Game Master Tips: Roleplaying Games Janie Henry April 18, 2023 Have It Bad Roleplaying games (RPGs) have experienced a surge in popularity over the past decade, captivating players with their immersive and interactive storytelling experiences. As individuals take on the roles of fictional characters, they are transported to vibrant worlds filled with endless possibilities. Within these RPGs, there exists an integral figure known as the Game Master (GM), who is responsible for facilitating gameplay and creating a cohesive narrative framework. This article aims to provide valuable insights and tips for aspiring GMs seeking to enhance their roleplaying game sessions. Imagine a group of friends gathered around a table, engrossed in an intense RPG session that unfolds within the intricate tapestry of a fantasy world. The Game Master sits at the head of this gathering, orchestrating every twist and turn as the players navigate through challenges, make decisions, and interact with non-player characters. To be an effective GM requires more than just knowledge of rules; it demands creativity, adaptability, and strong communication skills. Therefore, understanding various techniques and strategies can greatly contribute to enhancing the overall experience for both the GM and players alike. In this article, we will explore essential elements that make up successful roleplaying game sessions. From designing engaging storylines and crafting memorable NPCs to managing player dynamics and improvising unexpected situations, the tips provided here will help GMs create immersive and satisfying RPG experiences. Designing Engaging Storylines: A well-crafted storyline forms the foundation of any RPG session. Consider creating a compelling narrative arc with interesting plot twists, conflicts, and goals for the players to pursue. Incorporate elements of suspense, mystery, and intrigue to keep your players engaged and invested in the story. Crafting Memorable NPCs: Non-player characters (NPCs) play a crucial role in bringing your world to life. Develop unique personalities, backstories, and motivations for each NPC to make them feel like real individuals. Interactions with NPCs can provide valuable information, quests, or even present moral dilemmas for the players to navigate. Managing Player Dynamics: As a GM, it’s important to facilitate a positive and inclusive gaming environment. Encourage open communication among players and establish ground rules that promote respect and collaboration. Be mindful of balancing spotlight time between different players and ensuring everyone has equal opportunities to contribute. Improvising Unexpected Situations: No matter how meticulously you plan your sessions, unexpected situations will inevitably arise. Being able to think on your feet and adapt quickly is key. Embrace improvisation when necessary by using player input or random dice rolls to shape the direction of the story. This flexibility adds an element of surprise and excitement for both you as the GM and the players. Creating Immersive Environments: Set the stage by describing vivid environments that capture your players’ imaginations. Utilize sensory details such as sights, sounds, smells, and textures to transport them into the game world. Additionally, consider incorporating props or background music to further enhance immersion during important scenes or encounters. Balancing Challenge and Reward: Strive for a balanced gameplay experience by providing challenges that are appropriately matched to your players’ abilities. Tailor encounters based on their strengths and weaknesses to keep them engaged and motivated. Equally important is rewarding their efforts with meaningful loot, experience points, or story progression to foster a sense of accomplishment. Encouraging Player Agency: Allow your players to have agency in shaping the outcome of the story. Offer choices and consequences that have a tangible impact on the game world. This empowers players to feel invested in their characters’ actions and fosters a sense of ownership over their individual stories. By incorporating these tips into your roleplaying game sessions, you can elevate the overall experience for both yourself as the GM and your players. Remember that RPGs are collaborative endeavors where everyone’s enjoyment is paramount. So embrace creativity, adaptability, and strong communication skills to create unforgettable adventures within your gaming group. Creating Engaging Quests One of the key elements in designing a successful roleplaying game (RPG) is creating engaging quests for players to undertake. A well-crafted quest can captivate players and immerse them in the game world, providing meaningful experiences and driving the overall narrative forward. For example, imagine a fantasy RPG where players are tasked with retrieving a stolen artifact from an ancient dungeon. This quest not only provides a clear objective but also presents challenges along the way, such as navigating treacherous traps or facing formidable enemies. By incorporating puzzles or moral dilemmas into the quest design, players are encouraged to think strategically and make impactful decisions that shape their characters’ development. To enhance player engagement further, consider incorporating these strategies: Offer diverse objectives: Provide players with varied goals within each quest, such as collecting rare items, uncovering hidden lore, or helping non-playable characters (NPCs) overcome personal struggles. This diversity keeps gameplay fresh and appeals to different playstyles. Create memorable NPCs: Develop unique personalities and