Storyguiding Advice
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Ars Magica Advice
Ars-Magica-specific storyguiding advice can be found in:
- Running Ars Magica – advice for new story guides, part one by Chris Jensen Romer
- Aestes Tenens extensive storyguiding advice for new storyguides, by Tejun Gallud [pseudoname]. While the site is in Spanish, auto-tranlate makes it perfectly accessible, and its bredth is second to none.
In addition, on this wiki you may want to see the pages
- Which Tribunal to choose
- Learning to Play, especially the Assorted Advice: New to Ars Magica section.
General GM Advice
Finally, general advice for tabletop RPGs is applicable to Ars Magica just like it is to any other TTRPG. Notable resources include
- Robin’s Laws of Good Game Mastering, by Robin D. Laws. This classic GM advice book focuses on player types, motivation, and tailoring play to your group.
- Hamlet's Hit Points, by Robin D. Laws. Helps with pacing, tension, and emotional beats. But see also the 7-point plot structure (a long structure is more suitable to RPG sessions, which tend to be long).
- Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master, by Michael E. Shea (Sly Flourish). Advice on reducing prep time and embracing open-ended play, including advice on secrets and clues. See also the free Lazy GM's Resource Document.
- The Lazy Dungeon Master (free), by Michael E. Shea (Sly Flourish). Older advice on reducing prep time. While some is D&D-specific, most of it is general and applicable to Ars Magica.
- Play Unsafe, by Graham Walmley. Brings in improvisation techniques.
Some free resources also include
- The Alexandarian. A blog, famous for node-based scenario design, three clue rule, don’t prep plots.
- The Angry DM. In-your-face style, but has advice on GMing, including pacing and running a table.
- Gnome Stew. General GMing advice.
- Sly Flourish – The Lazy Dungeon Master's you tube channel, including his podcasts. See also his website.
- See also GNS Theory, including GNS and Other Matters of Role-Playing Theory, Chapter 2 by Ron Edwards.
- The Dungeonworld Gamemastering advice is highly respected, including the use of an agenda, principles, moves, and fronts.
