Live Roleplay

Writing Plot for “Big” Games

Keeping one’s players entertained seems easy enough when there’s only five of them and they’re walking a linear path through a set of predetermined encounters. First they meet some lost villagers, then some bandits, etc, the classics. They are always interacting with non player…

Game Determinism: The Engines of the World

(aka) The Magical Toe Rings of Power

So, a player did a thing.

What next?

It’s easy to talk about the gameworld in terms of logic, as though it were real…

Tales of Immersion: Chair Cultures and Floor Cultures

I’ve written before on how immersion in games can be seen as a series of trade offs. An example of this is what I’ve long dubbed The Problem with Chair Cultures.

What To Wear: Costuming as Information

Costume Briefs are often associated with games that have exacting and intimidating costume standards, but looking individually stunning is perhaps the least important aspect of a costume from a game design point of view[1].

Five Things about Writing Fictional Cultures

Here are five things I’ve learnt about writings cultures over the years:

1) Cultures are not monolithic.

Ballgowning as Primary Unit of Gameplay: You mean it doesn’t just happen?

So, from the discussions following the post on Immersion, I’ve noticed that players seem to quite like feels[1].

Immersion: An Imperfect Model

So, I want my game to be immersive.

Much like PvP and player-led before it, “immersion” has become one of those words, increasing dilute of meaning. We can all (apparently) agree that is deeply desireable not just in our live roleplay games but also…

MEADFIGHT: an example of Core Gameplay in LRP

So, my players seem primarily interested in drinking and fighting. With such basic desires, surely to do much more would be just overthinking my game and sucking all the fun out of it!