Rodrigo MustDie (order #22824328)

The GameMaster's
GMA Key Card
The GameMaster's Apprentice 3 4
2

Apprentice
The GameMaster's Apprentice decks are
15
a set of system- and setting-neutral support 1 5

Storytelling Cards tools for writers and GameMasters. The

complete Quickstart Guide and Instructions
documents can be found on DriveThruRPG 6
as free downloads (go to Larcenous Designs'
website, listed below, and click on "Store-
front"), but this set of instruction cards will 7
ART AREA 2.5X3.5 INCHES ART AREA 2.5X3.5 INCHES ART AREA 2.5X3.5 INCHES
get you started by briefly explaining a few of
LIVE AREA 2.25X3.25 INCHES the many options
LIVE AREA the GMA decks
2.25X3.25 provide!
INCHES LIVE AREA 2.25X3.25 INCHES
8 9
While these instructions use the Fantasy
Deck as an example, the basics here apply to
all GMA decks, from the genre-neutral Base 10 11
Deck to Horror, Sci-Fi, and more!
The GameMaster's Apprentice, ©2014-2017 by
Larcenous Designs, LLC
www.LarcenousDesigns.com
Writing and Design: Nathan Rockwood 12 14
Art and Graphic Design: Elena Asofsky and Max Johnson
Additional Art: Carl Olsen, Cathelineau, Delapouite, Lorc,
Skoll, and Willdabeast of www.Game-Icons.net; used under 13
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
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GMA Key Card Make a Character Answer Questions

1: Difficulty Generator: Bell-curved number from 1-10. 1: Draw three cards. All of these questions were answered using the example
2: Likely Odds: Yes/No answers; Good gives Yes 75% of 2: Take a Name from one, the Virtue and Vice from the card from #3 of this set of instruction cards. In actual
the time, Even gives Yes 50%, and Bad, 25%. next, and the Belongings from the third. play, draw a new card for each question!
3: Dice Wheel: The results of random die rolls. Starts 3: Interpret these in context with each other.
with the a d4 represented by a triangle, and goes: d4, d6, Options: Add a Sensory Snippet, a Prompt Icon, or a set Q: "What's in the room?"
d8, d10, d12, d20, d% (d00 and d10). of Tag Symbols to add more detail. A: Look at Sensory Snippets or Tag Symbols. 'The jangle
4: Old Norse Runes for tarot-like interpretation. Mechanics: Use the Difficulty Generator to set the of arms and armor...' and 'Brutally oversized weapons...'
5: Elemental Symbols; Earth, Fire, Air, and Water. character's relative power level or friendliness; '1' might sounds like an orc preparing for a fight!
6: Random Events: A Verb, Adjective, and Noun. Draw mean instant hatred or a weak minion, while '10' might
one card for each and combine into a phrase. mean love at first sight or a powerful boss monster. Q: "Is there more than one orc in the room?"
7: Sensory Snippets:
ART AREA From2.5X3.5
top to bottom,
INCHESsomething to ART AREA 2.5X3.5 INCHES A: Look at Likely
ART Odds
AREA(probably
2.5X3.5Good)
INCHESfor Yes or No;
hear, see, feel, and smell/taste. in this case it's 'No.'
Make a Random Encounter
8: Tag Symbols:
LIVE10 symbols
AREA in uniqueINCHES
2.25X3.25 combinations of 1: Draw twoLIVE AREA three)
(optionally 2.25X3.25
cards. INCHES LIVE AREA 2.25X3.25 INCHES
three. Interpret based on associations, or use a table. Q: "How powerful is the orc?"
2: Take the Verb from one and the Noun from another.
9: Scatter Die: Directional arrows, plus 'hit' and 'miss.' A: Look at the Difficulty Generator for the orc's power
If using three cards, take the Adjective from the third.
10: Belongings: A category of items, followed by three level. A 6 out of 10 probably means near the high end
3: Combine into a phrase; "Fight Purity" might suggest
examples. Choose one, or come up with a related item. of average.
an attack by religious zealots, and "Fight New Purity"
11: Names: One probably-masculine, probably-femi- might mean an invasion of crusading armies.
nine, and probably-gender-neutral name per card. Q: "I rolled a critical! What happens?"
Options: Use the Catalyst and Location; use the Prompt
12: Catalyst: An inciting incident for a story seed. A: Look at the Sensory Snippets or the Prompt Icon.
Icons as well as or instead of the text; look at the Sensory
13: Location: A random location for a story seed. The icon here suggests that you cut off the orc's hand!
Snippets for more details.
14: Virtues and Vices: Character motivations and weak- Mechanics: Use the Difficulty Generator to set the
nesses. Draw one card for each for true randomness. Q: "What do we find on the orc's body?"
relative or absolute difficulty of actions, or the level of
15: Prompt Icons; this field is only on the Fantasy Deck. A: Look at the Belongings. 'Small Change' suggests only
danger or signficance. '1' means easy or pure fluff; '10'
A unique picture for freeform interpretation. a few copper pieces or silver shavings, so not much!
means sure death or world-changing importance.
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Rodrigo MustDie (order #22824328)

