RPG Mainframe

Once again, reader questions answered.

The fiction of Lovecraft has influenced so much of D&D... let's take a closer look.

Let's take a minute to consider how we can make TotM all it's destined to be.

We all love lore.. it sets us off in new directions, sparks ideas, informs players. I take some time to explore some unseen lore from my world of Alfheim.

One of the most acclaimed episodes of Mainframe talks about making your GM prep part of your weekly fun habit. Can prep be as fun as playing?

Long have designers sought a truly GM-less game system. Is it a thing worth pursuing?

At the core of all RPG making is writing. This podcast explores some of my practices and ideas for better written material, and happier brain.

Another round of answering readers questions!

Adventure inversion, dramatic questions, and so-called dump-statting hit the creativity desk, as we examine new ways to mix up adventure design.

CHUNKS are simple conceptual pieces of monsters, vehicles, or hazards that include abilities. Destroy the CHUNK, eliminate the ability. The uses are many... here are a few ideas.

Presenting monsters in groups is cool, but even better is a 'set' of foes that present variable challenges all at once. Let's get into it.

I take a break from the usual and answer all kinds of reader mail.

All great games need motion in their intensity... something building up. This talk focuses on methods and ideas for that... the art of escalation.

This episode throws a blob of playable material your way, as our little goblin hero makes his way to a magical tower and (certain?) doom.

In this RPG talk, I get into using your own internal urges to guide creativity, rather than so-called 'ideas.' Get after it!

In this episode, I pontificate on three aspects of RPG creativity you just can't do without.

"If there is no death, there is no game." Handling player catastrophes with grace and skill.

The slow knife penetrates the shield! This episode talks about slowly cooking the intensity of your game, a thing worth the effort!

Take a deep dive with me into the oath featured in Index Card RPG. Be awesome, take the oath!

Don't just make a bunch of tunnels and rooms, give your next dungeon a potent theme using power words!

Is it bad? Is it great? Let's talk about the concept of forcing a series of events, and all it has to offer or deny a good game table.

Let's take some time to consider spells and how to get every ounce of cool out of them in our games.

Let's kick this thing off! I take some time to process some of the key reader questions that started the MAINFRAME in the first place.