Home to the musings of my mind on idea's for Role Playing and Live Action Role Playing games (RPG, LRP, LARP, L(A)RP). An attempt to wrap some of my thinkings in development practices to collect and manage them constructively.
Read Latest PostsIndependent musings on tabletop role-playing, live role-play, game craft, and the ideas that shape memorable play.
Read MoreA summary, review, and discussion of how Magic: The Gathering's design and formats evolved from casual kitchen-table play into today's competitive format landscape, and why I still miss Revised Edition.
How 5th edition Dungeons & Dragons brought Ravenloft back, what Van Richten's Guide changed about the setting, and what the June 2026 release means for the Demiplane of Dread.
How Ravenloft survived the 3rd edition transition under Sword and Sorcery Studios, what the White Wolf collaboration brought to the setting, and why 4th edition left a gap.
A retrospective on the original I6 Ravenloft module and the sprawling gothic horror setting that grew out of it during the second edition years.
A look at the films that capture the atmosphere of Delta Green games — from The Keep to Dog Soldiers — and what they share with the setting's particular brand of cosmic horror.
A structured index of all Red Circle Games posts from 2017 to 2025, organised by year with brief notes on each one.
How I turn campaign notes into short fiction, use self-publishing as an idea of a testing ground, and open new games with short story hooks.
Why Dragonbane feels like a lighter, cleaner fantasy RPG for D&D groups who still want danger, adventure, and memorable characters.
A reworked draft for a modern mythic L(A)RP inspired by Odyssey, 1980s Highlander, and the bruised street-level energy of 1990s Fight Club.
A working preface for a book about forty years of gaming — short stories drawn from borrowed worlds, created campaigns, and the people who made them matter.
The AI GM space has exploded, but I found myself solving a different problem entirely — what happens when the human at the table is the Dungeon Master and the party are all AI agents?
Early design notes for turning Strontium Dog into an episodic L(A)RP format, with practical starting points for scope, structure and play style.
A quick follow-up on moving draft ideas into tracked GitHub issues.
A survey of the wide and genuinely excellent landscape of TTRPG alternatives to D&D, from cyberpunk dystopias to eldritch horror, corporate-sponsored assassins to the dark streets of Duskvol, and why the best thing that ever happened to this hobby might be Wizards of the Coast making everyone furious.
A look at digital tabletop RPG books, how platforms like Humble Bundle make them accessible and affordable, and why buying a bundle can do more than just fill your hard drive.
A look back at nine years of posts, the themes that kept coming back, the ideas that never made it out of the drafts folder, and where I think the conversation is going next.
Revisiting my 2024 thoughts on AI in tabletop gaming. What has actually changed, what arrived that I predicted, and a proper look at the tools, GitHub repos and platforms making waves in the TTRPG and D&D space.
Using AI and LLMS to help facilitate online gaming and even physical TTRPG or LARP
A post about past and future thoughts, and posts exposing my drafts folder for accountability
A discussion on the sliding scale of encounters in Table top roleplaying games. What makes an encounter, when does a combat encounter become one of the other pillars of the game and is it any less valid for player agency and development.
A short thought on whether Dungeons & Dragons has become shorthand for all tabletop role-playing games.
Another break another attempt to find momentum
How to use Discord to host the social heart of your tabletop campaign — channels, roles, access controls, and community building.
An introduction to the concept of Session Zero. So an introduction to the introduction!
Software as a service, Artificial intelligence and Developments in gaming both playing and creation
How time flies when you're avoiding problems
I started to formulate a TTRPG campaign, classic D&D 5E, Forgotten Realms. This is how it started.
A concept for an Airsoft Larp based on Cyberpunk 2077 Trauma Team International
One last attempt at some LARP inspired creativity
Discussion of changes in LaRP and what may come
Discussion of a game based on the historic organisation of the Star Chamber
A post discussing the use of play by mail, not email but snail mail
What is a red circle game
Suitable Props for LaRP, and the discussion
Live Action Role Playing, LRP, LARP or L(A)RP, does it matter
Dicscussion of using web hosting and social media for gaming and L(a)rp
Blog post about Scrivener writing software and it's use case for gaming, and Github workflows with Scrivener
Welcome to Red Circle Games, an independent effort to gather my musings on Role Playing and Live Role Playing Games (RPG, LRP,LARP and LaRP). Regardless of ...
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