I love open-ended creative problem as much as anyone. It’s why I love tabletop roleplaying games oh so huggy much. But it’s too brittle to rely upon as core gameplay and that ain’t just me talking. There’s years of cognitive research about how people engage with open-ended “insight problems” showing that they’re just not a great thing to build gameplay around. That’s right; I brought receipts for the first in this three-part series about a more comprehensive approach to challenge design that allows for open-ended creativity and dice-rolling without letting either break the gameplay experience.

After showing y’all how to map a pretty good dungeon, I got some lip from some readers who don’t understand the difference between “maps as art” and “maps as game design,” and think you can design a good game in a stolen map. I also got told off from someone who thinks “you don’t have to show your players the map” means “I never have to map an adventure properly again.” So let’s talk about mapping like real gaming adults, shall we?

The end of the month fast approaches and I am still in recovery mode. I will also be away for a week. Let me catch you up.

Any idiot can run a game. Trust me, I've played lots of games run by lots of idiots. But True Game Masters build their players' Investment and take full Ownership of the game. And this 25-part, year-long course will tell you exactly how to do that.

Want to learn how to twist, bend, break, and rebuild the rules of your game to your liking? Want to see a bunch of new rules and systems created by The Angry GM? Start here on the path to becoming a hack like The Angry GM himself.

Do you want to read war stories and recaps from The Angry GM’s campaigns? And then listen while he explains why he does the crap he does at his table? Check out these articles for practical game-table examples and a peek behind Angry's screen.

Want to read a bunch of random useless gamer theory bulls$%&? If you really want to, these articles are loaded with useless bulls$&%.

Do you want to see The Angry GM berate a bunch of hapless GMs just like you just because they dared to ask a question? Want to ask a question yourself? Start here to read the Angriest Advice Column about gaming on the web.

Every so often, the Angry GM stumbles on something — a book, a game, a system, a blog, whatever — that is so utterly and amazingly not s$&% that he’s forced to admit he doesn’t actually hate it. Even though he didn’t create it himself, he doesn’t hate that thing. And that’s worth talking about.

Want to dig back through every article the Angry GM has ever posted? Mostly? In order? This archives the place to do it.

Love the site? Wish you could somehow get all the best bits of advice and read them anywhere? Even places with no internet? Even while pooping? Well, now you can. In book form!

This site only exists because of generous gamers like you who support it. Add your support so you keep all this crap coming.