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GM Gems: A Collection of Game Master Inspiration—PDF

4.60/5 (based on 12 ratings)
GMG4371E

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System-Neutral Tools for Every Game Master

GM Gems: A Tome of Game Master Inspiration is filled with a wealth of information and ideas to empower every aspect of your game. Never run boring, vanilla games and never be caught flat-footed!

Inspiration and Perspiration
This 80-page collection of tricks and tips is systems-neutral, so you can play it with any role playing game you choose. GM Gems is written by veteran Game Masters and some of today’s best known RPG designers, and includes:

  • Alchemical Mishaps
  • Empty Rooms Worth Describing
  • Extraordinary Campsites
  • Familiar Creatures with Unfamiliar Faces
  • Short Encounters for Short Attention Spans
  • Unique Taverns and Inns
  • Unusual Holidays
  • 100 Unique Treasures
And much, much more!

Includes the original 64-page systems-neutral edition and the expanded 80-page second printing that is updated for DCC RPG rules!

Project Manager: Stephen S. Greer
Project Developers: Lou Agresta, Rone Barton, B. Matthew Conklin III, Ashavan Doyon
Writers: Lou Agresta, Rone Barton, Russell Brown, B. Matthew Conklin III, Elizabeth Courts, Adam Daigle, Ashavan Doyon, Tom Ganz, Stephen S. Greer, David Hall, Stefan Happ, Ed Healy, Tim Hitchcock, Phillip Larwood, John E. Ling, Jr., Hal Maclean, Rob Manning, Greg Oppedisano, Greg Ragland, Craig Shackleton, Patrick Smith
Editor: Aeryn "Blackdirge" Rudel
Art Director and Graphic Designer: jim pinto
Cover Artist: William O’Connor
Interior Artist: William McAusland
Publisher: Joseph Goodman
Pages: 80

Product Availability

Fulfilled immediately.

Are there errors or omissions in this product information? Got corrections? Let us know at store@paizo.com.

GMG4371E

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Average product rating:

4.60/5 (based on 12 ratings)

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]

2/5 —

Wonderful stuff!

5/5 —

This product not only gives a GM so much cool material to use, but it also gives an imagination a kick in the pants! I find that just reading through this has inspired so much more detail in my games descriptions and added a truly unique style to my worlds. Thank you to all who worked on this and a hearty 'Good Job' to all of you!

One Nitpick Prevents a 5 Star

4/5 —

Where to start? I'll start with the negative first (very little), move through the neutral, and on to the positive.

The Ugly (negative): I really don't like the layout. This should not be attributed as fault of the writers. But it feels really cramped to me. “Clean” section breaks are rare, meaning if you aren't paying close attention as you flip through the book, you might not notice you left one section and are almost done with the next. And with most charts having one hundred separate entries, they often span several pages. Also, the Black print on Medium Grey background on every other chart entry can be hard to read for some. Now that thats over with.

The Bad (Neutral): This book, or PDF, will be most useful to those running Homebrew games, or those whose group never seems to follow a plotline. If you have those mythical groups of players that always follow the plot of an AP style game, or don't really care about the world around their characters, you won't have much need for this.

The Good (Positive): There is a ton, metric or otherwise, of material in here. While I pick on the layout, a “better” layout would require more pages, and therefor more cost. If you are the kind of person that loves window dressing your game, but have difficulty keeping it new and fresh – you really need this book. If you are the kind of person that found the Appendix section of the 1st Edition DMG the most entertaining, this is a must have book. It ties in well with those charts, and doesn't replace them in any way.
I have enough space to write about one of the twenty five sections split between three chapters, roughly organized by type. Alternate “Wonders” for the Rod of Wonders – brings the item back into its chaotic glory.
I dare say that everyone will find something useful, or at least fun to read, in this book.

Good book, great ideas

5/5 —

First, let me say that this is, indeed, an awesome resource full of all kinds of amusing, creative, and useful pieces of material. From alchemical mishaps through unique poisons to things in a pocket, there's a lot of cool stuff here.

