RPG Mainframe

Episode 59: Begin the Beginning, End the End

The campaign thinky-series continues as I take a look at my notes for starting and concluding your next campaign. Are these methods helpful? Do you have your own mantras for campaign starting and ending? 

Episode 58: The Art of the Middle

In this episode, I go deep into the art of mastering your campaign's MIDDLE. It's before the end and after the beginning, and the end of the middle means the beginning of the ending.. wait... Oh, just listen to the podcast.

Episode 57: Demythifying Stat Blocks

I take a long, folded path to explain my recent revelations about creating and recording stats for my monsters. My new thesis? Trust your reader (even if its you!) and write far less than you think you need to. The key is differentiation, NOT detail.

Episode 56: The Memory Flash test

I stumble on a new way to attain conceptual command of my session prep, rather than deeper, more detailed note taking and re-processing. Write, forget, write again, remember. This is the MFT! 

Episode 55: Writing RETUNE

A dive into my methods and struggles writing my choose-your-path novel RETUNE. The how, the why, and what it means for the game master inside us all!

Episode 54: Megacities

In this episode, I reveal the winding path I took to realize how valuable disposable work is, developing creative muscle, and facing hard truths! Join me for the twists and turns of a GM staring down a new campaign.

Episode 53: Binary Agency

Get your pen and paper ready for this one. I propose a method to marry the opposing forces of GM prep and true player agency. No easy love affair, but with a few 'blobs and fingers,' I think I have an answer.

Episode 52: Qualia and Narrative

As I faced the uncertainty of running a new cyberpunk campaign, I discovered a useful dichotomy in my thinking: working toward moments of feeling versus moments of revelation. Join me for another critical look at how we create.

Episode 51: The GM Push and Pull

Take some time to analyze your own pushing and pulling behaviors as a GM. A dynamic balance of assertive and passive components will make your game, like any good conversation, feel good to all present.

Episode 50: The Mighty Pen

I go into some cognitive research on using pen and paper over digital tools. Let's get all sciencey, and reinforce what I see as the absolute CORE of what we do (yes, even moreso than DICE!) ... writing.