Thank you Lauren and Jesse for this interview!

### Previous experience (2:10)

[Trophy](https://trophyrpg.com/)

[The Final Girl](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/182628/The-Final-Girl?affiliate_id=29668)

[Hot Guys Making Out](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/156244/Hot-Guys-Making-Out?affiliate_id=29668)

[Lauren's hacks](https://www.thestraykiwi.com/design-work)

[Codex Lies](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/238692/Codex--Lies-Jan-2018?affiliate_id=29668)

[The Gauntlet](https://www.gauntlet-rpg.com/)

### Inspiration and genre emulation (5:30)

What is this genre?

[Girls-underground.com](https://girls-underground.com/) by Kate Winter

### Why a PbtA hack? (11:20)

### Switching protagonists (14:00)

[Bluebird’s Bride](https://www.magpiegames.com/bluebeards-bride/)

### Very easy to run (18:35)

[Girl Underground on Oneshot RPG](http://oneshotpodcast.com/tag/girl-underground/)

### Expectations, gender and safety (24:05)

### Manners (30:30)

### Structured format suggestion (37:05)

The playtest process (41:50)

### What’s next? (45:55)

[Beyond the Garden Wall](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Over_the_Garden_Wall)

### Summary (49:20)

[Buy this game!](https://www.hedgemazepress.com/)

[Girl Underground's website](https://girlunderground.org/)

[Lauren's professional website](https://www.thestraykiwi.com/)

### Taking the load off (55:30)

Uri: [Three Dragon Ante: Legendary Edition](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/280501/three-dragon-ante-legendary-edition)

Jesse: [Trophyrpg.com](https://Trophyrpg.com)

-----

Email us at [email protected] with questions, topic suggestions, and comments on this episode, and check out [our Facebook group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/dwarfpodcast)

[We have a Patreon page](https://www.patreon.com/dwarfcast), in case you'd like to support us in a monetary fashion. Also, most links to [DriveThruRPG are affiliate](http://drivethrurpg.com/?affiliate_id=29668), which means we get a bit of money if you buy through them, with no added cost to you.

Intro and outro based on On the Shoulders of Dwarves by the Cliches Duo. On the Shoulders of Dwarves is shared under [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

Giving the ordinary some attention can help establish a believable world, and create the basis for exciting changes.

[Holidays and Anniversaries (episode 8)](https://dwarves.podiant.co/e/holidays-anniversaries-and-celebrations-episode-8-35cb85c9839280/)

[Your Next Character Should be an Accountant (episode 74)](https://dwarves.podiant.co/e/your-next-character-should-be-an-accountant-episode-74-37bad526ff17fc/)

[Specials (episode 75)](https://dwarves.podiant.co/e/a-special-episode-episode-75-37c04c3a2b8ed0/)

### Roni Dover (1:20)

> Hello Dwarves,

> First big kudos on the podcast - you're doing an awesome job and it's a delight to tune in weekly.

> I was listening to one of your older episodes on the topic of holidays which I found really interesting. In my experience, holidays as predictable events on the calendar with known rituals and customs can help normalize the campaign world.

> As such, however, they also provide an opportunity to portray changes - political, personal, economic or other - in a more nuanced way.

> Take as an example the hypothetical 'King's day' usually celebrated by feasting and toasting to the king's health - a well known yearly event the characters/players are familiar with. Now if the party arrives at a certain town in time for the celebration the subtleties of how the celebrations are held in that place and time can be a great storytelling vehicle.

> The characters may notice a bitter undertone of sarcasm when the mayor proposes a toast, or take notice of the fact that there is considerably less food being offered around at the tables, the church officials may not attend or just opt not to make their yearly proclamation in support of the king etc etc.

> What I'm trying to get at (I think) is that, even beyond the subject of holidays, establishing the 'normal' or 'ordinary' in the campaign is important and even required in order for the players to understand the significance of happenings that break this norm. There needs to be a balance of sorts in order for the campaign to work. This might make for an interesting discussion in a future episode.

> Anyway - these are just my two cents, thanks again!

### Story Spine (3:05)

[A story in seven steps](http://improvencyclopedia.org/games/Story_Spine.html):

* There once was an X

* Every day they would X

* Till one day, X happens

* As a result X

* As a result X

* As a result X

* And ever since then they X.

