Shows
Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionBurnoutWe're back after a short, unscheduled break to discuss burnout with fan of the show and Warhammer sensei, Harry Cowdrey. Having both suffered from DM burnout in the past, as I'm sure most DMs have, we talk through what we can now identify as the early warning signs that it's about to set in. Prevention rather than cure is of course the solution though, so understanding why it's happening is critical. Thankfully, this episode contains several tricks for dealing with DM burnout. The other side of the coin is just as valid, though, so we round out the episode...
2023-04-211h 04Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionMore LiveCharity Donation Page: https://justgiving.com/fundraising/sl-gameon23
Charity Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/thinkcritdnd
This episode was recorded live at the RPGaming Faversham event on 18th March 2023, organised by Boys from the Baltic Star. The first half was recorded with The Keeper of our Cult of Cthulhu TTRPG session moments before starting, while the second half catches us as we recover from the horrors we experienced.
05:21 - Pre-game Intros and Explanations
11:16 - Post-game Therapy
Find Steve at:
Broadside Game Show: https://www.miltonhundred.com/broadside
Find Thinking Critically online:
...
2023-03-2429 minThinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionMystery*Minor Outer Wilds spoilers in this episode*
I'm joined by Michael K. Ross from The RPG Academy to talk how to design enthralling and fair mysteries, puzzles, and enigmas.
Action 12 Cinema Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/therpgacademy/action-12-cinema
12-Hour Charity Stream for Naomi House: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sl-gameon23
04:24 - There’s Been a Murder!
12:54 - Crafting Rewarding Mysteries
29:53 - Implicit Trust and the Beauty of Experimentation
45:35 - Building a Thematic Setting
55:33 - Quickfire Tips
Find Michael on:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheRpgAcademy
Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.co...
2023-03-101h 11Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionIntegrityCW: Slavery
I'm joined by Ben, Ewan, and Luke from the Boys from the Baltic Star Traveller stream to discuss some of the many different definitions of integrity in TTRPGs. Nothing is off the table as we share tips on building memorable heroes and villains with strong identities in logically consistent settings, along with the meta-topic of how to stay true to oneself in the competitive and ever changing content creation market. Apologies for the technical difficulties in this one, leaving us with just Ben!
03:30 - Being Honest with the Game
17:52 - The Nature of Evil...
2023-02-241h 04Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionAdventure“I found them all. I won."
Finally, I welcome George from our 'Dungeons, Dice, and Dudes' actual play podcast to discuss how to build adventures, and why it's important to define one. No matter if you're top-down or bottom-up, there always needs to be that call to adventure, a catalyst, and the form that takes can drastically alter the theme and direction of a campaign. Giving your players that Elden Ring moment is all about the "scale in detail"; having a wide enough pond to splash around in with just enough depth to make it worthwhile.
03:48...
2023-02-101h 04Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionWorldbuildingThis episode I'm joined by Harlen Ogni, DM of previous guest Aaron's Games and prolific worldbuilder, with a staggering 250,000 words on World Anvil! Harlen joins me to to chat about our approaches to worldbuilding and what drives us to put pen to paper.
02:52 - Catharsis
13:22 - Letting Go of Your World
31:34 - Environmental Storytelling
46:03 - Of Gods and Kings
Find Harlen on Twitter: https://twitter.com/OgniHarlen
Find Thinking Critically online:
Website: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk
Socials: @ThinkCritDnD
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThinkCritDnD
Dungeons, Dice, & Dudes: https://linktr.ee/DDandD
References:
2023-01-2758 minThinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionOGLThe sky is falling! It's my pleasure to welcome back Matthew Perkins to discuss this months HOT TOPIC: the "leaked" snippets of the alleged OGL 1.1. Disclosure: this episode was recorded on 7th January, we are not lawyer or legal experts, and neither of us have any official affiliation with WotC or Hasbro, nor any familial connection to Christopher Perkins! Through that lens we take a satirical but earnest look at the alleged OGL 1.1, what it means for each of us and the future of the hobby, while trying to avoid the overwhelming doom and gloom.
06:41 - Ownership Troubles...
2023-01-131h 18Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionSpellsThis mystical episode I'm joined by Jack Weighill of Dice Average RPG to discuss the minutia of the magical. The way WOTC have designed spells is an interesting insight into how they view D&D and how they suggest it should be played. Jack takes us through the best and worst spells, with some interesting surprises that you might not have thought of!
02:32 - Viewing D&D Through the Lens of Spell Design
08:10 - Why Healing is Wasteful
21:58 - Avoid these Spells!
29:13 - Subclass &Tier Considerations
29:16 - DM Agency & OP Spells
43:24 - Completely Busted Spells
Find Jack...
2022-12-091h 06Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionVarietyThis episode I'm joined by Ty Moore from Adventure Slang productions to talk about variety and diversity in TTRPGs. We discuss how having an open mind and trying different systems affects not only your approach to playing TTRPGSs, but also the lens through which you view them.
02:22 - Diversity Aided Design
06:15 - Different Approaches to TTRPGs
15:02 - Nuovarden - Non-Medieval Fantasy
23:06 - Maintaining Diversity and Balance
31:09 - Avoiding Misalignment Under the Guise of Variety
42:14 - Game Design Through a Different Lens
Find Ty on:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dungeonmisterty and https://twitter.com/AdventureSlang
Website: https://a...
2022-11-2555 minThinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionMore CommunityThis very special episode I'm joined by Greg Tito and Shelly Mazzanoble, hosts and producers of the official Dungeons & Dragons podcast: Dragon Talk! They take us through how recording their podcast and writing their new book, Welcome to Dragon Talk, has shaped their D&D experience and shown them all the wonderful ways we interact as a community!
03:16 - D&D Community Archetypes
15:18 - Surprising Applications
25:08 - Complex Systems
32:39 - Lowering the Barrier to Entry
47:38 - Online Communities
Find Greg and Shelly on:
Greg's Twitter: https://twitter.com/Gregtito
Shelly's Twitter: https://twitter.com/shellymoo
Dragon...
2022-11-111h 01Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionBrandingPart 3 in our Marketing for TTRPG Creators Series
Webinar sign up: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScjBv3TgGVtqTdIfU3az6Izhw-p0_QlIf_Z5fW2iYBIWEw7zw/viewform
Zack from Applewhite Games returns to the show to discuss the value of 'the person behind the logo' and how everything you do affects your reputation.
03:08 - How Branding Differs from Marketing
10:42 - The Silver Bullet of Good Branding
18:53 - You the Brand Versus You the Person
32:10 - Fear of Failure
38:48 - The Logo Game
46:48 - Etymology
Find Zack on:
Twitter: https://twitter.com...
