Game Master’s Book Review & Giveaway
I recently had the chance to dig into two exciting new additions to the Game Master’s series: The Game Master’s Book of Villains, Minions and Their Tactics and The Game Master’s Book of Proactive Roleplaying. Both of these books offer fresh perspectives and practical tools for any GM or group looking to expand their tabletop RPG experience.
Let’s start with The Game Master’s Book of Villains, Minions and Their Tactics. This book builds on the foundation of The Game Master’s Book of Legendary Dragons but casts a much wider net. Instead of focusing solely on dragons, it introduces 25 unique villains—each with fully developed backgrounds, motivations, and, of course, their loyal minions.
One thing I immediately loved was the presentation. The artwork is vibrant and detailed, helping bring these villains to life at the table. It’s easy to pull up an image and instantly hook your players into the scene.
Beyond the visuals, each villain entry includes story hooks, motivations, and—most importantly—tactics. The book doesn’t just give you stats; it offers practical ideas for weaving these antagonists into your campaign and building tension as they move behind the scenes.
For instance, Grk the Orc Queen is designed to be a master manipulator. She should be difficult for your players to track down, and by the time they finally confront her, their resources should be stretched thin—perfect for a dramatic showdown.
What stands out most for me are the GM notes and sidebars scattered throughout. These bits of advice and lore help deepen each villain’s role in the story. There’s even a section called Creature Tactics that goes beyond individual encounters, giving GMs ideas on how to make every battle feel distinct and meaningful. If you’ve ever struggled to make combat feel fresh, this book offers a wealth of inspiration.
I also appreciated the inclusion of one-shot adventures like The Wound of the Forest, Love Locked in Iron, and Contaminated Corruption. While I haven’t had a chance to run them yet, they seem well-written and flexible enough to slot into a larger campaign if needed.
If you’re already a fan of the Game Master’s series—especially The Book of Legendary Dragons—this one is a natural next step. The broader focus on all kinds of villains means there’s a ton of material to work with, no matter what kind of story you’re telling.
Switching gears, let’s talk about The Game Master’s Book of Proactive Roleplaying. This book takes a different approach to the usual tabletop experience. Instead of focusing only on GM-led storytelling, it encourages players to take a more active role in driving the narrative forward—something I think more groups could benefit from.
The book is divided into three main sections:
Creating Proactive Characters: This part is all about helping players develop goals that shape the campaign and influence how NPCs and factions react to them.
Creating a Proactive World: Here, you’ll find guidance on crafting locations, conflicts, and rewards that feed directly into your players’ ambitions.
Running a Proactive Game: This final section dives into encounter design and even includes a sample adventure—Plundering in Pine Hollow—to show how these ideas come to life at the table.
I really appreciate how this book frames proactive roleplaying as a way to deepen the collaborative nature of the game. It’s easy to get caught up in prepping the world for your players. Sometimes, though, the best stories happen when we step back and let the players drive the action themselves.
Both of these books are strong additions to the Game Master’s series. They’re packed with practical advice, creative sparks, and flexible tools to help any GM or player elevate their game. If you’re curious about either book, I highly recommend checking them out for yourself.
To make things even better, I’m giving away a copy of each! All you need to do to enter is subscribe to our YouTube channel and sign up for our Guardians of Getica playtest mailing list. Signing up not only gets you in the giveaway, but also gives you access to our growing collection of playtest materials—perfect if you’re interested in exploring a kid-friendly campaign setting that still has depth and adventure.
One quick note: due to shipping limitations, the giveaway is only open to North American addresses. If you’re already subscribed and signed up for the playtest, you’re automatically entered—thank you for your support!
I hope you find these books as inspiring as I have—and if you’re curious to see them in action, be sure to check out the full review on YouTube.
Cheers,
Brian