When It’s Time To Say Goodbye
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...
Read More
The Walking Dead Universe Roleplaying Game Core Rules Review
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...
Read More
Gnomecast #177 – Superhero Games
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...
Read More
The Crusty Old Gnome: Creating a Realm of Adventure
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...
Read More
Why I’d rather run shorter campaigns
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,...
Read More
How to Run a Horrible Campaign (Successfully)
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...
Read More
Gnomecast #176 – Canon Characters
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...
Read More
Entertainment Is Key
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...
Read More
Recreation Time In The Hobby
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...
Read More
My experience with PLANET FIST! (Why you should try it!)
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,...
Read More
Gnomecast #175 – Tips for Attending Conventions
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...
Read More
Cthulhu Awakens First Impression
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...
Read More
Three New Familiars For Your Game
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 More
5 Strategies for Creating Unforgettable Big Bad Villains
From ghost stories during my days in scouts to wanting to be a fiction writer since I was only three years old, it’s safe to say that I’ve always appreciated a great story. So it shouldn’t be any surprise I eventually found myself enthralled by the group storytelling of tabletop...
Read More
Gnomecast #174 – Gaming Anniversary
http://misdirectedmark.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/GC_174_Gaming-Group-Anniversary_Final.mp3 We have a 20 year gaming group anniversary to celebrate and Ang does it with her crew by recording a Gnomecast. They talk about how they’ve kept this group going for 20 years, the changes, and...
Read More
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
Click To Find Out More
UnframedThe Art of Improvisation for Game Masters
Click To Find Out More
OdysseyThe Complete Game Master's Guide to Campaign Management
Click To Find Out More
Never UnpreparedThe Complete Game Master's Guide to Session Prep
Click To Find Out More
Masks1,000 Memorable NPCs for Any Roleplaying Game
Click To Find Out More
Eureka501 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.
Misdirected Mark ProductionsGnomes on Podcasts, even a Gnome Only Podcast!
Click To Find Out More
Rockerboys and Vending MachinesDo you have what it takes to save Neon City in this 80s, neon, cyberpunk game?
Click To Find Out More
Character CacheArt by Matt Morrow, Characters By Encoded Gnomes
Click To Find Out More
Hydro Hacker OperativesGnome Phil Vecchione's Dungeon World Hack About Water Rights
Click To Find Out More