Episode 204: Sandboxes and Narratives

This week, the Favorite, the Curmudgeon and the Legend take a cue from a listener and discuss the differences between running a sandbox-style game and a narrative-driven game. Carie, Jason and Ryan take a look at the pros and cons, and what they prefer!

Support On A Roll

Episode 203: Engagement vs. Immersion

After attending a new local game with lots of costuming, the Favorite, the Curmudgeon and the Legend talk about the difference between engagement and immerision, and how both are achieved. Carie, Jason and Ryan work out the pros and cons of them both, and they try to figure out which is more important!

Support On A Roll

Links:

• The Gun Belt — Learn more about the RPG that Ryan is writing. Cowboys, aliens and robots riding dinosaurs in a wild west world without wheels!
• On A Roll - Blog - The Broken Brilliance of "Get Woke, Go Broke" — Read the response Ryan wrote to the online pushback our last episode received in Facebook groups.
• reelfunstudios - Twitch — Watch Carie make art on her Twitch stream!

Episode 202: Sensitivity Editting

After a viscious thread in a Facebook group, the Favorite, the Curmudgeon and the Legend tackle the important topic of sensitivity editing in gaming. Carie, Jason and Ryan try to navigate the angry distance between the "Get Woke Go Broke" and the "Social Justice Warrior" crowds and figure out sensitivity in game design!

Support On A Roll

Links:

• The Gun Belt — Looking for more info on the role-playing game Ryan is creating? Here's where!
• reelfunstudios - Twitch — Watch Carie make art on her Twitch channel!
• Blog - The Broken Brilliance of "Get Woke, Go Broke" — When this episode was announced, it received sadly predictable responses. The Curmudgeon responds with thoughts on how we can be a better gaming community.

Episode 201: Running the End

It's the first episode of season two! Since it's the beginning of our new season, the Favorite, the Curmudgeon and the Legend talk about endings. Carie, Jason and Ryan explore the reasons and requirements for ending a story and the benefits and drawbacks of doing so!

Support On A Roll

Links:

• reelfunstudios - Twitch — Watch the Legend draw on her new Twitch channel!
• The Gun Belt - Home — Learn more about the role-playing game that Ryan is developing, The Gun Belt!

Episode 131: Do We Even Need Experience Points?

There's a lot of talk about experience points lately, so the Favorite asks the Curmudgeon and the Legend what the point of XP is. Carie, Jason and Ryan discuss the problems and benefits of XP, why we have it and why it's such a contentious topic on our final episode of season one!

Support On A Roll

Links:

• On A Roll Podcast on Patreon — Get free stuff AND help keep this podcast alive!

Episode 130: Donny Cates and Telling Great Stories

Epik Comic Show happened recently, and the Curmudgeon and the Legend sat down with Marvel comic's writer Donny Cates. Carie and Ryan find out Donny's story and how he became a comic book author, and then get his take on how to tell a great story!

Special Guest: Donny Cates.

Support On A Roll

Links:

• Amazon.com: Donny Cates — Find God Country and other great comics written by Donny Cates.
• EPIK COMIC SHOW - Chattanooga, TN Comic Convention — Epik Comic Show is a Chattanooga comic book convention.
• On A Roll Podcast on Patreon — If you like the show and want free stuff, consider becoming a patron and help us stay on the air!

Episode 129: Jamie Chambers, Historic D&D and A Delve in a Cave

Hanging out at PostApocalypticon at Dicehead Games and Comics, the Curmudgeon and the Legend sat down with game designer Jamie Chambers to talk about his new 5th Ed adventure, A Delve in the Cave. Ryan and Carie also talk with Jamie about his early online role with TSR and his experience writing licensed gaming products.

Special Guest: Jamie Chambers.

Support On A Roll

Links:

• Fun For Liz — Help Jamie and his family as they tackle Liz's returning cancer. Find his blog about it, as well as a store where you buy things to help support them during this time.
• Signal Fire Studios LLC – Games, Books, T-shirts! — Jamie's website where you can learn more about A Delve in the Cave and his other work!
• Signal Fire Studios on DriveThruRPG.com — Find much of Jamie's work on DriveThruRPG!
• On A Roll Podcast is creating RPG Gaming Podcasts | Patreon — Get free swag and shout outs on the podcast by helping to support On A Roll through Patreon!

Episode 128: Chris Spivey, Diversity and Harlem Unbound

While at HLG Con, the Curmudgeon, the Legend and the Favorite had the opportunity to hang out with Chris Spivey, the multiple Gold Ennie-winning designer of Harlem Unbound. Ryan, Carie and Jason talk with Chris about diversity in gaming and designing a role-playing game that tackles difficult and important topics.

Special Guest: Chris Spivey.

Support On A Roll

Links:

• Darker Hue Studios on Patreon — If you like what Chris is doing, consider supporting him by becoming a backer on Patreon!
• Harlem Unbound — Buy your copy of Harlem Unbound here, before they sell out!
• Darker Hue Studios — Chris' game company, Darker Hue Studios, is creating a more inclusive world of geekdom one game at a time!
• Chaosium Inc. — Chaosium publishes Call of Cthulhu and will be publishing Harlem Unbound 2nd Edition, too!

Episode 127: Craig Campbell on Indie Game Design

Having played Die Laughing at HLG Con, the Curmudgeon, the Legend and the Favorite invite indie game designer Craig Campbell back to the show to talk about the game. Ryan, Carie and Jason then spend time with Craig diving into the world of indie game development and the Kickstarter process.

Special Guest: Craig Campbell.

Support On A Roll

Links:

• Die Laughing RPG by Craig Campbell — Kickstarter — Support Craig's great game Die Laughing on Kickstarter now!
• DriveThruRPG.com - NerdBurger Games — Capers can be found on DriveThruRPG, as well as Murders and Acquisitions!
• NerdBurger Games — Follow Craig and his blog on the Nerdburger Games website!
• On A Roll Podcast on Patreon — Help keep On A Roll on the air, and earn some free stuff, too!

Episode 126: ACTUAL PLAY of Die Laughing

Driving across the United States to Atlantic City for HLG Con was tiring, so the Curmudgeon, the Legend and the Favorite made it their mission to have as much fun there as they could. Ryan, Carie and Jason wrangled Craig Campbell of Nerdburger Games and convinced him to run a session of his latest game, Die Laughing. Here's an actual play recording of the game.

Special Guest: Craig Campbell.

Support On A Roll

Links:

• NerdBurger Games — Craig's website for his independent gaming company.
• DriveThruRPG.com - NerdBurger Games — Find Die Laughing, Capers and Murders and Acquisitions at Nerdburger Games' page on DriveThruRPG.