Bent on total word domination
Ego ManagementI get the question all the time: of everything you've worked on, what's your favorite? I've heard other people answer this question and say "they're like my children, I can't pick a favorite. I love them all."…
Player EmpowermentI was recently chatting with a college professor about the origins of the word and concept of "power" versus "authority." The general gist is that power is something that you take (with the implications of taking i…
Devouring GamesI've been a bender the last couple of weeks, reading or re-reading rpgs old and new. I have read or re-read Danger Patrol, Lady Blackbird, Old School Hack, Dungeon World, Storming the Wizard's Tower, Lamentations of the Flam…
Designing Sometimes Means ListeningNot too long ago, I wrote an article called We Want What We Want. In it, I talked about how in all games, what the player wants is more important than what the game's designer wants to give him. A game designer ca…
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Terminator and T2 at the Seattle Sci Fi Film FestSpoilers for very old movies ahead.I went to a double feature of The Terminator and Terminator 2 at the brand new Seattle Science Fiction Film Fest last night. It was great seeing both movies on the big …
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Praise and CriticismPraise for one person is not criticism for another. Singling out one does not automatically imply exclusion of another. To be certain, I enjoyed much of my time working with everyone who's been involved with the new edition…
Change of PlansLast week I decided that I would leave my contract position with Wizards of the Coast. I am no longer working on Dungeons & Dragons, although I may provide occasional consultation in the future. My decision is one based on difference…
Crunch v. FluffAt Norwescon last weekend, I was in a panel called Crunch Vs. Fluff: FIGHT! The point of the panel was for the panelists–all game industry professionals–to take one side or the other and debate or argue. When it came my turn to declare…
SimulationSimulation is an important aspect of much (but not all) of roleplaying game design. That is to say, the rules of the game are simulating something. In some cases it's reality, but in others it's comic books, a specific novel…
The Challenge of PretendingA weird thing happens around age 12 or 13 to most kids. They stop pretending. In fact, it's like a switch has been flipped. One day, nothing could be easier than to say, "I'm Luke Skywalker!" and then run ar…