Inspiration Point

In this week's episode, Adam and Tiana talk about using setup and payoff to create memorable moments for your games. We show examples of setup leading to a satisfying payoff, and touch on a couple times in media when it doesn't work and discuss why that may be the case. Video referenced in the podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGDdpXLc1CQ&t=1s

This week, Adam and Tiana talk about the Do's and Don'ts of balancing optimization and roleplay. We all know the kinds of players who focus on getting their numbers higher, or the players who want to do something unoptimized for the sake of a good roleplay flavor. Where's the balance between the two, and what are some pitfalls to watch out for?

This week, Adam and Tiana talk about jobs the players can take on to relieve some of the burden the GM carries. This is a great way to build up some of that Strength player stat, and make things easier for the GM as well. This is by no means an exhaustive list! Add to the list or take away as suits your table.

This week, Adam and Tiana continue the conversation by delving deeper into the mental stats: Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma. We definitely have opinions about which stat is the most important, but we feel that a blend of the stats is necessary for every player.

This week as a follow-up to the previous episode talking about GM stats, Adam and Tiana talk about physical player stats: Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, so we talk about what it looks like to be strong in a stat, while offering some suggestions for how to improve your game in that area.

This week, Adam and Tiana discuss something we consider to be the meat and potatoes of a good TTRPG experience: making quests that are meaningful for players. Everything in a TTRPG experience should be character-centric, but how does that translate to quests and getting PCs where we want them to be?

This week, Adam and Tiana talk about managing information in a TTRPG and how best to give players information without their eyes glazing over. We all know the desire to tell players everything, but is that the best way to get information across? Let's talk about it!

In this episode, Adam and Tiana discuss the hot-button issue of races in TTRPGs. While we briefly touch on some of the real world problems connected to fantasy races, we focus more on what makes a race within storytelling interesting while using the mechanics, because the story is the most interesting aspect of the game for us.

In this episode, Adam and Tiana talk about the optional rules from the D&D Player's Handbook and Dungeon Master's Guide that are seldom used or generally ignored. While the devil is certainly in the details, we think that there's also a lot of flavor and storytelling that can really shine in the usage of optional rules.

In this episode, Adam gives a brief explanation about what's been going on behind the scenes and introduces his new co-host: Tiana Ren Hanson. It's been a while since she was last on this show, so we talk about her experience in TTRPGs, performance, podcasts, and life in general. We then discuss a topic near and dear to both of our hearts: romance in TTRPGs and how it can add greater depths to the...

After all the things that have been happening with WotC and the direction OneD&D seems to be going in, Adam has been thinking a lot about various alternative changes that could be implemented in order to bring a different feeling to playing the game. To top it off, many of the changes we discuss here are changes you could implement at your own table very easily; so give 'em a shot! Suppor...

In this episode, we sit down to talk about the experience of feeling embarrassment or the fear of looking silly when trying to GM, and how to get past those feelings and grow (as well as how to help each other grow), how we can best support one another, and how we can all meet each other where each of us is as an individual. Support the show

In this episode, Adam wants to build a new dangerous destination to be used in one of his upcoming games (and you can, too!). So come sit down, and watch this place, and its story, come together in real time, right before our eyes. Support the show

In this episode, we do a bit of a spoiler-free review of the D&D movie (Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves), and then we chat a bit about what good, satisfying character conclusions look like.  Support the show

In this episode we discuss a more simplified method of story structure organization called The Story Circle, so sit on down 'n' learn somethin'! :D Support the show

This week, we sit down to talk about how to go about Adam's process for getting ready to run a TTRPG session online using a Virtual Tabletop (VTT). So sit on down and join us as we get digital! :D Support the show

In this episode, we chat about—and take a crack at an example of—the third of the 3 pillars of D&D (as well as the majority of other tabletop RPGs): Role-Playing. So sit on down with us as we discuss what makes for good, engaging dialogue and RP that can be fun for everyone  at the table instead of just a select few.  Support the show

Within many TTRPGs, most folks consider there to be 3 pillars of gameplay: Combat, Exploration, and Roleplay. Combat, as most of us know, tends to get a lot of attention, but the other two get much less-so. So, this week, we  explore exploration with a little hands-on time where we get to meet an Andrew character, and that character does his level best to move through the world that Adam has ready...

Hey all! In this episode, we explore what could be at the root of why it can feel like getting along with folks, both in this hobby, and even just in life in general. Sit on down with us as we, in spite of the warnings of dwarves, delve deep, all the while hoping it's not  too  deep... Support the show

On tonight's episode, we get scrappy as we sit down to talk about what the use of various weapons might say about your character, and how having weapons that truly feel different to use can enhance one's sense of immersion. Support the show

On this episode, we're joined for a second time by expert Dungeon Master: DragnaCarta to talk about what tabletop RPG prep should involve. We talk about resources and techniques that can help you manage session and campaign preparation without losing your mind, and even have  fun while you do it!  Also, on this episode we talk about Dragna's suped-up (and, if the copious feedback is to b...

This week, we sit down to discuss something of dire import: that the machines are coming, and their champion is ChatGPT. You know what? So far, it's as amazing as it is unbelievable [read: terrifying]! Support the show

On this episode, in light of the Wizards of the Coast OGL debacle, Adam is looking to workshop an idea for his own little RPG, so we do just that! Come sit down with us and see if you come up with any ideas of your own. :) Support the show

When it comes to TTRPGs (or even life in general), it can become easy to fall into some bad habits that can suck all the joy out of what should be a really fun pass-time. Join us this week as Adam gets a handful of these off his chest in an effort to help us all to better how we treat one another. Support the show

In the wake of some difficult times within the TTRPG hobby, we take a step back and ask the big questions, the tough questions, the  real questions: why are we here? what is it all about? do our TTRPG systems really  matter?!   Well, depending on your definitions of "here" and "it" are, we possibly answer  all  of those questions on this show! So sit on down and gain some new p...