Shows
Inspiration PointS7E26: Roast AdamThis week, Adam turns to Tiana to get a read on how she feels about his GMing after sitting at his table for years. He wants it all! The good, the bad, the "WTF, man?"The Master Document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xHSJopmC5TPNcxnKFNxXKZRZlZKu_sgVIzwPAdJ1BxI/edit?usp=sharingJoin the Discord! https://discord.gg/gYSp3vcrqsDeath Campaign: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIN_3aqfME8Ut_xe36dWasRaSO-HKfYAp&si=gv4g3PVAPa4xV4m3Podcast edited by E (https://www.instagram.com/haul.away/)2025-07-271h 05Inspiration PointS7E25: Building Monsters - Blue DragonThis week, Adam and Tiana work through Adam's Blue Dragon build. We discuss the design ethos we have in mind for enemies, how it plays out with the Blue Dragon, and where we go from here.The Master Document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xHSJopmC5TPNcxnKFNxXKZRZlZKu_sgVIzwPAdJ1BxI/edit?usp=sharingJoin the Discord! https://discord.gg/gYSp3vcrqsDeath Campaign: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIN_3aqfME8Ut_xe36dWasRaSO-HKfYAp&si=gv4g3PVAPa4xV4m3AJ Pickett's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ajpickett/featured2025-07-201h 09Inspiration PointS7E22: Playtest After-Action ReportThis week, Adam and Tiana talk about the game Adam ran as a playtest for the IP D&D system. We're excited about how it went, and how the input from the players offered suggestions for changes!The Master Document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xHSJopmC5TPNcxnKFNxXKZRZlZKu_sgVIzwPAdJ1BxI/edit?usp=sharingJoin the Discord! https://discord.gg/gYSp3vcrqsDeath Campaign: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIN_3aqfME8Ut_xe36dWasRaSO-HKfYAp&si=gv4g3PVAPa4xV4m32025-06-291h 06Inspiration PointS7E10: Redesigning the Classes: Fighter and MageThis week, Adam and Tiana dive into the write-up Adam did for two of the four base classes: Fighter and Mage. The ideas held here are super loose, and we want to hear other people's opinions too! Death Campaign: https://www.twitch.tv/vanalosswen Join the Discord! https://discord.gg/gYSp3vcrqsDocument with the base classes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xHSJopmC5TPNcxnKFNxXKZRZlZKu_sgVIzwPAdJ1BxI/edit?usp=sharing2025-03-201h 01Inspiration PointS7E8: Redesigning the Classes: How Did We Get Here?This week, Adam and Tiana take a break from looking at individual classes to take a broader view at the class design ethos as a whole. Both Adam and Tiana have ideas for how to dig deep into overall class design, but first, how did we get to where we are now? History and idea document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1P1EQbgnXd7eFFffN_H9H6M2st6FPsITwChXZ_dWzVXo/edit?usp=drive_linkDeath Campaign: https://www.twitch.tv/vanalosswen Join the Discord! https://discord.gg/gYSp3vcrqs2025-03-061h 05Inspiration PointS7E3: Rebuilding the Character Sheet for IP D&DThis week, Adam and Tiana take a look at the reworked character sheet Adam is working on for IP D&D. The goal is to have everything easily accessible and streamlined in a way that makes sense, while keeping the skills and information that are important to the fantasy of the game. How did we do? What you would add or take away?To watch the Death Campaign live: https://www.twitch.tv/vanalosswen Join the Discord! https://discord.gg/gYSp3vcrqs2025-01-301h 06Inspiration PointS7E2: Rebuilding the Barbarian for IP D&D (Guest Host: Dane Filemyr)This week, Adam and Tiana sit down with guest host Dane Filemyr to talk about Adam's rewrite of the Barbarian class. Dane plays Drausken in the streamed Death campaign, who is a multiclass Fighter/Barbarian using Adam's rewrite, so we wanted to get his take on the Barbarian fantasy, how he feels about Adam's rewrite, and whether Barbarian should be a full class at all. To watch the Death Campaign live: https://www.twitch.tv/vanalosswen Join the Discord! https://discord.gg/gYSp3vcrqs2025-01-231h 20Inspiration PointS6E44: The Art of War in TTRPGsThis week, Adam and Tiana talk about Adam's favorite strategy manual: The Art of War by Sun Tzu. We talk about how to use the principles in that book to change the way GMs and players think about their roles in encounters and overall gameplay. To watch the Death Campaign live: https://www.twitch.tv/vanalosswen Join the Discord! https://discord.gg/gYSp3vcrqs2024-12-051h 09Inspiration PointS6E38: Lessons LearnedThis week, Adam and Tiana talk about the lessons Adam learned from running two different sessions of Death: one on Friday for a private group of Patrons, and one on Tuesday for the livestream crew. No matter how long we've been playing or GMing, there's always something new to learn if we're willing to dig in!To watch the Death Campaign live: https://www.twitch.tv/vanalosswen Join the Discord! https://discord.gg/gYSp3vcrqs2024-10-101h 06Inspiration PointS6E37: Redesigning the RangerThis week, Adam and Tiana dive into a rewrite of the Ranger player class that Adam's been working on. The goal is to design to the Ranger fantasy, without being overly reactive to the 2024 changes to the class.The Google Doc with the rewritten class: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gCHFMjrHrnmmdlVeOJqFGaYVbxNY4flfQz-EeBcPlAE/edit?usp=sharingTo watch the Death Campaign live: https://www.twitch.tv/vanalosswen Join the Discord! https://discord.gg/gYSp3vcrqs2024-10-051h 13Inspiration PointS6E25: Running a Horror Game (Guest Host: Dan Waszkiewicz)This week, Adam and Tiana are joined by Dan Waszkiewicz, Handler of The Redacted Reports, to talk about running a horror game. We talk about tone and themes, along with some safety tools that we think are essential to the experience.Join our Discord to offer your opinions! https://discord.gg/gYSp3vcrqsDan's preferred safety toolkit: https://ttrpgsafetytoolkit.com/Check out Dan and Tiana on The Redacted Reports! www.theredactedreportspodcast.comCheck out a product in the Tiny D6 system Dan wrote for! