creating a scene within a story. Having an understanding of how
scenes and stories are constructed and how they unfold will give you a sense for what
is the most appropriate for the next beat. This knowledge can be learned formally
though literature, but it can also be absorbed by reading books and watching movies
and TV shows.
Pattern Matching
Improv is also about reading a developing scene, recognizing what is the logical
next step, and connecting it to something you know. The more you hone this skill,
the better your choices will be when you develop an idea on the fly to contribute to
a scene.
Mental Reflexes
Finally, improv is about action and reaction. The ability to think quickly when called
upon helps a scene develop smoothly and avoids dead air. In many ways, the improvisation of a scene is like taking a test: You have a general knowledge of what the test
is about but you dont know what you will be asked until you read the questions. You
need to think quickly and synthesize an answer.
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In addition to these skills, there are also three traits a group needs to possess in
order to be able to improvise well.
Trust
Improv requires a tremendous amount of trust between everyone in the group.
Using the Yes . . . and technique (see below), for example, requires you to accept what someone else comes up with, without knowing what they are going
to offer up in advance. That can be scary, and can make you want to keep No
in your back pocket. For improv to work, everyone has to trust that the group
is out to create a fun story. From a players perspective, the group needs to trust
that the GM isnt going to put them in an impossible situation. Players also have
to trust each other in the same way (i.e., knowing no one will build a scene to doom
anyone elses character).
Safety
Along with trust, safety (discussed in Chapter 15: Safety on the Set) is required.
Because improvisation is spontaneous, there can be accidents when someone broaches
an unsafe topic. The risk of this happening is compounded when the entire table is
contributing to the improvised narrative. Review what is safe for your group, and
make sure you have a way to note when safety is being threatened (e.g., the X-Card).
Collaboration
Improvisation is not about members of the group wrestling for spotlight or narrative
control. It is about the group creating an interesting and engaging story together.
Your group needs to be collaborative and able to work together to develop the story
which is why we talked about collaboration in the previous chapter. The group, as a
whole, should be doing a good job of incorporating each others ideas, as well as sharing the spotlight by pulling other players into a developing scene.
If any of that sounds daunting, dont be discouraged. These are things that can be
learned and honed, either through practice, through repeated use in improvised
scenes, or both.
Improv 101
While Unframed provides an in-depth look at improvisation, this next section is a
cheat sheet of the most basic improv concepts. If youve studied improv, you can skip
to the next section. For those less familiar, consider this a gentle introduction.
Like other aspects of GMing, improv encompasses a number of techniques and activities. Here are three basic improv skills that yield the most success with both novice
and experienced practitioners.
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Yes . . . And
If there is one core skill in improv, it just might be this one.
Yes . . . and (sometimes rendered as yes, and) is about the inclusion of others
ideas. When someone puts out an idea, the worst thing you can do is to say no.
No negates the statement and shuts down the person and the scene. Rather than say
no, you are encouraged to say, Yes . . . and. Yes acknowledges the other persons
statement and contribution, while and gives you the opportunity to build upon that
statement.
Lets take a look at how that might play out at the table. Here are Gemma and Renaldo setting up the scene with Dr. Teng:
Gemma: Okay, Remo has not seen Dr. Teng

in months and she is quite angry with you.
Renaldo: Shes angry with me, and she is about to
call campus security when I show up at her office.
Gemma is looking to create a challenge for Renaldo: How does Agent Remo get Dr.
Teng to cooperate? Renaldo accepts Gemmas contribution (Teng is angry) and then
builds upon it, raising the stakes by introducing the fact that shes so angry shes about
to call the campus cops.
There are other variations of this technique, as well:
Yes . . . ButTo create obstacles
Yes . . . SoTo create consequences

Yes . . . OrFor alternatives
All of these, and more, are physically represented by a tool thats too neat not to share:
Daniel Solis Writers Dice, which enable you to roll up combinations of yes, but,
or, and related terms. Lots of inspiration can also be found in the Writers Dice
Guide: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/7247980/Writer%27s%20Dice/WritersDiceGuide.pdf.) As you become comfortable with Yes . . . and, you can try to work these
other variations into your improvisation.
Listening
The next technique is listening. While this sounds like a basic skill, it does take some
training or practice to really listen to what the people around the table are saying and
to digest what is being said.
With improv, the person speaking is often giving clues to what they would like to
have happen next or what they would like to have happen in the scene. If youre too
focused on just tossing out something you thought of during the next pause, youll
miss the chance to pick up that message and in turn provide what that person is looking for.
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When this works well, the people in the scene seem to read each others minds
and the scene develops organically. When you fail to listen, the scene may make
strange twists and turns as people are introducing ideas but failing to play off of
each other, or there may be an awkward silence as the scene stumbles. Actively
listen to everyone around the table.
Reincorporation
The skill of reincorporation goes hand in hand with listening. Reincorporation
is simply taking something that was introduced earlier in the scene, or in an
earlier scene, and bringing it back into play. This technique is best demonstrated
in a good stand-up comedy routine, where the comedian makes an early joke
and then, at the end of her set, her final joke ties back to the early joke, enhancing the
comedy by creating a connection between them.
This can be done in gaming, too, and its done through listening to what others have
introduced in play, as well as remembering the elements you have introduced. If a
player introduced his characters friend Aldo, a city guard, and then in a later scene
the group is chased by the city guard and caught, have Aldo be among the pursuers. This will enhance the scene, as the character already has a relationship with this
NPC.

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Building Some Improv Muscles

Improv can be practiced, and improv skills can be developed over time. Groups that
are neither skilled nor comfortable with using improv techniques in their games can
use improv exercises and tools to accomplish this.
Improv Exercises
There are a wide variety of improv exercises that you and your players can try out,
either as a group or in pairs. Developed by improv troupes, these are often quite
entertaining. A quick web search will reveal dozens of options; you might start here:
improvencyclopedia.org/games.
If your group is not into doing pure improv exercises but you still want to work on
these activities in your game, there are some simple things you can do at your table to
practice. Here are three suggestions:
The pointed questionAsk a player a pointed question about their
relationship to an NPC? (Why does the mayors champion always look
at you with anger in her eyes?)
Whats going on?For the sessions opening scene, ask a player whats
going on right at that moment and then play off her answer. (Whats
making all the ruckus at the tavern as youre trying to enjoy your evening
ale?)
What happens next?Describe a scene that a players character is

witnessing and then stop and ask the player what happens next. (The
guards look to be offloading a locked trunk from the carriage. What
happens next?)
If youre using these techniques for practice, its best to employ them during the opening scenes of the session, when youre not deep into a plot or in the middle of combat.
These techniques are also great for those sessions when youre transitioning between
major plots.
Tools for Improvisation

Not everyone is good at coming up with things on the fly. Fortunately there are
lots of tools out there that can help. One specific type of tool that I like is the sort
that provides a foundation for improvisation, and these come in a variety of forms:
lists, cards, dice, smart phone apps, and others. They typically address elements like
names, personality traits, actions, and locations.
These tools can be of assistance to group members who are struggling with a particular area improv-wise. If someone isnt very good with names, a name generator app on
their phone can help them come up with an original name while creating an NPC on
the fly. Someone else may enjoy the use of cards that provide personality traits, which
can help him develop an interesting personality for an NPC.
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When picking out a tool, consider both the need the tool fills as well as the
method used to get results. A smart phone app is great if youre playing somewhere with limited space, while a deck of cards might be better suited to a larger
table. Dice are portable, but have a limited number of sides (and, therefore,
outcomes) and wont offer the depth of a deck of cards. Finally, consider your
own preferences for various media. Do you like to roll dice, or flip cards, or do
you have an awesome phone or tablet you love to use? Use what youre comfortable with.
Incorporating Improvisation into Your Games

Your groups improvisational skills will improve with practice. As the GM, you
have the opportunity to introduce improvisational scenes into the game gradually,
allowing your group to become more skilled at and comfortable with improv. For a
group that isnt familiar with these techniques, the best way to start is simply by incorporating one or more of the improv exercises mentioned above into your sessions.
As you and your group become more skilled you can incorporate different improvisational scenes into your game. An easy way to start is by reducing the prep for your
games: Prep the scenes for the main storyline but have the group improvise the peripheral scenes, including any spotlight scenes which feature character development.
Over time, as your skills become stronger, you will find that your prep will be greatly
reduced as you will need fewer and fewer notes to run a session and can rely instead
on your groups ability to improvise the bulk of your game. Some GMs might find
that they need only prep some NPC stats and an index card or two of notes; others
may not need notes at all.
The goal isnt necessarily to shed all of your prep (although that could be your personal goal). But even if you run a prep-heavy game, improvisation will help create
spontaneous moments that draw upon the contributions of the entire group, allowing
the story to develop in ways you may not have imagined. Improvisation can also be
the duct tape of roleplaying, patching up missing parts of your prep and holding your
scenes together.
All gamers improviseits in the nature of the hobby. But not everyone is equally
comfortable or adept at improvisation, whether due to personality or lack of improv
experience. The good news is that practice and improv tools, coupled with a safe and
supportive gaming environment, can make just about everyone comfortable with and
better at improvisation.
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Personal Story: My Ever-Shrinking Prep

