Show notes

This week, Fiona and guest co-host Liz sit down and chat about 'The Game Master’s Handbook of Proactive Roleplaying: Guidelines and strategies for running PC-driven narratives in 5E adventures' by Jonah and Tristan Fishel, writers and longtime RPG players. As part of the 'Game Master's Books' series published by Media Lab Books, this book suggests that by putting the players and their characters in the driver’s seat, every battle has tension, every faction has a function and every session is high-stakes (and an absolute blast), so GMs can sit back and simply put giant goal- (and soul-) crushing roadblocks in their way.

The Game Master's Handbook of Proactive Roleplaying bio:

'Is your roleplaying in a rut? Flip the table and try something new! Proactive roleplaying will re-energize your players – and your game.'

'This unique new RPG guidebook is designed to transform gameplay in ways that empower players to create their own motivations and goals, then proactively pursue them – in effect, guiding the narrative of their characters, rather than having the Game Master do it.'

'Traditional TTRPGs have for decades relied on reactive player responses in order to function. In other words, there is an evil wizard out to take over the world. The player characters are good, therefore it’s their duty to go stop the wizard.'

'Game play then follows a traditional storytelling narrative of protagonists working to return their world back to the status quo, or an improved position. Bad guy makes a move, good guys move to stop him. The problem with this style of gameplay is that players are always reacting to what’s put in front of them.'

Book discussed: 'The Game Master’s Handbook of Proactive Roleplaying: Guidelines and strategies for running PC-driven narratives in 5E adventures' by Jonah and Tristan Fishel, published by Media Lab Books, October 2023.

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Credits

The DM's Book Club is hosted, recorded, edited, and produced by Fiona Howat (@WAIR_Podcast) and Hamilton (@TheDragonDM). 

The DM’s Book Club Logo was designed by Sam Robins (@Bobhatstand).

The theme music is 'The Story Unfolds' by Jingle Punks.

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