RPG Podcasts

Hosts:
Walt Snider | twitter | Website | Blog | MySpace | Facebook | Walt’s Company
Zac Ashmore | Blog
Dan Seers

Contact:
Voicemail: (754) 273-KORE | Email: fans [at] korenewmedia [dot] com

Kore New Media Resources:
Kore New Media.com | Podcast Feeds | Podcast Show Notes | Kore Blog | Kore Forums

The Social:
Twitter | Facebook | MySpace | YouTube

Podcast Production by Paladin Innovative LLC

The Stories:
Christian sentenced to prison
Face drawing started brother fight
New Zealand town cancels rabbit-throwing contest
More than $2 million counterfeit cigarettes filled with rabbit droppings instead of tobacco seized [Neil]
Councilman Pushes To Regulate Medical Pot Shops
Gunman prays with bank clerk, hugs her, then robs her

Fencing Their Way, and Loving It
Japan swimmers ‘fashion’ ban
Safety barrier moved because cars keeping hitting it
Depressed woman loses benefits over Facebook photos
Real-life Harry Potter laments name
No tickets in 84 years of driving

Gallery:

WTF!?:

Welcome To The Last Day Of The Month

TV Pages

GRD Mail

• JB Clarifies
• Kory, Twilight & Listening
• Chris Has A World Vision

Break

B.O. Results

• What Wafted To The Top

Geek News

• Twilight Could Be Heading To TV
• New SW & Tron Games Coming
• Porn Enters The Cell Phone Arena
• The Universal Soilders Are Back
• PS3 Dragon Age Soundtrack Is Formatted Wrong

May December Find You Well

Do you ever wonder why players so often surprise their GM’s with (often) highly effective non-linear problem solving? I mean, the GM spent hours devising a complex political environment and a dungeon filled with monsters and the strong reasons why one leads directly to the other. Then the players sit down and look at the facts as presented and come up with something like, “Let’s just go to the Senator’s house, torture his bodyguard to find out where he’s hiding, and then kill him.” No need to negotiate a complex sociopolitical situation or brave a treacherous dungeon; just cut that Gordian Knot as efficiently as possible.

First, there are ways to horn-shoe the players back into the more convoluted plot the GM had in mind. Those are discussed elsewhere. I just want to explore why the players so quickly find a solution that the GM did not. Second, you’re probably screaming that there are twelve bad assumptions with my example and that would never happen, like that, in your campaign. OK; just think back to a case in which your players bee-lined directly through or around your hazards and left you scrambling for something to throw in their way. Then, pretend that was my example, instead.

My point, is that GM’s often get fixated on a point and lose the bigger picture. It’s like they slowly build up a path of, “First A then B then C … and finally, Z!” But they rarely step back and say, “If the PC’s start at A, is there an easier, faster, better way to get directly to Z?” Instead, GM’s will attempt to complicate matters with more steps, or by creating ‘false bifurcations’, as in “they can choose C or D, but either way, they end up at E.” This over focus or Point Fixation keeps the GM looking at the trees but not lifting his head to examine the forest.

One possible solution should be screamingly obvious by now. Stop and look! If you have to set aside your work for a day or two, then that’s what you have to do. Come back with fresh eyes. Don’t ask yourself “what would I do, if I were a player” because though that is the oft quoted panacea, it rarely works. Not all players have the same strategies, and you know much more about the backstory and the plot than the players do, and you can’t really simulate ignorance to get at their viewpoint, so don’t try. Instead, cast the complex plot you’ve been working on out of your head (for a moment or two!) and simply state, in a single sentence if possible, what the ‘goal’ actually is. Write it out; it helps to look at the words. Then look at your plot and see if the actual, written goal can be achieved through a simpler, more direct means.

For example, the PC’s will be told that a certain senator is corrupt and fomenting dissent within the senate while simultaneously paying barbarian raiders to attack villages at the edge of the empire. He’s trying to create the situation that will allow himself to seize absolute power “for the good of the empire.” Assuming the PC’s have a strong motivation to stop that from happening, what is their actual goal? Is it to keep him from pronouncing himself emperor? Is it to expose his plot? Is it to just remove him as a threat? Because if the actual goal is just to remove the threat, then the fastest way to do that is to remove the man, and the PC’s are (probably) damn good at killing. Skip the long way round, just find him and run him through – problem solved.

If you don’t want that solution, then you have to remove that goal. Come up with a reason why killing him would make things worse, or would lead to extreme sanctions against the PC’s, or would cost the empire much more then his current machinations do. In order to produce a different answer, you need to change the question. And, that’s not done by adding more points on the map for them to pass through or more monsters to the dungeon. In fact, by asking the ‘big question’ and changing the scenario until the question works for what you have planned, then it won’t matter what plan the PC’s come up with. You’ll be able to stay flexible and react to them, because there won’t be a path to keep them on, there will be a giant target they move towards and whatever path they choose to take to that target will be the plot.

