The True Game Mastery Series
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.
Looking for archived How to Run a F$&%ing Game content? Click here.
Introduction: What is a True Game Master?
What It Means to Master a Game
January 17, 2023
I can’t teach you to be a True Game Master — yes, that’s my plan; I love doing the impossible — I can’t teach you to be a True Game Master without telling you what it means to master Game Mastering.
Game Mastering Makes No Sense
January 24, 2023
True Game Masters take Ownership and Build investment. And those concepts are so vital to Game Mastering that I’m never going to mention them again. And what I do mention won’t make sense. Because GMing is nonsense.
Part I: Running Games
Better Narration Through Visualization: A Lifestyle Guide
January 31, 2023
Narration: the art of telling your players what’s what and who’s where. If you find yourself muddling to provide good Scene-Setting Narration, maybe it’s not your skills that are the problem, maybe it’s your lifestyle. Seriously.
Inviting the Principle Character to Act
February 7, 2023
A True Game Master paces the game with smooth narration, flowing seamlessly from scene to scene and moment to moment. Unfortunately, a TTRPG is a dialogue, not a monologue, and eventually the players get to kill the pace by talking.
The Declare-Determine-Describe Cycle
February 27, 2023
True Game Masters know that nothing breaks a roleplaying game’s flow quite as much as the game’s rules do. So they take a methodical approach to keeping the rules in their place.
The Tao Of Dice
March 7, 2023
It’s tough to know when to call for a die roll and when not to. And no matter what anyone’s told you — including me — there’s no substitute for good, mature, adult judgment. So throw away your checklists and simple rules and trust your gut.
Dealing with Problematic Actions
March 21, 2023
Action adjudication is pretty straightforward. Except when it’s not. And when a tricky action comes along, Mere Game Executors are stuck executing the game’s pre-programmed code like robots while True Game Masters follow the Three Laws of Game Mastering NonRobotics.
Professor Angry’s Office Hours: Dealing with Problematic Actions
March 28, 2023
As I made a mess of that last True Game Mastery lesson on Problematic Actions — given the feedback anyway — I’m holding a special study session to answer your questions and clarify my points.
Running Encounters
How to Run Encounters… NOT!
April 14, 2023
This is the start of a series of True Game Mastery lessons about running different kinds of Encounters. Except it’s not. Because Encounters aren’t what you think they are.
Roll Initiative!
Coming Soon
It’s a Trap!
Coming Soon
Tactical Infiltration Action
Coming Soon
Looking for Clues
Coming Soon
Talking Things Out
Coming Soon
Part 2: Managing Campaigns
Coming May 2023
Part 3: Homebrewing Content
Coming September 2023