How to OCR Part II: Teh Gaem Mastah!

    With all the talk about how the game master is a player too and the hullaballoo about collaborative storytelling, one would be forgiven for thinking that tabletop roleplay was more of a team sport and then hockey, basketball, and live action military exercises combined. It isn't, but the GM has their own part to play. how does this relate to the spirit of old school roleplay? Let's find out.

How to GMI like a Friggin' Boss

    Now depending on how much time you've spent in the New School, one might've been taught that the Old School was this prison-rules-style war between this tyrannical dungeon master and poor, victimized players. But in reality, the gamemaster— because Dungeon Master™ is trademarked… no, seriously— was treated more as a referee then the master storyteller that we expect nowadays. Now while the myth of RP being thrown under the bus in the bad old days is just that(wangrods aside), GMs did put a bit more emphasis on the G thanks partly to their wargame DNA.  With that and mind, here are some tips GMs can use to spice up their Cypher games:

  1. Weaponize Dem GMIs.  GM intrusions provide a chance to challenge your players with a mini-puzzle and getting them to think on their feet.  Of course, there's a difference between a surprise puzzle and a screwjob.  After all,…

  2. Don't Let the Dice Fall Where They May.  Since Cypher System is the RPG equivalent of a Eurogame— meaning that it's more about resource management then chance— you want your players scanning for assets, weaponizing skills, burning cyphers, and spending effort (though not always all at the same time).  Monte himself explains this in greater detail. 
  3. You Bring the Problem, the Players Bring the Solution.  Old school encounters at their best are solvable without necessarily having a built-in solution and allow players to dig into their toolbox without letting them/forcing them to cast-low-risk-ability-to-win.

And despite life's recent attempts on my life, now you know how to OCR!  Look out for more OCR content and a decyphered character in the near future.

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