backstories for NPCs involved in the quests. Giving them distinct traits and motivations will foster emotional connections between players and these virtual characters. Provide branching paths: Introduce choices throughout the quests that impact both short-term outcomes and long-term consequences. This allows players to feel agency over their character’s journey while ensuring replayability. Reward progression effectively: Design rewards that align with the difficulty of each quest completed. Balancing tangible rewards like powerful equipment with intangible ones like reputation or character growth helps maintain player motivation. In addition to these strategies, utilizing markdown format bullet points can evoke an emotional response by making information more visually appealing: 💥 Exciting combat encounters 🌟 Intricate puzzle-solving moments 😱 Surprise plot twists 👑 Epic boss battles Furthermore, using tables in markdown format can create visual interest while conveying important information: Quest Name Objective Difficulty Level The Lost Heir Uncover the truth about a hidden lineage Medium Shadows of Chaos Restore balance to a world on the brink of collapse Hard Guardians of Gaia Protect sacred relics from falling into the wrong hands Easy Legends Reborn Delve into ancient ruins and resurrect forgotten heroes Very Hard In conclusion, creating engaging quests in RPGs is crucial for captivating players and immersing them in the game. By offering diverse objectives, developing memorable NPCs, providing branching paths, and rewarding progression effectively, game masters can craft unforgettable experiences. (Note: Transition without explicitly stating “Finally” or using similar terms) Moving forward to managing player progression… Managing Player Progression Section H2: Managing player progression Transitioning from the previous section on creating engaging quests, an essential aspect of being a game master is effectively managing player progression. To illustrate this point, let’s consider a hypothetical case study involving a group of adventurers embarking on a quest to retrieve a legendary artifact. As they progress through various challenges and encounters, their skills and abilities evolve, ultimately shaping their characters’ development and impacting the overall gaming experience. To ensure smooth player progression in roleplaying games (RPGs), game masters can employ several strategies: Balancing Difficulty: It is crucial for game masters to strike a balance between providing challenging obstacles and ensuring players feel a sense of accomplishment. By tailoring encounters and quests based on the characters’ capabilities, GMs can maintain engagement without overwhelming or underwhelming the players. Reward System: Implementing a well-designed reward system helps incentivize players to actively participate in the game world. This could include granting experience points or skill upgrades upon completing objectives or finding hidden treasures, thus fostering motivation and encouraging further exploration. Character Development Opportunities: Allowing opportunities for character growth fosters deeper immersion within the RPG setting. Game masters can introduce narrative arcs that delve into personal stories or offer choices with long-term consequences, enabling players to shape their characters’ identities and motivations authentically. Collaborative Decision-Making: Encouraging collaborative decision-making among players promotes social interaction while also contributing to individual character development. By incorporating moments where teamwork is critical or allowing players to collectively make impactful choices, GMs create memorable experiences that strengthen bonds between both characters and participants. Table: Rewards Examples Reward Type Description Experience Points Granting experience points allows characters to level up and acquire new skills or abilities based on predetermined ruleset Unique Items Offering unique items as rewards not only enhances the character’s capabilities but also adds depth to their backstory, as these artifacts may hold significant lore or power Reputation Boost Recognizing characters’ achievements within the game world can improve their standing among NPCs and various factions, opening up new opportunities Story Advancement Progressing the overall narrative based on player actions provides a satisfying sense of accomplishment and encourages players to explore further In summary, managing player progression is essential for creating an immersive and engaging RPG experience. By balancing difficulty levels, implementing rewarding systems, providing character development opportunities, and encouraging collaborative decision-making, game masters can shape a dynamic gaming environment that captivates players. Transitioning into the subsequent section about Developing Rich Backstories, understanding how individual character growth intertwines with overarching narratives becomes paramount in crafting compelling roleplaying adventures. Developing Rich Backstories Transition from Previous Section: Having discussed the importance of managing player progression, let us now turn our attention to another crucial aspect of roleplaying games – developing rich backstories. To illustrate this point, consider a hypothetical scenario where players are exploring an ancient ruin. As they delve deeper into the dungeon, they discover an old journal that reveals the tragic tale of a forgotten hero who once fought against overwhelming odds to protect their homeland. Developing Rich Backstories Creating compelling and intricate backstories