**The first episode of Forging Ahead with Aviv Manoach, a show about tabletop roleplaying games where Aviv discusses the shenanigans of his home group and prepare their next adventures.**

You can join live each week on [twitch.tv/iceldotme](http://www.twitch.tv/iceldotme), or subscribe to the podcast's audio on [dwarfcast.net](http://www.dwarfcast.net).

## Who Am I?

I’m Aviv, you may have heard me before on our main On the Shoulders of Dwarves show, as I’m the technical producer of the website and sometimes guest host.

I've been gaming for about 15 years and for the past decade have been working in media production: internet videos, livestream, podcasts, and of course - tabletop games.

## What Are We Playing?

Wonders! Heroes of Tomorrow, an adaptation and Hebrew translation of Magpie Games' amazing Masks: a New Generation, with some new systems design to allow your group to create cool and interesting urban environments for your heroes.

In the world of Wonders, people with superpowers were not known to the general public until 10 years ago, after the War of Might exposed them.

## Our Heroes

* **Oron**, the Nova (Telekinesis and Telepathy)

* **Amraphel**, the Janus (Supernatural Senses, Impossible Mobility)

* **The Flying Fist**, the Beacon (Martial Arts, Acrobatics)

* **Seabreeze**, the Outsider (Stunning Beauty, Radical Shapeshifting)

## The Big Picture

Our campaign takes place in southern Israel. During the War of Might, an interdimensional fissure erupted near our city, spawning weird creatures. After the war, the area became an international demilitarised zone and a prison facility, The Bore, was built around it.

In the present day, our team of heroes has rescued a high profile Wonder from an abduction attempt, leading them to discover this was not an isolated case.

## The Next Session

There are two story threads we've been following:

1. An underground superpowered fight club, being held weekly a dance club called Titania. The team visited the place and Amraphel got introduced to the club managers, Rave and Oberon.

2. A mysterious archaeological artefact called the Tablet of Anat, which a young woman named Hexen was searching for in the very building housing the Titania.

That's our show for today. On the next episode, we'll catch up on what happened with the group in our gaming session and we'll discuss how to proceed.

In the meantime, you can catch me on twitter [@icel](https://twitter.com/Icel), check out more about my games on the [Vanor – Games to Amaze](https://fb.com/Vanor.GamesToAmaze/) page, and can join our the [On the Shoulder of Dwarves](https://fb.com/groups/dwarfpodcast/) community group.

## Video Version

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSIUMyEK-Ds

### From the GM's perspective (11:25)

[Personal Plotlines](https://dwarves.podiant.co/e/361e1967b5d5c4/)

### Unexpected transitions (14:20)

With mechanical implementations.

[City of Mist](http://cityofmist.co)

[Dungeon World](http://www.dungeon-world.com/)

[Masks](http://www.magpiegames.com/masks/)

### Zamlofia (20:12)

The moment wasn’t concrete, it was conceptual.

### Our new song (25:55)

By the [Cliches Duo](https://www.facebook.com/klishaot/)!

-----

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

[We have a Patreon page](https://www.patreon.com/dwarfcast), in case you'd like to support us in a monetary fashion.

[Our Facebook group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/dwarfpodcast)

(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/)

### The danger of preparing too little or too much (1:20)

Unless you are a both a very veteran GM and a professional improviser, you should prepare, and even if you are - preparing things will help you raise the level of your game.

### General advice (4:10)

Always be ready to throw everything away at a moment notice.

GM prep is like a battle plan, it rarely survives an encounter with the players.

Done is better than perfect (AKA perfect is the enemy of done).

Prep contributes only a certain percent to the experience. The prep you THINK matters most might not be the best use of your time.

The players don’t know what was planned.

After a game, the GM is usually the only one who remembers their GM ‘mistakes’. Players usually only remember the general experience. So take it easy, eh?

### How Uri prepare (11:00)

Is this a campaign or a one shot?

What is the mechanic? (high crunch or low crunch and GM build vs collaborative build)

Is there a specific meaning/theme/idea I wish to convey?

One-shots are less forgiving since you usually have less time and you can’t extend things.

For mechanics heavy games I try to prepare the mechanical elements, but I try to make life easy for myself with a few cheats:

* Prepare stat blocks with everything pre-generated (stats after boosts etc, many general pre-gen adventures will have these as well).

* I prefer to write the general battle plans before the battle.

* Reskin known monsters. I LOVE trolls and goblins, half of the encounters I ran were with trolls and goblins but they are never actually trolls and goblins. I simply reuse stats and select new reasons for the regeneration.

In collaborative games, like my current Fate Accelerated campaign I prefer to focus less on the plot and in stead focus on creating locations and NPCs. Maybe have a general idea or the barest of plots.