One caveat: the book claims to be system-neutral, but there are a *lot* of things that directly reference the OGL/D20 system scattered through the entire book. While there are a fair number of genuinely system-neutral pieces, the overall book is very definitely biased toward the D20 system.

Excellent reference with a old-style gaming feel

5/5 —

I liked this book for two reasons. One, it has a lot of creative "fluff" to it, which is what I am all about. Second, it really has an old Judges Guild-type of suppliment feel to it, where the fantastical could erupt at any moment. Give me tattooed monks streetfighting and Goblins chanting 'Daddy!' at the hapless PC. When I get in a fix as to what to tell an adventuring party when they say 'now what?' I'll be reaching for this gem.

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Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer
The Jade wrote:
Is there a way to know how long that might take? I ask only because I have some customers waiting to buy it and buy it here.

I'm afraid I don't know. Basically, they have to place an order from Goodman (if they haven't already), and then Goodman has to ship it, then they have to check it in, and then we can order more. So I'd suppose at least a week (which may already have started).

Paizo Employee Director of Narrative

Werd!

and

Oh noes!

Well my copy just showed up. Have not had much of a chance to really read through it but I'm liking what I have glanced at so far.

Thanks, Vic.

Can it still be ordered here, even if the supply is currently depleted?
Jeremy Mac Donald wrote:
Well my copy just showed up. Have not had much of a chance to really read through it but I'm liking what I have glanced at so far.

Thanks for picking up a copy, Jeremy. I hope you love it more than I love yak butter sculptures--if that's even possible.

Liberty's Edge

Are those sculptures in yak butter, or....little yaks sculptured of butter? And would margarine work to sculpt yaks?
Heathansson wrote:
Are those sculptures in yak butter, or....little yaks sculptured of butter? And would margarine work to sculpt yaks?

I was afraid my wording left it ambiguous. I meant sculptures comprised of yak butter. I've mastered the easiest one, "Yak Butter Heap," but I'm moving on to "Globby Yellow-White Skull."

If you haven't tried it, you just don't know what your missing.
Paizo Employee Director of Narrative

Isn't yak butter kinda pinkish?
Liberty's Edge

Cow butter's white I know's.
Daigle wrote:
Isn't yak butter kinda pinkish?

Although some people think pink yak butter comes only from yaks with irritated nipples, in truth, yak butter is the psychoactive substance that inspired the mood ring. When people are happy, the yb is yellowish and white, when people are sad, it's blue--yes, that's from where the expression 'feeling blue' derived. And when one is feeling ragingly horny, it turns pink.

Which means every time you've seen yak butter, Daigle, you were feeling erogenous. Now I know what to get you for Xmas.

Yak-butter sculpting aside...

I drifted over to the Goodman website for the free preview - Short Encounters for Short Attention Spans. Noice work!! If the rest of the book is like this, it is one I must have! Several of those entries have already flagged themselves with the 'Use me! Use me NEXT!" flag. Good stuff!
Daigle wrote:
Isn't yak butter kinda pinkish?

I went and goggled this. Yak butter looks much like cows butter. There is a picture here.

Jeremy Mac Donald wrote:
Daigle wrote:
Isn't yak butter kinda pinkish?
I went and goggled this. Yak butter looks much like cows butter. There is a picture here.

I am vindicated!

Liberty's Edge

Who'd want to butter a yak?
Doc_Outlands wrote:

Yak-butter sculpting aside...

I drifted over to the Goodman website for the free preview - Short Encounters for Short Attention Spans. Noice work!! If the rest of the book is like this, it is one I must have! Several of those entries have already flagged themselves with the 'Use me! Use me NEXT!" flag. Good stuff!

Thanks, Doc. That preview was just one article of the many.

Despite GM Gems already being Goodman's #2 selling product and RPGnow's #7 download Paizo is still waiting on a first review. I'm hoping someone will chime in and opine about how this book is so incredibly dense, inspired and consistent, though all that is really only a secondary selling point when you score Kate Beckinsale for the centerfold. She's reclining against a dire bearskin rug wearing only freshly plucked cabbage leaves upon her tinglies. WTG Zherog on that last minute celebrity connection!
Heathansson wrote:
Who'd want to butter a yak?