for both non-player characters (NPCs) and player characters (PCs) adds depth and complexity to the game world. By providing context and motivation for the actions of these characters, it enhances immersion and fosters emotional investment among players. Here are some key guidelines to keep in mind when crafting engaging backstories: Relevance: Ensure that each character’s backstory is relevant to the game’s overall narrative or plotline. A well-designed backstory should contribute meaningfully to the ongoing story arc rather than being detached or inconsequential. Conflict: Introduce conflicts within a character’s past that can create dramatic tension or drive future plot developments. These conflicts could be personal struggles, unresolved vendettas, or hidden secrets waiting to be revealed. Growth: Show potential for growth and development in the character’s backstory. This allows players to envision their character’s evolution throughout the campaign, creating opportunities for meaningful choices and character arcs. Connection: Establish connections between different characters’ backstories whenever possible. Interweaving narratives generate intrigue and foster collaboration among players as they uncover shared history or unexpected alliances. To further emphasize the significance of rich backstories in enhancing gameplay experience, consider this table showcasing examples from popular roleplaying games: Game Title Memorable Character Backstory The Witcher 3 Geralt of Rivia A mutant monster hunter struggling with his own identity and navigating complex moral dilemmas. Dungeons & Dragons Elara Moonshadow, the Rogue An orphaned thief seeking revenge against the crime lord who destroyed her family. Mass Effect Commander Shepard A military hero tasked with saving the galaxy from a ruthless alien threat. Fallout: New Vegas The Courier Left for dead in the Mojave Desert, seeks answers while caught in a web of political intrigue. In crafting backstories that captivate players’ imaginations, game masters are able to create a more immersive roleplaying experience. By developing relevant narratives filled with conflicts, growth opportunities, and interconnections, these rich backstories lay the foundation for engaging gameplay. Transition to Next Section: As we explore the various elements that contribute to an unforgettable gaming experience, our attention now turns towards designing memorable villains. Just as heroes shape the narrative’s direction and player engagement, well-crafted antagonists can provide depth and challenge within a campaign setting without overshadowing the protagonists themselves. Designing Memorable Villains Developing Rich Backstories is an essential aspect of creating immersive roleplaying games. By giving characters detailed histories, game masters can enhance the depth and complexity of their narratives, providing players with compelling motivations and opportunities for character growth. In this section, we will explore some effective techniques to develop rich backstories that resonate with players and add depth to their gaming experiences. To illustrate these techniques, let’s consider the example of a fantasy RPG set in a medieval world. One player has created a character named Elara, a skilled archer seeking revenge against the evil warlord who destroyed her village. To develop Elara’s backstory effectively, the game master could employ the following strategies: Establish meaningful connections: Introduce significant relationships or affiliations that shape the character’s identity and goals. For instance, Elara might have lost loved ones during the warlord’s attack, fueling her desire for vengeance. Incorporate personal conflicts: Explore internal struggles within the character that create tension and drive their actions. Perhaps Elara battles with survivor’s guilt or grapples with conflicting feelings towards violence as she seeks justice. Include formative events: Describe pivotal moments from the character’s past that influenced their development. The game master could narrate how Elara first discovered her natural talent for archery while defending her village during a raid. Offer potential story hooks: Provide open-ended elements in the backstory that allow for future plot developments or interactions with other characters. For example, Elara may encounter unexpected allies or enemies along her quest for revenge. By employing these techniques when developing backstories like Elara’s, game masters can cultivate engaging narratives that captivate players’ imaginations and foster emotional investment in their characters’ journeys. Technique Example Meaningful connections Childhood friend turned traitor Personal conflicts Struggling with trust issues Formative events Witnessing a dragon’s awakening Potential story hooks Mysterious letter from an unknown sender Crafting Intriguing Plot Twists is the next crucial step in creating compelling roleplaying experiences. By incorporating unexpected turns and surprises into the narrative, game masters can keep players engaged and eager to uncover new developments. Through careful planning and strategic execution, plot twists can add excitement and suspense to the gameplay, making it all the more memorable for everyone involved. Crafting Intriguing Plot Twists Designing Memorable Villains can greatly enhance the overall experience of a roleplaying game. Building compelling adversaries that players will remember long after the session is over requires careful consideration and creativity. In this section, we will explore effective strategies for crafting intriguing plot twists that keep