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Understanding the Vibe
I work with the Cypher System a lot.
Sep 12
•
Monte Cook
33
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Understanding the Vibe
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July 2024
If It’s Easy, You’re Doing It Wrong
When a designer sits down to work on a new project, they should be challenged.
Jul 30
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Monte Cook
51
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If It’s Easy, You’re Doing It Wrong
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June 2024
Give Yourself a Break
This article is not what you think.
Jun 21
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Monte Cook
53
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Give Yourself a Break
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May 2024
Taking Turns
Every roleplayer has heard it from their GM a million times: “Okay, what do you do?” It’s practically the defining phrase of RPG play.
May 3
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Monte Cook
46
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Taking Turns
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March 2024
PCs are Not NPCs
It’s no secret that 3rd Edition D&D made player characters more complex.
Mar 8
•
Monte Cook
45
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PCs are Not NPCs
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February 2024
Keeping to the Theme
I’ve written about the importance of how you describe the rules being as important as the rules themselves before, but it’s worth revisiting.
Feb 5
•
Monte Cook
30
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Keeping to the Theme
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December 2023
Rules With Multiple Purposes
One of the great challenges of writing a rulebook is that you’re creating both a teaching tool and a reference work.
Dec 1, 2023
•
Monte Cook
28
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Rules With Multiple Purposes
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October 2023
Design Toward Rather Than Away
Encouraging good play is better than prohibiting its opposite.
Oct 5, 2023
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Monte Cook
27
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Design Toward Rather Than Away
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August 2023
Just a Quick Note...
The crowdfunding campaign for my current work-in-progress design, The Magnus Archives RPG, has launched.
Aug 29, 2023
•
Monte Cook
12
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Just a Quick Note...
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Intentions Before Actions
A few entries back, I said that when you start to design a new game, you start with the heart—and the heart of an RPG is, “What do the characters do?”
Aug 14, 2023
•
Monte Cook
37
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Intentions Before Actions
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July 2023
Succeeding at Failing
Immersion and Participation in Games
Jul 13, 2023
•
Monte Cook
40
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Succeeding at Failing
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May 2023
Player Success Versus Character Success
It’s easy to think that when a character succeeds—whether it be an action from a successful die roll, discovering a great treasure, mission, or quest…
May 30, 2023
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Monte Cook
31
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Player Success Versus Character Success
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