Discern Realities

By Jason Cordova & David LaFreniere

What's Discern Realities about?

A podcast about the roleplaying game Dungeon World, inspired by hobby magazines like Dragon and Gygax. Each episode contains play tips, reviews, original material for your game, and our 'comic strip' AP.

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Discern Realities episodes:

05.10.2019
Hearts of Wulin Special
Jason is joined by Agatha Cheng and Lowell Francis to discuss Hearts of Wulin, coming to Kickstarter May 14th! Time Codes 10:33 - Talking Mechanics 14:27 - Combat 22:04 - Elements and Playbook roles 40:49 - Kickstarter Details Links Hearts...
02.03.2019
Episode 60
What happened here recently? 00:00:24 - Stonetop at Gauntlet Con 2018 What should I be on the lookout for? 00:09:42 - Ancient Worlds: Atisi What here is not what it appears to be? 00:16:10 - Sticking the landing What here...
11.24.2018
Dungeon World Basics 08 - Fronts
Fronts 00:00:22 - What are Fronts? 00:07:44 - Dangers 00:13:03 - Grim Portents, Impending Doom, and Stakes Questions 00:23:46 - When do we write fronts? Actual Play 00:31:38 - The ongoing story of Lucero Castafiel 00:32:38 (Defy Danger CON; Defy...
11.09.2018
Dungeon World Basics 07 - "GM Moves"
GM Moves 00:00:46 - Overview 00:06:42 - Soft Moves vs hard moves 00:11:30 - When does the GM make moves? 00:20:45 - Notes on each move 00:39:50 - Closing thoughts Actual Play 00:42:31 - The ongoing story of Lucero...
10.25.2018
Episode 59
What happened here recently? 00:00:22 - The Cold Ruins of Lastlife What should I be on the lookout for? 00:09:17 - Blog post: Making Combat Interesting What here is not what it appears to be? 00:13:05 - “Scary” monsters What...
10.01.2018
Codex Volume 1 Kickstarter Special
The Gauntlet Gaming Community, which produces this podcast, is launching its very first Kickstarter on October 2nd! We’re raising money to create a beautiful hardcover book collecting the first 13 issues of our zine, Codex. This special podcast episode features...
07.26.2018
Dungeon World Basics 06 - "GM Agenda & Principles"
Timecodes 00:00:55 - How to GM Dungeon World 00:06:12 - GM Agenda 00:11:47 - GM Principles Actual Play 00:28:43 - The ongoing story of Lucero Castafiel 00:30:02 - Rescue Links +1 Forward (Feed includes episodes about Principles & Genre, MC...
07.01.2018
Dungeon World Basics 05 - "Anatomy of a Playbook"
Anatomy of a Playbook 00:00:22 - Overview 00:01:35 - Front Page 00:07:30 - Back Page Actual Play 00:10:13 - Our ongoing comic strip actual play featuring Lucero Castafiel 00:13:24 - The Starlight Serpent 00:20:23 - The Voice Links Playbook PDFs...
06.14.2018
Dungeon World Basics 04 - "Special Moves"
Dungeon World Basics 04 The Special Moves 00:00:27 - Overview 00:02:30 - Last Breath 00:08:04 - Encumbrance 00:09:55 - Make Camp 00:11:19 - Take Watch 00:12:17 - Undertake a Perilous Journey 00:17:29 - End of Session 00:18:22 - Level Up...
05.14.2018
Dungeon World Basics 03 - "Non-Combat Basic Moves"
Non-Combat Basic Moves 00:01:26 - Defy Danger 00:09:27 - Spout Lore 00:15:00 - Discern Realities 00:21:19 - Parley 00:25:22 - Aid/Interfere Actual Play 00:34:17 - The passageway (Discern Realities) 00:37:18 - Cavern (Discern Realities; Spout Lore) Links DR episode about...
04.26.2018
Episode 58
What happened here recently? 00:00:22 - Legerdemain What should I be on the lookout for? 00:11:47 - Heart Points Podcast and ChimaeraCast What here is not what it appears to be 00:17:48 - Riding the line between power gaming and...
04.08.2018
Dungeon World Basics 02 - "Combat"
The Basic Moves - Combat 00:01:46 - Hack & Slash 00:04:45 - Weapon tags 00:09:24 - Volley 00:13:44 - Defend Managing a Combat in Dungeon World 00:16:40 - No turn order 00:21:32 - Range 00:23:43 - Multiple enemies 00:25:00 -...
03.29.2018
Dungeon World Basics 01 - "What is Dungeon World? What Are Moves?"
Discussion 00:00:32 - Who are we? 00:02:09 - Why are we doing this? 00:05:32 - What is Dungeon World? 00:09:12 - What is it like to play? 00:11:16 - Moves Actual Play 00:17:30 - Lucero Castafiel (GM technique: Ask Lots...
03.15.2018
Episode 57
What happened here recently? 00:20:00 - Notes from a new campaign What should I be on the lookout for? 00:12:50 - The conclusion of the Alford Soultaker AP What here is not what it appears to be? 00:16:20 - Creating...
02.26.2018
Episode 56
What happened here recently? 00:00:27 - Gloomhaven What should I be on the lookout for? 00:12:13 - Codex is on DriveThru What here is not what it appears to be? 00:13:50 - Recruit and Hirelings What here is useful or...
02.11.2018
Episode 55
What happened here recently? 00:00:27 - When a player doesn’t like their playbook What should I be on the lookout for? 00:08:47 - Session Zero #5 What here is not what it appears to be? 00:19:47 - Getting the most...
01.25.2018
Episode 54
What happened here recently? 00:26 - New campaign DW campaign–with pirates! What should I be on the lookout for? 06:23 - Overview 07:23 - The Adventure Builder starter 10:01 - Discern Realities one-sheet starter What here is not what it...
01.11.2018
Episode 53
What happened here recently? Reflecting on the We Hunt the Keepers! campaign (00:23) What should I be on the lookout for? Plundergrounds #5 (16:15) What here is not what it appears to be? Missed rolls on Cast a Spell (21:34)...
12.16.2017
Episode 52
What happened here recently? Funnel World at Gauntlet Con 2017 (00:27) What should I be on the lookout for? Sword Breaker #5 (10:05) What here is not what it appears to be? Traps (17:53) What here is useful or valuable...
09.27.2017
Episode 51
What happened here recently? Isabella & Logan (00:23) What should I be on the lookout for? The Dungeon World Newsletter (07:40) First Session Cheat Sheet Cards (09:14) What here is not what it appears to be? The Heirloom move (12:45)...
08.29.2017
Episode 50
What happened here recently? Reflecting on 50 episodes of Discern Realities (00:22) What should I be on the lookout for? Fear of a Black Dragon (10:34) What here is not what it appears to be? Alignment in Dungeon World (19:56)...
08.18.2017
Ramshackle Crow and the Temple of the Peerless Star
This is a special production of Discern Realities, featuring the Comic Strip AP segments from the first 12 episodes of the show! We've stitched those AP segments together, recorded original music, and added foley. Enjoy this exciting look back at...
08.02.2017
Episode 49
What happened here recently? Anglekite campaign (00:22) What should I be on the lookout for? Codex - Crystal (10:35) What here is not what it appear to be? Giving player characters hold to ask questions (15:09) What here is useful...
07.19.2017
Episode 48