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/258276/tinyzine-issue-72024-06-271h 12Inspiration PointS6E24: Dragon Age - The VeilguardThis week, Adam and Tiana take a break from discussing TTRPGs to discuss a game franchise we both hold dear: Dragon Age. There's a new trailer released (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4F3N4Lxw4_Y), and we have OPINIONS.Check out the upcoming Death game run by Adam with Tiana as a player at https://www.twitch.ttv/vanalosswenAnd join our Discord to offer your opinions! https://discord.gg/gYSp3vcrqs2024-06-2058 minInspiration PointS6E23: Death - Session ZeroThis week, Adam and Tiana talk about the session zero Adam ran for the new Patron games, including going over his table rules and the general conceit for the upcoming game.The streamed version of Death can be found here! https://www.twitch.tv/vanalosswenJoin our Discord to offer your opinion! https://discord.gg/gYSp3vcrqs2024-06-131h 08Inspiration PointS6E22: Roses and Thorns - A Gnarled Frontier Post-MortemThis week, Adam and Tiana discuss the recently-finished Patron game, Gnarled Frontier. Adam reflects on the lessons he learned as a GM from this campaign, and goes over some of his Roses (high points) and Thorns (challenges/learning opportunities). Join our Discord to offer your opinion! https://discord.gg/gYSp3vcrqs2024-06-061h 02Inspiration PointS6E19: Campaign Announcement and PreparationThis week, Adam and Tiana are thrilled to announce that Adam will be running a livestreamed D&D 5e game on Tiana's personal Twitch channel. The live session zero will be June 11th, with the campaign running through the summer. We're excited to give our listeners a sneak peek into what's coming down the pike. Join our Discord to stay updated! https://discord.gg/gYSp3vcrqsTiana's channel where the campaign will be aired: https://www.twitch.tv/vanalosswen2024-05-161h 13Inspiration PointS6E15: The Intention Is Not To IntendThis week, Adam and Tiana reflect on the Patron Westgate game we played the day before, and what it taught Adam in terms of GM control and how to let go. At the core of it all, punitive punishment AND mercy are forms of control that GMs need to examine and grow beyond. Join the conversation in the Discord: https://discord.gg/gYSp3vcrqs2024-04-1858 minInspiration PointS6E13: Campaign Planning Part 3This week, Adam wraps up taking Tiana through a campaign planning document he assigns to his D&D students in his day job. We've been having a good time diving deep into the core concepts of creating a campaign, so grab a notebook and start noodling your own ideas!The document Adam uses: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Alwm8ghRSKMFnOEP941VcYERXMxKadL3Df0WYmjKXsE/editJoin our Discord to continue the conversation! https://discord.gg/gYSp3vcrqs2024-04-041h 02Inspiration PointS6E12: Campaign Planning Part 2This week, Adam continues taking Tiana through a campaign planning document he assigns to his D&D students in his day job. We'll be diving deep into the core concepts of creating a campaign over the next few weeks, so grab a notebook and start noodling your own ideas!The document Adam uses: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Alwm8ghRSKMFnOEP941VcYERXMxKadL3Df0WYmjKXsE/editJoin our Discord to continue the conversation! https://discord.gg/gYSp3vcrqs 2024-03-281h 03Inspiration PointS6E11: Campaign Planning Part 1This week, Adam begins taking Tiana through a campaign planning document he assigns to his D&D students in his day job. We'll be diving deep into the core concepts of creating a campaign over the next few weeks, so grab a notebook and start noodling your own ideas!The document Adam uses: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Alwm8ghRSKMFnOEP941VcYERXMxKadL3Df0WYmjKXsE/editJoin our Discord to continue the conversation! https://discord.gg/gYSp3vcrqs2024-03-211h 07Inspiration PointS6E6: DMG Deep Dive - Creating EncountersThis week, Adam and Tiana talk about making encounters more than just trading hit points, using an encounter that happened in the Westgate Patron game Adam runs. We specifically look at page 81, where the DMG talks about Character Objectives that drive encounters. When you know your characters and what they want, focusing in on how to make the players feel is incredibly rewarding.Join our Discord to continue the conversation! https://discord.gg/gYSp3vcrqs2024-02-081h 01Inspiration PointS6E3: Factions and FamiliesThis week, Adam and Tiana talk about ways to begin your TTRPG game that doesn't involve "you walk into a tavern..." While that is a time-honored tradition, we feel like there's a ton of ways to get player characters together for that first session so they can start learning about each other, and one of our favorite ways is factions. Have a listen, see what you think! (Gnarled Frontier players, Adam requests that you skip 51:03 to 51:53 because of spoilers for your Patron game.)Join our Discord! https://discord.gg/fQkm2tFh7U2024-01-181h 05Inspiration PointS5E23: Winter Wrap-up!This week, Adam and Tiana welcome Andrew back onto the podcast to wrap up the year. We talk about Baldur's Gate, give Andrew a pop quiz on the subject we've talked about without him, and talk about holiday plans. Come join us as we finish up this