Here’s a final post: it’s the current state of the map from our 2.5 year campaign of FotF with my add-on “Advanced…

Here’s a final post: it’s the current state of the map from our 2.5 year campaign of FotF with my add-on “Advanced…

Here’s a final post: it’s the current state of the map from our 2.5 year campaign of FotF with my add-on “Advanced d12 World”. You’ve seen this develop from nodal notes on a scrap of paper into this monstrosity. Even this shows nothing of the twisting city streets, dungeon depths, and even portals to the moon!

Farewell my G+ friends.

On April 2, 2019, 827 souls will cry out in the darkness that was once the L&B community here on Google+.

On April 2, 2019, 827 souls will cry out in the darkness that was once the L&B community here on Google+.

On April 2, 2019, 827 souls will cry out in the darkness that was once the L&B community here on Google+. Stay well my friends! Let’s hope that another rich media platform emerges for us to reunite someday.

AS G+ DIES, LOOK FOR L&B AT THE GAUNTLET FORUMS

AS G+ DIES, LOOK FOR L&B AT THE GAUNTLET FORUMS

AS G+ DIES, LOOK FOR L&B AT THE GAUNTLET FORUMS

It doesn’t look like a dedicated L&B forum is in the cards at the moment, and even if it were I have my doubts about how many folks would make use if it, so I will be splitting my online RPG activity between the L&B blog and the Gauntlet Forums.

Jason Cordova, Shane Liebling, and many other folks have spent years building the Gauntlet up into a vibrant ind inclusive RPG community. It’s full of thoughtful, engaged, and interesting people people, talking about games that they love. I can think of no better place to fill the indie-RPG void that will follow the evaporation of G+.

So, as this humble outpost crumbles into the swamp, feel free to ping me (@jasonlutes) over at the Gauntlet Forums if you have any L&B-specific questions or suggestions.

I hope to see you there!

https://forums.gauntlet-rpg.com/categories

New blog post, along with a new actual play session. Lots to be learned! (by me)

New blog post, along with a new actual play session. Lots to be learned! (by me)

New blog post, along with a new actual play session. Lots to be learned! (by me)

https://lampblack-and-brimstone.com/2019/03/tales-from-the-sodden-reach-session-i/

I ran an 8 hour long Freebooter session this weekend at the Ludesco convention in Switzerland.

I ran an 8 hour long Freebooter session this weekend at the Ludesco convention in Switzerland.

I ran an 8 hour long Freebooter session this weekend at the Ludesco convention in Switzerland. The three courageous players had much much fun building the setting then exploring one of its islands in search of Mayondinca artifacts and ruins. Some epic moments with an elemental-driven typhoon, angry merfolks pursuing them through half flooded ruins and mangrove, strange but finally quite nice vegepygmies, old mayondinca legends becoming true again and a demon accidentaly awaken from eons of (troubled?) sleep killed with the newly constructed balista for their pirate ship.

Mayondinca = Maya + ondin (=merfolk in french) + inca

What an epic session today!

What an epic session today!

What an epic session today! I remember an interview with Vince Gilligan where he talked about the writing process for Breaking Bad and he said that they would purposely paint themselves into corners and then have to figure out how to get out of them. And as I’m reflecting on GMing this campaign of Freebooters, it feels similar to that a lot of times. This session contained a number of big twists and I’m going to have to figure out how they all make sense and set things up for whatever might come next. But they had a huge impact on the players and I can only speak for myself but I’m so excited to play to find out what happens next!

Also, “never split the party” is a rule that’s very fun to break.

In our dying days, a question–

In our dying days, a question–

In our dying days, a question–

How do you, as GMs, keep notes? I run my Freebooters games very very low prep, sometimes no prep depending on where things are at. I feel like I have the tools to come up with stuff on the fly well enough or roll for it. But I don’t always do a great job of taking note of what that stuff is. I have a moleskin I bring with me and jot things down–usually keywords–and it’s often enough to jog my memory when I’m writing up a session recap later (usually a few days later). Last session, though, I was pretty sleep deprived (isn’t parenthood a miracle), enough that I thought about calling things off, and I remember … next to nothing. My notes help a little, but not much, and I ended up just having to send out a message to the players asking them to refresh me on the events of the last session. I can’t help but think this could have been avoided by taking better notes on the front end?

So, what’s your note-taking process? How do you juggle taking notes with staying present in the fiction and being responsive/reactive to the players’ actions?

I’m pretty close to pulling the trigger on a forum hosting account so we can keep this community alive after the…

I’m pretty close to pulling the trigger on a forum hosting account so we can keep this community alive after the…

I’m pretty close to pulling the trigger on a forum hosting account so we can keep this community alive after the shutdown of G+. I help run a massive forum at my day job so I’ve got some experience.

I feel like we’d have room for more than L&B content. Maybe other fantasy-themed PbtA communities would like to join in. Maybe I should aim for Dungeon World in general? Bigger? Any thoughts on this?

I wonder if this might be a future home?

I wonder if this might be a future home?

I wonder if this might be a future home? I recall Jason and the Gauntlet crew being fans of The Perilous Wilds, not sure their take on Freebooters but I can’t imagine they’d be against us settling in there? The Gauntlet has kind of proven itself to be the most reliable voice and community in indie TTRPGs and their policies on inclusive gaming are really important. Thoughts?

https://twitter.com/GauntletRPG/status/1105076332055195650?s=20

https://twitter.com/GauntletRPG/status/1105076332055195650?s=20

I’ve just uploaded session zero of a new playtest campaign.

I’ve just uploaded session zero of a new playtest campaign.

I’ve just uploaded session zero of a new playtest campaign. This one is mostly world-building and character generation, with a little scene or two thrown in as needed. Adventuring will start in earnest in the next session. Hoping to post a new episode every two weeks.

https://youtu.be/Z8l1ZsEqk4o