GamingPerspectives

Episode 294: Mechanics Vs Setting, Gaming Perspectives with Saul and Jolene

     This episode came about when Saul was reading Reddit Posts and came across the question of what was more important in a RPG, Mechanics or Setting.  Saul noticed many posts that sided with the idea that it was "mechanics" that was more important one of the two.  A few chose setting but they were largely outnumbered by those that thought mechanics were  more important in RPGs.     Saul brought this up with Jolene and after a lengthy discussion they decided to do an episode on this subject.          Thank you all for Listening     
     Web Art by Jim Foster     Episode Art by Michael Shean-Jones
   
      Music by Reno Project,  song System.      Available from Tribeofnoise.com
      Used Under the Creative Commons License 3.0      https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Episode 293: Non Violent Encounters, Gaming Perspectives with Saul and Jolene

Jolene read a post from a father of three young daughters who he wanted to run a roleplaying game for but one daughter was very adverse to combat and violence.  Jolene talked to Saul about the post and they discussed the various games they had run for very young and new RPGers.   When their son was young, Saul regularly ran games at local con for kids.  From D&D to Gamma World,  Saul ran "kids" games at con for several years.  Jolene has run games for her son and his friends at home.  She also has run games at local Northern California game cons.         Though Saul ran more traditional RPGs for Kids at local Cons he has toned down the violence and used alternatives to combat in many of his kids and adult games.  From their discussion of how they ran games for kids and the Reddit Posting dad's predicament they decided to do an episode on the subject.
    Thank you all for Listening     Web Art by Jim Foster     Episode Art by Michael Shean-Jones
    Music by Roland Zimmerman, song  Peacable Milieu    Available from Tribeofnoise.com    Used Under the Creative Commons License 3.0    https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Episode 292: Planning in RPGs, Gaming Perspectives with Saul and Jolene

     Saul and Jolene have run and been in various RPGs where planning took place from the simple to the complex.   Saul and Jolene were talking about why certain RPG games, adventures and players tend make plans to deal with situations in RPGs.
     From games like Shandowrun and Cyberpunk to good ole D&D gamers make plans.  Some games players are just inclined to make complex plans such as Shadowrun, Twilight 2000 and others.  These games where players plan also tend to be very lethal.  After their discussion Saul and Jolene decided to do this episode.         Thank you all for Listening     Web Art by Jim Foster     Episode Art by Michael Shean-Jones
 
    Music by Max Miecchi, song Plan B, off the album Album d Max    Available from Tribeofnoise.com    Used Under the Creative Commons License 4.0    https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Episode 291: The Best Sci-Fi RPG, Gaming Perspectives with Saul and Jolene

          Saul and Jolene were talking about the various Science Fiction RPGs that they had played and GMed.  Saul was talking about his favorite ones and asked Jolene about her favorite Sci-Fi Rpg.  They discussed how the different rules worked for and against liking the various Science Fiction themed RPGs.      After a while Saul decided to take notes and suggested doing an episode on the Best Sci-Fi RPG.  Though they can only mention and discuss a few of the Science Fiction themed RPGs published they try to cover a vast array of Sci-Fi RPGs.  You may or may not be surprised by what Saul and Jolene say is the best Sci-Fi RPG game.    Thank you all for Listening     Web Art by Jim Foster     Episode Art by Michael Shean-Jones
    Music by Joseph Kimbrell, song Jupiter    Available from Tribeofnoise.com  Used Under the Creative Commons License 4.0  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Episode 290: Interesting Mechanics in RPGs, Gaming Perspectives with Saul and Jolene

          Some RPGs try to mimic things in the real world, things from movies books,  and even things that the author remembers.  These things are then added to their RPG as an in game mechanic that really sets that RPG apart from other games.  Saul and Jolene discuss their favorite game mechanics that really make the RPG stand out.           Saul and Jolene discuss Traveller, The One Ring, Tales From the Loop and others in this discussion that was started due to a Reddit post.  Saul really likes the ones listed where Jolene is a little more discerning in the mechanics and how much they contribute to the RPG experience.     EDIT note.  While discussing The One Ring,  Saul refers to Shadow and Heart mechanic, but the two stats are Shadow and Hope.   Which makes even more sense in terms.      Thank you all for Listening     Web Art by Jim Foster     Episode Art by Michael Shean-Jones
    Music by Kid Attractions, song Mechanical Bull Sale    Available from Tribeofnoise.com Used Under the Creative Commons License 4.0  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Episode 289: Emotive Playing, Gaming Perspectives with Saul and Jolene

