Paul B

Skills Don’t Recharge

November 23, 2014

One thing that has come from my reading and through player feedback has been a bit of confusion and even dissatisfaction with abilities that recharge. If you know how to do trick shooting, forensically search a room, or break a safe, why would that ability not work every round? From … Continue ReadingSkills Don’t Recharge

Game Mechanics

One-off Adventures

November 18, 2014

I had one of those inspiration moments again last night, though this one took place out in the garage on my exercise bike. Those thoughtful moments alone seem to be a fertile time for interesting thoughts. Key amongst those thoughts, I have decided to focus on 214 as a system … Continue ReadingOne-off Adventures

Game Mechanics Playtesting

Narrative Results

November 11, 2014

Dice in the pair used for Complex 214 and The Dee Sanction have symbols on them, intended to help focus the story. The symbols include: equipment, surveillance/vigilance, access, the system, them, and mutation/magic. In practice, when you roll the dice initially, the symbol rolled can help understand – plotwise – … Continue ReadingNarrative Results

Game Mechanics Playtesting

Inspiration Strikes

November 10, 2014August 17, 2016

I have written before, probably elsewhere, on the matter of inspiration and the spawning of new ideas. People have different ways of sparking their creativity, or find ideas coming to them in specific situations. It’s that principle that causes writers to keep a notepad by their bed, in case they … Continue ReadingInspiration Strikes

Playtesting

Quick Thoughts on Last Night’s Game

November 4, 2014

I ran The Bell’s Toll over the course of two short sessions with my regular gaming group. I have asked them for feedback on The Dee Sanction – and I look forward to getting some good stuff over many future sessions. Generally, the adventure seemed to work. I think the … Continue ReadingQuick Thoughts on Last Night’s Game

Essence

The Dee Sanction Blurb

October 30, 2014

I have been tinkering with this. I suspect it will change again. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I need to provide a tight and informative intro to The Dee Sanction for my convention games. This is the current draft. It would also work perfectly well for a game … Continue ReadingThe Dee Sanction Blurb

Game Mechanics Playtesting

The Counter Economy

October 29, 2014

When I ran my playtest session of The Dee Sanction this week, I handed out a bunch of counters – but, by the end of play, not many had moved from their starting position. I can see why – I do need to more firmly state the existence of challenges … Continue ReadingThe Counter Economy

Playtesting

Matters Magickal and Mechanical

October 28, 2014

Running The Bell Tolls last night for my local group. This will be an adventure I’ll run at conventions to playtest The Dee Sanction. I want to run this one in a single session, about 3 1/2 – and the version I ran bodes well for that. While we didn’t … Continue ReadingMatters Magickal and Mechanical

Game Mechanics

Embrace the Dark Side

October 25, 2014

Mindful that I have to get running playtest sessions with all of the essential components in place, I have been working on the cards for The Dee Sanction. I don’t need a complete set, but I need enough to make the process of character generation straight from the deck a … Continue ReadingEmbrace the Dark Side

Game Mechanics

No Guilt Is Forgotten

October 22, 2014

I have to make time to run sessions of the system without worrying too much about the finer details. However, preparation for All Rolled Up attendance at events has been a priority. Now, I hope to have the chance to pick up some slack. I like Incriminating Evidence as a … Continue ReadingNo Guilt Is Forgotten