Judd Karlman

Daydreaming about Dragons

Leisure EN ↓ 149 episodes

Welcome to Daydreaming about Dragons, in which I'll think out loud about the techniques that help make tabletop role-playing games fun for me and my friends. Thomas Manuel, creator on Yes, Indie'd Podcast, Rascal News, and the Indie RPG Newsletter, said, "It is like 15 minute episodes and in each episode he solves an RPG problem. I mean he literally solves it. Every time I'm like, okay, cool, that is done. I wish more people knew that answer so we could stop arguing about it."

Author

Judd Karlman

Episodes

Episode 85 Tabletop Technique: When the villain and character play chess | Inspiration Goat Pariah by Anthony Ryan, and questioning creative decisions 04.11.2021 18:39

In which we discuss what is really at stake when characters play against an antagonist in a game of strategy and look at Pariah by Anthony Ryan, thinking about how to tell our friends that we aren't wild about a creative decision at the table. Link Daydreaming about Dragons Merch | https://shopofjudd.threadless.com/collections/daydreaming-about-dragons | Inspiration Goat's Twitter | https://twitte...

Episode 84 Tabletop Techniques - One drop of weird at a time | Inspiration Goat: Dune and carpeted spaceships 30.10.2021 22:08

In which I discuss a recent bit of strangeness in our Thursday night run of Curse of Strahd, wherein pterodactyls are now in the skies and we look at the recent release of Dune to think about details in our games. Curse of Strahd, Episode VII, New Wolves & Old Friends https://githyankidiaspora.wordpress.com/2021/10/28/curse-of-strahd-episode-viii-new-wolves-old-friends/ Other Ways to Dee Amper...

Episode 83 Tabletop Techniques: Moving Beyond Genre Expectations / Inspiration Goat: Apocalypse World Playbooks 12.10.2021 29:31

Apocalypse World https://lumpley.games/BURNEDOVER/ Baker Patreon https://www.patreon.com/lumpley Space Station blog post https://githyankidiaspora.wordpress.com/2021/03/03/preparing-for-moons-of-leviathan/ Magic Item Blog post https://githyankidiaspora.wordpress.com/2021/10/12/making-magic-items-inspired-by-apocalypse-world/ Daydreaming about Dragons Merch | https://shopofjudd.threadless.com/colle...

Episode 82, Season 2: Tabletop Techniques - First and Third Person Narration | Inspiraton Goat - Wildermyth 11.08.2021 27:52

In which we discuss First and Third Person Narration at the table and Inspiration Goat brings us Wildermyth, a lovely turn-based RPG, kinda like Darkest Dungeons but not so dark and less jaded (maybe even...joyful). Black Dice Society Youtube Playlist | https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfS8QgUdeGYqAxdEg_qLKzsEeuc8JAQMD | Exandria Unlimited Youtube Playlist | https://youtube.com/playlist?list...

E81S2 Tabletop Techniques: Lore people care about it / Inspiration Goat: Willow and the Dust of Broken Hearts 03.07.2021 30:35

In which I am inspired by a tweet by Rob Donoghue (linked below) and talk about making lore relevant to the going's on in your game; Inspiration Goat throws out Willow and I talk about character pivots and the Dust of Broken Hearts... Rob's Tweet | https://twitter.com/rdonoghue/status/1409154805424177155 Daydreaming about Dragons Merch | https://shopofjudd.threadless.com/collections/daydreaming-ab...

Reply Show Pollen 25.06.2021 21:54

In which I speak with friends... Pugmire | https://www.realmsofpugmire.com/buy Incarnadine Press | http://ipressgames.com/about/ Daydreaming about Dragons Merch | https://shopofjudd.threadless.com/collections/daydreaming-about-dragons Inspiration Goat's Twitter | https://twitter.com/InspirationGoat | Daydreaming about Dragons youtube Playlist | https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcnZ3uO0pp0rzR...

E80S2 Structure for Improvisation / Inspiration Goat: Leaving Kansas by Emmy Allen 21.06.2021 30:00

In which I discuss creating structure for easier improvisation and Inspiration Goat brings us Leaving Kansas by Emmy Allen from Knock, Issue #1. Knock Issue 2 Kickstarter | https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/896102915/knock-issue-two | The Sixth Ring, a Trophy podcast | https://www.gauntlet-rpg.com/trophy-podcast Daydreaming about Dragons Merch | https://shopofjudd.threadless.com/collections/day...

