Tag Archives: robin d laws
After much preparation, a great leviathan lurches its head from the dark waters of podcasting. Ken and Robin Talk About Stuff, the new podcast featuring Pelgrane Press stalwarts Kenneth Hite and Robin D. Laws, is now live. Bookmark its popping site, as festooned by the finest cartoon stylings of John Kovalic, whose Dork Tower is […]
by Robin D Laws The GUMSHOE rules break with roleplaying tradition in several notable ways. Most obviously, its information gathering skills, here called investigative abilities, default toward automatic success, with a point-spend mechanism to allow for extraordinary successes and additional benefits. Also, its general abilities—those governing activities where failure is as likely to lead […]
By Robin D. Laws This is the second of two installments covering additional combat options for Ashen Stars. See part one for explanation and disclaimers. While the rules themselves are from the Esoterror Fact Book, the enhancements and gear are new and have not been playtested. Because, seriously, who playtests columns? Critical Hits Fact Book […]
By Robin D Laws Though most players find GUMSHOE simple and straightforward, we’ve heard from a few folks who’ve had trouble assimilating it. Usually this happens when they see that it’s a little different from the roleplaying rules they’re used to, and then assume that it’s even more different than it really is. Here are […]
A column on roleplaying by Robin D. Laws GUMSHOE bases itself on the observation that failing to get information is never as interesting as getting it. It gives the characters the clues they seek, provided they have the right skill and look in the right place, with no die roll required. Since its advent, […]
A column on roleplaying by Robin D. Laws As you probably know, Pelgrane Press is not named after the general species of pelgrane, but a particular pelgrane, which dwells in a bronze steeple atop Spectrum House, the company’s Clapham headquarters. And if you recall that, you are surely also aware that a pelgrane, as […]
A column on roleplaying by Robin D. Laws As mentioned last time, implementation of DramaSystem’s core goal—fostering emotional character interactions that play out as they do in drama and fiction—leads, as a series of follow-on effects, to a highly distinctive play experience. Procedural narratives, in which the heroes pursue a practical goal (identifying a killer, […]
This year at GenCon, Pelgrane Press will be hosting a seminar on Investigative Gaming and the GUMSHOE system (SEM1118992). A panel discussion with Kenneth Hite, Robin D Laws and Simon Rogers on the GUMSHOE gaming system, specifically unravelling the mysteries around investigative gaming, tackling the issues of railroading and demystifying the clue-driven RPG. Start Date […]
The voting for the ENnie awards is open. Pelgrane Press have been nominated for Best Cartography for Bookhounds and Best Writing for Dance in the Blood. We ask that you consider voting for us. Other Pelgranistas have been nominated; Graham Walmsley for A Taste for Murder, Robin D Laws for Hamlet’s Hit Points and Kenneth […]