It’s here! The physical book copy of, “So You Want To Be a Game Master” by Justin Alexander has finally landed on my doorstep today! I’m delighted because, while reading it in Kindle format has been great, the book is better read more flexibly as a reference. It’s much too fiddley to do that with an eBook.

I’ve been hugely impressed so far because it’s a great primer on how to actually run a tabletop RPG session and campaign. Even as an old grognard, I’m finding new insights and methodological suggestions to try at the table.

What I particularly enjoy is the way in which Justin separates the methods of scenario design, scenario running, and using game mechanisms. Instead of the usual conflation of rules and methodology, he uses reference to D&D to show how those mechanisms of the game rules are distinct from the methods of GMing.

Overall, I have the paperback to finish reading and bringing to my own tables at a time when I am also pushing out into new territory – new players, a new group, face-to-face as well as familiar faces and older groups online. It’s a strange inversion, but this time of moving back to the core of my hobby is greatly aided by this book.

Here’s hoping I can get Justin back on the podcast in 2024 to talk about the experience. Until then, I’ll be enjoying his sage advice.

Game on!