year with warmth, laughter, and love.2023-12-141h 27Inspiration PointS5E19: Let Your Player Characters Know Things!This week, Adam and Tiana talk about the first session of the new Patron game, Westgate, and discuss a cool realization Adam had during the game. There's a lot of ways to get information to players and their characters! But one of the more interesting ways is for the players to know at least some of the knowledge, and let them pass it along in character whenever and however they see fit. Join our Discord! https://discord.gg/Qwc7KSfwtd2023-11-091h 05Inspiration PointS5E14: Player Character DeathThis week, Adam and Tiana dive into a topic that can be a challenge for both GMs and players: the death of a player character. We talk about examples from games that we've played, as well as looking at how character death can shape a story. While it can be a somber topic, as we all get deeply attached to the characters we play, we hope that this discussion can open up some discussion about when and why it's sometimes the right play.2023-10-051h 00Inspiration PointS5E13: Anxiety and Self-ConsciousnessThis week, Adam and Tiana take a bit of a step back from the mechanics of the game and talk about some of the struggles that come with running and playing games. Specifically, we discuss anxiety and the tendency to overthink every decision, and talk about some of the ways we handle that kind of mental struggle. We're not mental health professionals, but we are gamers and GMs who deal with this issue on a regular basis. 2023-09-281h 06Inspiration PointS5E12: Wrath of the Scorned Post Mortem and Gamer SpacesThis week, Adam and Tiana take a step back and talk about the Patron game that just wrapped up, Wrath of the Scorned. We discuss themes and how the final confrontation fit within the narrative of the game overall, and how Adam has been seeding things throughout that Tiana entirely missed until they came to fruition. We then switch over to talking about game tables and what we want from the spaces where we play. There's so many variables when it comes to tables and lighting and music; we have our preferences, but we're always open to new ideas. 2023-09-211h 07Inspiration PointS5E11: Encounter Builders - HagsThis week, inspired by events in Baldur's Gate 3, Adam and Tiana talk about hags. We talk about their origins in mythology, how they've been used in stories in the past, and how to set the stage to make the encounter truly memorable. CW: Light body horror.2023-09-151h 04Inspiration PointS5E10: Setup and PayoffIn this week's episode, Adam and Tiana talk about using setup and payoff to create memorable moments for your games. We show examples of setup leading to a satisfying payoff, and touch on a couple times in media when it doesn't work and discuss why that may be the case.Video referenced in the podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGDdpXLc1CQ&t=1s2023-09-071h 06Inspiration PointS5E9: Optimization and RoleplayingThis week, Adam and Tiana talk about the Do's and Don'ts of balancing optimization and roleplay. We all know the kinds of players who focus on getting their numbers higher, or the players who want to do something unoptimized for the sake of a good roleplay flavor. Where's the balance between the two, and what are some pitfalls to watch out for? 2023-08-311h 16Inspiration PointS5E8: Player JobsThis week, Adam and Tiana talk about jobs the players can take on to relieve some of the burden the GM carries. This is a great way to build up some of that Strength player stat, and make things easier for the GM as well. This is by no means an exhaustive list! Add to the list or take away as suits your table.2023-08-241h 16Inspiration PointS5E7: Player Stats - MentalThis week, Adam and Tiana continue the conversation by delving deeper into the mental stats: Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma. We definitely have opinions about which stat is the most important, but we feel that a blend of the stats is necessary for every player. 2023-08-171h 41Inspiration PointS5E6: Player Stats - PhysicalThis week as a follow-up to the previous episode talking about GM stats, Adam and Tiana talk about physical player stats: Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, so we talk about what it looks like to be strong in a stat, while offering some suggestions for how to improve your game in that area. 2023-08-101h 24Inspiration PointS5E5: Making Meaningful QuestsThis week, Adam and Tiana discuss something we consider to be the meat and potatoes of a good TTRPG experience: making quests that are meaningful for players. Everything in a TTRPG experience should be character-centric, but how does that translate to quests and getting PCs where we want them to be?2023-08-031h 04Inspiration PointS5E4: Plot vs. Exposition vs. DialogueThis week, Adam and Tiana talk about managing information in a TTRPG and how best to give players information without their eyes glazing over. We all know the desire to tell players everything, but is that the best way to get information across? Let's talk about it!2023-07-271h 16Inspiration PointS5E3: Races in TTRPGsIn this episode, Adam and Tiana discuss the hot-button issue of races in TTRPGs. While we briefly touch on some of the real world problems connected to fantasy races, we focus more on what makes a race within storytelling interesting while using the mechanics, because the story is the most interesting aspect of the game for us. 2023-07-201h 21Inspiration PointS05 E2: Forgotten Rules of the Forgotten RealmsIn this episode, Adam and Tiana talk about the optional rules from the D&D Player's Handbook and Dungeon Master's Guide that are seldom used or generally ignored. While the devil is certainly in the details, we think that there's also a lot of flavor and storytelling that can really shine in the usage of optional rules. 