Category: From the Editor’s Desk

“Campaign Mastery helps tabletop RPG game masters knock their players’ socks off by showing GMs how to run exceptional campaigns. Through tips, how-to articles, and GMing tricks posted each week, we teach you how to build memorable campaigns from start to finish.”

This statement from Campaign Mastery couldn’t be more true.  Johnn Four and Mike Bourke are two veteran gamers who consistently put out articles, tips, and resources to help GMs of all experience.  Johnn also has a Roleplaying Tips newsletter, so check that out too.

Visit Campaign Mastery, and prepare to become a better GM.

I have a secret.

Outside of Stuffer Shack, Critical Hits might just be my favorite gaming blog.  With a good group of writers, ranging from industry professionals to gaming enthusiasts, there is always a nice mix of articles to read.

To be fair, I have only been reading online for about a year, but I continue to find myself gravitating back toward Critical Hits – they just always seem to have the articles that interest me, or that I find useful in helping me get more out of the game (here’s my favorite).

Critical Hits just had their five-year birthday.  You can read up on it here, where you’ll find info on what they’ve accomplished (including two Ennie nominations), some cools stats, and where they’re headed.

Critical Hits, Stuffer Shack’s site of the month for November 2010.

So, have you done your good deed for the day?  If not, how about you donate $25 to Doctors Without Borders?  You’ll get $700 in downloadable RPG products, but more importantly, you’ll be helping those who are in a lot worse condition than yourself.

• Can you imagine not having electricty in your home?
• Can you imagine not having running water in your home?
• Can you imagine not having a home?

Click here to donate $25 and receive over $700 in RPG Titles

Click here to donate $10 and receive over $100 in Comics

Click here for more information on Doctors without Borders

I went through all of the product that you get in the bundles, and I gotta say, while there’s plenty of stuff I would never use, there’s PLENTY of stuff that I would.  Also, this is the perfect time to try out some stuff that I was on the fence about.  Just remember that it’s all downloads.

It’s only $25.  Check it out, and do some good.

When it comes to the online gaming ‘verse, I’m practically a baby.  It seems like everyday I find a new gamer blog that peaks my interest.  Even if some of these blogs have been around for years, and have tons of readers, they’re still new to me.  Grognardia is one of these blogs.  I came across it a few months ago, immediately fell in love with its rich content, and then lost it in a sea of gamer blogs.  I recently found it again and couldn’t be happier.  Chances are that you already know all about it, but if not, you should start reading.  James writes well, and keeps you engaged and looking for more.  There’s not a lot of bells and whistles – just a good, clean layout with tons of easy-to-read, useful gaming articles.

Grognardia, Stuffer Shack’s site of the month for October 2010.

When I buy the horses for the Horse Mini sets and Adventurer’s Bundles, they come in assorted packs (I can’t buy several of the same horse; I have to buy the whole set). Because of this, I have to sell them in assorted sets – otherwise I would end up with a shortage of certain horses and a surplus of others. Several customers have asked for certain horses in their sets and offered to pay extra, so I finally decided to make it happen in one step.

Perhaps you have an adventure planned in which a carriage will be drawn by four white horses, or you need black horses for the bad guys, or perhaps your players want to choose specific horses for their characters before you buy them – you can now do that easily. This is an option that adds $4.99 to your bill, which in turn lets you choose any five horses, even the same horse multiple times. If you happen to select a bunch of horses that I have a large surplus of, I’ll refund your $4.99 (cause that’s how I role).

On the Horse Minis page (in the Store), there is an extra “Add to Cart” button.

• Buy a set of Horse Minis (5) like normal
• Click the optional “Add to Cart” button
• In Paypal’s “Special Instructions” box, type in the names of the five horses that you want (or just email me)

That’s it, you’re done.  You could also use the optional button when buying the Adventurer’s Bundle, if you wanted.

Hmmm, I think that’s it.  If you have any questions, throw out a comment!

Our Store has upgraded again… Simply choose your horses and select quantities!  Oh, and we still have random horse packs…

One of the things that I love about putting up Stuffer Shack is that I spend more time in the gaming’verse.  I had no idea that there were so many websites and blogs dedicated to geekery and gaming.  It’s like I’ve been adventuring for years and have finally found the treasure.  Well, part of that treasure is GM Oracle “your daily source for fantasy roleplaying material.”

I asked Philip Reed to give us the lowdown:

“GM Oracle is a creative outlet for me and Michael Hammes. We spent a few years writing and publishing PDFs through Ronin Arts, but after I went back to work at Steve Jackson Games the PDF writing died off.  Today, Michael and I are using GM Oracle as a place to publish short, systemless material for fantasy RPGs. We have different approaches to the craft, and I think that as the site grows, readers will find that despite our different ways of doing things, we both love fantasy and gaming.  This month we’ll start to see reviews on the site, but the focus will remain on the treasures, encounters, monsters, and thoughts on roleplaying.”

I was immediately drawn to GM Oracle by its clean, good-looking layout, and then of course by its solid, helpful writing.  Do as I have – follow their RSS and you’ll get some good reading in.

I still have no clue as to what I’m doing… that is… how to run, improve, maintain, fix, or manage a website.  I mean, it took me forever to understand about hosting, add-on domains, wordpress, themes, widgets, and plugins.  My buddy, Sam over at Roleplaying Pro, had to show me how to create a link – physically show me the process (I know, major, right?).  And in truth, I’m sure I’m breaking some rules, aren’t I?

Ok, sure. I’m not a tech savvy guy – most people don’t know how to set up a website, but I’ve also only ever sent two text messages, don’t have a Myspace page, can’t download a song if my life depended on it, don’t know how to back-up my computer, and have never twitted / tweeted / twittered (whatever).

However, I know that I like running Stuffer Shack, and I want it to be successful.  I want to know that people out there find it useful on occasion.  I want to improve the site so that it’s as functional as possible.  I’ve gotten some great advice from some fellow bloggers (you know who you are), and have found that gamers, in general, are pretty much a great bunch.  That’s another reason why I want the site to succeed (if that makes any sense).

So, riddle me this…

1. How important is Facebook and Twitter with regard to this website? Would incorporating those things be beneficial?
2. Is there anything else I’m not doing – that I should be doing?

Your help is greatly appreciated.