GM Prep

2d20

World War 2’s Secret War (2d20)

If you are a fan of the 2d20 system, like punching Nazis, and the Cthulhu Mythos is your vibe; Acthung! Cthulhu 2d20 Quickstarter is definitely worth taking a look. And with a free price-tag, how could you say no? I will say that there were a few elements I felt were missing in the first section on game mechanics; I saw things in the adventure module that made we want to know more about how things worked (you really need to dig into the NPCs and Pregen PCs in the adventure to find them) but was not discussed in the rules-section.

Commentary

Rules-Lite RPGs: It Doesn’t Have to Be Rocket Science

So this post is a bit of a follow-up to my advice to new Gamemasters. I had made mention about trying different rule systems and that there are some specifically designed to be quick and easy; often referred to as rules-light. There could be a variety of different reasons why someone would use a simplified system. One being they are easy to use and a group is able to start playing fairly quickly or with a minimum of setup. Another reason might be that they tend to be more narrative focused, with success being less dependent on a roll of the dice. Or perhaps people are travelling together and a simplified system makes playing during prolonged downtime possible. Whatever your reason, I thought I would introduce people to one of my favorite rules-lite systems and offer a few suggestions to modify it to make it applicable to other types of TTRPG games. Without further ado … May I present Cthulhu Dark?!

Commentary

5 Non-Traditional Tips for a First-Time GM

Most of us are uncertain when we are called upon or take up the mantle of Gamemastering for the first time. Naturally we turn to the internet to find tips and tricks on how to prepare. These are my oft-overlooked suggestions for new and first time GMs.