The first two parts are all about establishing the baseline.

The third section is about the change (also called the Tilt), something happens that disturbs the peace

### General tips on establishing routine (6:15)

Be consistent.

Things that happen routinely have procedures and infrastructures dedicated to them, establish these early on. (

### Foreshadowing with routines (15:15)

### Show the people's reaction (16:35)

### The routine of the cosmology world (17:40)

### The routine of everyday life

### The routine of individual characters (22:40)

Interaction with family, organisations; prayers, work out.

Daily routines of the party, focusing on the less-stellar parts of everyday adventuring

Have a moment to talk about what went wrong in today’s preparations. Maintaining tools, morale, brooding, combing hair.

One completely normal thing to do tomorrow: buy a new mug, get a haircut.

Make it important mechanically: [Wear & Tear](https://www.patreon.com/posts/29464169)

[Torchbearer](https://www.torchbearerrpg.com/)

### Summary (29:20)

### Taking the Load off (30:30)

Uri - Boss fight! (again). [Curse of the Crimson Throne](https://pathfinderwiki.com/wiki/Curse_of_the_Crimson_Throne).

Eran - Running [Hell’s Rebels](https://pathfinderwiki.com/wiki/Hell%27s_Rebels) for both a group and my wife.

[Feast of Legends](https://www.feastoflegends.com/)

-----

Email us at [email protected] with questions, topic suggestions, and comments on this episode,

### Using and playing extras

As a GM, please avoid using these beings as easy targets.

### Taking advantage of this opportunity (6:45)

* Treat as characters - start thinking about the supporting characters as characters and not as equipment/extensions of your character.

* Names - so you can humanize and speak to them.

* Interaction - the difference between “I use my wolf to track the scent of the escaping ogre” to “I ask Wolfenshtain if he manages to track the scent of Krislo the Ogre”.

* Routine - create routines for yourself and the supporting cast.

* Add the supporting character's point of view - the cave as seen through the nose of Bingo the blink dog.

### Mechanical representation (11:55)

Use a system that makes it easy to handle them, and have the players do it.

[Savage Worlds](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savage_Worlds) - extras

[Pathfinder](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathfinder_Roleplaying_Game) 2e - minion

[City of Mist](https://www.cityofmist.co/) - extra theme

[Dungeon World](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeon_World)

### Hirelings (20:20)

An NPC with a mechanical element that's not a part of the character.

Hirelings [work hard for the money](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09ZSKE38lTU).

### Animal companions (22:30)

### Familiars (23:55)

### Cohorts (25:35)

Download for free: [Three Suggestions for Cohorot Morivations](https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8GIH-SQ2wnrXzc4QXlUMnVUbWc/view?usp=sharing)

[The full series](https://www.eranaviram.me/three-suggestions/), if you'd like to buy.

### Summary (29:00)

[Avatar: The Last Airbender](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar:_The_Last_Airbender)

[Fate/stay night](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fate/stay_night)

Non-genre examples: [The Wire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wire). [Brooklyn 99](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooklyn_Nine-Nine). [Parks and Recreations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parks_and_Recreation). [My Name is Earl](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Name_Is_Earl)

### Taking the Load off (32:25)

Uri - Been to a wedding! My GM got married! With the party’s paladin!

Eran - Going to run Path2 in Tabletop Gaming Live, come and play! (It's actually already over, so nevermind!)

Aviv - Going on a family vacation! All my games got pushed to after I’m back.

-----

Email us at [email protected] with questions, topic suggestions, and comments on this episode, and check out [our Facebook group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/dwarfpodcast)

[We have a Patreon page](https://www.patreon.com/dwarfcast), in case you'd like to support us in a monetary fashion. Also, most links to [DriveThruRPG are affiliate](http://drivethrurpg.com/?affiliate_id=29668), which means we get a bit of money if you buy through them, with no added cost to you.

Intro and outro based on On the Shoulders of Dwarves by the Cliches Duo. On the Shoulders of Dwarves is shared under [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

### Using and playing extras

As a GM, please avoid using these beings as easy targets.

### Taking advantage of this opportunity (6:45)

* Treat as characters - start thinking about the supporting characters as characters and not as equipment/extensions of your character.

* Names - so you can humanize and speak to them.