          Jolene came across a post on Reddit of a new GM asked a question about how emotionally invested other GMs are in their creations for their games.  From NPCs, to actual towns and villages do GMs care about Towns and it's inhabitants.        Saul and Jolene discuss how those people who are younger and newer to RPGs can have a different view of how to play an RPG than older gamers.  Viewing actual plays of RPGs have had large impact in new people coming to the RPG hobby.  Not only that they have come into the hobby with a different perspectives than old gamers that came from the War Game or Miniatures Hobby.        Saul and Jolene discuss how it is important that players have investment in the game and in their characters to give a better RPG experience at the table.  Those games are more fun, have a deeper impact on the players, create lasting memories and overall increase the enjoyment of the RPG session or campaign.      Thank you all for Listening     Web Art by Jim Foster     Episode Art by Michael Shean-Jones
    Music by Backyard Dreaming,  song Emotional Connection    Available from Tribeofnoise.com  Used Under the Creative Commons License 4.0  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Episode 288: Where to Start Your Adventure, Gaming Perspectives with Saul and Jolene

A popular way to start out an adventure or campaign is "in media res".   Though most RPG games start off with a common scene of the Tavern or Pub.   This in the beginning type of start is what most gamers know.  Another way is to put the characters in a stressfull situcation from the beginning.  One common way of doing this is the "your all in prison" beginning.        Now this beginning can be very displeasing to most players.  Especially if the players do not know that this is the way the game is going to start.  This may turn off players getting into the game.   Saul has been in a number of games where the GM starts the game with character in prison or in bondage.  Saul uses a couple of examples of this happening and how the games went.      Jolene is much more suspicious of GMs starting their games in this manner.  Saul agrees that this requires a lot of trust in the players of their GMs.  
    Thank you all for Listening     Web Art by Jim Foster     Episode Art by Michael Shean-Jones
    Music by Keith Hiemericks, song Folsom Prison Blues.    Available from Tribeofnoise.com    Used Under the Creative Commons License 3.0       https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Episode 287: Cursed Items, Gaming Perspectives with Saul and Jolene

       The idea of cursed items comes from the very beginnings of RPGs.  Even the Original D&D had a list of cursed items that you could give away to the characters in their treasure loot.   The question is why would a character ever take something that is cursed.  From simple to powerful items many players are willing to risk the chances of touching or using a cursed item because of some perceived benefit for their character.      Saul and Jolene discuss cursed items from the games they played and ones he read about on the internet.  And how cursed items are not only for fantasy games.       Thank you all for Listening     Web Art by Jim Foster     Episode Art by Michael Shean-Jones
    Music by Chris Munro, song The Curse    Available from Tribeofnoise.com   
Used Under the Creative Commons License 3.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
 

Episode 286: Controlling the RPG Table, Gaming Perspectives with Saul and Jolene

       Saul and Jolene were talking about when at a RPG table session, sometimes the group goes off the rails.  Not in game but at the actual game table.  Non game side discussions, players looking at their phones, players joking around out of character and many other things that players can do to disrupt a RPG session.     If you GM for any length of time this will probably happen to you as a GM or even see this as a player.  You might even be the player causing the table disruption.   Saul and Jolene discussed why this happens and what the GM can do to mitigate this from happening at your RPG table.     Saul and Jolene remember how excited kids(Saul's son and his friends ages 10-13) ,  adults joking around out of game egging each other on disrupting the flow and breaking immersion at the game table.  Saul and Jolene discuss these situations and others and how the GM and even a player stepped up and stopped this from continuing.    These things can happen and it is usually up the the GM to Control the RPG Table.   It was a lively discussion so Saul and Jolene decided to do an episode on the subject.   
    Thank you all for Listening     Web Art by Jim Foster     Episode Art by Michael Shean-Jones
 
    Music by Candy Ace, song, He's in Control   Available from Tribeofnoise.com   Used Under the Creative Commons License 3.0       https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
 

Episode 285: Initiative in RPGs, Gaming Perspectives with Saul and Jolene

          Saul and Jolene were thinking about the rules about who goes first in RPGs.  It was a lively discussion where we talked about several different games and how they dealt with initiative.   Saul and Jolene talked about it at length and decided it was a good topic for an episode the podcast.          Saul and Jolene discuss initiative system from the ole Dungeons and Dragons to Feng Shui, to Champions, Dark Conspiracy and others.  All of them handling the subject differently and Saul and Jolene discuss why RPG creators develop unique systems to see who acts first in their RPG.    
   As always,   Thank you all for Listening   
     Web Art by Jim Foster     Episode Art by Michael Shean-Jones
    Music by Mo Body, song First Step,  off the album 2 Step    Available from Tribeofnoise.com Used Under the Creative Commons License 3.0  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/