Comments on: The Literary GM: Expanding your resources for a better game http://www.campaignmastery.com/blog/the-literary-gm/ Expert tips and how-to's on every aspect of creating and running exceptional campaigns. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:03:01 +0000 hourly 1 By: Mike http://www.campaignmastery.com/blog/the-literary-gm/comment-page-1/#comment-6006 Mike Mon, 08 Nov 2010 06:47:29 +0000 http://www.campaignmastery.com/blog/?p=1107#comment-6006 Thanks, Bull. Hopefully you found sometihng more to add to your bookshelf! Thanks, Bull. Hopefully you found sometihng more to add to your bookshelf!

]]> By: The Bull http://www.campaignmastery.com/blog/the-literary-gm/comment-page-1/#comment-6005 The Bull Mon, 08 Nov 2010 06:35:23 +0000 http://www.campaignmastery.com/blog/?p=1107#comment-6005 Ooohhhh "Literary GM" it is.... never heard before but I love it and yes I know exactly about what you write, Mike. I lost the count of my books, comics, artbooks, professional books about nearly any topic you can come up with long ago - and this in three languages (German, French, English). But whenever I am writing and feel stuck to check on something "real", I have only to stretch out my hand to get the right book. No matter how good the net as a resource is, never trust any publication, no matter if printed or not, till you have been able to cross-check it at least thrice. We are lucky to live in the age of information - so lets put this information to our mutual joy to use. Which I love to do. Literary GM - I just adore this term! Thanks for having written this article, Mike - and good readings. Ooohhhh “Literary GM” it is…. never heard before but I love it and yes I know exactly about what you write, Mike. I lost the count of my books, comics, artbooks, professional books about nearly any topic you can come up with long ago – and this in three languages (German, French, English). But whenever I am writing and feel stuck to check on something “real”, I have only to stretch out my hand to get the right book.

No matter how good the net as a resource is, never trust any publication, no matter if printed or not, till you have been able to cross-check it at least thrice. We are lucky to live in the age of information – so lets put this information to our mutual joy to use. Which I love to do.

Literary GM – I just adore this term!

Thanks for having written this article, Mike – and good readings.

]]> By: Ben http://www.campaignmastery.com/blog/the-literary-gm/comment-page-1/#comment-1492 Ben Sat, 09 Jan 2010 14:04:07 +0000 http://www.campaignmastery.com/blog/?p=1107#comment-1492 I enjoyed the article, am a book lover for years, spent a lot of effort to find books on many subjects for my book shelves. I do buy games and supplements that i will never run/ use directly. Many times I read/ see something on TV in a "nature/ science" program and use that idea in a game or as a spring board for an idea, I do often as i type up ideas on my computer note what inspired me just in case I choose to publish later, instead of doing the creations just for my own amusement. I admit that I have found some things in both books and on the internet to be either slanted or wrong. I enjoyed the article, am a book lover for years, spent a lot of effort to find books on many subjects for my book shelves. I do buy games and supplements that i will never run/ use directly. Many times I read/ see something on TV in a “nature/ science” program and use that idea in a game or as a spring board for an idea, I do often as i type up ideas on my computer note what inspired me just in case I choose to publish later, instead of doing the creations just for my own amusement. I admit that I have found some things in both books and on the internet to be either slanted or wrong.

]]> By: gryphon http://www.campaignmastery.com/blog/the-literary-gm/comment-page-1/#comment-1212 gryphon Sun, 25 Oct 2009 09:36:27 +0000 http://www.campaignmastery.com/blog/?p=1107#comment-1212 Fascinating, and my guys think I am anal. I don't have any of that on my desk. Most of it is behind me in the shelves though. I think we have a different approach. I have relatively low tech world in frp and it is less a concern about a bridge. There wouldn't be one, except in peaceful lands. The sci-fi stuff is easier, I know my physics, pseudo science be damned. I assembled references on my pc. Encyclopedia, useful ref tables etc. Mind u nothing kills an argument faster than getting out a book and showing someone they are wrong Fascinating, and my guys think I am anal. I don’t have any of that on my desk.
Most of it is behind me in the shelves though. I think we have a different approach.
I have relatively low tech world in frp and it is less a concern about a bridge. There wouldn’t be one, except in peaceful lands.
The sci-fi stuff is easier, I know my physics, pseudo science be damned.
I assembled references on my pc. Encyclopedia, useful ref tables etc.
Mind u nothing kills an argument faster than getting out a book and showing someone they are wrong