2023-07-131h 17Inspiration PointS05 E1: (Re)Introductions and Romance in TTRPGsIn this episode, Adam gives a brief explanation about what's been going on behind the scenes and introduces his new co-host: Tiana Ren Hanson. It's been a while since she was last on this show, so we talk about her experience in TTRPGs, performance, podcasts, and life in general. We then discuss a topic near and dear to both of our hearts: romance in TTRPGs and how it can add greater depths to the emotional experience at the table. While romance can be considered to be one of THOSE topics, we think there's a lot to be gained if...2023-07-061h 20Inspiration PointS04 E17: Homebrew 5e ChangesAfter all the things that have been happening with WotC and the direction OneD&D seems to be going in, Adam has been thinking a lot about various alternative changes that could be implemented in order to bring a different feeling to playing the game. To top it off, many of the changes we discuss here are changes you could implement at your own table very easily; so give 'em a shot!Support the show2023-05-291h 24Inspiration PointS04 E15: Let's Make A Dangerous Destination 2!In this episode, Adam wants to build a new dangerous destination to be used in one of his upcoming games (and you can, too!). So come sit down, and watch this place, and its story, come together in real time, right before our eyes.Support the show2023-05-161h 29Inspiration PointS04 E12: VTT Prep ProcessThis week, we sit down to talk about how to go about Adam's process for getting ready to run a TTRPG session online using a Virtual Tabletop (VTT). So sit on down and join us as we get digital! :DSupport the show2023-04-081h 15Inspiration PointS04 E10: The Exploration PillarWithin many TTRPGs, most folks consider there to be 3 pillars of gameplay: Combat, Exploration, and Roleplay. Combat, as most of us know, tends to get a lot of attention, but the other two get much less-so. So, this week, we explore exploration with a little hands-on time where we get to meet an Andrew character, and that character does his level best to move through the world that Adam has ready for him. Let's see what this fellow manages to get up to, and what we can learn from his... efforts. :)Support the show2023-03-201h 08Inspiration PointS04 E05: Adam's System IdeaOn this episode, in light of the Wizards of the Coast OGL debacle, Adam is looking to workshop an idea for his own little RPG, so we do just that! Come sit down with us and see if you come up with any ideas of your own. :)Support the show2023-02-131h 05Inspiration PointS04 E04: Gear-Grinding Bad HabitsWhen it comes to TTRPGs (or even life in general), it can become easy to fall into some bad habits that can suck all the joy out of what should be a really fun pass-time. Join us this week as Adam gets a handful of these off his chest in an effort to help us all to better how we treat one another.Support the show2023-02-061h 01Inspiration PointS03 E45: Lessons Learned This YearJoin us on this final episode of the year, Adam and Andrew sit down to talk about what they learned this year, and how we might be able to use those lessons learned in order for us all to have even better TTRPG experiences in the year to come.Support the show2022-12-241h 26Inspiration PointS03 E43: FATE School 6 (Guests: Robert Hanz & Tiana Hanson)Fate School is back for episode 6 and this week, we talk about Adam's first time running Fate, answer more questions, and do some clarifications!In this series, we're learning in real-time how to play the FATE RPG system! If you haven't listened to the previous episodes, start with Fate School 1 HERE, 2 HERE, 3 HERE, and 4 HERE, and 5 HERE!You can find the rules, as well as the Book of Hanz, in digital form for FREE2022-11-272h 03Inspiration PointS03 E36: GM Mental Stat LevelingLast week, Adam and Andrew discussed how a GM could level up their "physical" attributes. This week, they discuss how a GM can increase their Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma!Support the show2022-10-081h 25Inspiration PointS03 E34: What are YOUR GM stats?On this episode, Adam presents a terrific idea: let's take the base attributes from D&D (strength, dexterity, constitution, intelligence, wisdom, and charisma), and see how those could apply to a GM. Listen in, think about what your stats and class would be, and be sure to let us know!Please toss us a great rating and write us a review!Check out the patreon over at patreon.com/inspirationpointSupport the show2022-09-241h 23Inspiration PointS03 E33: 2-Year Campaign LookbackOn this episode, we take a look at Adam's ongoing epic, level 1-20 campaign that is nearing its conclusion, and we discuss the many lessons that have been learned over the course of this massive journey.Support the show2022-09-161h 26Inspiration PointS03 E29: Let's Make A Planet! (for Adam's SPELLJAMMER game!!!)On tonight's episode, we go completely off-book and make. a. planet. FROM SCRATCH! Join us for an incredible, memorable adventure.Support the show2022-08-121h 23Inspiration PointS03 E26: FATUM Character CreationThe better title for this episode is "A Date With FATUM" but it only works once you know how to pronounce FATUM (FATE-um), so instead that title up there is what you get. On the other hand, FATUM is an awesome character backstory creation tool that uses a bunch of really cool cards. Adam takes us through it