You could be a game master by this time next month with this program

Many people see a new year as a chance for self-improvement. They want to improve their health, give up bad habits or learn a new skill. Sometimes that means overcoming fear, doubt, and other negative emotions.

Being a tabletop RPG, Game Master can be challenging. It can be an overwhelming experience if not handled with the right mix of planning and flexibility. But it can also be a very rewarding experience unlike anything else on the planet.

Several board game companies have come together to promote New Gamemaster Month as a way for gamers to try something new at the start of the year. The homepage offers twice-weekly blog entries full of training tips and advice. There is also information focused on the games that those companies publish.

Experiencing multiple role-playing games is a win-win for players. If that was fun, there’s a new game to play with friends. If it wasn’t enjoyable, maybe there are still some elements that can be returned to games that everyone likes.

Running outdoor games Dungeons & Dragons can help one’s skills as a Dungeon Master or Game Master. It’s a bit like cross-training for a sport, strengthening your skills by doing things you might not do otherwise. Here are the games available during the New Gamemaster Month program.

Numenera

This was the game that Monte Cook Games created at the beginning of the Kickstarter era. It offers a lot of gameplay similar to Dungeons & Dragons in that players are expected to go to strange places, explore them and bring home loot. The twist is that the game is set in the far, far future and what the characters see as magic the players understand as advanced technology.

Unknown armies

This unique modern magic game from Atlas Games plays like a rough reboot of other games about magic. Players immerse themselves in the obsessive subculture of wizards and try to hold their lives together while gaining power and influence. The humans are the only monsters here, but that somehow makes the horror all the more poignant when it’s cut short.

Trail of Cthulhu

Pelgrane Press built its own GUMSHOE system for this Cthulhu Mythos investigation game. It puts data-finding in the hands of the players rather than the fickleness of rolling the dice. A new edition is expected to be released soon thanks to a successful crowdfund at the end of last year.

RuneQuest

This fantasy game from Chaosium uses a classic ruleset and focuses on heroes in a world where gods are real. Instead of the medieval setting of many RPGs, this one is inspired by the ancient world of Greece, Rome, Egypt and more. It is known for its deep setting that makes inspiring adventures easy.

Delta Green

Delta Green from Arc Dream Publishing remains my favorite Cthulhu Mythos game. It casts players as agents who secretly use government resources to fight monsters. But it also leaves room for players to play out devastating scenes at home, showing how all the secrecy makes her life orderly.

Monster of the week

Evil Hat Productions offers Monster of the week that mirrors the great modern monster hunting TV shows of yesterday and today. The book is also a resource for any supernatural role playing with great tips on how to design monsters and scenarios. Recent expansions include team playbooks that give players even more resources to use in their endless battle.

Wild worlds

This fast-paced ruleset started out as a way to play tabletop miniatures, but has evolved into a versatile RPG. It powers many of Pinnacle Entertainment’s classic games, such as Strange Wars, Necessary Evil and the classic Wierd Western Dead countries. There are also several genre companions that help Game Masters build their worlds.

Tales Of The Valiant

This latest offering from Kobold Press offers their take on a certain rule as Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition. Can be mixed and matched D&D or played on its own. This is a great choice for would-be game masters who like D&D but want to dip heir toe into something a little different.