I Cast Guidance - A Dungeons and Dragons and TTRPG Podcast

There is a big difference between what is fun and what is meaningful. In this episode, I look at what makes the story meaningful by exploring some examples and giving you some tools to use in your game. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit icastguidance.substack.com

As Game Masters and Dungeon Masters, we sometimes feel frustration that our workload is overlooked by our players or that they don’t have the same attention to detail that we do. If this has frustrated you, have a listen to this week’s I Cast Guidance for some new perspective. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit...

Nathan had the idea that we should do a once a month segment where we analyze our game play in order to learn more about how we play new systems. ShadowDark is offering us an opportunity to look at some of the bigger differences in the way our players behave at the table given the danger and ruleset that we now have. In this discussion, we ask questions and look at a couple of tactical scenarios a...

This is a topic I have been struggling with and I have to start looking inward to see what it is I am doing to cause this. Too often we blame our players (believe me, there are issues on that end of things too) but what can GMs do to create a better and more cohesive party at our gaming tables? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonu...

In this episode of I Cast Guidance, Todd and Nathan dig further into the nuances of OSR game crunch and PBTR style, rules-light to try and mine more thoughts on how both contribute to storytelling from gameplay. Jump in and have a listen. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit icastguidance.substack.com

The IChing was the earliest divination tool known to mankind. You essentially take 3 coins and flip them to generate a reading. You then consult a text that gives you the meaning. When we don’t understand things, we sometimes seek out the divine for answers. In our table top role playing games, the dice serve as this divine resource for the answers to how we move the story forward. This is a publi...

We are going to take this conversation further and the goal is to open the discussion around this new genre of storytelling from historical and design perspectives. Games and the storytelling space have merged. Chance operations and collaboration create a new, brilliant space to create fiction. Nathan and Todd open the discussion here and lay the groundwork for a deeper dive as we record future ep...

PrinceCon is the oldest Dungeons and Dragons Con on the east coast and has a very unique way of handling one theme and storyline with 20 DM's and more than 100 players. It all funnels together.  Held at Princeton University since 1976, this unique gaming experience is something you should know about. Check out this show.  Todd Lambrix, Garret Brennan, Richard Frohman and Nathan Gilvey are regular...

Time travel can be a mess and bringing it into your game can make a disaster for the GM... however, manipulating time and how it unfolds can be intriguing and can add layers to your story. We talk about ways to do this and have some good conversation around time travel paradoxes.  Todd Lambrix, Garret Brennan, Richard Frohman and Nathan Gilvey are regular content creators at Wither and Bloom Studi...

In today's episode we are talking about the complexities of good villains. Our intention with this discussion is to get you thinking about ways you can build your own villains for your campaigns. Check this out! Todd Lambrix, Garret Brennan, Richard Frohman and Nathan Gilvey are regular content creators at Wither and Bloom Studios and avid players of TTRPGs.   Make sure to find us on YouTube and s...

In this episode, we are looking at the various ways we use what we read and what we watch as inspiration for world building and character generation. We also talk a bit about the notions of active vs. passive consumption and what the benefits are to each. Check it out!   Todd Lambrix, Garret Brennan, Richard Frohman and Nathan Gilvey are regular content creators at Wither and Bloom Studios and avi...

Insert detailed description here When someone wants to get into a table top role playing game, they quickly realize that the time needed to really engage is not something they have. What happens then? Are there ways to bring low time commitment players into the fold and make it work?  Todd Lambrix, Garret Brennan, Richard Frohman and Nathan Gilvey are regular content creators at Wither and Bloom S...

In this episode, we create scenarios to illustrate ways to make combat better, more layered and ultimately, more fun. We are also asking you to present to us your unresolved combat encounters. Comment on this and we will give feedback and advice on how to make yours better too.  Todd Lambrix, Garret Brennan, Richard Frohman and Nathan Gilvey are regular content creators at Wither and Bloom Studios...

We are talking about how the influx of new players into the TTRPG world come with expectations of a certain type of game based on what they've seen on Dimension 20 or Critical Role. Check it out.  Todd Lambrix, Garret Brennan, Richard Frohman and Nathan Gilvey are regular content creators at Wither and Bloom Studios and avid players of TTRPGs.   Make sure to find us on YouTube and subscribe https:...

Today we are talking about what makes our homebrew brainstorming more productive. We go over what tools we use and how we formulate ideas for making worlds to host our games. Come check it out.  Todd Lambrix, Garret Brennan, Richard Frohman and Nathan Gilvey are regular content creators at Wither and Bloom Studios and avid players of TTRPGs. Make sure to find us on YouTube and subscribe https://ww...

We decided to talk about some of our favorite monsters. Monsters for power, monsters for lore, monsters for absurdity. With the soon to be released 2024 Monster Manual on the horizon, we thought we'd do this now and then we'd revisit after it comes out with some new takes. Hope you enjoy.  Todd Lambrix, Garret Brennan, Richard Frohman and Nathan Gilvey are regular content creators at Wither and Bl...

We are talking about why we game from reasons of escape to reasons that relate to our day to day lives and professions and how creativity plays a role. Check it out.  Todd Lambrix, Garret Brennan, Richard Frohman and Nathan Gilvey are regular content creators at Wither and Bloom Studios and avid players of TTRPGs. Make sure to find us on YouTube and subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@WitherandBloo...

On the precipice of New Years, we decided on some resolutions in our gaming worlds. We set out to talk about that this week. But this week has been less than relaxing and that caused some problems. Listen in for this brief explanation.  Also, head over to @witherandbloomstudios on YouTube and subscribe to our channel! https://www.youtube.com/@WitherandBloomStudios?%20sub_confirmation=1 Please supp...

  We each came to the recording studio with 3 magic items that we thought would make your game either completely over powered or just plain ridiculous. Todd, Rich, Garret and Nathan are making their xmas lists on this episode.  Also, head over to @witherandbloomstudios on YouTube and hit up the community tab. We are looking for you to comment on your New Year's resolutions around gaming so we can...

On this week's episode, we are talking about the new TTRPG from Critical Role and Darrington Press called Daggerheart. This game has been in Beta testing for quite some time and we have played it a bunch.  At PAX, we went to the live, Critical Role first ever play through of the game and we talk about that too. Check it out.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other s...

PAX Unplugged in Philadelphia, PA is a massive gaming convention that we look forward to every year. We went as a group and traversed the floor, sat in on panels, saw Critical Role play live, talked with dozens of people and more. This episode is a conversation about what we liked, what needs improvement, and our favorite games, etc. Listen in! This is a public episode. If you would like to discus...

We know that newer players and DM's often worry about what could derail or upset their game. Experienced DM's and players are always looking to make the start of a campaign better.   So we are having a conversation about what to do and what not to do when starting a D&D campaign. This conversation lays the framework for a more detailed video down the road. What do you do or consider when makin...

Traveling between locations in D&D can be boring, predictable, eventful but empty and so many other anticlimactic things. Often times, DM's will just abandon travel as part of the game and magically transport their party to the next location.  This is not necessary and we see travel as a fertile place to explore role play, exploration and more. Have a listen. This is a public episode. If you w...

Once a month, we look at a class in D&D and how to play it. We also explore some of the history of that class and strategies for digging into your character a little deeper. This episode, we are looking at some of the huge differences in the Monk and how things are much much better.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episo...

Making a backstory for your character can be something that gets over worked or completely ignored. We talk about some approaches to creating backstory that could help you if you are a player or a DM.    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit icastguidance.substack.com