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That Old Idea of “Game”

To call D&D an innovative game is a bit like calling the Wright Brothers’ vehicle an innovative car. The definition of game has expanded to include D&D, but there is really no reason that a neutral outside observer would categorize it that way. A definition for game would previously have been something like: A contest […]

Ben Robbins | August 20th, 2013 | | 3 comments

Eowyn

“Shall I always be chosen?” she said bitterly. “Shall I always be left behind when the Riders depart, to mind the house while they win renown, and find food and beds when they return?” “A time may come soon” said he, “when none will return. Then there will be need of valour without renown, for […]

Ben Robbins | January 7th, 2013 | ,

Making Music

“Several times I have attempted to talk about music with you. It would have interested me to know your thoughts and opinions, whether they contradicted mine or not, but you have disdained to make me even the barest reply.” He gave me a most amiable smile and this time a reply was accorded to me. […]

Ben Robbins | May 24th, 2011 | | 2 comments

Why can’t you just have that?

Here we have Ryan kicking all sorts of concise-ass about making awesome characters. The whole discussion is about political intrigue, but this bit is solid gold. I snipped the quote a little to be even more concise, for I tamper with greatness: That said, I can boil down the advice to two questions I ask […]

Ben Robbins | March 7th, 2010 | | 2 comments

You are probably not taking enough risk

“How do you know when you are taking enough risk? If nobody is complaining about your work, you are probably not taking enough risk. If nobody is slapping themselves upside the head, if nobody is saying ‘I knew that!’ If anybody can afford to ignore what you are doing, you are not being strange enough.” […]

Ben Robbins | November 25th, 2009 |

Crazy. Crazy. Crazy. Obvious.

“[Harvard economist Lant] Pritchett says he has a model of how game-changing ideas are received over time, and it works something like this: “Crazy. Crazy. Crazy. Obvious.” – Kerry Howley, The Atlantic And yes, the Microscope playtest is going quite well, thank you.

Ben Robbins | July 9th, 2009 | , | 1 comment

Say Yes or Face the Dungeon

So you love story games but you are drawn by the irresistible lure of the crunchy 4e battlefield? You want to smack some orcs but you want it to have meaning? Check out Simon Carryer’s Say Yes or Face the Dungeon: The GM should give a very short description of the dungeon, something like “It’s […]

Ben Robbins | June 29th, 2008 | | 2 comments

Play is the point. Become an expert player.

Clinton R. Nixon on game design: Here’s how you contribute: you play a variety of games. You go play Dust Devils, and Trollbabe, and Dogs in the Vineyard, and Universalis, and My Life with Master, and The Pool. You play the hell out of them. Then you make something better, later, when you’ve played these […]

Ben Robbins | January 28th, 2008 |