What happened here recently? Lord Caspian Gal (00:22) What should I be on the lookout for? Gauntlet happenings (07:47) What here is not what it appears to be? Bend Bars, Lift Gates (12:30) What here is useful or valuable to...
07.05.2017
Episode 47
What happened here recently? Running DW for players new to the game (00:20) What should I be on the lookout for? Session Zero DW zine (17:41) What here is not what it appears to be? The Ritual move (27:05) What...
06.11.2017
Special Episode: The Shrine Contest Finalists
Help David and Jason determine the two runners up for the Shrine Contest! David’s Remaining Finalists The Shrine of Solaris (09:23) The Observatory (10:57) The Altar of Kar-Suet (12:43) The Shrine of Mamon (13:49) Gnozinu (15:47) Jason’s Remaining Finalists The...
06.08.2017
Episode 46
David and Jason are joined by Phil from Encoded Designs! What happened here recently? The Airy Peaks (1:10) Wrapping-up Song of the Milk-White Putrescence (02:49) What should I be on the lookout for? The Legacy Weapon (07:46) What here is...
05.17.2017
Episode 45
What happened here recently? The Song of the Milk-White Putrescence (00:23) What should I be on the lookout for? DR Annual #1 (09:10) What here is not what it appears to be? Using love letters to account for missing players...
05.03.2017
Episode 44
What happened here recently? Alford Soultaker Comic Strip AP (00:20) What should I be on the lookout for? Codex back issues (06:19) What here is not what it appears to be? Dangers and Grim Portents (10:39) Using Grim Portents as...
04.19.2017
Episode 43
What happened here recently? Anglekite mid-season finale (00:38) What should I be on the lookout for? Sword Breaker zine (09:22) What here is not what it appears to be? Aid or Interfere (17:46) What here is useful or valuable to...
04.01.2017
Skill Check 01
03.24.2017
Episode 42
What happened here recently? The Heart Queen’s garden party (00:20) What should I be on the lookout for? Dust, Fog and Glowing Embers (07:32) What here is not what it appears to be? Answering the Discern Realities questions (22:21) What...
03.11.2017
Episode 41
What happened here recently? Painting the scene in Bellet Osc (00:23) What should I be on the lookout for? The Legacy Weapon (07:46) What here is not what it appears to be? Undertake a Perilous Journey (14:39) What here is...
02.22.2017
Episode 40
This week David & Jason welcome Fraser Simons, Scott Selvidge & Michael Barford to the show! What happened here recently? Scenic Dunnsmouth and taking ownership of a weird setting (00:20) What should I be on the lookout for? The Arcane...
02.10.2017
Episode 39
What happened here recently? Checking-in on Anglekite and Scenic Dunnsmouth (00:23) What should I be on the lookout for? Plundergrounds zine with Ray Otus (05:12) What here is not what it appears to be? Ways of kicking-off a new adventure...
01.25.2017
Episode 38
What happened here recently? An Anglekite update (00:23) Finishing the adventure a little earlier than expected (02:55) What should I be on the lookout for? The Gauntlet creative community (08:39) Scott Selvidge (10:11) Ape City (11:00) Codex - Love &...
01.11.2017
Episode 37
What happened here recently? Narrating the fall of Morning Mist castle (00:21) What should I be on the lookout for? The Bard playbook from Awful Good Games (07:54) What here is not what it appears to be? Emotional play in...
12.14.2016
Episode 36
Interview Segment Slade Stolar and The Indie Hack (00:29) What here is useful or valuable to me? The Revenant compendium class (24:11) The Oneironaut (26:46) What is about to happen? Our ongoing comic strip AP featuring the adventures of Ramshackle...
11.25.2016
Episode 35
What happened here recently? The Crimson Keep (00:21) What should I be on the lookout for? Comic Strip AP (04:58) What here is not what it appears to be? Managing spotlight & “turn order” (09:27) What here is useful or...
11.10.2016
Episode 34
What happened here recently? Playing PbtA with other GMs (00:23) What should I be on the lookout for? The Last Days of Anglekite (07:46) What here is not what it appears to be? Interpreting HP in the fiction (13:50) What...
10.26.2016
Episode 33
What happened here recently? Bellet Osc (00:23) What should I be on the lookout for? Ink-tober (05:01) What here is not what it appears to be? Hack & Slash (07:30) What here is useful or valuable to me? Mean Old...
10.12.2016
Episode 32
What happened here recently? Androxous the Obscene (00:21) What should I be on the lookout for? The Gauntlet is on Patreon! (05:42) What here is not what it appears to be? Multi-Class Dabbler (14:13) What here is useful or valuable...
09.28.2016
Episode 31
What happened here recently? Yoon-suin (00:22) Getting the most out of World of Dungeons (03:30) The Die of Fate (06:10) What should I be on the lookout for? Vin Moves on the Vindexus Blog (07:57) What here is not what...
09.14.2016
Episode 30
What happened here recently? Episode 30 celebration and Monster of the Week (00:22) What should I be on the lookout for? The Menagerie of Minor Magic (06:23) What here is not what it appears to be? The Bard’s Arcane Art...
08.31.2016
Episode 29
What happened here recently? Managing the Mage playbook (00:23) What should I be on the lookout for? Jeremy Strandberg’s Monster Creation Cheat Sheet (05:19) What here is not what it appears to be? The Ranger’s animal companion (07:12) What here...
08.17.2016
Episode 28
What happened here recently? Death Frost Dungeon World and an extended Perilous Journey (00:23) What should I be on the lookout for? MM3 Market in the Woods (07:18) What here is not what it appears to be? Monster hit points...
08.03.2016
Episode 27
What happened here recently? 1v1 Death Frost Doom (00:23) What should I be on the lookout for? Codex - Blood (05:45) What here is not what it appears to be? “The conversation” (08:12) Before the session (10:11) During the session...
07.22.2016
Episode 26
What happened here recently? A story from Tor of Pocket-Sized Play (00:20) What should I be on the lookout for? Sorcerers & Sellswords (01:53) What here is not what it appears to be? Discern Realities & Spout Lore (07:19) What here...
07.15.2016
Episode 25
Codex announcement Chrome Submissions (00:23) What happened here recently? Advantages of having a smaller number of players (02:24) What should I be on the lookout for? Automated Google Sheet for online play (07:11) What here is not what it appears...
07.01.2016
Episode 24
What happened here recently? Secrets at the game table (00:20) What should I be on the lookout for? The Collector playbook (07:38) What here is not what it appears to be? 1v1 Play (11:48) What here is useful or valuable...

