Last year I was able to read and review The Ultimate RPG Character Backstory Guide, which aimed to give players the tools to help create more interesting and more engaging backstories for their characters in Tabletop Roleplaying Games or TTRPGs. Whether it is Dungeons & Dragons, Dread, or Kids on Bikes that guide was there an excellent tool for players and game masters. Since then, I’ve used it not only with writing my own characters but also as a DM! The book helped me inspire my players to flesh out their backstories in our campaign. So when I hear the James D’Amato is publishing another RPG based guide, I’m certainly interested! This time around we get the tools to improve your actual roleplaying in the game with The Ultimate RPG Gameplay Guide. With the current popularity of actual play podcasts and streams, many players are wondering how to improve their roleplaying experience and this publication hopes to provide that encouragement and knowledge to do so.
With The Ultimate RPG Gameplay Guide you won’t find quite so many activities as in James’s first book. This is more about playing your character than writing your character with lots of focus on how to be a more conscientious and cooperative player. It highlights how to read other players and to be a part of what their goals are, while simultaneously pursuing your own. Whether the scene is fantasy or modern, silly or serious, working with your group is the best experience and James really breaks down what that means. I certainly trust that James knows what he is talking about with his numerous successful TTRPG actual play podcasts (The One Shot Podcast Network) and history and education in improv comedy. He knows how to perform and work with others off the cuff.
The Ultimate RPG Gameplay Guide starts with the essentials, primarily storytelling, as TTRPGs are storytelling tools. He also talks about the importance of audience and setting, and how they influence a storytelling experience. Understanding the objective of the game and the story being told as well as the game mechanics and text surrounding each of those can help drive how you play a character in various situations.
From there James goes into more advanced techniques and playing for experience, and I’m not talking about points for leveling up but more in that you and the other players create an experience. These passages are targeted mostly at those looking to perform their campaign for an audience or for a special event. Podcasters and streamers could really benefit from the wisdom offered in The Ultimate RPG Gameplay Guide. Additionally, someone looking to treat their friends to a themed one-shot could use the tools and advice provided to make it a more memorable experience.
Included in The Ultimate RPG Gameplay Guide are a number of exercises and activities that can be done to practice the skills that James talks about, many times asking the questions that need to be asked to help push one’s game to the next level. Probably most useful is how the book helps to find a playstyle that fits you as a player the most, and understanding that it’s ok that you aren’t a professional voice actor. Every group likes to play their games differently and finding the right group is important but also being flexible and adjusting to help enhance that group’s experience rather than hinder it will further the goal of getting the most out of every story.
D’Amato draws on his expertise in TTRPGs, performance, and improv to put together a comprehensive and helpful guide. Perhaps less useful to those who play, and prefer, games with more combat focus and less roleplay. The Ultimate RPG Gameplay Guide is a must-have for anyone looking to record or perform their campaign, or even someone who just wants some new ideas and exercises for improving their improvisational skills.
You can read my review of James D’Amato’s previous book The Ultimate RPG Character Backstory Guide and for anyone who wants a handy guide to tabletop games, you can read my review of The Everything Tabletop Games Book!
