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| the game master's book of random encounters: The Game Master's Book of Random Encounters Jeff Ashworth, 2020-09-15 For many tabletop RPG players, the joy of an in-depth game is that anything can happen. Typical adventure modules include a map of the adventure’s primary location, but every other location?whether it's a woodland clearing, a random apothecary or the depths of a temple players elect to explore?has to be improvised on the fly by the Game Master. As every GM knows, no matter how many story hooks, maps or NPCs you painstakingly create during session prep, your best-laid plans are often foiled by your players' whims, extreme skill check successes (or critical fails) or their playful refusal to stay on task. In a game packed with infinite possibilities, what are GMs supposed to do when their players choose those for which they're not prepared? The Game Master’s Book of Random Encounters provides an unbeatable solution. This massive tome is divided into location categories, each of which can stand alone as a small stop as part of a larger campaign. As an example, the “Taverns, Inns, Shops & Guild Halls” section includes maps for 19 unique spaces, as well as multiple encounter tables designed to help GMs fill in the sights, sounds, smells and proprietors of a given location, allowing for each location in the book to be augmented and populated on the fly while still ensuring memorable moments for all your players. Each map is presented at scale on grid, enabling GMs to determine exactly where all of the characters are in relation to one another and anyone (or anything) else in the space, critical information should any combat or other movement-based action occur. Perhaps more useful than its nearly 100 maps, the book's one-shot generator features all the story hooks necessary for GMs to use these maps as part of an interconnected and contained adventure. Featuring eight unique campaign drivers that lead players through several of the book's provided maps, the random tables associated with each stage in the adventure allow for nearly three million different outcomes, making The Game Master's Book of Random Encounters an incredible investment for any would-be GM. The book also includes a Random NPC Generator to help you create intriguing characters your players will love (or love to hate), as well as a Party Makeup Maker for establishing connections among your PCs so you can weave together a disparate group of adventurers with just a few dice rolls. Locations include taverns, temples, inns, animal/creature lairs, gatehouses, courts, ships, laboratories and more, with adventure hooks that run the gamut from frantic rooftop chases to deep cellar dungeon-crawls, with a total of 97 maps, more than 150 tables and millions of possible adventures. No matter where your players end up, they'll have someone or something to persuade or deceive, impress or destroy. As always, the choice is theirs. But no matter what they choose, with The Game Master's Book of Random Encounters, you'll be ready. |
| the game master's book of random encounters: The Ultimate Random Encounters Book Travis "Wheels" Wheeler, Logan Jenkins, Lee Terrill, Greg Leatherman, 2021-10-05 Playing a role-playing game is a delicate dance. If everything runs smoothly, it feels like you and your friends are able to maneuver effortlessly through dramatic, epic, and uproariously silly scenes where everyone gets a chance to shine. And yet, other times it just doesn't come together. Combat slows to a repetitive grind, the Game Master runs out of good Non-Player Character (NPC) ideas, or after twenty-six rounds maybe even the most beautifully designed encounter just gets a bit stale. Sure, you could prep an absolute powerhouse of an all-killer-no filler role-playing session. Spend time getting fun character voices ready for every NPC. But that sounds like way too much work. This is the book you turn to for help. It's a big book of ideas designed to slot right into your existing campaign, organized into neat little tables. If you salivate at chaos magic effect tables and daydream about wild, unexpected die results, you already know it can also be fun to throw caution to the wind and let randomness determine as much as possible. Even the most organized GMs and the tightest adventure modules benefit from a little spice!-- |
| the game master's book of random encounters: The Game Master's Book of Non-Player Characters Jeff Ashworth, 2021-09-14 From the #1 Best-Selling author, Jeff Ashworth, comes the latest addition to The Game Master series, with more than 500 NPCs ready to populate your campaign whenever you need them! As is often the case in tabletop roleplaying games, players often venture into locales or look for answers in places and among people busy Game Masters simply didn’t anticipate. Or, just as often, an adventure won't have fully fleshed out characters in place for the locations and encounters outlined for gameplay. The Game Master's Book of Non-Player Characters solves these issues and more by providing Game Masters with the information they need to “fill in the holes” in their campaign play. It will enable GMs to instantly add depth, color, motivation and unique physical characteristics at a moment's notice to unexpected or underwritten characters as they pop up during gameplay, ensuring every session is a memorable one for players and GMs alike. This edition also includes more than 50 hand-drawn illustrations of select NPCs detailed in the book, 3 bonus one-shot adventures, and a foreword by online influencer Jasmine Bhullar. |
| the game master's book of random encounters: The Game Master's Book of Random Encounters (Special Edition) Jeff Ashworth, 2023-05-03 |
