For those that do not follow me on social media, here are my #RPGaDAY2024 posts.
Day 1 – First RPG bought this year – In February, I picked up the Dragonbane box set. I haven’t had a chance to play or run it yet but I really like what I have read and hope to give it a try yet this year. A change of pace from D&D and Pathfinder would be interesting.
Day 2 – Most Recently Played – I ran two one-shot sessions of Prowlers & Paragons Ultimate Edition. My first ttrpg was a superhero game and they are still a strong interest and I have been searching for a new one to try. I really like the dice pool mechanic in this game.
Day 3 – Most often played RPG – Definitely some form of D&D. I started with first edition AD&D and have played all versions since, including going back to try out Basic D&D. Currently I play mostly 5e D&D but occasionally pull out my classic 1e AD&D.
Day 4 – RPG with great Art – I love the art of Tony DiTerlizzi in the original AD&D Planescape campaign so I was excited when he did a variant cover of the new 5e campaign.
Day 5 – RPG with great Writing – I love reading the Dresden Files Roleplaying Game and updated Dresden Files Accelerated. In the margins, they have snarky comments to add flavor and world info. In the original it is Billy, Harry, & Bob and in the new it is Ivy & Kincaid.
Day 6 – RPG that is easy to use – For me, that is Feng Shui 2. The core system is simple to teach. I have used it for so many different one-shots with themes not in the original game. I easily reworked it to run Wild Wild West, Pulp Masked Avengers, Anime Mecha, and more!
Day 7 – RPG with ‘good form’ – A vague concept ‘good form’ so I will go with a game that is a ‘good boy’ which is Pugmire. This game is simple to learn and teach, has great artwork, the layout is wonderful, and how can you not enjoy a game where you play heroic dogs!
Day 8 – An accessory you appreciate – Check out my amazing recycled denim All Rolled Up crafted by Fil Baldowski (@AllRolledUpUK). It carries so many gaming supplies in a tight package. This has been a conversation starter at the gaming table for 10 years now!
Day 9 – An accessory you’d like to see – More accessibility related tools for ttrpgs. We need more vendors and publishers offering braille and large print dice, large print books and gm screens, colorblind friendly items, dyslexic friendly fonts in all books, and more.
Day 10 – RPG you’d like to see on TV – Legend of the Five Rings (a ccg, ttrpg, and board game) has a fascinating world of culture and politics that encourages deep roleplaying and character interaction. L5R would make a wonderful anime, animated show, or live action series.
Day 11 – RPG with well supported one-shots – I would say Pathfinder. I don’t play their one-shots but many of my friends really enjoy the Pathfinder Society adventures. Personally, I write my own one-shots for whatever system I am running, Feng Shui 2 being my favorite.
Day 12 – RPG with well supported campaigns – I’m going old school with this one. Basic D&D and AD&D had some of the most detailed campaign settings and modules. I have played and run them in AD&D but also tweaked them for later editions of D&D and other ttrpgs.
Day 13 – I apparently missed that on social media. Sorry.
Day 14 – Compelling characters – To me, ttrpg characters are compelling because of their players. I ‘ve been blessed over the decades with amazing and creative players. No matter the game system or depth of character history, great players can make any character compelling.
Day 15 – Great character gear – Fantasy ttrpgs have such great gear, both mundane and magical, acquired adventuring, shopping, or crafting. Over decades of playing D&D, I have come to love creating unique characters through their gear as much as their abilities.
Day 16 – Quick to Learn – If you’re interested in trying your first tabletop roleplaying game or a veteran gamer seeking a new game or genre, check out the multitude of amazing introductory boxes that provide you simplified rules, pre-made characters, dice, maps, and more.
Day 17 – An engaging RPG community – I really enjoy the Old School Gamers Facebook group. I’ve been gaming since the mid-80s so it is great to chat with others who have a passion for the hobby as much as I do and who still enjoy the classic ttrpgs. https://facebook.com/groups/121390094630920…
Day 18 – Memorable moment of play – The entire reason I play ttrpgs is for the memorable moments. Sitting around a table with friends, eating snacks, talking about life, and co-creating interactive stories of high adventure, heroism, and humor. We share laughter and tears.
Day 19 – Sensational Session – Every session we can get together. My gaming groups can go long periods between game sessions because of busy lives, illnesses, holidays, etc. So, any time we can all get together around the table for some roleplaying is a sensational session!
Day 20 – Amazing Adventure – Over the decades, I’ve started so many D&D campaigns using T1 The Village of Hommlet. It is an incredible sandbox to introduce new players to fantasy roleplaying as it has a fully populated town with fun adventures in the nearby countryside.
Day 21 – Classic Campaign – I’ve always wanted to run the classic AD&D supermodule series of T1-4 Temple of Elemental Evil, A1-4 Against the Slavers, G1-3 Against the Giants, and D1-3 & Q1 Drow modules. I own quite a few of them already. Something to serious contemplate.
Day 22 – Notable non-player character – I have a reputation as a GM for voicing very funny brownies and fairies. We still talk about Venti, a Summer Court fairy addicted to Starbucks, from a Dresden Files campaign. I had to voice her hyped up on caffeine and breathing helium.
Day 23 – Peerless player – My most consistent and trustworthy player, a faithful friend, Shawn Denny. I met him my freshman year of college, almost 35 years ago, and we’ve been gaming together since, except for a break when our careers pulled us in different directions.
Day 24 – Acclaimed Advice – Gary Gygax said “The essence of a role-playing game is that it is a group, cooperative experience.” Here is what I tell my players and gamemasters I mentor. Food and fellowship are more important than the rules and the storyline. Focus on the fun!
Day 25 – Desirable Dice – I might own a few click clack math rocks. Ok, you might say more than a few. Well, actually, a lot. Ok, I might have a mild passion for dice. Yeah, there might be more dice stashed around the house not shown in these pictures.
Day 26 – SuperbScreen – My favorite gamemaster screen is the Savage Wordls Customizeable GM Screen. It is landscape which fits on my gaming table so much better than portrait screens and has six pockets, three to put my own player images in and three for GM charts and notes.
Day 27 – Marvelous Miniature – I started miniature painting around five years ago, and these are the first miniatures are ever painted for my gaming group. I learned so much that first time and add to that knowledge and experience little by little as I can find time to paint.
Day 28 – Great Gamer Gadget – My Android tablet is wonderful for easy access to PDFs and online versions of my ttrpg books, digital character sheets, sounds/music, and the internet. I still love physical books and character sheets, but have to admit the tablet is handy.
Day 29 – Awesome app – I use the web app Roll20 (https://roll20.net) for my online and in-person games. Online, it manages the entire campaign. In-person, I use it with a monitor on my gaming table to show maps with fog of war and reference images to my players.
Day 30 – #RPGaDAY2024 Person you’d like to game with – I’d love to play a session of Villains & Vigilantes with its creator, Jeff Dee. That was the first ttrpg I ever played. The box set is still on my game shelves. It would be such an honor and so fun to play the game with its creator.
Day 31 – #RPGaDAY2024 Gamer you miss – My friend. My fellow Taylor University Brotherhood member. My brother in Christ. My gaming buddy. My co-creator of the religion system for my homebrew fantasy campaign setting. The jolly barbarian himself. Matt Pickut, who passed away August 6, 2015.
