Here we go – a concise setting history. This one won’t be near as long as some of the others as those have had time to “mature” while this new campaign is just that. New. I’ll likely add more to this as the campaign progresses. The History of the Middle Kingdom The world of The Middle Kingdom […]
Continue readingCategory Archives: Carpe Blogiem
Carpe Blogiem: The Middle Kingdom Primer – Setting Assumptions
As I have discussed before the first thing I do when I start to build a campaign setting is decide what the setting assumptions are. That is, what is true, what is false (if needed), and what is thought to be true. This is an intensely important part of campaign building and I can take weeks just […]
Continue readingCarpe Blogiem: The Middle Kingdom Primer – Introduction
I previously did a primer series on my Chronicles of Ceteri and Aeon campaign setting (both of which are currently unfinished – I will finish this one damn it) and it was so well received I decided to make it a “thing” on my blog. So, here’s the intro for my newly minted wuxia wainscot […]
Continue readingCarpe Blogiem: Ruminations on a Wuxia Campaign V
Like[TBA] my previous posts this one is kind of an “outloud thinking” post. I’ve discussed doing research on Chinese history and folklore, the general thrust of the campaign, how I was approaching character creation, and what cinematic/optional rules I would be putting into play. This post is going to talk about all of that and […]
Continue readingCarpe Blogiem: Ruminations on a Wuxia Campaign IV
Like my previous posts this one is kind of an “outloud thinking” post. I’ve discussed doing research on Chinese history and folklore, the general thrust of the campaign, and how I was approaching character creation. This post is going to talk about the general optional rules I’d be using for the campaign. First, I decided […]
Continue readingCarpe Blogiem: Ruminations on a Wuxia Campaign III
Like my previous posts this one is kind of an “outloud thinking” post. I’ve discussed doing research on Chinese history and folklore as well as the general thrust of the campaign, this post is going to talk about the more mechanical aspects of the campaign. First, I decided I would not be using the chi-based […]
Continue readingCarpe Blogiem: Ruminations on a Wuxia Campaign II
Like my previous post this one is kind of an “outloud thinking” as I work through my notes, sources, and mind to tie together a campaign. I think the first thing I need to get right is the atmosphere. Wuxia is not just martial arts, flying fist, and furious action. It’s a mindset. The protagonists need […]
Continue readingCarpe Blogiem: Ruminations on a Wuxia Campaign
Ahhh, that new campaign smell. I know, I know, you’re thinking “Dude, this is like the third one in as many months. What gives?” Well, what gives is pretty simple: If a campaign doesn’t spark for me I don’t force it. That way lies burnout for gaming period. My players mostly understand that. The DF […]
Continue readingCarpe Blogiem: Author, Patreon, and Blog Highlights – September 2019
Authorial Highlights Calypso-4 aka “Five Four Perilous Journeys” is done. We made our deadline and wrapped up the adventure path that’s led from the first to the fifth. Overall, I’m proud of this one. It turned out really great and let J. Edward Tremlett and myself get in more time as coauthors. That’s a bond that takes […]
Continue readingCarpe Blogiem: How I Do Game Prep
Game prep is the thing all GMs fear to some degree or another. Whether it’s fear of not having enough time for prep or having no ideas for prep, that fear doesn’t go away as your GMing skills increase it just lessens. There are probably hundreds or even thousands of ways to game prep – […]
Continue reading