Latest Issues of Role-playing Tips E-zine Now Online

Over the weekend Johnn Four posted the last three issues of the Role-playing Tips E-zine the first two deal with encounters while the third deals with using a timeline.

The first two issues #363, It’s About The Character, Not The Player Serving Up Characterization Encounters, Part 1 and #364, Encounter Tips: Characterization Encounters, Part 2 come from a request from a reader about encounter ideas where the emphasis is on having the choice be made from the character perspective and not what is best from a game mechanic perspective. Johnn does an excellent job (once again) in providing some excellent ideas backed with examples and suggestions – if you’re a GM building encounters you should really take a few minutes and read these issues.

The last issue posted, #365, Craft A Timeline Tool – Prepping A Game World For GMing and Play Johnn suggests using timelines when prepping. It’s acutally a very good idea, one that I wish I had used more in the past. The basic idea is that you build a timelne of events as you read through the materials for a campaign setting. In doing so you not only get a feel for the material but it also make it easier for you to see the “bigger picture” or what things look like from 20,000 feet.

On the whole some really good tips and information, well worth your time.

Issue #363 – It’s About The Character, Not The Player Serving Up Characterization Encounters, Part 1
Contents:
–> A Brief Word From Johnn

–> This Week’s Tips:
1. Aim For Character Representation, Not Acting
2. Top 6 Character Details To Develop
3. Create Backstories As You Play
4. Ask: What Would Your Character Do?

–> Readers’ Tips Of The Week:
1. Steampunk Resources
2. Supernatural Weather Ideas

You can read Issue #363 online here.

Issue #364 – Encounter Tips: Characterization Encounters, Part 2
Contents:
–> A Brief Word From Johnn

–> This Week’s Tips:
1. Lead The Way With NPCs
2. Use Automatic Successes To Reward Representation
3. Design With Character Details In Mind
4. Add Character Stakes To Conflicts
5. Use Description To Help Players

–> Readers’ Tips Of The Week:
1. Hallmark Cards For Sound Effects
2. Give Players Refunds
3. Quick Map Creation Tip
4. Manage Campaigns With Google
5. Dressing Up Combat

Issue #364 can be read online here.

Issue #365 – Craft A Timeline Tool – Prepping A Game World For GMing and Play
Contents:
–> A Brief Word From Johnn

–> This Week’s Tips:
1. Prepare A Global Snapshot
2. Create A Timeline
3. Timeline As History
4. Timeline As Game Log
5. Timeline As Plotline
6. Update Your Timeline
7. Ptolus – An Example Timeline

–> Readers’ Tips Of The Week:
1. Watch Where You’re Stepping – Interesting Combat
2. Tool Tip – Graphviz
3. General World Creation
4. Making More Dramatic Combat Scenes (D&D 3.5 Specific)

Issue #365 can be read online here.

If you don’t already subscribe I would recommend it, you can do that here.

May your dice roll well.