Tag Archives: gaming

A fabled foray into interactive fiction

Posted on January 27, 2020 by Confanity

Longtime readers will remember that I’m interested in tabletop role-playing games and have even dabbled in a bit of design and setting-creation, but it was still with some surprise that back in October, I found myself visiting the local university’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Musing, Short Fiction | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Men, said the Devil

Posted on February 10, 2019 by Confanity

…They don’t want to mend their own ways, but each other’s* 六国を滅ぼす者は六国なり (Rikkoku wo horobosu mono wa rikkoku nari; “The one who destroys the six countries, is the six countries”) Definition: When a nation falls, it usually isn’t ultimately due … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Melting pot, ethnic stew

Posted on October 10, 2018 by Confanity

Either way, we’re all in this vessel together 渾然一体 kon.zen.i-.ttai Literally: all – “sort of thing” – one – body Alternately: Disparate things mixing together to form a harmonious or unified whole. A workable sum of parts. The ideal of … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Actual Cannibal Actual Play

Posted on May 29, 2018 by Confanity

Before you read further, please stop and take a few minutes to watch this video. The song and the amazing stage production that accompany it are lots of fun on their own, of course. But did you know that you … Continue reading →

Posted in Musing, Nonfiction, Review, Rules | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Challenge accepted: Artifact dash

Posted on September 9, 2016 by Confanity

Today I finally got around to reading a post from a couple of months ago over at an RPG blog called Semper Initiativus Unum about “megadungeons and artifacts.” As is generally the case when I write this kind of post, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Miscellaneous, Musing, World-Building | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Things to do with “spell slots”

Posted on November 7, 2015 by Confanity

A while back I read and commented on a post at Ten Foot Polemic. Mr. Young had an interesting idea about allowing clerics to create “talismans” (I keep on feeling like the plural should be “talismen,” but that’s silly) to … Continue reading →

Posted in Musing, Rules | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Fiddling with XP, part 2: Something old, something new

Posted on July 11, 2014 by Confanity

Previously I rambled for a while about XP systems, and how my ideal would be granular and world-associated – i.e. the way it works makes sense from an in-world perspective as well as a meta, mechanical one. Assuming a D&D-style … Continue reading →

Posted in Rules, World-Building | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

More Musings on Skill Points and Economies Thereof

Posted on December 23, 2013 by Confanity

When I think about pen-and-paper RPG design, I invariably come around to skill systems and skill points. One thing that strikes me as odd about D&D is the almost complete disconnect between the systems for combat and the systems for … Continue reading →

Posted in Nonfiction, Rules | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Brain Storm

Posted on November 17, 2013 by Confanity

“Requesting Elegant Solutions – Psionics – Visions, mind-reading, [and] mental combat all seem archetypal and [I’m] not really satisfied with a Vancian system. No point systems.” I present a brief brainstorm for psionics rules, based the above challenge/request at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Rules | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Tweaking magic

Posted on February 13, 2013 by Confanity

Last time was a grab-bag of ideas, but the main one that drove me to post was the idea of Devotions. I like the idea of (myths and game settings that feature) human-like gods, with moods and whimsy, and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Nonfiction, Rules | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment