HJRP1009 - From Concept to Scenes

Your hosts: Stu, Stork, CADave, Hosier Rob

Show Notes! We revisit convention game prep, discuss going from vague idea, to developed concept to individual scenes.

Tom tells us about his game, including integrating previous PCs into the current story. He also asks about prepping a detailed city for a game that will be limited to one area. Michael ask for some advice about running his first game for new players.

Steve asks us how to better play his characters and how to come up with unique concepts. Rick Sevenless asks us about halflings, dwarfism and munchkins. Ricc from PDX-gamers.com writes in about several topics, including character death, minmaxing and dice fudging.

And SirGuido asks for gamer gift advice as he's going to Gencon, and  his gaming group isn't.

HJRP1008

Your Hosts: Stu, HosierRob, JiB and Kimi

Show notes! We discuss convention game preparation, including making good pregens. Rob asks us why we haven't won (or been nominated for) and Ennie, and Stu explains.

Rick No. 7 writes in about a new rule he heard: "If you own the book, you can use it." We discuss this absurd rule briefly. Kaspar write in asking about GMs making their players' character, rather than the players. Hamtaro writes in with a story about knowing your players.

And Justin writes in with a good gaming story (as opposed to a nightmare).

HJRP1007

Your hosts: Stu, Stork, CADave, Hosier Rob (and Claire for a bit!)

Show notes: We discus adapting material from one game system to another, but mostly it ends up being about characters. Eric from Metagamers Anonymous writes in talking about hacking and house ruling game systems.

General Insertion Joe writes in about an epic series by Philip Reeve, where cities roam North America and eat each other, and he asks how this can be built in GURPS.

Jonas chimes in on players playing disadvantages and how he likes to encourage it. Karsten regales us with tales of woe of game conventions in Germany. And Sizik relates a convention game story with an awesome GM.

HJRP1006

Your Hosts: CADave, HosierRob, Clockverk and Kimi

Show Notes! We discuss how to handle a missing player at an on going campaign. Show writes in to tell us about games where he introduced NPC traitors to the party. Gandalf the Plaid ask the hosts about their proudest moment as a GM or player.

Eric from Bakersfield asks if he should go ahead and let a PC get killed, because the player is doing dangerous stuff and the only reason the PC's alive now is because of GM fiat. Don writes in about his gamer wife, Tom writes in with a comment about GM fudging. And Monkey Bleeper shares a gaming horror story.

HJRP1005

Your hosts: Stu, Stork, HosierRob, Gammonstark.

Show Notes: Photostyle asks for tips for players playing in con games or one shots as first timers. GI Joe asks for some ideas on how to play a noble character.

Brad writes in about the Real Ghostbusters episode with Cthulhu. Friar Greg writes in with lots of comments. Jeb writes in with his affair with Savage Worlds. Daniel from Serbia writes in about min-maxing. And Marc writes in with a strange tale of The Fantasy Trip, sheep and a ram named Hobo.

Stu's RPG

HJRP1004

Your hosts: Stu, Stork, Jib, Kimi

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Get ready for Gateway 2013 - August 30 to September 2.

Shownotes! Main topic: Balancing Player Agency and Game Mechanics. We discuss several common scenarios where player agency (the player's control of their character) and the game mechanics collide.  Don writes in to proselytize Dungeon World. Matthew thanks us for advice we gave him in his last email. Martin writes in about house ruling GURPS -- and Stu clarifies that his many statements about how deadly GURPS is are NOT complaints. JimTo writes in to catch up with some comments about smaller conventions, failing memories and how Happy Jacks Listeners are awesome, great players and generally fun to be around -- though loud.  He also asks if there are instances when it's always okay to metagame.

Jeff from Wisconsin makes the case for why Savage Worlds is a good system to teach someone who is new to role-playing games. He also talks about the Star Wars Saga Edition damage track system. And Josh in Orlando sends us, not a gaming nightmare -- rather a tale of gaming woe.

hjrp1003

Your hosts: Stu, Stork, Kimi, Tyler

Show Notes: The dangers of GM over-preparation. Check out Never Unprepared, a book on GM game prep. RT tells of the story of the GM who constantly preps but can't run a game. Stevan from Serbia writes about his Warhammer 40k game with a horribly split party. Karsten sends us a little rant on Pathfinder Society.

Ira writes in about stats informing character back story. Adam writes in with a horrible gaming nightmare that no one should have to hear. Thomas who Doubts asks about a modern day RPG exercise for his class Black Man, White Law.

HJRP1002

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Your hosts: Stu, Stork, CADAve and Bill

Show Notes: Handling shy, quiet and new players. We discuss dealing with new players, how to integrate them into the group and get them comfortable. We also discuss quiet players as well as shy players. NothingSacred writes in about a problem with two of his players not getting along. Casey in Sioux Falls tells us how he turned playing with a bunch of minmaxing combat monsters into an opportunity to make a less effective but fun character concept.  He also regales us with a gaming horror story -- and it's pretty horrible.

Jonas asks us about his gaming group and the fact that a couple of players like changing characters every so often.  Neil suggest running Lady Blackbird for beginners as it is very rules light and easy to learn. Craig from Osaka writes in to ask about avoiding railroading and designing one-shots. Listeners X-73 writes in about the conundrum with gaming and significant others. He also provides an excellent way to turn a GMing mistake (that being killing a PC off-screen) into a great boon.

HJRP1001

Your hosts: Stu, Stork, Tyler, CADave

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Show notes! We discuss what makes a good plot hook. Saul writes in with some questions about his Pathfinder game. Jay writes in with a gaming emergency regarding too many plot threads.

Tarin chimes in on emotion in games and why we might grieve NPC death more than PC death. Jeff emails about our opinion of a system for a convention game. Grant from Saving the Game podcast writes in with a horror story.

BTW, a listener has asked us to point you to this kickstarter.

Song: Haul Away Joe by the Merry Wives of Windsor.

HJRP0920

Your hosts: Stu, Stork, Kimi, CADave

Show Notes: We discuss turncoat NPCs and also address William from Maryland who is trying to infiltrate a bag guy NPC in his game. Kaptain Kiwi asks about one of his players who doesn't role-play much and how he can encourage him to do so more. N Eric asks about running games that mention "hot button" issues. Tarin asks us about future show-run contests, what we have planned for our 200th episode and gives a few comments about the Dresden Files series.

Karsten lauds Jib for his Sleepers game and Stu for his Ghostbusters LA actual play. He asks if we have adventures we consider masterpieces, and he comments on playing a super smart character. LeStew writes in to tell us about his RPG experience with his kids.

Temmogen talks about a litany of terrible role-players he's experienced.