A thing I’ve been doing for the last few SWM games I’ve run.

A thing I’ve been doing for the last few SWM games I’ve run.

Problem - SWM and RPGs in general are very open. Without a grounding in a setting it can be very difficult for all players (GM included) to have a shared vision of an encounter, scene, or heck even a predefined setting.

I’ve played and run SWM games where player perceptions never really line up. I’ve seen this in more traditional RPGs too. One thing I’ve been trying that seems to help is:

1) before play begins every player including GM states a single word or short phase that epitomizes Sword & Sorcery for them.

2) everyone then provides a brief explanation of “why”, including any details of what they hope to bring into the game from their term or phrase

This process seems to then have an effect on the phases as we move forward - even if it were subconscious or unintentional.

Example list for a recent game:

Hyborea
Scheming Guilds
Forming Bonds w/ Strangers
Magical Travel
Unexpected Transformations

And another:

Hyborea (ok guess which one is mine)
Low Magic
Finding Home
Camaraderie

Wow.

Wow. We started with epic Rogues (including a psychopomp of the gods) and opened in the realm of the dead, and went...well. You'll see just how far we went. Ready for some of the trippiest Swords you've ever seen?
https://youtu.be/OS-cx7n-zuI

A successful Sunday hosting 2 games of Swords Without Master At Big Bad Con - sharing the game with 7 new players...

A successful Sunday hosting 2 games of Swords Without Master At Big Bad Con - sharing the game with 7 new players who were all enthralled. Good times.

Rogues Without G+

Rogues Without G+

The auguries have been read, and this world is destine for an apocalypse. Where then should rogues such as yourselves find the adventure you crave?

Discord Without Master is a great place to find a game to play in: https://discord.gg/7RWbHM5
It's also got its own alchemical laboratory.

I'm on Facebook, but only rarely, and I'm not super comfortable with its interface. I'm also on Twitter (@Epidiah): https://twitter.com/Epidiah There's no centralize community over there, but that's nothing a few hashtags can't solve. #SwordsWithtoutMaster #SundayAMSwords and #Eidolon are a good place to start.

There's also a bit of a indie gaming community over on dice.camp. I'm over there as well.

If anyone has other suggests of where to find like-minded rogues, please leave them in the comments below.

Another game is kicking off this morning! Come on in to the Discord and we'll show you the ropes. #SundayAMSwords

Another game is kicking off this morning! Come on in to the Discord and we'll show you the ropes. #SundayAMSwords

Originally shared by Josh McGraw

Rogues and Overplayers! Come join us on Discord Without Master this weekend for Sunday AM Swords! We'll be organizing at 0900 GMT-4, with additional opportunity available at 0900 GMT-7. No prior experience or prepared Rogue is necessary; newcomers welcome!

This event is Epidiah Ravachol endorsed! :D
https://discord.gg/u9BxdyY

Starting in 10 minutes!

Starting in 10 minutes!

Originally shared by Josh McGraw

Rogues and Overplayers! Come join us on Discord Without Master this weekend for Sunday AM Swords! We'll be organizing at 0900 GMT-4, with additional opportunity available at 0900 GMT-7. No prior experience or prepared Rogue is necessary; newcomers welcome!

This event is Epidiah Ravachol endorsed! :D
https://discord.gg/u9BxdyY

This one has been marinating for quite a long time on the Discord server but is now finally complete.

This one has been marinating for quite a long time on the Discord server but is now finally complete. #crowdsourcedrogues

All That Deserves a Name
Fundac: My stockpile of ancient contraptions. Hidden but not inconspicuous
The Catornet: An urn holding the ashes and spirits of my ancestors
Lapistani: the merchant caravan clan to whom I have broken my vows of fealty

Feats Heroic
Glum: A pinch of ash upon my tongue and I become one with the spirits
Jovial: I dig excitedly through my contraptions, I have the perfect thing for this!

Rogues and Overplayers!

Rogues and Overplayers! Come join us on Discord Without Master this weekend for Sunday AM Swords! We'll be organizing at 0900 GMT-4, with additional opportunity available at 0900 GMT-7. No prior experience or prepared Rogue is necessary; newcomers welcome!

This event is Epidiah Ravachol endorsed! :D
https://discord.gg/u9BxdyY