| the game master's book of random encounters: Live to Tell the Tale Keith Ammann, 2020-07-07 From the author of The Monsters Know What They’re Doing comes an introduction to combat tactics for Dungeons & Dragons players. In his first book, The Monsters Know What They’re Doing (based on his popular blog), Keith Ammann unleashed upon the D&D world a wave of clever, highly evolved monster tactics. Now it’s only fair that he gives players the tools they need to fight back…and prevail! An introduction to combat tactics for fifth-edition Dungeons & Dragons players, Live to Tell the Tale evens the score. It examines the fundamentals of D&D battles: combat roles, party composition, attacking combos, advantage and disadvantage, Stealth and Perception, and more…including the ever-important consideration of how to run away! Don’t worry about creating a mathematically perfect character from square one. Survival isn’t about stats—it’s about behavior! With four turn-by-turn, roll-by-roll, blow-by-blow sample battles, Live to Tell the Tale breaks down how to make the best choices for your cherished characters so that they can survive their adventures, retire upon their accumulated riches, and tell stories about the old days that nobody will ever believe. |
| the game master's book of random encounters: The Game Master's Book of Legendary Dragons Aaron Hübrich, Dan Dillon, Cody C. Lewis, James J. Haeck, Jim Pinto, 2022-10-11 This incredible book details more than two dozen unique, heart-stopping dragons, plus dragon-kin, dragon-related organizations and magic - everything you need to make dragons the centerpiece of your campaign, full of mystery, terror and legendary excitement. |
| the game master's book of random encounters: Random Tables: Cities and Towns Timm Woods, 2020-05-19 Make your fantasy tabletop role-playing game even more epic with hundreds of creative and unexpected details to keep your story fresh, your settings vivid and alive, and your friends guessing! Take your fantasy world to the next level, all with the roll of a die! Random Tables: Cities and Towns is a utility book for fans of tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons, allowing Game Masters to generate on-the-fly content for adventurers traveling, shopping, or simply passing through towns and cities. Adventurers love to ask tough questions that can sometimes put Game Masters on the spot and put their creative skills to the test. Never fear being stumped when the party asks: What building is across the street from the thieves’ guild headquarters? Who runs the local potion shop? Who is staying in the other rooms of the party’s tavern? Generate all of these answers and more by rolling on the dozens of randomized tables provided within these pages. Your players will love your fast-paced and exciting adventures; and even you will be on the edge of your seat to see what happens next! |
| the game master's book of random encounters: The Laws of Human Nature Robert Greene, 2018-10-23 From the #1 New York Times-bestselling author of The 48 Laws of Power comes the definitive new book on decoding the behavior of the people around you Robert Greene is a master guide for millions of readers, distilling ancient wisdom and philosophy into essential texts for seekers of power, understanding and mastery. Now he turns to the most important subject of all - understanding people's drives and motivations, even when they are unconscious of them themselves. We are social animals. Our very lives depend on our relationships with people. Knowing why people do what they do is the most important tool we can possess, without which our other talents can only take us so far. Drawing from the ideas and examples of Pericles, Queen Elizabeth I, Martin Luther King Jr, and many others, Greene teaches us how to detach ourselves from our own emotions and master self-control, how to develop the empathy that leads to insight, how to look behind people's masks, and how to resist conformity to develop your singular sense of purpose. Whether at work, in relationships, or in shaping the world around you, The Laws of Human Nature offers brilliant tactics for success, self-improvement, and self-defense. |
| the game master's book of random encounters: Dungeon Master's Guide II Jesse Decker, David Noonan, James Jacobs, Chris Thomasson, Robin D. Laws, 2005 Building upon existing materials in the Dungeon Master's Guide, this title was specifically designed to facilitate play, especially when the Dungeon Master has a limited amount of preparation time. Chapters include discussion on running a game, designing adventures, building and using prestige classes, and creating campaign settings. |
| the game master's book of random encounters: Dungeons for the Master Matt Davids, 2017-08-18 Never Get Caught without a Dungeon Map Your players now want to explore the ruins you mentioned in an offhand remark. Don't worry. With this book of maps, you'll have an exciting dungeon ready to go before your players can open the Doritos bag or check Facebook. D&D Dungeon Masters and Pathfinder Game Masters never get caught without a dungeon map ever again. Never worry about your players straying from the main adventure. Always have a dungeon ready to go. This book includes: 100 hand-drawn original dungeon maps. These maps will only be available in this book. Unique dungeon names to get your creativity flowing. A comprehensive 1D100 table of dungeon encounters. Have characters fall into fiery pits, not cliches. Plus, all the maps I have ever posted on my blog or included in free products. The total number of dungeon maps is 177! |