2022-10-281h 03Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionProcessThis week I'm joined by friend and table mate Sam Henry to talk about our processes used for playing D&D, and how we use our professional backgrounds to improve our experiences.
05:21 - A Process Oriented Approach
15:46 - Difference Between Players and DMs
20:04 - The D&D Machine
27:46 - Character Creation
43:06 - Getting into Character
52:41 - Flow Charts!
Find Thinking Critically online: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk
References:
Dungeons, Dice & Dudes: https://linktr.ee/DDandD
'Mistakes' episode of Thinking Critically: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk/mistakes
'Progression' episode of Thinking Critically: https://www.thinkingcritically.c...
2022-10-141h 00Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionQualityThis week I'm joined by Cyle Durkee from Play-Nerd Allies and Foundation for Inclusivity in Gaming, to talk about how to have a quality gaming session. Running a TTRPG is more an art than it is science, and as such involves several layers of nuance and considerations. The tail end of the show is dedicated to how to have those sometimes awkward, game-impacting conversations, and how you should think carefully if considering using a TTRPG as therapy.
11:29 - Streaming Tabletop Content
16:09 - Creating a Quality Community
31:25 - Communicating Effectively
44:58 - Talk to your Players
Find Cyle on...
2022-09-301h 02Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionChaosThis episode I'm joined by the eponymous Aaron of Aaron's Games! Although not the first published, this episode was the first recorded without any preparation notes, in the spirit of the episode topic! Aaron and I discuss the inherent nature of TTRPGs, and how what some might consider "chaos", others would say is improvisation. Through character anecdotes, Aaron expertly describes how to introduce chaotic characters while bridging alignments and play styles.
02:33 - The Inherent Chaos of TTRPGs
14:07 - Managing Chaotic Characters
29:28 - Mixing Alignments
43:57 - The Improvisation Engine
Find Aaron on:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c...
2022-09-161h 01Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionMore MistakesMinor 'Lost Mine Of Phandelver' spoilers in this episode.
This week I host Derrick from the How Not To DM podcast (HN2DM), to once again talk about all the glorious mistakes we make! the most value from these kinds of discussions, however, is not what to avoid, but what can be learned. We are all beginners at some point, and so we share our experiences and how they can bring us all together in this hobby we love.
05:56 - The Biggest Mistake
18:54 - The Learning Experience
31:49 - What Makes a Good Player
Find Derrick...
2022-09-021h 02Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionExperimentingThis episode brings us Nick from the Hidden GMs Podcast to talk about experimentation in TTRPGs. We discuss the benefits of trying different systems and how they can positively impact how you run your current game. No matter what game you play, everything is dependant on the trust between the players and the GM. One way you can experiment in your D&D 5e game is by handing more control over to your players, be that via extensive character knowledge, in game, or collaborative worldbuilding outside of the game.
03:04 - Trying New Systems
15:32 - D&D 5e Experiments
30:17...
2022-08-191h 06Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionExtinctionOnce again I welcome Lucas Zellers, a.k.a @SparkOtter, as we continue our theme from the Monster episode. We discuss a critical topic as Lucas takes us through his new project: Book of Extinction. The book gives game statistics and lore for D&D 5e, alongside real-world history for some of the world’s most famous extinct animals. The project comes at a critical time as earth’s sixth mass extinction accelerates, with more species likely to disappear in the next 20 years than in the last century alone according to the National Academy of Sciences. We discuss the possi...
2022-08-0554 minThinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionWritingI'm once again joined by Bart Wynants (a.k.a. @critographer), this time to talk about how to write TTRPGs. As with many tasks, mind set and habit formation is of upmost importance for success. Bart suggests embodying different 'roles' when writing TTRPG content: The "Architect" for big picture, macro level structure. The "Builder" for content creation and putting meat on the bones. And finally, the "Interior Designer" for beautifying and improving the user experience. This compartmentalisation can help forward momentum by focusing on what's important at that time. A unique aspect of writing for TTRPGs is how you...
2022-07-2259 min
Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionHistoryThis episode I'm joined by Andrew & Vesna Gronosky from Shewstone Publishing, who leverage their extensive knowledge to discuss the implications of having a "history" in your TTRPG setting. The different lifespans of races can have a profound impact in their culture and what they consider important enough to record; what happened "a long time ago" to a human can be relatively "yesterday" to an elf. We can use these schisms to drive worldbuilding and roleplay opportunities. Fortunately for us, real life has volumes and volumes of inspiration, and most of the heavy lifting has already been done over the...
2022-07-0858 minThinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionCanonThis episode features Eli Royall from the We Play RPGs podcast family! We discuss how to establish canon in your setting, and the implications of having a standardised fiction. The second problem is how to communicate this to players and bridge that player/character divide; when a character has lived in the world for 50 years, how can the setting and DM effectively translate that into something players can use to guide their actions?
05:05 - The Duality of What's Canon
23:33 - The Player/Character Canon Canyon
40:02 - Accidental Fiction
Find Eli on:
We Play RPGs: https://weplayrpgspodcast.c...
2022-06-241h 00Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionFlavourThis spicy episode I'm joined by Fruits from The Homebakery to talk all about flavouring our D&D campaigns. A large portion of the show is spent discussing the different classes and their subclass options, and how their baggage inherently affects the flavour of player characters. We then move on to introducing food and drink into your campaign, and how it's perhaps an often overlooked vehicle for enabling role play opportunities.
01:38 - Pre-Baked Classes
10:24 - Impact of Sub-Class on Backstory
29:15 - Flavourful Campaigns
34:33 - Fantasy Food & Drink
42:00 - Flavouring your Role Play
51:42 - Subversion
Find Fruits on:
2022-06-1057 minThinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionMotivationOnce again I am joined by long time friends of the show and the inimitable hosts of Tabletop Journeys: Josh, Lewanika, and Glen. Their enthusiasm for TTRPGs is infectious and it's such a delight to provide a platform for their passion and talents. This episode about is what galvanises and moves us, as characters, players, and storytellers. It's interesting that PC motivation is not pre-baked in the building process, unlike backgrounds which are almost purely fluff and can sometimes have very little impact on gameplay. This has produced the idea of a "social contract" between players, the DM, and...
2022-05-271h 06Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionNewWelcome back! Season 4 opens with a self-indulgent, naval gazing look at the new player experience through the eyes of one my players: Matt Street. Matt joined my homebrew campaign in session 0 way back at the beginning of 2019 with his Tortle sorcerer A'Therin Trolldoor. Since then, over six chapters we've lost two players, four PCs and several NPCs. Matt shares his experiences learning D&D 5e from the ground up, having had no TTRPG experience before; the things he wasn't expecting (rekindling childlike joy) and his most surprising takeaways! We talk through the various tips that both jaded DMs such...