Having written Never Unprepared, a book entirely devoted to game prep, I have the
reputation of being a high-prep GMone who preps tomes of material before my
games. Nothing could be further from the truth.
As my ability to improvise with my group has increased, my prep has been dramatically
reduced. Over the past few years I have become more proficient at improvisation, as
has my group, and I have found a number of tools which help to fill in the gaps. The end
result is that I now prep the main scene(s) for my session, the necessary stat blocks, and
a sketched-out map or two.
What I have eliminated is any serious prep that comes before or after the main scenes,
relying on my tables ability to improvise to handle those situations. Because of that level
of comfort, I am able (as I discuss in Never Unprepared) to reduce my prep to only the
things I need to feel comfortable. The end result is that my actual notes have gone from
a dozen pages down to just a page or two.
Will I ever reach zero prep? I dont think so. While I enjoy improvising the opening and
closing scenes in a session, I like to plan out key scenes so that I can still deliver a specific
experience. There will always be a bit of prep in my games.
ChallengeAchievement: Winging It
1. Use Yes . . . and or one of its variants when one of your players makes a
suggestion or statement during a session.
2. Use the skills of listening and reincorporation to take something a

character says early in the session and bring it back into the game later on.
3. Find an improv exercise online and use it to warm up your group before
a game.
4. Incorporate an in-game improv exercise into one of your sessions.
5. Find and use an improv tool at an upcoming session.
6. Dont prep some of the peripheral scenes for an upcoming session, and rely
instead on improv to play out those scenes.
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Smiling, Gemma said, Renaldo, why isnt Doctor Teng happy

to see you?
Um . . . there was this previous mission I was on . . . Renaldo
trailed off, thinking, but found that no ideas were coming to
him.
Adam chimed in. Yes, and you stole something from her.
What was it? Gemma smiled again.
Her research! Patti said, with a large smile on her face.
You stole her research, Gemma said, nodding, and now
shes starting over at the local university. The three of you arrive
at her office, and as she turns around and sees Agent Remo
her face flushes bright red. She begins to shout something in
Cantonese. Make a Negotiations check at -6.
Ugh, Renaldo said, picking up his dice. This roll was
importantit could be the key to cracking this case. As
everyone looked on, he let the dice tumble out of his hand
and onto the table.
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Chapter 18:
Permits and Regulations
The agents fanned out in the park. There were scores of
innocent people there, all unaware that a terrorist carrying a
dirty bomb was among them. The agents looked around, but
there were all manner of people in the park, and too many of
them had bags and backpacks.
This is hopeless, said Agent Sylk, whispering into her subvocal microphone. We need a way to find the carrier faster
or this is going to be a catastrophe.
Scanning another group of people in the park, Agent Stone
replied on the teams secure channel. We need a way to get
this jerk to stand out. Quickly.
Ive got it! Agent Remo said. We know the carrier has a
burner phone, and that theyre supposed to get a text with
the final location for the bomb. We have the phone number.
Perhaps I can hack the phone and cause it to start playing
music on full volume, drawing them out.
Out of character, Renaldo said to Gemma, Can I do that?
Um . . . I dont know. That sounds like a use of the Computers
skill, but these rules were written years ago, and I dont think
smart phones existed back then. Let me look at the rules.
Gemma picked up the core book and started reading.
Adam got up from the table to get a drink. Patti excused
herself from the table. Renaldo sat patiently waiting for a
verdict. Gemma could feel the tension of the scene draining
away as she searched through the rulebook for the definition
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of the Computers skill. The book was not well organized and
of course there wasnt an index . . . She couldnt find the
skills section.
Renaldo came over to help, and the two of them flipped
through the book. Patti caught Adam in the kitchen and they
started talking about a TV show theyd both watched the
night before.
Gemma was getting a bit anxious. They were just moments
from the climax of this campaign, and everything was being
held up by trying to figure out if Agent Remo could hack the
phone.
Following all the Rules and Regulations

Among the many variations of the title game master used in the hobby, one can
trace its roots back to wargaming: referee. One element of being a referee, in the
gaming sense, is interpreting the rules of the game. And of course the G in RPG
stands for game. An RPG is a game with a set of rules that, generally, were expected
to use during play. Your mastery of the rules has a direct impact on the flow of the
session, as well as on your ability to improvise scenes when things dont turn out as
planned.
When a GM has not mastered the rules of the game, it can create problems at the
table. The least of these is that a game can slow down or halt while he has to look up
a rule (which might be found in any of several rulebooks). The worst is failing to use a
rule correctly in a way that affects the outcome of a scene or session, perhaps resulting
in a PCs death.
Knowing the written rules is only half the battle, though. Situations always arise
through play that arent covered in the rules, and in most games and groups the GM
is required to act as the arbitrator of the rules and expected to make a ruling to move
the game forward. If the GM doesnt fully understand the rules then its possible for
her to make a faulty ruling, which can also have an impact on the sessionor even
the campaign.
Mastery of the rules is an essential activity for GMs. It develops not in a single sitting,
but over the course of many sessions.
Hitting the Books

The first and most fundamental step to mastering the rules is to learn the game by
studying the rulebook. While this can be an enjoyable task (and one that I enjoy quite
a bit), it is work. You are studying the rules of the game.
199
The type of learner you are will determine the best way for you to learn the rules. For
example, a good visual learner may only need a simple reading of the text. There are
lots of ways to learn rules, and combining different approaches can be valuable. Here
are some of the methods Ive used over the years:
Learn from an experienced GM/playerHaving someone teach you the
game is a good option, but your mastery will only be as good as their
understanding of the rules.
Actual playSeek out podcasts or videos of people playing the game

online and watch how they run the game.
Play it at a conventionWhen Im learning a game, playing a session of
it at a convention helps me learn it better.
Make your own GMing screenI find that having to go through the
book to create the inserts or panels for my GMing screen helps me better
understand the mechanics of the game.
Read the forumsWhen I need insight on a game, I like to post questions

to the games dedicated forum (if it has one; if not, general RPG forums
are an option).
Find the FAQ/errataOften if a game has been out for any length of
time, questions about the rules will arise and be brought to the attentions
of the designers. Designers will often create a FAQ or errata page, and
these can be valuable tools.
Social mediaBetween Google+ Communities and game designers on

Twitter, you may be able to get your questions answered online.
No matter which approach or approaches you use, the end goal remains the same:
Know the rules. But what rules do you need to know? In a typical traditional RPG,
you have to understand the core mechanic of the game and how to make skill checks,
and you have to understand the basic combat system. From there, the characters in
the game and the structure of your campaign will determine what other rules will
play a prominent role in your game (e.g., hacking rules when theres a hacker PC,
rules for exposure to cold in a Viking campaign).
Learning is also a continuous process. Once you have read the rules and have a number of sessions under your belt, go back and reread the rulesyou may be surprised
by what you have missed or misinterpreted. If youre running a long-term campaign,
plan on revisiting the rules several times.
Applying Rules at the Table

Once you have a good understanding of the rules, youre prepared to run your game.
During the course of the game you will interact with the rules in many ways. There
will be common rules that you will use all the time (skill checks, combat, etc), and
there will be some rules that may be important for a specific session, like rules for
swimming and drowning during an ocean voyage. Finally, there will be rules that you
didnt think you would need, but which arise due to player actions.
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One of my favorite analogies for GMing is that being a GM is like being a radio
DJ. In radio, theres nothing worse than dead air. In GMing, nothing hurts the
flow of your game, drains off any tension youre building during a session, or
loses your players attention faster than pausing a session to look something up
in the rules. The less that happens, the better.
Looking Up Existing Rules

