GamingPerspectives

Episode 335: The Three Pillars, Gaming Perspectives with Saul and Jolene

     In this Episode Saul was reading a blog where they discussed the Three Different Pillars of D&D.  Saul went on to read other sources from other bloggers to Reddit posts about this idea of what makes a good D&D Game.      Saul starting thinking about how some games or genres don't rely on these Three Pillars for running great sessions or adventures.He discussed it quickly with Jolene who had never heard of this idea and they decided to record an episode on this topic.        Thank you for listening! 
Website Art by Jim FosterEpisode Art by Michael Shean-Jones
 
Music by Radmilaj,  Song We Three Kings, off the album Whispers of Winter 
Used under the Creative Commons License 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Episode 334: TTRPGs Niche or Big Deal, Gaming Perspectives with Saul and Jolene

Jolene was looking at TTRPG topics and came across a Reddit Post where a user was asking why people consider playing TTRPGs a "niche" hobby.  The original poster was quite surprised that people thought that TTRPGs are not that popular. There were quite a few replies to that post and most were proposing that TTRPGs are not that big of a deal in the hobby sphere.      A number of TTRPG players in the U.S. that was quoted quite often was 50 million people in the U.S. play or have played TTRPGs.  Saul wondered where this 50 million stat came from.  So Saul went down the numbers rabbit hole.  He found an article about number of players in the U.S.   Then, Saul considered the number of participants of other hobbies in the U.S.      The result is this episode about whether TTRPGs are a Big Deal or still a Niche hobby.
    Thank you for listening! 
Website Art by Jim FosterEpisode Art by Michael Shean-Jones
Music by Keith Heimericks, Song PopularityUsed under the Creative Commons license 3.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ 

Episode 333: Troika the RPG, Gaming Perspectives with Saul and Jolene

      Saul and Jolene went to a game convention over Labor Day weekend.  Their first game there was a RPG called Troika.  Saul had seen this rpg mentioned quite a bit in various posts.  From "Best Ever Indie Game", to "Most Underrated RPG" and many other lists.   Even though Saul had bought the PDF of Troika he had not yet looked at the rules, but had been very interested in what the buzz was about this RPG.        So Saul and Jolene played Troika for the very first time.  It wasn't the "usual" Troika, the GM was using a setting about the world consisting of only a huge bridge.  We had 7 players in the game and though we didn't know anything about the rules this RPG is pretty light so it was very easy to pick up.      After Saul and Jolene discussed this game, they decided to do an  episode of Troika.
Website Art by Jim FosterEpisode Art by Michael Shean-Jones
 
Music by Gypsy Summer, Song Wild Horses Used under the Creative Commons License 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en

Bonus Episode: Galaxycon and Pacificon, Gaming Perspectives with Saul and Jolene

      Saul and Jolene went to a couple conventions in late August and Early September.  In late August they went to Galaxycon in San Jose.  It takes place in downtown San Jose at the McEnery Center.  It is the largest convention center in the South Bay.  Saul was really impressed with all the guest speaker, panels, activities that were available at Galaxycon.  This was Jolenes and Sauls first time attending a Galaxycon.  Both came away impressed with the con and it was a very fun experience for the both of them.     Pacifcon is over Labor Day weekend and Saul and Jolene went on a Saturday once again.   Saul and Jolene met up with old friends and made new ones  playing an RPG called Troika and Boardgames.   Pacificon strengths are War Games and Miniature Games.  They also have full days of boardgames, organized play, and Protospiel.  A nice little con over Labor Day weekend.        Thank you all for listening. 
Website Art by Jim FosterEpisode Art by Michael Shean-Jones
   No music for this episode.  

Episode 332: Video To TTRPG Gamer, Gaming Perspectives with Saul and Jolene

A listener, Phil, asked about how easy would it be for a video gamer to become a TTRPG gamer. At first glance it would be a no brainer that those that played video game on a conole or PC would move to playing TTRPGs.  Saul and Jolene talked about some of those differences and what similarities that video games have to TTPRGs.       There are 3.42 Billion video gamers compared to 50 million TTRPGs.    Thank you all for listening.  
Website Art by Jim FosterEpisode Art by Michael Shean-Jones
Music by MINDJAMM3R, song ChangeUsed under the Creative Commons license 3.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ 

