Life is a pure flame, and we live by an Invisible Sun within us. – Sir Thomas Browne The quote above is credited by Monte Cook games as an inspirational source for their new game Invisible Sun. Invisible Sun is a highly experimental RPG that includes elements of board gaming, formalized rules for downtime sessions, […]
REVIEW OF HUNTER THE VIGIL
I have always loved tales of the supernatural and many a night have been spent reading horror novels or sitting wrapped in a blanket before the TV watching old black and white horror movies. One of the staples of such books and movies are the monster hunter; from professional vampire killers like Van Helsing or […]
EMBRACING MINORITIES IN GAMING
Like many of us, gamers, I have been playing role-playing games since I was twelve years old. Unlike many of us, I am Latino and my first GM was black. From early on, race and ethnicity have played a large role in my gaming, either consciously or unconsciously. A few years ago this topic came […]
A CASE FOR QUEER CHILDHOOD HORROR IN THE WORLD OF DARKNESS
Tell me if you’ve heard these before. “I liked Changeling the Lost so much more than Changeling the Dreaming because they got rid of all the childhood garbage.” “When I read Changeling the Dreaming, I turned and ran and never looked back.” “Changeling’s a fine game I guess, but it doesn’t belong in the World […]
HOW PLAYING A HERO SAVED MY LIFE or HOW I WENT FROM LIVING IN MY CAR TO GRADUATE SCHOOL
I’m sure some people are going to think the title of this article is hyperbole, and in some way it is, because I have no idea where I would have gone without gaming. There is a strong possibility I’d have slipped into a serious depression and not be here today. In my teens I found […]
Grand Masquerade – What ELSE To Do
Hey everyone! Enjoying New Orleans and the Grand Masquerade? I know I am! However I do plan on leaving the hotel at some point this weekend, and I figure I would share some of my interesting finds as a first time visitor to the city. I have never been here before, so all of […]
IMPORTANCE OF LANGUAGE PT 2: PVP VS CVC
Generally when we are role-playing characters in conflict, we aren’t also having conflict with the players. Notating the difference between the use of “Player versus Player” and “Character versus Character” is very important to maintain a healthy gaming relationship with those around you, especially those that your character comes into conflict with. These […]
IMPORTANCE OF LANGUAGE PT 1: SUBJECTIVE, OBJECTIVE, AND POSSESSIVE LANGUAGE
No one likes to be told they are stupid, or mean, and no one wants to feel like someone hates them. It usually results in feeling somewhat like this: The way we speak in relation to our games is important. Being mindful of tone when speaking out of character can drastically improve your experience […]
LARP & THE SOCIAL DEFICIENCY
Despite the social, shared experience that is Live Action Role Playing, the social aspect sometimes falls short. I started gaming as a late teenager, first in AIM chat rooms in a friend’s D&D campaign, then moving on to weekly tabletop games at a local store. Boy, was I awkward! That guy who raises his […]
PLAYING PAST THE NUMBERS II: OBSERVATION
How many of us have gotten in trouble with a friend, family member, or significant other for not noticing something? Whether it is dishes in the sink, a full trash can, or a new haircut – may the gods have mercy on you if you didn’t notice. LARPing is a game of make-believe, and the […]