| the game master's book of random encounters: Mythic Game Master Emulator Tom Pigeon, 2018-01-25 Mythic Game Master Emulator Create dynamic role-playing adventures without preparationFor use as a supplement with other systems NOTE: This product provides the Game Master Emulation rules found in Mythic, a product that contains emulation rules and a full, universal role playing game. Mythic Game Master Emulator is for those who do not want the universal role-playing rules, but just the game master emulator at a reduced price. Mythic Game Master Emulator is a supplement meant to be played with your favorite role-playing games. Most Role-Playing Games operate under the principle that there are players and there is a Game Master. The GM prepares all the details of an adventure, and then runs the players through that adventure. This usually requires a great deal of preparation on the part of the GM. Mythic is different in that it requires no preparation from the GM. Mythic adventures are meant to be played off the cuff, with perhaps a few minutes of brainstorming to come up with the initial setup. Mythic can also be played entirely without a GM. The same mechanics in Mythic that allow a GM to run an adventure without preparation also allows a group of players to do without the GM. In a Mythic adventure, the GM (or players without a GM) can start an evening's entertainment with about five minutes of preparation. As the adventure unfolds, the GM is just as surprised by the twists and turns as the players are. There are various ways in which Mythic can be used: No GM, multiple players Players decide on an opening scenario, and perhaps a few details or two, and Mythic takes it from there. All action is decided through the asking of yes/no questions and the application of logical principles. By answering questions, the adventure moves along, with the occasional random event throwing players a curve ball. The action is broken into scenes, just like in a movie, to keep everything straight. No GM, one player Mythic can be used to go solo. Solo play in Mythic works the same as group play. You're just alone. One GM, any number of players For those who like to be a GM, we have something for you, too. The same tools that allow Mythic to automatically generate adventures on the fly without a GM also work with a GM. This means very little to zero preparation, if you don't want to prepare. Simply create an opening scenario (hey, you can come up with that on the drive over!) and follow Mythic as it guides you along. Mythic will throw in its own twists and turns, so the GM will be just as shocked as the players. |
| the game master's book of random encounters: The Catcher in the Rye J. D. Salinger, 2025-01-22 The Catcher in the Rye, written by J.D. Salinger and published in 1951, is a classic American novel that explores the themes of adolescence, alienation, and identity through the eyes of its protagonist, Holden Caulfield. The novel is set in the 1950s and follows Holden, a 16-year-old who has just been expelled from his prep school, Pencey Prep. Disillusioned with the world around him, Holden decides to leave Pencey early and spend a few days alone in New York City before returning home. Over the course of these days, Holden interacts with various people, including old friends, a former teacher, and strangers, all the while grappling with his feelings of loneliness and dissatisfaction. Holden is deeply troubled by the phoniness of the adult world and is haunted by the death of his younger brother, Allie, which has left a lasting impact on him. He fantasizes about being the catcher in the rye, a guardian who saves children from losing their innocence by catching them before they fall off a cliff into adulthooda. The novel ends with Holden in a mental institution, where he is being treated for a nervous breakdown. He expresses some hope for the future, indicating a possible path to recovery.. |
| the game master's book of random encounters: Journey to the West (2018 Edition - PDF) Wu Cheng'en, 2018-08-14 The bestselling Journey to the West comic book by artist Chang Boon Kiat is now back in a brand new fully coloured edition. Journey to the West is one of the greatest classics in Chinese literature. It tells the epic tale of the monk Xuanzang who journeys to the West in search of the Buddhist sutras with his disciples, Sun Wukong, Sandy and Pigsy. Along the way, Xuanzang's life was threatened by the diabolical White Bone Spirit, the menacing Red Child and his fearsome parents and, a host of evil spirits who sought to devour Xuanzang's flesh to attain immortality. Bear witness to the formidable Sun Wukong's (Monkey God) prowess as he takes them on, using his Fiery Eyes, Golden Cudgel, Somersault Cloud, and quick wits! Be prepared for a galloping read that will leave you breathless! |
| the game master's book of random encounters: The Lost Symbol Dan Brown, 2012-05-01 THE #1 WORLDWIDE BESTSELLER FROM THE ICONIC AUTHOR OF THE DA VINCI CODE “Impossible to put down.” —The New York Times “Thrilling and entertaining, like the experience on a roller coaster.” —Los Angeles Times Famed Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon answers an unexpected summons to deliver a lecture at the U.S. Capitol Building. His plans are interrupted when a disturbing object—artfully encoded with five symbols—is discovered in the building. Langdon recognizes in the find an ancient invitation into a lost world of esoteric, potentially dangerous wisdom. When his mentor, Peter Solomon—a long-standing Mason and beloved philanthropist—is kidnapped, Langdon realizes that the only way to save Solomon is to accept the mystical invitation and plunge headlong into a clandestine world of Masonic secrets, hidden history, and one inconceivable truth . . . all under the watchful eye of a terrifying enemy. Robert Langdon returns in Inferno, Origin, and The Secret of Secrets (coming soon)! |
| the game master's book of random encounters: The Ultimate RPG Gameplay Guide James D’Amato, 2019-10-08 Improve your RPG campaign with this comprehensive and interactive guide to making the most out of your gaming experience. Whatever RPG game you play, from D&D to Call of Cthulu to licensed games like Star Wars, every detail is important. From setting the scene to choosing the right music or even adjusting the lighting to create the right atmosphere, every choice helps maximize your gaming experience. The Ultimate RPG Gameplay Guide provides practical advice for everything from pre-game preparations and in-game improvisation to working out a plan of attack with your teammates to learning how to lean into the setting of your game. Including instructions, prompts, and activities, it offers everything you need for successful, fun role-playing with your friends every time you play. Create hours of narrative and make the most out of your storytelling skills by setting the perfect scene for your adventure. Whether you need advice on your character or working better with your gaming group, James D’Amato includes everything you’ll need to take your game to the next level. |