If you do encounter a situation where you dont know a rule, but you know the
rule exists, then take the few moments to search it out in the rulebook. Your
mastery of the rules is not only the ability to recall the more common rules,
but also the knowledge of where to find rules that you havent committed to
memory. Use that knowledge to home in on that rule and quickly give it a read. (If
you use a digital rulebook, use the search function to zero in on the rule.)
When There Is No Rule
No matter how many rules your game of choice includes, situations will arise when
no rule exists to determine how to adjudicate them. When this happens, you make a
ruling a keep the game moving forward.
A ruling, as I learned it from my days of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, is a temporary interpretation of the game rules to resolve a situation not covered by an existing
rule. There are two key parts to this definition. The first is that there is no existPermits and Regulations
201
ing ruleyoure coming up with something that has fallen outside the scope of the
rules. The second is that the ruling is temporary; its not a new rule youre adding to
the game, but rather a patch applied to keep the session going.
A rule, on the other hand, is a permanent mechanic for handling a specific situation.
It is applied to that situation every time it comes up in the future. (Well talk more
about house rules shortly.)
To work well, rulings require knowledge of the rules as well as a sense of impartiality.
To create a ruling, follow these steps:
1. Understand whats at stakeTake a moment to talk to the players
involved about what theyre trying to accomplish. Knowing their desired
result will help you determine what mechanics to use.
2. Is there an existing rule that covers a similar situation?If so, you can
then modify that rule and apply it to your situation.
3. If not, create the ruling from scratchIf there is no similar existing
rule, youll need to come up with something from scratch. Use the core
mechanics of the game, or other already extant elements (e.g., character
attributes), as your baseline. The goal is to invent something that feels like
the rest of the game, not something novel.
Example 1
A player wants her character to try to make money by gambling for an evening, but
the rules for the Gambling skill only address how to play out a single hand.
Whats at stake?The PC wants to make more money than the amount
addressed by the Gambling skill.
Existing rule?Our hypothetical system includes a Performance skill,

and its description addresses making money for an evenings work.
SolutionAllow the player to make a Gambling check and use the
payout rules from the Performance skill to determine how much money
is made.
Example 2
A player wants his character to make money by gambling, but theres no gambling
skill in the game.
Whats at stake?The PCs action isnt covered in the rules.
Existing rule?No, theres no skill for gambling. The ruling will need to
be created from scratch.
SolutionThe GM determines that the characters Moxie (an attribute

in this system) is applicable, and decides that the character can make 25
gold for each success he gets on a Moxie check (building on an existing
rule).
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The key to making a ruling is coming up with it as quickly as possible, implementing it, and then moving on with the game. Rulings are not perfecttheyre
temporary, kit-bashed solutions. Theyre intended to get the game moving again.
Rulings get sticky when the outcome could potentially affect the life or livelihood of one of the PCs. A ruling can evoke strong emotions in a player if she
believes that her characters life depends on a quickly-made ruling. If a ruling
might have this kind of impact, its best to ask the player if shes comfortable
with the ruling before proceeding. If not, then call a break and use that time to
research the rules, check a FAQ online, or otherwise do a bit more homework.
After the Game

Sometimes a ruling is just that: a temporary solution created for a single situation, and
not likely to come up again in future sessions. These rulings can be, and are, forgotten
after the session. But other rulings are made to address a situation that will come up
again in future sessionsfor example, in a supers game, a hero might use his power in
a new way that requires a ruling. Hes likely to want to use the power that way again.
In the latter case, it is time to convert the ruling into a rulespecifically, into a house
rule. Because youre not under pressure to keep the game moving (as when making a
ruling), you can take more time and do more work on a house rule. In the end, your
house rule will be a new rule added to the game, with the expectation that it will be
used again in the future.
When creating a house rule, consider the following:
Do some researchThanks to the Internet, its often easy to get
feedback on a situation or a rule you want to make. Things like Google+
Communities or game-related forums allow you access to a large number
of GMs and players for the game youre running, many of whom will freely
offer advice or their own solutions to your issue. The games designers may
even be involved in the community, and can help clarify rules or discuss
house rules.
Consider game balanceBecause this house rule is going to stick around,

consider how it works in the context of the overall rules, your players, and
your campaign. Will the use of this rule create some advantage for the
affected PC that makes her too powerful within the context of the game?
It doesnt have to be the same as the rulingThe ruling was just a patch
to keep the game going. If after doing some research or working on it on
your own, you want to come up with something different than the ruling,
thats fine. This is the more thought-out solution.
If possible, test it outOutside of your normal sessions, give the rule a
test drive either on your own or with some players. Tested rules are always
more sound than untested ones.
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Communicate and documentOnce youve created a new house rule,

you need to document the rule for future reference. Often when I start
a campaign, I create a document of house rules that then gets posted or
distributed to the group. In addition, share the new rule with your players
so that theyre aware of its existence.
Be willing to change or kill itIf after youve run a few more sessions
with the house rule you find its not working, dont be afraid to go back
to the drawing board and change (or eliminate) the rule based on that
experience.
The Rules Not Found in Any Rulebook

In addition to all the rules within the rulebooks for the game youre running, there
are a number of house rules that you may have, or may want to consider developing,
that cover topics outside of whats normally addressed in a rulebook. These often revolve around how things work at the table. While theyre not critical, nor would their
absence impede a game, it can be helpful to have rules regarding these areas:
GM dice rollingAs the GM, are you going to be rolling in the open or
behind a screen?
Who rolls for hidden checksAt some tables the GM will ask the player
to make a roll; at others, the GM makes rolls for the players in secret.
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GM fudgingIs the GM allowed to fudge any of the rolls or rules during

the game (see below for more detail)?
Dice falling off the tableDoes a die that falls off the table get rerolled,
or does it count?
Cocked diceIf a die ends its roll leaning on another die, is it rerolled?
These may sound like silly things to address with rules, but when a PCs life is
on the line, or a whole battle comes down to one climactic roll, youll be happy
that you have an established table convention for these topics. Not having these
rules can lead to tense discussions in the heat of the moment. Creating a house
rule for any of these things is no different than creating other house rules; you
can follow the same steps discussed above.
Fudging
I shudder to even get into this topic so late in the chapter, but its one that bears
some discussion. Fudging is when the GM bends or ignores the rules in order to accomplish a specific goal. Its also the equivalent of politics and religion in roleplaying
circles, so I will tread lightly. To make my own position clear: I have fudged in games
in the past, but dont currently fudge. This section will pass no judgment on the practice, but I want to discuss it because it rounds out any discussion on rules in a game.
Breaking Down Fudging

There are several types of fudging that a GM can employ, either individually or in
combination:
Dice fudgingChanging or misreporting the result of a die roll (e.g.,
a to-hit roll)
Outcome fudgingSubstituting a desired outcome for the actual

outcome of a die roll (e.g., succeeding instead of failing at a task)
Selectively ignoring rulesNot uniformly enforcing rules or modifiers

in order to make a situation worse/better than it otherwise would be (e.g.,
letting a monster ignore a penalty for darkness)
Hand-wavingDetermining the outcome of a task by GM fiat (e.g., not
rolling when a roll would normally be appropriate)
Why Do GMs Fudge?

GMs often fudge to maintain some kind of control over the game. This generally
has to do with the GMs expectations for how the session will progress, and its compounded by games which lack rules that give the GM or the players a way to mitigate
unfortunate in-game circumstances. Ultimately, the GM chooses to fudge because
an expectation is not met and there is no way to meet that expectation by following
the rules.
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A GM might fudge for a variety of reasons, including to:

Avoid disasters (like a TPK)
Give a player a break (managing frustration)

Protect a major NPC (plot armor)
Move the story along (pacing)
Choosing to Fudge
Its best to discuss fudging with your group
before the game. If your players are under the
assumption that all rolls are above-board, and
they discover that from time to time you have
fudged rolls or outcomes, they will feel cheated
out of their successes. Agreeing on the presence,
and the level (including none), of fudging in
your game will prevent many potential problems
down the road.
If you do fudge, be subtle:
Roll behind a screenFudging the
occasional outcome is a lot easier if the
players dont see your die rolls.
The first rule of Fudge ClubWhen

you fudge a roll, dont tell your players
afterwards; it will retroactively lessen their
experience.
Are You Playing

the Right Game?
If you feel the need to constantly
fudge rolls and/or outcomes in the
game youre running, its possible
youre not playing the best game
for your GMing style and group.
Some schools of thought say that
fudging is a sign that theres a
gap between what you want the
game to do and how it plays. In
essence, fudging closes that gap.
Following that school of thought,
if you do find yourself fudging
often, then take a critical look at
the game youre running and ask
yourself if you like the experience
it creates at the table.
The beauty of the gaming industry
at this point in time is that there are
thousands of games out there, all
of them with different approaches
and each creating a different play
experience. With some research,
and some experimentation, youre
likely to find a game that better fits
your style.
Fudge in favor of the PCsAs GM you

wield all the power you need in opposition to the players, so if you do
choose to fudge something then do so in the PCs favor.
The GM Rules
(And You Can Take That Any Way You Like)
As GMs, were often called on to be experts in the rules of the game, as well as to use
our judgment to make rulings when needed. Our ability to master the rules of the
game determines how efficient we will be in this role. With a deep understanding of
the rules, we can move scenes along smoothly, as well as be able to use the rules to
facilitate a players action when theyve ventured outside the rules as written.
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Rules not only cover whats in the games rulebooks, but also the rules surrounding how we play the game at the table, including whether we choose to
always follow the rules or selectively ignore them from time to time. Through a
combination of learning, documentation, and communication we can make sure
that everyone at the table is playing by the same rules.
Personal Story: What the Hell Is Weapon Speed?

