Welcome to the start a new hacking miniseries. Years ago, I build a basic time-keeping mechanic that let you introduce random events into your adventures based on how efficiently how your players adventures. As great as it was, though, it only highlighted the need for a real, comprehensive, core time-keeping mechanic that would work in all modes of play. Well, I built just such a system. Years ago. I just kind of forgot to tell you. So I’m here to rectify that in classic The Angry GM style. By walking you through the over-analyzed design in way too many parts.

Let’s try something a little different. Let’s have you write the article. Seriously. I’m going to pose a question and invite you to share your answer in the comments. I just need about 1,750 words to pose the question just right. There’s more to it than just asking whether it’s okay for players to read the Dungeon Master’s Guide. A lot more. Once you all give your answers, I promise I’ll give mine.

I love rolling dice as much as anyone. That’s why I love roleplaying games so huggy much and why I won’t buy any game that takes the Game Master’s dice away. But you can’t build gameplay challenges on dice rolling alone and that ain’t just me talking. In the second essay in my three-part series on proper gameplay and challenge design, we’re going to talk about why naked die rolling isn’t gameplay. According to actual experts.

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!

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