Category: Gamemastering

• Narrow Worldviews Lead to Bad Writing

  If you can’t put yourself in other people’s heads, you won’t be able to put yourself in your NPCs’ heads.

  By

  Dylan Wolf

• Plan Complex Events with a GM Timeline

  NPCs in long-term campaigns often do a lot of scheming off-camera; this tool helps quickly understand where that intersects with the players’ story.

  By

  Dylan Wolf

• Organizing TTRPG Groups with Surveys

  Planning can often result in talking in circles; surveys let you cut through the confusion.

  By

  Dylan Wolf

• Gamemastering for Introverts

  Know your strengths and your limitations; plan the important stuff during GM prep so you don’t get flustered while wrangling players.

  By

  Dylan Wolf

• Write “Boxed Text” in Your GM Prep

  (Even if you don’t use it)

  By

  Dylan Wolf

• Let Your Players Tell Their Story (Literally)

  When your players tell their story to NPCs in-game, it’s both fun for them and tells you what they think is important.

  By

  Dylan Wolf

• Gamemastering is a Magic Trick

  What do we think we’re doing when we’re gamemastering?

  By

  Dylan Wolf

• Against Omniscient Gamemasters

  Sometimes, it’s better if you are experiencing your own world from inside it–waiting to see what exactly will happen alongside with the players.

  By

  Dylan Wolf

• Writing TTRPG Factions: Plan Motivations Before Actions

  Motivations can often be more neutral than actions–giving your NPCs and factions more nuance when they decide to act in the world.

  By

  Dylan Wolf

• Writing TTRPG Factions: Nobody Sees the Big Picture

  Reveal slices of the larger truth about your world, but keep some secrets that you can use to upend players’ assumptions.

  By

  Dylan Wolf