Style Guide & Appendix N
Style Guide
Style Description Rating
Explanation
Action Combat and physical challenges ★★★☆☆
Smart players should be able to largely choose the time and place of their character's fights.
Character Development Personal dilemmas and choices ★★★☆☆
It's entirely up to the player how their characters will develop based on the events of the campaign. Like real life, characters don't have complete control over what happens to them.
Darkness How raw the setting is ★★★★★
People do awful things when they're hungry, and they have such terrible hungers within them.
Drama Ceremony and grand story ★★☆☆☆
Player characters can take part in the pomp and circumstance, but it is not the focus of the campaign.
Intrigue Politics and negotiation ★★★★★
Yes
Manners Social etiquette and peer pressure ★★★☆☆
NPCs will react appropriately to the PCs' behavior, but manners are not the focus of the game.
Mystery Enigmas and investigation ★★★★★
There are plenty of enigmas, but it is up to the players how much they investigate.
Pace How fast do stories emerge, develop, and resolve? ★★★☆☆
Player characters choose when and where they get involved, but the world changes on its own.
Romance Relationships, whether loving, physical, or other ★★★☆☆
Characters can be in all sorts of relationships. Don't be lewd in server channels.
Appendix N
"All of the above authors, as well as many not listed, certainly helped to shape the form of the game. For this reason, and for the hours of reading enjoyment, I heartily recommend the works of these fine authors to you."
— Gary Gygax, Dungeon Masters Guide (1e) (1979)
Authors
Edgar Allen Poe
Beowulf Poet
George R.R. Martin
H.P. Lovecraft
J.R.R. Tolkien
Jack Vance
Stephen King
Thomas Malory
Ursula K. LeGuin
William Shakespeare
Movies
Apostle
Black Death
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Dragonslayer
Excalibur
Labyrinth
Ladyhawke
Legend
Ninja Scroll
Pan's Labyrinth
Princess Bride
Princess Mononoke
The 13ͭ ͪ Warrior
The Dark Crystal
The NeverEnding Story
The Secret of NIMH
Vampire Hunter D
Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust
Willow
TV Shows
Avatar: the Last Airbender
Avatar: the Legend of Korra
Escaflowne
Inuyasha
Kingdom
Moriboto: Guardian of Spirit
Mushishi
Record of Lodoss War
Spice and Wolf
Video Games
Baldur's Gate
Chrono Trigger
Darkest Dungeon
Dragon Age Origins
Dragon Age 2
Elden Ring
Final Fantasy I
Final Fantasy IV
Final Fantasy VI
Final Fantasy IX
Final Fantasy XII
Final Fantasy Tactics
Fire Emblem Awakening
Gemfire
Guild Wars
Lunar: Eternal Blue
Lunar: The Silver Star
Pillars of Eternity
Planescape: Torment
The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Ultima VI: The False Prophet
Unicorn Overlord
Special Thanks
Thank you to my parents for being patient and supportive.
Thank you to my wife for the same, as well as playing.
Thank you to my cousin for being one of the OGs and passing on his wisdom.
Thank you to everybody I've shared a table with over the years.
Thank you to the TSR staff, netbook writers, and bloggers who made the game what it is today.