GamingPerspectives

          In this episode Saul and Jolene talk about traveling mechanics.  Many RPGs have rules on how to deal with traveling in their games.   Some games have very detailed rules while some might not even cover traveling in their games.  Fifth Edition D&D have some rules but they seem more like guidelines than actual rules.  These ideas are covered in the Gamemasters Guild.          Another f...

    In this episode Saul and Jolene discuss the difference and problems that arise from the difference between Player and Character knowledge.  Depending on the genre and the player ,  players are going to push the limit of what a character can know.  But there are times when a character will have be more knowledgable than the player does.       Saul and Jolene cite several examples on how a playe...

       In this Episode Saul and Jolene discuss making connections between characters.  Saul remembers the ole days when the only connection you needed or wanted was the love of killing monsters and taking their stuff.   Things have progressed to tell more meaningful stories than when Saul was a kid.  A way of doing that is to have connections between players that gives them a more meaningful reaso...

         In this Episode Saul and Jolene discuss overpowered or broken elements of a RPG.  Sometimes its a skill, a spell, a feat, a rule or a myrid of different things that can be either be misinterpreted or written too vague or not written well.       Saul and Jolene both recount experiences read from online posts and personal experiences when players and GMs might have made an error when readin...

         Saul was thinking what were some themes or genres that RPGs have a hard time capturing the feeling or thrill of playing.  Jolene had a difficult time wondering what Saul was even talking about but after a while she realized the concept Saul was trying to explain.  One example was Sports.  A Sports themed  RPG  that wasn't  a  miniature game or boardgame desguised as a RPG.       That disc...

Saul and Jolene were  talking about how people "backtrack" or take their turn over in boardgames, they take their turn and then change their minds and redo their turn.   Saul and Jolene discused  how it seems like a bad idea.   This act of "backtracking" can frustrate other players but what about in an RPGs?             The idea of backtracking an action or a scene in a RPG is usually contemplated...

          In this Episode Saul and Jolene answer a question proposed by listener Mike.  He asked about maps.  How much detail do you share with players when you give them a map.   Saul and Jolene thought it was a good question to make an episode.  Along with maps, Saul thought about how much  general information do you share with players.           Saul asked how much should you share with the pla...

What are things that influence what your play style in RPGs.   Saul and Jolene discuss a couple of things that might influence the way you play your character.  Saul admits that for about 20 years, Saul played variations of his own personality and not really trying to Role play an aspect of himself.        As usual Saul strays from the subject by talking about two of his all time favorite RPGs, th...

Someone asked about World Building, and if there was any advice, books, or manuals on how to do it.  Saul looked at his vast amounts of PDFs and found a couple of books on World Building, and Saul even found he had some physical books on the subject.  Jolene not  a fan of World Building, she finds it odd that people would spend the time on world building as she is not a fan of the endeavor.       ...

    Saul and Jolene were discussing how would a GM Desiminate  Information about their RPG Setting.  Especially when the lore is vast and deep.   Saul and Jolene came up with various methods and things to consider what a GM can do to make the "Info Dump" not only be easier but actually work.     Saul used Bethorm rules written by Jeff Dee, for running his Sakbe Road to Redemption game set in the w...

     Recently Saul and Jolene were at a local Gaming Convention and at a RPG game and when the group broke for a quick dinner break, one player never came back.   This has happened at gaming conventions and even in home game groups.  What can a GM do to mitigate the affects of the missing player.      Though usually more problematic at a Convention or in a One-shot RPG game there are things that y...

Saul and Jolene were at a Con recently and there a few people stated that there needed to be more rpg games and therefore the idea of needing  more GMs came about.   There was even a discussion on Facebook about what gamers could do to get more people to gm at conventions.       With that discussion in mind Saul and Jolene decided to record an episode of what gamers could do to get more people to...

   This is one of our Bonus Episodes an interview of Lester Smith the author of one of Saul's favorite RPGs, Dark Conspiracy.      Lester Smith  has worked for many famous game companies.  From small companies like Flying Buffalo to TSR.    Lester was gracious to talk to us and share some of his story.  From his gaming roots, to finding RPGs to being hired to work on RPGs.   Now a "retired" game c...

