Monte Cook's Blog, page 81

New Gamemaster Month: Encounters—The Meat of the Adventure

In New Gamemaster Month we’re helping players who feel the urge to run an RPG—to become a GM for the first time—take the plunge. Whether you’re new to gaming or a long-time player who’s never happened to take the GM’s seat, we’re making the process of running your first adventure an easy one. If you’re just joining us, scroll to the bottom of this post for an overview of what we’ve done so far. Then join us every Tuesday and Thursday throughout January, and by the end of the month, you’ll be...

Cypher Chronicles, vol. 3-2017

Iadace and welcome to Cypher Chronicles! MCG News The Poison Eater, by Shanna Germain, is the first official novel set in the world of Numenera, and is presented in a deluxe, limited hardcover edition that you’ll definitely want in your collection. Poison never lies. Talia was once one of the twelve martyrs of the forgotten compass, a prisoner of the unhuman creatures known only as the vordcha. She barely escaped that life with her body and soul intact. Now she has a new life as a poison eate...

New Gamemaster Month: Let’s Have a Look at the Adventure!

This is the fourth installment of New Gamemaster Month! In New Gamemaster Month we’re helping players who feel the urge to run an RPG—to become a GM for the first time—take the plunge. Whether you’re new to gaming or a long-time player who’s never happened to take the GM’s seat, we’re making the process of running your first adventure an easy one. If you’re just joining us, start with the first installment. Then join us every Tuesday and Thursday throughout January, and by the end of the mont...

Gen Con 2017 or Bust! (Or: Calling All GMs!)

We at Monte Cook Games are continuing to grow our presence atGen Conin 2017.In 2016, our official events includedover 100 games for of Numenera, The Strange, and the Cypher System. Our booth was 800square feetand we ran demos of Numenera, Cypher System, and No Thank You, Evil! all day. When event registration opened last year, our games sold out within hours. Gen Con informed us that theywere among the most chronically oversubscribed at the show, and asked us to offer even more. So in 2017, w...

The Poison Eater

A Novel of the Ninth World Poison never lies. Talia was once one of the twelve martyrs of the forgotten compass, a prisoner ofthe unhuman creatures known only as the vordcha. She barely escaped that life with her body and soul intact. Now she has a new life as a poison eater in the city of Enthait. Here she is hailed as one of the city’s protectors. No one knows her history. No one has asked about her past. She’s been here long enough that Enthait is her home now, these are her people. She lo...

New Gamemaster Month: It’s Week Two! Let’s Talk Setting and Rules

Welcome to the third installment of New Gamemaster Month! In New Gamemaster Month we’re helping players who feel the urge to run an RPG—to become a GM for the first time—take the plunge. Whether you’re new to gaming or a long-time player who’s never happened to take the GM’s seat, we’re making the process of running your first adventure an easy one. If you’re just joining us, start with the first installment. Then join us every Tuesday and Thursday throughout January, and by the end of the mo...

Invisible Sun Design Diary 3: Visual and Tactile Design

I am learning as much or more designing Invisible Sun as I have during any other design. It’s as though the game itself occasionally has to rise up and smack me alongside my head to remind me, “I’m not like other games.” Case in point. I had thought that the Cypher System’s design of keying character creation to a description sentence about the character was so good that I should use the same general idea here. But as I worked, and thought about the unique elements of the game, I realized tha...

Cypher Chronicles, vol. 2-2017

Iadace, and welcome to Cypher Chronicles! MCG News It’s January, and that means it is time to celebrate New Gamemaster Month!Whether you’re new to gaming or a long-time player who’s never happened to take the GM’s seat, we’re making the process of running your first adventure an easy one. Assault on Singularity Base is a unique adventure that pits not one, but six groups of PCs against the Imperial forces. Run it as a mega-event with as many as 36 players and seven GMs, or choose any of the i...

New Gamemaster Month: Initial Planning for Your Game Session

Welcome to the second installment of New Gamemaster Month! In New Gamemaster Month we’re helping players who feel the urge to run an RPG—to become a GM for the first time—take the plunge. Whether you’re new to gaming or a long-time player who’s never happened to take the GM’s seat, we’re making the process of running your first adventure an easy one. If you’re just joining us, start with the first installment. Then join us every Tuesday and Thursday throughout January, and by the end of the m...

Assault on Singularity Base

An amazing multi-group gaming experience The Empress Tahali V, leader of the Grand Imperium, controls the galaxy with her countless legions of Imperium troopers. Clad in glistening silver armor marked with hergriffon symbol, the Empress’s troopers patrol the streets of every Imperial city. But a ragtag band of rebels fights against the Imperium, their determination, bravery, and skill making up for their lack of numbers and supplies. The rebels have recently discoveredthat the Grand Imperium...