I was only 10 years old when I learned how to play Dungeons & Dragons.
As was commonplace in the early 1980s, I learned the game from a friendin
this case, the boy who GMed my game. Unbeknownst to me, he was running a
mash-up of Basic and Advanced D&D, which was not uncommon in those days.
He would tell me what to roll and when, but often failed to tell me the rules behind
the rolls. Eventually we parted ways, and I took on the mantle of GMafter all, I
knew how to play, right?
One year, I got the core books for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons for Christmas. Excited, I started to flip through them . . . and suddenly I realized there were
whole areas of the game that I didnt know about, things that I was never taught
one of which was weapon speed. I tried to read the AD&D books, but I was 10
and those books were written in High Gygaxian, and werent easily consumable
for elementary school children. So I reverted to the D&D I was taught, and went on
to run my Basic/Advanced mash-up, and I never did learn what weapon speed
was all about.
Over the years, I learned the importance of reading the rules of a game as both a
GM and player. While complex rule sets do not come easy to me, I do make the
effort to read and learn how to play the game as written.
ChallengeAchievement: Master of the Game

1. Create a scene that utilizes a lesser-used rule so that you can practice your
mastery of that rule.
2. Reread an important section of rules before your next session, and see
what things youre doing correctly and what things you need to change.
3. Create a cheat sheet either for you or your players regarding a rules-heavy
part of the game (e.g., combat).
4. Listen to an actual play podcast for the system youre running to hear how
others are playing the game.
5. Engage a user community about a rule of the game that seems unclear,
and get clarity from the community.
6. Work with your group to set table rules about dice falling off the table,
cocked dice, and the like.
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Okay. I dont see anything in the rules about hacking phones,

but these rules werent written with smart phones in mind. No
worries, heres how we are going to do it . . . Gemma went
on to lay out a modification of the extended skill mechanics
using the Computers skill. She wasnt sure that was the best
way to handle it, but everyone understood the extended skill
mechanic and she wanted to keep the game moving.
Okay, the first check is to connect to the phone, the second
one to gain control, and the third to get the music to play.
Make sense? She looked over at Renaldo, who was already
scooping up his dice off the table.
Sure does, Renaldo said. With a +40 in Computers, this
phone is about to be mine. As Patti and Adam looked on,
Renaldo rolled his dice.
Agent Remo stood in the park furiously typing on his phone
while muttering under his breath. Agents Stone and Sylk
slowed their pace and listened intently. Suddenly, Sylk heard
a burst of loud polka music coming from the vicinity of a
hooded man with a red backpack. The man looked down at
his phone in surprise. Sylk pulled her pistol and approached
the target.
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The man with the backpack was only the tip of the iceberg,
but the team was able to find out from him (through a much
better interrogation scene) that the ringleader of the terrorist
cell was operating from a warehouse out by the airport. The
agents moved in to put an end to this cell once and for all.
There were many things that Gemma liked about this game
system, but running large combats was not one of them. Her
side of the table was cluttered with an initiative tracker, a row
of minis she had yet to put on the battle mat, cards, and a
stack of tokens.
Okay, Gemma said, leaning over the map. The warehouse
is right here. To its left . . . As she began to describe the
scene, the players listened carefully to the description while
looking at the map that lay on the table.
The three agents crouched outside the warehouse. It was
raining lightly, and their armor was beaded with water droplets.
They did a final check of their weapons and reviewed the
plan one last time. They were ready to end this threat against
the city and bring down the terrorists who were behind this
insidious plot. They waited . . . and waited. The three agents
kept looking around.
Hang on, Gemma said. Im just getting the initiative
organized, and then I need to pass out some cards, and I
just want to prep some minis. The players could hear the
frustration in her voice as she hastily organized all the
components on her side of the table. She fumbled the deck
of cards and they cascaded into her chips, which toppled her
stack of minis, causing her to drop the initiative tracker.
The three agents simultaneously took a deep breath. They
would be waiting in the rain for a bit longer.
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You Have a Lot on Your Plate

Lets face facts. When it comes to the number of things you have to do as a GM, the
list is pretty long. That list gets longer if youre playing in a system that uses additional
materials and play aids to spice up the game. Now youre not only entertaining, guiding a story, and managing the table, youre also juggling cards, chips, battle mats,
props, etc. Any time managing those things becomes too much, it can negatively
impact your ability to run a smooth-flowing game.
Now look over at those players, each with a single character sheet and a little pile of
dice. Perhaps they have a few cards, but not a full deck, and a few chips, but not a
stack. What are they doing lounging around while youre running helter-skelter trying to keep all these plates spinning?
Its time to put those players to work and make your game run more efficiently.
Many Hands Make Light Combat (or Work)

Many tasks need to be handled during the course of play, but not necessarily by you.
Your most important tasks are to keep the game flowing and the group working together to create an engaging story. Anything outside of that can be delegated to the
players to assist with during the course of the session.
Delegation has two key benefits. The first is that it frees you up to focus on the most
important things going on in the game. The second is that it gives the players things
to do during scenes, especially combat scenes (when things tend to be the most complicated), which helps them stay engaged.
What to Hand Out?

Not every traditional GMing task is appropriate for delegation. In most games, the
best activities to delegate are the ones that dont reveal anything about the plot or
the status of major NPCs. Good tasks to delegate include, but arent limited to, the
following:
Cleaning off the battle mat
Shuffling decks of cards
Moving miniatures around

the map
Writing out tags on index

cards
Keeping track of initiative

Helping track conditions
during combat
Paying the Crew

Depending on your group, it can be a good idea to give an in-game reward to players
who help take tasks off your plateits a nice way to say thank you. In most cases,
just a few extra experience points, a Benny (in Savage Worlds), or the like is more than
sufficient. Players will appreciate the in-game reward, and, if given in moderation, it
wont disrupt any of the various economies of the game.
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My first experience with this was in a Savage Worlds game run by Sean Patrick
Fannon. Sean would find the player who had the fewest Bennies and have them
shuffle one of the initiative decks (he used two, one active and one ready to be
used next), and give that player a Benny for helping out. This freed Sean up to
keep running the game, and the extra Benny for the player who was running
low helped to keep them engaged in the game. A win-win.
Delegating Larger GMing Responsibilities

