7th Level Bardcast

Mikel and his old friend Mike attempt to explain how each approaches the groundwork for a campaign in a roleplaying game. Of course, the topic slides into a few other points of discussion and a hint at nostalgia.

Jason questions his guest Craig on what he looks for in a Kickstarter campaign. Jason asks what creators can do to help make their stuff more appealing, what can Kickstarter do to make improvements, and what to look for when a person back a campaign.

Just a quick announcement for the second half of the season.

There are many uncertainties that come with running an RPG. They are there every time a GM comes to the table. The only difference between a new GM and a seasoned GM is the experience in knowing how to deal with those uncertainties. And the knowledge that if you fail the game will go on

The old proverb "Don't split the party" is put the test as Mikel and Scott challenge the old adage. It's a deep dive into why each host consider it a great tool to use at the table. There's no doubt that they love to have splits in the party.

Just as a player has two roles in a game, player and character, a GM has two roles, moderator and player. GMs function as a moderator is to drive a story, create the tension, manage the chaos, and act as a decider in conflicting situations. The GM’s function as a player is to be the world: play out the NPCs, become a city, function as a circumstance and grow as a plotline.

Mikel and Jaryd compare thoughts on the ideology and intentions of magic and technology within a tabletop setting.

NPCs play a big role in striking the right balance between creating a shared narrative and maintaining enjoyment as a GM. NPCs are a tool GMs use to tell their story and introduce their world. However NPCs are also the players’ connection into the world, and a tool they can use to help shape that world.

Jason and Mikel give an overview of the game Urban Shadows 2nd edition after having backed the Kickstarter. They talk over some of the mechanics and the system objective of the game. They also talk over some of the aspects they did and didn't enjoy in the game.

GM’s are often accepted as having the majority of the power in a game, and often they do. However it is up to the GM to relinquish some, if not most, of that power in order to create a shared narrative. In turn, it is the responsibility of the players to properly use that power in order to keep the game balanced and fun. Mikel and Jaryd are joined by guest Craig as they discuss all of the above.