| the game master's book of random encounters: Town Tables Steven Chabotte, 2021-10-23 Quickly build fascinating and immersive towns, NPCs and game hooks for your fantasy role playing game! One of the greatest memes in tabletop fantasy role playing games like Dungeons and Dragons, Pathfinder and many, many others that are played by millions every year is the town experience. No matter the game or group of players, the Game Master will soon be faced with bringing the adventurers to a town for some rest and relaxation. And while there, why not get them involved in the town by letting them interact with a variety of NPCs, explore businesses, interact with the town guard, get involved in a town secret and so much more to pique your player's curiosity. Town Tables: The Game Master's Town Builder Handbook is the definitive guide to creating and running towns in your role playing game. Combine bits and pieces from its 100+ tables and you will soon have a fully fleshed out immersive town setting for your players to explore. From tavern food and drink menus to NPCs to interesting shop items to atmosphere, this guide has everything you could ever look for. Town Tables is your opportunity to rapidly turn a blah town setting into an exciting adventure for your players and a campaign that will be remembered long after the game has ended. Make your town encounter be all it was meant to be. Town Table offers all these tools to help you design your ultimate town encounters quickly and easily: Over 100 pages of tables to help you design fascinating town settings, complete with adventure seeds, store contents for shopping, food and drink menus, crome and punishment, rumors, secrets and so much more - everything you need to make detailed immersive towns for your players to enjoy. Compatible with all tabletop fantasy role playing games Hundreds of detailed descriptions covering all aspects of town look and feel. Dozens of quick build tables to generate a fascinating town locations, shopping, people and so much more on the fly. And much more... What are you waiting for? Start designing your greatest town encounter right now with Town Tables. May all your adventures be grand! |
| the game master's book of random encounters: The Monsters Know What They're Doing Keith Ammann, 2019-10-29 From the creator of the popular blog The Monsters Know What They’re Doing comes a compilation of villainous battle plans for Dungeon Masters. In the course of a Dungeons & Dragons game, a Dungeon Master has to make one decision after another in response to player behavior—and the better the players, the more unpredictable their behavior! It’s easy for even an experienced DM to get bogged down in on-the-spot decision-making or to let combat devolve into a boring slugfest, with enemies running directly at the player characters and biting, bashing, and slashing away. In The Monsters Know What They’re Doing, Keith Ammann lightens the DM’s burden by helping you understand your monsters’ abilities and develop battle plans before your fifth edition D&D game session begins. Just as soldiers don’t whip out their field manuals for the first time when they’re already under fire, a DM shouldn’t wait until the PCs have just encountered a dozen bullywugs to figure out how they advance, fight, and retreat. Easy to read and apply, The Monsters Know What They're Doing is essential reading for every DM. |
| the game master's book of random encounters: The Lazy DM's Workbook Michael Shea, 2018-11-09 The Lazy DM's Workbook contains a wide range of tools, maps, and reference sheets to help you run your fifth edition fantasy roleplaying game--and is designed to be useful right at the table. This book contains numerous fifth edition rules references, guides, and random generators to help fire up your imagination as you prepare and run your games. The workbook also contains ten lazy lairs: full-color maps and quick descriptions of locations common to most fantasy roleplaying games. When the characters take a game session in a direction you didn't expect, you can use any of these lairs with minimal prep time, running it straight out of the book. The Lazy DM's Workbook is an indispensable reference, designed to be kept at your side as tales of high adventure unfold at your gaming table. |
| the game master's book of random encounters: A Christmas Carol Charles Dickens, 2015-09-15 From the bustling, snowy streets of 19th-century London to the ghostly apparitions of Christmases past and future, award-winning artist Roberto Innocenti vividly renders not only the authentic detail but also the emotional impact of Charles Dickens's beloved Christmas tale. In both crowded urban scenes and intimate portraits of familiar characters, we gain a sense of the timeless humanity of the tale and perhaps catch a glimpse of ourselves. |