In addition to administrative tasks, its also possible to delegate bigger things
to your playerslike elements of the GMs traditional narrative authority. By
picking the right tasks, just as with the administrative stuff, you can reduce your
workload while engaging your players even more deeply in the game.
Again, the best tasks for delegation are the ones that do not reveal any of the plot or
the machinations of major NPCs to the players. There are still plenty of things that
fall outside of those parameters, such as:
Defining NPCs not integral to the main plot
Describing minor locations
Describing local customs
In many respects these tasks are improv exerciseslike the ones in Chapter 17. When
the players encounter a minor NPC, rather than making her up yourself, hand the
NPC off to one of the players: Tell me about this bartender. What makes her stand
out? There are two major benefits to doing this:
The resulting NPC will likely be outside of your comfort zone, and this
will help avoid some of the stock descriptions you (probably) fall back on
when describing a minor NPC.
The player will be more invested in this NPC because he created her. He
will be even more invested if you use reincorporation to bring back this
NPC at a later date.
As with other types of in-game improvisation, there is a strong need for trust between
you and your players involved, particularly in the area of what makes sense in the
game world. In a fantasy world without sophisticated technology, it wouldnt make
sense if the player described the bartender as having a clockwork arm. Similarly, the
player needs to trust that you wont veto his description of the bartender.
Handing off narrative control isnt always easy, nor are all players willing to take on
these responsibilities. Discuss this with your players and find out their feelings on the
topic, rather than springing this on them cold in the middle of a session. (If some of
your players are also GMs, youre likely to find them receptive to this idea.)
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When you are ready to try out some of these techniques, incorporate them into early
scenes, before the main plot is in full gear. If a player freezes or the narration goes
flat, dont let the player floundercome in and gently take control of the scene and
move it forward. As we said in Chapter 17, improvisation is a skill and it improves
with practicedont worry if things dont go perfectly.
Scene Framing
Scene framing is the act of describing the set, NPCs, and other elements in a scene
as the scene begins. It often ends with the question What do you do? In many
RPGs, scene framing is part of the GMs purview, but it doesnt have to be. If youre
not playing a game that already spreads this responsibility around, you can easily shift
the framing of some scenes to your players.
If your players are new to this idea, start by providing a list of the elements the scene
requires (e.g., where it takes place, who else is there, and whats going on) and letting
them take it from there. (Players experienced at scene framing likely wont need this
sort of introduction.) For example:
GM: Youre confronting the Hyena at the hotel where hes hiding out. Hes in a
suite, and hes not alone. Set the scene for ushow does the confrontation begin?
Player: Hes having breakfast in bed with his lover when I kick in the door.
Both men look up at me in surprise as I stride into the room, grab a nearby chair
and put it next to the bed. I sit down and say, Surprised to see me, Hyena?
Oftentimes, having a player frame a scene may result in a scene where that players PC
comes across as cool and competentand thats great. The PCs are the protagonists,
and this is just one more opportunity for them to shine.
Close-Ups
Interpreting and narrating the outcome of a die rollgoing in for a close-up, to
use a filmmaking analogyis a fantastic moment to hand narrative control over to a
player. For example, So thats a critical hit. What does it look like? or Wow, you
totally tanked that Find Traps check. How do you wind up setting off the trap? If
your group is used to you narrating outcomes, this can take a bit of getting used to,
but once theyre used to it this technique can really deepen everyones engagement
with the game.
Spotlights
Spotlight scenes, those that focus on a particular PC and her growth, are great places
to hand narrative control to players. Because these scenes are usually independent of
the main plot, giving a player control over scene framing and how the scene plays out
is unlikely to affect the overall structure of the session. If necessary, you can prompt
the player with a bit of direction and then let him take over (e.g., Youre having lunch
at a restaurant when you see a mugging take place outside . . .). You can also ask
other players to take on the roles of NPCs in the scene.
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Rules Lawyer Becomes Rules Expert

As I mentioned in the previous chapter, Im not the best at learning and memorizing crunchy game rules. They just dont stick well with me. I am blessed
because I always game with someone who is a rules savant, who has a wonderful
grasp of the core mechanics as well as a large number of ancillary rules. In the
past I would struggle to study the rules over and over to gain mastery over them
so that I could make sure that the players were not trying to skirt any rules, and
that we were playing properly. I would also shut down the player who knew the
rules well, labeling them as a rules lawyer, when they noted things that I was
doing wrong.
Theres a limit to how well you can know the rules, though, and to how much time
you can devote to rules mastery alongside all of your other GMing duties. So instead
of taking offense at a rules lawyer, put them to work for you. Make them the czar of
the rules, the oracle that everyone in the group can turn to when they need to know
something about how the game system works. Establish that if someone breaks a rule
(likely unintentionally), the rules expert will politely mention it so that the rule can
be followed correctly.

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Co-GMing
The ultimate delegation of GMing duties is to actually share the role of GM with
another person, which is usually referred to as co-GMing. This is a pretty rare
practice, but there are those that have found this arrangement to greatly enhance the
games theyre running. Since this chapter is dedicated to delegating GMing responsibilities, well finish it out by exploring this GMing style.
Two GMs, One Screen

In a nutshell, co-GMing is when two people split the GM role. In my 30-plus years
of gaming, I have only ever heard of this being done with two GMs, but Im sure that
somewhere out there is a group thats done it with three or more GMs. Well focus
on the idea of two people filling the GMs role, but many of these principles can be
extended to cover additional co-GMs.
There are a few different ways that the two GMs can delegate their duties. Here are
some of the ways Ive seen it done.
Narrative vs. Combat

In this configuration, one GM handles all the story and non-combat scene narration,
including NPC dialog, while the other GM manages all aspects of combat scenes.
This split typically arises in games with complex combat systems, where a single combat can take hours to play out. The narrative GM can keep the story moving, while
the combat GM adjudicates the players actions and plays the monsters/NPCs in
the battle.
Game vs. NPCs

One GM handles everything except running NPCs (including overall narration and
combat scenes), and the other GM handles only the NPCs. This arrangement works
well in games where there are numerous NPCs for the PCs to interact with. Often
the NPC GM has an acting background, and is someone who enjoys portraying a
wide range of characters.
Split Brains
Two GMs work in concert, but they each run separate groups. Each GM is responsible for running the game for their group, but the sessions are designed in such a way
that both groups are playing in the same story and the actions of one group affect
the other. There may be cases where the two groups come together, or when players
swap groups. This configuration works when you have a large number of players and
a complex story. It requires a free flow of information between the GMs, so that each
can relay the other groups actions to their group.
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Spotlight and Behind the Scenes

One GM runs the sessions, and the other GMin part or in wholemanages the entire campaign and preps the sessions. During play, the behind the
scenes GM may just hang back and watch the session while passing notes to
the spotlight GM to provide feedback and advice on how the story should
proceed. Alternately, she may take on another, separate GMing role at the tablelikely one of the co-GMing roles outlined in this section. This setup works
well when one GM is less comfortable behind the screen but is full of adventure
and campaign ideas.
Even Split
Finally, there are pairs of GMs who just split the role in some sort of organic way,
not really following any one of the above models (or employing some kind of hybrid
of more than one co-GMing arrangement). This configuration tends to be unique to
the two specific GMs involved.
Implementing the Co-GM

If youre going to co-GM with someone else in the group, its best to set that up at
the beginning of the campaignor, to test the waters, as part of a specific story arc
or even for a one-shot. Co-GMing is something that should be discussed with the
whole group before the first session.
Before you start the game, the two GMs need to determine what co-GMing configuration theyre going to use and define their respective responsibilities. This is critical
to making co-GMing work: You dont want the GMs to stumble over responsibilities
at the table, creating confusion and delaying the game.
The Advantages of the Co-GM

There are a number of reasons you might want to consider a co-GM, whether for a
session or for a campaign, including:
Double the creativityTwo minds generate more (and more varied)
ideas, enriching your sessions and campaigns.
Compensate weak areasThe GMs can fill in for each others weaknesses,
making the overall GMing stronger than if either GM were on his own.
Manage larger groupsWith two GMs, you can run larger groups and
allow them to play in separate scenes
Manage more complex campaignsFor those really complex campaign

concepts, having another GM to help manage the story can help to ensure
success.
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The Downside to the Co-GM

Of course, there are a few downsides (or at least potential downsides) as well, including:
Increased communicationWith two people working on the campaign,
there is the need for a dedicated channel of communication between the
two GMs.
CompromiseWith more than one idea and opinion about most things,
there will be times when you dont agree on an idea and you will need to
compromise to reach an agreement.
Prep will take longerThe need for communication and the potential of
having to compromise on ideas will lengthen game prep.
Depleting the player poolIf you dont have a large group of players,
then taking one away to be a co-GM reduces the number of available
players.
Helping Out
The job of GM is multifaceted, and sometimes you can use a hand managing all the
things that are going on at the table. Luckily, theres a group of people around that
very table who can help. By sharing GMing responsibilities with your players, you
are freed up to handle the more critical aspects of the role. Beyond simple tasks, you
can also turn over greater authority to players in the areas of scene and NPC creation,
among others. And if it works for your group, you can extend this all the way to fullon co-GMing.
Delegation is best done in small increments. Give up a thing here and there, and soon
you will have players framing scenes and creating NPCs, giving you more mental
bandwidth to keep your table focused and creating better and better games.
ChallengeAchievement: Manager
1. Distribute some of your minor tasks to your players, such as initiative
tracking.
2. Ask a player to create an NPC, location, or other background element

during the course of the game.
3. Ask a player to frame a scene during the game.
4. Ask a player to describe a critical success (or failure) during the game.
5. Ask a player to run a spotlight scene.
6. Co-GM a single session.
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Personal Story: My First Encounter with Big Irish

Years ago, I attended Con on the Cob, a regional convention in Northern Ohio
known for having a large Savage Worlds contingent. I was told we needed to
play in a game of Shaintar run by its creator, Sean Patrick Fannon (Big Irish).
I had not signed up for the event, but was told by my friends not to worry, Sean
would fit us in. When I walked into the room there were 15 other people there!
Sean quickly introduced himself and gave me a pile of pre-gens from which to
choose my character. The main table in the room was a group of eight veteran
players, all of whom were Savage World experts. They were involved in a long
and complex combat.
Sean then took all the new players and put them at another table on the side of
the room. He selected one of the experts, broke them off from the main table, and
had them run the combat at our table. Sean laid out the general story, provided the
expert with the NPC stats, and then let them manage our combat as he bounced
between tables overseeing both combats. All the while he had players shuffling
decks of cards, moving miniatures on the giant tables, and handling other parts of
the game.
Eventually both tables came together in one 15-person climatic battle. During the
battle the expert players helped to advise the newer players on their turns, answering questions and explaining rules. It was a lot to manage, and it worked because
of how Sean delegated the work to the Savages involved.