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

[Mistborn Adventure Game](https://www.crafty-games.com/shop/mistborn-adventure-game/)

### Eran’s prep (27:40)

[Lasers and Feelings](http://www.onesevendesign.com/laserfeelings/)

[Dungeon World](http://www.dungeon-world.com/)

[Masks](http://www.magpiegames.com/masks/)

[50 Fathoms](https://www.peginc.com/product-category/50fathoms/)

[The Enemy Within](https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2012/3/1/about-the-enemy-within/)

[Fronts from Dungeon Worlds](https://www.dungeonworldsrd.com/gamemastering/fronts/)

[London Falling](https://www.paulcornell.com/books/novels/london-falling/), by Paul Cornell

[Xcrawl](http://goodman-games.com/xcrawl/)

### Summary (49:50)

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

[We have a Patreon page](https://www.patreon.com/dwarfcast), in case you'd like to support us in a monetary fashion.

[Our Facebook group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/dwarfpodcast)

### Taking the load off

Uri - Author recommendation: [Drew Hayes](http://www.drewhayesnovels.com/)

Eran: [Crystal Heart Kickstarter](http://uptofourplayers.com/crystalheart) coming Nov 20!

-----

(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)

### The simplest solution: cancel the game

We are here to have fun as a group and if the group can’t make it then it’s no fun.

You can play a different one-shot game, switch to board games, watch a movie or go throw rocks at the absent player's house.

One Shot of another game you like to try (may we suggest [Good Society - the Jane Austen RPG](https://storybrewersroleplaying.com/good-society/))

### When do we play and when do we cancel? (2:30)

The “leave no players behind” rule

The “GM + X” rule.

### If you decide to play the game (6:45)

Here are a few things to consider.

What to do with the missing player character:

The character "fades to the background" and we don't acknowledge her unless needed

The character is removed from the game for the duration of this session (sent to some other location on their own mission).

The character is played by the GM as an NPC

The character is shared between the other players

### What to play? Play a different kind of session (13:05)

You can use this opportunity to have a different kind of a session.

Bring in a substitute player/guest NPC

One Shot in the same setting with a different character

A flashback session for the characters whose players are present

A filler session (where no plot advancement is taking place)

### How to keep a player updated on what happened when they were gone? (20:30)

Session recording

Have somewhere in charge of updating the absent player

Session summaries

Weekly questions

Love letter (from [Masks: a New generation] (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/193258/?affiliate_id=29668) )

### What to do when the GM can’t make it? (27:20)

A “campfire session”, when all the players meet and have a gaming session comprised of all character just having an evening of conversation around the campfire. It’s focused on deepening the character’s background and relationships.

### Summary 30:20

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

Aviv: my regular group is now playing Masks, using my own adaptation called “Wonders” that got crowd-funded by the Israeli community. You can read more about the game at our [Obsidian Portal](https://collectingdust.obsidianportal.com/)

Uri: my spouse had a birthday and we played [Good Society - the Jane Austen RPG](https://storybrewersroleplaying.com/good-society/).

### PC names (2:15)

Use another languages.

Nicknames.

Use honorifics and addendum

### NPC names (14:05)

Have a naming theme for each country/ethnicity/cultural group, to allow for familiarity, and help you come up with new names.

"The Captain”, using just a surname, “The Greek”, The Elf.

Have a list ready / random generators

Turn to players

[Cypher System](http://cypher-system.com/)

### Locations & organizations (23:35)

Adjective + noun - Sunken Swamps, Forlorn Hills, Castle of Agony

It’s not Rhubarb, it’s fort Rhubarb, or Robarb-dale or Robarb-vile, or Port Rhubarb or the City of Rhubarb.

### Changing a name (28:45)

[Earthdawn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthdawn)

### Summary (32:32)

### Taking the load off

[MCM Comic Con](https://www.mcmcomiccon.com/london/)

[Crystal Heart Kickstarter](http://uptofourplayers.com/crystalheart) coming on November 20th!

-----

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

[We have a Patreon page](https://www.patreon.com/dwarfcast), in case you'd like to support us in a monetary fashion.

[Our Facebook group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/dwarfpodcast)

(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)

### Aspects of being a cleric (1:45)

What makes a cleric, a cleric?

Social role in society, the conduit between the mortal and the divine.

Personal connection to the divine.

Expected role in a party.

### What’s fun about playing a cleric (7:05)

A cleric is probably somewhere on a personal journey, exploring their connection with the divine.

[Abadar](https://pathfinderwiki.com/wiki/Abadar), from Pathfinder

Having precepts, seeing the world through god-coloured glasses, and finding ways to accommodate or clash with the world.