players engaged and eager to uncover what lies ahead. One example of a memorable plot twist could be an unexpected betrayal within the party. Imagine a campaign where the group has been working together for months, forming close bonds and trusting each other implicitly. Suddenly, it is revealed that one of their own has been secretly aligned with the main antagonist all along. This revelation not only adds excitement but also challenges the players’ perception of trust among their characters. To create captivating plot twists in your games, consider these key points: Foreshadowing: Plant subtle clues throughout earlier sessions that hint at upcoming reveals or events. These hints can build anticipation and make the eventual twist feel more satisfying. Subverting Expectations: Take established tropes or common narrative arcs and give them a unique twist or spin. Surprise your players by deviating from predictable storylines. Emotional Impact: Craft plot twists that resonate emotionally with your players. By incorporating elements like personal stakes, moral dilemmas, or intense conflicts, you can evoke strong reactions and investment in the outcome. Timing: Choose when to reveal your plot twists carefully. Consider factors such as pacing, dramatic tension, and player engagement to ensure maximum impact. Example Plot Twists Emotional Response Betrayal Shocked Lost Identity Confused Redemption Hopeful In conclusion, Crafting intriguing plot twists allows Game Masters to surprise their players while maintaining a sense of engagement throughout their roleplaying games. By employing foreshadowing techniques, subverting expectations, evoking emotional responses, and carefully timing your reveals, you can create unforgettable moments that keep players invested in the narrative. In our next section on Balancing Challenging Encounters, we will explore how to provide appropriate levels of difficulty for players without overwhelming or underwhelming them. Balancing Challenging Encounters Crafting Intriguing Plot Twists can add depth and excitement to any roleplaying game. Now, let’s explore the importance of Balancing Challenging Encounters in order to provide players with a fair yet thrilling experience. Imagine a group of adventurers exploring a treacherous dungeon filled with deadly traps and fearsome monsters. The Game Master must carefully orchestrate encounters that are challenging enough to keep the players engaged but not so overwhelming that they become frustrated or discouraged. One example of this is introducing an encounter where the party faces off against a powerful dragon guarding a valuable treasure. The challenge lies in finding ways for the characters to overcome the dragon without being completely overpowered by its strength. To achieve balance in encounters, consider the following: Power Scaling: Ensure that encounters match the capabilities of the player characters. Tailor challenges based on their levels, abilities, and resources. Variety: Incorporate different types of encounters such as combat, puzzles, social interactions, or skill tests. This keeps gameplay diverse and engages various character strengths. Dynamic Elements: Add dynamic elements during encounters to heighten tension and create exciting moments. For instance, environmental hazards or surprise reinforcements can make battles more unpredictable. Reward vs Risk: Balance risk and reward by offering appropriate incentives for overcoming difficult encounters. Players should feel motivated to take on challenges while understanding the potential consequences. Balancing Challenging Encounters Tips Power Scaling Reward vs Risk In summary, balancing challenging encounters is crucial for maintaining engagement and enjoyment in roleplaying games. By scaling difficulty appropriately, providing varied experiences, incorporating dynamic elements, and ensuring balanced rewards, Game Masters can create memorable adventures for their players. Transitioning into our next section about Fleshing out Unique Cultures… Fleshing out Unique Cultures Building on the concept of balancing challenging encounters, let us now explore another crucial aspect of being a game master – fleshing out unique cultures. By delving into the intricacies and peculiarities of different societies within your roleplaying game world, you can create rich environments that captivate both players’ imaginations and emotions. To illustrate this point, consider a hypothetical scenario in which adventurers find themselves at the outskirts of an isolated kingdom known as Veridia. The people of Veridia have developed a deeply hierarchical society governed by strict codes of conduct. With rigid social structures dictating every aspect of life, individuals are assigned roles based on their birthright or achievements. This example showcases how immersing players in culturally diverse settings adds layers of complexity to their interactions and decision-making processes. Here are four key considerations when fleshing out unique cultures: Cultural Values: Investigate what values form the foundation of each culture’s belief system. These values shape behaviors, customs, and traditions. Social Structures: Examine the hierarchies or power dynamics prevalent within each culture. Understanding who holds authority and how it is maintained will provide insight into societal norms. Language & Communication: Explore how language shapes communication patterns among members of a particular culture. Different dialects or idioms may exist, influencing verbal exchanges between characters. Cultural Artifacts: Delve into the material aspects of a culture