| the game master's book of random encounters: Tome of Adventure Design PoD Softcover Frog God Games, Matt J Finch, 2020-07-17 A fantasy adventure game, at its very heart, is about developing an open-ended story of the characters. The referee is in charge of the fantasy world, and the players direct the actions of their characters in that fantasy world. Neither the referee nor the group of players has complete control over what's going to happen, and the result is an evolving set of surprises for both the referee and the players. Unlike the players, as the referee and creator of the game world, most of your work is done ahead of time. To some degree or other, you have to create the groundwork for the adventure before the game starts. Even though no battle plan survives contact with the enemy - and if you're an experienced referee you know exactly what I mean - the game has to start ... with a starting point. This might just be a vague set of ideas, or it might be as complex as a set of maps with a detailed key and well thought-out encounters for the players to run into. The Tome of Adventure Design is organized as a series of books, each one providing resources at every step of the way. The vast majority of the content of each book is made up of random generation tables that we created over a quarter of a century (sigh) for our own use. It shoud be said up front that these are tables for deep design - in other words, most of them are too long, and contain too many unusual or contradictory entries, for use on the spot at the gaming table. There are already many excellent books of tables for use on the fly; the tables in these books are different. They work best as a tool for preparation beforehand, providing relatively vast creative resources for browsing and gathering, rather than quick-use tables designed to provide broad, fast brushstrokes. Our shorter tables tend to deliver cryptic results designed to shock the reader's creativity into filling in the gaps, whereas the longer tables are unusably vast for easy random generation, being designed to shock the reader's creativity into operation by presenting a sea of possibilities. |
| the game master's book of random encounters: Rise of the Drow Jonathan G. Nelson, Stephen Yeardley, 2014-06 The Underworld is boiling from the flames of war - Matron Maelora of House Gullion has taken control over the drow city of Holoth via a coup d'état - allying herself with the alien Vidre and siphoning power from an artifact granted by these enigmatic, crystalline schemers, she indeed triumphed and funneled the souls of her captives through the artifact to gain immense power. Unbeknownst to her, half of the souls have been funneled to the greedy clutches of the alien Vidre and sacrifices have become harder and harder to come by. Not one to be dictated what to do, the matron managed to sever the binding ties and arcane entwinements of the pact between her and the Vidre via the help of Naraneus the Spider Goddess for the promise of a conquest of the worlds above - the goddess has spoken and so it shall be done. The Vidre, meanwhile, prepare for war - their thirst for souls must be slaked. Rise of the Drow is a Pathfinder Roleplaying Game compatible adventure for 4-6 PCs of Levels 6-18. This book is hardbound, over 550 pages and is presented in full color on premium paper. |
| the game master's book of random encounters: Kingdoms & Warfare Matthew Colville, 2022-02-20 Kingdoms and Warfare, the sequel to Strongholds & Followers, is a 5th edition supplement that introduces Domain-level play to your game, allowing players to become Regents running a Kingdom, Duchy, or Barony! Or a Church! A Thieves' Guild! A Bard's College! Whichever you choose, it's your Domain. Your domain can take actions, raise armies, conduct espionage, and wage war! Kingdoms and Warfare also adds mechanics for player Titles for several different organizations. Titles give your characters new, limited abilities and proficiencies that let them shore up the deficiencies of a limited-class party. Expanded rules for Warfare allowing faster, more balanced battles, more and different kinds of units. New Maneuvers allow characters to directly command their units, executing daring ploys that can change the course of war! New rules for the Tide of Battle create a connection between the Encounter your characters are fighting and the Battle your units are waging. New rules for using PCs and monsters as units, as well as more advice for building an army and waging war. The rules for Warfare in Strongholds & Followers are only the beginning of a more robust system.Any book of new rules as big as this requires an adventure to show you how to use it. The Regent of Bedegar acts as a sequel to the Siege of Castle Rend and introduces players to Domain Level play. The heroes manage their new domain, putting out fires in Gravesford and other local towns while encountering various organizations in Aendrim, some friendly, some not so much. |
| the game master's book of random encounters: The Great Mental Models: General Thinking Concepts Farnam Street, 2019-12-16 The old saying goes, ''To the man with a hammer, everything looks like a nail.'' But anyone who has done any kind of project knows a hammer often isn't enough. The more tools you have at your disposal, the more likely you'll use the right tool for the job - and get it done right. The same is true when it comes to your thinking. The quality of your outcomes depends on the mental models in your head. And most people are going through life with little more than a hammer. Until now. The Great Mental Models: General Thinking Concepts is the first book in The Great Mental Models series designed to upgrade your thinking with the best, most useful and powerful tools so you always have the right one on hand. This volume details nine of the most versatile, all-purpose mental models you can use right away to improve your decision making, productivity, and how clearly you see the world. You will discover what forces govern the universe and how to focus your efforts so you can harness them to your advantage, rather than fight with them or worse yet- ignore them. Upgrade your mental toolbox and get the first volume today. AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY Farnam Street (FS) is one of the world's fastest growing websites, dedicated to helping our readers master the best of what other people have already figured out. We curate, examine and explore the timeless ideas and mental models that history's brightest minds have used to live lives of purpose. Our readers include students, teachers, CEOs, coaches, athletes, artists, leaders, followers, politicians and more. They're not defined by gender, age, income, or politics but rather by a shared passion for avoiding problems, making better decisions, and lifelong learning. AUTHOR HOME Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| the game master's book of random encounters: Starship Troopers Robert Anson Heinlein, 1987 In a futuristic military adventure a recruit goes through the roughest boot camp in the universe and into battle with the Terran Mobile Infantry in what historians would come to call the First Interstellar War |
