It turns out that what I was looking for – a brief introduction to role-playing theory as it’s applied in what James Wallis’ Hogshead used to call “new-style” games – was right under my nose: Ron Edwards’ essay from 2001, “GNS and Other Matters of Role-playing Theory.” It’s clear, readable
Author: Mike Sugarbaker
OgreCave, your source for celebrity news
Via Boardgame News (which incidentally is the new home of the much-lauded gameblogger Rick Thornquist, ex-GameWire): “actress Daryl Hannah is looking to earn herself a name in a new role: Game designer. That’s because Hannah and her best friend, fellow actress Hilary Shepard, have taken their passion for board games
Audio Report: oh, oh, oh, it’s magic
Sorry for the delay. We may or may not have a show next week, but this one recorded last week has plenty to chew on, including the long-promised “Magic rant.” I don’t know why I keep saying “for the weekend of” at the top of the show because they’re never
News from the (somewhat shrunken) floor of Gen Con SoCal
Real quick: apparently Privateer has the four core box sets from Hordes on sale at the show. Who knew? (Uh, fellas… that’s a nice surprise and everything, but given the projected shortages of Warmachine core sets through the holiday season, you might wanna get back to casting things people already
More proof that D&D3 is too complex
“To play D&D, all that is required is a core rule book, D&D dice, a pencil, some paper, and imagination.” And, apparently, an eight-hour online course.
Tabletop RPG theory for the casually curious
Ron Edwards is a great writer – from what I’ve seen, he can accomplish pretty much anything he decides he wants to accomplish. But there are times that I really wonder about what he wants to accomplish, such as when I try to read his RPG theory articles at the
Audio Report from an undisclosed location
We join up with OC correspondent Steve Kani for a brief, actually-live-in-person Audio Report. To discuss: hey, it’ll be time for the Xmas gift guides soon… what do you want under the tree?
AEG spins off Spycraft
Yes, AEG is unloading Spycraft, and to whom? Stalwart Spycraft developer Patrick Kapera is creating a new business to take it on. Seems like good news all around, except some poor guy now has to start a company to support a CCG. Or, you know, not, I guess – there
New GAMES 100 out, Australia is Game of the Year
And you thought it was just the only country that’s also a continent! (Which I’m not even sure it is.)
Audio Report: special guest Clinton R. Nixon
RPG author and Forge co-admin Clinton R. Nixon joins us for an in-depth and rollicking hour of discussion that I just described as though it were the Dick Cavett Program. Follow up here with your questions and comments on anything from indie RPGs to exactly what the hell is up
Audio Report: action and drama
If you subscribe to the Audio Report feed, you got your show this morning. If you don’t, why the hell not, and you can get it now. Wide ranging discussion this week. To discuss: are any buyers of WizKids’ old stuff looking to buy any of their new stuff? And,
AEG announces layoffs
Apparently there is a limit to how many high-production-value collectible games a smallish company can launch and keep running at one time. AEG’s front page is a note from John Zinser – we’ll try and update the link when it moves, but the text is included below – saying that
WizKids takes another crack at CMGs for the kids
Zypods are basically Russian nested dolls with Clix-oid rules and game features instead of little babushka faces. The press release says it’s launching in a test market now… but the product page indicates that the test market is essentially half the major cities in the center of the country. (Plus
Audio Report: cons, RPGs, healthy antics
Listen, listen, listen! This week we’d like to know something from the role-players in the audience, insofar as you’re willing to say: how much would you guess that you’ve spent on RPGs this year? If you want to break it out into con expenditures vs. book expenditures vs. other that
Racer Knights of Falconus video shows cars, small dice, strange woodchips
WhiteWolf is opening the kimono on next month’s CSG entry Racer Knights of Falconus with a 10MB downloadable video about setting up the game. It clearly shows the cars and some of the other widgets that structure the game, including something odd to demarcate their play area that reminds me