As the ven grow older, they begin showing signs of Solace, the Great Sleep. As your character ages, she too will begin showing these signs. These are reflected on your character sheet as “Solace Aspects.” Solace Aspects can only be tagged and compelled, they cannot be invoked. Tagged and compelled, but not invoked. That’s right,…

I know you’re tired of hearing me talk about Houses of the Blooded, so here’s someone else talking about it. (And saying nice things, too!)

I had a lot of trouble writing this. Five drafts. There are many lies in the world, and so few hold any truth. This lie is true For it is true there was a time when our world was newly born and the Sun was red and rain was black and the Moon shone with…

Robin Laws, a great and talented game designer himself, once asked me this. “Most game designers can’t sum up their game in thirty seconds. What’s your game about?” Okay, Robin. Here it is. Houses of the Blooded is a game about tragedy. In it, you play a noble—one of “the blooded”—from a great and powerful…

The Sons of Kryos and Co. (the Hub Barons) are at it again. I wish I could be there. Check it out.

I asked him, “When do you know it is done?” “When they take it from me,” he said. “Better is the enemy of done.” — I could write this book forever. And every time I think those words, I’m reminded of That Guy at the game design seminar who begins his question with, “I’ve been…

I’m including Play Dirty sidebars in the GM chapter. I’m also following Machiavelli’s advice: I’m not using any abstract, theoretical or hypothetical examples. All my examples are real experiences. Here’s a taste of what I mean.___Munchkin to Storyteller in 60 Seconds It’s easy to categorize players as “munchkins,” “actors,” or “rules lawyers,” but that misses…

PreludeI’ve been struggling with this for a long time. In all the games I run, there’s usually a reward mechanic. Void Points, Drama Dice, Trouble. And now, with Houses, we have style points. The GM rewarding the players for throwing themselves into the game, for helping other players’ enjoyment, for being Good People. Throw them a…

The Sons of Kryos are playtesting Houses of the Blooded, and by all accounts, they are having a blast.

Despite what I said on the Sons of Kryos podcast, it looks like the Houses release will be at the Origins show. I still plan on doing something special this month and I will be at the GAMA Trade Show with something special there as well. This gives me more time to fine tune the…