Gamemastering

Degenesis is not a paint-by-numbers setting, and it’s not a basic game. It asks a lot of a GM. But in my experience, the effort pays off.

Downloads

• Ally or Adversary – From veteran GM Temperantia, here are eight NPCs to use as you please.
• Ashwalker (Free at DriveThruRPG) – Andreas Holzner’s 20-page fan supplement details the Reaper's Blow from southern Borca into Purgare. I wish I’d had this when the PCs in my campaign took the Hard Path. Also provided in German.
• Atlas (PDF) – This early fan project pulls together multiple creations. It can be used to get inspiration or to fill your campaign with interesting mechanics, characters, and locations.
• Backgrounds (PDF) – If you‘re looking for an expanded approach to character backgrounds, look no further.
• Marko Djurdjevic Degenesis Q&A (PDF) – On December 5th 2018, Marko answered a bunch of questions about Degenesis. His answers are compiled here.
• Printable Tarot Cards (ZIP) – As any Degenesis fan knows, the tarot shows up often in the game and can be quite important. Created by the inimitable Tokala, these make a fantastic prop.

T2B Posts

• Character Creation: Session 0 – Get your campaign off on the right foot by creating characters together as a team.
• Character Creation: Part 1 – Gunsmile lays out how building a Degenesis character differs from making one for D&D.
• Codex (PDF) – This early fan work is a compilation of advice for new Degenesis gamemasters.
• Diagramming the Metaplot with Miro – A giant virtual whiteboard is one way to get a grip on the Degenesis metaplot.
• Gearing Up to Run Degenesis – Once you are in the right head space for running Degenesis, the next step is to get ready to run your first session.
• GM Notes: In-Session Information Flow – As a Degenesis GM, I remind myself to constantly be providing context to players.
• Good and Evil in Degenesis – This post is important to me because it attempts to articulate one of the core reasons why Degenesis provokes such devotion from fans, even if will never have a huge following.
• Planting NPCs Early – Cultivate your NPCs now and they will bear fruit later.
• Playing the Jehammed Trilogy – After running In Thy Blood and The Killing Game, I have some thoughts on running the Big Three adventures.
• Preparing Degenesis for Your Table – From personal experience, a few notes on how to think about Degenesis as a GM before you jump into the action.
• Railroads & GM Prep – The published Degenesis adventures are written as railroads for a reason.
• Relationship Status: It’s Complicated – Characters and their relationships to each other are seldom simple in Degenesis.
• Tips for Running the Jehammed Trilogy – After running In Thy Blood and The Killing Game, I have some thoughts on running the Big Three adventures.

Be sure to look in Dispatches for links to podcasts and videos, many of which provide valuable gamemastering tips.