    A husband asked a question about a good Modern RPG that he could run for his wife.  She was not interested in anything related to Fantasy or the Science Fiction genre.  Not interested in any fantastical or supernatural elements in a modern setting.  When Jolene asked about this situation he immediately went to his bookcase and his Drivethrurpg Library.        Saul picked out some RPGs that did...

     Dungeons and Dragons turns 50 this year.  Saul and Jolene discuss what they feel has been some of the most important changes to D&D from it's publication and how it has impacted their lives.      Thanks for Listening.      Web Art by Jim Foster      Episode Art by Michael Shean-Jones       *editorial note:  Saul states that the first hardback AD&D book bought was the Monster Manual bu...

     Saul was given a Dragonbane Box Set in July and though he looked at it he did not delve too deeply into the rules. Fast forward to the middle of January 2024 and Saul's brother decided to run a Dragonbane game for their regular Friday Knights Night.  Jolene also plays with the Friday Knights group and after a couple of game session of Dragonbane Saul and Jolene decided to do a review of the g...

Familiars and Animal Companions in RPGs.   This was a topic that Saul came up with and starting to talk to Jolene about her thoughts on the use of both in RPGs.   The first RPG discussed was of course D&D from AD&D to 5th Edition but others were discussed and how different genres could have different iterations of a Familiar or Animal Companion.       Saul and Jolene also discussed what a...

     Aging in RPGs.  Some games have rules about them, some games ingnore age of the characters and other games, age is an intrical part of the game.     Saul and Jolene talk about age in RPGs from the very young and the very old.   How and what effects are there due to age seem reasonable and how do different RPGs handle  age in their games.    Thanks for listening, we really appreciate it.     ...

     Reading from the Reddit post about RPGs, Saul came across a post by a first time GM who was looking for advice on his ideas that he has for a brand new campaign.  The new GM wanted to embed a powerful NPC with the party that would grow in power as the party grew in power.  There was quite a few responses and Saul talked about the post with Jolene.  There was quite a bit of discussion and funn...

     In this episode Saul and Jolene discuss the use of Side Quests in a tabletop RPG.   Should you add Side Quests to your rpg campaign?  What are Side Quests?  What different types of Side Quests are there?  Are there any problems with using Side Quests?     Happy New Year to all of you.  Thanks for listening.       Web Art by Jim Foster     Episode Art by Michael Shean-Jones         Music by Jo...

      Most GM that have been in the hobby for a while will have one, two or a few RPG games that have never hit the table.  Saul is no exception to this problem.   Though Saul might have quite a few more RPGs on his bookshelves than most but then again he has been playing RPGs since 1978.  Still whether it's a couple games of half you collection of RPGs that you have not played it does become a bi...

         This Episode Saul and Jolene discuss some RPGs that are making their was to being published in 2024.  Saul threw in a couple that have just been published in the last months of 2023.   These are games that have piqued the interest of Saul and Jolene.      Podcast Error: the first RPG discussed by Saul he stated was called the Lost Isle but it is called the Hidden Isle.  The link to their...

     A bit different in this episode Saul and Jolene talk about Miniature Wargames.   Miniature Games come in all genres, from large armies to single miniatures on a table.   Some have large books for rules others don't.  Jolene was asking about miniature games that were not Warhammer 40K and easy to play.   Saul has played more miniature games than Jolene but she has been going to conventions and...

     Saul saw a post on Reddit about a GM who had problems Roleplaying Dialogue with the PC when they were talking for the NPCs.   The GM also wanted the players to do more RP in their sessions.   Saul realized this was a big problem for a GM that wants more RP from his players but was really intimidated by NPC dialogue.  There were quite a few help hints in the responses but other Reddit users.  ...

    In this Bonus Episode we interview Panny and Aled of Leyline Press who just very recently fullfilled their Kickstarter for Salvage Union a post apocalyptic mech game.  I came across their rather large "Quickstart" rules a while ago and was impressed with the scope of their free quickstart PDF and how well their RPG was presented.       I remembered dealing with Panny when he worked for Modiphi...