Skull RPG: Game Masters Tell Your Story

Hey Storytellers,
  
 Running a heist on a building / bank / casino / laboratory can be fun, but how do you run a heist on a train, airplane, caravan, or other moving target?

Check out our courses for Game Masters: https://skullrpgbooks.vipmembervault.com/

Check out our new book - 19 RPG Adventures for Game Masters to Run in any TTRPG: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NQ38H2K 
 
Figure out what they are trying to hit and where they need to create the choke point to intercept whatever they are trying to take.

That could be money, a person, medical supplies, literally anything that needs to be moved for whatever reason.

We talk about creating a shell game for 3 – 5 identical caravans and how the players could track one of them.

Then of course there are obstacles to be dealt with. Guards, bullet proof cars, armed tanks, etc. guarding the target or prized item(s).

We also cover how to handle rolls and successes during a time crunch because of the moving target.

Check out this episode it is chocked full of tips and hacks for these type of games.

Hey Storytellers,
  
For those wanting to get into Cyberpunk or Shadowrun RPG here are some tips and tricks. 

Check out our courses for Game Masters: https://skullrpgbooks.vipmembervault.com/

Check out our new book - 19 RPG Adventures for Game Masters to Run in any TTRPG: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NQ38H2K 
 
Corporate espionage can mean stealing something, planting false evidence, stealing something and planting false evidence, kidnapping or eliminating a person that is of great help to your rival and the list can go on.

Creating your own corporations (2 – 4) and local gangs (2 – 4) with their connections and anti-connections to each other isn’t as hard as you think it is. 

This episode will cover both of these topics.

Visit skullrpg.com/resources for a free dossier background I have used in Canva to create the leadership of my major factions.

Hey Storytellers,
  
 In honor of Cyberpunk 2077 coming out (been playing it on the PC) we wanted to run a series on types of games you can run in that world. These would also be applicable to Shadowrun as well.

Check out our courses for Game Masters: https://skullrpgbooks.vipmembervault.com/

Check out our new book - 19 RPG Adventures for Game Masters to Run in any TTRPG: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NQ38H2K 
 
The heist genre is a particular favorite of mine. Whether it is watching Oceans 11 or 13, or the Italian Job, or some of the Mandalorian episodes I just love the concept of executing a plan to break into somewhere and steal something of value from the “bad guys.”

But how do you actually plan a heist as a game master? How do you set up the traps, guards, glitches, and such? Where do you start?

We will cover a very practical way of doing this in this episode. I also have an entire chapter in our RPG Adventure Ideas book on the amazon link above.

Hey Storytellers,
 
 Well many of us have had to figure out how to play games remotely because of the Pandemic. Though that isn't the only reason to play games remotely it certainly spurred it on.

Check out our courses for Game Masters: https://skullrpgbooks.vipmembervault.com/

Check out our new book - 19 RPG Adventures for Game Masters to Run in any TTRPG: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NQ38H2K 

There are now many board games one can play via Steam (specifically) if everyone buys the game. Asomodee has put many of its titles into that marketplace.

https://boardgamearena.com is another place that you can play with friends (or strangers) for some popular board games if you look for the rules on YouTube (best way) and then figure out how to do those same actions on the screen. Many of the games are free and you can quickly invite others to play with you. Then we use Discord for audio.

As far as doing a Role-Playing game via Discord I would recommend many of the games we just spent the last week covering here.

Good ones don't need a board and as long as you can trust the rolls of your players this is a great way to go.

For a quick list you could try GURPS, Shadowrun, any World of Darkness game like Vampire: The Masquerade, or Nights Black Agents.

Hey Storytellers,
 
 If you want a quick game you can play over and over again tonight for free look no further. Play everyone (or everybody) is John. The rules can be found on our resource page https://skullrpg.com/resources 

Check out our courses for Game Masters: https://skullrpgbooks.vipmembervault.com/

Check out our new book - 19 RPG Adventures for Game Masters to Run in any TTRPG: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NQ38H2K
 
Pros: 
Free!

You need strips of paper, pen or pencil and 10 of something (like pennies) for every player

This game is hilarious, or dark, or darkly hilarious (which is how we play it). 

Great way to work on your improv skills

Cons:
 Bring your Improv skills to the table GM!