]]> By: Mike http://www.campaignmastery.com/blog/the-literary-gm/comment-page-1/#comment-1151 Mike Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:21:44 +0000 http://www.campaignmastery.com/blog/?p=1107#comment-1151 @ Ray: thank you very much (blush). Unfortunately, the conditions that I usually referee in would not be very conducive to a video recording (or even just an audio recording), even if I had the requisite technology. Most of my games occur at a gaming club against a background of 50-100 CCG players operating at high volume. It gets better as the day wears on and the tournaments wrap up, players go home, etc, but it's pretty noisy. Sometimes we have to wait an hour or two to get a table! @ Ray: thank you very much (blush). Unfortunately, the conditions that I usually referee in would not be very conducive to a video recording (or even just an audio recording), even if I had the requisite technology. Most of my games occur at a gaming club against a background of 50-100 CCG players operating at high volume. It gets better as the day wears on and the tournaments wrap up, players go home, etc, but it’s pretty noisy. Sometimes we have to wait an hour or two to get a table!

]]> By: Mike http://www.campaignmastery.com/blog/the-literary-gm/comment-page-1/#comment-1150 Mike Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:16:08 +0000 http://www.campaignmastery.com/blog/?p=1107#comment-1150 @Kaeosdad - I agree, absolutely, about garage and rummage sales. Charitable stores sometimes have book sections as well, and even if they aren't up to date, they can at least be a starting point, and you know that your money is going to a good cause. I've also bought an awful lot from second-hand stores through the years. I should probably have included a section in the article about what makes a good resource. There are three different styles of book that I find useful in different ways: * books that explain a subject in an easy-to-read manner * books that compile information in a very concise fashion * books that have a lot of explanation of processes. The first educate you, the second make it easy to find specific details of something that you've self-educated on, and the third summarises how to use those specific details. In the latter category, for example, are a lot of high school summary books for subjects like maths and science. "The elements of style" sounds interesting! @Kaeosdad – I agree, absolutely, about garage and rummage sales. Charitable stores sometimes have book sections as well, and even if they aren’t up to date, they can at least be a starting point, and you know that your money is going to a good cause. I’ve also bought an awful lot from second-hand stores through the years.

I should probably have included a section in the article about what makes a good resource. There are three different styles of book that I find useful in different ways:
* books that explain a subject in an easy-to-read manner
* books that compile information in a very concise fashion
* books that have a lot of explanation of processes.
The first educate you, the second make it easy to find specific details of something that you’ve self-educated on, and the third summarises how to use those specific details. In the latter category, for example, are a lot of high school summary books for subjects like maths and science.

“The elements of style” sounds interesting!

]]> By: Mike http://www.campaignmastery.com/blog/the-literary-gm/comment-page-1/#comment-1149 Mike Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:07:54 +0000 http://www.campaignmastery.com/blog/?p=1107#comment-1149 @kaeosdad - well said. All you can do is keep making the most of what opportunities come your way, and make sure that you are always on the lookout for another one. And always try to enjoy whatever it is that you are doing, even if you have to do it just to get by! I've had my share of "joe jobs" through the years, but there was always something - whether it was the co-workers, or the work itself, or finding ways to improve what you're doing - that made it enjoyable (or at least tolerable!). @kaeosdad – well said. All you can do is keep making the most of what opportunities come your way, and make sure that you are always on the lookout for another one. And always try to enjoy whatever it is that you are doing, even if you have to do it just to get by! I’ve had my share of “joe jobs” through the years, but there was always something – whether it was the co-workers, or the work itself, or finding ways to improve what you’re doing – that made it enjoyable (or at least tolerable!).

]]> By: Ray Wenderlich http://www.campaignmastery.com/blog/the-literary-gm/comment-page-1/#comment-1148 Ray Wenderlich Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:36:12 +0000 http://www.campaignmastery.com/blog/?p=1107#comment-1148 Mike, you are an inspiration to all of us DM's out there - that is a brilliant idea, and I can see that you've been working for years on this! I wish I could play a game with you some time to see you in action :] Maybe you could video a session sometime so the rest of us could learn more from you! :] Mike, you are an inspiration to all of us DM’s out there – that is a brilliant idea, and I can see that you’ve been working for years on this! I wish I could play a game with you some time to see you in action :] Maybe you could video a session sometime so the rest of us could learn more from you! :]

