Bonus Experience

Bonus Experience

By Rai Witter Cole, Monica SpecaLeisureGames
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Bonus Experience episodes

  • Listener Mail and GenCon18 Wrap-Up

    Wait, you actually emailed us? Like, we asked you to do it, sure, but you… really and truly sent us email??

    Today, Monica and Rai address questions and dispense advice as suggested by YOU, the listeners! Monica also gives a breakdown of her experience of GenCon. Please keep in mind: Rai is sick, and both podcasters had one hell of a ADD day, so, uh. We talk about punching dynamite.

    As always, you can find more Bonus Experience at our blog (bxpcast.com) and our Twitter (@bonusexpcast).

    43 min
  • We Need to Talk About Skill Lists
    Skills are an inevitable part of any game experience, right? You should include a skill for every possible player-character action, right? The answer is "absolutely not, you reprobate." With this spirit, let's talk about how skill lists should represent the thesis of your game. 

    For your consideration: Animal Ken, Use Rope, Brawl and/or Martial Arts, and a hearty bread intermission.

    As always, you can find more Bonus Experience at our blog (bonusexpcast.wordpress.com) and our Twitter (@bonusexpcast).
    28 min
  • Our Best and Worst Gaming Snacks
    Our dear Margaret had some unexpected family plagues, so today we are bringing you one of our mini-episodes: Monica extolls the virtues of popcorn, and Rai complains about grease and chocolate all over her character sheets. Also mentioned: protean La Croix ooze, how to help your neighbors git gud, and some very polarizing Swedish Fish opinions.

    Look forward to a full episode NEXT MONDAY, August 13th! And score more Bonus Experience at our blog (bonusexpcast.wordpress.com) and Twitter (@bonusexpcast).
    14 min
  • Tips for Running One-Shots
    Where does the time go? How do you keep players on-task? Is there a such thing as too much planning? One-Shots: How Do? Lucky for us, Rai specializes in single-episode gaming, and has some suggestions for increasing the danger you pose over short distances. Also discussed: Does Rai drink carbonated water because she hates us? Have you heard of Microscope? How does brain, when the words can't and you have to, like, you know?

    Earn more Bonus Experience at bonusexpcast.wordpress.com.
    38 min
  • Tips for Running Long Campaigns
    What do you plan for? How detailed should your notes be? How do you stay committed? Long Campaigns: How Do? Lucky for us, Monica has quite a lot of experience running the serial epics, and she has some tips and advice for GMs who want to up their campaign game. Also discussed: Pretenders to the Pepper throne, fart-based Evocations, and a dog that sorta sounds like Liam Neeson. Kind of.

    As always, you can find more Bonus Experience at our blog (bonusexpcast.wordpress.com) and our Twitter (@bonusexpcast).
    36 min
  • Our Favorite Systems
    Monica and Rai take a break from complaining to talk about things they like. Specifically, the systems they like, and why. It may surprise you to learn that they like Powered by the Apocalypse games. Also discussed: playing chicken as feminist praxis, Not Fortnite, getting eaten by eels, and Ranma-ing it up.

    As always, you can find more Bonus Experience at our blog (bonusexpcast.wordpress.com) and our Twitter (@bonusexpcast).
    38 min
  • What’s Real When We Play Pretend? Diegesis and Writing Games
    Some stuff in your game is more real than other stuff. What does that even mean? Why talk about it? If we don't want to get mired in what exactly "sorcery points" are to our bombshell tiefling sorcerers, then we have to talk about diegesis.

    Also, it being Pride Month in 20gayteen, we're a little gayer than usual this week.

    As always, you can find more Bonus Experience at our blog (bonusexpcast.wordpress.com) and our Twitter (@bonusexpcast).
    44 min
  • Dealing With Garbage Players
    We've met them. Heard the legends. Sometimes, we've BECOME them. How do you identify disruptive players—garbage people, if you will—and how do you deal with them without losing your game to discomfort, bad vibes, or the dreaded Missing Stair? Monica and Rai have a few ideas. 

    Also, we struggle to remember all seven sins without the help of anime, take a bean break, and fan out over Blades in the Dark.

    You can find more of us on our blog (bonusexpcast.wordpress.com) or on Twitter (@bonusexpcast)
    39 min
  • Games and the Art of Railroading
    Who would've thought train tracks could conjure so much hate? Today we're talking about railroading, and why it's not such a big deal—why it is, in fact, necessary and useful for running games. We're also making doe-eyes at Apocalypse World for what is probably the fifth week in a row.

    You can find more of us on our blog (bonusexpcast.wordpress.com) or on Twitter (@bonusexpcast).
    38 min
  • Building Player Engagement and Trust
    Episode 3—er, 5—is a misophobic nightmare, and we apologize about that. It was an adventure just to recover it, frankly.

    This week, we're talking about player engagement and trust, how to earn these nebulous things, and why they're important to begin with. We also hear from every organic creature within 20 feet of either microphone, as well as initiate some discussion of the La Croix Mysteries.

    You can find more of us on our blog (bonusexpcast.wordpress.com) or on Twitter (@bonusexpcast).
    34 min

About Bonus Experience

From the publisher's feed

A deeper look at the play experience and the finer details of running and writing tabletop games.