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Randomless Review #0
Welcome to the very first Randomless Review, where I’ll collect all of the news and recent releases in the Randomless community. As this is the very first issue, I chose to focus on what has come before. Let’s begin… Why Randomless? Gestalist wrote a very thorough article on why playing without a random element can… Read more
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Role of Randomness in Roleplaying Games
For many – perhaps most – people, rolling the dice is a key element of their tabletop RPG experience. After all, fancy polyhedrons are one of the hallmarks of the hobby. What is the deal with this Randomless Renaissance then, you might ask. Why would I get rid of something so intrinsically intertwined with the roleplaying experience?… Read more
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Uncertainties In Games
It is oft said that “stories are about conflict”, but this is a gross simplification. /…/ What is common to all well-regarded stories is uncertainty, the desire to discover what happens next, and conflict (i.e. competition) is just one of many ways that uncertainty can be generated. Chris Bateman We people are pattern-seeking. As soon… Read more
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Do Prep Plotlines
Building adventures around NPC plotlines Roleplaying games are not games; they are game engines. A game master reads 1) the setting, 2) the mechanics, and 3) the game master advice, and based on that information, puzzles together an adventure. The actual game is the adventure because that’s what we play. By embracing that the adventure… Read more
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The Five Types of Challenges
Engaging your players in TTRPGs. One definition of a game is that games are a “voluntary effort to overcome unnecessary obstacles” (Bernard Suits), and while tabletop roleplaying games have a designated role for creating obstacles – the game master – it’s really easy to stare yourself blind on using the mechanics on the character sheet… Read more
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Review: Ship of Theseus
Introduction: On the 2nd of September, I participated as a player in a game titled “Ship of Theseus.” It is a live-action roleplaying game with a primary focus on player interaction and conversation. In this game, there were seven participants, including the Facilitator Olivia Montoya known as Metaparadox and it took place over four hours.… Read more
Randomless Renaissance 