Scattershot Games

How to Respond to Player Input

Fang Langford — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:32:50 +0000

There are an infinite ways to respond to another infinite number of inputs; neither you or I want to see an article that long so…. Let me start by abstracting things completely (well almost). Whenever a player affects play, as a gamemaster, you have basically two choices, indulge or contest. (I believe you can work [...]

The Illusion of Control not Control of the Illusion part II

Fang Langford — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:41:22 +0000

In the first part of this article, I explained how to put on your ‘gamemastering cap’ and look at the complications in your game. This time I’ll talk about how to manage those complications deliberately…to have fun! Life is So Complicated Forget micro-managing your game or its complications. The players are going to throw things [...]

The Illusion of Control not Control of the Illusion – part I

Fang Langford — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:23:16 +0000

See the second part of this article when you finish I hope you don’t mind if I mangle an olde Shakespearean aphorism…well more of an antimetabole. This is at the heart of the con-game known as gamemastering. “You must avoid the Control of Illusion to have the Illusion of Control.” — Fang Langford Now I [...]

What Makes the Perfect Gamemaster?

Fang Langford — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 23:35:01 +0000

It is having fascinating world, scenarios and characters? Being able improvise, but not railroad? Perhaps if one lets players act whenever / however they like? I’m a big proponent for keeps things moving; is that it? Maybe a perfect gamemaster can handle a split party with perfectly equal spotlight time? Memorizes all the rules? Is [...]

The Current Iteration of Sine Non Qua

Fang Langford — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:40:48 +0000

Lately, I’ve been working on the Scattershot presents: Advanced Mechanics, ‘Naked’ Playtest Edition for Scattershot as a relentless drive towards getting playtesting started. Gnome Stew recently mentioned some of my seminal work on game (and character) design. Excerpt: Advanced Mechanics, ‘Naked’ Playtest Edition Solitaire Play Solitaire play is when you play apart from your group. [...]

This Just In! Scattershot Games Blog Joins a Network!

admin — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:37:58 +0000

I know I haven’t been doing much around these parts lately. The number of readers I have is disheartening. Back when RPG Theory Review was a constant source of notoriety, it was much easier to keep up. Lately, in a mixed blessing, I’ve been following the Chatty DM. He has created an enviable presence rather [...]

Where are the Updates?!?

admin — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:40:57 +0000

I haven’t given up on the internet (yet). But something I’ve been working on needed a lot of polish. It’s close to a first draft, so I can show it to you now. This is the ‘how to play’ for Scattershot. There are no rules, no terminology, just pure ‘how to’. I’m not going to [...]

Shared Imaginary Space (SIS)

Fang Langford — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 19:00:19 +0000

This was originally supposed to be a simple concept I idealized to help people discuss ‘what goes on’ during role-playing game play. Really. I named it to identify it with role-playing gaming and mathematics. (Gaming is shared; gaming is imaginary; what takes place in gaming can be identified as a possibility space.) I did not [...]

How Should You Gamemaster?

Fang Langford — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 20:19:09 +0000

Inspire the Unplanned For those of you who think this sounds like ‘plan the unplanned’, have I got a deal for you! If you keep in mind a few basic ingredients, and your games will be smoother, looser and more driven by what the player personae do. It really breaks down to a few elements: [...]

The Most Important Gamemastering Tool

Fang Langford — Mon, 19 May 2008 20:52:39 +0000

Hi! I thought I’d start off my gamemaster tips with a few simple, but central, ideas. Pacing, Pacing, Pacing I’ve given this advice for years without complaint. This has got to be the most important thing a gamemaster does. In fact, by my experience, if you have players who’ll ‘do their own thing’, this is [...]