E79S2 Tabletop Techniques: Leadership and Empathy / Inspiration Goat: Almost Famous and Lester Bangs on Rock and Roll 14.06.2021 30:48

In which I discuss leadership and empathy in collaborative endeavors and think about Lester Bangs in Almost Famous and what he has to say about Rock and Roll. Reddit Thread Mentioned | https://www.reddit.com/r/DMAcademy/comments/ngskg3/how_to_tell_a_player_he_cant_play_his_new/gysrzqm?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3 Daydreaming about Dragons Merch | https://shopofjudd.threadles...

E78S2 Too many or too few players / Gideon the Ninth and Humor 07.06.2021 30:18

In which I consider some ideas on what to do when there are more people and less people than you had anticipated and think a bit more about Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir, Audiobook read by Moira Quirk. Daydreaming about Dragons Merch | https://shopofjudd.threadless.com/collections/daydreaming-about-dragons Inspiration Goat's Twitter | https://twitter.com/InspirationGoat | Daydreaming about Drago...

Episode 77 Thinking about Session 0 and The Murderbot Diaries 03.06.2021 19:08

In which I think a bit about what I like to bring to Session 0 and Inspiration Goat rightfully demands discussion on the Murderbot Diaries. Rob Donoghue's tweet about backgrounds | https://twitter.com/rdonoghue/status/1389025610232647682 Blog Post about Backgrounds | https://githyankidiaspora.wordpress.com/2021/05/10/bringing-it-all-together-quickly-with-backgrounds/ Threadless Shop | https://shop...

E76 S2 Getting info on the table and Mare of Easttown, hobbit shires and small town settings 17.05.2021 28:10

In which I talk about keeping secrets and putting information on the table so the players can make interesting decisions and Inspiration Goat brings Mare of Easttown to the table, getting us to think about small town settings, hobbit shires and a bit about detectives as sorcerers. Sci-fi Collection, Supporting Medshare India | https://shopofjudd.threadless.com/collections/science-fiction/ Silver S...

E75 S2 Tabletop Techniques: B-Game / Inspiration Goat: Season 3, Star Trek Discovery 06.05.2021 20:01

In which I discuss having an alternate game for when you don't have enough gamers to play your primary campaign and Inspiration Goat brings us Star Trek Discovery so that we can talk about plotlines and themes that might give us all kinds of feelings in a post-Covid world. Sci-fi Collection, Supporting Medshare India | https://shopofjudd.threadless.com/collections/science-fiction/ Silver Swords of...

E74 S2 Table Techniques: Parable of the Floating Head / Inspiration Goat: Warrior 05.04.2021 16:23

In which I remember a floating head in a LARP, thinking about what lessons it taught me and Inspiration Goat brings us the action-packed TV show, Warrior and what it can teach us about avoid mono-cultures in our world-building. Threadless Shop | https://shopofjudd.threadless.com/ Inspiration Goat's Twitter | https://twitter.com/InspirationGoat | Daydreaming about Dragons youtube Playlist | https:/...

Remembering Morgan 02.03.2021 10:24

In which I mourn a member of our community and talk about e-hugs and getting to the table with online acquaintances you think are cool. Join us this Friday, 7:30pm PST on the Actual Play Twitch Channel. The blog post, Moons of Leviathan, about Morgan's Traveller Character...

E73 S2 Tabletop Techniques: Language as Setting / IG: Insecure, Media and Art in your settings and fully fleshed out NPC's 25.02.2021 26:15

Word choice in play as an element of world-building and what we can learn from Issa Rae's Insecure and bring to the table. Please support: Black Lives Matter Global Network | https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019 | Black Trans Covid-19 Community Response Grant | https://blacktrans.org/campaigns/coronavirus-grant/ | Other Links Awkward Black Girl | https://www.youtube.com/playlist?...

Special Congrats Ravenloft Episode 23.02.2021 5:09

In which I share the story of my first game set in Ravenloft and congratulate my friends. Please support: Black Lives Matter Global Network | https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019 | Black Trans Covid-19 Community Response Grant | https://blacktrans.org/campaigns/coronavirus-grant/ | Toccata and Fugue in D Minor from Archive.org | https://archive.org/details/ToccataAndFugueInDMinor...

