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NPCs in your RPGs come in all shapes, sizes, purposes, abilities, and reasons. It's near impossible to enumerate all of the facets of an NPC or why they are in the storyline. Despite the Herculean tas...

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J.T. Evans @jtevans.bsky.social · 9d

What elements of character do you put into your NPCs during your #ttrpg planning? You don't need to go overboard, but there are some basics to cover. I have a new @gnomestew.bsky.social article up that talks about these basic elements of NPCs.

gnomestew.com/basic-elemen...

Basic Elements of NPCs

Gnomecast 221 - Fixating on Trifles

J.T. Evans @jtevans.bsky.social · 13d

I hopped on the mics for a @gnomestew.bsky.social Gnomecast with @orikes.bsky.social and @clight101.bsky.social to talk about getting your players to not focus on the inconsequential things in your #ttrpg sessions. We had a blast chatting with one another!

gnomestew.com/gnomecast-22...

https://polygamero.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/GC_221_Triffles_final.mp3 Join Ang, Chris and JT as they chat about what to do when your players get fixated on trifling matters that you didn't intend...

Viper's Bane is Back! - J.T. Evans

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J.T. Evans @jtevans.bsky.social · 21d

Viper's Bane (the second Modern Mythology novel) is back in print! You can find out more details here jtevans.net/2025/09/vipe... or find it at most retailers (the list is growing as the book gets pushed out) here books2read.com/b/b58gd6

jtevans.net

J.T. Evans @jtevans.bsky.social · 23d

Another short story from my Modern Mythology setting is live and out in the world!

books2read.com/talons

Podcasts I Listen To - J.T. Evans

J.T. Evans @jtevans.bsky.social · 26d

HALP!!!!

I ran my podcatcher dry today…. and I have a 3+ hour drive up to the mountains tomorrow.

This means I need some podcast content to fill those hours!

Here’s what I currently listen to: jtevans.net/about/podcas...

Any recommendations for podcasts to add to my podcatcher to fill the hours?

jtevans.net

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J.T. Evans @jtevans.bsky.social · Aug 22

I have another short story in my Modern Mythology setting starring Marcus Barber coming out on September 15th.

Marcus rejoins Xerxes the griffin from his first novel I wrote for him. Griffin’s Feather introduces Marcus and Xerxes, and the short story, Scale’s Balance, reunites them.

Gnomecast 218 - Revisiting Niche Protection

J.T. Evans @jtevans.bsky.social · Aug 13

For a @gnomestew.bsky.social Gnomecast, I hopped on the mics with @orikes.bsky.social and @whatdoiknowjr.bsky.social to talk about niche protection in #ttrpgs.

gnomestew.com/gnomecast-21...

https://polygamero.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/CG_218-Niche-protection_final.mp3 Join Ang along with Jared and JT as they revisit a topic they discussed way back in episode 80: Niche Protection! Whe...

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J.T. Evans @jtevans.bsky.social · Aug 10

Griffin's Feather (my debut novel) has been rereleased into the wild again! It's now available in ebook and print formats with a whole new cover and layout.

If you didn't get a chance to check it out before, now is your chance!

books2read.com/u/bzNM7G

Handwavium is a neat concept in fiction that can be applied to tabletop RPGs. It can be used as a McGuffin for a goal. It can be used as a solution for an esoteric problem at hand. It can be used as p...

J.T. Evans @jtevans.bsky.social · Aug 6

Another @gnomestew.bsky.social post is live!

This time, I'm writing about handwavium in fiction and in RPGs. Not sure what handwavium is? Go check the link, and you'll find out! gnomestew.com/handwavium/

Handwavium

My Tech Stack - J.T. Evans

J.T. Evans @jtevans.bsky.social · Aug 6

I've been involved in LOTS of conversations about tech stacks for authors lately. The answers are lengthy, and I got tired of repeating the info in different venues. This means it's time for a post on my site about what I use and why and all that good stuff.

jtevans.net/2025/08/my-t...

jtevans.net

J.T. Evans @jtevans.bsky.social · Jul 16

I hopped in the mics with @orikes.bsky.social and Matt for a @gnomestew.bsky.social Gnomecast episode. Ang and I were interviewed by Matt for how to prep a game. We had so much fun talking, there were a few side tangent conversations in there as well.

gnomestew.com/gnomecast-21...

Gnomecast 216 - How Do You Prep

https://polygamero.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/CG_216-How-do-you-prep-final.mp3 Join Ang and JT as Matt leads the questions on how to prep for our games and how to make that easier for yourself. ...

When forming a new group to play RPGs with, there are quite a few considerations to take into account. So many, in fact, that I don't think I can hit them all. I'm also certain I can't even think of t...

J.T. Evans @jtevans.bsky.social · Jul 11

Looking to form a new #ttrpg gaming group? I have some advice for you over at @gnomestew.bsky.social on how to approach doing this.

gnomestew.com/starting-a-f...

Starting a Fresh Group

J.T. Evans @jtevans.bsky.social · Jun 23

Another Modern Mythology starring Marcus Barber short story is out in the world! This time, it's in the Ashes and Embers anthology.

www.amazon.com/Ashes-Embers...

