Masks – GM Playbook (aka – GM Screens, aka – GM Cheat Sheets)
During as a GM of Masks games I’ve come across the issue of trying to keep everything I need at hand, when it was spread across 3 or 4 reference sheets and rules books. I did investigate making a GM Screen, but I’ve never been much good with those as the table we use is perpetually crowded (and/or small). So, instead of a GM Screen I investigated a handheld Playbook format of the important things I needed to remember as GM.
This then lead to some work cutting and pasting of the “GM Reference Sheet” and the “Basic Moves” sheet to create an 8 page GM Playbook that includes a list of all the items that I could possibly want (and a paragraph liberally borrowed from the Podcast: “Nerds on a Roll” – you should listen to it, it’s great – that I read at the start of each session to remind the players what style of game we are playing as we only get one game in every couple of months). Now I just have these 2 Letter size pages, folded in half, with me all the time and I can reference just about anything I need without having to hide behind a screen. I think this works better than a screen because the whole idea of Masks (and PbtA in general) is creative storytelling, and not an adversarial GM vs Players system… and I can still use this even lounging on the couch with the players in other comfy chairs. Hopefully it is helpful to other GMs.
Looks good. I would replace the start of session paragraph (since you don’t read the whole paragraph every time people gather) with the things that happen when Time Passes, since those are typically rolled at the beginning of sessions (though not always):
docs.google.com – Masks – Time Passes Reference
Jason Corley Well, since we only play once every couple of months, I do actually read that paragraph… but I do entirely know what you mean (it does feel dorky to read that, but I am what I am) 🙂 This section was to remind me to tell the players something that gets us into the feeling of a teenage supers game again.
Yeah, I actually think a intro statement isn’t a bad idea, but you will need Time Passes more.
These pages are amazing. I realize that I can fix better the hooks of the players into these ones, too. Off course when coming into play. And in pencil.
Nice design!
Lucas Eliel Sosa I had not thought about the hooks, but yes, they are important as well so will have to think about those in this book too. Something for tomorrow.