Storyteller Conclave

Running a tabletop role playing game can be a very rewarding activity. However, the effort, concentration, and responsibility involved can sometimes make it feel a bit more like a JOB than a GAME. When this happens, even the most experienced storyteller can begin to feel burned out and unmotivated to continue. This week, Sara and Rob discuss what causes Storyteller Burnout, and ways to identify an...

The success of live play shows, especially Critical Role, has brought D&D into the mainstream! But, as D&D has moved from our basements and livingrooms to our computers and televisions, how has this changed the landscape for us as players and storytellers alike? This week, Sara & Rob examine “The Matthew Mercer Effect,” and what the mainstreaming of D&D looks like for the future. We also take some...

Wishing everyone a great start to the new year from Rob & Sara! We’ve had many great episodes so far, and we’re looking forward to many more in 2020. To get the new year started, though, we wanted to make this show about YOU! So, this week, we’re taking listener questions and making those our topics. Thank you to everyone who listens, submits questions, and supports us. Here’s to you! We record ev...

Happy Holidays, everybody! As our regular show recording falls on a major holiday this year, we’ve prerecorded, so our gift to you can be another episode of the show. Rob & Sara discuss holiday themes in games - giving gifts, adding holidays to your world building, and the best ways to do this. We also take some time to answer a few listener questions from our Discord server! We record every Wedne...

We spend hours discussing the ins and outs of running role playing games, but how do we set a game up? How do you organize several people to make characters, and agree upon a setting, system, and story? This week Sara and Rob discuss the concept and implementation of a Session Zero, a test bed for both storytellers and players to explore the system and characters. We also take some time to answer...

The environment in a story helps set the stage, give flavor, and explain where the players are in the mind's eye. But can it also be an antagonist? How does biting winds, pounding rain, and a rock slide change a story? This week, Rob & Sara discuss the pitfalls, slippery slopes and challenging moments weather can bring to a story. We also take some time to answer a few listener questions from our...

Environmental Storytelling can be the difference between a world feeling static, and feeling alive. But what is “Environmental Storytelling”? How does one use it to bring a feeling of life to their world? This week, Rob & Sara discuss what it is, and how best to use it to change your environments from lifeless backdrops, to “real” places that exist in a living, breathing world. We also take some t...

In light of the holiday, Sara and Rob will be giving thanks and reflecting on “hopeful settings”. This week will cover not only hope and thankful moods but also Sara and Rob’s own reflections on the past 30 episodes of the podcast. We record every Wednesday, at 7pm Eastern. Listen live at podcastdetroit.com, Studio 4! Find us on Twitter (@st_conclave) – Instagram (st_conclave) Support the show by...

The pacing of your story can be tricky to do right. It is an important aspect of storytelling, but is difficult to quantify, which makes it likewise difficult to learn. This week, Sara & Rob will delve into the topic of pacing, to help you get your story moving at the right speed at the right time! We also take some time to answer a few listener questions from our Discord server! We record every W...

This week, our topic comes from our Top Tier Patreon, Nox-in-a-Box! Nox requested that we spend some time talking about our favorite game systems, and what really speaks to us about those systems that gave them a special place in our hearts. Thanks, Nox! We also take some time to answer a few listener questions from our Discord server! We record every Wednesday, at 7pm Eastern. Listen live at podc...

Many game systems offer the opportunity to divine the future for both dramatic and mechanical effect. Since Storytellers are rarely granted ACTUAL glimpses of the future, however, this can make for some sticky storytelling situations! Join Sara & Rob as they discuss how to handle divination! We also take some time to answer a few listener questions from our Discord server! We record every Wednesda...

Haunted stories of revenge or greed turned sour could fill libraries. But how do you find a middle ground between slasher and Zom Com? Why, with dread, fear, anticipation and a bit of theatrics! This week Rob and Sara disturb the topic of the darker storytelling as they step into horror. We also take some time to answer a few listener questions from our Discord server! We record every Wednesday, a...