and we come up with something both new and yet all-too-familiar. Sit on down and take your FATE...um... into your own hands!Support the show2022-07-221h 30Inspiration PointS03 E23: How Cults Really WorkCults have to be one of the most common groups of bad guys that players are likely to run into in tabletop RPGs (probably right behind Bandits), but does the whole "Dark robes and doing objectively scary stuff" thing really make sense? Tonight we take a look at how cults work in the real world, and at ways you can use it to make the fake cults in your game a lot more believable, insidious, and hate-able.Trigger Warning: Cults ARE a real, and do exist in the real world, and have often br...2022-06-241h 45Inspiration PointS03 E22: What Andrew Thinks He WantsIn this somewhat unique episode, Andrew brings a topic to the table, hoping to pitch the idea of wanting to play in a game where the story and theme(s) are emergent rather than planned by the GM. The discussion does not go according to plan and turns into... well... something a bit deeper.Fair warning: this episode may seem a bit meandering or I (Andrew) may sound crazy or my idea may even seem half-baked (it wasn't, but I am sure I could have explained things far better), but I think there is a lot of v...2022-06-171h 33Inspiration PointS03 E21: Make Shopping Fun!On this week's episode, Adam wants to talk about "shopping" sessions—basically sessions that have to do with gathering items/goods/materials/etc. and in what ways a session based around that can be fun. Join us as we bounce ideas around and talk some shop. ... ping... :DSupport the show2022-06-031h 11Inspiration PointS03 E20: Player Type Tier ListTonight, Adam brings a super duper Adam-y topic to the show: the Player Type Tier List! So, sit on down and join us as we discuss which types of players we find ourselves wanting at our table, and of course, which we don't.NOTE: This episode is not intended to call anyone out, but instead encourage us to emphasize the things that we all do best, and work on the areas in which we struggle. All of us are a mix of many (if not all) of these different player types...2022-05-271h 44Inspiration PointS03 E19: Free Campaign Ideas!On this episode, Andrew wants to throw you all a bunch of free ideas for things like campaigns, adventures, player character connections, and stuff like that. This episode is far less about teaching you to fish ('cuz we do that a lot already, lol) and instead decides to just hand you a big net full of fish. It's up to you to decide which ones you like, and which ones seem... well... fishy.... :P Enjoy! Support the show2022-05-201h 14Inspiration PointS03 E17: Narrative & Mechanical TiersOn tonight's episode, we have a casual chat that touches on both narrative and mechanical tiers of play. Join us as Andrew tries to explain what he's thinking about, and Adam tries to decipher what Andrew is explaining (lol).Support the show2022-05-071h 12Inspiration PointS03 E16: Homebrew System ExperimentJoin us on this unique episode as Adam runs Andrew through a scenario using a system he developed in an hour, and hang out for the discussion about the results afterward! Please be advised that while there is no content in this episode that is directly offensive, some of it may feel a bit intense for younger listeners. Thanks and enjoy!Support the show2022-04-301h 28Inspiration PointS03 E15: Lessons LearnedJoin us for this introspective episode where we take a look back at Andrew's experience running (and Adam's experience playing) Curse of Strahd for just over the past year. Andrew takes a close look at what he learned, and we explore the different preferences we as players and GMs have, as well as other elements such as using modules, playing in person vs. virtually, and even the idea that not every player will fit well with every GM (and vice versa). Support the show2022-04-231h 36Inspiration PointS03 E14: Rewards and IncentiveOn this episode, Adam brings an important topic to the table: Rewards and Incentive. Rewards are the one of the best way to teach those playing your games what you would like to see from them. In this episode, we not only discuss the theory of rewards and why they work, but also various tangible and intangible rewards you can use in your next game! So join us for an episode we hope you'll find very... well, rewarding!Support the show2022-04-091h 17Inspiration PointS03 E12: Worldbuilding 101 (Part 2)On this episode, Andrew and Adam continue and conclude their foray into worldbuilding using 20 questions found in The Ultimate RPG Game Master's Worldbuilding Guide by James D'amato. If you haven't listened to part 1, we encourage you to do so! :DSuggestion: Grab a piece of paper and something to write with, and try to answer the questions as we go along! We'd love to hear what you come up with. :)Support the show2022-03-251h 41Inspiration PointS03 E10: Let's Get Dangerous 2!Tonight, Adam and Andrew crack open Andrew/Nord Games' pdf of Dangerous Destinations, the sequel to the ever-inspirational Spectacular Settlements! The results are.... well.... You'll just have to hear for yourself, but suffice to say we feel that it rises to the challenge set forth by its predecessor: the infamous Bayou Barbarians from way back in Episode 4 of Season 2.Support the show2022-03-111h 43Inspiration PointS03 E08: New GM QuestionsOn tonight's episode, Adam brings a bunch of questions he received from GMs new to the hobby who are wondering many things that are often echoed by the general community at large.Support the show2022-02-261h 35Inspiration PointS03 E06: Precious PetsOn this episode, Adam