It’s January 2023, and d20 Radio welcomes all new Game Masters! New Gamemaster Month happens every January. The month-long event is positioned to encourage those gamers that received a new RPG during the holidays and have decided to take the reigns and lead the adventures. At the same time, it’s also for those gamers that are looking for a new challenge, that want to tell a story and see how the players react. In short, New Gamemaster Month is an opportunity for the next class of GMs to sit down in the main chair.
This initiative started in 2016 and has grown from its humble roots to encompass a variety of game publishers. In 2021, I talked to the principles behind New GM Month at EN World, which included Monte Cook Games, Atlas Games, Pelgrane Press, Chaosium Inc., Arc Dream Publishing, and Evil Hat Productions. These are important publishers behind Call of Cthulhu, Old Gods of Appalachia (one of the most anticipated RPGs of 2023), Fate, 13th Age, and many, many more great games that define great roleplaying. With this month-long campaign, these companies offer advice on how to GM in-person and online as well as deeply discounted resources to help aspiring GMs join the fun.
Every Tuesday and Thursday throughout January, there’s a new post at the New Gamemaster Month website offering GMing advice from the experts. Check out the opening post (with links to the suggested games) from Charles Ryan, COO of Monte Cook Games. The suggested games are interesting offering from the companies, each chosen for its ease of GMing. None of the suggested New Gamemaster Month games are bad, quite the opposite, they’re great. But more importantly, they were selected because these games are the right ones for new GMs. So let’s look at their suggestions.
Monte Cook Games’ NUMENERA
Kickstarted in 2012 and released a decade ago in 2013, Numenera is the foundation of Monte Cook Games. This RPG bypasses science fiction and fantasy to offer a world so far in the future that we can’t grasp all of the history required for it to reach its current state. Built on an innovative system, this is an easy RPG to create characters for as you fill out a single sentence to learn so much about the character, “I am a ________ ________ who _______s.” Each word carries in-game weight. Combined with a system optimized for smooth running, this is a good RPG to start GMing with. By the by, a good RPG to start GMing with is a common theme among these systems.
As an added bonus, with this link you get a $10 discount on Numenera Discovery and more at Monte Cook Games’ website.
Atlas Games’ UNKNOWN ARMIES
With Unknown Armies, you’re getting a modern-day occult RPG that describes itself as “broken people conspiring to fix the world.” Using a percentile system, which is always appropriate to horror RPGs, this game offers urban fantasy with an original take on its magic. Instead of the world being a list of spells, your powers bend existence towards your obsessions. Your interests and hobbies feed your magic. D100 systems are intuitive and an RPG set in our world is easy to describe, for a new GM this is a combination worth exploring.
Pelgrane Press’ TRAIL OF CTHULHU
This RPG uses the GUMSHOE system, a detective based engine that allows you to play as investigators. You’re on the Trail of Cthulhu in the 1930s as the world makes its final moves before WWII. You’re not just worried with Cthulhu’s minions, you’re worried with a world that is falling apart through mass propaganda, massive war production, and mass murder. As investigators, this RPG system lets you excel at finding clues and putting together the big picture. As a new GM, if your passion is detective stories and solving crimes as well as the horror of H.P. Lovecraft’s Great Old Ones, this is the RPG for you.
Chaosium Inc.’s RUNEQUEST
“RuneQuest is Chaosium Inc.’s fantasy roleplaying game set in Greg Stafford’s Glorantha.” This is THE beloved D100 fantasy RPG. Like several of the games listed here, this RPG takes advantage of the intuitive nature of percentile rolls. If everything is ranked at 1% to 100%, you can figure out where you fall pretty easily. But this RPG’s secret ingredient is the setting, Glorantha. This world has a rich history predating RPGs and finding its way into many tabletop games. Offering different takes on magic and worldbuilding, the setting has inspired many GMs. If you want a fantasy RPG with lots of support including an amazing starter boxed set, RuneQuest is worth trying out your new GM skills on.
From Chaosium’s website:
“You’ll need a copy of the RuneQuest Starter Set or RuneQuest core rules. These titles are available in print and PDF, and available from Chaosium.com, DriveThruRPG, and wherever you buy roleplaying games.
If you purchase from Chaosium.com, you will get 10% off your total order by using coupon code at checkout: NewGamemasterMonth2023
The code is valid through to 1 February 2022, and can be used once per customer.”
Arc Dream Publishing’s DELTA GREEN
Delta Green is better than what I’m about to call it, but I need a touchstone. The X-Files meets Call of Cthulhu equals Delta Green. The RPG is so much more than that description, but those two properties are enough to hint at what this could be with you running it. Set in the world of today, you’re part of the secret agency that deals with the supernatural and extraterrestrial forces pulsing through our universe. As with other games listed here, this uses the D100 system (there’s also a GUMSHOE version). If dealing with what’s out there sounds fun to run, this might be your first RPG to GM.
This link includes a link to get the 48-page PWYW PDF version of Delta Green: Need to Know.
Evil Hat Productions’ MONSTER OF THE WEEK
Monster of the Week is a piece of brilliance. Based on the storytelling tropes of TV shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Stranger Things, Supernatural, or The X-Files, each session is a new monster that you have to deal with. The different adventures can be one big story like Stranger Things or as unrelated as the Kolchak: The Night Stalker series from a half century ago. You’re the GM, you decide, pick a monster, terrorize the world with it, and let the characters fight and stop it. Combined with the Powered by the Apocalypse system, it’s easy to imagine and easier to run. If the idea of learning how to GM a different monster each session appeals to you, then check out Monster of the Week.
If you’re interested in running Monster of the Week on Roll20, there’s a number of options covered here.
CONCLUSION
If you’re interested in becoming a Game Master, New Gamemaster Month is waiting for you. GMing isn’t hard among friends and once you realize the stage freight was only in your head. The posts from these RPG creators give you advice for organizing face-to-face or online gaming sessions including additional guidance for using Roll20 here. Taken together, you will be ready for any gaming venue. If you’re eager to take the plunge, try out their direction. If you’re interested in trying out the GM’s dice, check out their website, their Facebook, or their Twitter for guidance from the best gamers to grace the table.
Egg Embry participates in the OneBookShelf Affiliate Program, Noble Knight Games’ Affiliate Program, and is an Amazon Associate. These programs provide advertising fees by linking to DriveThruRPG, Noble Knight Games, and Amazon.
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- New Gamemaster Month 2023 - January 20, 2023