| the game master's book of random encounters: Arbiter of Worlds Alexander Macris, 2019-03-02 Arbiter of Worlds is the definite guide to building and running fantasy role-playing game campaigns. This primer will teach you how to build living, breathing worlds for your players to explore; how to host game and manage game sessions; and how to create powerful experiences of adventure that your players will talk about for years to come. Learn the secret to becoming a judge, an adversary, a worldbuilder, and a storyteller and become an arbiter of worlds! Every Macris campaign starts with a rich, open world; the edge of a massive map; and the ability to find adventure in any direction. After playing in a dozen of his campaigns, I can assure you that Macris is the best prepared, most thorough GM on the prime material plane. He balances deadly adversary and the party's greatest supporter perfectly. I've been lucky to contribute to some renowned video game worlds, and to discus world design with some of the most accomplished writers alive. And I'm honestly not sure there's been someone more thorough at and passionate for world building than Macris since ... maybe Tolkien? (Okay, maybe G.R.R. Martin, but he's not as organized or efficient.) It takes organization, creativity, and careful technique to build a massive world efficiently and deliver it effectively, and Macris can show you how he does it. - Dr. Michael Capps, award-winning videogame executive, writer, designer (*Gears of War*, *Fortnite*, *Unreal Tournament, Unreal Championship*) Armed with decades of experience as both a player and a designer, Macris cuts to the marrow with razor sharp insights inan unapologetic and often painfully insightful analysis of every imaginable facet of being a Game Master. From implicationof play inherent in a game's design, to world building, to the often delicate nature of unspoken social contracts inherentin the hobby, the guidance found in Arbiter of Worlds is a much-needed breath of fresh air to veterans of the hobby and aforged-in-the-fire bootcamp for those taking their first steps behind the screen. - James M. Spahn, Ennie and Origins Award Winning RPG Designer A superb read. He makes his points the way you would expect a Harvard-trained lawyer to do. If you read this book, you aregoing to come out knowing real things you did not know before that will help you run games at the table... - Courtney Campbell, Hack & Slash |
| the game master's book of random encounters: Arcane Artifacts and Curious Curios Madeline Hale, 2019-09-20 |
| the game master's book of random encounters: The Lazy Dungeon Master Michael Shea, 2019-06-14 You love Dungeons and Dragons. As an experienced dungeon master you've run dozens, if not hundreds of games. You put a lot of work into making your games great. What if there's another way to look at how you prepare your game? What if it turned out you could spend less time, less energy, and have a better game as a result?It's time to unleash the Lazy Dungeon Master.Written in the style of Sly Flourish's Dungeon Master Tips and Running Epic Tier D&D Games, The Lazy Dungeon Master shows a new approach to game preparation, one that takes less time and gives your game the freedom to grow at the table. This book will help dungeon master prepare awesome games for any version of D&D.Based on the real-world experiences of hundreds of dungeon masters and dozens of professional game designers, the Lazy Dungeon Master includes interviews with veteran D&D DMs and a complete toolkit to help you improvise an entire game.Whether you play 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, Pathfinder, or the D&D Next playtest; The Lazy Dungeon Master has tips, techniques, and advice to make preparation easier and help you run a flexible and entertaining game. |
| the game master's book of random encounters: The Game Master's Book of More Random Encounters Jeff Ashworth, Tim Baker, 2024-07-16 This sequel to The Game Master’s Book of Random Encounters gives GMs more locations, more out-of-this-world options and more fun than ever before. |
| the game master's book of random encounters: The Game Master's Book: Zufallsbegegnungen Jeff Ashworth, 2024-06-16 Das Schönste bei Rollenspielen (RPG) ist, dass die Story zu jeder Zeit eine unerwartete Wendung nehmen kann. Doch genau darin steckt auch der Schrecken vieler Game Master, denn stundenlange Vorbereitung kann durch einen unglücklichen Würfelwurf oder eine verheerende Spielerentscheidung in Sekunden zunichtegemacht werden. Guter Rat, wie es weitergehen soll, ist dann teuer. Das ungeschickte Herauswinden aus diesen Situationen hat jetzt ein Ende! Mit über 500 Karten, Würfeltabellen und Story-Inspirationen bietet der nächste große Wurf aus der Reihe The Game Master's Book Spielleitern unzählige Möglichkeiten, eine Kampagne aufzuwerten und auf ungeplante Situationen sowie Zufallsbegegnungen einzugehen – alles nur, indem man die Würfel ein paarmal rollen lässt. |
