Role-playing games are good for more than a pastime. Valuable life skills such as social intelligence are gained from role-playing. From anticipating the appropriate thing to say all the way to appreciating differences in values, the experience we gain from this hobby translates to our lives.

Where did that villain idea come from? Why do players keep pretending to be the same heroes? If you've ever wondered where these constructs come from then you're in the right place. Or, if you're having trouble making a character, here's the list of sources we all draw from.

There's more to being a Dungeon Master than being a rules encyclopedia. Drama, suspense, intrigue – the show must go on! Here's some tips on how to remember what to do when the rules detract from the story itself. Remember: the rules serve the story and not the other way around.

What's with those numbers on the character sheet? Is this a role-playing game or a math quiz?! There's a good reason numbers, dice and RPGs go so well together: probability. Games involving dice simulate facets of the world we live in, including randomness. Here's an analysis of how that works.

Adventure plot and sandbox games might seem contradictory. These two things can actually be reconciled, if you're mindful about it. Generalization, improvisation and more are important when giving your sandbox RPG flavorful plot. Here are some short-and-sweet tips for how to pull that off.

In a tavern every shady character has a dagger close to their breast. They don't hold a flavorful candle to the barkeep who is skilled with cards and dice, holding the keys for the player's fortunes. Here's how to enchant your game with dice and decks, as well as a card game made for RPGs!

You're a dungeon master. The next session is very soon but you're too busy to prepare it. Maybe this is you or maybe you just prep a lot of tabletop role-playing games. Here's a small list of things to keep in mind that will save you time and effort while enhancing your game.

Our own personality is the easiest to role-play. A great advantage of role-playing games is that we may explore other aspects of humanity instead of only those we portray all the time. One method to do that is by playing characters opposed to ourselves. Here's an easy way to make them.

Why do we role-play? Is fun the only reason? If you've ever been asked or wondered then this article is for you. A great deal of personal growth comes from role-playing. Here's four benefits which are not as easy to come by through any other medium.

Surely every DM has felt game-haltingly bored at some time or other. When this happens it is like a big warning sign to your group saying "this is a chore." How do you manage it? Will it always be like this? Here's some advice on how to bring fun back to your games.