Gnome Stew

Ang has a chat with Bryan Steele about his work with Evil Genius Games and Everyday Heroes, along with all the other things he has been doing as a Professional Nerd for the last twenty-plus years.

Descending Difficulty Checks

by Chris Sniezak | Dec 1, 2023 | Game Making, Game Mastering, GMing Advice, Tools for GMs

I Love Me A Good Redcap I like the lore, the gore, and the story of it. Iron shoes stomping lonely travelers and then, just to add insult to death, the Redcap dips their cap in their victims blood to keep themselves sated. Nice and gruesome. So I dropped one into my game, called it The Redcap,...

When It’s Time To Say Goodbye

by Phil Vecchione | Nov 29, 2023 | Game Mastering, GMing Advice

Recently, my Cortex Prime campaign, Aux, concluded. The campaign ran for a year and seven months. I wrote about the game at its beginning here: No Combat, No Problem, and talked about getting into the last phase of the campaign here: Letting Them Enjoy Their Power. I knew that we were getting...

The Walking Dead Universe Roleplaying Game Core Rules Review

by Jared Rascher | Nov 28, 2023 | Reviews

It’s been over ten years since I was introduced to The Walking Dead via Robert Kirkman’s original comic book series. I didn’t jump on the month-to-month issues, but dove into The Walking Dead Compendium Volume One, which featured the first 48 issues of the series. I also watched the first few...

Gnomecast #177 – Superhero Games

by Chris Sniezak | Nov 23, 2023 | Gnomecast

http://misdirectedmark.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/GC_177_Superhero_Games_final.mp3 Ang, Chris, & Jared talk about superhero games and get off on a variety of comic book and superhero media tangents. Links WhatdoIKnowJR.com – Jared’s Reviews Supergods by Grant Morrison Screen...

The Crusty Old Gnome: Creating a Realm of Adventure

by Walt Ciechanowski | Nov 20, 2023 | Game Mastering, GMing Advice

Don’t you remember? We built this city, we built this city on rock and roll. — Starship, “We Built This City” As I began preparing my Old School campaign, one of the first things that struck me...

Why I’d rather run shorter campaigns

by Tomas Gimenez Rioja | Nov 17, 2023 | Game Mastering, GMing Advice

That moment comes back again, at the end of one campaign. Maybe you have been playing the same characters for 5 whole years. Perhaps it’s time for a player to jump into the GM seat to give the previous one a breather. Everyone gets ready and starts to think of character concepts. Nevertheless,...

How to Run a Horrible Campaign (Successfully)

by Josh Storey | Nov 10, 2023 | Game Mastering, GMing Advice

I’m running a horrible campaign, and my players love it. Here’s the deal: several years ago, in the before times, I got my hands on a premade adventure. It was billed as a whole experience that would take characters from very low levels to mid-range powerhouses with all the incumbent...

Gnomecast #176 – Canon Characters

by Poddy Gnomington | Nov 8, 2023 | Gnomecast

http://misdirectedmark.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/GC_176_Cannoncharacters_Final.mp3 Ang, Chris, & Jared talk about using Canon Characters in your games. They touch on their experiences as a GM and player and then give some tips and tricks to make it a little easier for you to make your IP...

Entertainment Is Key

by J.T. Evans | Nov 6, 2023 | Game Mastering, GMing Advice

The point of playing a game, any game of any style or ruleset, is to be entertained. There’s a saying that goes around: If you’re having fun, you’re doing it right. This is usually in reference to adherence to RAW (Rules As Written). It goes deeper than this, however. Being...

Recreation Time In The Hobby

by Phil Vecchione | Oct 30, 2023 | Game Mastering, GMing Advice

Over the decades my free time has become less and less. Gone are the times in my 20s when my responsibilities were low and my time to enjoy the hobby of RPGs was bountiful. What time I have for the hobby is also divided up between campaigns I am running, podcasting, blogging, and occasionally game...

My experience with PLANET FIST! (Why you should try it!)

by Tomas Gimenez Rioja | Oct 27, 2023 | General

All images were taken from the PLANET FIST game A few days ago I got to try out PLANET FIST, a game inspired by sci-fi movies and videogames, especially Planetside 2. In this game by Jess Levine players embody a squad with a suicide mission, owned by one of the huge mega-corporations/factions,...

Gnomecast #175 – Tips for Attending Conventions

by Poddy Gnomington | Oct 25, 2023 | Gnomecast

http://misdirectedmark.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/GC_175_-Tipsforconventions_final.mp3 Some of us are attending conventions once again and thought we should share our best tips for how to go about existing in the convention space. Enjoy. Links...

Cthulhu Awakens First Impression

by Jared Rascher | Oct 23, 2023 | Reviews

It’s (at the time of this writing) October. The trees are losing their cloaking leaves, revealing the long skeletal fingers of ancient beings whose roots draw life from deep underground. The vitality of Summer is giving way to the chill of Autumn, as the life force slowly drains away from the...

Three New Familiars For Your Game

by Matthew J. Neagley | Oct 20, 2023 | General, Small Bites

Familiars are many and varied, with a smorgasbord of stats and powers. Each is unique and your choice says something about your character. These versatile minions are a simple way to add a little flavor or flair to your game and character. Here then are three creatures to add to your game as...

Read Older Articles >>

It Came From The Stew Pot

Calling all Writers! Come write for Gnome Stew!

We are always looking for new articles and gnomes to throw in the stew. Drop an article proposal over at
https://gnomestew.com/write-for-gnome-stew/

Guest authors get paid the same per article rate as full time staff gnomes.

What Are People Saying?

What are people saying?

“We get asked a great many ‘how to’ questions about GMing at Origins and one of the best sites we have found for information is Gnome Stew!”

Game Manufacturer’s Association (GAMA)

Our Products

Our Books for GMs

Through our partner Engine Publishing, we've published six system-neutral books for GMs, with over 28,000 copies sold. Available in print and PDF.

Focal Point
The Complete Game Master's Guide to Running Extraordinary Sessions
Click To Find Out More

Unframed
The Art of Improvisation for Game Masters
Click To Find Out More

Odyssey
The Complete Game Master's Guide to Campaign Management
Click To Find Out More

Never Unprepared
The Complete Game Master's Guide to Session Prep
Click To Find Out More

Masks
1,000 Memorable NPCs for Any Roleplaying Game
Click To Find Out More

Eureka
501 Adventure Plots to Inspire Game Masters
Click To Find Out More

Through Encoded Designs

Through our partnership in the G.E.M. collective, many of the Gnomes are affiliated with creating products through Encoded Designs. Available in print and PDF.