Category: Game Mastering

Tropes are frameworks for plot beats and character arcs. Cliches are the overused versions of those beats and arcs. Cliches, generally, should be avoided, but tropes are useful AF. They work like signposts, guiding your decisions when it comes to story elements and, in turn, speeding up your session prep.

“Only make them roll when its interesting” is solid GMing advice, but it can be hard to figure out which rolls will be interesting. At least, it’s something I struggled with until just a few weeks ago. Here’s what I discovered about how knowing the stakes of the scene will help you know when to call for rolls from your players.

“I’m just following the rules” is often the GM’s version of “I’m just doing what my character would do.” The rules of your game are not objective or unbiased, so you can’t be either of those things when arbitrating RAW. In the latest installment of Earning Their Trust, we’ll look at how you can be unbiased yet fair and work with your players to create an unforgettable game.

A narrative promise is a commitment you make to your audience. When you’re running a TTRPG, there are two kinds of narrative promises: the ones you say out loud and the ones you don’t. They’re both tricky to keep, though, so let’s look at each category on its own.