Daniel Yocom

Daniel Yocom writes Guild Master Gaming, started in February 2012. He draws on his experiences for tabletop and role-playing games, and has been playing tabletop games for almost fifty years and RPGs for almost forty. He also seeks out new experiences in gaming and areas associated in what he considers geek writing. Along with gaming writing, he has other writing in publications and several projects in the works.

Don’t Touch My Dice!

 Posted by on October 17, 2017  Filed as: Editorial  1 Response »
Oct 172017
 
Don't Touch My Dice!

Across the folding table John tossed his d20, this was an important roll. It caught on his finger and went high into the air. The die came down, hit the edge of the Player’s Handbook open in front of him, and shot across the table towards me. Reflexively, I dropped my forearm along the edge of the table to keep it from continuing its runaway [Read the article]

A Horror Mechanic for Non-Horror RPGs

 Posted by on August 14, 2017  Filed as: Better Gameplay?  No Responses »  Topic(s):
Aug 142017
 
A Horror Mechanic for Non-Horror RPGs

There are role-playing games (RPGs) designed to take horror as the main theme, similar to horror novels. These games are designed around the concept that there are events and things making people jump, or squirm, or go mad. Elements of horror are important in storytelling because they help in creating the mood for the people experiencing the story as it unravels to them. A problem [Read the article]

Jul 052017
 
Twist Your Encounters So Your Players Don't Recognize It

Avid role-playing gamers are known to learn about the monsters they expect to encounter, especially players who also are game masters (GMs). This has made for a steady market of expansions for new monsters. But, then the race is on once again as the players get a hold of the expansion and soon know about the new monsters. However, there are some tricks a GM [Read the article]

The Use of Language In RPG Scenarios

 Posted by on June 12, 2017  Filed as: Better Gameplay?  2 Responses »  Topic(s):
Jun 122017
 
The Use of Language In RPG Scenarios

Your party enters a tavern in the distant land they have spent weeks travelling to. The human fighter walks up to the innkeeper and asks about rooms. The innkeeper responds, but in a different language. The wizard steps forward and addresses the innkeeper in a number of different languages he has learned from traveling to other kingdoms. They find a common language, but because of [Read the article]

More on Equipment: Following Up Conversations

 Posted by on June 5, 2017  Filed as: Editorial  No Responses »  Topic(s):
Jun 052017
 
More on Equipment: Following Up Conversations

I didn’t know how the tracking of a character’s equipment was affecting the roleplaying games people were playing. My article, Do You Have That On Your Character Sheet, generated a number of comments and discussions. There are different ways of handling the equipment issue: some game masters (GMs) are strict about how items are recorded while others are more fluid with their game (and, by-the-way, [Read the article]

Apr 172017
 
To equip, or not?  That is the question.

Your party has been tracking down the dragon across the wilderness. Traveling over the plains took a long time. The forest was full of minions who harassed and ambushed you. Now, mountains loom ahead as you near the location of the creature’s lair. Blocking your way is a deep gorge you need to cross and you are running short on time. The wizard has assessed [Read the article]