A chronological listing of every post The Angry GM has ever… posted.
If you ask most GMs what the most important part of an adventure is, they’re going to tell you that it’s the backstory. And they’re wrong. Backstory is one of the least important parts of the adventure. But that doesn’t mean you can ignore it completely. It’s just a matter of doing it right.
You know what’s cool? Cutting a bloody swath through waves of minor foes. Unfortunately, D&D 5E doesn’t handle that very well. Trust me. It claims you can fight 20 or 30 beasts at a time and that minor beasts stay relevant against high level foes, but don’t bet on that. Fortunately, I’m here to provide a way that actually works.
A published module seems like it should take no prep at all, right? Well, if you’ve ever run one, you know that’s a lie. Published modules can take a LOT of prep work. Even worse, it’s not always clear HOW to prepare. Unless you’re a genius like me. Or you read this article.
When you’re writing an adventure, you need interconnected scenes to get the heroes from the beginning to the end. Now, maybe you think you know what scenes are because you’ve already read previous articles in which a certain Angry genius explained them. But that doesn’t mean you know how to build them. So let’s talk about scene construction.
How do you build atmosphere at the table? I’ll tell you how you don’t. You don’t use a motherf$&%ing soundtrack. Sorry Battlebards. Seriously. Building a consistent, engrossing ambiance is not as hard as it seems. It’s just another one of those things no one ever thinks about.
You know what’s only a problem if you’re a completely obsessive nitpicker who’s overly critical of the way RPGs handle every tiny detail? Race in D&D and Pathfinder. That’s what. Fortunately, Pathfinder gave us a great tool to correct this utter and complete non-issue as long as we’re willing to spend way more time than it’s worth. Lets spend five thousand words discussing it.
It may shock you to learn that I don’t hate 13th Age. And that’ve I’ve played and run 13th Age. And that I can give you good advice about, hypothetically, how to use Icon Relationship Rolls in your game better. Because, as I’ve previously mentioned, I’m awesome.
I don’t HATE sandboxes. It’s just that people suck at doing sandboxes. And people don’t even know what sandboxes are. And sandbox is a stupid word. ARGH!
Every hero needs a motivation. Though you wouldn’t know it by watching movies like Guardians of the Galaxy. Or listening to the lying liars who sit at your table pretending to be role-players. Doesn’t matter. When YOU write an adventure, you damned well better figure out how to motivate the characters. AND the players.
There’s this complex, math-laden analysis out there ‘proving’ resting in 5E forces a particular adventure structure. And it doesn’t matter a bit. The Angry GM explains.
Remember the old days? When heroes would literally tear monsters limb from limb? Wouldn’t it be awesome if one of the D’s in D&D stood for dismemberment? Here’s how to build monsters in D&D that can literally be torn apart!
The hills are alive with the sound of Anger! Angry advice about how to start building adventures by figuring out the ending that is!
How do you run a good mystery game rather than a good game about a mystery? And what’s the difference? Read to find out and then post your s$%&y, wrong, alternate advice in the comments.
Why are thieves so antisocial? And what do you do when they steal from the party?
Psionics sucks. Let me explain.
Remember how, months ago, I promised there would be more boss fighty goodness? Well, here’s some more boss fighty goodness. Let’s talk about swarms and oozes and that one wizard who can make copies of himself that are indistinguishable from him.
Never point your GMing gun at something if you’re not willing to pull the trigger. In this edition of Ask Angry, I help a desperate GM plan for failure.
Charisma sucks! Intelligence sucks! What to do about it? NOTHING! … Unless you’re willing to write your own RPG from the ground up.
How do you make the wilderness actually matter? You have to f$&%ing work at it. Just like everything in RPGs. Shocking, I know.
In this installment of Ask Angry, I field questions about how alignment works in the Angryverse (when I’m not too lazy to give a f$&%) and how to figure out how to use my Paragon Monster rules with the ludicrously over complicated encounter balancing system in D&D 5E.
There comes a certain time in every GM’s life when he starts to notice changes. Suddenly, he starts to take an interest in those strange creatures sitting across the table from him. Or her. Whatever. They are players. And their ways can be strange, mysterious, and vexing. And they can make a GM feel all sorts of strange emotions: nervousness, fear, frustration, and violent rage. But, no matter how strange and confusing, no GM can live without players. So, eventually, every GM has to figure out how to talk to players.
Usually about five seconds into the first game session.
Traps suck, but you have to do them. So, here’s some ideas about the least worst ways to deal with traps.
Need an awesome volcano dragon boss fight for your level 14 PCs in D&D 5E? Of course you do. Who the f$&% doesn’t? Here, have one. Happy Fourth of July!
On paragon dragons, PC-on-PC interaction, and starting RPGs with solid premises.
Are you going to GenCon for the first time? Great! Are you a super-popular blogger or podcaster or game writer? No? Let me tell you how to do it under 7,500 words.
The Angry GM answers questions about pushing players out of their comfort zone and how to fix your GMing mistakes.
Should GMs let players play evil PCs? Do GMs have any say in what the players play at all? The Angry GM answers. Spoiler alert: there’s a no and a yes.
Kevin M. asks hypothetical questions about a hypothetical RPG. And asks, hypothetically, how that hypothetical RPG might answer the hypothetical question of classes. I’m NOT writing a game, people. When the f$&% would I have the time for that!?
Another installment of Ask Angry. This time, a kind of new GM asks about Perception, Insight, Passive Skills, and Knowledge.
How do you start a new campaign? Should you play the D&D Adventure System Games? Ask Angry and ye shall receive answers.