* Interaction - the difference between “I use my wolf to track the scent of the escaping ogre” to “I ask Wolfenshtain if he manages to track the scent of Krislo the Ogre”.

* Routine - create routines for yourself and the supporting cast.

* Add the supporting character's point of view - the cave as seen through the nose of Bingo the blink dog.

### Mechanical representation (11:55)

Use a system that makes it easy to handle them, and have the players do it.

[Savage Worlds](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savage_Worlds) - extras

[Pathfinder](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathfinder_Roleplaying_Game) 2e - minion

[City of Mist](https://www.cityofmist.co/) - extra theme

[Dungeon World](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeon_World)

### Hirelings (20:20)

An NPC with a mechanical element that's not a part of the character.

Hirelings [work hard for the money](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09ZSKE38lTU).

### Animal companions (22:30)

### Familiars (23:55)

### Cohorts (25:35)

Download for free: [Three Suggestions for Cohorot Morivations](https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8GIH-SQ2wnrXzc4QXlUMnVUbWc/view?usp=sharing)

[The full series](https://www.eranaviram.me/three-suggestions/), if you'd like to buy.

### Summary (29:00)

[Avatar: The Last Airbender](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar:_The_Last_Airbender)

[Fate/stay night](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fate/stay_night)

Non-genre examples: [The Wire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wire). [Brooklyn 99](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooklyn_Nine-Nine). [Parks and Recreations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parks_and_Recreation). [My Name is Earl](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Name_Is_Earl)

### Taking the Load off (32:25)

Uri - Been to a wedding! My GM got married! With the party’s paladin!

Eran - Going to run Path2 in Tabletop Gaming Live, come and play! (It's actually already over, so nevermind!)

Aviv - Going on a family vacation! All my games got pushed to after I’m back.

-----

Email us at [email protected] with questions, topic suggestions, and comments on this episode, and check out [our Facebook group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/dwarfpodcast)

[We have a Patreon page](https://www.patreon.com/dwarfcast), in case you'd like to support us in a monetary fashion. Also, most links to [DriveThruRPG are affiliate](http://drivethrurpg.com/?affiliate_id=29668), which means we get a bit of money if you buy through them, with no added cost to you.

Intro and outro based on On the Shoulders of Dwarves by the Cliches Duo. On the Shoulders of Dwarves is shared under [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

### Why have a “special” episode? (1:06)

It’s a fun break from the routine, it keeps the tension going, it’s a way to make some in-game event more special and it allows you to do things that the “regular” rules/flow/setting might not be well-suited to. And it encourages everyone to put more effort and excitement into the game.

### When? (2:25)

A special can be used to celebrate an event (in-play or off-play) an adventure finale, a campaign finale, a player's birthday, a momentous event, something that the mechnics don't support, to represent something grander than the usual scope or scale.

### An all nighter (3:25)

Set the time to play an extended session.

### Childhood encounters (3:45)

Play the characters in their youth (toddlers/children/teens).

### Playing the baddies (4:40)

Getting the player to play the villains.

[Creating an Interesting Villain](https://dwarves.podiant.co/e/creating-an-interesting-villain-episode-52-36ef5d25fb4d20/)

### Lower deck episode (7:10)

[Lower-deck episode](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/LowerDeckEpisode).

Babylon 5: [A View From the Gallery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_View_from_the_Gallery)

[Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosencrantz_and_Guildenstern_Are_Dead)

### Using a different mechanic then usual (11:30)

The Battle for Cecelia’s Mind

[Tomb of Horrors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomb_of_Horrors), using basic rules

### A special session for a specific character (17:30)

Play a momentous event from a character’s past, a great chance for character development.

### Playing in a special location (18:25)

The Yehiam Renaissance fair - playing in a burial mound.

### A player’s birthday (20:00)

Uri did a session for a player's birthday, depicting 3 possible future incarnations of her character.

### LARPing your characters, to a point (21:05)

Uri turned his game to a sort of LARP in the Chedek Tower, where the adventure actually took place.

### April Fool’s episode (22:45)

Switching character sheets.

### Musical! (25:30)

[The recorded Warhammer episode](https://www.dwarves.org.il/enemy-within/enemy-within-2-15) (in Hebrew).

