Diary of a Failed Game Designer

 There is a thing I do in my RPG campaigns. I give players arcs.  Sure, I also try to give each character a bit of spotlight each game. I like to keep everyone involved and occupied. I think I manage it game to game with varying degrees of success. But that's not exactly what I'm talking about. I like to try and give each character something going on in the larger world that either directly touches them or which they will want to be involved in. Further I will often pursue one player's arc from quite a while. If player interest drifts, I'll switch focus but generally I'll ride an arc until it concludes. Much of this is unspoken. It just kind of happens.  It helps I have a small, long time player group. If was running at a local brick and mortar shop with 8 people who changed all the time, I would have a hard time maintaining arcs that are specific to each character. The last set of adventures were very clearly the "Master's arc."  He was a druid, reest...

cam·paign kamˈpān noun 1. a series of military operations intended to achieve a particular objectiv e*, confined to a particular area* , or involving a specified type of fighting. "a desert campaign" synonyms: military operation(s), maneuver(s); More verb 1. work in an organized and active way toward a particular goal, typically a political or social one. "people who campaigned against child labor" synonyms: crusade, fight, battle, push, press, strive, struggle, lobby "they are campaigning for political reform" When using the term "Campaign" to describe a roleplaying game the phrase"Particular Objective, confined to a particular area" part puts me off. Moreover I think it's just a convenient term held over from the hobbies wargaming roots. What I normally run is not by definition a campaign. There is rarely a particular objective. I generally put situations in front of the players then conduct my GM'ing duties largely based of...

Back when I was in Jr high school I wrote a "RPG" about pro wrestling, which I creatively titled "The wrestling game." I don't remember exactly when. I know it was before High school, before being able to drive, and all the distractions that come from that sort of thing. We would get together at one of our homes and play D&D, Car wars, Star fleet battles, or whatever was on deck. Since we were relying on rides from others, we would never all arrived at the same time. So I wrote the wrestling game to fill those minutes before the group had fully convened. We played it a few times. I think we enjoyed it. I guess that's when I got the game design bug. I realized I could makes something my friends and I could share and enjoy. Since then I have always held a soft spot for pro wrestling games. Not that there have been a ton of them, but there have been a few. Here's a quick list of some of the Wrestling games I've read through in the years since I wrot...