2022-05-131h 04Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionMythologyFor the season final I'm joined by Ramji, DM of The 4th Culture, an Asia-based TTRPG show which focuses on global voices and set in an Asian-influence homebrew world. We discuss global mythology and it's impact on TTRPGs, such as it's inherent euro-centricity and how this has affected published settings and games around the world. At it's core, D&D is collaborative storytelling, so it's more similar to folklore and myths than you might originally think! We go on to discuss tips for creating homebrew mythology, such as leveraging different systems and approaches to world building, along the way...
2022-04-151h 06Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionCommunityThis episode features Hope of the eponymous HopeForTTRPGs who shares with me how to build and maintain an active and safe community. She goes through some personal pitfalls and anecdotes of that growth, and the unique challenges it possesses. One thing to remember during it all is to look after, care for, and improve yourself, as nothing is worth getting burned out for. This episode also features me personifying the "grumpy old man shakes fist at [thing]" meme... several times! C O N T E N T
01:35 - A New Hope: Growth and Sustainability
12:52 - Discordance
17:02 - How...
2022-04-081h 03Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionDynamicsOnce again I'm joined by Ian a.k.a TheFoolishSwarmi, this time to talk about the different kind of dynamics in D&D. Most of the episode is focused on the discussion of how D&D is inherently a human experience, and how realising this and efforts to make the game more humane can drastically improve the experience for all at the table, in a safe way. TTRPGs operate in a shared space, and just as every table is unique, every group of players is it's own organism.
Thank you to everyone who donated to my charity...
2022-04-011h 02Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionAssembleThis episode stars Michael Kesavan, a.k.a. Dead Aussie Gamer, to talk about assembling the best game. Turns out, diversity and versatility are key, both in-universe and out of game. The types of players you have, and the characters they share, creates a unique social biome where we seek acceptance. DAG also takes us through some tips on starting a campaign, and why the negative perception of "starting in a tavern" is misguided.
3:02 - What if I Told You we were Putting a Team Together?
13:07 - The Social Biome
23:50 - Scheduling: The IRL BBEG
31:18 - Bringing People To...
2022-03-251h 04Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionContinuityThis episode I host Jarrod Jahoda and Matt Morris of Mid-Level Adventurers to talk all about maintaining continuity in your TTRPGs. We share many tips DMs can use to maintain internal consistency within their campaigns, as to ensure that verisimilitude and to support your players in suspending their disbelief. However, "no plan survives contact with the enemy" and as such, DMs must find ways to encourage and develop the impact and influence of the party on the world. From a players perspective, we ask the question of how do you develop a rich character who's job is being in...
2022-03-181h 09Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionStorytellingMinor Spider-Man: No Way Home spoilers in this episode!
I'm joined by Sam Bradley from Starter Set Studios to talk all how to tell, or be told, a good story. We dissect a couple of common storytelling tools such as 'show, don't tell', and how these translate to running a TTRPG. The implementation of these tools varies system to system, table to table, and requires additional overhead on the GM. I put Sam on spot by asking him exactly who's responsible, and how much so, for creating a good story. Our discussion could be considered a hot...
2022-03-111h 08Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionConsequencesThis episode I'm joined by Rev from The CritShow, the Powered by the Apocalypse podcast, to talk about the consequences of our actions. We agree that any consequence, positive or negative, must fit the the scale and scope of the inciting activity. This can be achieved by a sliding scale; it doesn't always have to be The Worst Possible Outcome for any given misstep. An element of PbtA games is how the GM can work with the players to build that shared narrative, something explicitly missing from D&D 5e. But with this collaborative approach to consequences, a larger...
2022-03-041h 00Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionKickstarterOnce again I'm joined by professional marketer and crowdfund-whisperer Zack Applewhite, of Applewhite Games, who shares his expertise in producing successful Kickstarters.
01:34 - Reframing Crowdfunding
12:29 - How To Get Started
20:22 - Pricing & Collaboration
32:55 - Promoting an Idea
39:26 - Spend Money to Make Money, and Other Contrived Platitudes
51:37 - Goals and how to Stretch Them
59:32 - Quickfire Tips!
Find Zack on:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ApplewhiteGames
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dndunlimited
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7r-XEWm-W-8AFML-LAaT_A/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zackapplewhite
Guilds of Eraegarth: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...
2022-02-251h 07Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionMotionThis full house episode I'm joined by the cast of The Fourth Leg podcast: Joe, Hunter, & Kelci. And we talk all about motion, momentum, and movement in your TTRPGs. One way you can keep the game moving as both a GM and player, is to engage with those "B" and "C" plots, which often come in the form of backstories. That being said, don't be afraid from abstaining from action, as this can still result in character growth. Often it's considered a GMs worst nightmare, when the characters do nothing, but there are always consequences, which are great springboards...
2022-02-181h 08Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionAlignmentOnce more I'm joined by Scott, a.k.a. Optional Rule! This time we discuss the hot topic of alignment in Dungeons & Dragons. Scott takes us through the history of alignment, and how it impacted and shaped the earliest editions of the game - I'm willing to bet you never knew how the cold war affects your player character! Despite all the (arguably justified) negativity around alignment, it still provides value in the utility of a consistent experience, the same reason USB is so ubiquitous! However, with all things involving humans, there is always the risk of misalignment (pun...
2022-02-111h 00Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionMusicThis melodic episode I'm joined by Stuart, a.k.a. Thisisbardcore, to talk about music and ambience in your TTRPG games. We break down the three primary ways games can be played and how they change what options are available to you as a GM, such as forced diegetic sounds courtesy of your local FLGS! I discuss my failed attempted at merging K-Pop and D&D, along with my several wasted hour curating now-redundant playlists. Stuart explains the trials and tribulations of being a modern day bard; when a PC is a little too good a reflection of the...
2022-02-041h 01Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionRelationshipsThis episode I'm joined by Hunter Royall from the "A Sundered World" podcast to talk about all the different relationship vectors in TTRPGs. The first being that between player and character, and how it's not always affection that's garnered - often resentment or animosity can take hold when the PC isn't effective or ends up different than what the player originally imagined. Hunter takes us through how having all the PCs related in-game affects the dynamic of a traditional adventuring party. We also encourage players to take advantage of all those unique and fantastic NPCs your GM has undoubtedly...
2022-01-281h 02Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionHooksThis episode I'm joined by Mike from Games Played Badly, to chat about story hooks in your TTRPGs! Ultimately, hooks are the main way to keep players engaged, with the GM acting as a kind of circus master; organised chaos. Hooks can take many forms, from critical pieces of information reigniting interest, to fun and goofy NPCs that the players get attached to - there are many methods of putting the proverbial food on the plate. As much an art as it is a science, the fungineering of hooks is a delicate balance of maintaining verisimilitude while still being i...
