How to design an RPG the Gazebo Way

As only we can present it. We’ve learned from the very best.

Consistency is not important. No two skills should work the same way. Some should be a d20 roll, others percentile. While the most important skills should modify other skills. The same system should be applied to attributes as well. Be sure that “figured” attributes require a scientific calendar.

Charts are your friend. Every page should have a chart and there should be a chart for everything. Most importantly the game should be designed so that the charts are actually needed to play the game. This is also a great marketing tool. Now you can sell the GM Screen Version 1, the Combat GM Screen, the GM Screen Version 2, the Magic GM Screen and random chart generation screen.

The longer it takes to make a character, the quicker it should die. This will keep the players busy for the entire session generating new characters. Truly great games can kill a character before generation begins.

So you want to make a game but someone else has a really cool setting. Just change the names a little bit. All the gamers will know and the true copyright “holders” will never be the wiser.

Proofreading is unnecessary. All game rules are a work in progress. This causes local gaming groups to come up with house rules to be used in the second edition. Additionally, it is a well known fact that no one uses an index. Since there is no need to proof read, there is also no need to put the rules in what some folks would call a “logical order”. This ensures that everyone reads the entire book and all the rules.

More complex rules raise the entertainment value of the game. This will lead to hours of loud discussions around the table. Remember RPG’s are meant to be simulations and not entertainment. Complex rules also prove again that proofreading is for anal retentive wimps.

The book needs to be artsy. Gamers are easily distracted by pretty pictures. It works even better if said pictures feature scantily clad elf maidens. If you can’t afford a good artist then using an illegible font works almost as well.

Now go out there and amaze the fans.