Author: arcadian

About The Author

John Arcadian

John Arcadian is a freelance writer and art director, a website developer, a builder of sonic screwdrivers, and a purveyor of kilted mayhem. When he isn't out causing trouble in his kilt... Well, that's pretty much the default. Go check him out on twitter and youtube, where he promises he'll post more frequently. Really, he just has to get past this next project...

7 0 Social and
7 Comments

Tell Me How To Run a Super Short Game

Posted by John Arcadian | Jun 20, 2008 | GMing Advice |

I’m going to be running a few convention...

6 0 Social and
6 Comments

The Smell of a Good Wine, The Sound of a Crushing Bone

Posted by John Arcadian | Jun 18, 2008 | GMing Advice, Tools for GMs |

One of the things that I love to do at the...

7 0 Social and
7 Comments

Game Balance or Catering to the Players?

Posted by John Arcadian | Jun 3, 2008 | GMing Advice |

Almost as big as the debate over GMs fudging or...

9 0 Social and
9 Comments

Making Challenges That Players Love To Beat

Posted by John Arcadian | May 28, 2008 | GMing Advice |

I talked a bit before about what inspires cool...

7 0 Social and
7 Comments

The Inspiration for Cool Gaming Moments

Posted by John Arcadian | May 23, 2008 | GMing Advice |

For all the times that I have run a game, it is...

23 0 Social and
23 Comments

The Tools Of The Game

Posted by John Arcadian | May 15, 2008 | GMing Advice |

The way a GM sets up their personal fortress of...

6 0 Social and
6 Comments

Illustrations vs. Descriptions: And the winner is . . .

Posted by John Arcadian | May 12, 2008 | GMing Advice |

As I’ve started to run more and more...

1
…
16
17
18

What’s Gnome Stew

Written by a team of veteran Gamers and Gamemasters, Gnome Stew is a widely read gaming blog with multiple awards and thousands of articles. We're dedicated to helping gamers have more fun at the gaming table.

"I check Gnome Stew every day."
— Monte Cook —

"fantastic blog for game masters, dungeon masters, and rpg fans"
— Wil Wheaton —

"If you aren’t reading Gnome Stew, you’re missing out."
— Wolfgang Baur —

Patronize Gnome Stew!

Join our awesome patrons and help
Gnome Stew do awesome things for everyone!

Recent Articles

Recent Gniblets

Keep The Stew Fires Going

Follow Us

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.

Misdirected Mark Productions
Gnomes on Podcasts, even a Gnome Only Podcast!
Click To Find Out More

Rockerboys and Vending Machines
Do you have what it takes to save Neon City in this 80s, neon, cyberpunk game?
Click To Find Out More

Character Cache
Art by Matt Morrow, Characters By Encoded Gnomes
Click To Find Out More

Hydro Hacker Operatives
Gnome Phil Vecchione's Dungeon World Hack About Water Rights
Click To Find Out More

Font Resize

Contrast