and Andrew talk about the awesomeness that are pets, (both in your TTRPG, as well as just in general)! So sit down right meow as we look at the various ways pets can contribute to your experience (and how they can sometimes hamper it).Mentioned in this episode:Pokemon Rusty: https://youtu.be/ZVTLsQ8iNCMElements of Inspiration Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/nordgames/elements-of-inspirationSupport the show2022-02-111h 35Inspiration PointS03 E04: You're Not Better Than A Tavern!On this weeks episode, we talk about Andrew's observation that there are many in the community who think badly of the humble, tried-n-true trope of the RPG party meeting in a tavern, and disabuse anyone who may have been misled until now of the notion that the party starting in a Tavern is lame or played-out.Spoiler Alert: IT AINT!Also mentioned in this episode: Remarkable Inns / Remarkable Shops by Loresmyth Games.Support the show2022-01-291h 21Inspiration PointS03 E03: Paladin ParleyWell met! Tonight, Adam brings with the righteous topic of the Paladin to the table, so we talk about our feelings on the paladin offerings overall in 5e and how they measure up to what "Paladin" means to us. Perhaps that's a bit lofty, but tell us, what does "Paladin" mean to you?Support the show2022-01-221h 33Inspiration PointS03 E01: ResolutionsWelcome back to another season of Inspiration Point for the year of 2022! Join us as we sit down to talk about all the cool stuff we want to do this year, and kick it off right by listening to Adam try in vain to wrangle Andrew.Support the show2022-01-081h 10Inspiration PointS02 E43: Fun Times With VoicesOn tonight's episode, we thought we'd have some fun and do some two-person scenes with some different voices! If you ever wanted to hear a two-headed ogre brainstorm with itself about the best methods of robbing travelers on the road, you're in for a treat. Come sit on down, get out of the cold, grab your favorite holiday beverage, and enjoy an evening of silliness with your good pals, Andrew and Adam. :) Happy Holidays!Support the show2021-12-241h 21Inspiration PointS02 E40: Build-A-Dragon!This episode, Adam busts out his brand new copy of Fizban's Treasury of Dragons and we build ourselves a dragon! As always, there are twists, turns, and shocking surprises, so hold onto your butts, 'cause it's DRAGON TIME!Support the show2021-11-201h 22Inspiration PointS02 E39: Roleplay Your Rolls!On tonight's episode, Andrew wants to talk about roleplaying your rolls instead of just referring to your character's obvious strengths, or only referring to what's explicitly written on your character sheet. We also talk about Adam's unflinching resolve when it comes to honoring commitments, and then we do some roleplay exercises. So sit on down, and join us for some good ol' RP fun!Support the show2021-11-121h 19Inspiration PointS02 E36: Tell Me What You WantOn tonight's episode, we dig into discovering what your players want from a future campaign! Often, GMs will develop their campaign in a bubble of isolated, mysterious creativity and it's easy to forget that in this cooperative hobby, we should cooperate! So tonight, Adam helps Andrew try to pin down what kind of campaign he would like to play, utilizing favorite movies, tv shows, mash-ups, tropes, and all sorts of points of interest. So have a seat and let's explore how to get your players to tell you what they want; what they really really want!2021-10-151h 15Inspiration PointS02 E35: Adam's IRL XPOn tonight's episode, Andrew talks with Adam about the things he's been doing recently regarding TTRPGs and what lessons he's taken away from them.Support the show2021-10-091h 11Inspiration PointS02 E30: Open Discussion (Guest: Spike Murphy-Rose)On this episode, Adam sits down with returning friend of the show and veteran GM Spike Murphy-Rose and does his level best to plumb the dark and ever-swirling depths that are the contents of Spike's mind. This episode is chock full of tidbits like these:In-person vs. onlineChallenges in teaching the gameInvesting in your experienceGM mole at the tableMore exciting combatAlternative rulesPlayer investment capacityPlanning: Stuff for you, and stuff for your PCsFuture campaign setting wish listsAlso mentioned in this episode:Bounty Hunters RPG by Guy Sclanders: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/guysclanders/bounty-hunter-a-ttrpg...2021-08-271h 25Inspiration PointS02 E29: Game Design TheoryOn this episode, Adam flies solo and decides to talk about Game Design Theory. He does a deep dive into what makes a game a game, what "play" really is, and how we can apply these (as well as other) fundamental principles to make our RPG experience at the table that much better. So, sit on down and get ready to level up, because game design class is in session!Support the show2021-08-2059 minInspiration PointS02 E27: Rough SessionsOn this episode, Adam and Andrew, the dulcet duo, are back at it, just the two of them! We hear a bit about Adam's process for running his Interactive Storytelling [Read: D&D] class, and how he's growing this new crop of RPG initiates. After that, we do some thinking about what to do, and how to process, when you have a bad, rough, or otherwise dissatisfying session (SPOILER ALERT: The answer is NOT "never run again!"). So sit on down, and treat yourself to some encouragement, because you can do this, and we believe in you. :) 2021-07-311h 15Inspiration PointS02 E22: A Different Perspective (Guest: Chris Lee, aka. A.B.I.)In tonight's episode, Andrew isn't with us (btw, it's weird writing about your own absence in the third