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Adam moved the initiative tracker down a notch. Your turn,

Sylk.
Agent Sylk sprinted from the pile of boxes shed been using as
cover and chased after the Hyena. Agents Stone and Remo
moved to cover her as the other terrorists moved to intercept
Sylk.
Move the terrorist up three more squares and two to the left,
Gemma said to Renaldo, who was in charge of moving minis.
That gives them all an open shot. Once the minis were in
place, Gemma said, Now to open fire. Patti, roll to evade.
Patti rolled for Agent Sylk. 100! Adam and Renaldo cheered,
and even Gemma smiled.
Gemma said, Okay, Patti, describe for us how Sylk avoids
the hail of bullets from all three shooters.
Well, Sylk starts running . . .
Agent Sylk runs in a low crouch as a hail of bullets sails
over her head. She then cuts sharply to the left as the next
burst misses her, and finally she slides on the concrete floor,
tripping the Hyena and knocking him to the floor as the last
burst tears into the crates above their heads. She puts her
gun against the back of the Hyenas head and tells him not
to move.
Agents Stone and Remo pop up from cover and open fire,
taking down the remaining terrorists. Once again, disaster
has been averted. All in a nights work for Agents Sylk, Stone,
and Remo.
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Conclusion
In GMing, theres nothing more important than running a good game. You
can have the fastest, shortest, or most elaborate prep, but it wont matter unless
you can run a good game. You can have the most intricate campaign idea, with
plot twists and intertwined story arcs, but that doesnt matter if you cant run a
good game.
The Game Session Is Where It All Happens

Running a good game is no easy feat. Its not a single skill that you can practice
over and over until you master it. Rather, its a group of disciplines, each with their
own skills that must be mastered. For most of us it takes years to master enough of
those skills just to be considered a good GM.
Being a GM Is Hard Work

Theres no single path to being a great GM. Rather, you have to discover what you
need along the way. That discovery comes in the wake of playing games and managing campaignsthe good ones and the bad ones, from those high points when the
table breaks out in cheers at the completion of a challenging story arc, to the crushing,
silent frustration of a session gone all wrong.
Wisdom Is Never Gained Easily

Overt time, as you run games, you create a toolbox of skills that allow you to GM
with confidence. You may pick up a knack for crafting moving soundtracks. You
might develop a great sense of timing to end your games on a cliffhanger. Or you
may discover how to get a group of players to cooperate and move the story forward.
Our Tools Come from the Games We Run

As your GM career continues, your needs change in the same way that your games
change. Skills you once relied on are no longer as useful, and you find yourself looking for new skills to add to your collection. As GMs, were constantly striving to run
a better game than the last one.
The Best GMs Always Work to Be Better

The goal ofFocal Pointwas to take a tour through the three disciplines of GMing,
and break them down to show the essential skills and activities. LikeNever UnpreparedandOdyssey before it,our goal was to give names to those skills and activities so
that you could find the things you wanted and needed, and focus on their development.
We hope that as you read this book you found ways to sharpen some of your existing
skills or some new tricks to add to the table, and discovered some skills you didnt
have that you want to add to your repertoire.
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219
Reading Is Not Enough

Now, take what you learned and use it at the table. Use these skills to create memorable games for you and your players at every session, and inspire others to become
great GMs.
Game well.
Phil, Walt, and John
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Conclusion
About the Artwork:

A Fortuitous Hat Trick
Focal Point is the third book in a semi-unplanned trilogy of GMing advice
books, the first two being Never Unprepared: The Complete Game Masters
Guide to Session Prep and Odyssey: The Complete Game Masters Guide to Campaign Management (both from Engine Publishing), and I have been fortunate
enough to be the art director for the entire series. Phil Vecchione was the driving force behind this trilogy, bringing Walt Ciechanowski and myself on as
authors for each subsequent book. In my role as art director, I want to point out
something you may not have realized: the conjunction of the red d10. (Id also like to
say thanks to The Guardtower in Columbus, Ohio, for use of props and permission
to photograph there.)
As you gaze at the cover of Focal Point, you sit in the seat of a player, looking at a
die that has been cast onto the table. It represents all the electricity and mayhem of a
game in the midst of being run with every character, PC or NPC, in motion or about
to act. This is the living and dynamic world of the session, jointly crafted by the players and the GM and tied together by the game itself.
Count back a second in the timeline of the red die and flip to the back cover of this
book, and youll see the die from the GMs perspective, just rolled and beginning to
explode. Here it represents that moment between planning and execution, just after
the GM has put something into play.
About the Artwork
221
Move back along the timeline a bit further and youll see the cover of Odyssey. Gemma, the GM, sits there with the red die in hand, her beautifully crafted and organized
campaign plans in her head and ready to put before the players.
Stretch even farther back in time to the cover of Never Unprepared, and youll find
yourself in a scene directly out of Gemmas imagination. A character of Gemmas,
Alia Tholka reality exploreris prepping for an adventure. Standing at a table
of game elements real and imagined, Alia is gathering her tools from the chaos and
preparing to create unique worldsand on that table is a red die that ties everything
together. Lined up on your bookshelf, the covers form a complete narrative that represents every GMs personal journey when running a game.
It starts with the order-from-chaos world of prep, progresses to our beautifully crafted and intricate campaign ideas that are destined to be shredded to pieces, and finally
ends with the mixture of planning and improvisation that is the chaotic electricity of
each session. Like any great gaming experience, the covers were a mixture of planning, blind luck, and adapting to the situation on the fly that led to this wonderful
synergy and narrative.
Thank you for sharing this journey of GMing with us. Next time you pick up your
lucky red die to roll for an NPC, think of these covers, everything it took to get to this
one moment of the die roll, the moment when your players imaginations and yours
will meet and spark something wonderfulbecause it is those shared moments, full
of electricity and mayhem, that keep us GMing.
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About the Artwork
Index
A
Achievements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

See also: Challenges
Adventures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7, 80, 94, 127

Adapting published scenarios . . 81, 86

Analyzing. . . . . . . . . . . . . 81, 87, 90, 95, 98

Cheat sheets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

Convention games. . . . . . . . . 96, 107, 136,
161, 164, 200, 217

Flowcharts. . . . . . . . 95, 98, 126, 137, 142

PC challenges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

Player interest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82, 112

Plot holes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Plot hooks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Railroading. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124

ScenesSee Scenes

Storyboarding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

Structure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81, 85, 87, 98,
103, 118, 134, 141, 160

See also: Sessions
Area, playSee Play space
Assistant director roleSee Roles
Atmosphere . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12, 107, 108
Call of Cthulhu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119

Campaigns . . . . . 5, 53, 62, 80, 89, 98, 108,
112, 118, 122, 128, 153, 172
Cardboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Challenges. . . 8, 18, 28, 37, 54, 65, 76, 90,
102, 113, 129, 138, 147, 153,
164, 177, 186, 196, 207, 216
Charts

Flowcharts. . . . . . . . 95, 98, 126, 137, 142

Style. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Clay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Clues . . . . . 70, 84, 86, 102, 124, 134, 151

Clue maps. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119

Forgotten . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

Genre conventions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Improvisational. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192

Missed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119

Props. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18, 54

Recaps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

Types. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Co-GMing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Comfort zones. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171, 173, 177
Conflicts

In-game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121, 184

Social . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7, 167, 180

See also: Safety
Convention games. . . . . . 96, 107, 136, 161,
164, 200, 217
Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
CraftingSee Building stuff
BBEGSee Big Bad Evil Guy

Big Bad Evil Guy. . . . 32, 82, 85, 127, 134
Body language. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Breaks . . . . . . 127, 132, 134, 138, 160, 185

Commercial. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133

Convention. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136

Frequency. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132

Length. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Building stuff. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26, 28, 40, 46

Cardboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Clay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Foam crafting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Materials. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25, 28