### A weekend retreat (28:00)

Uri's group does this once a year.

### Summary (30:45)

[Episodes on TV Tropes](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Episodes)

### Taking the Load off

Pffft

-----

Email us at [email protected] with questions, topic suggestions, and comments on this episode, and check out [our Facebook group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/dwarfpodcast)

[We have a Patreon page](https://www.patreon.com/dwarfcast), in case you'd like to support us in a monetary fashion. Also, most links to [DriveThruRPG are affiliate](http://drivethrurpg.com/?affiliate_id=29668), which means we get a bit of money if you buy through them, with no added cost to you.

Intro and outro based on On the Shoulders of Dwarves by the Cliches Duo. On the Shoulders of Dwarves is shared under [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

### Why have a “special” episode? (1:06)

It’s a fun break from the routine, it keeps the tension going, it’s a way to make some in-game event more special and it allows you to do things that the “regular” rules/flow/setting might not be well-suited to. And it encourages everyone to put more effort and excitement into the game.

### When? (2:25)

A special can be used to celebrate an event (in-play or off-play) an adventure finale, a campaign finale, a player's birthday, a momentous event, something that the mechnics don't support, to represent something grander than the usual scope or scale.

### An all nighter (3:25)

Set the time to play an extended session.

### Childhood encounters (3:45)

Play the characters in their youth (toddlers/children/teens).

### Playing the baddies (4:40)

Getting the player to play the villains.

[Creating an Interesting Villain](https://dwarves.podiant.co/e/creating-an-interesting-villain-episode-52-36ef5d25fb4d20/)

### Lower deck episode (7:10)

[Lower-deck episode](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/LowerDeckEpisode).

Babylon 5: [A View From the Gallery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_View_from_the_Gallery)

[Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosencrantz_and_Guildenstern_Are_Dead)

### Using a different mechanic then usual (11:30)

The Battle for Cecelia’s Mind

[Tomb of Horrors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomb_of_Horrors), using basic rules

### A special session for a specific character (17:30)

Play a momentous event from a character’s past, a great chance for character development.

### Playing in a special location (18:25)

The Yehiam Renaissance fair - playing in a burial mound.

### A player’s birthday (20:00)

Uri did a session for a player's birthday, depicting 3 possible future incarnations of her character.

### LARPing your characters, to a point (21:05)

Uri turned his game to a sort of LARP in the Chedek Tower, where the adventure actually took place.

### April Fool’s episode (22:45)

Switching character sheets.

### Musical! (25:30)

[The recorded Warhammer episode](https://www.dwarves.org.il/enemy-within/enemy-within-2-15) (in Hebrew).

### A weekend retreat (28:00)

Uri's group does this once a year.

### Summary (30:45)

[Episodes on TV Tropes](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Episodes)

### Taking the Load off

Pffft

-----

Email us at [email protected] with questions, topic suggestions, and comments on this episode, and check out [our Facebook group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/dwarfpodcast)

[We have a Patreon page](https://www.patreon.com/dwarfcast), in case you'd like to support us in a monetary fashion. Also, most links to [DriveThruRPG are affiliate](http://drivethrurpg.com/?affiliate_id=29668), which means we get a bit of money if you buy through them, with no added cost to you.

Intro and outro based on On the Shoulders of Dwarves by the Cliches Duo. On the Shoulders of Dwarves is shared under [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

This episode focus on suggestions for character concepts that might be different from your usual tropes, with boring or "unwanted" histories or ideals.

[Better Backgrounds](https://dwarves.podiant.co/e/better-background-episode-58-372bd15a77f9e8/)

[Avoiding Character Cliches](https://dwarves.podiant.co/e/avoiding-character-cliches-episode-2-35aab600eb0406/)

### The family man (2:00)

An adult with a family that comes into play in a positive way during the game.

### Unrelated history (3:55)

A character that already had a profession, that had nothing to do with their current class.

[The Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred, the Vampire Accountant](https://www.amazon.com/Utterly-Uninteresting-Unadventurous-Vampire-Accountant-ebook/dp/B00M6AM6Q8)

[Our interview with Drew Hayes](https://dwarves.podiant.co/e/interview-with-drew-hayes-episode-56-3715e204f5063c/)

### A young apprentice (7:40)

Don’t know how to use some of your powers.

