This week, the gang talks about balance in Tabletop Role-Playing Games. Looking at the total picture from design to implementation when running a game, they discuss how balance is a critical design piece that has been exploited by the SparkleTroll and modern gaming.

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Starting a new campaign for any gaming group can be tough. Different personalities, characters, systems, levels of knowledge, and expectations all play a part. Today we're not talking a "Session Zero," we are discussing some design choices that the GM can make to ensure a great kickoff (not a six session) campaign!

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NO ONE is talking about the fact that Wizards of the Coast is gearing up to implement ID Verification on DnD Beyond.

"To play Dungeons & Dragons, we need your government ID and biometric data?!?"

This week, the discussion, confusion, and outrage that should be happening everywhere happens here.

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RD and Siobhan are in a new game!

...running Dungeons and Dragons 2024.

...using DnD Beyond.

This week, the show is more of an exercise in frustration as they walk the show's OSR grognard Kyle through "modern" character creation!

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Often when DMs are world-building or even running a game, there is such focus on the direction of the story that some elements of the "rest of the realm" are forgotten. Today, we talk about the importance of holidays, celebrations, and events in your game world. After the news, we also have a listen at Ginny Di's newest singing endeavor.

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Two VERY different approaches to the same concept. Pets, animal companions, and familiars have always been in Dungeons and Dragons and TTRPGs -- but NOW, the modern gamer through culture, perversion, and self-insertion chips away at yet another staple of the hobby.

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It's the holiday season! That means a nightmare is coming... for your TTRPG/DnD group's schedule! How do you keep a game going over the next few months? We talk about staying focused and maintaining your game. After the news, we dive into last week's bumped topic, the Random Number -- is there such a thing as too much random?

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Modern Gaming's pinup gal, Ginny Di has her new calendar coming out, and markets it... like an anime gal? The gang talks about marketing and monetizing the hobby before diving into the news, which is always a treat! After a hot few weeks in our corner of the hobby, this week is a good time to kick back and just have a fun chat!

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OSE is leaving the B/X ruleset behind, opting to only support and produce their 'Advanced' ruleset, which is a unique hybrid of B/X and AD&D. With Race as Class now in the rear view mirror, does this represent another nail in the coffin of the OSR?

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WHAT'S IN THE BOX??? This week, we examine seven (yes, seven!) different Reddit yarns spun by the modern gamer. The state of that vocal fringe of the hobby is frightenting, but their voices are loud, and are often mistaken for the mainstream gamer. Are you ready for this journey?

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