Elemental Symbols Norse Runes - First Eight Tag Symbols Blanks

Interpret these symbolically to add broad-stroke ideas Interpret runes like tarot cards; they can give you ideas Make your own table for important situations!
to characters, scenes, encounters, enemies, etc. for adding detail or nuance to a scene!
Fehu: Livestock/Wealth. Property, prosperity, Table For:_________________________
 Fire brings aggression and energy. fertility, increase, social success.
 Water brings nurturing calm and hidden depths.  Tower: ____________________________________
 Air brings movement and curiosity. Uruz: Auroch/Wild Ox. Energy, health, strength,
 Earth brings endurance and stability. tenacity, courage.  Crown: ___________________________________
Thurisaz: Thor/Giant. Reactionary, defensive
Tag Symbols destruction. Instinct, willpower, and regeneration; Heart: ____________________________________
Interpret all three on one card together; each trio or set lightning, electricity.
is unique, andART AREA sets
all possible 2.5X3.5 INCHES
appear once. Use them to ART AREA 2.5X3.5 INCHES ART AREA 2.5X3.5 INCHES
 Skull: _____________________________________
add nuance to characters, scenes, encounters, enemies, Ansuz: Ancestral Spirit/A God. Revelation, in-
LIVEsymbolically
etc. Read them AREA 2.25X3.25
or make aINCHES
table (see the sight,LIVE
powerAREA 2.25X3.25divine
of words/names; INCHES
intervention. LIVE AREA 2.25X3.25 INCHES
Sun: ______________________________________
instruction document for more examples).
Raido: Wagon/Journey. Travel, evolution, moving
forward, gaining perspective.
Moon: ____________________________________
 Tower: Obstacle, fortress, location.
 Crown: Royalty, intrigue, power.
Heart: Family, friendship, romance.
Kenaz: Beacon/Torch. Creativity, inspiration,  Sword: ____________________________________
harnessed power, world-changing ability.
 Skull: Loss, change, death.
Sun: Clarity, revelation, discovery.  Shield: ____________________________________
Gebo: Gift/Exchanges. Generosity, balance, con-

Moon: Confusion, misunderstanding, subterfuge. tracts, relationships, partnerships.
 Sword: Conflict, disagreement, battle.  Target: ____________________________________
 Shield: Protection, defense, safety. Wunjo: Joy/Happiness. Harmony, spiritual reward,
 Target: Goals, objectives, distance. pleasure, comfort, glory.  Wand: ____________________________________
 Wand: Magic, technology, strangeness.
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Norse Runes - Second Eight Tag Symbols Blanks Norse Runes - Third Eight
Interpret runes like tarot cards; they can give you ideas Make your own table for important situations! Interpret runes like tarot cards; they can give you ideas
for adding detail or nuance to a scene! for adding detail or nuance to a scene!
Hagalaz: Hail/Weather. Uncontrollable forces, Table For:_________________________ Tiwaz: Tyr/Leadership. Authority, justice, rational-
(nature, the subconscious); crisis before harmony. ity, success in competition, self-sacrifice.
 Tower: ____________________________________
Naudiz: Need/Distress. Resistance, requirements Berkano: Birch Tree/Birth. Fertility, birth, growth,
to be met, endurance, patience, survival, trial, test. liberation; renewal, new beginnings, love, family.
 Crown: ___________________________________
Isaz: Ice/Frustration. Mental blocks; confusion to Ehwaz: Horses/Travel. Physical transportation;
be unravelled; stalled until knowledge is gained. Heart: ____________________________________ slow but steady progress; teamwork, trust, ideal
marriage or partnership.
Jera: Good Year/Harvest. Effort realized, fruitful ART AREA 2.5X3.5 INCHES
 Skull: _____________________________________
Mannaz: Mankind/The Self. The individual, skill,
results, hope, earned success, cycles of time or life.
LIVE AREA 2.25X3.25 INCHES forethought, ability; humanity, social order.
Sun: ______________________________________
Eihwaz: Yew Tree/Reliability. Dependability,
Lagiz: Water/Regeneration. Healing, rest, renewal;
trustworthiness; protection; honesty; well-chosen

Moon: ____________________________________ dreams, the underworld, the imagination.
goals that will be accomplished.
Ingwaz: Monarch/Seat of Power. Control, answer-
Perthro: Dice Cup/Mystery. Chance, secrets, the  Sword: ____________________________________
ing to nobody; authority without implying justice.
occult; initiation, destiny; setting out on the path.
 Shield: ____________________________________ Dagaz: Dawn/Day. Awakening, breakthrough; a
Algiz: Elk/Protection. Shield, shelter, wards
new venture, positive change; hope, security.
against evil, a guardian; connection to the gods.  Target: ____________________________________
Othala: Birthright/Home. Inheritance, home,
Sowilo: The Sun/Life-Force. Success, honor, life,
positive changes, victory; cleansing fire, power.  Wand: ____________________________________ spiritual heritage, fundamental rights, source of
safety, that which is most important.
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