such as clothing styles, architecture, art forms, or religious symbols. These artifacts contribute to visual storytelling while giving depth to cultural identity. As game masters endeavor to bring these aspects to life in their campaigns, considering them collectively helps establish immersive gameplay experiences where players become fully engrossed in navigating intricate cultural landscapes. Transition sentence to subsequent section (Adding Depth to NPCs): By understanding how different cultures shape character behavior and interaction dynamics, we can further enhance our games through adding depth to non-player characters (NPCs). Adding Depth to NPCs In the previous section, we explored how to flesh out unique cultures in roleplaying games. Now, let’s delve into another important aspect of game mastering – adding depth to non-player characters (NPCs). NPCs play a crucial role in creating an immersive environment for players and can greatly enhance their gaming experience. To illustrate this point, imagine a group of adventurers entering a bustling city filled with diverse NPCs. As they explore the streets, they encounter a mysterious hooded figure lurking in the shadows. The players are immediately intrigued and decide to approach the character, hoping to uncover its secrets. This encounter not only adds excitement to the gameplay but also provides opportunities for storytelling and character development. Here are some key techniques you can employ to add depth to your NPCs: Backstories: Give each NPC a unique backstory that explains their motivations, goals, and experiences. This will make them more relatable and memorable for the players. Physical Descriptions: Provide vivid descriptions of NPCs’ appearances, including distinctive features or clothing choices. Visual cues help players form mental images and engage with these characters on a deeper level. Quirks and Mannerisms: Infuse your NPCs with quirks or mannerisms that set them apart from one another. Whether it’s a nervous tick or an infectious laugh, these idiosyncrasies add realism and intrigue. Dynamic Relationships: Create relationships between NPCs that evolve over time or interact with player actions. Watching alliances form or friendships crumble can evoke strong emotions among players. Name Backstory Physical Description Adrian Orphan who seeks revenge against his father’s killer Tall stature; wears all-black attire Evelyn Former pirate seeking redemption Missing left arm; distinct scar across face Isabella Scholar with a secret interest in forbidden magic Wears spectacles; always carries a book Marcus Cunning thief who dreams of retiring wealthy Constantly fidgets with lockpicks; wears fingerless gloves By employing these techniques, you can create NPCs that feel like real individuals within your game world. This not only enhances the players’ immersion but also provides opportunities for engaging storytelling and character interactions. In our next section, we will explore how to build immersive environments that captivate players and bring your roleplaying game settings to life. So let’s dive into the art of crafting detailed landscapes and atmospheric settings without sacrificing gameplay mechanics. Building Immersive Environments Expanding on the concept of adding depth to non-player characters (NPCs), let us now delve into the crucial aspect of building immersive environments. Creating a rich and detailed setting for your roleplaying game not only enhances the players’ experience but also adds an extra layer of authenticity to their interactions with the world around them. Building Immersive Environments: To illustrate the importance of immersive environments, consider a hypothetical scenario where players find themselves in a bustling city teeming with life and activity. The streets are filled with merchants peddling their wares, children playing games, and street performers entertaining passersby. Cobblestone roads wind through narrow alleyways lined with ornate buildings adorned with colorful banners fluttering in the breeze. NPCs interact naturally, engaging in conversations that reveal snippets of local rumors or quests waiting to be undertaken. Creating such captivating virtual worlds relies on several key elements: Detailed Descriptions: Provide vivid descriptions that engage all five senses, allowing players to visualize and immerse themselves fully in their surroundings. Dynamic Events: Introduce random events or encounters that add unpredictability and realism to the environment while keeping players engaged and alert. Interactive Objects: Include objects within the environment that players can interact with, encouraging exploration and discovery. History and Lore: Develop a rich backstory for your world, including legends, myths, and historical events that contribute to its overall depth and believability. By incorporating these elements into your roleplaying game’s environment, you create an immersive experience that captivates players’ attention from start to finish. Transition sentence towards upcoming section: As important as it is to construct elaborate settings for your game, handling player choices and consequences plays an equally significant role in shaping their gaming experience. Handling Player Choices and Consequences Building immersive environments is just one aspect of creating an engaging roleplaying game experience. Equally important is effectively handling player choices and their consequences. By providing players with meaningful decisions and ensuring that those choices have tangible impact on the game world, Game Masters can enhance the depth and