person...). To fill the gaping hole temporarily left in his heart, Adam has brought on a new guest. Chris Lee (A.B.I. of SugarPunch Design Works) is a good friend of ours, an active member of our own gaming group, as well as an excellent animator, gamer, and essayist. He also shares with us his hopes and struggles as they relate to the representation and popularity of his culture in the hobby.Please check out SugarPunch on YouTube...2021-06-261h 14Inspiration PointS02 E16: Interview With A Master GM (Guest: Spike Murphy-Rose)On this episode, Andrew is absent so Adam goes rogue and pulls in Inspiration Point's very first Patron and resident expert game master, Spike Murphy-Rose! Adam uses his wiles to get Spike to divulge all his secrets. Spike also takes us on a trip back through time, back to the early days of the hobby when dinosaurs roamed the earth and we had to play our RPGs with things like "actual dice" and "paper." Man, what a long way we've come!Support AJ Picket's Kickstarter! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ajpickett/big-pockets-silicone-tabletop-rpg-productsSupport the show2021-05-141h 31Inspiration PointS02 E07: Andrew's ProcessOn this episode, Adam decides to interview Andrew about his time working on Spectacular Settlements and really take a look at what the process of creating a book is like. Tune in for some encouraging words, and a realistic rundown of generally what goes into making the books for the games we all love so much!Nord Games: https://nordgamesllc.com/Free Preview of Spectacular Settlements: https://nordgamesllc.com/product/spectacular-settlements-pdf-preview/Inspiration Point Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/inspirationpointSupport the show2021-02-201h 10Inspiration PointS02 E04: Let's Get DangerousIn this episode, Andrew and Adam decide to get creative... DANGEROUSLY creative, because they decide they're going to play around with the content Andrew has been working on for Nord Games upcoming book DANGEROUS DESTINATIONS (check out the kickstarter here!). We roll some dice, come up with some funny stuff, and wind up with a place that is something quite special indeed. Join us and use the roll results we come up with for your own interpretation!Support the show2021-01-301h 20Inspiration PointS02 E03: DowntimeIn this episode, Adam and Andrew take a look at what to do when the adventurers aren't adventuring! Downtime is important, and it helps flesh out not only the characters, but the world they exist in, and helps to build the player's/character's investment in that world.Also mentioned in the show is the currently running Kickstarter from Nord Games: Dangerous Destinations! This is the sequel to their giant book Spectacular Settlements. Please go check it out, and support it any way you can!https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/nordgames/dangerous-destinationsSupport the show2021-01-231h 09Inspiration PointS02 E02: New GM EncouragementIn this episode, Andrew and Adam get to talking about a whole bunch of different things, and wind up talking about the first session of Andrew's Curse of Strahd session, and how things went. This wound up dovetailing nicely into how we can encourage folks who don't GM (or at least don't do it often) to give it a shot, and how we can be supportive.During the show, we mention an article relating to how Dungeons & Dragons has been used as therapy for kids. Here's the link for that:https://www.bbc.co.uk...2021-01-151h 09Inspiration PointS01 E19: Drama Class (Guest: Nathan Stamper)In our nineteenth and final episode for the year of 2020, we welcome special guest Nathan Stamper on the show! Nathan is a skilled role-player, trained theater professional, and also the very first GM that Andrew ever had! Tune in to hear Andrew, Adam, and Nathan discuss a whole bunch of terrific strategies, tips, and techniques that can be pulled from the arena of theater and used to make our experience as players and GMs that much richer. We hope you enjoy it, and we'll be back in January of 2021 to start Season 2 of Inspiration Point!Support the show2020-12-271h 36Inspiration PointS01 E18: Cyberpunk 2077 ReviewIn our eighteenth episode, Andrew and Adam have gotten their hands on Cyberpunk 2077, and it's time to hash it out. They take a hard look at an incredibly ambitious game, and give their honest, heartfelt views on the product as it currently stands. So tune in, and get your cyber-ears on, because it's time to talk some Cyberpunk!Support the show2020-12-201h 22Inspiration PointS01 E17: Importance of PreppingIn our seventeenth episode, Adam and Andrew decide that it's time to talk about prepping. No, not doomsday prepping. Prepping for your games! We talk about why prep is important, take a look at some of the pitfalls of over-prepping, and think about the idea of the GM letting go of the reins a bit to allow the players to aid in building the world. After all, it is *cooperative* storytelling!Support the show2020-12-131h 04Inspiration PointEpisode 16: Attitude of GratitudeIn our sixteenth (and belated Thanksgiving) episode, Andrew and Adam take some time to do something very important: think about what they're grateful for. We talk about food (Andrew even provides a super easy no-bake pie recipe!), family, games, and the magic that this hobby brings into all of our lives.Support the show2020-12-041h 03Inspiration PointS01 E15 (Part 2): The Art of Playing & GMingIn part 2 of our fifteenth episode, Adam and Andrew discuss how being a player and a game master can be a real art form, and take a look at some ways we can all try to push ourselves and get the