2022-01-211h 07Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionHorrorThis episode I'm joined by the GM of the Negative Modifier podcast, Charley, to discuss horror in our TTRGPs. Horror is variable and subjective, and so has unique challenges when attempting to introduce it into your setting. The first being the age old problem of having to play with other people! As everyone is different, it's impossible to know what another player might find uncomfortable, and even with a Session Zero it's challenging to appreciate the sensitivities of others. Juggling these issues can make introducing horror a terrifying experience (both literally and as a pun). The key, as with...
2022-01-141h 05Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionItemsThis episode features David Weinberger from the Shonen Flop podcast to talk all about introducing magical items into your Dungeons & Dragons campaign. It becomes apparent quickly that David and I run very different games when it comes to dishing out loot, which leads to some interesting discussions! Some DMs, myself included, can display a preciousness towards their campaign; a concern magic items will topple the delicately balanced spinning plates. Turns out, magic items are actually one small piece of a much larger puzzle, and can have as much or as little impact as you want. Should they cause the...
2022-01-0759 minThinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionBusinessThis episode I had the pleasure of hosting the founder of Paladin Roleplaying, Neil, to discuss running a TTRPG business. We talk about how the grassroots explosion has impacted the hobby, and what the future might now hold; will it go the same way as F2P, microtransaction-laden video games? Neil shares with several pearls of wisdom gained from running a business and four separate Kickstarters - we even have some world exclusive news about their next project! D&D fans, you had better listen! Finally, one aspect often undercooked in games is managing a business, despite the often...
2021-12-311h 01Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionEducationFor this episode I'm joined by Sam Cheung, known online as the Educational DM, who takes us through his years of experience in the educational and pastoral applications of Dungeons & Dragons. We discuss the various ways players can learn through D&D, for students and new players alike. Although the obvious challenges are arithmetic and creativity, Sam and I investigate the deeper ways players can improve themselves while playing. Questioning why the Queen wants you to despatch those "bandits", that is to say, who is most likely to benefit from this task, can help players strengthen that vitally important...
2021-12-241h 03Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionMashupsFor this mixed up episode I'm joined by Jeff Greiner, the DM of potentially the longest running actual play podcast, The Tome Show. Jeff & I talk about mashups not only within our favourite TTRPG, but within the hobby at large, covering several methods for effectively smushing together your favourite features! Jeff takes us through the ways and means he's brought together often disparate published modules such as Descent into Avernus and Curse of Strahd. One simple but effective method is to sprinkle in some foreshadowing which, despite requiring some additional overhead, reduces that potential for genre whiplash. Talking off...
2021-12-171h 06Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionAdaptationI am once again joined by Manny a.k.a. Growed Up Geek to talk about adaptation. One great way to kill two birds with one stone is by integrating player character backstories into published adventure modules; not only do you get to customise the module and make it unique, but the players feel embedded in the world and get to make it their own. As for DMing, there are two kinds of adaptation: Micro - that moment-to-moment, immediate response to player actions, and macro - adapting the world in response to the dynamic plot. For both, the DM...
2021-12-101h 07Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionEditingFor this extremely meta episode, I'm joined by producer and host of the Chafing Armor actual play podcast, Michael Corley. This one is light on actual D&D content, so please bare that in mind! Anyway, Michael and I discuss the finer points of the post-production process for Dungeons & Dragons podcasts, be they APs or chat shows. "Editing", for all it's connotations and bells & whistles, is often synonymous with "clarity", that is of both the quality and content. Despite all the mechanical baggage of audio editing (truncating silence, equalisers, noise reduction, etc.), a large part of it is uniquely...
2021-12-031h 02Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionDeathThis episode features the "Bard Killer" Seven from the 7th Roll podcast, and we talk all about the concept of death in our Dungeons & Dragons campaigns. We coin the phrase "murderhobo DM"; a DM who is more than comfortable with putting the PCs through some rough and tumble situations where death is a possibility. This can sometimes be at odds with a preciousness found in players who are attached to their characters, but if everyone is on board, this push and pull can make for great role play moments! One classic cause of PC death is player knowledge, or...
2021-11-261h 06Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionInspirationFor this inspirational episode I'm joined by Russel E Welch III, owner of Lingering Shadows Productions and Dungeon Master for their Spawn of Chaos actual-play series. Inspiration is about bringing something exemplary, be that from yourself or your character, and being able to promote harness that inspiration is of critical importance. But before we get to the philosophical, we first talk mechanical. We've found players often hoard their re-rolls, for various reasons. This is perhaps a hangover from video game tropes, or due to confusion as to about what it allows you to do and when. Bardic Inspiration, Inspiration...
2021-11-191h 04Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionMore EmotionsThis episode I'm joined by Mike "The Birdman" Dodd from This Week in Geek to discuss all about how TTRPGs make us feel. Part of the Game Master's job is to elicit emotions from their players, so we discuss a few ways this can be achieved in your system of choice. Often this will take the form of some classic tropes such as "victory, but at a cost", however it really depends on what you want them to feel at that specific time. Sometimes it's excitement, others is shock or even horror. The tools you use, and when you...
2021-11-121h 12Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionMonsterThis week I am joined by Lucas Zellers, host of the 'Making a Monster' podcast to talk, unsurprisingly, about monsters! This episode is broadly split into two halves, the first focusing on mechanical minutia of running stat blocks, including various tips and tricks, such as "do your homework"! We also discuss the elegance of Matt Coville's Action Oriented Monster design approach and how it highlights shortcomings in the design of Dungeons & Dragons. Running higher level monsters RAW is essentially parsing a database; it might not appear like it at first glance, but communicating intent, theme, history, and philosophy in...
2021-11-051h 03Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionStoryJon from the 'Tale of the Manticore' (@ManticoreTale) actual-play podcast joins me to talk about creating stories in Dungeons and Dragons. We open by tackling the academic: the seven story archetypes and how to crack the "code" of a compelling narrative. However, this quickly breaks down as the collaborative nature of TTPRGs inherently sets them apart from traditional media; the eternal struggle of story versus agency. There can be pressure on DMs to "tell a good story", but how does this impact player agency? Depending on the players, those two elements can often pull in opposite directions. By reframing...
2021-10-291h 05Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionLiveThis very special episode was recorded on location at Geek Retreat Southampton! As such, it has a slightly different format to all my previous episodes. I was fortunate enough to have Simon, James, Anastazia, and Anri share with me their TTRPG experiences and what bought them to the store that night. We cover a broad range of topics including how playing "in public" affects the experience, the concept of a "co-DM", and what it's like to play with a pick-up-group of strangers. It was such a pleasure to have the opportunity to speak to such a talented and diverse...
