Sweet Spots for the Time-Crunched Gamer: Weeknights, Nine To Midnight

So you've tried all the automation tips and game systems we've discussed and still can't get your group together to game. What's an RPG enthusiast to do? You're now battling the toughest constraint of all, which is time itself.

Savage Worlds/Maptool Oneshot Game 4/19

Occasionally I run Savage Worlds/Maptools Games to show off both products.  You can read my gaming history, how I found Savage Worlds, and why I use Maptool in other posts on my blog. In a nutshell, my discovery of Savage Worlds and Maptool allowed me to game again. To repay that debt, I run One Shots for other folks who, like myself, have limited time but a great desire to maintain the hobby of their youth.

Interview with Shane Hensley, Creator of Savage Worlds

When I began writing for The Dice of Life, I wanted to make the blog a source of ideas and inspiration for the time-crunched gamer.  The idea struck me that interviews with some of my gaming heroes would fill this requirement nicely.

I have to admit I was nervous reaching out to Shane.  You just never know who's on the other end of the email.  As it turns out, Shane is one of the nicest and most helpful guys in the gaming industry.  He's also an undead, giant fish. (well, he can dream, can't he?)

Interview with Paul 'Wiggy' Wade-Williams of Triple Ace Games

Paul "Wiggy" Wade-Williams is one of the most prolific writers in the gaming industry. If you don't believe it, just Google his name and count the products he's authored. Wiggy has played RPGs for over twenty-five years and has been a published author since 1998, having written for Atlas Games, Eden Studios, Britannia Games Design, Kenzer & Co., Pinnacle Entertainment Group, and Green Ronin.

He and his wife of seven years, Maggie, live on the Shetland Islands where life is slow, the community spirit is strong, the folk are friendly, and the scenery is beautiful. While not participating in the annual tradition of burning a Viking Longship, Wiggy serves as the creative director for Triple Ace Games, producing such titles as Hellfrost, Daring Tales, Necropolis, Sundered Skies, and Wonderland No More.

Recently, Wiggy took time out of his busy production schedule to answer a few questions for The Dice of Life.

Sweet Spots for the Time-Crunched Gamer: MapTool

If you're reading this blog your probably a person with a family and career who has difficulty finding time and opportunity to game. For me, gaming is less about rules and more about the magic that happens when a group of three or more highly creative gamers share a few hours of imaginative fun. I run demo games for complete strangers, and from that sample, I can tell you I'm not alone.

From my introductory post, you know I've gamed for a long time with the same group. As distance or other chronological pressures prevented face-to-face gaming, I found other avenues to pursue my most favored hobby. In this article I'm going to discuss my current primary gaming tool, MapTool.

Sweet Spots for the Time-Crunched Gamer: Savage Worlds

In this week's Sweet Spot's article, we take a look at Savage Worlds and how this "Fast, Furious, and Fun!" game system can be a Sweet Spot for the Time-Crunched Gamer.

This article originally appeared in The Dice of Life

Life as a Middle-Aged Gamer (with Kids)

When I read my first D&D book 30 years ago, I never imagined that first fantasy game would be a lifelong hobby. At 15, your long term outlook is pretty limited. I was an avid fantasy and science fiction fan and D&D gave me a way to create my own characters that shaped their own story. After the first game, I was hooked.

Gods' Game 1.6 - On Display

Episode 1: Arrival
Episode 2: Reunions
Episode 3: Nigh Watch
Episode 4: Big Dogs
Episode 5: Judgment
Episode 6: On Display
Episode 7: The Uninvited
Episode 8: Departures

This week's episode: On Display

Gods' Game 1.5 - Judgment

Episode 1: Arrival
Episode 2: Reunions
Episode 3: Nigh Watch
Episode 4: Big Dogs
Episode 5: Judgment
Episode 6: On Display
Episode 7: The Uninvited
Episode 8: Departures
This week's episode - Judgement

Gods' Game 1.4 - Big Dogs

Episode 1: Arrival
Episode 2: Reunions
Episode 3: Nigh Watch
Episode 4: Big Dogs
Episode 5: Judgment
Episode 6: On Display
Episode 7: The Uninvited
Episode 8: Departures

Episode Four - Big Dogs

Gods' Game 1.3 - Night Watch

Episode 1: Arrival
Episode 2: Reunions
Episode 3: Nigh Watch
Episode 4: Big Dogs
Episode 5: Judgment
Episode 6: On Display
Episode 7: The Uninvited
Episode 8: Departures
Episode Three - Night Watch

Gods' Game 1.2 - Reunions

Episode 1: Arrival
Episode 2: Reunions
Episode 3: Nigh Watch
Episode 4: Big Dogs
Episode 5: Judgment
Episode 6: On Display
Episode 7: The Uninvited
Episode 8: Departures

In the last episode, Jack Large arrived in Misty Bay. It didn't take long for the brawling Straulian halfing to find trouble. This week we continue the story in part 2, Reunions.

Gods' Game 1.1 - Arrival

This next piece of fiction is in the Swords and Sorcery genre and flowed from a group of villains I created for D&D 2e. The villains were the evil counterparts to my gaming group's adventurers. I invested a great deal of time in their original creation. I was greatly surprised when the bad guys' leader managed to take down most of the party via one-on-one duels. The legend of Lord Havoq grew from there.

When I began writing this story it was to placate some of my old gaming buddies who wanted me to write about their characters. Well, what began as a simple adventure to slay a dragon turned into a novel regarding the greater war between the Rangers of Tehas and the minions of Lord Havoq.