Episode 331: PCs Running Away, Gaming Perspectives with Saul and Jolene

    Many times there seems a point in an RPG when the players should either not fight an encounter.   Why do players not consider the tactic of running away.  Saul and Jolene discussed this topic.  Saul admitted that he ran a lot of D&D and Pathfinder and the rules are set up for the GM to match the encounter to the level of the players.  This comes from the rules to published adventures and modules that are tailored to a specific number of PCs and certain levels.    Saul and Jolene decided this would be a good topic for an episode.   Thank you for listening.   If you have any comments or topics for Saul and Jolene to cover you can email them at:   gamingperspectives.com@gmail.com
Website Art by Jim FosterEpisode Art by Michael Shean-Jones
Music by Trevor Horton,  song Runaway,  Off the album Heaven and Earth Used under the Creative Commons License 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en

Episode 330: Play Styles, Gaming Perspectives with Saul and Jolene

     Saul was reading and thinking about long campaigns and what it took to keep them going for extended period of time.  Saul ran two D&D to Pathfinder Campaigns from 2001 to 2009.  Then he started running campaigns for his 6 year old son and his friends.  Saul ran another 2 campaigns starting with Pathfinder to D&D 5th edition which concluded right before the pandemic.  What kept these 4 different campaigns going for an average of 4 and a half years each?        The answer to that question is Style.  Each player in those 4 groups by chance or work approached the campaigns with a similar style.  What kind of Styles are there?  There is probably more than anyone could discuss but Saul group players in to a few rather general groups.  He discussed it with Jolene and they recorded a podcast episode about it.       This one runs a bit longer than usual.    Thanks for listening.
Website Art by Jim FosterEpisode Art by Michael Shean-Jones
Music by Shu Dee Low, song is Style off  the album De Musiques.Used under the Creative Commons license 3.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
 

Episode 329: Attacks Before Initiative, Gaming Perspectives with Saul and Jolene

         Jolene was reading about a GM who was running D&D 5th edition had players trying to do combat actions before the GM had called for Initiative.  She asked Saul about this and asked if it happened in his D&D or any other RPGs he had GMed.  After a brief discussion they decided to do an episode on this subject.     As usual Saul got a little distracted from the subject and expanded the scope of the discussion.  Saul did keep it about combat before the GM calls for any kind of initiative roll in any RPG that ran as a GM or he played.
 
If you have any questions or subjects you want Saul and Jolene to discuss please email: gamingperspectives.com@gmail.com 
If you like our podcast please leave a positive review however you listen to the podcast.  As Always thanks for listening    Website Art by Jim Foster   Episode Art by Michael Shean-Jones  Music by 4 South, song Start Used under the Creative Commons license 3.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/        

Episode 328: Players Not Learning the Rules, Gaming Perspectives with Saul and Jolene

     Saul was looking at Reddit posts and came across a GM that was lamenting that his players had not learned their characters abilities after 10 sessions of D&D 5th edition.   The GM didn't go into too much detail, for example age of players, experience of players, etc.  Saul noticed the large number of negative reaction to the players but those offered no real help abou this GM's plight.        Saul discussed this Reddit Post with Jolene.  She thought that just blaming the player and telling the GM to "Find Other Players" was not helpful either.  After discussing what a GM could do in that situation.  Saul and Jolene decided to record an episode for the podcast.     As Always Thanks for Listening. 
Website Art by Jim FosterEpisode Art by Michael Shean-Jones
 Music by Ed Napoli, song Learn to Live
 Used under the Creative Commons License 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en

Episode 327: Running Non-Violent RPGs, Gaming Perspectives with Saul and Jolene

     Jolene was looking at the different types of games she has played in.  Though she likes tactical combat games.  She loves Shadowrun 5th edition and D&D for example, she also likes mysteries, dramas, and crime solving.  So she asked Saul about what games do not concentrate on combat but other types of settings.       Saul thought that games that do not rely on combat for the center piece of the genre they are emulating are generally non violent.  Saul thought and looked at his RPG library and thought of the games he has run at conventions where violence was the the key to solving the problem.  Even games where violence can come easily, a realist Wild West game like Tales of the Old West, at times the players did not rely on violence to solve the problem.      They decided to record an episode on this subject.    As Always Thank You All for Listening,   Please share and leave a positive rating where ever listen to our podcast it would be greatly appreciated.Website Art by Jim FosterEpisode Art by Michael Shean-Jones
 Used under the Creative Commons License 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en