Relay the Message: Fight Cancer
Heya, Back a littler earlier from summer break. I want to talk about someone a greatly respect in the RPG scene. His name is Chris Chinn. If you have never followed the Deeper in the Game blog, you...
View ArticleWhat is Creative Agenda?
Heya,I’m tackling a tough subject today. Hopefully, I can do it justice. If Ron or Vincent or Ben come along later and correct me, I’ll change this post as necessary.So what is a creative agenda?...
View ArticleRelay the Message: Kickstarter Roundup
Heya, It's been a while since Kickstarter had anything interesting for me, but all of a sudden that has changed. I've got three projects I'm following closely, and I thought I'd share them with you:...
View ArticleDesign Journal #1: Envisioning Play
Heya, Back in March I casually mentioned that I was writing a new game. This will be my first new game since I wrote “The Holmes and Watson Committee” back in 2009. And I’m excited, so I’m going to...
View ArticleWhat is an 'Endgame' ?
Heya, Today I’m going to discuss a design technique that has become more and more popular in RPGs over the last ten years. It is the “Endgame.” An endgame is a moment where play permanently stops...
View ArticleDesign Journal #2: Brainstorming
Heya, A few weeks ago I wrote up my DesignDiary #1. Today, I’m continuing this saga. But before I get to today’s issue: a rabbit chaser. Every designer has to deal with personal distractions and...
View ArticleWhat is 'Chopping the World in Two' ?
Heya, Chris Chinn coined this phrase a year or two ago. Basically he asked, “if narration is a part of your resolution system, what mechanics in your game stop a player from saying, ‘If I win, I chop...
View ArticleEquipment Lists - A Lament
Heya, How boring is an equipment list? Ugh, it’s got to be the most tedious yet necessary thing in a fantasy or science fiction RPG. Everyone (or close to everyone) loves the little fiddly bits you...
View ArticleDesign Journal #3: Distractions
Heya,So last time I talked about brainstorming and the time before that about initial concept. Today, I’m going to talk about “Cook Time.” Cook Time is when you leave a design alone for a while and...
View ArticleHappy Holidays 2013!
Just wanted to wish everyone a very safe and joyful holiday season. May you find mercy, relief, and happiness with those whom you spend your time over the next week!
View ArticleDoes Setting Still Matter? part 5
Heya, I haven’t written about Setting since2006, and that entry wasn’t very good. I’m going to update my thoughts on Setting very briefly here today. Why is Setting important? Yes, it’s an integral...
View ArticleDesign Journal #4: Breaking Up My Game
Heya,Welcome to my design journal entry # 4. In case you missed the first three, you can find them HERE, HERE, and HERE.I’ve brought this up before, but I use a Design Outline when I create a game. I...
View ArticleWhat is Rule Zero?
Heya, Today I’m looking at a topic that became a really hot-button issue in the early 2000’s. And even to this day, arguments over it will arise on one online forum or another. It’s called “Rule...
View ArticleSocratic Design Anthology #9
Heya Guys, Summer is fast approaching and that's when I usually take break from blogging. I hope the first half of the year has been a productive one for you. Before I go, I'm doing my annual...
View ArticleWhat Do I Do if I Find Myself Designing a Heartbreaker?
Heya,Back in the saddle after a nice long summer break. I hope all of you are well. It’s good to have you back at Socratic Design!This blog entry was inspired by THIS THREAD. Back when that thread...
View ArticleRelay the Message: Early Fall Kickstarters
Heya guy, Hope you are having a good harvest season. There's a pretty good crop of Kickstarters I'm following, and I thought I'd share them with you.First, we have Warlocks. I'm usually more of a...
View ArticleWhat is TPK?
Heya, Short one this time around. I hate gamer-talk sometimes. We develop our own jargon that we assume everyone gets but really just creates a taller barrier to entry to new people into the hobby....
View ArticleMeeting at the Inn - A Lament
Heya, How many of you started some RPG campaign of any genre by meeting a group of people in an inn, bar, tavern, or Mos Eisley Cantina? Raise your hand, because you know we've all done it. How good...
View ArticleWho has final say?
Heya,This is a more advanced theory topic than I usually deal with on Socratic Design, but in light of me coming to a deeper understanding about RPG play and RPG design, I feel I need to share this...
View ArticleRelay the Message: Dyson's Dungeons Patreon
Heya, Some of you may be creating games that use dungeons. If so, you might check out Dyson Logos' Paetreon: http://www.patreon.com/dysonlogos?rf=49282 He creates some of the BEST dungeon maps out...
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