What's Discern Realities about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Discern Realities episodes:

Hearts of Wulin Special

Episode 60

Dungeon World Basics 08 - Fronts

Dungeon World Basics 07 - "GM Moves"

Episode 59

Codex Volume 1 Kickstarter Special

Dungeon World Basics 06 - "GM Agenda & Principles"

Dungeon World Basics 05 - "Anatomy of a Playbook"

Dungeon World Basics 04 - "Special Moves"

Dungeon World Basics 03 - "Non-Combat Basic Moves"

Episode 58

Dungeon World Basics 02 - "Combat"

Dungeon World Basics 01 - "What is Dungeon World? What Are Moves?"

Episode 57

Episode 56

Episode 55

Episode 54

Episode 53

Episode 52

Episode 51

Episode 50

Ramshackle Crow and the Temple of the Peerless Star

Episode 49

Episode 48

Episode 47

Special Episode: The Shrine Contest Finalists

Episode 46

Episode 45

Episode 44

Episode 43

Skill Check 01

Episode 42

Episode 41

Episode 40

Episode 39

Episode 38

Episode 37

Episode 36

Episode 35

Episode 34

Episode 33

Episode 32

Episode 31

Episode 30

Episode 29

Episode 28

Episode 27

Episode 26

Episode 25

Episode 24