Eyestalk of the Beholder By Cape Rust This is the step in the planning process when we actually put together this Frankenstein-esque monster of a plan into a creature that can be used. We’ve collected all of the ideas and scribbles we have developed over the past few weeks into one place and, depending on how your mind works, you might have even developed a rudimentary file type system so you...

A Little Spackling and Some Napalm By Cape Rust I have spent weeks and weeks and weeks discussing preparations for a game. For some my approach might seem overwrought or even stupid, while others hopefully have picked up a few pointers along the way. No matter how you feel about my take on preparing for a game, it is time for more Tales from the Gazebo. This week is where the process starts looking...

Foes: Villains as Chia Pets By Cape Rust I once read an article that stressed that villains need to grow as a campaign or adventure progresses. I have found that by following this advice, you can start to develop villains who feel real and are compelling. I advocate asking the player what their goals are for their characters, and there is no reason you shouldn’t do the same for your villains if...

Skull Candy By Cape Rust Last week, we discussed foes and introduced you to the frumpy but likeable Raven who will represent most of the players’ interactions with the Alliance… long live the Brown Coats! This week I will focus on the other two major antagonists, the leader of the Brown Coat sympathizers and our resident villain, the leader of the pirates. As I develop these next two...

Foes By Cape Rust Foes and locations are a huge part of any game. If you don’t have the right bad guys, most games feel kind of flat. Look at Darth Vader, he is one of the baddest bad guys ever and we couldn’t forget him if we tried. In fact, Luke’s showdown with Vader on cloud city was an excellent example of a great location and an epic foe. Well-designed locations will enhance any game and...

Concept & Calendars By Cape Rust Having to deviate from your original game concept can be a black hole when it comes to the amount of time you spend planning your game. Because of the input received from the players, my initial concept for the upcoming Firefly game has to go through some major changes. Fortunately, I’ve learned from past mistakes… lots of past mistakes. I will start by...

We Have the Tools, We Have the Talent! By Cape Rust Here we are at last. We’ve asked a bunch of tough questions to ourselves and our players. We know what our players want out of their next game. We have shaped and influenced the situation so that the game will be fun for everyone involved, what’s next? We actually get to plan. Huzahhh! Knowing what we know now, we have to remember the fun first...

Planning Toolbox By Cape Rust We are so close to the type of planning you are accustomed to; here is the time when we pull out the old planning toolbox. Advances in technology have made planning much easier, but with the economy the way it is not everyone has access to some of the cutting edge technology out there. I am going to cover some high-tech planning tools as well as a few analog tools. Most...

More Questions and Campaign Creep By Cape Rust If you have decided to use some of my tips, you will find that you are actually much closer to being ready to run a game than you might think. By socializing your ideas with your players, listening to their input, and adjusting your great ideas, you can create a game that you want to run and, more importantly, that your players want to be part of. Now...

If you Make it, They Might Fill it Out By Cape Rust I know plenty of GMs that have actually developed player surveys. These surveys can contain any questions you want to ask. The goal of these is to get honest input from your players about what their gaming needs and wants are. If you decide to go the survey route, keep a few points in mind. Ask leading questions, find the sweet spot for the length...