We’ve been floored by the level of response Gnome Stew has gotten since we went live in the wee small hours of the morning on Monday, May 12th, and we have a host of folks to thank. Dungeon Mastering, Musings of the Chatty DM and Tactical Studies Rules got things started by writing about the...
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As a thirtysomething gamer, my groups tend to be made up of people with careers and families. As such, we don’t have a lot of time to game. In some cases, we’re lucky to set aside three hours a week (or every two weeks) to game. And as those of you that have GMed for any significant...
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“Son, you got a panty on your head,” the old hayseed tells Nicolas Cage’s convenience-store robbin’ character H.I. in “Raising Arizona.” And sure e’nuff, somewhere beneath all that nylon is the Nicolas Cage we know and love – even though it’s pretty hard to recognize him just by looking....
Read MoreI won’t deny it, I’m a big fan of Google. My place of employment recently switched to Google Apps, and I’ve had an opportunity to dive head first into the Google world. But of course being a gamer, I...
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There are probably as many ways to define “roleplaying-intensive” as there are gamers, but for talking purposes here’s the definition I use: A game in which mechanics take a backseat to character interaction, where all (or nearly all) in-game decisions are purely character-driven...
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In the world of RPG’s there are several classic RPG arguments that float around on various RPG blogs, message boards, and even raise their head in seminars at gaming conventions. I like to call these arguments, “spam arguments” because they are as original as the Nigerian 419...
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As I’ve started to run more and more published settings and adventures, I find myself doing something new to my GMing style. I’ve been turning the adventure/setting/rule book to my players and just pointing to art that is built into the product. Using pictures to backup description...
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One of the most important and least-discussed elements in a successful game is a shared set of assumptions about how and why the game is played. But many gaming groups want to jump straight to “the fun stuff” without making sure that everyone shares the same definition of...
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There are awesome moments in the game: A critical that drops the rampaging dragon, dodging the sorcerer’s lightning bolt, or seducing the noble woman so your companions can make their escape unnoticed. There are moments in the game when the character fails in a way that isn’t fun, or...
Read MoreLet’s face it. Our memories aren’t what they used to be. It’s true for all of us, though the old guys like me do feel the pinch a bit more acutely. Add to that that game systems are constantly changing,...
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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.
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