Saturday, October 31, 2015

On Being A Game Master: The Cypher System and the Art of Improvisation

Every time I run one of Monte Cook Games using the Cypher System (Numenera, The Strange, Cypher System Rule Book) the whole experience just gets better and better.  

I'm an "off the cuff GM", I have loose plot lines and arcs at best, but my only goal is to shine the spotlight firmly on the players.  

The Cypher System, especially with the key point that the players roll all the dice, really allows me to focus my improvisational style and pump it into the game at 110%.  Its astonishing how much more focused I can be when I don't have to roll the dice for my NPCs.  Its AMAZING.

And while it took me a bit to grasp the brilliance of Intrusions, I find myself waiting for an appropriate moment to hand them out.  

But more than anything, its watching veteran and new players alike grasp the system and approach the game with a vigor and enthusiasm that makes me smile.

The game doesn't just inspire me, it helps me...provides me with the right to tools to help inspire them, as well.

Its AWESOME!

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Monster Monday: Obstrevoi for Shadowdark

  You can download a PDF here.