2021-10-151h 24Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionGrowthThis episode I'm joined by Aaron Preuss (@Primus_Casts) to discuss growth within Dungeons & Dragons, and there's a lot to unpack here. Most people find their own character designs evolve and mature over time, and Aaron takes us through a couple of his own examples which can serve as inspiration and springboards for your own creations. Having genuine and believable flaws for your character is a fantastic thing, as it provides room for growth over the course of the adventure. More difficult, however, is figuring out how to make those flaws work effectively within a party, each struggling with...
2021-10-0856 minThinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionHumourThis episode I'm joined by table top game creator and narrative designer Geoffrey Golden to dissect humour, which we all know is everyone's favourite thing to do! I start by absolutely butchering Kevin MacLeod's surname and for that, I can never apologise enough. Once that horrible faux pas is left behind, we move on to the juicy topic how the mechanics of a TTRPG impact and guide humour within a particular setting, and ways you can use the mechanics to elicit emotion. Indeed, most games have something a stake, be it existential obliteration or a more personal plight, and...
2021-10-011h 03Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionNarrativeThis episode I'm joined by Adam from Snyder's Return to debate the pros and cons of narrative focused TTRPG systems. Such an interesting topic overflowing with meaning, subjectivity, and design intent; this episode covers it all! Firstly, Adam and I set the scope of the show by defining the terms and systems, setting the foundation for next 55 minutes. We then go on to dissect how the relatively crunchy, mechanics-heavy D&D system inevitably impacts the narrative, and the steps you can take to either mitigate, or engage this direction. For example, having a character sheet full of numbers can...
2021-09-241h 02Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionAestheticCW: 36:40-37:10 Single reference to rape and sexual coercion in the context of the Vampire trope.
Philippa Mort joins me to talk about the varied and wonderful topic of aesthetic. The discussion starts around the different approaches to TTRPG and campaign design; a different perspective to the typical top down/bottom up paradigm. How does one approach "visual design", and how does it differ from "mechanical design"? Philippa shares her experience in designing from visual prompts, and we talk through the various pros and cons when compared to my own meticulous, detail-centric process. A solid campaign aesthetic...
2021-09-1759 minThinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionStreamingCW: A fictional anecdote containing references to NPC children dying and descriptions of gore & bodily harm to children, all within a Dungeons & Dragons context.
This episode Robert Hartley, the DM for Viva La Dirt League, joins me to discuss his streaming experience and why he finds it so addictive. We go through the considerations of running a streamed actual play, compared to just a game at home with friends. Typically, this comes in the form of concessions; inevitably the streamer is distracted from the game. But, as with most things in life, an appreciation of the format...
2021-09-101h 00Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionContentThis week I'm joined by Quinn the GM to talk about content creation! Quinn is a serial producer, having released 15 products on Dungeon Masters Guild and showing no signs of slowing down, and he takes us through a BTS of his content creation process. We talk about the difficulties of balancing homebrew, and how the concerns shift based on whether it's for your personal game or for public consumption. As a sign of fellowship, Quinn and I share stories of our own self doubt and battles with imposter syndrome, and more importantly, how to overcome them, the answer to...
2021-09-0355 minThinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionEditionsThis episode, Fabio Vollono of Morgue Miniatures takes us on a trip through time and all the varied & fantastical incarnations of Dungeons & Dragons. Edition by edition, we discuss how the game has changed over the last 30+ years, such as the concept of "boxes" versus our current reality of books. We briefly touch upon some hot topics such as gender stereotypes and the class-agnostic subclasses from Strixhaven through a lens of learning from past mistakes. The history of D&D can be storied and romantic, and in some ways has changed very little; there are still starter sets which fulfil...
2021-08-271h 06Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionFailureI'm joined by one of the hosts of the Double DM podcast, Emil Auerbach, to talk all about failure: how it comes about, how to mitigate it, and most importantly, how to learn from it. Failure is an intrinsic part of Dungeons & Dragons because as soon as you roll a dice, you run the chance of failing. Emil and I discuss several methods to mitigate this as players controlling characters who everyone at the table wants to succeed. From pandering to NPC desires to taking realistic notes, there are always ways to tip the balance in your favour! We...
2021-08-201h 01Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionPuzzlesPuzzles, the marmite of Dungeons & Dragons! I'm joined by Michael Wu, a.k.a. DM Micycle, to discuss the nuances of designing puzzles for TTRPGs. Certain considerations have to made during the design process, as puzzles are a unique gameplay element in that they are challenges for the players, rather than their characters. Not only do we have to deal with regular awkward rolls (Wizard rolls low on INT, Barbarian rolls natural 20 to solve the puzzle, etc.), but also how to bridge the various gaps between players and their characters. This is a two-way problem, in that not only...
2021-08-131h 02Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionMagic"Perpetuating the success of fireball."
Cat McDonald of Peach Garden Games brings her perspective of being an indie TTRPG designer and knowledge of the occult to this talk about magic in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition. She takes us through the design processes used when working on Heroic Chord and her other TTRPGs. Unsurprisingly, we discuss at length her freeform magic system where players must homebrew spells on the fly through bargaining with the GM. When you compare this method with the one found in D&D, it's clear to see that 5e encourages power gaming through bread...
2021-08-0659 minThinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionPressureFor this discussion I'm joined by Matt Perkins, DM/podcaster/YouTuber extraordinaire, to talk all about pressure in your TTRPGs! We split the term down the middle by differentiating narrative (in-game) from "meta" (OoG) pressure, however there are often more parallels than initially thought. Join us as we jaunt through topics such as effectively communicating the stakes, how to realise meaningful choices, and why to avoid punitive measures. All with a casual sprinkling of the Jason Statham classic Crank, worldbuilding, and all round tomfoolery. We round out the discussion with our personal struggles with pressure and negativity, from both...
2021-07-301h 05Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionMarketingThis episode I am joined by professional marketer Zack Applewhite, of Applewhite Games, who takes us on a whistle-stop masterclass of content marketing tips, advice, and real-world examples to help us better promote the amazing work we do! Starting with his suggestion of a "content chop shop" where you disassemble the content you create to vastly increase quality output.
Aside from the academic and business tactics, one thing we discuss at length is comfort. Perhaps unintuitively, it's more beneficial to stick with just the mediums you're comfortable with, to avoid saturation and a loss of quality; persisting...
2021-07-231h 05Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionVoicesThis episode I'm joined by Pete, a.k.a. @BadDMPete, to discuss all about voices! If I can start off by apologising for the embarrassing mistake of confusing the Akira Kurosawa epic Seven Samurai with the Tom Cruise bombast of The Last Samurai, please forgive me! Now that's out of the way, I can tell you about the rest of the episode! Pete and I discuss how mistakes should be learned from to improve oneself, and that no one should ever feel pressured at the game table. In fact, understanding your own "voice" as a player is far more...
