Some of this information was provided at a games training workshop provided at the State Library of NSW 22 February 2012.





There are useful links within these presentations as well.



Please add other useful resources to this site.


Hints from the Dungeon Masters
these hints/suggestions are provided by DMs who provided training to library staff 22 February 2012

• For running the programs in your library – you might want to save the character generation for a later session,
• You might want to try different role playing games – see what is more interesting in your area, d&d is a good role playing game to start with, but don’t rule out different kinds of rpgs
• For one off sessions – use preset character, for ongoing play – consider using pre-generated characters as the character generation takes time, work out what works for your library
• Character generation i s great for longer term playing
• Could use a series of e-mails as a way of character development, so this happens over time, prior to the first meeting so at the first meeting are ready to go
• Think about how you mix experienced and inexperienced players
• Suggestion for the library folk is to seek out a volunteer dungeon master, or build own skills base as need enough skills to be able to run the games at the library
• Hints for finding role players – contact games stores and ask them and they may be able to help you with a DM, Sydney Role Playing Conventions also a great way to meet DMS, (find out about local games conventions), also contact your local university as they are likely to have a role playing society which can help you
• Sydney Role Playing Convention at Easter eye-con.info

Readers advisory suggestions – from the Dungeon Masters

• Science fiction, fantasy, non-fiction
• Lots of fiction – fantasy, science fiction, non-fiction – books on cartography to help draft maps better, books on theology on the panthen of gods in the game, probability – because of the dice rolling, storytelling techniques to help build stories better very broad base of things can help
• About 1/3 of the monsters come from the classics – so can look at them for reading ideas/suggestions, reading the core material helps you play the monsters better
• Old school art books with pictures of monsters as a way of inspiring the stories
• Emily Rodda – Deltora quest as a rpg for children, a great read for everyone
• Economics blogs, - using companies as metaphors for the terrain in an rpg
• Think carefully about the game fiction books you suggest – as they will not always appeal to players
• There is DM for Dummies book
• Extreme dungeon mastery by Tracey Hickman
• There is a role playing game for every genre you have in your library – so no shortage of opportunities for tying in role playing games, and any role playing game you can tie into a range of reading in your library - think creatively and imaginatively about this. Try reading a range of titles and explore
• Manga as a good tie in as well, often popular
• Can incorporate a range of different elements in the game – incorporating a range of ideas within the game
• Good opportunity for small group readers advisory, and for promoting other events
• Rewarding people in game for good behaviour
• Don’t forget to think about broader age groups for playing
• Think about the kind of role playing games which will suit different age groups
• Think about relevant magazines too – White dwarf as possibility
• Character and story critical for d&d so think about this in terms of readers advisory too (Nancy Pearl appeal characteristics)
• Reference skills for d&d players – using any kind of role playing game as a way of demonstrating good citation skills