Monstrously endowed bestial enthusiasts?

Contributor

Obey the Slaw!
Ed Healy wrote:
Obey the Slaw!

Bestial enthusiast.

Paizo Employee Director of Narrative
Jeremy Mac Donald wrote:
Daigle wrote:
Isn't yak butter kinda pinkish?
I went and goggled this. Yak butter looks much like cows butter. There is a picture here.

I blame an old Trivial Pursuit question.

Contributor

Seriously, thank you to everyone who purchased this book. It means more to us than you can possibly know. You guys rock!
The Exchange
Heathansson wrote:
Who'd want to butter a yak?

I only like mine in a freshly stitched Yak's stomach as a container, but I am olde skool like that....

HEY VIC WERTZ!!! Did my order make the cut to be shipped out? #887491 is my order and the status is 'pending'. *crosses fingers and several other odd appendages*
Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer
The Jade wrote:

Thanks, Vic.

Can it still be ordered here, even if the supply is currently depleted?

It's backorderable now, yes.

Already gone. Wow!

Congrats guys - you know you have a popular product when. . .
Fake Healer wrote:
HEY VIC WERTZ!!! Did my order make the cut to be shipped out?

Also geting a pending. I pre-ordered about 6 days ago. Am I on hold? Order #887266

Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer
Patrick Curtin wrote:
Fake Healer wrote:
HEY VIC WERTZ!!! Did my order make the cut to be shipped out?
Also geting a pending. I pre-ordered about 6 days ago. Am I on hold? Order #887266

The last copies of our distributors first shipment are on the way to us, and we already have orders against their second shipment, but because we have orders holding for other products and such, we can't easily tell who will get served from any given shipment. Either way, though, it shouldn't take too long to get them in.

The Jade wrote:


Despite GM Gems already being Goodman's #2 selling product and RPGnow's #7 download Paizo is still waiting on a first review. I'm hoping someone will chime in and opine about how this book is so incredibly dense, inspired and consistent, though all that is really only a secondary selling point when you score Kate Beckinsale for the centerfold. She's reclining against a dire bearskin rug wearing only freshly plucked cabbage leaves upon her tinglies. WTG Zherog on that last minute celebrity connection!

Well, I liked it.

;)
GGG

it would be interesting to know how many were in the original shipment.

i would also like one of these. will paizo have the pdf version available?
Ed Healy wrote:
Seriously, thank you to everyone who purchased this book. It means more to us than you can possibly know. You guys rock!

Yes, thankyouverymuch!!!

I am wondering why is this not being offered in pdf format, as it is at rpg now?

I would like to buy it, but due to my geographical circumstances I will not be ordering unless you guys make it available on pdf.

I really hope you guys can help me out on this!

=)
Kruelaid wrote:

I am wondering why is this not being offered in pdf format, as it is at rpg now?

I would like to buy it, but due to my geographical circumstances I will not be ordering unless you guys make it available on pdf.

I really hope you guys can help me out on this!

=)

I, the great Yu Huang--though you may call me Tian Go­ng--do hereby decree that the pulsing moonbeams shall form a rail from the heavens to the world. Upon this rail shall ride a car of radiant gold, propelling forward by a red monkey with a pack of scrolls on his back, each destined to change the fate of man in ways soon to become legend. And.. and what is this? A hardcopy of GM Gems for Kruelaid.

Yes, the August Personage of Jade X-press Mail Service will reach even the most remote mountain pass, or caves deep under the ocean, or Sheboygen.
Sovereign Court
The Jade wrote:
I, the great Yu Huang--though you may call me Tian Go­ng--do hereby decree ...

Some of you might not realize that The Jade is quoting an entry from one of the articles that didn't make it into GM Gems, namely "50 Entertaining yet Incomprehensible Fantasy Roleplaying Message Board Posts." It included Steve Greer's "Ode to an Impenetrable Metallic Tower" and John Ling's review of Cloverfield written entirely as e3.5 stat blocks. For some reason that entire article was cut in the final edit.

