By Jameson McDaniel The enjoyment you get from a roleplaying game will depend mostly on the people sitting around the table with you. The most experienced Game Master and creative game systems are worthless if there isn’t a level of buy-in and cooperation from everyone there. This has never been more true than in the game “Wanderhome” from Jay Dragon. In it, you play as an animal-folk on a journey. Whether that's to an existing home, to find a new home, or just for the sake of travel is all up to you. In fact, how the game is played is up to you. There are rules in place to play this as a solo ..read more

“Gotham is a land of crime and corruption. From the cops to the crooks, everyone's hands are dirty. A new gang has rolled into town. Are they tough enough to get their own piece or will they get chewed up and spit out like so many before? “ Shades of Gotham is a TTRPG Twitch Stream starting October 21st at 7 PDT. Join our table as we use the Tiny Supers rule system with a Blades in the Dark hack to take over Gotham City, only on twitch.tv/gamesweneverplay Cast: Nikki Waln as Lyn Joey Nestra as Dodger Nick Levy as Manticore Michael Robert Holmes as Rx GM: Jameson McDaniel ..read more

I spent way too much time trying to think of a name for this essay. Sadly, it’s hard to just call it what it is without sounding pretentious and insufferable;  me talking about queer theory in gaming. Thankfully, I am both pretentious and insufferable (but neither real nor valid) so that’s a weight off my shoulders. Though I just used the word “essay,” didn’t I? Crap. Okay, so, essays have thesis statements - if I can recall my years of phoning in English essays throughout high school.  In that case, here’s my thesis: if you pay attention to what you’re doing in gaming, you’re learn ..read more

This is an important time in our lives to stand up and do what is right. I know some will say “let’s not mix our gaming with politics” but when someone doesn't feel welcome at our table that is our failing as a community. We stand against racism. We stand for inclusion. We stand by our fellow Black gamers, storytellers, creators, and the entire Black community. To this end, we want to support in whatever way we can. Below you will find several links to donate directly to worthy charities. In addition, we have a new design, by Clara Goldstein, on our Teepublic page. All profit from these sales ..read more

By Blythe Kala Tabletop role-playing games are incredibly fun and a great way to bond with friends; however, people often find them inaccessible or hard to learn. We’ve all heard the tale, “I’ve always wanted to try D&D but…” followed by a long list of reasons as to why they’ve never checked it out. Dungeons & Dragons aren’t the only game out there to learn and there are plenty of great games for people who’ve never played before! These are five games that are tabletop RPGs that aren’t Dungeons & Dragons!  1. Powered by the Apocalypse The ‘Powered by the Apocalypse’ system ..read more

Today we have special columnist Kat Nava talking about all the steps she uses to build characters in any RPG. Give her a follow at @TheEvilGirl333 Playing in an RPG is an exciting chance to be part of an adventure where you can be the hero of the day! Maybe you’re new to RPGs in general, or maybe a friend is really excited to run a sci-fi or western themed campaign that is unfamiliar to you. It can be difficult to dream up a character in these murky waters. This doesn’t need to interfere with an amazing experience. Here’s a step by step on how to create a fun and engaging character in any cam ..read more

How to get Inspiration flowing while leading your 5E table By Lemon Baardsen Getting the flow of Inspiration going both ways can make DMing more fun and fulfilling. Inspiration cycling out and in, granting it to players and the players using it to gain Advantage, can make for a more energized table with players who bring their all to the game. We took a look at improving outflow last time, now let’s take on the challenge of improving inflow.  There is little I find more frustrating as a DM than seeing Inspiration go unspent. Watching players failing checks but forgetting they have Inspira ..read more

How to get Inspiration Flowing While Leading Your 5e Table By Lemon Baardsen One of the simplest yet most powerful game mechanics in Fifth Edition Dungeons & Dragons is the Advantage/Disadvantage system for d20 rolls. This makes Inspiration a huge boon to players as well as a great opportunity for dungeon masters to encourage creativity and set a positive tone at the table. Unfortunately, Inspiration is a resource often underutilized by DMs and players alike - forgotten by DMs and guarded jealously by players. It takes some effort to break through these habits to get Inspiration flowing in ..read more

Image via NPR.org I feel like during a global crisis (or even a personal crisis) there’s a level of what I’m going to deem “necessary escapism” - Basically, a way for your brain to jump through the trap door of distraction. Lo and behold, I and many others have found their escape hatch in the candy-colored and squeak-filled world of Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Right now my town - haphazardly named Meowsburg as I was too excited to be clever - has been invaded by a very charming camel who wishes to sell me rugs, and the two tanuki children who run one of the two stores on my island just upg ..read more

As the last clues fall into place, you realize the mastermind was the mayor the entire time! You know she’s still in her office so you dash through the door only to find the room empty and the window open. A soft breeze carries a laugh on the wind and as you cross to the window you discover the source is the mayor! Hanging from a rope ladder attached to an airship built for speed, she cackles madly. She has gotten away but this will not be the last time you see her. Villains are the best. An interesting villain can make an okay adventure great. A lame villain can feel forgettable and cliche. T ..read more