RPGs

This is a broad category, but I'll admit right here and now that my major focus is the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game by TSR, a subsidiary of Wizards of the Coast. In time, I may touch on games like GURPS from Steve Jackson Games, Vampire and Changeling from White Wolf, and others.

I'm just going to say here and now:
Do NOT take ANYTHING from my site without my permission!
I just wanted to make that very clear.

AD&D:Greyhawk

This is my primary setting of choice for AD&D. I love a lot about the World of Greyhawk (and it's coming back into print this year!) I can't recommend much better of a setting. When it comes back this year, give WoG a try. The results from my AOL Postfest are here!
Some NPCs from my Greyhawk campaign.

AD&D:Al~Qadim

This more or less out of print setting is exotic, beautiful, and based off of the real Middle East, though in a more romantic time period than the present. It's got the Arabian Nights idea behind it. So brandish a scimitar, don't forget the sha-ir, and head off for the Land of Fate!

AD&D:Ravenloft

This is the horror setting for the quintessential fantasy RPG. It's quite deadly, and players seem to view being sent there as a punishment. Life isn't very pleasant in the land of the Mists. Still, most people want to be scared. Indulge yourself.

Editorial: Backgrounds

Characters in FRPGs are all too often simply disposable like a razor blade. What prevents a player from having his character foolishly risk his life? After all, the character is simply a puppet and the player is a puppeteer.

If this attitude is taken, the entire game will suffer. The player is free to have his character do stupid things that no sane person would. DMs may try to penalize this, but there are some players who just don't learn.

In fiction, a character is never a puppet who appeared out of nowhere. He has a background, probably including friends and family, plus interesting little tidbits. Those tidbits are essential pieces of information which help the author or roleplayer to have the character react appropriately. Friends and family should play a role in the story. It makes it more interesting.

Some people simply do not make backgrounds for their characters. Without a background, a character is no more than a puppet. DMs can decide to take drastic measures, not even permitting a character with no background to be included in the game. Others may give substantial experience point awards