…and it’s a doozy! In this episode, we discuss Robin’s Laws of Good Game Mastering by Robin D. Laws. We are both proponents of the advice in this book, and we hope you like our review of the book itself as well as our deeper discussion on the ramifications of its advice. Be sure to like us on Facebook, and email us with your thoughts, opinions, and editorial statements. And for the latest news, please follow us on twitter!
FAVORITE GAMES OF THE WEEK:
Wraith: The Oblivion
Iron Kingdoms
d20
CURRENTLY PLAYING
SHOUTOUTS
Ali is awesome!
Joe does the notes, so here’s the Wikipedia entry on Multiple Intelligences.
If you have not read it, please buy and read Robin’s Laws of Good Game Mastering. It’s worth it!
JEFF, what’s up!?
This movie is phenomenal: The Gamers (Movie)
MUSIC SECTION
“Roll the Dice, Make my Day” by the Mustard Men
“Happy Gabber” (madonkey)
“Neopolitan Dreams (Nilow Rmx)” (BF Recordings)
GAMES MENTIONED
7th Sea
Deadlands Classic
Scion
Demon: The Fallen
OD&D
Dogs in the Vineyard
Castles & Crusades
Shard
Hunter: The Vigil
Lamentations of the Flame Princess
Spycraft
Ravenloft
Deadlands d20
Aquelarre
2 GMs, 1 Mic 
Problem is with the game I’m running is it’s difficult to make a recap that enthusiastic. Most of the time its just who’s sleeping with who.
I really need to play Courtesans.
Would you like a review copy?
It was Raymond Chandler who said, “When in doubt, have a man come through a door with a gun in his hand.”
Thank you Wes…I’ve gotten a ton of emails about it. I will never forget!
In regards to gming being a talent versus a skill: obviously it helps to have both but i find talent to be more important. i think joe is right in this being a craft and when it comes to craft, well, learning the skill to paint might not take that long, but possessing and developing the talent to paint is what makes you successful. i think i have a decent amount of skill at gming, but i am frequently reminded that i’m just flat-out not a very good storyteller. the substance is there, but the flavor can be a little bland at times.
You can improve storytelling with time and practice.
For pulpy gaming, Lester Dent’s Pulp Paper Master Fiction Plot is worth considering too – there’s a copy at http://www.paper-dragon.com/1939/dent.html .
I’m very fond of Robin’s Laws, but I feel I’ve learned nearly as much by saying “no, I don’t do things that way, but I can justify it thus-and-so” as by following his advice. That’s probably true of any book of advice; GMs are all different, after all, even if many of the same tricks will work for most of them.
Roger, I agree with you on that “advice book” bit. I know that not all advice is universal, but I think Robin’s Laws come really close to it…or at least a lot closer than others I’ve seen.
A guy playing an elf character regardless of which game he is in? He’s really gonna have a hard time in my group because elves are anathema with us. They simply don’t exist, regardless of what game I run.