GamingPerspectives

Episode 324: GM Couldn't Kill PC, Gaming Perspectives with Saul and Jolene

     Jolene was looking online at RPG topics and came across a confession by a new GM.  This novice GM was running their first campaign which they had been running with new players for nine months.  There was a point in the game were a character would have been killed but the GM pulled their punch.  The character did not suffer a death.  Even though there had been a Session Zero where the GM had discussed that Death of Characters was indeed possible.       But when the time came that a character could die the GM decided that they could not do it.  Saul and Jolene discuss this topic of the GM killing off characters and reasons it should or shouldn't happen.     
    Thank you all for Listening     Web Art by Jim Foster     Episode Art by Michael Shean-Jones
    Music by Smack Rabbit, song Killer Part-Time    Available from Tribeofnoise.com    Used Under the Creative Commons License 3.0     https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Episode 323: Stealing From RPGs, Gaming Perspectives with Saul and Jolene

          A question was asked about what are some things that you found in one RPG that as a GM would Steal to use in all  other RPGs that you run.  Saul and Jolene each thought abou the topic and they each found something that they really liked that they believed could be "easily" used in a variety of RPGs.  Saul made a short list of mechanics and ideas that he would use in RPGs he would run.    Thank you all for Listening     Web Art by Jim Foster     Episode Art by Michael Shean-Jones
    Music by Schizophonic, song Stolen By the Store    Available from Tribeofnoise.com     Used Under the Creative Commons License 3.0    https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Episode 322: Feedback Post Session, Gaming Perspectives with Saul and Jolene

          A listener was thinking about some games he played with a particular GM, who took a few minutes after the game asking how the session went.  So this listener asked what would be the best way or some hints as to asking for feedback right after the session ends.        Saul and Jolene discussed how this immediate feedback would be good or bad.  As a GM that run games at Game Cons he is usually asked to run game multiple times since the number of seat at the game are limited and convention games can fill up pretty quickly.  So in order to make his adventures better he has asked feedback from players.   Some worked and some actually worked.         Saul and Jolene talked about how right after the game could get better feedback about the game session since the game is still "fresh" in the minds of the players.  There is a problem with this immediate feedback as some players may act like a deer caught in headlights.        Saul and Jolene talk about getting the most of feedback immediately after the game and some tips and tricks to get the best feedback from players that just played in your game session.         Thank you all for Listening     Web Art by Jim Foster     Episode Art by Michael Shean-Jones
         Music by Incognito Souls, song Get It Together, off the album Ten From                              Within         Available from Tribeofnoise.com         Used Under the Creative Commons License 3.0             https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Episode 321: Best Non D&D Campaigns, Gaming Perspectives with Saul and Jolene

     A listener asked what we thought were some good Non D&D published campaigns?  Saul questioned what makes a good, quality and fun campaign.  Saul's criteria was the same if it was you home campaign but in a published one it is essential that the criteria that Saul sets out is met.  There are many campaigns out that that would meet these elements so Saul picked the ones he liked the best or has had the most experience in playing or running the games.       Saul comes up with 3 things every campaign must meet.  Saul then discusses with Jolene,  what published campaigns meet this criteria for Saul.  Some of them should be of no surprise for those who have been in the RPG gaming hobby for a while since Saul decides to talk about some older campaigns that have been around more than 30 years.  The rest the Saul included are more contemporary.  
       Thank you all for Listening     Web Art by Jim Foster     Episode Art by Michael Shean-Jones
    Music by Willard Mellow, song The Beginning,  off the album Back to the Roots    Available from Tribeofnoise.com    Used Under the Creative Commons License 4.0    https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Episode 320: Monster of the Week RPGs, Gaming Perspectives with Saul and Jolen

          A listener asked about a good RPG to run a Monster of the Week game.  Saul came up what criteria would make a good Monster of the Week game.  From ease of rules, types of character and other factors.           Then Saul and Jolene talked about what games would make it easy to run a Monster of the Week game.  Saul's list comes from game created in the 1990's, 2000's, 2010's and even very recent game published.  
    Thank you all for Listening     Web Art by Jim Foster     Episode Art by Michael Shean-Jones
    Music by Smakabbrit, song Monster's Playground    Available from Tribeofnoise.com    Used Under the Creative Commons License 3.0     https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Episode 319: Getting Those Games to the Table, Gaming Perspectives with Saul and Jolene

