Idle Cartulary

  • I Read The Dungeon Master’s Guide (2024)

    I Read Games reviews are me reading games when I have nothing better to do, like read a module or write or play a game. I don’t seriously believe that I can judge a game without playing it, usually a lot, so I don’t take these very seriously. But I can talk about its choices… Continue reading

  • Bathtub Review: Whiskers in the Wind

    Bathtub Reviews are an excuse for me to read modules a little more closely. I’m doing them to critique a wide range of modules from the perspective of my own table and to learn for my own module design. They’re stream of consciousness and unedited critiques. I’m writing them on my phone in the bath.… Continue reading

  • What’s an OSR game?

    People keep asking me what an OSR game is. They want a clear mechanical difference, like the one they think exists between Forged in the Dark and Powered By The Apocalypse, for example. You’re not going to get that here, you’re just going to get my opinion, so I can link to it rather than… Continue reading

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  • Artisanal Magic Items for Luddite Referees

    Mass produced products are a relatively recent phenomenon, but the evolution of the elfgame has resulted in Spell Lists and Magic Item Catalogues. It’s all very Sears, or very American Western Expansion or maybe just very industrial revolution. While it makes it easier to run an elfgame with a catalogue, it’s also just super boring,… Continue reading

  • Bathtub Review: Crown of Salt

    Bathtub Reviews are an excuse for me to read modules a little more closely. I’m doing them to critique a wide range of modules from the perspective of my own table and to learn for my own module design. They’re stream of consciousness and unedited critiques. I’m writing them on my phone in the bath.… Continue reading

  • How to overcome your hyperdiegesis allergy

    Hyperdiegetic is a word to describe the stuff in a creative work that is unexplained but implies a larger setting. Well-known examples of hyperdiegesis include: “Attack ships on fire off (the) shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate.” Blade Runner “You fought in the Clone Wars?” “Yes. I was… Continue reading

  • Bathtub Review: Kiwi Acres

    Bathtub Reviews are an excuse for me to read modules a little more closely. I’m doing them to critique a wide range of modules from the perspective of my own table and to learn for my own module design. They’re stream of consciousness and unedited critiques. I’m writing them on my phone in the bath.… Continue reading

  • Videogame! Villain! Vampire!

    It’s Vampire Weekend! So I’m going to talk about what I want out of a classic vampire villain. For the purposes of this, I’m interested in the vampire that is a fun antagonist to my players. There are other types of vampires worth exploring — I’ve written one myself in Bridewell — but I’m starting… Continue reading

  • Juicy Worms, Local Knowledge and Player Engagement

    I think Gearing is wrong about hooks, and I think he’s wrong to say rumours are any different or better. I’m not going to go into detail here, but basically: It’s my job as a writer to make everyone’s life easier when it comes to playing in my module, my job as a referee to… Continue reading

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  • Bathtub Review: Raiding the Obsidian Keep

    Bathtub Reviews are an excuse for me to read modules a little more closely. I’m doing them to critique a wide range of modules from the perspective of my own table and to learn for my own module design. They’re stream of consciousness and unedited critiques. I’m writing them on my phone in the bath.… Continue reading

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