10 sessions in, here's how it's going I jest of course. We're having a ball with the campaign. It's great when players and GM are getting equal amounts of joy from a game, and that's very much where we are right now. Although I've read a lot more Symbaroum material than the players, I still … Continue reading How It’s Going

Is a lack of development in certain elements of a setting a weakness or strength in the design of a RPG world? In various online discussions, I've noticed a degree of frustration with Symbaroum, insomuch as there are definitely aspects of the world that receive passing mention, and to date have not been developed further. … Continue reading Leaving Room For Imagination

If one measurement of a successful RPG is the quality of its fan-produced content, then Symbaroum is certainly scoring highly. Symbaroum's adoring fans, probably. A search for Symbaroum at DriveThru yields the obvious selection of core books and supplements by Free League. Alongside these tremendous products are a plethora of fan-produced adventures and supplements, all … Continue reading Symbaroum Fan Material

Dear readers, I give you our Symbaroum player characters.... I make no apologies for this cheapest of shots. In the players' defence, they always pour heart and soul into creating and playing their characters, irrespective of the game, and Symbaroum is no exception. A brief reflection before we meet the PCs. I don't believe that … Continue reading Meet The PCs

Not a self-help post, nor ramblings about self-development, mercifully. Rather, this post reflects on a couple of early lessons learned as a GM running a Symbaroum campaign for the first time. Driver may turn or stop without warning. At the outset of the campaign I made the naive mistake of thinking that using only content … Continue reading Lessons in Life

Last time I finished by saying that I'd focus on how I plan to weave the campaign materials published by Free League with the drives, desires and aims of the players. My Mum didn't raise a liar, so please read on. I won't tortuously stretch my weaving analogy to discuss the warp and weft of … Continue reading Weaving

Or rather, always more! More Symbaroum is, that is. Free League's RPG of somewhat dark fantasy* is our current regular campaign game, sessions taking place every Tuesday, more or less. Who lives in a house like this? *Symbaroum gives me vibes of Joe Abercrombie and Steven Eriksson, to clarify my reference points for dark fantasy. … Continue reading Nevermore!

So, did you all enjoy my meticulously curated ramble through the Dracula Dossier? Yeah, about that........ We played 21 sessions before the campaign was staked and decapitated. There were several reasons for me not delivering on my original promise to run the whole thing, come what may. The main reason is that I'm full of … Continue reading The Dracula Dossier: What Went Wrong?

I was present at Keele University from 1991 to 1994. Whilst I was officially there as a student, I did no studying at all, hence I was present but in a strictly non-academic capacity. I did learn a lot during those years, but none of my knowledge so gained led to an undergraduate degree. Like … Continue reading Keele University – Man, Myths & Monsters. | ludchurch