2021-07-1658 minThinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionRomanceCW: Discussion around sexuality and relationships. References to sex.
This weeks guest is Declan, the "forever DM" of the Romancing the Dungeon podcast where the characters are all searching for that special someone! We discuss the what romance can mean in Dungeons & Dragons, such as the many forms it can take and reasons why it does, and does not, show up in campaigns. One of the most fundamental things to bear in mind is the comfort of those at the table, which can be monitored and achieved through regular check ins and open discussion. We regale each...
2021-07-0956 minThinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionRandomThis episode I'm joined by Nikki from Beholder to No One, the award winning TTRPG podcast featuring discussions and one-shots. Broadly this episode can be summed up as "how random elements affect gameplay", however as we quickly find out that's a much deeper and multifaceted discussion. For example, even character generation (standard array versus rolling) can dramatically affect the theming of a character and how you approach role play. It's often considered that to embrace randomness, one must relinquish control, but Nikki and I discuss how this isn't always the case in Dungeons & Dragons, and despite D20s ostensibly "...
2021-07-0257 minThinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionStyleThis episode I'm joined by Joe Dunn (@jcd0818) to talk about a very stylish topic. Joe has 17 years TTRPG experience across multiple systems including D&D, Pathfinder, and Powered by the Apocalypse, so is exceptionally qualified to discuss all things "style". The first bulk of the episode is around the broad topic of "styles of gameplay" and how that differs between editions, modules, and players. For example, how do you marry the metaphysical, high-heroism style of Theros with traditional sword & sorcery D&D? A substantial part of the episode is dedicated to discussing how players with different styles can...
2021-06-251h 06
Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionFrictionThis episode was recorded 8th April 2021 and includes lots of swearing, puns, and memes. You have been warned!
For this extended episode I gathered the cast of Cosmopunk, the actual-play homebrew Starfinder podcast, to discuss friction. Now, we do spend an awful lot of time talking about coffee, but nestled betwixt the brilliant puns and segues are nuggets of insight, raucous laughter, and life lessons. To begin, we discuss how drama between characters can cause friction at the table, and we talk though our various methods for dealing with it. The other side of the same coin...
2021-06-181h 23Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionDiceThis week I'm joined by Aaron Saltzman (@five2lif), host of Feats & Fantasies actual-play podcasts Cataclysm Rising and Trivium of Time, to discuss everything about dice. We start by talking about how the requirement of random dice rolls fundamentally changes the nature of the "game" from what might be considered a "pure" role-playing experience. Despite my hypocrisy, Aaron and I share stories and anecdotes centred on dice and their oft whimsical nature. Although dice start as an esoteric prerequisite for D&D, they often transform into a completely different beast: a TCG-like collect-'em-up where it's worryingly easy to spend...
2021-06-1156 minThinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionPlanningThis episode is all about "Planning" campaigns, chapters, sessions, calendars, and characters. I'm joined by Jeff Nabors, the DM for the Reroll Expectations actual-play podcast and media director for Chasing XP. We discuss our various methods for planning our campaigns from the micro of moment-to-moment improv, to the macro of embedding meaningful character development into grand campaign arcs. There's a line between over-planning, and failure to plan (is planning to fail), and the thickness of that line, and it's position, is different from person to person, campaign to campaign. Inevitably, there will be some encounter that never sees the...
2021-06-041h 01Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionFamilyFor this whirlwind tour I'm joined by Colin Anderson, a.k.a. Family Fantasy RPG, and we take you through what it means to find a family through TTPRGs. Colin has a wealth of experience in the family-friendly homebrew and TTRPG space, and he shares his insight and experience gained from designing child-focused role-playing games. One thread which is universal, however, is that D&D is an evergreen learning activity for all ages and experience, and every sessions is a learning opportunity. This is true whether you're playing with three-year olds, or grizzled OD&D veterans. Having run games...
2021-05-281h 00Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionEnvironmentI am joined once more by Karim, a.k.a. FeverDreamStudios, and we talk about the environments we create, play in, and maintain. Again, a surprisingly broad topic with varied interpretations and connotations. We begin with the mechanical, discussing how to design dynamic combat environments to encourage and empower PCs and NPCs alike. One major benefit this has is making "non-attack actions" useful in combat, enabled by making the space full of "tools". This helps makes some classes, which can often be perceived as two-dimensional, more versatile and viable in several different environments and settings. Karim then takes us...
2021-05-211h 03Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionTacticsThis episode I'm joined by Kyle, a.k.a. @Kibidiko, and we talk all things tactical. Broadly, the episode is split down between tactics for PCs and NPCs. To start, we talk about how PCs can work together, and by using little known options and combinations, can increase their chances of survival. D&D sometimes exists in this dissonant state of combat being extremely tactical, yet the PCs don't operate as a tight, effective team. There's some food for thought in this one about how this can be improved.
The second half of the episode is all...
2021-05-141h 05Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionDisasterThis episode I am joined by Heath, a.k.a Dag of Dahgda's Cauldron, and we discuss the surprisingly vast topic of "Disaster". With we start with how, much like conflict, it's an essential part of any adventure whether it's small-scale or apocalyptic. We they go on to compare the merits of setting a campaign either before, or after, a disaster, and how that flavours and shapes the experience. Of course, not all disastrous events happen in-universe, many take the form of social and interpersonal issues at the table. Dag and I discuss a couple of these including the...
2021-05-071h 02Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionLoreWelcome to the season 2 opener! We are flying out of the gate with a super interesting discussion all about lore with Steven from The Travel Log. This episode will be useful for both DMs and players looking to flesh out their creations using published work, lightening the creative load. I start by quizzing Steven on a few places I've heard of, but have no idea where they are or what they're like. Steven explains how the Sword Coast and the Forgotten Realms fit together, alongside a brief history on other famous locations such as Neverwinter and Baldur's Gate. He...
2021-04-301h 01Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionSeason 1 Wrap UpWell, here we are, 25 episodes later and a whole lot wiser! This is the wrap up and retrospective for season 1 and boy, what a journey it has been. This episode doesn't feature a guest, but instead you can humour me for an hour as I take a look back at the past six months and what it's meant to me as a player, DM, and human being. But first, the show would be nothing without the listeners and guests, so I take some time to thank all you lovely people, it's not hyperbole to say you've changed my life...
2021-04-161h 02Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionHealthCW: In-game, player-character death, injury, harm, sexual identity, allusions to suicide and euthanasia. Player mental health & disorders and physical exhaustion.