### Midrange minion (9:55)

Your character is part of an organisation. They desperately want to climb up the ladder but must distinguish themselves.

### Villainous past (13:00)

Your character was once on the wrong side of the law. But they have seen the error of their ways and switched sides.

### A very famous person (14:15)

Traveling in disguise or... not travelling in disguise.

### A creation of/related to someone else (15:40)

Uber-familiar, Crystal manifestation. Not necesearally dumb, but very much dependant emotionally on the other character.

### Someone who is mainly defined by what they desire, not what they can do (18:50)

Not a ‘fighter’, but a ‘freedom fighter’.

### Someone who’s plain but has a secret inner world (20:20)

[Aggretsuko](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aggretsuko). Conflict between the inner and the outer worlds.

### A completely average person (22:05)

[Unknown Armies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unknown_Armies) can start with everyone playing (semi) regular people.

### Summary (25:00)

### Taking the Load off (27:10)

We did a live stream RPG this week to support the Make-a-Wish foundation for Children's Cancer Awareness Month. We’ve raised 205 USD for the cause; [watch it here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOgnrDz8R38&t=31s), and you can still donate!

We played [The Ward](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/222793/The-Ward-Acute-Care-Edition?affiliate_id=29668), a PbtA hack that was designed for medical drama gameplay in the style of ER or Grey's Anatomy.

-----

Email us at [email protected] with questions, topic suggestions, and comments on this episode, and check out [our Facebook group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/dwarfpodcast)

[We have a Patreon page](https://www.patreon.com/dwarfcast), in case you'd like to support us in a monetary fashion. Also, most links to [DriveThruRPG are affiliate](http://drivethrurpg.com/?affiliate_id=29668), which means we get a bit of money if you buy through them, with no added cost to you.

Intro and outro based on On the Shoulders of Dwarves by the Cliches Duo. On the Shoulders of Dwarves is shared under [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

This episode focus on suggestions for character concepts that might be different from your usual tropes, with boring or "unwanted" histories or ideals.

[Better Backgrounds](https://dwarves.podiant.co/e/better-background-episode-58-372bd15a77f9e8/)

[Avoiding Character Cliches](https://dwarves.podiant.co/e/avoiding-character-cliches-episode-2-35aab600eb0406/)

### The family man (2:00)

An adult with a family that comes into play in a positive way during the game.

### Unrelated history (3:55)

A character that already had a profession, that had nothing to do with their current class.

[The Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred, the Vampire Accountant](https://www.amazon.com/Utterly-Uninteresting-Unadventurous-Vampire-Accountant-ebook/dp/B00M6AM6Q8)

[Our interview with Drew Hayes](https://dwarves.podiant.co/e/interview-with-drew-hayes-episode-56-3715e204f5063c/)

### A young apprentice (7:40)

Don’t know how to use some of your powers.

### Midrange minion (9:55)

Your character is part of an organisation. They desperately want to climb up the ladder but must distinguish themselves.

### Villainous past (13:00)

Your character was once on the wrong side of the law. But they have seen the error of their ways and switched sides.

### A very famous person (14:15)

Traveling in disguise or... not travelling in disguise.

### A creation of/related to someone else (15:40)

Uber-familiar, Crystal manifestation. Not necesearally dumb, but very much dependant emotionally on the other character.

### Someone who is mainly defined by what they desire, not what they can do (18:50)

Not a ‘fighter’, but a ‘freedom fighter’.

### Someone who’s plain but has a secret inner world (20:20)

[Aggretsuko](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aggretsuko). Conflict between the inner and the outer worlds.

### A completely average person (22:05)

[Unknown Armies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unknown_Armies) can start with everyone playing (semi) regular people.

### Summary (25:00)

### Taking the Load off (27:10)

We did a live stream RPG this week to support the Make-a-Wish foundation for Children's Cancer Awareness Month. We’ve raised 205 USD for the cause; [watch it here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOgnrDz8R38&t=31s), and you can still donate!

We played [The Ward](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/222793/The-Ward-Acute-Care-Edition?affiliate_id=29668), a PbtA hack that was designed for medical drama gameplay in the style of ER or Grey's Anatomy.