I was figuring a guy who lived in China might applaud me casting myself into the role of GM-Gems-delivering Jade Emperor/Heavenly Grandfather. A bomb has been surgically transplanted into my heart and if I don't hear adulatory clapping at least once every ten minutes I'll explode!
Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer
Kruelaid wrote:
I am wondering why is this not being offered in pdf format, as it is at rpg now?

I've just sent an e-mail to Joseph Goodman; hopefully we'll have it soon!

Vic Wertz wrote:
Kruelaid wrote:
I am wondering why is this not being offered in pdf format, as it is at rpg now?

I've just sent an e-mail to Joseph Goodman; hopefully we'll have it soon!

Disjunct user. (See, I learn)

Backordered....

This'll teach me to wait until I have the money to order things... :-P

Congratulations to the Cabbages... And condolences to those that are in a holding pattern for this, like me.
Disenchanter wrote:

Backordered....

This'll teach me to wait until I have the money to order things... :-P

Congratulations to the Cabbages... And condolences to those that are in a holding pattern for this, like me.

Thank you so much! We hope you greatly enjoy it.

Paizo Employee Director of Narrative
Disenchanter wrote:
Congratulations to the Cabbages... And condolences to those that are in a holding pattern for this, like me.

Thanks a ton! I hope all of you get a copy in y'all's hands as soon as possible. The gears are turning so that your gears may turn!

Sovereign Court
Disenchanter wrote:
Congratulations to the Cabbages...

Thanks Disenchanter! The support here is fantastic. I Hope you get yours soon - then you should write a review! We'd like feedback almost as congratulations.

Russell Brown wrote:
Disenchanter wrote:
Congratulations to the Cabbages...
I Hope you get yours soon

Threatening people won't make them buy the dern book, Russ. Please comport yourself like a gentleman.

Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer
Vic Wertz wrote:
Kruelaid wrote:
I am wondering why is this not being offered in pdf format, as it is at rpg now?

I've just sent an e-mail to Joseph Goodman; hopefully we'll have it soon!

...and the PDF is now available!

Sovereign Court
The Jade wrote:
buy the dern book.

Well said! Yet I can't picture you using the word "dern."

Great news about the PDFs, Vic.

Russell Brown wrote:
The Jade wrote:
buy the dern book.

Well said! Yet I can't picture you using the word "dern."

Dern you... dern you all ta heck! ;)

Thank you Vic! You rock!
The Jade wrote:
Russell Brown wrote:
Disenchanter wrote:
Congratulations to the Cabbages...
I Hope you get yours soon
Threatening people won't make them buy the dern book, Russ. Please comport yourself like a gentleman.

Bwaha! Thank you. That laugh made my day.

Contributor

Hmm. What's this little gem doing way down here on the list?
::brushes thread off and puts back on the top of the pile::
So, comments? Anything? Like? Hate? Too much of a tightwad to purchase? :p

I think there should be many more products like this!
The Jade wrote:
I was figuring a guy who lived in China might applaud me casting myself into the role of GM-Gems-delivering Jade Emperor/Heavenly Grandfather. A bomb has been surgically transplanted into my heart and if I don't hear adulatory clapping at least once every ten minutes I'll explode!

That was truly beautiful. I wept.

But as luck would have it I can now have this tidy tome shot through tunnels of glass fiber underneath the vast pacific ocean.
Kruelaid wrote:

That was truly beautiful. I wept.

But as luck would have it I can now have this tidy tome shot through tunnels of glass fiber underneath the vast pacific ocean.

If you're happy, I'm happy. ;)

Steve Greer wrote:

Hmm. What's this little gem doing way down here on the list?

::brushes thread off and puts back on the top of the pile::
So, comments? Anything? Like? Hate? Too much of a tightwad to purchase? :p

Sorry. My copy still hasn't shipped yet. I know that I can get the PDF, and I likely will. But for all the convenience of having my library in PDF form on my laptop, I still can't really read a product on it.

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