| the game master's book of random encounters: The Game Master's Book of Wilderness Encounters Douglas Sun, 2025-04-08 The 5th Edition core rules of D&D offer a solid discussion of the how's and why's of random encounters, but the subject still deserves more - much more. It's for that reason The Game Master's Book of Wilderness Encounters exists. This extraordinary book expands on the subject of random encounters and gives GMs a more thorough idea of what might happen when a party bumps into...let's say...a group of orcs as they plunge into the forest. In The Game Master's Book of Wilderness Encounters, readers will find 10 core chapters, each devoted to a particular type of wilderness terrain: Caverns, Desert, Forest, Grasslands, Hills, Littoral, Mountains, Ocean, Tundra and Wetlands. After a brief discussion of the terrain type, each chapter launches into a series of tables and sub-tables outlining possible plausible encounters. They cover most of the creatures included in 5th Edition core rulebooks, from familiar wild animals to exotic monsters like kraken and purple worms, plus humanoids, various vocations/professions, and physical hazards that GMs can use for petty harassment (just to remind their players that adventuring isn't all fun and glory). In turn, each table entry discusses how that creature reacts -- topics range from how to acquire a pet rat to what that ancient red dragon is thinking as it looks down at the party -- how many of them are present (scaled to the party's average level), and what treasure might be gained from defeating it. In addition to the more than 600 random table entries, readers will find 10 new monsters - one for each environmental zone - plus three one-shot adventures that put the tables into play. The Game Master's Book of Wilderness Encounters offers GMs a deep dive into an under-explored aspect of RPGs. Even experienced GMs will find food for thought and fresh ideas about how to make a party food for monsters. |
| the game master's book of random encounters: Publishers Weekly Book Publishing Almanac 2022 Publishers Weekly, 2021-11-30 Announcing the first edition of Publishers Weekly Book Publishing Almanac 2022. Designed to help authors, editors, agents, publicists, and anyone else working in book publishing understand the changing landscape of book publishing, it is an essential reference for anyone who works in the industry. Written by industry veterans and co-published with Publishers Weekly magazine, here is the first-ever book to offer a comprehensive view of how modern book publishing works. It offers history and context, as well as up-to-the-minute information for anyone interested in working in the field and for authors looking to succeed with a publisher or by self-publishing. You’ll find here information on: Finding an agent Self-publishing Amazon Barnes & Noble and other book chains Independent bookstores Special sales (non-traditional book markets) Distribution Foreign markets Publicity, Marketing, Advertising Subsidiary rights Book production E-books and audiobooks Diversity, equity, and inclusion across the industry And more! Whether you’re a seasoned publishing professional, just starting out in the business, or simply interested in how book publishing works, the Publishers Weekly Book Publishing Almanac will be an annual go-to reference guide and an essential, authoritative resource that will make that knowledge accessible to a broad audience. Featuring original essays from and interviews with some of the industry's most insightful and innovative voices along with highlights of PW's news coverage over the last year, the Publishers Weekly Book Publishing Almanac is an indispensable guide for publishers, editors, agents, publicists, authors and anyone who wants better to understand this business, its history, and its mysteries. |
| the game master's book of random encounters: The Game Master’s Book of Legendary Locations Jeff Ashworth, Tim Baker, 2025-06-17 When your players are traveling through the wilderness from Point A to Point B, here’s the key to making that journey as intriguing and exciting as possible! As every GM knows, you can spend hours preparing an adventure, but rarely is any map filled in so completely that you can easily define what lies waiting in the wilds between where they are today and where they’d like to be tomorrow. That’s where The Game Master’s Book of Legendary Locations comes in. Legendary Locations provides Game Masters with more than 150 fascinating sites, obstacles, legends and landscapes spread across eight environmental zones, designed to make every journey an unforgettable one. From poisonous swamps and bottomless wells to dragon skull temples and abandoned mines, each location includes a brief history, exotic lore, potential dangers to fight and treasures to be won, along with illustrations throughout. Larger entries include special Game Master notes and random encounter tables to ensure each incredible locale is as compelling as possible. Each environmental zone also includes a completely fleshed out lair, including monster stat blocks, a map and full page illustration. In addition, Legendary Locations also includes dozens of roll tables for determining random encounters, eerie occurrences, natural hazards and more to ensure players are always experiencing something unique and unexpected. It’s a wellspring of inspiration and a fathomless resource for keeping players on their toes and ensuring that the journey is just as exciting as the destination. |
| the game master's book of random encounters: So You Want To Be A Game Master Justin Alexander, 2023-11-21 USA TODAY Bestseller ENNIE Award Winner Enter a world of heroism and adventure where you can become the ultimate Game Master, led by renowned mapmaking expert Justin Alexander. Thanks to tabletop roleplay, millions of fans are creating unforgettable collaborative stories. No matter what roleplaying game you want to play, this book is the key to unlocking endless adventure! Award-winning game designer Justin Alexander has created an incredible compendium of advice and maps, perfect for any aspiring Game Master. This book is packed with the strategies you need to create amazing dungeons, battles, roleplay encounters, and more. Full of practical, hands-on advice and sample maps, just reading the first chapter of this book will have you ready to run a game in less than an hour. From there, Justin teaches you all the skills and techniques you need to explore dungeons, solve mysteries, steal priceless artifacts, unravel strange conspiracies, and venture forth on epic journeys! No matter what game you're playing, this book is the key to unlocking the limitless realms of your imagination. |