]]> By: kaeosdad http://www.campaignmastery.com/blog/the-literary-gm/comment-page-1/#comment-1147 kaeosdad Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:21:31 +0000 http://www.campaignmastery.com/blog/?p=1107#comment-1147 Anyways, to be more on topic about expanding your literary resources, one thing I've always found as a great resource is rummage and garage sales. Often I find stuff that is more upto date than the local libraries! The most useful books I've found were the more concise books. Too much densely packed information get's unread if you don't have the dedicated time to read it. Some books I find helpful: The Elements of Style Weapons: an international encyclopedia Concise atlas of the world and Inspirational media(comics haha) If I need to get indepth or look up a definition I just use the internet. It's faster and takes up less space. Basically what norman said. .-= kaeosdad´s last blog ..<a href="http://symptomsofmadness.blogspot.com/2009/09/interested-in-some-dark-space-high.html">Interested in some Dark Space High Fantasy Play By Post Gaming?</a> =-. Anyways, to be more on topic about expanding your literary resources, one thing I’ve always found as a great resource is rummage and garage sales. Often I find stuff that is more upto date than the local libraries!

The most useful books I’ve found were the more concise books. Too much densely packed information get’s unread if you don’t have the dedicated time to read it.

Some books I find helpful:

The Elements of Style
Weapons: an international encyclopedia
Concise atlas of the world
and Inspirational media(comics haha)

If I need to get indepth or look up a definition I just use the internet. It’s faster and takes up less space. Basically what norman said.
.-= kaeosdad´s last blog ..Interested in some Dark Space High Fantasy Play By Post Gaming? =-.

]]> By: kaeosdad http://www.campaignmastery.com/blog/the-literary-gm/comment-page-1/#comment-1146 kaeosdad Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:08:20 +0000 http://www.campaignmastery.com/blog/?p=1107#comment-1146 Few and far between is better than none. For some reason the few farmer families I knew are all successful here, hell having that much land to use for agricultural that right there is a good sign. Over here you're lucky to own land, even if it only fits a tiny studio sized apartment on it. Libraries are still outdated, my grade school teachers beat god into me, my high school teachers acted like babysitters and all through high school at least half my text books had either my parent's names on the inside of the front cover or my classmates parent's names. I'm just saying locally I had a poor education system growing up. Lack of resources for college(councilors didn't know crap and often gave bad advice), high cost of living and low job opportunities beyond joe jobs and dancing like a monkey for visitors means out of high school most end up working minumum two jobs(1 full time, 1 part time) just to get by. All I can say is thank the damning god for the internet. The education system is starting to see improvement(but with furloughs cutting into the school year it's not looking too good). Without the internet we wouldn't have the resources to send my wife to college(seriously, no one gives a crap over here and always with the bad advice) and without a lot of help from family on both sides we wouldn't have a roof over our head so that she could go to school(did I mention high cost of living, with crap job opportunities?). .-= kaeosdad´s last blog ..<a href="http://symptomsofmadness.blogspot.com/2009/09/interested-in-some-dark-space-high.html">Interested in some Dark Space High Fantasy Play By Post Gaming?</a> =-. Few and far between is better than none. For some reason the few farmer families I knew are all successful here, hell having that much land to use for agricultural that right there is a good sign. Over here you’re lucky to own land, even if it only fits a tiny studio sized apartment on it.

Libraries are still outdated, my grade school teachers beat god into me, my high school teachers acted like babysitters and all through high school at least half my text books had either my parent’s names on the inside of the front cover or my classmates parent’s names. I’m just saying locally I had a poor education system growing up.

Lack of resources for college(councilors didn’t know crap and often gave bad advice), high cost of living and low job opportunities beyond joe jobs and dancing like a monkey for visitors means out of high school most end up working minumum two jobs(1 full time, 1 part time) just to get by.

All I can say is thank the damning god for the internet. The education system is starting to see improvement(but with furloughs cutting into the school year it’s not looking too good). Without the internet we wouldn’t have the resources to send my wife to college(seriously, no one gives a crap over here and always with the bad advice) and without a lot of help from family on both sides we wouldn’t have a roof over our head so that she could go to school(did I mention high cost of living, with crap job opportunities?).
.-= kaeosdad´s last blog ..Interested in some Dark Space High Fantasy Play By Post Gaming? =-.

]]>