For this season finale, I'm joined by Cal a.k.a The Baron to talk all about "Health", an important subject both in and out of the game. We start off by talking about the understandable misconception of "HP" as one-dimensional indicator before deep diving into how the mechanics of exhaustion are the other side of the same coin. Humour Join us as we gush over the Path of the Zealot, and how there's the potential for...
2021-04-091h 08Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionFudgingThis episode is (unfortunately?) not about the delicious sugary treat, but instead the DM tool of "fudging dice"; changing the outcome of a roll behind the screen. For this discussion, I'm joined by Bart Wynants, a.k.a @critographer, author, historian, and all-round inspiration machine. Off the back of Bart's extensive, seven-part Twitter thread, we discuss the finer points of this particular incarnation of DM fiat, and how it's a bit of an iceberg of unseen issues. Firstly, it's not limited to just altering the result of a dice roll in secret, and it's pervasiveness can take many forms...
2021-04-021h 02Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionAgencyFor this insightful episode I am joined by Scott, a.k.a @optionalrule, and we talk about the incredibly important topic of agency. It's a term that gets bandied around a lot, carrying with it an awful lot of weight. In this hour, Scott and I begin to unpack some of that weight and how it can drastically and dramatically impact the gameplay experience. Starting by clarifying some common misconceptions and misinterpretations, we define what "agency" really is within the TTRPG experience. When you have so many options on the table, where do you draw the line? Indeed, the...
2021-03-261h 07Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionRulesOh dear, hopefully we don't make any enemies with this episode all about the rules! Andrew Block and I discuss a range of topics interspersed with luke-warm takes and personal opinions. If that doesn't sell it, I don't know what will! We open with a discussion around the 'Rule of Cool' (RoC) and how it often belies the tricky nuances around modifying rules on the fly; there's often a wider impact that isn't always immediately visible. Indeed, D&D is a game of two halves where all the players work together to maintain a satisfying balance. Do you focus...
2021-03-191h 05Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionEncountersThis meaty episode is all about encounters within your TTRPG game. I'm joined by @XhangoGames and somehow we manage to squeeze an awful lot into a little over an hour! We sandwich mechanical examples for spicing up encounters alongside ways to reframe interactions with NPCs; turn "misses" into misfortune! Xhango opens the episode up with the elegant definition that all encounters should be a "dramatic question" - every interaction (environment, NPCs, and adversaries) should all put something at stake, what could be lost? This includes benign encounters with merchants and even each other. Check out Xhango's latest product on...
2021-03-121h 13
Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionActingFor this special [natural] twentieth episode, it's my pleasure to welcome Ben, Darrel, Vicky, Grace, and David from No Small Rolls (@nosmallrolls), the amazing actual-play podcast where there are no small rolls! It's a laugh a minute as they take me through their experiences in producing NSR, and how they've approached portraying a character based on a sheet full of numbers. It was interesting to find out how a career in acting affects the D&D experience, or more accurately, how it doesn't. Ultimately, there is no silver bullet to successful role play (whatever that means!), and no single...
2021-03-051h 23
Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionImprovisationThis episode I'm joined by Daniel, a.k.a @eos_rakonto, and we talk about the fine art of improvisation. Starting with the frankly embarrassing realisation on my part that almost everything that happens in a given game is improvised, we move on to discuss a number of tips for DMs on how to deal with the dynamic nature of play, and role playing on the fly. We end on ways to improve your own character role play at the table, especially for those that find it intimidating. Daniel is sincere, knowledgeable and insightful, and it was a pleasure...
2021-02-261h 05
Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionSpaceA bumper landmark episode, as for the first time I'm joined by two guests! Two-thirds of Tabletop Journeys, Josh and Lewanika, join me to talk all about space within D&D 5e. They share their extensive experience of role playing, not only table top but also live action. Starting with the nitty gritty of combat, we discuss how well the framework emulates the real world, and ways to enhance your combat encounters through interesting use of space. There is also lots of useful information on how to build a compelling sense of exploration of the unknown, in the absence...
2021-02-191h 22Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionArchetypesFor this archetypical chat, I'm joined by Adam Gumbert, a.k.a AdamGumby, where we go through a bunch of different stereotypes and styles of play. Even though some archetypes have negative connotations, when managed and viewed effectively, they can always serve the story. We realise that what matters more than the "edgy rogue" or "adversarial DM", is communication, a topic we've heard time and time again on this podcast. Seriously, we can't stress it enough! No problem is too big for a chat, even if that ends up being "hey, this game isn't for me, and that's alright!"...
2021-02-121h 04Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionUtilitiesIn this useful episode I'm joined by Phill, a.k.a Blue Munchkinite, to discuss all the different utilities DMs and players use to help them play and generally increase the quality of their experience. Everything from maps, music, and VoIP is covered in this episode, and all the utilities we use are linked below in the references. Despite the potentially dry sounding topic, Phill deftly ties his years of experience together to explain why all these mechanical tools all serve the same purpose: to increase the enjoyment of all the players. Obviously, a lot has changed in recent...
2021-02-051h 08Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionEnhancementsThis episode I am joined by the creator of the My Sound Delve mobile app, Christian Borchert, and we talk about all the tricks, tools, and talents used to enhance your gameplay experience. Although we have different approaches and preferences to our TTRPG experience, some things never change and it's always about the camaraderie and social experience. This episode is split pretty cleanly between digital and physical enhancements, as Christian takes us through his splendid sound-board app before some tips for creating table-top terrain.
05:07 - Enhancing published modules
12:31 - Improving as a DM
21:38 - Enabling different systems/editions
29:54...
2021-01-291h 10Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionProgressionI'm joined once again by my DM confidant and close friend of 20 years, Jamie Mitchell, where we talk all about "Progression". We spend a lot of time talking about the age-old discussion of milestone versus XP. Despite the pros and cons of both, ultimately there is only one clear choice. Once we get out of the mire of mechanically progressing characters, we move on to trickier concepts such as player and DM progression not only within the 5e framework, but also as human beings. A big take away from this episode, apparently a theme of this podcast, is there's...
2021-01-221h 13Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionPodcastsIn this meta-episode we find ourselves discussing "Podcasts". I'm joined by Mike Hibbert (@MikeHDnD), who has been in the TTRPG and board game space for 40 years, and had 1000 listeners on his first podcast 15 years ago. We approach the topic from both general and D&D perspectives, discussing them as a creative medium alongside the gotchas of producing actual-plays and the responsibility of celebrity status it might bring. If you've thought about DMing or podcasting before, listen to the irony of us "umm"ing and "errrr"ing through a discussion on filler words and feel much better about yourself!
03:02...
