Category: Intro to Game Mastering

The Crusty Old Gnome: Tips for New Game Masters

Posted by Walt Ciechanowski | Apr 3, 2024 | Game Mastering, General, GMing Advice, Intro to Game Mastering

Face to face, out in the heat, hanging tough,...

Exploring Encounter Theory: How to Craft RPG Adventures

Posted by Pete Petrusha | Sep 23, 2019 | Approaches and Techniques, Encounters, Game Mastering, GMing Advice, Improving Your GMing, Intro to Game Mastering, Nature of GMing, Prep, Products for GMs, Tools for GMs

Want to write better adventures? Want to prep...

Level up your GM skills with these amazing non-gaming resources

Posted by Daniel Kwan | Aug 27, 2019 | Editorials, Game Mastering, GMing Advice, Intro to Game Mastering, Tools for GMs

Learn how Daniel Kwan fosters positive, collaborative relationships with the members of his gaming table with two resources that you might not find at your local game store.

Getting Players to GM

Posted by Pete Petrusha | Jul 22, 2019 | Approaches and Techniques, Common Problems, GMing Advice, Improving Your GMing, Intro to Game Mastering, Players, Role of the GM, Tools for GMs

As a GM, do you really get to play like everyone...

The GM and the Chef

Posted by Senda Linaugh | May 8, 2019 | Editorials, Intro to Game Mastering

It’s International Tabletop Game Day and I am...

Adding a New Gamer to an Existing Group

Posted by J.T. Evans | Jul 23, 2018 | Game Mastering, Intro to Game Mastering

For those of us who have gamed for a long time...

The City of Danger GMing Workshop

Posted by Scott Martin | Jun 5, 2015 | GMing Advice, Intro to Game Mastering

A few weeks ago, I wrote an article about taking...

Your Time Is Now

Posted by Don Mappin | Apr 24, 2012 | GMing Advice, Intro to Game Mastering

Experience tends to be the defining metric when...

Troy’s Crock Pot: Twist and Launch

Posted by Troy E. Taylor | Jun 28, 2011 | Crock Pot, GMing Advice, Intro to Game Mastering

I love it when my gaming interests intersect...

Troy’s Crock Pot: Learning from others

Posted by Troy E. Taylor | Dec 2, 2010 | Crock Pot, GMing Advice, Intro to Game Mastering

One of the best ways to learn is by watching...

First Time GM – Game Prep II – Techniques

Posted by Kurt "Telas" Schneider | Oct 13, 2010 | Intro to Game Mastering

First Time GM is a series of articles dedicated...

First Time GM – Game Prep I – Overview

Posted by Kurt "Telas" Schneider | Aug 6, 2010 | Intro to Game Mastering

First Time GM is a series of articles dedicated...

First Time GM: Looking for Group

Posted by Kurt "Telas" Schneider | Jun 3, 2010 | Intro to Game Mastering

First Time GM is a series of articles dedicated...

First Time GM: Job Description

Posted by Kurt "Telas" Schneider | May 20, 2010 | Intro to Game Mastering

Over at the Suggestion Pot, Inumo wrote: As a...

It Came From The Stew Pot

Hey you. Yeah, you. Do you know about Gnomecast 21? Why isn’t it in the archives? What are they hiding? If you value your safety… don’t go searching for Gnomecast 21…

What Are People Saying?

What are people saying?

“If you aren’t reading Gnome Stew, you’re missing out.”

Wolfgang Baur, Kobold Press

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.