Troy’s article on running a Ground Hog’s Day scenario reminded me of a Doctor Who one-shot I ran that put the characters in a time loop they had to solve from the inside. I thought it would be fun to follow up on Troy’s article and talk about that adventure and some of the tricks I used to get the...
Read More
To create a game is to learn that the act of gaming is more important than your creation. The same can be said for preparing a game. The activity is bigger than the product or plan. The product is a tool of the activity, not the other way around. The same could be said about any creative...
Read More
So to recap from last time: I was excited about a system for creating urbancrawls outlined at The Alexandrian and was also inspired by the feeling of the Steve Jackson Sorcery! gamebooks and decided to give the urbancrawl system a shot to design a “strange magic” city. Links: Part 1 of...
Read More
Last year I was chatting with a co-worker who asked about my plans for the weekend since I was taking an extra day off to make it a long weekend. When I described the gaming weekend my friends were hosting at their house, he replied, “Oh, it’s another one of your bespoke, artisanal conventions...
Read More
Gamemasters looking to pull themselves out of their gaming rut might consider running a scenario with a “Groundhog Day” time loop. I have an affinity for such storylines, and will eagerly watch a TV show or read novels that employ the time loop trope, should they cross my path. (Strangely, though,...
Read More
Recently, I signed up for DC Universe, primarily so I could watch the new season of Young Justice, but I’ve also taken advantage of all the DC animated movies available on the streaming service. There’s also an excitement in the air related to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, what with Captain...
Read More
So to recap from last time: I was excited about a system for creating urbancrawls outlined at The Alexandrian and was also inspired by the feeling of the Steve Jackson Sorcery! gamebooks and decided to give the urbancrawl system a shot to design a “strange magic” city. Links: Part 1 of...
Read More
Happy April First, everyone! We here at Gnome Stew are dedicated to bringing you the finest of gaming material, so we are proud to present The April Foolio of Fiends, an astounding collection of ridiculous monsters in a variety of systems. Feel free to use and abuse these foolish folks in your own...
Read More
Please join us in welcoming a new addition to the management team here at Gnome Stew – our new co-Headgnome Angela Murray! You know Angela from her many phenomenal articles on the site and as the de-facto host of the Gnomecast. Angela will now be joining John as co-Headgnome and will be...
Read More
RPGs, like great historical dramas of imaginary history, tend to focus on the grand exploits of those whose names make it into the books: kings, queens, popes, caliphs, charlatans, and generals. But those are just the faces at the front; no movement, no city, no kingdom is possible without vast...
Read More
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 —
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
Unframed
Odyssey
Never Unprepared
Masks
EurekaThrough 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
Rockerboys and Vending Machines
Character Cache
Hydro Hacker Operatives