2021-01-151h 05Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionHomebrewThis episode is all about homebrew, and once again we manage to squeeze a surprising amount into a single hour. I'm joined by Kyle Wagner-Totty (@MrBakudan), a DMs Guild author with seven published products! If you've ever had any questions about homebrewing for D&D 5e then this is the episode for you. From balance to publishing, you're bound to find something in here. Kyle is kind enough to share his wisdom and perhaps the biggest curveball, that subclasses are the easiest thing to make!
02:41 - Differences between "private" and "public"
14:17 - The tribulations of publishing
19:54 - Balancing...
2021-01-081h 06Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionTimeBack on home turf with Tim Hill who plays Ulrik in our actual-play podcast Dungeons, Dice, and Dudes. In this episode we discuss not only the mechanical impact of time in-universe on topics such as split parties, but also all the way up to the metaphysical ramifications of our endless march towards entropy. Hey, bet you never thought you'd get that from a D&D podcast!
06:24 - Time: the rubber band resource
18:53 - Should you skip the boring parts?
22:43 - Reconciling a split party
28:33 - Gaining experience by spending time together
38:00 - Character age and class disparity
45:31...
2021-01-011h 07Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionStructureThe first European episode! Despite the relatively benign sounding topic of "Structure", Ian (@thefoolishswamidm) and I discuss many thoughtful and deep topics, such as empathy, care, and responsibility. In this episode you can learn how to structure both your one shots and longer-form campaigns, how to set player expectations both "in-universe" and at the table, and how both those approaches serve different needs. If you want to hear me have quite a candid introspection, then this is the episode for you!
05:05 - How to tell a compelling short-form story through structure
15:16 - Structure & care: two sides of the...
2020-12-2559 minThinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionMacroThis episode I talk about all the big things with Nathan Briggs, my DM from our Dungeons, Dice, and Dudes actual-play podcast. We discuss how Dungeons & Dragons has changed over the years, from "nerds in the basement" to prime-time, multimillion dollar productions, and what that means for the hobby. The second half is all about prepping and planning at a high level, away from all the muck of combat encounters and fudging dice rolls.
02:39 - D&D in popular culture and the effect of Critical Role
23:53 - D&D as a hobby
33:57 - Macro world/story building
57:00...
2020-12-181h 04Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionEmotionsAnother international episode! I found my "Dungeon Master Friend" in Manny, a.k.a Growed Up Geek, who's enthusiasm is infectious. We cover the gamut from DM loneliness and anxiety, all the way up to eliciting those emotional responses from your players. A topic we've talked about plenty before, is the the positive feedback loop in D&D where the more you put in, the more you get out, and Manny puts it really well in this one. I can't effectively communicate it kind of nuance of human experience that we cover in this session. If you're feeling lonely...
2020-12-111h 11Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionMistakes"A crazy babble of death and anteaters."
My good friend of 20 years, Jamie Mitchell, joins me to talk about all the mistakes we've made on our parallel journey to DM-hood. How these mistakes have shaped us and the mitigation strategies we take to ensure everyone continues to have fun. This one get's real crazy in the last 10 minutes so stick with it as you may not have heard such a segue from D&D into hentai before, and if anyone says I couldn't fight an anteater, they're lying!
02:15 - A game of happy accidents
04:08 - Player mistakes...
2020-12-041h 13Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionHappinessThis time I'm joined by Simon Eustace, and this episode is chock full of life lessons; you're going to come out the other side a better human being. Simon brings his four years of experience of playing unique D&D characters, and is my table-buddy in our Dungeons, Dice, and Dudes real play podcast (of which this episode is full of spoilers for). We talk about what makes each of us happy, and how to be happier both at and away from the gaming table.
Donate to Simon's Movember! https://uk.movember.com/mospace/14460089
P.S. See...
2020-11-281h 08Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionRolesThe second international episode! I'm joined by Howie, a.k.a the Blue Collar DM, and hooo boy do we hit some big topics. Everything from representing the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, to how to role play earnestly, and staying honest to yourself.
03:47 - DM Facilitation of party role composition
12:56 - Class stereotypical roles
23:48 - How the role of the DM differs from the players
28:34 - Disassociation and 'my guy' syndrome
39:14 - Ebb & flow
43:01 - Presumptions of role playing classes
48:02 - The role of NPCs
62:30 - Sincere role playing and earnest characters
Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by...
2020-11-201h 15Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionDesignA landmark episode! I'm joined by Karim, a.k.a FeverDreamStudios, and we get real deep into the design of D&D. How it's designed, how to design for it, and ways that PCs and DMs can design around and with each other. Too many nuggets of wisdom to list here, if I do say so myself!
01:49 - The design of Fifth Edition
08:26 - How PHB design affect player expectations
16:59 - How to start homebrewing
22:18 - Magic in a homebrew setting
31:35 - Designing adventures
39:05 - Integrating PC backstories
43:12 - Designing antagonists
52:30 - Avatar and alignments
57:00 - Designing social...
2020-11-131h 04Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionExperienceIn this first of a two-parter, Ian Langton and I discuss how the "experience" of Dungeons & Dragons has shifted, not only since earlier editions, but also as the players mature. Ways to get "good" experience, and how differing levels of play experience can dramatically impact the moment-to-moment gameplay.
03:04 - What makes a fun experience
06:44 - How the DM experience has changed
15:25 - Difficulties of DM'ing
25:33 - How DM experience shapes player experience
33:45 - Good ways to get more experience
52:54 - The DM "experience"
59:55 - Anecdotal evidence
Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
Intermission Music: 'Chill...
2020-11-061h 11Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionAbilityJack Wain and I discuss what "ability" means within the 5e context. We take a look at what makes an effective player and how those skills are transferable to being a successful DM. We discuss ability skills and how some, such as the oft derided Animal Handling, get a bad rap through no fault of their own. This episode's Big Question is ability modifiers: big box or small box?
00:01:41 - How to determine player ability
00:08:58 - Signifiers of a good DM
00:20:40 - Ability scores
00:40:59 - Dissonance between player and character ability
00:50:36 - Improvisation in published adventures
00:55:26 - Impact...
2020-10-301h 04Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionConflictRob McPerhson and I discuss how "conflict" is an intrinsic part of the D&D experience; constructive and destructive conflict between PCs, but also how every PC requires an internalised conflict pushing them to adventure. We cover a few tools for resolving conflict both at the table and away from it, and how "my guy" syndrome can quickly and easily ruin an otherwise good game.
Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod
2020-10-241h 05Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionTrailerPodcast trailer for Thinking Critically: A D&D Discussion.
A discussion show with different guests each episode. We take a single concept or idea and discuss what that means within the D&D framework to help you get the most out your sessions, whatever side of the screen you sit on. Consider it an NPR-style, bitesize mix of thought-provoking analysis and humorous anecdotes!
Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod
2020-10-0701 min