of Dice and Dragons

In this latest issue of Role-playing Tips, #368, Mapping Tips: Planning Your Map Saves Time Johnn walks us through a time honored tradition that many GMs enjoy, map making.

I know that many are like me and just dive right in but Johnn shows, with a number of examples, the benefits of taking a few minutes and plan out what your going to do. Starting with a bit of brainstorming and then moving through roughing out the design and then into the final drawing phase (including the use of layers - a very good tool) we’re given a very solid approach to this task that is well worth the time to read.

The Readers’ Tips give some interesting pieces of information including some ideas about PC characterization and there’s one about bottom up world building (start small and work your way up). You’ll also want to spend a few minutes looking over the Game Master links, there are links to a D&D NPC database and the Cartographer’s Guild - for you map makers out there.

Enjoy.

Contents:
–> A Brief Word From Johnn

–> This Week’s Tips:
1. Make An Inventory List
2. Define Boundaries
3. Sketch Your Maps Out Before Starting A Final Version
4. Use Layers

–> Readers’ Tips Of The Week:
1. Simple PC Characterization
2. Vampire the Masquerade Tips
3. Take An Annual Break To Rejuvenate
4. Bottom-Up World Building

–> Interesting Game Master Links
1. D&D NPC Database
2. VtM Links
3. Mapper’s Haven - The Cartographer’s Guild

You can read Issue #368 online here.

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

May your dice roll well.

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A couple of weeks back I asked for some feedback as to what I could do to improve of Dice and Dragons and one of the suggestions was for links to software tools so I thought I would start off with Freemind.

Freemind is a mind mapping tool (you can read about mind mapping here) which I use for all my brainstorming and also for organizing the various electronic materials I use for gaming. Now I realize that most everyone uses a directory structure for organizing things on their computers but that’s not always optimal (at least for me.)

Take for instance a character; you want to have their stats available (in my case an Open Office Calc Spreadsheet), maybe access to their specific feats, skill and spells (SRD or text files) and possibly other materials that are nicely organized into the appropriate areas of your hard drive - but their not all together in a single location so you either need to have all those files open or remember where they all are. If you’re running Freemind you can create a ‘map’ of the materials you need and access them all from there.

The really nice thing about Freemind is that it is written in Java making it fairly easy to use on all platforms. Keep in mind though, that it does write your preferences to the host machine so if you’re using multiple computers you’ll need to take a copy of them with you if you feel you absolutely need them.

Take a minute and download and checkout Freemind as going forward I’ll be including more tips, tricks and suggestions on how to use this tool in your gaming.

May your dice roll well.

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In issue #366, Notes to the GM - What a Player Wants, Johnn departs from his usual format to give an issue which is centered around notes or requests from a player to the GM. Some rather interesting suggestions and ideas in the mix and a nice change of pace overall.

In addition to the main article there are a couple of interesting contributions from readers concerning creating timelines - one even uses sticky notes!

In issue #367, Craft A World Map Prepping A Game World For GMing and Play, Johnn gives us some really good ideas about using maps for prepping. I for one find maps a very useful tool for planning and Johnn hits a number of items I already do and manages to sneak in a few that I’ll have to revisit when I build my next campaign.

The reader tips give a few quick hits including some ideas for supernatural weather, using your iPod for storing gaming information and a like for custom graph paper.

Enjoy.

Issue #366 - Notes to the GM - What a Player Wants
Contents:
–> A Brief Word From Johnn

–> This Week’s Tips:
1. Get Started Quickly
2. Black Box What’s Outside My Character’s Perceptions
3. Be Decisive, Not Defensive
4. Come Ready, But Not Necessarily Prepared
5. If It Has No Impact, Be Ready To Skip It
6. I Can’t Handle Much Homework - Let’s Game It Instead

–> Readers’ Tips Of The Week:
1. Post-It Time Travels
2. Timeline Calendar Excel Add-On
3. Plan For Encounters, Not The Encounters
4. Recorded Sessions For Your Listening Pleasure

You can read Issue #366 online here.

Issue #367 Craft A World Map Prepping A Game World For GMing and Play
Contents:
–> A Brief Word From Johnn

–> This Week’s Tips:
1. Four Types Of Maps
2. Game Map Versus Realistic Map
3. Create A Blank Map First
4. Aim To Create Diagrams
5. Create A Physical Map
6. Create A Political Map
7. Track Climates
8. Race Map
9. Track World Events

–> Readers’ Tips Of The Week:
1. Use Your iPod To Store Game Info
2. Free Custom Graph Paper Creator
3. Supernatural Weather Ideas
4. Nothing Like A Little Envy
5. Lay Out The Major Points And Let The PCs
Connect The Dots

Issue #367 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.

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