Guidance Archive

23 January

Guidance—Design 101: Designing for Smarks and Marks

Written by Alex Augunas

Last installment, we discussed the origins of the terms “Mark,” “Smart Mark” (aka “Smark”) and “Smart” as they pertained to the WWE. We also discussed how those terms related back to the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game—specially how different people view...

09 January

Guidance — Gibbering Mouth: Marks, Smarks, and Roleplaying Games

Written by Alex Augunas

I’m 100% stealing this line from my friend N. Jolly, but there are literally two types of Tabletop RPGs—Marks and Smarks. I don’t care who you are or what you say you believe in, you’re either a Mark or...

26 December

Guidance — Gibbering Mouth: A Holiday Message from Alex

Written by Alex Augunas

Last Christmas (which was literally yesterday), I did a lot of thinking on the nature of gifts—specifically, why we give them. What I came up with is simple: usually, we gift people to show our appreciation, to show someone...

Gibbering Mouth Guidance Leave a Comment

19 December

Guidance – Worldbuilding 101: Gimme That Bling Bling

Written by Alex Augunas

Money—it literally makes worlds go round, be they the real world or fantasy worlds. When you get right to it, money as a societal construct is what allows us as a species to barter with one another on a...

Worldbuilding 101 Guidance Leave a Comment

12 December

Guidance — Worldbuilding 101: Why Yes, Flavor DOES Matter!

Written by Alex Augunas

Last week I had a friendly chat with a fellow game designer who Third Party fans might recognize—N. Jolly, creative mind behind Purple Duck Games’ Kineticists of Polymorpha series, as well as Legendary Games’ Legendary Vigilantes. N. is a...

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05 December

Guidance — Design 101: Of Sandboxes and Theme Parks

Written by Alex Augunas

The other day I was skimming Facebook like I’m ought to do when I have far more important work assignments on my plate when I came across a Facebook post from my friend and business partner, Owen K.C. Stephens....

Design 101 Guidance Leave a Comment

28 November

Guidance — Top Tier: Alex’s Top 7 Favorite PFS Scenarios (As of 11/27)

Written by Alex Augunas

When I first started with the Know Direction Network, I was not a PFS player. Ryan and I even talked about it a few times on the Private Sanctuary Podcast, back when we cohosted it together. Shortly after I...

Top Tier Guidance 3 Comments

21 November

Guidance — Top Tier: Alex’s Top 7 Wands

Written by Alex Augunas

No matter what campaign you’re playing in, wands are among the most important treasures that you can find. The ability to have a magical stick packed with spell charges for your expenditure simply cannot be beaten—a well-timed wand casting...

Top Tier Guidance 5 Comments

14 November

Guidance — Rules 101: Zero Allowances and You

Written by Alex Augunas

Zero Allowances. It’s a very finite term that tends to get people really riled up whenever I talk about it. Yet whether we want to admit it or not, this concept sits at the direct center of the Pathfinder...

Rules 101 Guidance 3 Comments

06 November

Guidance — Spotlight: Combat Advice, from Ranged Tactics Toolbox

Written by Alex Augunas

I’ve written Guidance, the Know Direction Network’s source for tips, tricks, and techniques for the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, for nearly three years now. I think. It might be two. Honestly, what’s a year between friends?

Spotlight Guidance 1 Comment

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