Category Archives: Game Design

Progress and updates on the game design process.

How we design a role-playing game

Posted on May 20, 2008 by AJ

I thought I’d share a bit about how our game design process works and (in a subsequent post) what we’re currently working on. This is not necessarily the best way to design a game, and we’re always looking at ways … Continue reading →

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Game Developers and Publishers

Posted on May 19, 2008 by AJ

I’ve just taken over editing of the Game Developers and Publishers area on dmoz. If you are in this arena and want your site listed there, please submit it through the site suggestion link on that page and I should … Continue reading →

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Game book layout: the four parts

Posted on May 16, 2008 by AJ

In trying to layout some of our recent game projects, I’ve noticed some common components in every book, which has led me to the conclusion that every game book really consists of four parts: Character Generation/Creation (Chargen) Game Rules Setting … Continue reading →

Posted in Game Design, Layout | 5 Comments

Saur: introduction

Posted on May 13, 2008 by matt

Half a decade ago, when Crucible was still about, we tasked ourselves with a job to create games settings in one week and bring them back to the fold. The catch was, the group decided what sort of game you … Continue reading →

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The WhiteChapel Project – early history

Posted on May 13, 2008 by matt

The Project in Whitechapel was formed in September 1941 as a subsection of the Special Operations Executive (SOE). The SOE was directed to encourage espionage behind enemy lines and build the core of a resistance cell in the event of … Continue reading →

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systems, systems, systems

Posted on May 9, 2008 by matt

Is it right to design another system for a game? At the moment we’re still writing War of the Worlds, though we’ve started development on Status: Refugee and a Supers game. In all three, the working system is to be … Continue reading →

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23L Superhumans

Posted on May 6, 2008 by matt

Having some spare time yesterday evening I resurrected some of my notes for ‘superpowers’ in T23L. It wasn’t part of the plan to have 23L superhumans – though I was accused by Jeremy of writing my own ‘supers’ game when … Continue reading →

Posted in 23rd Letter, Commentary, Supers | 1 Comment

Status: Refugee – Timeline

Posted on May 5, 2008 by matt

Here’s a snippet of some of the stuff I’m writing for Status: Refugee. It hasn’t been okay’ed by Aidan yet so details may change. But it should give you an idea of what we’re working on. I want to bring … Continue reading →

Posted in Status: Refugee | 7 Comments

225 days

Posted on April 28, 2008 by AJ

SI 1995/3297, also known as “The Duration of Copyright and Rights in Performances Regulations 1995”, this UK law came into effect on January 1st 1996. At its most basic, it extended the copyright for any written work from 50 years … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, WotW: Earth | 1 Comment

Superheroes can be dicks

Posted on April 25, 2008 by matt

Forget Iron Man. PJ pointed me at the new Hancock trailer. It’s true, Hancock has gone from being a “Wild Wild West” kind of camp nonsense movie to a movie I’d really like to see and a game I’d like … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Game Design, GM, WatchTower, WildTalents/Godlike | Leave a comment

Creed/Testament/Rapture – queries and comments

Posted on April 25, 2008 by matt

It’s always nice to get some kudos from people you respect and Balbinus on RPG.net has come through again with Creed/Testament/Rapture – queries and comments. He has a few comments, mostly clarifications and does make me realise that the character … Continue reading →

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WotW: Earth – Vox Populi

Posted on April 24, 2008 by AJ

“Have you seen my Jim? Have you seen him? My son? About four feet tall, blond hair, covered in freckles? … what about you, sir? Have you seen my Jim? He’s about four feet tall–“ – worried mother, Ealing, Day … Continue reading →

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WotW: Earth – The Death Of The Martians

Posted on April 23, 2008 by matt

“My knowledge of comparative physiology is confined to a book or two, but it seems to me that Carver’s suggestions as to the reason of the rapid death of the Martians is so probable as to be regarded almost as … Continue reading →

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WotW: Earth – Weapons of War

Posted on April 23, 2008 by matt

“Neither is the composition of the Black Smoke known, which the Martians used with such deadly effect, and the generator of the Heat-Rays remains a puzzle. The terrible disasters at the Ealing and South Kensington laboratories have disinclined analysts for … Continue reading →

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WotW: Earth – The Flying Machine

Posted on April 22, 2008 by matt

“The sun sank into grey clouds, the sky flushed and darkened, the evening star trembled into sight. It was deep twilight when the captain cried out and pointed. My brother strained his eyes. Something rushed up into the sky out … Continue reading →

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WotW: Earth – 21 Days of Invasion

Posted on April 22, 2008 by matt

The Narrator of the book was close to one of the arrival sites but this was not necessarily the most active site. He also spent more than two weeks (or a three week invasion) hiding in a collapsed house. He … Continue reading →

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Social Class in WotW:Earth

Posted on April 21, 2008 by matt

War of the Worlds: Earth is set at the dawn of the 20th Century. You have the legacy of Victoriana, the sunset of the British Empire and the rise of other nations including the independence of former colonies. Even back … Continue reading →

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Collaboration, writing and vision

Posted on April 21, 2008 by matt

This weekend I was busy with family duties but still managed to do a bit of work on WoTW:Earth. Most notably taking the draft ideas Aidan sent through and turning them into mechanics and flavour. Collaboration is hard. I’m very … Continue reading →

Posted in 23rd Letter, Commentary, Game Design, Qabal, WotW: Earth | 1 Comment

What’s He Building In There?

Posted on April 20, 2008 by matt

Title taken from the Tom Waits track. This blossomed into a scenario where the PCs were sent to investigate a murder. A newcomer to a quiet US suburb was found beaten to death in his home. The house is trashed. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cool, Cthulhu, Qabal, Writing | 2 Comments

WotW: Earth – Art

Posted on April 18, 2008 by matt

Last night I commissioned two art pieces from Storn Cook for the upcoming War of the Worlds book. I really like Storn’s art (massive thread on RPG.net here) and he was very nice when I enquired about the commission and … Continue reading →

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