Modifying things. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46, 48

Papercraft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42, 48

Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Woodworking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26, 28, 42
Delegation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210, 211, 214, 216

Descriptions. . . 14, 21, 57, 60, 74, 89, 164

Comfort zones. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171

Delegation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211

Lists of terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

NPCs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63, 211

Places . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62, 89, 211

Style. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57, 211

Words and phrases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Directors Notes sidebarsSee Sidebars
Index
223
Distractions . . . . . . . 7, 14, 21, 106, 143, 157

Getting attention back . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162

Holding attention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36, 163

Kipple. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Play space. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22, 28

Reasons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Documentary Reel sidebars

See Sidebars
Dressing, setSee Sets
d20 Modern TM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Delegation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210

FictionalSee Fictional gaming group

GMs role . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7, 183

Improv requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191

Productive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179

Social contract. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171

Unproductive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180

See also: Players, Safety
Engagement. . . . . . . . . . . . . 12, 22, 32, 36, 40,

67, 106, 138, 159
Engine Publishing Taglines: Way Too Long
Is Never Long Enough . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Entertainer roleSee Roles
Eureka: 501 Adventure Plots
to Inspire Game Masters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Immersion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15, 18, 25, 30,

57, 69, 74, 158
Improvisation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188

Being improv-ready . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189

Clues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192

Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194

Improv 101 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191

Listening. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192

Prep . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196

Reincorporation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193

Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191

Skills. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189, 194

Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192, 194

Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194

Yes . . . And . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192

Unframed: The Art of Improvisation
for Game Masters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Index geeks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Facilitator roleSee Roles

Feedback. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148

Directed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151

Indirect. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151

Soliciting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149, 153
Fiasco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Fictional gaming group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Examples that use the group. . 81, 106

Individual fiction sections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

11, 19, 20, 29, 30, 38, 39, 55, 56, 66,

67, 76, 78, 91, 93, 103, 105, 114, 116,

129, 131, 138, 140, 147, 148, 154, 156,

165, 166, 177, 178, 187, 188, 197, 198,

208, 209, 218
Flowcharts. . . . . . . . . . . . 95, 98, 126, 137, 142
Foam crafting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Fudging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Game prepSee Prep

Gaming groupSee Group
Gnome Stew. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163, 171
Godfather, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81, 88, 179
Collaborative. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181, 182
224
Index
House rules. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98, 102, 121, 203
Kipple. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Lighting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163

Comfort zones. . . . . . . . . . . . . 171, 173, 177

Descriptive terms. . . . . . . . . . . . . 59, 62, 65

GMing wishlist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Player concerns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142, 147

Playlists. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7, 71

Recap checklists. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

Rules. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

Scene. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87, 98, 135

Social contract. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Making thingsSee Building stuff

Materials

For building stuff. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25, 41

Organizing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23, 28
Miniatures. . . . . . . . . 24, 34, 40, 44, 52, 210

Play space. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13, 15, 21, 25

See also: Terrain
Mistakes . . . . . . . . . . . . 89, 127, 128, 144, 186
Moments, wowSee Wow moments
Movie studio analogy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Mood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67, 69, 76

Atmosphere . . . . . . . 12, 14, 21, 107, 108

Lighting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

See also: Play space, Props
Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67, 70, 71, 108

Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Distracting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71, 76

Personal theme songs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Playlists. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Selecting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Sound effects. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Papercraft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
PCs . . . . . . . . 100, 110, 112, 122, 152, 176

Challenges. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

Death . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121

Skills. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88, 99, 119, 141, 182
Personal Story sidebarsSee Sidebars
Photos . . . . . . . 17, 22, 26, 27, 35, 36, 43, 45
Player charactersSee PCs
Players. . . . . . . . . . 114-16, 21, 57, 69, 82, 88,
103, 122, 141, 157, 172, 183

Behavior. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

Concerns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142, 147

Delegation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210

Engagement. . . . . . . . . 12, 22, 32, 36, 40,
67, 106, 138, 159

Group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179

Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Play space. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12, 23, 108

Arranging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Atmosphere . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14, 21

Types. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15, 18

Selecting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13, 15, 18

Shared . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18, 161, 164

See also: Distractions, Set
Plot holes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Plot hooks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Prep . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83, 90, 94, 196

See also: Adventures, Campaigns
Problems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117

Bad rolls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121

Botched scenes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122

Chaotic players. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122

Clues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103, 119

Railroads. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Props 6, 25, 40, 54, 63

Clues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18, 54

Foam. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

NPCs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Terrain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16, 40, 44, 52

See also: Building stuff, Miniatures
Never Unprepared: The Complete Game

Masters Guide to Session Prep. . . . 5, 221
Non-player charactersSee NPCs
NPCs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16, 34, 36, 37, 63,
100, 112, 122, 211

Body language. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Casting sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Describing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58, 63

Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Phteven. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Props. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Substitutions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

3/2 Rule. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Odyssey: The Complete

Game Masters Guide to Campaign
Management. . . . . . . . . 5, 9, 118, 172, 221
Index
225
R
Railroading. . . . . . . . . 80, 83, 112, 124, 149
Recaps. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108, 113

Checklists. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

Cut scenes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

Sample. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Retconning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127, 145, 146
Roles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5, 6, 8

Assistant director. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Co-GMing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214

Delegation. . . . . . . . . . . 210, 211, 214, 216

Entertainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Facilitator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6, 7

In the group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183

Referee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199

Rules expert. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206

Storyteller. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6, 7
Rules. . . . . . . . 96, 98, 100, 144, 199, 213

Applying. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200

Changes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144

Cheat sheets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

Expertise. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206, 213

Following. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199

Fudging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205

House rules. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204

Learning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200, 207

Rulebooks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199

Rulings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144, 201, 203

Table rules. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204

Temporary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Rulings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144, 201, 203
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167, 191

At risk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173

Being offended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170

Comfort Zones. . . . . . . . . . . . 171, 173, 177

Creating. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171

Definition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167

Feeling unsafe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169

New players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172

Regaining safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174

Social contract. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171

Warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172

When building stuff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
ScenerySee Terrain
226
Index
Scenes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30, 182, 212

Botched . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122

Close-ups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212

Cut scenes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108, 113
Framing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212

Listing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87, 98, 135
Special effects. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30, 33
Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212

Types. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85, 212

See also: Wow moments
Script, shootingSee Adventures
Sessions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94, 106

Accidents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95, 100

Breaks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127, 132, 160, 185

Cheat sheets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95, 96

Convention games. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

Ending. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141, 145

Flowcharts. . . . . . . . 95, 98, 126 137, 142

Goals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

Insurance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95, 100

Pausing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118

Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117, 135, 141

Retconning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127

Social hour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106, 107

Starting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106, 112, 113

Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95, 132

See also: Adventures, Recaps
Sets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21, 25

Central focus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Dressing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21, 25

Separating from play space. . . . . . . . . . . 25

Stage design. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

See also: Play space, Props
Sidebars

Acting Like Adults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

Are You Playing the
Right Game? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206

Being Offended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170

Directors Notes
Commercial Breaks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133

Directors Notes
Convention Games . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

Directors Notes
Dont Be Afraid to Cut . . . . . . . . . . . 86

Directors Notes
Dont Be Afraid to Pause. . . . . . . . 118

Directors NotesDo You Really

Want Criticism? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149

Directors NotesGiving a
Script the Personal Touch. . . . . . . . 81

Directors NotesThe Problem
of Camaraderie. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

Directors NotesTwenty Minutes
of Fun Can Make All
the Difference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142

Documentary Reel
Convention Breaks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136

Documentary Reel
The Forgotten Clue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

Documentary Reel
The Long Recap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

Documentary Reel
Splicing the Film. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

Documentary Reel
The Weak Reshoot. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146

Documentary Reel
Who Did I Call?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128

Documentary Reel
Youre Playing a What?. . . . . . . . . . 152

From Garage to
Kitchen to Basement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

House Rule Assumptions. . . . . . . . . . . . 98

Indirect Feedback. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151

Keep an Eye Out for
Character Upgrades!. . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

Obligatory Disclaimer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Personal Story:
The Field of Battle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164

Personal Story:
Gabe and Lucy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176

Personal Story:
Losing My Cool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186

Personal Story:
My Ever-Shrinking Prep. . . . . . . 196

Personal Story: My First
Encounter with Big Irish. . . . . . . . 217

Personal Story: What the Hell
is Weapon Speed? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207

Reshooting?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145

Simple Tricks for
Modular Walls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Virtual Recapping. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

