Black Lodge Games Podcast

Black Lodge Games Podcast

By Black Lodge GamesLeisureGames
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Black Lodge Games Podcast episodes

  • The OSR Is Wrong About Story in Dungeons and Dragons

    The OSR has an extremely autistic view on what constitutes story in Dungeons and Dragons. Any mention of character backstory, plot hooks, or even role play constitutes "story gaming" as opposed to the truth as revealed by Gary Gygax that D&D is nothing more than a sandbox exploration game in pulp fantasy hex maps.

    This is utterly deranged and the lowest form of play imaginable. We agree that story is the emergent result of play, but it *requires* actual role play as the central focus and core activity of the game. Your character is more than the statistics and equipment listed on your sheet. They did not spawn into a game map with no prior history and no motivations outside of "gold".
    Fools will disagree.
    #osr #dndpodcast #dnd

    57 min
  • Why Dungeons and Dragons Needs Alignment | Black Lodge Games Podcast

    Alignment in Dungeons and Dragons is not something to just tack on to your game as an after thought. This week, Nick and Matt dive deep on what the purpose of alignment is in table top roleplaying games, how it defines the boundaries of play, and how it ultimately improves both the game world and your roleplaying experience.

    Even games like Vampire: The Masquerade and Vampire: The Requiem have alignment deeply embedded within the core of their settings and mechanics.
    Don't be like Wizards of the Coast and cast it away in favor of a flavorless, post modern hellscape! Use alignment as fuel for the fire of your imagination and the engine of your game world.Also, don't forget to check out  @cfourcrispy ! Great new channel documenting his experimentation with more immersive roleplaying.#dnd #dndpodcast #alignment #OSR #ttrpg

    1 hr 2 min
  • Cyberpunk 2020: Blood and Sunshine | Black Lodge Games Podcast

    This week, Matt and Nick tease their upcoming live play of Cyberpunk 2020/Red. They dive into the character creation process, life path system, and talk about the driving themes and flavor of this classic roleplaying game and why they find it such a compelling choice for the tabletop.Stay tuned for the premiere of "Blood and Sunshine", the next live streamed TTRPG from Black Lodge Games.

    1 hr
  • When to Avoid the Dice in D&D and TTRPGs

    When should you be rolling dice in your tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons?

    Outside of obvious situations like combat scenarios, skill based systems in TTRPGs often become a crutch for bad game masters as a way to artificially inject drama or tension into their games. This week on the Black Lodge Games Podcast, Matt and Nick dive deep on when you should and should not be calling for players to make skill rolls, and why doing this wrong will suck the drama right out of your games.
    After thoroughly covering the do's and don'ts of rolling the funny dice, we explore the most loathsome action a bad dungeon master can take while running a game: fudging the dice rolls.
    Do you want your players to have agency and meaningful consequences in your games? Find out how in this week's episode.

    1 hr 3 min
  • Sandbox vs. Railroads in Dungeons & Dragons | Black Lodge Games Podcast

    Why do so many table top roleplaying campaigns end up on rails? How can you successfully run a sandbox game where you player characters have agency and the story emerges organically out of play instead of playing out like a novel written by the Dungeon Master?

    Matt and Nick delve deep into this issue today and discuss the differences between an old school style of play relying on random encounter tables vs the more modern "narrative" driven games that seem to be inspired by the success of internet shows like  @criticalrole . Great games generally don't spawn simply from random tables or an interesting plot hook, they come from games that have structure and built in conflict.

    1 hr 14 min
  • Toxic Masculinity in Dungeons & Dragons | Black Lodge Games Podcast

    This week, Nick and Matt (two men with Adonis-like visages) diagnose a massive problem in the hobby: lack of toxic masculinity. The current culture of D&D 5e is progressing further and further into feminization and young men are being sold a poisonous world view about heroism and strength.

    These games are not therapy, they are fantasies about adventure, danger, heroism, and daring. We check in on @PlayYourRole who makes horrendously evil content that promotes young men abandoning their instincts about their role as men in the world. After discussing his completely villainous worldview, Matt and Nick check in on the #wotc product announcements to see the direction of New Product™ and whether you should consoom it.
    After wading through this horrific parade of weakness and poison, it's time for some glorious eye bleach, courtesy of classic Dungeons & Dragons artists, Jeff Easely and Clyde Caldwell.

    1 hr 13 min
  • The Bugman Cometh | Black Lodge Games Podcast

    This week, Nick and Matt stare into the abyss of YouTube RPG content creators. From the depth of the sewer, we find a true pearl of insanity:  @JScottGaribay . This man is a prolific YouTuber who posts multiple unhinged and nonsensical vlogs every day that are related to... D&D? Humanitarianism? The new social gospel? Who knows! Join us as we *try* to understand his incoherent babbling about Dungeons & Dragons and get a whole lot of laughs along the way.

    1 hr 2 min
  • Foundations of a Great Game | Black Lodge Games Podcast

    In this episode of the Black Lodge Games Podcast, Matt and Nick share their tips and insights on how to create a great tabletop gaming experience. We cover a wide range of topics, from choosing a good setting and building atmosphere, to creating memorable characters and limiting the number of players at your table to avoid horrible diminishing returns on fun.

    1 hr 2 min
  • Immersive Roleplaying Games | Black Lodge Games Podcast

    Welcome to the first episode of the Black Lodge Games Podcast! Join your hosts Matt Pritchard and Nick Guidotti, two experienced GMs with more than three decades of combined table top role-playing game experience, as they dive deep into the world of immersive role-playing games.

    In this episode, Matt and Nick discuss their thoughts on modern RPGs such as Dungeons and Dragons and why they believe that these games have become stale and flavorless. They share their insights on what makes a truly immersive RPG experience and explore alternative game systems and settings that can bring excitement and creativity to your gaming table.
    Whether you're a seasoned RPG player or just starting out, this podcast is a must-listen for anyone who wants to elevate their gaming experience. So sit back, relax, and join us as we explore the world of immersive role-playing games on the Black Lodge Games Podcast.

    1 hr 2 min

About Black Lodge Games Podcast

From the publisher's feed

Welcome to the Black Lodge Games Podcast, hosted by RPG fanatics, Matt Pritchard and Nick Guidotti. Black Lodge Games is on a mission from God to bring the hobby back to what it was always meant to be: an engine for immersive storytelling. Join us as we delve deep into the art of running and playing great RPG experiences.