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13th Age with Rob Heinsoo

by Mike on 12 November 2013

I recently had the opportunity to spend 90 minutes talking to Rob Heinsoo about how to run 13th Age games. You can watch the entire interview on Youtube. Take a look!

Here are some highlights!

• The Icon system went through many revisions over the playtests.
• The current iteration is the one Rob and Jonathan had been using the most at their tables.
• The current writeup on Icons in the 13th Age book isn't the last word. Expect to see more on Icon rolls in 13 True Ways and in other venues.
• The biggest trap in the world is feeling like you have to address every icon roll. It's not a to-do list.
• Use Icon rolls as a way to help PCs do awesome things when the dice don't agree, even in combat.
• Group up successful icon rolls across the table into bigger events that steer the adventure.
• Have players decide how Icon rolls come into effect.
• Tie icon rolls directly to a PC's one unique thing.
• Use the "Dicy Move" on page 164 to give a 50/50 shot to do something weird or cool in a battle.

I also had the opportunity to write a guest article on the Pelgrane website entitled "A 4e Player's Guide to 13th Age" that describes what D&D 4th Edition players and GMs can expect from 13th Age. If you haven't figured it out, I'm a big fan of this version of our favorite fantasy RPG.

Related Articles

• 13th Age Icon Roll Benefits
• Limiting 13th Age Icons for Short Campaigns
• Rewarding Loot with Icon Rolls
• 2015 RPG Gift Guide
• Four RPGs To Watch

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