Visual Cortex Exercise. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Watching for Wow Moments . . . . . . . 34

Whatever Lola Wants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

Working with Wood. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Yes, I was Being a Jackass . . . . . . . . . . 123
Skills

GMing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9, 149

Gaming group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182, 189

PC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88, 99, 119, 141, 182

Improvisation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189, 194

Social contract. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171

SoundtrackSee Music
Space, playSee Play space
StageSee Sets
Star Wars. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30, 123
Storyboarding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Storyteller roleSee Roles
StudioSee Play space
Style

Analyzing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Body language. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Descriptions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57, 61

GMing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57, 205

Strengths. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Weaknesses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Terrain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16, 40, 44, 52

3/2 Rule. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Improvisation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Unframed: The Art of Improvisation

for Game Masters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Wargaming. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50, 199

Whiskey, at this point during
indexing I like to have a. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Woodworking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26, 28, 42
Wow moments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30, 34

Scene analysis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31, 32, 34

When to use. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Index
227
Contributor Bios
John Arcadian is a freelance author, blogger, and art director in the tabletop gaming
industry with many awards under his belt. John writes gaming advice at the multiple ENnie award winning site GnomeStew.com as well as books and gaming content
for companies like Engine Publishing, Cubicle 7, Silvervine Games, Savage Insider, Open Game Table and many others. When not gaming or writing about gaming, John builds websites and creates videos, paints miniatures, builds custom sonic
screwdrivers, hikes in the woods, and generally causes havoc in his kilt. You can find
a complete list of publications and his personal blog at JohnArcadian.com.
Walt Ciechanowski wasnt deterred by Mazes and Monsters and has been a game
master for over 30 years. Forced to play outside during his early years, Walt has
developed a Wing It style that relies heavily on roleplay. A LARP survivor, hes been
working in the RPG industry since 2003 and is currently a line developer for Cubicle
7 Entertainment. Walt lives in Springfield, Pennsylvania with his wife Helena and
three children, Leianna, Stephen, and Zoeanna.
Robert M. Everson, aka Spenser, is an Epic Level Proofreader and Editor for the
bloggers at Gnome Stew. Hes been gaming for over 30 years, has a voracious appetite
for reading, and is currently finalizing one of his own game designs that he hopes to
have published in the not-too-distant future. This marks the fifth book in his longtime collaboration with Engine Publishing.
Darren Hardy is a web and print designer enjoying life in Midland, MI. He enjoys
hiking, kayaking, cooking, gaming, and helping others with their projects. Hes looking forward to upcoming adventures and quality time with family and friends.
David L. Johnson is an ENnie-nominated illustrator and designer from Missoula,
Montana. Hes illustrated for Pelgrane Press on the Trail of Cthulhu, Fear Itself, and
Nights Black Agents games, as well as slung pencils and inks for a variety of old school
games like Scarlet Heroes and Strange Stars. Additionally, David has worked as a concept artist for the Jan Woletz Group, as the sole artist and cartographer for Slumbering
Ursine Dunes, and published his own gonzo retroclone module, Grandpappy Cromdars Whizbang Zoo! When not making art, David can be found soaking in remote
mountain hot springs.
Avery Liell-Kok is a painter and artist. A longtime RPG player and character doodler with a fine art and art history background, she got bored of illustrating all of her
fellow gamers games for free and began seeking gainful employment. She lives in
Indiana with her fianc.
Daniel Milne: Str 3, Dex 11, Con 10, Cha 13, Wis 15, Int 15. Solitary Creature, appears as an indistinguishable man in his late 20s. Most commonly found in Salt Lake
City, this creature is known to voraciously devour video games and roleplaying books
with equal zealousness. Sudden bright light (such as sunlight) will disorient for 1d4
rounds. Takes double damage from cats and card games.
228
Contributor Bios
Matt Morrow has been creating illustrations professionally since 1996. He

worked for a computer magazine as an in-house illustrator until 1999, where he
crafted hundreds of editorial illustrations. Since then, Matt has been juggling
being a stay at home dad with three great kids and working on freelance projects
in various areas such as newspapers, childrens books, and RPGs, drawing subjects from hedgehogs to zombies. You can find a portfolio of his work at www.
facebook.com/mattmorrowart.
Gumshoe whistleblower reporter hero? A narcissistic antagonist out for blood?
Fall-guy for a horrifying nanite invasion? Sleeper agent for extraplanar feline intelligence? The FACTS on Juan Ochoa: He is a straight-dealing, smooth-lined, gritteethed artist, twainsplit mirror-master-magician-carouser-cavorter, and noted wizard, with knowledge bilingual, exotic, and esoteric, who theoretically does most of
his thinking in Espaol. Find him at www.juanochoa.co.
Elizabeth Porter is a compulsive doodler currently found in the wilds of Alberta. She
can often be found working on making images of imaginary places and inhabitants
when she is not being distracted by birds. You can reach her at snowbringer@gmail.
com.
Martin Ralya got his start in the RPG industry in 2004 as a freelance writer, with
25 published credits for Goodman Games, Paizo Publishing, and others. He has
written over 1,200 GMing articles on TreasureTables.org and GnomeStew.com. Martin
founded Engine Publishing in 2009, and now works as a writer, designer, editor, and
publisher; Focal Point is Engine Publishings sixth book. His work has won multiple ENnie Awards and been nominated for ENnies, Golden Geeks, and an Origins
Award. Martin lives in Utah with his awesome wife, Alysia, amazing daughter, Lark,
and nutty dog, Wicket, in a house full of games.
Dont let the tough-guy image fool you; Kurt Schneider really does have a soft nerdy
core. Hes been gaming since the first time disco was cool, is a once and (hopefully)
future contributor to the game mastering blog GnomeStew.com, regularly contributes
to a number of gaming forums and mailing lists under the nom de keyboard Telas or
TelasTX, and is a contributing author for Engine Publishings books Eureka, Masks,
and Unframed. He currently resides outside Austin, Texas with his wife and three
children.
Phil Vecchione began blogging in 2008 as one of the founders of the award-winning
GnomeStew.com GMing blog. As a member of Gnome Stew he has written numerous
articles on all facets of GMing over the years. As an author, Phil is one of the leading writers in the area of GMing advice. His work through Engine Publishing has
earned a Gold ENnie, as well as multiple ENnie and Golden Geek nominations and
an Origins Award nomination. Phil is also a podcaster, a freelance game designer,
and owner of Encoded Designs.
Contributor Bios
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What is the book about?

What is the book about?

What chapters are included in the book?

What chapters are included in the book?

Credits

Authors: John Arcadian,

Credits, Legal, and Dedication

Chapter 1: The Studio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Chapter 7: It Starts With a Script . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

Chapter 14: Quiet on the Set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156

Jason Morningstar Durham, NC June 2015

The truest experience of any roleplaying game happens at the table.

Phil Vecchione Buffalo, NY April 2015

How to Use this Book

Why a Book about Running Game Sessions?

The Three Roles

How to Use this Book

Three Sections and a Metaphor

CameraFraming scenes, the opening, the climax,

Why Three Authors?

How to Use this Book

2. Determine the chapter: Roll 1d20 (reroll a result of 20)

Were Getting The Band Back Together

Its a Marathon, Not a Sprint

How to Use this Book

Artist: Avery Liell-Kok

Chapter 1: The Studio

Where You Play Matters

Artist: David L. Johnson

The storywhether in the studio or at the gaming tabledepends on all of the

Scouting the Location

Your Space Sets the Basic Atmosphere and Tone

Visual Cortex Exercise

Making the Visual Cortex Work for You

Never Leave Home Without Your . . . Sheets?

Sample Play Spaces

The Standard Gaming TableA Good Option for Most Games

The Circle of ConversationRoleplaying- and NPC-Heavy Games

The Scenes the ThingFor Great Impact, Go to Hyper-Focus

Get Up On Your FeetGames that Benefit from

On LocationEvoke a Specific Feeling by Going Somewhere Else

Despite having the same essential table structure, the atmosphere

From Garage to Kitchen to Basement

Challenge - Achievement: Studio Boss

The library? Seriously? We can game there? Renaldo had

Chapter 2: The Set

Dressing the Set

Artist: David L. Johnson

Clear the Set

Clear the Kipple without Being a Dictator

Rule with Rewards

Use Your Play Space to Deemphasize Kipple

Put On Your Assistant Director Hat

Separate the Set from the Rest of the Play Space

Stage Design 1: Create a Central Focus

Creates a visual impact and commands the space

Draws the players back to the game every time

Stage Design 2: Box Theater

Stage Design 3: Raise The Stage

Working with Wood