July 2009

  • RPG Review: Old vs. New World of Darkness

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    The game development company White Wolf has created some of the most popular and, in every sense of the word, successful role playing games in history. Beginning with Vampire: The Masquerade in 1991, White Wolf has taken the business into a new standard for atmospheric storytelling and streamlined mechanics. In 2003, the company decided to reboot their World of Darkness brand in an attempt to clean up a complex but extremely messy field. So, how do the two versions of the WoD compare? Read more

  • Free Party Games, Part 4: To Tell the Truth

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    If you’re familiar with the TV show To Tell the Truth, you know it’s about a few people who all say they are the same person. One really is that person; the rest are lying. The panel on the show must deduce who is the real person among the liars, and it’s usually pretty funny.

    The party version is different, but still fun. I remember the first time I played it at a service camp I was attending while in junior high. It was shocking, funny, and a bonding experience all into one. I took that idea and often used it afterwards in leadership camps, parties, trips and other events, and it’s always proved to be at least interesting. Of course, you can spike the party version with a little bit of drinking if you like, but more on that later. Read more

  • RPG Review: Mutants and Masterminds

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    Pen and Paper Role Playing Games are great excuses to get together with friends for an evening and have some creative fun. At their best, they are dynamic and full of intriguing atmosphere. But not all RPG's are created equal. They all have their ups and downs, their strong points and their room for improvement. So, what actually makes a good RPG and is Green Ronin's Mutants and Masterminds one of them?

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  • Free Party Games Part 3: Theme Charades

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    You remember charades, right? When you drew something out of a hat and had to act it out, using no sounds but only gestures? The entire game depended on your own acting skills—and if you sucked, like Sarah Jessica Parker did in The Family Stone, everybody hated your guts.

    I remember charades being the most fun when they were themed. We always based ours on obscure things like historical people or band names, which can be hard to act out (exactly what do you do to get people to shout “Foghat!”?) Read more