Welcome to the forum! I remember IRC! How times have changed. Nowadays enjoying gaming on Google+ with HD video and audio, I can imagine suffering through a MUD, MUSH or play by post game, although I've done all those things in the past.

I too have become burned out on fantasy--though more in terms of books and movies. I've read a LOT of fantasy, to the point that all the new stuff seems pretty unoriginal and boring now. Even Game of Thrones, which is so popular, is nothing remotely resembling new. I've been getting a lot more into science fiction for that reason. I don't feel the same fantasy burnout with RPGs, but I definitely enjoy the Ninth World's science-fantasy setting more than any straight up fantasy setting (although Golarion is really cool and a place I'd like to explore more).

Lessee .. started with D&D 1st ed back in highschool (1990s); our group did house-games, scatterings of WOD, Earthdawn and a few others. Moved to a small university and did most of my gaming online (via IRC) after that period as RL groups I found either didn't fit my tastes or ran games I wasn't too interested in. I ran a lot of D&D until 3rd ed. and then burned out on D&D, moving onto Unknown Armies, Risus, BESM and a smattering of others games we found and made use of over the years. I own far more RPGs than I will ever run and even bought some I liked in the knowledge I'd probably never run them but they were pretty awesome anyway.

I spend a lot more time GMing than playing and have run a lot of modern games lately, being burned out on fantasy settings in the past a long time ago; came across Numenera via Bundle of Holding and found out one player had found it interesting, so snagged a copy and went: 'Oh, hello, this is awesome', pretty much    After 15+ years of GMing it's fun to have a game that says: 'Hey, you don't roll dice! And this game isn't about fighting at all!' to shake up both GM and players.

One of the fun challenges to me is to make the game about exploration and discovery, of things under the ground as much as above it, and NOT have those feel like dungeon crawl-style adventures.  I never actually ran a real dungeon crawl in my D&D days and have no desire to start, but I can see how players might feel 'explore underground for Stuff' is like that, so it'll make for interesting times. Which is always good.

As for plot vs sandbox, I tend to have a basic plot -- mostly an outline in my head of what happens in the world and to the region the PCs are in if the PCs do NOT get involved. So there's a baseline plot of what will happen, and then the PCs get to come along and wreak merry havoc on it. I try to plot ahead a couple of sessions, based on what PCs are looking to find and discover, but beyond that let the game flow as it does. The introductory plot pretty much exists to get the PCs into the game and helping a town out but they're under no obligation) to remain in the area or even continue offering their services if they decide the pay rate isn't worth the potential dangers. Shall see where it all goes.

Shownotes

The Obsidian Monolith is a supplemental podcast to GM Intrusions in which I will build a Numenera campaign from scratch. Today I start laying the foundation for the campaign.

Shownotes

I値l start off with some updates on the podcast, and then I値l talk a bit about type backgrounds and balancing encounters. I値l cover the Yellow Swarm in A&P, and I have an inspiration to help you in your Numenera game.