A corruption mechanic is a common device of pen-and-paper roleplaying games in which player characters are prone to some form of physical, mental, or moral decay over time. They create a thematic game element that transcends the particular adventure or mission.
Most RPGs include the idea of skills, areas of expertise or knowledge in which characters can gain ranks or ratings. Although part of the game’s mechanics, the skills made available to the players strongly communicates the atmosphere of the campaign.
Fallout: New Vegas contains a complicated faction system that adds depth and complexity to Fallout’s sandbox world. Over time the player develops reputations with the various factions that have major impacts on the unfolding of the game. Examining this system provides a good set of guidelines for creating a faction system in any RPG sandbox world.
Since its earliest editions, Dungeons and Dragons has included an alignment system. Treated as a roleplaying aid, alignment is underutilized by most DMs and should have broader implications for the party and their world. The Fallout video game series is a strong example of how a character’s morality should impact the game world.
An encounter has gone badly, and the adventuring party has taken loses. The players are ready to roll-up new characters, but how do you introduce those characters in the middle of a dungeon crawl? Here are five techniques.
A beloved character has died, but an angry player is demanding to continue playing him. Like an evil jinn, a good DM punishes while granting wishes. Here are five creative ways to “resurrect” the character.
Because sometimes RPG gamers need a little motivation.
It can be difficult to encourage RPG players to explore a detailed sandbox world. Here are five techniques to help players discover interesting locations scattered throughout the sandbox.
Want to avoid Tolkienesque fantasy races such as dwarves and elves in your world building? Here’s a concept for creating a human-only RPG fantasy world that still allows for a diverse set of characters.
I wrote a few weeks ago about running RPG campaigns during the Third Age of Tolkien’s Middle-earth. As I’m a huge fan of dwarves, I thought to provide another five campaign seeds, focusing on Durin’s people.
