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The RPG Handbook

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Suggested Price $3.99

The RPG Handbook is a system-free guide to playing tabletop roleplaying games (RPGs). The RPG Handbook looks at:

  1. Inviting new players to try out tabletop RPGs.
  2. Getting kids involved in trying out imaginative games.
  3. Emphasizing deeper character development.
  4. Making it easy to run and vary solo and team RPG gameplay.
  5. Turning players into GMs - and GMs into games designers.
  6. Offering GMs the means to rapidly create custom campaigns.
  7. Building more player choice into adventures and campaigns.

* - Please note the hardback comes with the black cover and gold lettering shown on the website.

Contents

Introduction p8

Part 1: Roleplaying Games

What are Tabletop Roleplaying Games? p10

Playing Tabletop RPGs p10

The Basics p10

Dice p11

Adventurers aka Player Characters aka PCs p11

Styles of Play p12

Options and Opportunities for Kids p13

Roleplaying Game Fun: Kids p15

Roleplaying Game Fun: Older Kids p18

Roleplaying Game Fun: Young Adults p21

RPGs for Kids and Big Kids p25

Part 2: Getting Started

Roleplaying Games p31

Roleplaying Game Genres p33

Roleplaying Game Props p34

Finding a Game p38

Actual Plays p40

Seven Times the Color of Fire p40

Frankincense p45

Organizing a Game p52

Setting Up a Game p53

Supporting New Players p55

Settling Outcomes p56

Part 3: Colorful Characters

Fleshing Out a Player Character p58

Prior Experience p58

Skills p63

Playing To Win? p69

Pets and Animal Companions p70

Part 4: Running Play

Ready-To-Run Adventures p74

Gamesmaster (GM) Skills p75

Mapping and Cartography p81

Prompts and Interrupts p83

Hack and Slay or Remix and Play p86

Mixed Messages p88

Making Monsters p89

Killer Traps p91

What Kind of Player or GM am I? p94

Player/ GM Profiles p94

Part 5: Campaign Planning

Signature Events p100

Player Choice, Campaign Challenges and Campaign Planning p103

Campaign Challenges and Adventure Playparks p104

Campaign Challenges and Adventure Holidays: Part 1 p108

Campaign Challenges and Adventure Holidays: Part 2 p111

Exploring Campaign Challenges p114

Part 6: Adventure Builder

Designing Adventures p122

Missions p122

Plots p123

Locations p126

Rooms, Caverns, Furnishings and Accessories p129

Tricks and Traps p138

Non-Player Characters aka Monsters and Aliens p143

Traits p143

Preferred Actions p148

Solo and Team Play p149

Creatures p152

Dangerous Creatures p152

Very Dangerous Creatures p153

Extremely Dangerous Creatures p154

Lethal Creatures p156

Tricks p157

Out and About p159

Part 7: World Builder

Landscapes p166

Gazetteers p168

The Eaglesridge Gazetteer p168

The Build p171

Exotic and Alien Worlds p171

Using Signature Events p173

Climate and Terrain p177

Characters and Creatures p180

Worship p181

Era/ Technologies p182

Territories p182

Boundaries p183

Governance p183

States and Nations p185

History p185

Currencies p186

Festivals p187

Weather and Sky Events p188

Transport and Communications p190

Weaponry p190

Commerce and Major Industries p192

Entertainments p193

Landmarks, Buildings and Premises p194

Conditions of Structures p202

Alien, Exotic or Enchanted Structures p204

Events p204

Glossary p207

Acknowledgements p213

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Reviews (4)
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Reviews
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April 1st, 2018
This is an absolute waste of money and I'm frustrated at myself for ordering the physical copy when I should have just gotten the PDF. The book is rambling and ridiculous--Over half of the book is restating something already said earlier in the text or [...]
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March 11th, 2013
Good read and tons of tables and lists. Packed with helpful info. [...]
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December 20th, 2012
Didn't think it could happen, but the best guide to rolegaming, published more than a quarter century ago, has been surpassed. Now -the RPG Handbook- reigns supreme, with not only more up-to-date examples and reviews, but at a hefty 213 pages (counting [...]
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December 4th, 2012
Absolute goldmine for any GM! The adventure builder saves hours making dungeons and sparks ideas all the time. Thanks! [...]
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 Recent History















Product Information
Electrum seller
Author(s)
Pages
322
ISBN
978-1-908798-08-4
Publisher Stock #
T5555
File Size:
94.08 MB
Format
Original electronic Click for more information
Scanned image
These products were created by scanning an original printed edition. Most older books are in scanned image format because original digital layout files never existed or were no longer available from the publisher.

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For printed books, we have performed high-resolution scans of an original hardcopy of the book. We essentially digitally re-master the book. Unfortunately, the resulting quality of these books is not as high. It's the problem of making a copy of a copy. The text is fine for reading, but illustration work starts to run dark, pixellating and/or losing shades of grey. Moiré patterns may develop in photos. We mark clearly which print titles come from scanned image books so that you can make an informed purchase decision about the quality of what you will receive.
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Original electronic format
These ebooks were created from the original electronic layout files, and therefore are fully text searchable. Also, their file size tends to be smaller than scanned image books. Most newer books are in the original electronic format. Both download and print editions of such books should be high quality.
File Last Updated:
October 18, 2023
This title was added to our catalog on November 27, 2012.