Don’t lose the forest for the trees; ask the right questions, and let your players have the creative freedoms to find whatever paths need.

The classic argument about super powers

Our planes for world domination

We give away our best story ideas

The road to hell...

If I was god I would start my own ghost busters

Metalocalypse S2E03

Brutal Legend

Hosts:
Walt Snider | twitter | Website | Blog | MySpace | Facebook | Walt’s Company
Zac Ashmore | Blog

Contact:
Voicemail: (754) 273-KORE | Email: fans [at] korenewmedia [dot] com

Kore New Media Resources:
Kore New Media.com | Podcast Feeds | Podcast Show Notes | Kore Blog | Kore Forums

The Social:
Twitter | Facebook | MySpace | YouTube

Podcast Production by Paladin Innovative LLC

Show Links:
Alive in Wonderland Pics

Hosts: Dave, Josh, Jason, Tim, Andrew

There are some sound hiccups in the early parts of the podcast.  Our recording software had some issues but the only thing lost were a couple syllables here and there.

Topics:

• [01:38] New models: Blythe & Bull, Basher
• [07:20] Saultydog Cinema: Steel Dawn
• [10:11] Cygnar Firefly light warjack
• [12:11] He’d tell us but then he’d have to kill us
• [12:28] Last weekend’s tourny
• [20:15] Hordes MkII anticipation
• [24:42] TempleCon 2010
• [37:43] Quick chess clock review for folks who haven’t heard about it before
• [43:13] Steamroller 2010 is coming
• [46:46] Privateer Press’ role in TempleCon
• [49:15] Midnight Madness & Killbox
• [54:20] We’re still at it
• [1:09:00] Midnight Madness t-shirt (& giveaway)

Discuss this episode on our forums here.

* Welcoming comedian Mikey Mason.

* Dan is answering his Fear the Boot email account again. Let’s see how long that lasts.

* Fear the Fruit is back at Fear the Con 3. You can find information on how to make a donation here.

* Revisiting old campaigns.

* Mikey Mason’s beer sites are Good Beer Show and Beer Safari. The two non-bitter beers we took to are New Glarus Belgian Red and Schlafly #15.

* Where theater practices and roleplaying overlap (and don’t).

Hosts: Chad, Dan, John, Mikey, Pat, Wayne

It’s Wednesday… Yet Friday

TV Pages

GRD Mail

• Onkel Thorsen & Drinking Games

Break

• Wandering Geek
• Wapcaplets

Flynn’s Long Box

• Peek Inside At This Week’s Comics

Geek News

• Flash Forward Could Be Slowing Down
• Gramma Monkeys
• Michael Moorcock To Write Who Novel
• Kat Dennings Is Part Of Thor
• Smart Armor Learns From Bullets

Have A Great Turkey Day

Get Ready To Fry A Turkey

Geeky Week

• Flynnstress
• Bruce
• Flynn

GRD News

• All Is Well… Mostly
• GRDies… Vote!!!!

Geek Mail

• Ken Can’t Find Where To Vote
• Thomas’ Lost Mail
• Darren Checks In

GRD Fit Club

Break

• 7th Son Descent

GRDsWeekly 67 – Gobble Gobble

• A Little Commentary On Thanksgiving
• Special Isn’t It
• Have A Safe Turkey Day

Don’t Eat Too Much

Hosts:
Walt Snider | twitter | Website | Blog | MySpace | Facebook | Walt’s Company
Zac Ashmore | Blog

Contact:
Voicemail: (754) 273-KORE | Email: fans [at] korenewmedia [dot] com

Kore New Media Resources:
Kore New Media.com | Podcast Feeds | Podcast Show Notes | Kore Blog | Kore Forums

The Social:
Twitter | Facebook | MySpace | YouTube

Podcast Production by Paladin Innovative LLC

Show Links:
Jaroo
Star Wars: The Old Republic Web Comic

Videos:

One Day Closer To Fried Turkey

TV Pages

GRD Mail

• New Listener Checks In
• Magnus Has Foriegn H1N1

Break

• Geek Survival Guide

New DVD’s

Geek News

• Stephen & Steven & A Dome
• Spider Webs Save Gas
• Joshua Jackson Catches A UFO
• Real Phasers Are Coming
• Now Nintendo Is Copying Other Folks

MMMM MMM Fried Turkey

Hosts:
Walt Snider | twitter | Website | Blog | MySpace | Facebook | Walt’s Company
Zac Ashmore | Blog
Jonathan Landreth | Kicked In The Dicebags | Spooky Outhouse
Dan Seers

Contact:
Voicemail: (754) 273-KORE | Email: fans [at] korenewmedia [dot] com

Kore New Media Resources:
Kore New Media.com | Podcast Feeds | Podcast Show Notes | Kore Blog | Kore Forums

