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You are here: Home / Archives for gamma world

The Architect DM: On Modern and Futuristic Settings

November 10, 2011 by Bartoneus

I’ve talked quite a lot about worldbuilding and running roleplaying games in fantasy settings, but I’ve been planning on addressing modern and futuristic RPGs for a long time as well. One of the big hurdles that I have to overcome when thinking and writing about modern/future settings is that they seem inherently more difficult to deal with than their fantasy counterparts. For a modern or even a historic RPG I believe the difficulties come from the game being based in a real world that brings with it a vast amount of expectations from the players. If you’re running a game in these settings and a player at your table knows more about history than you, it can become very intimidating to even try to plan or run the game. Science fiction and futuristic games are a little bit better, but you’re still dealing with a lot of heavy science and realistic elements that can lead to issues where they might not have arisen in your typical elves and magic infused setting.

Filed Under: Featured, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: advice, architect dm, D&D, DM, dnd, Dungeons and Dragons, fantasy, future, gamemastering, gamma world, GM, modern, roleplaying games, sci-fi, science fiction, star trek, star wars, worldbuilding

Roleplaying Resurrection

October 10, 2011 by dixontrimline

In Fiasco, there’s not really dice rolling, except for the start and middle bits, and trust me, those don’t count. It’s all decisions, decisions and storytelling, decisions and storytelling and improvisational roleplaying. Uh oh, there’s that word. Roleplaying. I’m going to have to sit at a table with other people and write a story out loud in the voice of a character that I just met, all while those other people are staring at me and judging me and hating me. This kind of thrown-in-the-deep-end roleplaying is a little daunting. No, wait, that’s not the right term. It’s gonad-shrinkingly terrifying.

Filed Under: Editorial, Featured, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: fiasco, gamma world, savage world

2011 Origins Report

June 30, 2011 by Dave

Another Origins has come and gone, and as always, there were plenty of games. Here are a few that stood out, both old and new.

Filed Under: Board, Card, and Miniature Games, News, Reviews, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: 7 wonders, Apocalypse World, ascension, deadlands, fealty, fiasco, gamma world, innovation, magic the gathering, origins, origins 2011, Savage Worlds, seven dragons, star trek: expeditions

Aspectfully Speaking

June 2, 2011 by dixontrimline

With Wil Wheaton’s post, the clouds finally parted and the sun didst shine down and lo, it didst alight on my brow. Previously, I got it, but I didn’t really GET it. I understood it, but I didn’t really understand it.

Filed Under: Editorial, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: acting, aspects, fate, gamma world, player advice

Syn-Duh-Con: A Review, A Takeaway, A Lengthy Blather

April 8, 2011 by dixontrimline

I wasn’t supposed to go to SynDCon this year, as I had already attended my annual gaming convention, TempleCon, had a great pile of fun, and didn’t want to push my luck or spend piles of money I didn’t technically have. However, two weeks before it started, a DM I know from Meetup.com sent out a global alert/invite/threat saying he’d be going and would love to see everyone in his address book there. I thought about it for approximately 11 seconds and then fired off a text message to my best friend Dave in Rhode Island and said, “Gaming? Convention? Rockville? Maryland? Yes?” He was supposed to say, “Don’t be an idiot,” and then list hundreds of reasons why it’s a terrible idea. Instead, he agreed to be an idiot with me, and even bring along his son Mason, and suddenly the three of us were signed up for SynDCon.

Filed Under: News, Reviews, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: 4e, D&D, gamma world, syndcon, syndcon II

Agents of the Un-Kindgom: The Nullmen

March 21, 2011 by gamefiend

There were no words, just… one of them approached you, pulled you close to its mask…and your mind started flooding with shame, with anxiety, with fear, and guilt…before you knew it you were revealing everything you know about anything. I could hear myself babbling and bawling like a baby, but I couldn’t stop. I just couldn’t stop. Once they got the person they had come for, they dragged him out of town and left us survivors here, weak, exhausted, and empty.

Filed Under: Featured, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: agents of the un-kingdom, gamma world, un-kingdom

Chatty’s PaxEast Highlights: 3 days of Fun Among Friends

March 15, 2011 by The Chatty DM

In which Chatty miraculously fits his highlights of a spectacular convention in only one 1500 words post. A record some will say!

Filed Under: Board, Card, and Miniature Games, Featured, Musings of the Chatty DM, Newest Critical Hits, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: Boston, fiasco, Gabe, games, gamma world, Jane MacGonigal, leverage, magic the gathering, Mouse Guard, Munckin, pax east 2011, Tycho

Agents of the Un-Kingdom: Alpha Dogs

March 7, 2011 by gamefiend

Imagine a dog that’s ALL bite. I mean seriously, look at the jaws on that thing. Funny looking, right? But if that weird little super-pug bites you it bites it doesn’t just break the skin…it breaks down your reality, your potential.

Filed Under: Featured, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: agents of the un-kingdom, gamma world, un-kingdom

D&D XP 2011 Is Coming: Convention Coverage

January 17, 2011 by Dave

Our coverage of D&D XP 2011 is coming up soon, and we’d like to know what you think about liveblogging and what you want to hear about.

Filed Under: Editorial, Featured, News, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: 4e, D&DXP, gamma world

First Impressions Review: “Famine in Far-Go”

December 15, 2010 by Dave

Famine in Far-Go is the new release for the new version of the Gamma World RPG. It is one part expansion set, providing new rules for both the players and GM to use, and one part large adventure, spanning several levels.

Filed Under: Reviews, Roleplaying Games Tagged With: famine in far-go, gamma world

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About the Author

  • Bartoneus

    Danny works professionally as an architectural designer and serves as managing editor here at CH, which means he shares many of the duties of being an editor but without the fame and recognition. He also writes about RPGs, videogames, movies, and TV. He is married to Sucilaria, and has a personal blog at Incorrect Blitz Input. (Email Danny or follow him on Twitter).

    Email: bartoneus@critical-hits.comWeb: https://critical-hits.com//author/Bartoneus/

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