7th Level Bardcast

Jaryd, Jason, and Mikel return for season 3 with a discussion of how to find interest in gaming when your enthusiasm is lacking. They look at concepts of losing interest and how using parts of the game, or even outside sources, can spark a person interest in a game once more.

This is the final episode of season 2. We will be ending early to spend some needed time with our families for the holidays. In this episode we discuss 3 games a piece that we will be running or playing in next year. We hope to do some reviews on these games as we familiarize ourselves with them. We also talk a bit about our plans for next season. Thank you for listening!!!

Mikel is joined by Jaryd to discuss the topic of Initiative. They talk about the many styles of initiative that appear in different system and how each of them have their own value. They also explain why each of them prefers or dislikes the different aspects of initiative in each system.

Creating and maintaining player engagement requires quite a bit of finesse from the GM. The GM will use many tools to promote player engagement, one of the tools in tension. Tension relays the portentous feeling to the players of something impending. Excitement and anticipation drive players to engage with the story in order to discover what lies in wait for them.

Mikel and Jason discuss the positive and negative aspects of multiclassing (mostly in D&D 5e). They take a look how to use multiclassing in a way that it promotes a narrative explanation of gaining a different class.

Suspense in the narrative can be both positive and negative, exciting or apprehensive. The drivers in the scenes of a session will determine what reaction will result. These drivers are controlled by both the players and the GM. On this episode Jaryd, Jason, and Mikel discuss how to address the drivers of suspense in gameplay.

Jason is joined by Mikel to discuss that topic of stress relief at the gamin table. They talk about the different types of stress relief that players look for when they come to the table and how to spot them. They also talk over how to provide gaming aspects at the table in order to help them relieve their stress.

Atmosphere provides players with the needed material to lose themselves in the game in order to create immersion and engagement. Atmosphere is largely the responsibility of the GM, though the GM might invite the players to help in its development. Typically, atmosphere and the GM’s story are closely bonded.

Mikel talks with his guest Scott about what to do when a campaign goes in an unexpected direction. They discuss when it is okay to bring a story back on track and when it is best to just let the players take control. They talk about the techniques each of them use to improvise solution.

Style and tone give rise to the feel of the campaign. Though the feel can be affected by many elements, style and tone provide the origin. Style provides the structure a campaign will abide by. While tone provides the emotional landscape the campaign will take place in.