Long-form analysis on tabletop RPGs, video games, sports, politics, and culture
Getting Started with Burning Wheel Burning Wheel. It could be argued it is the ultimate ttrpg. I previously wrote an article that featured BW, and it took the top spot for what I was analyzing. It’s got a lot going for it. It takes dedication and a sincere willingness of everyone at the table to … Read more
How to Get Started Playing or Running GURPS GURPS hit the ttrpg scene back in 1986, and Steve Jackson had an entirely new approach. He designed a Generic Universal Role Playing System, which is what the acronym stands for. He wanted a system that could be used in any setting: fantasy, scifi, western, superhero, horror, … Read more
The idea for this post came when I was researching TTRPGs and ran across what was originally called the Threefold Model, later refined into GNS theory. In a nutshell, the influential and somewhat controversial GNS theory suggests that RPG play tends to emphasize some combination of three priorities: Gamism, Narrativism, and Simulation. I’ll give a … Read more
Understanding the Difference: D&D Feats vs Pathfinder Feats (2025 Guide) I was gaming last night and a friend and I briefly discussed the difference in feats between D&D and Pathfinder. He said that feats in D&D 5.5 had much more of an impact on a character than in Pathfinder, even though PF had more of … Read more
The Greatest Tabletop RPGs Ever Most of my recent posts have been about roleplaying, and some recent events have got me really thinking about the greatest, or best tabletop RPGs of all time. “Greatest” meaning a combination of historical influence, innovation, sales, and critical and user acclaim. Sales are somewhat important, but this is not … Read more