RPG Mainframe

Episode 70: Volume 1 Finale: Sun Tzu’s Legacy

In this think-and-ponder, I get into my long-standing relationship with Sun Tzu, and its evergreen effect on me as a designer and dice-roller. 

Episode 69: Zimer’s Farewell

I take a few minutes to recollect and reconnoiter on ICRPG work, new creative frontiers, and Beyonce. A zany episode.

Episode 68:Relativism and Dice

After a few hours of yelling at the clouds, I think I have an answer to why the dice cannot be fudged, why absolute honesty binds us at the table, and how an ancient way of thinking  can overcome relativistic arguments the feel like poo. 

Episode 67: Exception Bias

Our brains are wired to take special note of the unusual. Sounds handy, right? In fact, it contributes to a distorted view of the actual world. This podcast explores how being self-aware of your own exception bias can help create a more holistic sense of creative life.
The book I mention here can be grabbed on Amazon. Brilliant read that is very salient for our times.  https://www.amazon.com/Humankind-Hopeful-History-Rutger-Bregman/dp/0316418536

Episode 65: Timeliness in RPG Creativity

Current events are grabbing a LOT of our attention these days. How do you satisfy that urge to be relevant, but not clumsy, with your creativity? How can you give your hobby time that feeling of mattering when the world is in such struggle? Here are a few ideas at answering these tough questions.

Episode 64: Wildemount and Essentialsim

There's something wonderful in culling many ideas to one. To nailing one thing before moving on. It's also called building from the bottom up, and Wildemount does it brilliantly. 

Episode 63: Mindful Differentiation

Enhance your dungeon designs by mindfully 'switching the music' and more to build variety and excitement. Come hang out a bit as I muse on a method to push your dungeon designs further.

Episode 62: Player Investment

All mailbag all the time as I spend some time thinking on reader comments and questions. How do you increase the enthusiasm and 'in-it-ness' of your players? Here's my best six answers.

Episode 61: Dividends of Minimalism

My new lifestyle has removed most of the common trappings of any tabletop game. Weird thing is, this has proven a boon.

Episode 60: Altered State Campaign Retrospective

It's finally over: almost 5 months of weekly play in the ALTERED STATE world of guns, AI, and world-ending schemes! In this episode, I take some time to think back on the highlights of our campaign, and the GM lessons I walked away with.