     A listener asks about getting a RPG off the Shelf of Shame and on the the table to play.   This is a problem that inflicts both RPG gamer and board gamer as both groups have this problem.  Both have games that have not hit the game table and for many a gamer this is a terrible source of frustration.  Saul has a lot of shelves that contain RPG games.  It has been a source of consternation for him and has made it a goal to get as many of those RPGs of Shame on the game table.     There are certain steps you can take to try and get those games on the table.  Saul and Jolene go over those steps and talk about they work and how they may help make your Shelf of Shame a bit lighter.           Thank you all for Listening     Web Art by Jim Foster     Episode Art by Michael Shean-Jones+
 
    Music by Hansen Chat,  song Dancing on the Table    Available from Tribeofnoise.com    Used Under the Creative Commons License 4.0    https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Episode 318: Cozy RPGs, Gaming Perspectives with Saul and Jolene

          Saul was at Kubla Autumn a new game con taking place over Veteran's Day which is celebrated here in the U.S. on November 11th.  Right when he got there he sat in a seminar the dealt with the future of boardgames. In that seminar they talked about Cozy games.  Saul immediately thought of Cozy RPGs.  Saul noticed a lot of RPGs that would fit under this genre.  He talked to Jolene about it and discussed the subject.      This episode is the result of that conversation.  Saul list five RPGs that he thought would fit under the genre of Cozy.   His criteria was not always correct and indeed some of those discussed may not fit in Saul's Cozy criteria.  After the episode Saul has noticed another "cozy" game on Kickstarter called Riverbank.       Thank you all for Listening     Web Art by Jim Foster     Episode Art by Michael Shean-Jones
 
   Music by Al Pegon, song Five O'Clock Tea,  off the album Bad One T   Available from Tribeofnoise.com   Used Under the Creative Commons License 3.0   https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Episode 317: When Players Do Weird Things, Gaming Perspectives with Saul and Jolene

     In the long time that Saul has been playing RPGs, there has been some instances where players did some weird things.  At least unexpected things that he saw as both a GM and a Player.  Saul remembers a couple instances where players acting strange may have caused problems in the session.   Jolene relates a story she read online about a player who indeed acted strange for no logical reason that Saul and Jolene did not understand.        What causes players to act in a strange way?  Saul proposes some ideas as to what would make a player to do strange things in a roleplaying game.  From stealing for other character to trying to fight other player's character in a session.  Sometimes players demand that other players act or play in a certain way.   As a GM it is very important to understand why players are acting in a way that could cause problems in a gaming group.         Thank you all for Listening     Web Art by Jim Foster     Episode Art by Michael Shean-Jones
    Music by Kramer Guy, song Strange Surf    Available from Tribeofnoise.com   Used Under the Creative Commons License 3.0   https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Episode 316: Run Those IP RPGs, Gaming Perspectives with Saul and Jolene

          In this Episode Saul and Jolene discuss why some GMs do not like running Intellectual Property games.  Those are games based on books, Tv shows, or movies.  Whether its Conan, Star Wars, Star Trek of hundreds of other RPGs that are based on others creative works some GMs shy away from running these games for specific reasons.       Saul as usual goes to the way back machine and discusses his brushes with working on games that were based on others Intellectual Property.   From the first foray into running a shared campaign in the World of Greyhawk and later Forgotten Realms Saul talks about the ease and difficulty about taking on running an "IP RPG.       Lastly Saul and Jolene discuss why they like playing RPGs based on Intellectual Properties.  Whether it was Conan, Star Trek or Dresden Files they discuss what they like about playing in those created worlds or universes.  They also discuss the genuine fun that players have when they get to play a RPG in their favorite IP.    Thank you all for Listening     Web Art by Jim Foster     Episode Art by Michael Shean-Jones
    Music by Lyrics Girl, song Intellectual Love,  off the album Acid Planet    Available from Tribeofnoise.com    Used Under the Creative Commons License 4.0    https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Episode 315: Running on Short Notice and Time, Gaming Perspectives with Saul and Jolene

     Saul is slowly recovering from heart valve surgery but Jolene and Saul are back to recording episodes.  This episode comes from a Reddit post about a GM that needs to run a game with no prep for 1st time players with only a 2 hour window.  Though many answers were the names of games that people suggested Saul took a different angle.      Saul was thinking what the GM had to think about the game they decided to run.  From the system, to the adventure, to the GM's comfort in running the game.   Also there was what are the expectations of the players.  Where and how did they get interested?  Do they know that there are more RPGs than just D&D?     Saul and Jolene discuss these ideas for this episode.     Thank you all for Listening     Web Art by Jim Foster     Episode Art by Michael Shean-Jones
    Music by Dixon, song In No Time Soon,  off the album In No Time Soon    Available from Tribeofnoise.com    Used Under the Creative Commons License 3.0    https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/