And the spotify version is live as well. There's some bloopers from this episode, I'll try to get them up (for free) on Patreon this week!
open.spotify.com/episode/6sOG...
Episode 3 is live! Jordan and I talk strategies for getting your group immersed in the action.
Check it out on Spreaker, Spotify link coming later today :)
www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-3...
Yes! My worlds generally don't include discrimination, even as fantasy races have differences. But when it's a theme that I include, it's inherently unjustifiable and morally wrong, no matter the excuses made by its practitioners.
Because that's what discrimination is.
Has anyone else noticed that DMing or playing, their worlds and characters are a mirror to their current life experiences? Characters that embody personal struggles, worlds that facilitate successes that feel out of reach in real life? I've had a few, and I'm interested to hear about if you have too
I've never run a CR setting, but reading up on Wildemount absolutely helped me in building my own homebrew settings; making them feel believable, fleshed out, and fun to play in
I do think that's a really cool thing from TTRPG creators big and small over the past few years - we're seeing best practices integrated into the core rulesets, making them more commonly used even by less experienced or dedicated DMs :)
Like, we try to focus on "great DM" discourse on the podcast. It's pretty easy to be passable with modern systems, and it takes work to be great. It feels like a more optimistic take on the same moment in TTRPG culture
I feel like the conversation has largely switched to a "bad DM" based discourse - where systems are smoother and more accommodating, info on how to DM effectively is more available, and it's about avoiding bad more than becoming good.
I'm not sure if that's a healthier discourse
Thank you, God, for inventing cassette futurism
A cool idea I just tried at the table: Threshold damage. A boss can't start their next phase/be defeated until a single attack deals a certain amount of damage. Guarantees the mechanically punchy hits will be the narratively punchy ones. Give it a shot / let me know your thoughts!
Seems like every TTRPG podcast out there is gameplay you've gotta pay attention to, or polished presentations of (really cool) ideas.
Where's the laid back chats, the tabletop banter podcasts?
The TTRPGuys, that's where.
open.spotify.com/show/2WhCvcs...
For my own fun, anything under 10% I just pretend it isn't gonna happen. That way, even if I crit frequently, it feels like a fun extra reward :)
Episode 2 is live, and it's a thick 'sode. If you want to branch out from D&D 5e, this is your episode! The Patreon version is free, longer than Spotify and Apple Podcasts' version, and has some bonus bloopers :)
www.patreon.com/posts/our-fi...
Hey, if there's something on your plate that you're looking to take off it, I know a couple guys
#GOMPod rolls clean off the tongue
As someone who just committed to naming a podcast after "TTRPG", I truly hate to say I agree 😂
Tip for avoiding GM fatigue: have one or several players in your group run a regular side campaign. Even 1/4 fewer games on your plate makes a big difference!
Plus, when you do have higher bandwidth, the extra prep time makes an awesome game :)
Episode 1 is now live! Jordan & Kobi talk tips on having fun at a new table, and how to set new party members up for success as a DM. Listen on Spreaker, or wherever you get podcasts: www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-1...
Today's spicy 🌶️ #ttrpg take is that the modern success of D&D comes from people enjoying the roleplay rather than the combat. Despite the fact that D&D's social mechanic are underdeveloped and objectively bad.
Learn the lesson. Mechanics don't make the game.
Maybe something that fosters that same spontaneous energy, like a planner-interruption style game. You only get to tell 5 words of a story at a time before another person takes over for their 5 words, or something like that?
When it comes to RP interactions, one of my biggest (and most rewarding) challenges as a DM is to sit back and let it play out. Not everything needs a resolution to be given, often my players will RP their way to a narratively satisfying point all on their own
Has to be secret saves. Death saving throws are only seen by the player and the DM. The tension it adds to the rest of the party members is incomparable.
In my worlds, magic is usually a natural phenomenon. Like physics describes motion, arcana describes magic. And as you don't need a physics education to hit things, you don't need an arcane education to cast spells.
8/? So who is the Illrigger for? We would say either a party of all illriggers of different subclasses, maybe an evil campaign; or an option for good roleplayers who think wizard has too little crunch, and know when to step off the stage.
7/? But when you've got someone with a great working memory and a knack for 5e rules, it becomes unpleasant for the other players and the DM. Mastery of crunch like this unlocks insane damage output, leaving even martial classes in the dust. That sucks for the other players, and sucks to DM
6/? Just right is a hell of a sweet spot. When you're barely hanging on for the ride, your character being effective but not overbearing, it's a magical feeling almost akin to a flow state
5/? Too crunchy just plain sucks to play. Combats are overwhelming and unfun, and your combat effectiveness is lower than weaker classes because there's just too many plates to spin.
4/? Ultimately, as with any class balanced by crunch, there's only three ways it pans out. Too crunchy, just right, and powergamer. In turn:
3/? That complexity and variety of choice comes with a harsh downside - it took two DMs, with decades of experience between us, three hours to fully understand the Illrigger. If you thought the #criticalrole gunslinger was crunchy, you ain't seen nothing yet
2/? The class is insanely detailed and every option is just dripping with flavor and RP opportunity. It feels like an entire character creation system for a dark fantasy #ttrpg. The complexity is only matched by the synergies, it feels like there is no wrong way to build an Illrigger. Lovely
