writing
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February has hit hard already. Between a chaotic work schedule, wild weather swings, and the world’s usual curveballs, it’s been a lot. I hope those of you who keep coming back have been staying safe and warm (or cool if you’re in the southern hemisphere). I’ve accomplished less than I’d planned, but I’m still on…
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Had a great time on session three. Things are escalating and more clues are being revealed. Took me a bit to get this written up from the transcripts, but it’s finally here. I hope you enjoy! The evening of Monday, November 17th, 2025. Their first day at the Magnus Institute had stretched into something that…
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I hope you all are having a great New Year and that it is treating you well. With everything going on in the world, and while trying to live a normal life, it can be a bit overwhelming and sometimes even feel impossible. We do the best we can with what we have and hope…
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I think I have the Cypher conversion from the D&D mechanics I posted earlier where I want them. Give them a shot at your table and I hope you enjoy. Choke Out Mechanics (Stealth Takedowns) The following rules expand on existing grapple mechanics to support stealth-focused play, infiltrations, and heists. These rules are designed to…
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While working on my upcoming one-shot heist, The Alchemist’s Heirloom, I felt the need to add some mechanics to better support stealth-focused play. Many books, movies, and games include scenes where characters sneak in, infiltrate guarded spaces, and quietly dispatch those who might raise the alarm. D&D does not really support this style of play.…
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This is the initial story hook and call to action for my upcoming TTRPG one-shot. Our last one-shot was a lighthearted comedy of errors. This one is a heist, and while I’m hoping to keep some of the humor, I want to add a level of challenge and emotion to it. It took longer than…
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I had absolutely no plans to run a cyberpunk campaign anytime soon. Then I started reading Monte Cook’s Neon Rain for the Cypher System. Cyberpunk 2077 is one of, if not my favorite, video games, and it’s what really made me fall in love with the genre. So when I saw there was a Cypher…
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Happy New Year! The holidays have come and gone, vacation’s over, and it’s back to nights-and-weekends work mode. I’ve set some ambitious goals for 2026, and January’s already off to a solid start. Here’s what’s on the agenda this month. Going Home I finished refining this noir revenge horror short and I’m submitting it to…
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I finally finished reading through the Candela Obscura rulebook, and I came away genuinely impressed. While the mechanics are not my style, the setting is truly amazing. At this point, I’ve mostly settled into the styles and mechanics I enjoy running and playing. That said, I still like reading other systems for inspiration. I want…
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This will be my last update for the year. If you’ve been keeping up with my posts, you probably already know this, but I absolutely love stories. I love reading them, telling them, and sharing them with others. That love extends very naturally into tabletop RPGs, where storytelling becomes collaborative in a way few other…
Mason Beck Fiction 