Let’s read the corebooks together!
Open to all Dungeon Masters, Game Masters, Storytellers, Keepers of the Arcane Lore, etc. whether you’re new or a veteran of the tabletop RPG in Malaysia. World-builders, Lore/Module writers and collectors, etc. are welcome too. Let’s share ideas, discuss, and support each other to grow the tabletop RPG community/industry in Malaysia.
For many, Dungeons & Dragons, is synonymous with tabletop roleplaying games. Since we kicked-off this series of events to encourage players to read the rulebooks and sourcebooks of various TRPGs, we had to start with the obvious one.
The meeting commenced at 20:15, with a round of introductions where each participant mentioned their names, their sidegigs, and context for attending the book club.
Of the five (5) attendees, a quick show of hands revealed that eight (8) of them were Dungeon Masters, and 1 of those had read (or glanced through) the D&D MM 2024.
Unlike typical book clubs, and because TRPG books are a lengthy/laborious affair, we didn’t expect anyone to have literally read every word in the book. The discussions that proceeded the initial impressions, were about the sections of the book, and (because this wasn’t the first edition of a particular TRPG system) comparisons to previous editions of the games’ books.
Initial impressions of the Monster Manual were mixed. Particular emphasis was placed on three aspects of the book:
- Organizing the Monster Manual
- Demotions & Promotions
- New Stat Block Design
Organizing the Monster Manual
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Demotions & Promotions
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New Stat Block Design
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Notes for future RPG Book Club meetups
- Beyond D&D, other TRPG systems that aren’t be as well known, may need to have actual-play sessions.
| Time | Agenda | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 20:00-20:15 | Doors open // casual chat | We’ll permit extra time to those arriving from faraway, etc. Free socializing time. |
| 20:15-20:30 | New members introduction | Each attendee may introduce themselves, their context for attending the meetup, their experience with RPGs (including this particular system,) and pitch anything they’re working on that may be related to RPGs. |
| 20:30-21:00 | initial Discussion: initial impressions & reading experience, comparisons with previous/other editions | How much of the book have you read? What were your initial impressions of the book/system, and did it meet any expectations you had? What parts stood out, positively and/or negatively? Section-by-section review, comparing the book’s contents versus those of an older edition (or analogous equivalent.) |
| 21:00-21:15 | intermission | toilet break |
| 21:15-21:45 | Deep Dive Discussion: | “What are the core mechanics of this system, and how do they differ (from D&D?)” “Are there any rules that seem ambiguous or require clarification?” “What are the strengths and weaknesses of this system’s design?” “What is the overall tone/mood the system tries to establish?” “How does the lore/setting presented in the system inspire you?” “What kind of stories do you think this system is best suited for?” “If we were to play this, what kind of story would you be interested in?” “What do you think about the character creation process? Is it intuitive/complex?” “Are there any common house rules for this system?” |
| 21:45-22:00 | Recap & Closing remarks. Thank you. | Participants are encouraged to reflect & continue the discussions: KakiTabletop/RPGMY Social Media: FB Group, Discord channel, sub-Reddit, etc. or on their own social media, with the hashtag/topic: #RPGMY |
📅 Last Fridays, Monthly.
⏰ 8-10pm
🗺️ O'Coffee Club Atelier @ Kinokuniya KLCC
Upstairs Kinokuniya,
Level 4 Suria KLCC,
Kuala Lumpur City Centre,
50088 Kuala Lumpur
- Gamer / Game Master
- It’s highly encouraged that participants bring along a copy of the book being discussed for the session, and be ready for note-taking (notebooks, recorders, transcribing, etc. encouraged.)
- Discounted Reader
- Special price for Students, Seniors, Jobseekers, etc. inc. free drink*
- Game Writer / Designer
- Bring a (draft?) copy of your own game/module, and
introduce yourself; inc. a free drink* - Drinks selection:
BYOB
inc. a free drink*
Students, Seniors, Jobseekers, etc.
inc. a free drink*
- BYOB
inc. a free drink*