I Cast Guidance - A Dungeons and Dragons and TTRPG Podcast

In this episode, Todd and Rich are discussing the implications of Artificial Intelligence as a whole as well as how it impacts the community of table top role playing games.  Where do you stand on this issue? In what ways are you for or against AI's relatively new appearance in our world?  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus epi...

With Halloween right around the corner, we had a Ten Candles session that was really intense. We had great narrative flow, a compelling story and we learned a lot about the game.  Ten Candles is a tragic horror table top role playing game that streamlines a minimal rule set in order to focus on the narrative. Head over to our YouTube channel at Wither and Bloom Studios to check out our game play a...

How does lore work in your game? In this episode, we talk about the differences between lore and story and how lore impacts the game, the various ways we deploy lore in our storytelling, and the ways in which players like to receive that lore.  We also have a special guest on this episode, Jay Balsamello, a Dungeon Master and World Builder with some great insight on this topic.  This is a public e...

In this episode we talk about the ups and downs of puzzles in table top role playing games. We talk a little about the history, the pros and cons and how to potentially make them better.  If you have struggled with this, then give this episode a listen. Hope you like it.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit icast...

We thought with Halloween looming we would talk about making the game more scary. What tactics or mechanics from other games can you employ to make things a little more tense? Let's talk about it.  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

In this episode, we look at how Theater of the mind is broken by different physical things like miniatures, maps, VTT spaces and more. Can we get back to a more pure game with pencil, paper and dice? Todd Lambrix, Garret Brennan and Rich Frohman talk about the ways in which the 3 main columns of imagination in TTRPGs conflict with each other. In Theater of the mind, do physical components like map...

In this episode, we have special guest, Rich Frohman, a professional actor and an avid D&D player join our conversation about Roleplay. We look at a number of angles including the very click-baitable issue of acting in role-playing. Come along.  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

In this episode we talk about creating an environment for the new player that is welcoming, not too overwhelming and hopefully one where the player digs into the passion of the 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

Flow and immersion are often interrupted by note taking. Can we get better at this? Garret and I talk about the ways we take notes and chat about how can we do it better.  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

In this episode, Todd and Garret talk about Initiative rolls for better or worse. We also look at this as the analytical balance to the expression of role playing.  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 critical strike rule in D&D is really broken. There are a ton of house rules out there to fix it... but can we do better? 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

We are talking about the problems with spell components in Dungeons and Dragons 5e. Garret and Todd get into some thoughts on this.  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

In this episode, special guests Atticus and Eric Fiorito and I talk about when there are problematic players or DM's at the table and how do we handle that.  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

Armor is so important and we often ignore the nuances around repair and upkeep. We get into that in this episode as well as look at AC mechanics that work better than D&D and consider using them in our D&D 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

In this episode, we look at some of the totally busted aspects of healing and resurrection. We focus on the four primary ways to bring someone back from the dead and how to make this a more immersive or meaningful experience.  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

In this episode, Todd and Garret look at death and dying in Dungeons and Dragons. We talk about everything from death saves and zeroing out hit points to the bloodied condition. We look briefly at earlier DnD systems and even a little Daggerheart.  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