The Social:
Twitter | Facebook | MySpace | YouTube

Podcast Production by Paladin Innovative LLC

The Stories:
Inmates’ request to wait out tough economy in Rockingham County jail is denied
Robber calls victim over lost wallet
Armed man a John Wayne cutout
The Danger of Flamers
Trampoline causes freeway crash
Riviera Beach police, residents on the lookout for ‘python-like’ reptile
Man accused of attacking Sears worker

Al-Qaeda ‘faces funding crisis’
Michelle Obama action figures
Strength Forged through Sacrifice
Boy, 9, rescues 7-year-old from deer
9-year-old city kid has champion moo

Gallery: Unfortunately Named Professionals

WTF!?: Up Up [NSFW]

Pace Yourself For Being Stuffed

TV Pages

GRD Mail

Break

• Geek Acres

B.O. Results

• What Wafted To The Top

Geek News

• Xbox Responds To Lawsuit
• Science Haters
• Dino Eating Crocs
• Xbox + Jonas Bros. = ??
• DAAAAADDDSSSS  IINNNNNNN SPAAAAAAACCCEEEE

Can You Believe We Are This Late In The Year?

My love for Dominion, explained and explored.

Intro by Rich Rogers of Canon Puncture.

--Paul

Discuss this episode in the HG,WT forum

Session 04 - The party seem to be making a reputation for themselves and are hired to solve some environmental issues

Weekend Wonderland

TV Pages

GRD Mail

• Trent Cooks Bacon

Break

Friday Flicks

Geek News

• U.K. Hunts Pirates
• You’ve Got Fail
• Sony To Go 3D
• Klingon – The First Language
• Fight Club: The Drew Barrymore Edition

Enjoy Yourself

If you are a fan of our Actual Play episodes, head over to the brand new RPPR Actual Play Podcast. It will feature a new AP episode every single week! We’ve already got over 11 hours of Call of Cthulhu ready for download. Don’t forget to comment on the episodes or post about them in our forums if you enjoy them.

As you might have realized, it’s been a while since we’ve done an episode. I’ve had to move, get the Goblin Hulk PDF out and set up the new podcast feed. Fortunately, the Goblin Hulk has already gotten some good reviews, so if you haven’t, be sure to check it out.  But all is now well so we can go back to the basics: gaming advice, shout outs and Tom bitching about the announcer voice. In this episode, we focus on improving a game by talking about NPCs who aren’t enemies or quest-givers. Many GMs forget to include this type of NPC, thinking of only the bare essentials in their game, but a great game needs NPCs who just do their own thing.  I also go over some game design advice as described by Jordan Mechner which relates to the discussion. We also have several anecdotes, a rant about the POS movie 2012 and more!

Shout outs:

• Creature Feature: The Greatest Show Unearthed – horror rock music that Tom approves of.
• Eisenhorn: A Warhammer 40k sci-fi action pulp novel trilogy. Very slick, bad-ass fiction.
• E-collapse: A new superhero RPG put out by Greg Stolze. Postmodern ideologies and super-science.
• Hobocon: If you are curious about Gencon, check this documentary about it. Interesting but flawed.
• Time Travel T-shirt: A very useful t-shirt.
• L4D2: The bestest vidya game ever. My Xbox Live gamertag is Clockworkjoe13
• The Room: The bestest movie ever. WATCH IT.
• Black Dynamite: The most super-bad outta sight movie ever.

Music: The Quest by David Cyr
Promo: Swing and A Miss Podcast.

Related posts:

1. RPPR Episode 34: Break It Up
2. Announcing Role Playing Public Radio: second edition
3. RPPR Episode 16: Help Me To Help You

Media that can ruin someones life

The up side to mob justice

Does the upper class have the right to indulge at our expense

subsidized hookers for all

Hooters

Crime and punishment

* Some basic information on Fear the Con 3 is up.  More details — and ticketing — will follow soon!

* Checking in on how Wayne’s Mutants & Masterminds game went.

* Getting your players unstuck.

* Bickering about bards.  If you don’t have a 3.5 rulebook handy, you can follow along here.  If you’re interested in entering Critical Press Media’s bard contest, you can find details on their site.

* The reciprocal relationship between tabletop roleplaying games and video games.

Hosts: Chad, Dan, Pat, Wayne

Wow… Were The Hangovers That Bad..

Geeky Week

• Flynnstress
• Bruce
• Flynn

Geek News

• The GRDies Are Coming

Geek Mail

• Rob Wrote Lyrics
• Big Orange Michael Agrees With Jabba
• Five Rounds Rapid Recounts Halloween
• Anna Learned Things
• Endigo Agrees With Jabba
• Thomas Flash Forward
• Jabba Says Ok
• Endigo Has Something Else To Say
• Thomas & Halloween
• Jabba Liked Candyman
• Thomas Saw Where The Wild Things Are
• Cedric Likes Tea
• Jabba & Twilight

GRD Fit Club

Break

GRDsWeekly 66 – Catching & Crawling

Till Next Time… Which Should Be Sooner