The first time I played Dungeons and Dragons (DnD), it was less than exciting. A couple of the guys in my dorm had just started a game in one of the common areas, and I was invited to join. But, our GM (Game Master– the person who runs the game, writes the story, and plays all the extra characters, monsters, and villains, etc.) was not very good, and mostly what we did was fight low-level creatures (like rats) for a couple of hours before everyone got bored and tired and went back to our respective rooms.
It’s been over a decade since that game, and I’ve since found Role Playing Games (RPGs) to be a lot more fun. In fact, I’ve even tried my hand at DMing my own game, and I loved it! Perhaps you’re like me and you’re curious about games like DnD, but you don’t want to actually play DnD. Perhaps you want to create your own “homebrew” story with your own setting and characters. Of course, there are tons of books on running a DnD campaign. But, what do you do when you want to create something from scratch? Or what if you’re playing an already established game, but it’s not one of the more popular varieties, like DnD? What books do you read then?
You check out a book like these, of course! James D’Amato has created some extremely helpful guides to help a players improve their game. Keep reading to learn a little bit more about what he has to say!
For All Players
The Ultimate RPG Gameplay Guide
When it comes to playing DnD or any other RPG, every detail is important. How do you choose the right setting for your story? How can music and even lighting help set the mood and really enhance the experience? I recall in one campaign, as my players were exploring a creepy dungeon, someone put on the perfect music that made the whole experience 10 times creepier! It made the story so much more fun! This guide provides practical advice for how to set up a session, how to work together as a team for maximum success in battle, and how to really get into the setting of the game in order to have the most fun possible. Learn invaluable storytelling skills, how to roll-play, and how to create hours upon hours of great narrative to make the most of game night!
For the Game Master
The Ultimate RPG Game Master’s Guide
It can be hard to be the Game Master. After all, everything from the plot, setting, and even the other characters that populate the “world” are up to you. While the rest of the group only has to focus on playing one character and only has to focus on their backstory, their stats, and their actions, you’re often juggling multiple people (or creatures) at a time. Are you in a tavern? Then you’re everyone from the saucy barmaid to the guests to the blustering landlord. And of course, you have to determine what sorts of adventures your players get to go on, where they are, what happens to them, all while knowing dimly in the back of your mind that the rest of the group is probably going to derail your hard work at some point with their crazy antics–and that’s okay (if you handle it properly!). If you want to learn how to best run a story, make it interesting, and keep your players in check, then you should definitely read this book!
The Ultimate RPG Game Master’s Worldbuilding Guide
So, you feel confident that you can run a campaign. You have a collection of interesting characters to populate the world, and you have a great story. But, your setting lacks definition. You have all these great ideas, but nowhere to put them. What’s a gamemaster to do? You turn to a guide like this, of course! Here’s you’ll find plenty of great ideas for creating a thrilling world to put your characters. Is your story set in space? Then just how much space are we talking about? Can your players jump galaxies? Travel the far reaches of the universe? Or are they limited to just a few planets? Learn who to craft great villains, local slang, and all the things that make a world feel rich and well-rounded. Do these characters live in a tyrannical dictatorship? Or is the ruler a good and kindly king? Help yourself develop the final piece of the puzzle to really bring your game together!