absolute most out of our experiences.Support the show2020-11-2656 minInspiration PointS01 E15 (Part 1): Let's Make Villains!In part 1 of our fifteenth episode, Andrew and Adam undertake a fun creative effort and come up with two interesting villains, and some very interesting circumstances that surround them.Support the show2020-11-2054 minInspiration PointS01 E14: Pulling Punches & RandomnessIn our fourteenth episode, Adam wants to explore when (and when NOT) to pull punches or otherwise intervene to avoid character death. Heresy? Tune in to find out! After that, Andrew wants to talk about what randomness really brings to the table and why it's really so important to this experience we all love oh so very much.Support the show2020-11-131h 00Inspiration PointS01 E13: The Comfort Zone & GM LoveIn our thirteenth episode, Andrew thinks it's about time to help us break free of the comfort zone, and throws out a few ways we can try to do that. Adam, on the other hand, wants us to make the GM's life a tad more nice and comfortable. He thinks we should do this by loving our GMs in many, many ways.Support the show2020-11-071h 10Inspiration PointS01 E12: Homebrewing & Passive PowerIn our twelfth episode, Adam brings up the ever-popular topic of homebrewing and creating our own cool stuff. Andrew decides to take a look at how allowing passive successes and not asking for too many checks can help our characters to feel more powerful, capable, and believable.Support the show2020-11-011h 02Inspiration PointS01 E11: Do the Dumb Thing & DialogueIn our eleventh episode, we cover our new show format, Andrew wants to talk about the virtues of doing dumb, crazy things in-game, and Adam wants to talk about how to make dialogue sharp, meaningful, and how to avoid time-wasting conversation.Support the show2020-10-2359 minInspiration PointS01 E10: Party Talk & TacticsIn our tenth episode, Adam wants to talk about inter-party communication, role-playing amongst ourselves, and ways to get characters interacting with one another. Andrew wants to explore the wonderful world of effective tactics.Support the show2020-10-071h 30Inspiration PointS01 E09: Cyberpunk 2077 Hype & Lessons From Video GamesIn our ninth episode, Andrew wants to talk about how hyped he is for Cyberpunk 2077. In keeping with the subject of video games, Adam brings up the topic of taking ideas from video games to use in our tabletop games, and what to do, or not do with those ideas.Support the show2020-10-071h 38Inspiration PointS01 E08: Grounding in Reality & FearIn our eighth episode, Adam advises us all on the importance of grounding our creations in reality and the added depth that it can bring. Andrew wants to explore some territory that is unfamiliar to him, yet also piques his interest: fear, terror, and horror at the table, as well as some tips that might just help us get genuine emotional responses from players.Support the show2020-09-251h 40Inspiration PointS01 E07: The Monsters Know & Character ArcsIn our seventh episode, Andrew cracks open Keith Ammann's The Monsters Know What They're Doing (and spoiler alert: the monsters know a lot). After that, Adam wants to talk about character arcs, and how you can take your character on a worthwhile journey.Support the show2020-09-232h 03Inspiration PointS01 E06: Bartle's Taxonomy & ImmersionIn our sixth episode, Adam takes a look at Bartle's Taxonomy, where we look at what kind of different categories of player are out there, and the stuff that makes them tick. After that, Andrew talks about immersion, and ways to get more of it from your time at the table. Support the show2020-09-072h 18Inspiration PointS01 E05: One-upsmanship & Save the CatIn our fifth episode, Andrew touches on how we as people can reflexively try to best one another in-game and even out, and looks at ways we can recognize this, and hopefully work to get better at this to be better gamers, better friends, and better people. Adam talks about character likeability and story structure (from a film perspective) and how it can be applied to your own story creation and games. Adam does this by taking a look at "Save The Cat," a book by Blake Snyder. Support the show2020-08-181h 46Inspiration PointS01 E04: Between-Session Emails & ProphecyIn our fourth episode, Adam talks about using emails to handle situations for individual characters without disrupting the game. Andrew then brings up the idea of prophecy, the role it plays in games (and stories) and we try to hash out how to best use it in-game.Support the show2020-08-101h 44Inspiration PointS01 E03: Rule of Cool & Easy NPC InfoIn our third episode, Andrew brings up the all-important "Rule of Cool" and gives some guidelines on how to use it in your games. Adam then introduces a low-prep, highly effective and easy-to-use way to manage NPC information. No longer will you waste time trying to slog through paragraphs of text when you just need a little guidance at the table.Support the show2020-07-292h 02Inspiration PointS01 E02: Keepers & Memorable MomentsIn our second episode, Adam wants to talk about what things make D&D what it is, and should be kept if/when they make a new edition. Andrew wants to talk about memorable moments and what make them so special, and what's needed to have them in your own game.Support the show2020-07-171h 45Inspiration PointS01 E01: Party Leaders & Tough ChoicesIn this first episode we meet our hosts, Andrew and Adam. This episode's inspiration points revolve around how to deal with deciding on a Party Leader, and addressing what happens when a party gets stuck on Tough Choices.Support the show2020-07-161h 07