excitement of the gameplay. When it comes to handling player choices and consequences, a key consideration is maintaining consistency within the game world. Players should feel that their actions carry weight and have lasting effects, creating a sense of agency and investment in the story. For example, imagine a scenario where a player’s character decides to steal a valuable artifact from a powerful sorcerer’s tower. Depending on how this choice is handled by the Game Master, various consequences could unfold: The sorcerer becomes enraged and sends mercenaries after the party. The theft leads to increased security measures in other locations, making future heists more challenging. Word spreads among criminal networks about the successful theft, potentially attracting new allies or enemies. The stolen artifact turns out to be cursed, causing unforeseen complications for the characters. To effectively handle player choices and consequences, consider implementing these strategies: Create branching narratives: Develop multiple paths for players to take based on their decisions. This adds replayability and encourages exploration of different outcomes. Provide feedback: Clearly communicate the consequences of each choice to players so they understand the impact of their actions. This helps them make informed decisions moving forward. Balance risk and reward: Offer enticing rewards for taking risks while also incorporating potential setbacks or challenges as part of the consequences. Allow for course correction: Give players opportunities to revise or adjust their choices if they realize unintended negative consequences. Table: Examples of Player Choices and Consequences Choice Consequence Emotional Response Save a village from bandits Villagers are grateful and provide valuable aid Gratitude Ignore the bandit threat The village is attacked and innocent lives lost Guilt Help a rival faction Gain new allies but lose support from others Ambivalence Betray a trusted companion Loss of friendship and potential retaliation Regret By thoughtfully handling player choices and consequences, Game Masters can create an immersive experience that keeps players engaged and invested in their characters’ journey. In the following section, we will explore techniques for enhancing player engagement by leveraging storytelling elements and mechanics. With an understanding of how to handle player choices, let’s now delve into techniques for enhancing player engagement through effective storytelling and game mechanics. Enhancing Player Engagement Section H2: Enhancing Player Engagement Transitioning from the previous section, where we explored the intricacies of handling player choices and consequences in roleplaying games, it becomes evident that enhancing player engagement is a crucial aspect. By fostering an immersive experience that captivates players’ attention and emotions, game masters can create memorable gaming sessions. In this section, we will examine several strategies to enhance player engagement and promote a more enriching gameplay. To illustrate the importance of player engagement, let us consider a hypothetical case. Imagine a group of adventurers embarking on a quest to defeat an ancient dragon threatening their kingdom. The game master crafts vivid descriptions of treacherous landscapes, formidable foes, and heart-pounding encounters. As the players navigate through perilous dungeons and engage in intense battles, they become deeply invested in their characters’ fates, experiencing excitement, fear, and triumph alongside them. There are various techniques that game masters can employ to enhance player engagement: Provide meaningful choices: Allow players to make decisions that impact the narrative and result in different outcomes. This fosters a sense of agency and invests players emotionally in their characters’ journey. Create dynamic NPCs: Develop non-player characters (NPCs) with distinct personalities and motivations who interact meaningfully with the players. This adds depth to the world and encourages players to form connections within the game’s universe. Use sensory cues: Incorporate sensory details such as sounds, smells, or visual elements into your descriptions. Engaging multiple senses immerses players more fully into the fictional world. Encourage collaborative storytelling: Foster an environment where players actively contribute to shaping the narrative by encouraging them to describe their character’s actions or suggest plot developments. This promotes investment and ownership over the story being told. In addition to these strategies for enhancing player engagement, employing effective pacing throughout gameplay also plays a vital role in maintaining interest levels. Balancing moments of tension, excitement, exploration, and downtime helps create a dynamic experience that holds players’ attention. Furthermore, employing evocative storytelling techniques such as foreshadowing or introducing unexpected plot twists can keep players on the edge of their seats. By combining these techniques and tailoring them to suit your group’s dynamics and preferences, game masters can foster an immersive and engaging roleplaying experience for their players. Ultimately, it is through effective player engagement that memorable adventures are born, leaving a lasting impact on both the characters within the game world and those playing them. Related posts: Game Master Tips: Worldbuilding for Roleplaying Games Setting Up the World: Roleplaying Games Campaign Settings Skill Checks: Game Mechanics in Roleplaying Games Skills in Roleplaying Games: A Guide to Character Creation