I am always giving advice to various gamers on various game forums. I am constantly giving the same advice over and over again (cut/ paste repeat). Once a year I think about the advice and put together The List.

Reading through the animal thread and a conversation with Scrasamax lead to the creation of this thread. For the Adventurer with a taste for exotic meals…may I present. "The Official Strolen Citadel Cookbook".

Sometimes, you just need a new plot.

When dealing with nobility and court settings, players can sometimes skip the roleplay aspect and jump straight to behavior such as, "I bow, greet all in the court, and ask the duke for his assistance."  While in most scenarios this type of action is sufficient, taking it a step further can enhance gameplay (or maybe even manipulate a plotline).

Thinking about my game world and what should happen in it in the not so close future, I came to a simple decision: WAR. This is an article on the topic of war.

Excalibur. Stormbringer. Sting. I blame fantasy authors and history professionals that have over simplified things for this preoccupation with swords.

The weather is something that everyone always notices and talks about, but can’t do anything about.  It is an important part of everyone’s life, yet it seems to be ignored in games. And everything important in a game is best thought of as a character of some sort.

Ok, there is no real place to put this but I think it needs to be said and put up here for everyone to view. This is not for gaming terms, it is not how to view rules or your gamers better. But it is an idea on how to respect your fellow Strolenites.

Does your character use the longbow? Here are some ideas to make the use of the longbow more realistic and more fun. It doesn’t have to be just another weapon. The longbow is a specialized weapon with many characteristics that make it unique and fun to role play with.

Critiques and critics are a necessary evil. Now before anyone gets riled up, let me explain. No one likes to have their ideas picked apart. But we put our selves out there and hope for the best. Here are some tips on being a better critic.

Many times the Old World has been mentioned in my works. Submitted for your approval…The Old World.

Luchildsburg? Yeah I remember that place, they had the black ale that tasted so bad.

This is where the citadellians share and collect our tales of playtesting each others submissions.

Game environments are not built with a ruler and some tape, they are built with imagination and an understanding of what is needed to make the game environment. If you take the time to learn about what you will need to do before you being the process, it will make for better results in less time with less work.

Language is an essential part of any culture. Culture wouldn’t exist without some form of communication, and humans communicate by speaking. But the connection is deeper even than that. The language helps to define the culture which uses it, and is in turn affected by that culture. This dynamic process is what keeps a language “alive”: Latin is a dead language because the culture to which it belonged no longer exists.

"There is something about the outside of a horse…that is good for the inside of a man."

Winston Churchill

Some times the same old thing, be it a species or class or type of magic, just does not have that old spark. That is what these threads are about. They are re-imagined versions of the classics. An attempt to make them interesting and useful again.

Codex

Although it can be a distraction, it can also add atmosphere to an adventure to have music playing in the background. Here are some pieces I’d recommend for different situations.

I’m trying to think of alternatives for game-openings, to replace the standard “meet up in a tavern” or “adventuring group applying for a job” techniques. I know these can be easy ways to get people playing, but I’m certain there are more interesting ways…

What’s in a Vote?

Codex