Tal’Dorei Reborn Review
Back in the pre-cataclysm days of 2017, I was aware of the growing phenomenon of Critical Role, but I hadn’t spent much time investigating it myself. Then I watched the Stream of Annihilation, WOTC’s online live promotion for the release of the Tomb of Annihilation adventure. Not only were there...
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Making Tropes For Your Games
I am currently running a Night’s Black Agents game and for the first session, as the players were descending on Stockholm, I wanted the opening of our game to be very Jason Bourne, so I asked each player to describe how they were entering the city. Each took turns describing how they entered...
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Gnomecast #132 – NPC Variety
Join Ang, John, and Senda for a discussion about tips and tricks for keeping your NPCs varied and interesting. Can these gnomes come up with enough interesting NPCs to avoid the stew? Download: Gnomecast #132 – NPC Variety Check out Short Order Heroes from Calico Games. Check out Masks:...
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Troy’s Crock Pot. New to the hobby? Interested in painting your own fig?
Since late summer, I have devoted a great deal of craft time to painting miniatures for fantasy roleplaying — getting back one of the hobby’s crafting aspects I so much enjoy. It’s a subject I’ve touched on before. But with new people entering the hobby all the time, I thought it might be nice to...
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Lovecraft’s Mi-gos + Deep Gnomes – Monster Combo
Welcome to Monster Combo, a series of articles in which we will create some backstory, encounters, variations, and a bit of lore for monsters from different games and genres. From Lovecraftian horror and medieval fantasy creatures to sci-fi cyborgs and weird entities. This series is to stay system...
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Tattoos As Spellbooks
There’s a meme (or three) going around social media about tattooing your spells onto your body as a wizard so you “can never lose your spell book.” I actually like this idea. I don’t think I’d do it as a player, but as a GM, I’m on board. However, there are some...
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Coyote & Crow First Impression
Back in April 2021, Coyote and Crow funded on Kickstarter. This was a roleplaying game that didn’t look much like other games that were funding at the time. The concept behind Coyote and Crow was a future science fiction setting where the Americas were never colonized by Europeans, and the...
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The Islands of Sina Una Review
I grew up in a time where it was unfortunately common to see various real-world cultures added to a fantasy setting, written by white men. In fantasy worlds where reality was formed around the myths and folklore of Europe, there were some unfortunately common tendencies when adding cultures that...
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Why would you run a holiday game and how to do it?
The holidays are just around the corner, and with them come the usual festive-themed one-shots or sessions from a campaign. It’s a given and a lot of people do it, especially for Halloween. But why is it that so many people do it? And why should you try it out if you haven’t yet?...
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One-on-One Campiagns
Ever since we started podcasting together, Senda and I have always talked about doing a one-on-one campaign. We even tried doing it as part of Panda’s Talking Games, but it did not work out. I have for some time been curious about GMing a one-on-one campaign, as it is one of the few things I have...
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It Came From The Stew Pot
Written by a team of veteran Gamers and Gamemasters, Gnome Stew is a widely read gaming blog with multiple awards, ennies, and thousands of articles. We’re dedicated to helping gamers have more fun at the gaming table.
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 PointThe Complete Game Master's Guide to Running Extraordinary Sessions
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UnframedThe Art of Improvisation for Game Masters
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OdysseyThe Complete Game Master's Guide to Campaign Management
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Never UnpreparedThe Complete Game Master's Guide to Session Prep
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Masks1,000 Memorable NPCs for Any Roleplaying Game
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Eureka501 Adventure Plots to Inspire Game Masters
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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.
Misdirected Mark ProductionsGnomes on Podcasts, even a Gnome Only Podcast!
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Rockerboys and Vending MachinesDo you have what it takes to save Neon City in this 80s, neon, cyberpunk game?
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Character CacheArt by Matt Morrow, Characters By Encoded Gnomes
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Hydro Hacker OperativesGnome Phil Vecchione's Dungeon World Hack About Water Rights
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