013 It’s How You Use It – Following Rules in RPGs

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Brett and Sean discuss playing an rpg, but not necessarily playing by the rules-as-written? Huh, what? Then why play that game?

Episode 13 Show Outline

Intro

Sponsor

Greyedout Productions – Dice bags. Promo code: GamingandBS gets you 10% off. http://greyedout.etsy.com

Topics of Discussion

It’s not what system you choose, it’s how you use it that matters. Brett and I talk about playing roleplaying games but not adhering to the rules as written. If a system forces us one way, it won’t work for us. Sean’s argument would be, “then why play that game with those rules?”

Die Roll – 2-4 misc points we want to bring up at end of cast. Should be short and sweet, could be a plug, something to check out, etc. Limited time to spout off.

Brett

  1. Saw the SW trailer.  I was… unmoved. <sean> did you see the real one or a spoof? (Wes Anderson or Lucas version – many tie fighters)
  2. EverCon Olde School Challenge and D&D with a live audience (http://evercon.org/events/rpg/)

Sean

  1. Custom Star Wars miniatures table w/LED! http://www.starwars.com/news/fully-operational-fandom-incredible-custom-x-wing-miniatures-gaming-table
  2. 3d print your own working Stargate – rotates and has LEDs http://io9.com/3d-print-your-very-own-working-stargate-1666385136
  3. Terminator Genisys – Summer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62E4FJTwSuc
  4. Asteroid Day campaign launched Dec 3rd. Wants to mark June 30, 2015 as Asteroid Day. THat day would be the 107th anniversary of the Tunguska Event. On June 30, 1908, a near-Earth object (NEO) thought to be about 130 feet (40 meters) wide exploded above the Podkamennaya Tunguska River in Siberia, destroying 800 square miles (2,072  square kilometers) of forest. “If that event had taken place 6 1/2 hours later, Berlin would have rotated into the object’s path, and that would have utterly changed the course of human civilization,” said Bill Nye, former TV “Science Guy” and CEO of the nonprofit Planetary Society, who joined today’s news conference via videoconference from New York. http://www.space.com/27921-asteroid-day-dangerous-near-earth-objects.html

Closing/outro

012 Game Balance in Roleplaying Games

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We talk about game balance, challenge ratings, encounters and throwing a lich up against a party of first level pleebs! Is it necessary? Let us know.

Episode 12 Show Outline

Intro

Announcements

DMG released! (that’s 5e folks)

Added to Master List of Podcasts on Table Top Podcast Community https://plus.google.com/+MoeTousignant/posts/H5fyeqxtQv3 Thanks Moe!

Savage Worlds Bloggers Network on G+

https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/102903036211520314167/110528932931516432687/posts

added by Kristian Serrano (https://plus.google.com/u/0/+KristianSerrano/posts )


Random Encounter – messages from audience via email, G+ community or Twitter

Comments to Game Stores episode from GamingandBS.com: https://gamingandbs.com/2014/11/25/episode-11-game-stores/#comments

Moe Tosignant

This is a bit of a contentious topic locally as of late.

The big FLGS of the area closed. The owner had planned to start fresh with something new. A secondary store really stepped up to the plate to fill the gape. Went from LGS, and really Magic the Gathering and CCG store that also had Warhammer to a true hobby game store that also earned the F in front of FLGS.

Now since then something went bad for the initial FLGS owner and his plans didn’t work out. He’s now back in the LGS business hooking up with the local UFLGS (Un-Friendly Local Game Store). Now since joining up he’s doing an awesome job getting rid of that U. The problem is that there’s bad blood between all these store owners.

So now the local gaming community is starting to remind me of high school RPG groups where there are relationship issues. I’m sure you’ve all gone through that at some point and know what it feels like.

Added to this mess are a couple of really cool out of towners (though they’ve now been here long enough they can’t really be called out of towners anymore) who have plans to open a new store next year.

Feedback from Liz C. on G+. Liz, thanks for the feedback. re: Brett’s affinity for clicking mouse during show. We have restrained him.

Sponsor

Greyedout Productions: http://etsy.com/shop/greyedout  Promo code: GamingandBS to receive 10% off

Topic of Discussion

  1. How do Brett and Sean define Game Balance
  2. What’s the big deal?
    1. Up front Power
    2. Potential Power
    3. Encounters that “match”
  3. Stuff that RPGs try and emulate that are NOT balanced
    1. Fictional characters (movies, books etc)
    2. Myths
    3. Real life triumph over adversity
  4. Who’s job is it to ensure some form of balance?
    1. GM – provide a setting and options that allow for more than just “you are evenly matched in combat/skill/abilities”
    2. Players – running away is an option, creative choices
    3. RPG Authors – set up the game to start on equal footing

Die Roll (5 min) – 2-4 misc points we want to bring up at end of cast. Should be short and sweet, could be a plug, something to check out, etc. Limited time to spout off.

Brett

  1. KS rage – I’m not happy with how this is going…
  2. Gaming with my kids – how awesome it is to have every description of every monster be new again

Sean

  1. Star Wars-Force Awakens Trailer
  2. Holiday movie season: In Exodus-Gods and Kings, The Hobbit-Battle of Five Armies, The Imitation Game (Turing), American Sniper (Eastwood), Unbroken (Jolie)-track star, 47 days at sea, rescued by Japanese
  3. Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals

Closing/outro

011 Roleplaying Game Stores

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Bad roleplaying game stores get our blood pressure up, but it’s because we want them to thrive. Let us know why your game store rocks via email: [email protected] or call 929.BIG.DICE and leave us a message!

Episode 11 Show Outline

Intro

Announcements – updates to website, news, events, links, etc

Sponsor: Greyed Out Productions. https://www.etsy.com/shop/greyedout Use promo code: GAMINGANDBS and get 10% off your order!

Random Encounter – misc rants

What kind of ASSHOLE knocks over a guys motorcycle?!?  I want that guy’s head on a pike.

Message – messages from audience via email, G+ community or Twitter

Topics of Discussion – Girth of the show, links, blurb, references, etc.

WARNING to Listeners – Sean is totally gonna lose his shit in this episode

  1. Benefits to local game store
    1. meet other gamers
    2. events
    3. order stuff
    4. support local economy – employs people, etc
    5. promotes the hobby
    6. may be able to purchase something on the spot to include impulse buys
  2. What makes a good game store
    1. good inventory – define ‘good’
    2. friendly & knowledgeable staff
    3. clean store
    4. good communication
    5. loyalty programs
    6. pre-orders
    7. makes use of social media
  3. What makes a bad game store
    1. crappy customer service
    2. shit inventory
    3. dirty game store – garbage, signs done in MS word using word art.
  4. Location
  5. What challenges do game stores have in today’s market
    1. pdfs
    2. publishers selling direct
    3. kickstarter
    4. too many products
    5. staffing – specifically events

Die Roll 

Brett

  1. Saw a bear this trip  – seems I’m upgrading from wolves?
  2. Get to have one last gaming session with my group before the end of the year -never easy to get this last one in but we’ve got it on the calendar!
  3. Ken Hite’s Dracula Dossier for Night’s Black Agents is going strong on KS (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1721105501/the-dracula-dossier) – this is one KS I’m thinking of putting mone into as I’m confident they will deliver a solid product.
  4. Thanksgiving is my favorite family holiday. Hope all the US listeners have a good holiday!

Sean

  1. Stan Shin – 5e rules summary in both landscape and portrait formats https://plus.google.com/+StanShinn/posts/eso3h2RCKpq,
  2. Fantasy Flight merges with Asmodee Group http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_news.asp?eidn=5212

Closing/outro