| the game master's book of random encounters: The Ultimate RPG Game Master's Guide James D’Amato, 2024-03-26 Up your game with everything you need to run your next tabletop roleplay game with expert advice, gameplay guidance, and playable content from RPG expert James D’Amato. How do I make combat more interesting? How do I encourage my players to role-play? How do I avoid my sessions ending in disaster? Leading an RPG can be a challenge, but The Ultimate Game Master’s Guide is here to help! With advice from RPG expert James D’Amato, you’ll find answers to all these questions and more, along with guidance for bringing your game to life from behind the GM screen. James covers everything you need to know to bring your GM game to the next level including: -How to make player decisions meaningful -How to add more roleplay to your adventure -How to keep combat interesting—and memorable -How to make NPCs dynamic, but keep them from stealing the show -And so much more! Add excitement to your game and keep players fully engaged with The Ultimate RPG Game Master’s Guide. |
| the game master's book of random encounters: Universal Decay: Dead Stars Rule Book, Revised, 2nd Edition Jay Barrell, 2013-11-18 Dead Stars is a science fiction horror role-playing game powered by the alternate d20 Universal Decay rules system. Pick a race - from the ever-familiar humans to the amorphous gorbrasch or sleazy helizara - strap on some personal armor and pick up a sliver rifle or get a cerebral computer implant and grab your toolkit. Or both. Then get together with your friends to face a universe of dangers, wonders, opportunities, and quite possibly a messy death. This book contains everything you will need to play or run a game in Dead Stars as well as rules for using the Universal Decay system in alternate genres, incorporating everything from swords and sorcery to vehicle energy weapons, personal armor, nanotechnology and starships. |
| the game master's book of random encounters: Random Tables: Dungeons and Lairs Timm Woods, 2022-09-27 Behind every great tabletop role-playing adventure is a great Game Master (GM), the designer and mastermind of the campaign. Random Tables: Dungeons and Lairs will help you shape up your tabletop adventure and lead players to new and unexpected themes and encounters! Use this book to generate an entire dungeon from scratch with dozens of randomized tables focused on: dungeon types, dungeon facades, room sizes, doors and barriers and more! -- |
| the game master's book of random encounters: Querp - Gamesmaster's Companion Jamie Wallis, 2011-02 Welcome to QUERP: The Gamemaster's Guide. This tome is the fifth book in the QUERP series and is part of core rule books along with: The Second Edition Rule Book, The Player's Companion and The Bestiary. This book has been written to introduce new Gamesmasters to QUERP but could be adapted to introduce a budding Gamesmaster to any game system. Within these pages you will find: Creating a Game World Creating and Adventure (both campaign and single session) City Generator New Monsters The Complete list of Spells Magic Items Realms of the Ice Giants: pt 1 of an adventure |
| the game master's book of random encounters: Hacklopedia Field Manual , |
和外国人打网游要知道哪些游戏术语？ - 知乎
Oct 14, 2013 · gg wp——good game well play，国际惯例末一句——玩得漂亮. noob——表示菜鸟，群嘲极易引起对骂，尤其星际这种内置语音的，可怜的耳朵。。。 afk——away from keyboard，相当于qq的“离开”状态. FPS射击类（第一第三人称通用）术语：
integrating ogre 3d into a game engie - Ogre Forums
Oct 12, 2012 · i know there are many game engines out there i like them (especially unity) idk i have this temptation of making a game engines mostly for educational purposes (i think so) , i think i like game engine development more tempting then …
利用 Sunshine & Moonlight 实现校园网内远程串流游戏 - 知乎
GitHub - LizardByte/Sunshine: Self-hosted game stream host for Moonlight. 安装过程中，请注意安装路径不能存在中文，并安装所有控件。 安装完成后，Sunshine 会在后台运行并在本机地址上开启一个端口作为配置页面，点击右下角状态栏的 Sunshine 图标，在弹出菜单 …
英伟达显卡game ready驱动与studio驱动的区别是什么？ - 知乎
从更新频次上来说，game ready就相当于测试版驱动。studio相当于稳定版驱动。 从实际性能上来说，我经常混着用，大部分时间没什么区别。（CUDA版本还是有区别的） 我建议studio驱动常驻，因为游戏版的驱动主要是针对特定游戏的优化设置，我觉得吧，影响不大。
如何解决提示：需要新应用打开此ms-gamingoverlay？ - 知乎
这个问题是你卸载了Xbox导致的。最简单的解决方式，就是弹出窗口的时候，直接点击窗口中的“在 Microsoft Store 中查找应用”，然后把查找到的Xbox Game Bar这个应用安装一下，完美解决。
和外国人打网游要知道哪些游戏术语？ - 知乎
Oct 14, 2013 · gg wp——good game well play，国际惯例末一句——玩得漂亮. noob——表示菜鸟，群嘲极易引起对骂，尤其星际这种内置语音的，可怜的耳朵。。。 afk——away from …
integrating ogre 3d into a game engie - Ogre Forums
Oct 12, 2012 · i know there are many game engines out there i like them (especially unity) idk i have this temptation of making a game engines mostly for educational purposes (i think so) , i …
利用 Sunshine & Moonlight 实现校园网内远程串流游戏 - 知乎
GitHub - LizardByte/Sunshine: Self-hosted game stream host for Moonlight. 安装过程中，请注意安装路径不能存在中文，并安装所有控件。 安装完成后，Sunshine 会在后台运行并在本机地 …
英伟达显卡game ready驱动与studio驱动的区别是什么？ - 知乎
从更新频次上来说，game ready就相当于测试版驱动。studio相当于稳定版驱动。 从实际性能上来说，我经常混着用，大部分时间没什么区别。（CUDA版本还是有区别的） 我建议studio驱动 …
如何解决提示：需要新应用打开此ms-gamingoverlay？ - 知乎
这个问题是你卸载了Xbox导致的。最简单的解决方式，就是弹出窗口的时候，直接点击窗口中的“在 Microsoft Store 中查找应用”，然后把查找到的Xbox Game Bar这个应用安装一下，完美解 …
显卡自带的录屏功能怎么使用？ - 知乎
Aug 29, 2023 · 知乎，中文互联网高质量的问答社区和创作者聚集的原创内容平台，于 2011 年 1 月正式上线，以「让人们更好的分享知识、经验和见解，找到自己的解答」为品牌使命。知乎 …
加入和开通XGP会员教程 - 知乎
Oct 23, 2023 · 目前微软XGP做活动，新用户开通XGP三个月只用8元，然后就可以玩到steam最新发售和即将发售的售价几百块钱的3A大作。
rpg与slg有什么区别？几乎所有游戏都带有一定的策略性（slg排兵 …
ACT：动作游戏（Action Game），其核心在于玩家操作游戏角色做出大量“动作”来取得游戏胜利。 最早的ACT游戏是像马里奥这样的横版过关游戏，这类游戏因为程序较为简单所以出现的非常 …
为什么双人成行这个游戏有两个，一个要钱，一个不要钱? - 知乎
知乎，中文互联网高质量的问答社区和创作者聚集的原创内容平台，于 2011 年 1 月正式上线，以「让人们更好的分享知识、经验和见解，找到自己的解答」为品牌使命。知乎凭借认真、专业 …
有什么在线玩游戏的网站？ - 知乎
ZType – Typing Game - Type to Shoot 地址： https://zty.pe 一个战机游戏模式的 打字练习网站 ，每艘“敌舰”都是一个字母串，输入对应字母进行射击，打起来很有感觉。