-----

Email us at [email protected] with questions, topic suggestions, and comments on this episode, and check out [our Facebook group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/dwarfpodcast)

[We have a Patreon page](https://www.patreon.com/dwarfcast), in case you'd like to support us in a monetary fashion. Also, most links to [DriveThruRPG are affiliate](http://drivethrurpg.com/?affiliate_id=29668), which means we get a bit of money if you buy through them, with no added cost to you.

Intro and outro based on On the Shoulders of Dwarves by the Cliches Duo. On the Shoulders of Dwarves is shared under [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

"Folk vs Medicine" charity event, this Sunday!

[icel.me/wish](http://icel.me/wish)

[Facebook event](https://www.facebook.com/events/419128882065377/)

### Player perspective (1:55)

Talk with your GM: to make sure you're not going to focus your attention on anything that might not be of value

Build your character concept: based on what's available in the system, and fits the campaign.

Rulebook: read all the basic sections and then the sections relevant to my character.

Read guides and forum posts

Watch actual plays: in order to learn the mechanics.

Finalize your character sheet

### GM perspective (8:00)

Watch or listen to people playing it, to get the flow between GM and players, expected pace, quick-and-dirty resolution.

Find the best character sheets, summary sheets, condition cards, GM screen.

Start small with a simple published module.

Help them find the best way to manifest their ideas using the rules. [Early character malleability](https://www.uptofourplayers.com/2017/03/early-character-malleability-the-weekly-podcast/)

When unsure about something, check immediately. Ask for patience. Dellagate.

Play according to the rules, start house ruling only after something fails repeatedly, and after asking on the webs. [We need a new mechanic for this](https://dwarves.podiant.co/e/we-need-a-new-mechanic-for-this-episode-26-363f31467fd6dc/)

### Summary (22:45)

### Taking the Load off (25:25)

Eran - I was in a Tabletop Industry Networking event, started thinking that there’s no current solution to cons like those we see in Israel.

-----

Email us at [email protected] with questions, topic suggestions, and comments on this episode, and check out [our Facebook group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/dwarfpodcast)

[We have a Patreon page](https://www.patreon.com/dwarfcast), in case you'd like to support us in a monetary fashion. Also, most links to [DriveThruRPG are affiliate](http://drivethrurpg.com/?affiliate_id=29668), which means we get a bit of money if you buy through them, with no added cost to you.

Intro and outro based on On the Shoulders of Dwarves by the Cliches Duo. On the Shoulders of Dwarves is shared under [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

Maps not only show you different scales, they also help you think in different scales. It’s a common thing for maps to follow adventures, but sometimes it can be the other way around.

The scale of the map you are using in your adventure is influencing how you and your players perceive the game.

### A room, a floor, a building (3:40)

Limiting the scale makes for a more focused interactions. In a room, you think about interactions with objects and NPCs. in a floor you think or logic or functionality. In a building you think of topography and story events.

### A city (8:55)

Places of importance for the individual, status, reflection of the greater nature of things. Where it’s proper to go, where you’re expected, where it’s dangerous. Who needs what - money, recognition, acceptance. Desires on the personal level.

### A continent (11:20)

The political scale - social groups, social facts that are hundreds of years old. Conflicts between nations, slow moving but made of many parts, attacking on many fronts.

### A multiverse (13:25)

Ontological truths about the nature of the supernatural in your setting. Planes, the voyage of the soul, the seat of gods, the place where types of energy come from, etc.

### When is any of this important (14:45)

### A map of events (18:50)

Connected scenes

the Iceberg model from [City of Mist](https://www.cityofmist.co/)

Schrudinger’s dungeon.

### Summary (23:35)

### Taking the Load off (25:50)

Beyond the screen - Aviad Tal ([YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/BeyondTheScreenRPG)) organised a small convention for GMs.

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Email us at [email protected] with questions, topic suggestions, and comments on this episode, and check out [our Facebook group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/dwarfpodcast)

[We have a Patreon page](https://www.patreon.com/dwarfcast), in case you'd like to support us in a monetary fashion. Also, most links to [DriveThruRPG are affiliate](http://drivethrurpg.com/?affiliate_id=29668), which means we get a bit of money if you buy through them, with no added cost to you.

Intro and outro based on On the Shoulders of Dwarves by the Cliches Duo. On the Shoulders of Dwarves is shared under [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)