Collaborative Storytelling Loop

J.T. Evans @jtevans.bsky.social · Jun 20

I had a new @gnomestew.bsky.social article drop today about my views of what I call the collaborative storytelling loop during an RPG session or story arc.

gnomestew.com/collaborativ...

Most RPGs tell a story of some kind. Some are deeper than others, but there is a story hiding under the cover of the mechanics somewhere. Since most RPGs are played in a group, this makes the storytel...

Collaborative Storytelling Styles

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J.T. Evans @jtevans.bsky.social · Jun 12

New releases from @hygregor.bsky.social and Shady! They arrived today, and I can't wait to get them to sign their respective stories.

www.amazon.com/dp/B0FCDD5ZHH

and

www.amazon.com/dp/B0FC6PCMNK

J.T. Evans @jtevans.bsky.social · May 16

I had a @gnomestew.bsky.social article drop a few days ago and was too busy to post about it! This one's about collaborative storytelling styles in #ttrpg!

gnomestew.com/collaborativ...

Here's a strong opinion of mine. I'll die on a hill defending this opinion as well. Here goes. The main point of role playing games is to get a group together to tell stories in a collaborative and fu...

Friends The main reason I play tabletop role playing games is for the friends I have at the table. I've been gaming with the members of my current group for between 7 and 25 years, depending on which...

J.T. Evans @jtevans.bsky.social · Apr 16

My latest @gnomestew.bsky.social post is about why I play #ttrpgs. I'd love to hear why you game. In this case, "game" can be an RPG, a card game, a board game, a computer game, or whatever. I'm curious what brings you to the fun of playing a game.

gnomestew.com/why-i-play-r...

Why I Play RPGs

Gnomecast 210 - System Screen Burn

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J.T. Evans @jtevans.bsky.social · Apr 9

I hopped on the mics with @orikes.bsky.social and @soless.bsky.social for a @gnomestew.bsky.social Gnomecast. We talked about "System Screen Burn" where subtle changes in systems can sometimes throw you off and how to handle it.

gnomestew.com/gnomecast-21...

https://polygamero.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GC_210_System_Screen_Burn_final.mp3 Join Ang along with Josh and JT as they talk about how to navigate having multiple game systems embedded in your b...

Adventure Design: Node-Based Design

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J.T. Evans @jtevans.bsky.social · Mar 19

My final installment of my adventure design series for #ttrpgs over at @gnomestew.bsky.social is now live! This covers how to handle node-based design in your adventures. It's a brief overview of a DEEP topic with links to other, more in-depth, articles. gnomestew.com/adventure-de...

This is the final article in my adventure design series. Over a year ago, I put out a call on social media for ideas that people wanted me to include in the series. I guess my list of ideas (the previ...

Adventure Design: Clues, Rumors, and Connective Tissue

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J.T. Evans @jtevans.bsky.social · Feb 24

I have a new @gnomestew.bsky.social article up on adventure design. This one is over clues, lies, rumors, and other connective tissue to guide your PCs through the adventure.

gnomestew.com/adventure-de...

To get your PCs to move from one scene to the next logical scene, you need a series of connective tissues. These can come in the form of clues, rumors, lies, truths, and red herrings. Each one of thes...

Gnomecast 206 - Splitting the Party

J.T. Evans @jtevans.bsky.social · Feb 12

Split the party in #ttrpgs! Yes! Do it! Sometimes, though. What happens when you split the party and how does the GM handle it? @orikes.bsky.social and @soless.bsky.social and I talk about it on the @gnomestew.bsky.social Gnomecast.

gnomestew.com/gnomecast-20...

https://polygamero.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CG_206_SplittingtheParty.mp3 Join Ang, Josh, and JT as they talk about the dreaded, forbidden topic of splitting the party! Is it good? Is it bad? Does...

You're Playing My Game Wrong

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J.T. Evans @jtevans.bsky.social · Jan 24

I'm here at the COSine Convention, but I did have a @gnomestew.bsky.social article drop today about playing the game "wrong." (Spoiler: Unless you're bringing harm to another person in a tabletop RPG, you're not doing it "wrong.")

gnomestew.com/youre-playin...

My FLGS (friendly, local, game store) has a Discord server where patrons can chat about all sorts of subjects in clearly marked channels. Most channels are highly active, and my heart is warmed by the...

Gnomecast 204 - Running vs. Playing

J.T. Evans @jtevans.bsky.social · Jan 15

Over at the Gnomcast on @gnomestew.bsky.social, I got on the mics with @orikes.bsky.social and Alex to talk about the differences between running and playing tabletop rpgs. gnomestew.com/gnomecast-20...

https://polygamero.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/CG_204_runningVSplaying_finalV01.mp3 Join Ang, JT, and guest Alex Thomas as they talk about the difference in the skills needed to run games versus pl...

Adventure Design: Supporting and Opposing NPCs

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J.T. Evans @jtevans.bsky.social · Jan 9

The latest article in my Adventure Design Series at @gnomestew.bsky.social dropped yesterday. This one is about supporting and opposing NPCs for your adventures. gnomestew.com/adventure-de...

In any adventure, the party of player characters (PCs) will inevitably encounter other intelligent creatures and people. These are the non-player characters (NPCs) of the world that are largely contro...