Engineered Adventures RPG Talk Podcast

EP 003 - I found 2 problems that I wanted to fix in the Dungeons and Dragons games I run.

Show Notes Here: https://engineeredadventures.com/ep004perspectivequestions/

One, Sometimes the spotlight doesn’t move the ways I want. 
It can get stuck, or it can get lost. I wanted a way to take greater control, to make sure the spotlight meaningfully reaches everyone.  

Two, I wanted to try exploring what characters were thinking. 
Could I facilitate that without being weird? 

I realized people at the table are both actors and narrators. Could we find a way to leverage that? 
In fact, players in Table Top Roleplaying Games take on many narrative perspectives. Maybe we could use that. 
I found the solution through an in game staple, applied to a meta-physical problem.

That’s right, we’re using random tables to improve our storytelling.

Plus, you'll improve the moments in game your players will remember for years to come. As a Game Master, this hack has been so useful in improving engagement. I've noticed richer stories too. 

The tables also give me more reasons to roll my dice. 

#003 - Creating characters for DND is one of the most rewarding aspects of the game. You build an avatar to explore the world with your friends at the table. With the freedom TTRPGs offer, it can be intimidating to create a character. Brandon is a master of creating interesting player characters. We had the chance to talk about how to create engaging characters that are fun to play. I had a blast with Brandon and learned so much on how to create memorable character. 

You can find the full show notes here:

https://engineeredadventures.com/ep003brandonseeds/

He uses the idea of Character Shards to serve as the character’s core. They can be shards of your personality, a single idea, or a focused concept. They can be popular individuals in media. Wherever it comes from, the shard serves as a seed for a character to grow and develop through play. 

Your character doesn’t have to be perfect at first, in fact it shouldn’t be. Keep it simple, focused around your shard. At the table, give them a chance to grow and develop through the choices you make. Brandon explains this idea through his wood elf Cleric, Anderon. When he made the character, he wanted to explore the idea of protection and honor. He also wanted to be a Storm Cleric, a subclass that typically doesn’t worship Helm, the God of Protection. Instead of figuring it all out at first, he left the details vague so he could explore during play. Each week, the character grew organically, and he became a rich and engaging character.

Fun and engaging characters come from actual play, so don’t sweat it. Focus on your shard and it’ll guide your play, as you watch your character flourish.

Here are some tips we talk about during the interview. Try them out during your next session. 

• Take a shard of your personality and explore a character based on that trait. 
• Take contrasting ideas and explore how they both shape your character. 
• DND is a game, so when you build your character, make sure you build your character to be effective in multiple aspects of play. You want them to be both interesting and awesome.
• You can build something great from any idea. 

Your character gives you the opportunity to see the world with a new perspective. Start with a shard, then enjoy the journey of exploring their growth and development at the table. I’m excited to see the stories you’ll tell. 

#002 - A tabletop role playing game, like 5e Dungeons and Dragons,  is like a Jazz Combo. It’s freeform, creative, and fun. It also has an underlying structure that keeps everyone improvising together. This provides the scaffolding necessary to create fun songs in the moment with people you care about. It’s a lot like riding a bike. It’s a little tough to get the feel for it at first, but in the end the simple, rhythmic cadence gets you anywhere you want to go. 

You can find the Full Show Notes Here:

https://engineeredadventures.com/ep-002-functional-rhythm-of-dnd/

I like to call this rhythm theFunctional Unit of DND. 

Why are these rules so important? 

Because they make choices matter. 

Without consistent rules, players’ decisions don’t matter. When you can’t reasonably predict an outcome to your choice, then there is no true agency. It doesn’t matter what you do. Choices don’t matter if the outcome is random. If everything is random, then the story isn’t theirs. 

This cycle is where the magic happens. Stories come from the rhythm of the game. When you and your table master this functional unit, the structure falls away and epic stories flourish. 

Here’s a recap of the functional unit

1. The Game Master and Players know the rules of the game, the characters, and the world. 
2. The Game Master sets the scene and invites the players to act
3. The players view the world and act, with a specific approach, to reach a specific goal
4. The Game Master uses the rules to resolve the action and changes the rules
5. The Game Master resets the scene and invites the players to act again

I’ve got a cheat sheet you can use at your next game. Find it here: 

#001 - I’m your host, Chris Zegarra. I’ll be chatting on this podcast weekly to deliver the tools, skills, and strategies to help you engineer your adventure and level up your story both at the table and in real life. 

For full links and Show Notes, check out the website here:

https://engineeredadventures.com/ep001firstroleplay/

Table top Role Playing games hold a special place in my heart. I started my journey with Dungeons and Dragons, sitting with my cousin, brother, and friends at the table with my freshly designed character, Marcato Vivace.

Confident and bold, this half elf bard sported a charming goatee and a burning desire to help others. He was a maestro on the battlefield, directing his team through tense combats and overwhelming odds. He was a patron of the arts, supporting aspiring musicians everywhere he went. 

Those nights at the table instilled a lifelong love for roleplaying games that I carry with me to this day. There’s nothing like RPGs. 

I truly believe everyone’s lives would be better if they played more RPGs. 

That’s why I’m here.

With over a decade of experience as a player, game master, and professional storyteller, I have tools to help. That’s why I donned the mic. I’m here to provide the legendary tools, practical skills, and pro strategies to help you engineer your ideal table top adventure with confidence. 

Now, more than ever, is a great time to start. 

Whether your a player, a fan, or a game master, there’s space in this game for you. 

Let’s work together to level up your story, both at the table, and in real life. 

I’ve got a quick roleplay tip for you: 

It’s all about perspective. 

I use these questions to jump into my character each time I get to the table. 

Try them out and I’m sure it’ll help you feel more confident in your roleplay. 

1.What does your character notice most? 

2.What does your character think and/or feel about what they notice? 

3.What does you character choose to do, and how do they do it? 

Thanks for joining me on this journey.  

We’ve got so much great in store and I’m excited to share. 

Be sure to subscribe so we can continue on this journey together. 

If you have any suggestions, ideas, or feedback, let me know. 

See you soon!

-Chris