Hey Storytellers,

Do you need a game for just one night because a critical person is out this week? Well here is a quick one-off that you can play in about 3 hours (maybe less).

Check out our courses for Game Masters: https://skullrpgbooks.vipmembervault.com/

Check out our new book - 19 RPG Adventures for Game Masters to Run in any TTRPG: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NQ38H2K
 
Pros:
One book
Easy to run
Easy to learn
No character sheets to draw up
Great atmosphere built-in

Cons:
Need 10 votive candles (though I think there is an app as well)
Tragic Horror may not be everyone's thing (everybody dies Jim!)
Some improv is needed, but on the flip side a LOT less than in other RPG's 

Hey Storytellers,
 
 Sticking with the theme of Vampires, but now you are fighting them instead. Welcome to the world of Nights Black Agents. This is Jason Bourne meets Bram Stoker, but the Game Master gets to make up their own custom vampires using one of three huge templates. I have to say I really enjoy this game.

Check out our courses for Game Masters: https://skullrpgbooks.vipmembervault.com/

Check out our new book - 19 RPG Adventures for Game Masters to Run in any TTRPG: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NQ38H2K
 
Pros: 
One core book and a really impressive supplement called the Dracula Dossier

Custom vampires (I made one that combined the Silence from Dr Who with traditional vampire tropes)

Easy to use system for skill rolls (huge upgrade to how many of us do skills – I stole this system for other games and modified it to work)

 Cons:
 No monster manual – feels like a theme for all non D&D games

If you don’t like being a burned spy (three different rules for this as well) you won’t like this

If you want to be vampires look to Vampire: The Masquerade.

Hey Storytellers,
 
 The World of Darkness is the world of White Wolf Publishing. Vampire: The Masquerade is set in this world. We cover what to do if you like the World of Darkness but don’t want to play an evil bloodsucker. That said, you could be a human mage, ghost, fae (fairy), demon or werewolf. Each of these groups has a specific book with subtypes of different types of mages, demons, etc.

Check out our courses for Game Masters: https://skullrpgbooks.vipmembervault.com/

Check out our new book - 19 RPG Adventures for Game Masters to Run in any TTRPG: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NQ38H2K
 
Pros: 

•  One core book for each type of character you want to play
• Allows you to play non-vampires and not evil characters
• Focuses on telling the story vs rule lawyering
• You could try to mix and match characters in the game (Vampire, Werewolf, Mage) if you wanted, and ok with players of very different power.

 Cons:

• No monster manual so Storyteller will need to roll up that – though there is one book that can be used “Gods and Monsters” but not available in newest version
• Not a lot of premade adventures for things outside of the Vampire: The Masquerade

Hey Storytellers,
 
 Vampire: The Masquerade – for those players of Dungeons and Dragons that want to play evil characters but the dungeon master frowns on it. We are talking 13+ clans using every trope of vampires in descent literature – no sparkly vamps ladies (sorry).

Check out our courses for Game Masters: https://skullrpgbooks.vipmembervault.com/

Check out our new book - 19 RPG Adventures for Game Masters to Run in any TTRPG: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NQ38H2K
 
Pros: 

•  One core book but has many others to delve deep into clans or cities
• Play as vampires
• Less rules more storyteller
• Definitely for those that want to Role Play

 Cons:

• No monster manual so Storyteller will need to roll up that – though there is one book that can be used “Gods and Monsters” but not available in newest version
• You are playing evil characters in a pretty messed up world – that can be off-putting to some

Hey Storytellers,

 Today we cover the wonderful game of GURPS - Generic Universal Role Playing System. By Universal they literally mean it. You can do Cyberpunk (like the new game Cyberpunk 2077 - which I am not having any issues with BTW). Or Superheroes, or psionic, or high fantasy or sci-fi. This is literally one system to rule them all.

Check out our courses for Game Masters: https://skullrpgbooks.vipmembervault.com/

Check out our new book - 19 RPG Adventures for Game Masters to Run in any TTRPG: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NQ38H2K

Pros: 
Play literally any genre with the base game and more if you get just the specific books as a supplement
D6's, D6's everywhere - no fancy dice to buy
Can easily play remotely
PDF's found readily
No mats / minis needed

Cons:
No monster manual so GM will need to role up that - though I think there are supplemental books that can help