The Tea House Food of the Month

We’re starting a new initiative for The Tea House, our GW2 guild. Each month we are sending all guests one of the favourite foods used by our individual characters. So, if you are a guest of The Tea House, you should receive a mail near the start of each month with some free samples. Each […]

Deciding your Digital Destiny

No matter the game, a Meta will always form which dictates a ‘correct’ way to play. This Meta seems to be created by the most vocal and driven people who seem to have a need to dominate the game, devouring the content as quickly as possible. When new content is released, they rush out en […]

The Art of Immersion

It’s a common catch phrase; Immersion. In times of stress I crave immersion as a way to escape from the pressures of life and relax. For me it’s like meditation, only more effective in some respects because the environment is easier to control. As I talk to others I have realised that while immersion is […]

Game Mastery Part 4
Writing a Good Campaign Adventure

I really appreciate the value of a store brought premade adventure. They are great for learning the game and for filling in when you need a break from adventure writing. However I much prefer to write my own adventures. By writing your own adventure you can custom made the story for the characters you have, […]

Gaming in the Australian Heat

Summer is coming, and the Australian heat is already on the rise. Computers can get hot enough without the added heat of pushing your processors with an intense game. The real trouble with heat is not just the risk of shut down, it’s the risk of long term damage to the system. It’s perfectly fine […]

Game Mastery Part 3
The Art of Killing Characters

As a GM I hate to kill characters, and it’s not just about not wanting to hurt feelings either, there are very practical considerations. I work for hours to help each player carefully construct a detailed background, balancing desires with what the system allows. I also invest more hours creating stories that meld meaningfully with […]

Tabletop War Gaming Fundamentals

I’m an avid tabletop war gamer and I love almost every aspect of the hobby, from painting and collecting all the way through to the actual playing of the games. I also love winning, and I tend to win more games than I lose even against top tier players. I have played everything from Epic […]

Sexism in Tabletop RPGs

I try to avoid being topical, preferring to leave real life take care of itself while I get on with my gaming. However, recent events surrounding women in gaming (and comics, and media, and movies, *sigh*) have inspired me to recall my own life growing up as a nerdy woman delving in a male-centric world. […]

Game Mastery Part 2
Atmosphere

Creating atmosphere for your game is one of the key components to making your game memorable. Whether it’s the Machiavellian machinations of a vampire court, the sense of impending doom as you stalk through an old library in Cthulhu, or the Dickensian dystopia of the streets in a game of Cyberpunk, atmosphere can make or […]

Game Mastery Part 1
Core Components

I have had the pleasure to be both a player of Tabletop RPGs and as a Games Master (GM), or Dungeon Master (DM) if you prefer. I run games because I enjoy the creative outlet, but I also run games because people like how I run them. There is no hard and fast rule to […]