RPG clichés that make players roll their eyes (and how to avoid them)
Why we talk about RPG clichés Tabletop RPGs are full of recurring images, phrases, and situations that become genuine clichés over time. Some remain enjoyable, but others end up making players roll their eyes every time they appear at the table. Understanding which clichés are most hated and why they frustrate players is the first step to avoiding them or […]
How to Make Your Dark Fantasy RPG Truly Dark
Many game masters talk about “dark fantasy” thinking only of gore, skulls, and gloomy atmospheres. In reality, a truly effective dark fantasy RPG works deeply on the lives of characters, their choices, and how the world reacts to what they do. It’s not just an aesthetic question, but rather a matter of game structure and the type of stories you […]
What is Roleplaying: two playing styles compared
What is roleplaying really in a tabletop RPG? When people talk about roleplaying in a tabletop RPG, many immediately think of strange voices, theatrical acting, and TV-series monologues. Actually, the simplest and most effective definition is much more concrete: roleplaying means making decisions as your character, not as yourself. In a good tabletop RPG, participants assume the role of a […]
How to Improvise in a TTRPG (even if it makes you anxious)
How to improvise in a ttrpg (even if it makes you anxious) Improvising in a role-playing game is a challenge for many game masters. It is not an innate superpower, but rather a skill that can be developed through targeted preparation and a few simple tools. One of the main issues is that improvisation is often portrayed as something magical: […]
Aesthetics and readability in Borg RPGs: when layout truly matters
What matters more in a tabletop RPG in the “Borg” style? A spectacular layout or immediate readability? In recent years, the discussion around Mörk Borg has centered on this very issue, highlighting how thin the boundary between artbook and game manual really is. In this context, a game like Borg of Pripyat shows that you can choose a strong aesthetic […]
Long vs fast combat in RPGs: technical analysis and game design impact
One of the most heated debates in the tabletop RPG landscape concerns combat duration. While systems like D&D 5E and Pathfinder favor tactically complex encounters that can last 60-90 minutes, other modern systems such as Borg of Pripyat, Mörk Borg, and Cy-Borg prioritize streamlined 15-20 minute combats. But what does this choice really entail at the game design level? How […]
Armor Class, Hit Points and other strange words of RPGs: between real history and tabletop legends
When naval wargames shaped role-playing games Many of the concepts we now consider fundamental to role-playing games were not born around a fantasy table, but have their roots in military wargames, especially the naval and strategic ones of the twentieth century. This is not a nostalgic suggestion or a community legend, but a documented fact supported by original rulebooks, authors’ […]
![Complete guide to Borg of Pripyat – Everything you need to know [For Beginners]](https://www.collettivoantracite.it/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/collettivo-antracite-dawn-of-pripyat-gioco-di-ruolo-post-apocalittico-ucronia-miglior-kickstarter-italiano-1-750x500.webp "Complete guide to Borg of Pripyat – Everything you need to know [For Beginners]")
Complete guide to Borg of Pripyat – Everything you need to know [For Beginners]
But what is Borg of Pripyat? Borg of Pripyat is a post-apocalyptic role-playing game set in an alternate Soviet Union where: 1986: fragments of the asteroid Eridu crash down to Earth Consequence: a new alien material is discovered, called Eridite The twist: the USSR uses it as nuclear fuel, becoming a superpower The price: mutants, paranormal phenomena, and strange weather […]
What is a role-playing game really?
What is a role-playing game really? A role-playing game (RPG) is a structured system for making decisions in someone else’s shoes within a shared imaginary world. It is not “acting”. It is not “pretending”. It is not “rolling dice randomly”. It is rule-guided narrative simulation. The three fundamental pillars A role-playing game exists only if all three of these elements […]
What Does Cinematic RPG Mean in Tabletop Gaming?
In recent years, the term cinematic RPG has become a key concept in the world of tabletop role playing games. The debate among players and designers is heated: what really makes a tabletop RPG cinematic? The answer stems from exploring mechanics, narrative pacing, and table management style. The characteristics of a cinematic RPG A “cinematic” RPG organizes action into scenes […]