In which Christian and I discuss: The joy of adding incidental details. Finding the salient detail of scene vs playing toward one. Formulating alternative consequences for conflicts. The power of restricting conversations about in-progress play. Following the creative focus of the group. Discerning meaning within thematic resonance. Processing and teaching rules texts.
In which Dawn and I discuss: The value of playing in familiar locations. Playing fantasy selves. Navigating NPC social pressure. Forming meaningful connections between PCs and NPCs. Assuming responsibility for your character’s actions. Playing with family members. Running a game without a plot. Other historical contexts for play.
In which Adam and I discuss: Vibing with other players. Fighting contrarian impulses in play. Aggressively casual creative prompts. The value of time flow interruptions. Backdoor GMing a GMless game. Deliberate vs. informal scene framing. Game structure as religious observance. What does it mean to cope with death? Death as resolution point vs. transformative moment. Less literal implementations of source inspiration. The joys of play variety.
In which Bre and I discuss: Playing from the hip. Player agency within moments of fictional loss of agency. Seizing a course of action and seeing it through. Finding symbolic resolutions. Seeking justice in supernatural contexts. Honest vs obstructive play. RPGs as safe space for self-expression.
In which Shaun and I discuss: Coping with failure in investigation scenarios. Trust in play. Playing a physically disabled character. Portraying a corrupt character. The politics of the advancement system. Constructing honest investigation scenarios.
In which James and I discuss: The professional and private life of a replicant blade runner. Pushing beyond your limits for the job. The complexity of interrogation scenes. The politics of blade running. Adjudicating beyond basic success. Rules that occasionally disconnect from the fiction.
In which Sarah and I discuss: Developing scenarios from a minimal premise. Creating personality profiles for background characters. Managing colorful characters in a chaotic situation. Resolving uncertainty outside the rules. Building relatable characters in a silly context.
A short introduction to the upcoming podcast: The People I Play With.