Reply Show Snowblanket 26.01.2021 21:07

Responding to gaming stories sent in by daydreamers and friends. Please support: Black Lives Matter Global Network | https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019 | Black Trans Covid-19 Community Response Grant | https://blacktrans.org/campaigns/coronavirus-grant/ | Inspiration Goat's Twitter | https://twitter.com/InspirationGoat | Daydreaming about Dragons youtube Playlist | https://www....

E72S2 Table Technique: Genre, Tropes and Beyond / Inspiration Goat: What We Do in the Shadows and Lower Decks 14.01.2021 33:36

How does gaming help us move beyond genres and tropes and thinking about humor in our scifi and fantasy with What We dD in the Shadows and Lower Decks. Please support: Black Lives Matter Global Network | https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019 | Black Trans Covid-19 Community Response Grant | https://blacktrans.org/campaigns/coronavirus-grant/ | Inspiration Goat's Twitter | https://...

Reply Show Friendship is Magic 12.01.2021 24:23

Responding to gaming stories sent in by daydreamers and friends. Please support: Black Lives Matter Global Network | https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019 | Black Trans Covid-19 Community Response Grant | https://blacktrans.org/campaigns/coronavirus-grant/ | Stygian Seas blog post | https://githyankidiaspora.wordpress.com/2016/07/28/stygian-galleon-on-the-dead-seas/ | Questions ba...

Episode 71 - Favorite Gaming Experiences of the Past Decades (a strange episode for strange times) 07.01.2021 30:25

A strange episode in which I ditch our usual structure and discuss my favorite gaming sessions of the past decades... Please support: Black Lives Matter Global Network | https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019 | Black Trans Covid-19 Community Response Grant | https://blacktrans.org/campaigns/coronavirus-grant/ | Blog Posts about Gaming with my Dad Visiting Westeros with my Dad | htt...

Reply Show Two Zero 31.12.2020 27:12

Responding to gaming stories sent in by daydreamers and friends. Please support: Black Lives Matter Global Network | https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019 | Black Trans Covid-19 Community Response Grant | https://blacktrans.org/campaigns/coronavirus-grant/ | Links Inspiration Goat's Twitter | https://twitter.com/InspirationGoat | Daydreaming about Dragons youtube Playlist | https:...

Daydreaming about Dragons E70S2 - Table Technique: Making World History/Lore Relevant, Inspiration Goat: My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service 23.12.2020 39:38

How to get everyone at the table caring about world lore and Inspiration Goat brings us My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service. Please support: Black Lives Matter Global Network | https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019 | Black Trans Covid-19 Community Response Grant | https://blacktrans.org/campaigns/coronavirus-grant/ | Links Inspiration Goat's Twitter | https://twitter.co...

E69S2 Daydreaming about Dragons - Table Techniques - What makes good players? / Inspiration Goat - The Sopranos 14.12.2020 29:39

We often talk about skills for DMing and GMing but what makes for a good player? And with IG, The Sopranos... Inspiration Goat's Twitter | https://twitter.com/InspirationGoat | Daydreaming about Dragons youtube Playlist | https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcnZ3uO0pp0rzRsfN_ObyhOdgaoeMs0TQ Rebel Crown Youtube Playlist | https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNuXiEYyM4ivQZAHtIDs_TYmy7dKbZBxP Pleas...

E68S2 Table Techniques: Consequences, Context and Cool Shit Inspiration Goat: Into the Lair of the Sun God 16.10.2020 21:55

My GMing Mantra at the table (Consequences, Context and Cool Shit) and IG brings us some metal.  Hold the Line: a guide to defending democracy | holdthelineguide.com/ Links Inspiration Goat's Twitter | https://twitter.com/InspirationGoat | Daydreaming about Dragons youtube Playlist | https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcnZ3uO0pp0rzRsfN_ObyhOdgaoeMs0TQ Perception Checks, an open letter | h...

Episode 67, Season 2: Table Techniques - Adventures leaving marks on characters | Inspiration Goat: Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 5, Episode 2, Darmok 01.10.2020 22:13

Thinking about how adventures change characters through scars, tattoos or whatever and IG brings us a classic episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation... Links Inspiration Goat's Twitter | https://twitter.com/InspirationGoat | Daydreaming about Dragons youtube Playlist | https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcnZ3uO0pp0rzRsfN_ObyhOdgaoeMs0TQ Beast Hunters | https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/5...