Stories can be told in so many ways, and each one is unique as the Storyteller. The world-building and rules systems can certainly lend structure and direction to a story, but it’s the genre, style, and theme that truly add the flavor! This week, Rob & Sara discuss what brings that unique flavor to our stories We record every Wednesday, at 7pm Eastern. Listen live at podcastdetroit.com, Studio 4!...

We decided to take it back to our discord today. You’ve sent us questions and had some great discussions that we never really got to. So this episode is all about that : questions and discussions. We record every Wednesday, at 7pm Eastern. Listen live at podcastdetroit.com, Studio 4! Find us on Twitter (@st_conclave) – Instagram (st_conclave) Support the show by joining our Patreon : https://www.p...

The discussion about world-building continues this week, as we step back into the history of our world. What lore exists? What events shaped its creation? Sara and Rob discuss the broad topics, as well as tips and guidelines for making your maps feel organic and lifelike, while not getting bogged down in the details. We also take some time to answer a few listener questions from our Discord server...

The discussion about world-building continues this week, as we broach the topic of creating the physical geography of your world. What is the overall scope of your world? How much detail do you need? Sara and Rob discuss the broad topics, as well as tips and guidelines for making your maps feel organic and lifelike, while not getting bogged down in the details. We also take some time to answer a f...

Part 4 of our discussion of world-building continues the topic of “What makes your world unique.” Is it magic? Strange creatures? Are there odd elements or plants that cause supernatural things to occur? Are there aliens, or super-powered people? How do these oddities function in your world, and how is the world affected by their presence? This week, Rob & Sara attempt to break this giant topic do...

As our multi-show discussion of world-building continues, we begin our delve into the big question of “What makes our world unique from our own world?” As this is a large topic to cover, this week, we focus exclusively on gods! What are interesting ways of writing divine entities? Will your world have one? Many? How do they interact with the world, and each other? Rob and Sara discuss all these th...

World-building is a huge and complicated topic. One of the most important aspects of building an interesting world is societies, and the customs, politics, religion, and sub-factions that makes up the greater whole. After all, what is a world without interesting people to live in it? This week, Rob and Sara take a stab at outlining the process of creating interesting people to live in the worlds y...

As with any form of storytelling, tabletop roleplaying games can bring up challenging emotional situations, both in and out of character. When emotions begin to rise, it’s not always easy to handle the situation in a constructive way. This week, we are joined by special guest and licensed clinical social worker Matthew Stewart-Fulton, as we discuss the various types of difficult situations that ma...

Arguably, the most notable aspect of any role playing game is the world in which it takes place. Whether that world is a reflection of our own real world, with magic and vampires lurking in the shadows; or a magical land of dragons and floating islands, the world you build is a character in the story unto itself. But, creating these worlds from scratch is no easy matter! In fact, it may be among t...

Writing long, epic stories can be a daunting task. The sheer enormity of the task can overwhelm even the most seasoned storyteller. This week, Rob & Sara discuss tips and techniques for creating large plots and story arcs with complexity, while keeping your story on track! We also take some time to answer a few listener questions from our Discord server! We record every Wednesday, at 7pm Eastern....

One-shot games are great if you only have a short story to tell, want to dabble in a new system, or don’t have the time to run a regular recurring game. However, writing single-session games poses unique challenges from writing longer campaigns. This week, Rob and Sara discuss the art of the one-shot! We also take some time to answer a few listener questions from our Discord server! We record ever...

Writing campaigns can feel daunting. There’s so much to write, so much story to tell, and it has to be engaging for your players every step of the way. This week, we begin the task of breaking down the process of writing a campaign, address common pitfalls, and give tips for tackling that overwhelming process into small, manageable bites. We also take some time to answer a few listener questions f...

Storytelling styles are as unique and individual as the storytellers themselves! Some of us prefer action-packed combat games, while others prefer sly political manipulation. Some like lighter gatherings with pizza and beer, while others are more serious, preferring more production value and intensity. Sometimes, this can even shift from game to game! This week, Rob and Sara discuss different stor...