I’ve been deep in game prep this week, ready for a double dose of Seven Hills and then Kraken over the Easter break. And so while I’m trying to get my head down and prep, I find myself getting pleasantly distracted by game stuff. Here’s what I’m thinking about at the moment.

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Setting should ask, not answer, questions

Neil Gow’s post here prompted this – and a realisation that I’m firmly against any kind of canon in game settings. In my RPG setting material, I want things that inspire game action – and nothing too nailed down. I’d rather have something that sparks the imagination and fills me with ideas than a definitive answer – it’s why some of the best setting material for me is in adventures.

I’m minded of the Runequest Starter Set, which details the grain distribution methods of Jonstown, rather than asking some provocative questions about what might go wrong there. Give me bandits raiding the grain cellars at the behest of merchants to drive the prices up any day! To be fair to Chaosium, their more recent Dragon Pass book is full of cool gamable content, and sparks loads of questions in me.

Why don’t we Hillfolk more?

Robin Laws’ Hillfolk RPG is 12 years old. I’ve still not really found anything like it’s dramatic system, or as flexible. It is entirely different from similar-sounding games. So why doesn’t it get more play?

It’s also super easy to prep – and a really nice (from previous GMing) combination of player- and GM-led play. As a GM, you’re just keeping plates spinning, while the players balance them, and throwing in an extra complication every go-round. 

 I’m bringing a session of it to Seven Hills – expect a report back!

I want more friction

I’ve been running quite a few OSR-ish, or similar rules-lite, games, particularly for Unconventional GMs. And I want a break for them. For all that they’re fast and easy to prep, I often feel like the system isn’t giving me surprising outcomes – and so the good, meaty, story stuff has to come from me or the players. I don’t want rules to get out of the way – I want them to get in the way in interesting ways.

So, while I’ll go back to them I’m sure, for now I’m sticking to some crunchy games – or games with some player-driven plot to help me out (see Hillfolk above!)

Where are the adventure anthologies?

I’ve been spending some time with In Your Face Again, a book of ten adventures for Feng Shui (1st edition) – and it’s great. Where are the good scenario anthologies these days? Each of the ten is great one-shot fodder, and reading this is a great way to understand what goes on in the game. Please let me know your best compilations of short scenarios!