### Religion as part of the world (12:00)

Is this a common religion? Is this a banned religion? Does this religion clash with other religions?

[Dragonlance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragonlance)

### History of religion (16:05)

### Clerics are not necessarily emissaries of the gods (20:05)

Clerics can gain their access to magic from other sources. Buddhist clerics may get their magic from the great balance, Jedi get theirs from the Force.

[Star Wars RPG](https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/starwarsrpg/)

### Mechanics (23:30)

### Same god, different aspects (28:00)

[Asmodeus](https://pathfinderwiki.com/wiki/Asmodeus)

### Taking the load off

Uri: Krigger van Messer - started as a follower of Asmodeus and is now a follower of both Asmodeus and Abadar. How? Because they’re both all about keeping your word and free exchange of contracts.

Eran: Sick Eran makes for no play, but Crystal Heart starter set is now available [on DrivethruRPG](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/254714/Crystal-Heart-Starter-Set?affiliate_id=29668&src=Dwarves43) as well as [on our own site](https://www.uptofourplayers.com/crystalheart/).

Eran's [Three Suggestions for Bards That Don’t Sing](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/198337/Bards-Who-Dont-Sing?affiliate_id=29668&src=Dwarves43)

-----

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

[We have a Patreon page](https://www.patreon.com/dwarfcast), in case you'd like to support us in a monetary fashion.

[Our Facebook group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/dwarfpodcast)

(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)

> I really like your show, it gave me some really good advice as a GM. Do you plan on doing an episode on "realistic" traps? What I mean is that some of the traps found in dungeons seem really illogical to me. Who resets / reloads them all the time? Why is it worth preparing them? Are there any interesting articles about this topic?

> Regards,

> Peter Adamek

### What’s a trap? (1:20 )

[Pathfinder Adventure Card Game](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamefamily/23234/pathfinder-adventure-card-game)

### Uses for traps (3:20)

### A rationale for having traps in a dungeon (5:20)

[Lethal Legacies: Traps of the World Before](https://drivethrurpg.com/product/2559/Lethal-Legacies-Traps-of-the-World-Before?affiliate_id=29668)

### Maintenance (21:50)

[Spells, Swords and Stealth](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Literature/SpellsSwordsAndStealth)

### Hidden vs obvious (25:12)

### Summary (29:27)

[Book of Challenges](https://www.dmsguild.com/product/3736/Book-of-Challenges-Dungeon-Rooms-Puzzles-and-Traps-3e?affiliate_id=29668)

### Taking the load off (30:50)

Eran: Download the [Crystal Heart Starter Set](https://www.uptofourplayers.com/crystalheart/)!

Uri: “Unsolicited Unwanted & Unhelpful Assistance”

-----

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

[We have a Patreon page](https://www.patreon.com/dwarfcast), in case you'd like to support us in a monetary fashion.

[Our Facebook group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/dwarfpodcast)

(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)

> I want to be able play characters who don’t match my personality.

> Is there a way to play a calculated character, and still propel forward?

> Do you have any tips about playing someone who’s very different from me?

> And even if I can’t play someone who’s completely different, how can I mix it up a little and at least behave somewhat less like myself?

### Why and how to propel (2:10)

[Propelling as a GM](https://dwarves.podiant.co/e/35d6a449eb83ba/)

[Propelling as a player](https://www.uptofourplayers.com/2017/06/propelling-game-forward-weekly-podcast/)

### Propelling in this situation (4:05)

[Express your character in play](https://dwarves.podiant.co/e/35dc2e1458f9c0/)

Strong emotional choices, retroactive justification

### Playing someone different from yourself (8:12)

### Character work (11:20)

1. What is it that our character wants, what are the character’s goal?

2. What is stopping our character from getting it?

3. What are the primary “problem solving method” for the character?

4. Push toward a conflict with what stop you from achieving your goal.

### Players should have goals as well (20:50)

[What are your motivations?](https://dwarves.podiant.co/e/365abc29b5e3c2/)

### Taking the load off

Aviv’s crowdfunding: [Masks in Hebrew](http://icel.me/wonders)!

[Masks](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/193258/Masks-A-New-Generation?affiliate_id=29668)

### What’s good about diseases?

In the real world, nothing. But in the fictional world, they’re good for several reasons.

Long term injuries force a new perspective on the character, who now needs to overcome a difficulty. It's also an unusual type of “damage”, that’s rarely used.

### Levels of afflictions (3:48)

Three levels of afflictions: Until the end of the scene, until the end of the adventure, until you take care of it (if possible)

[Tomb of Annihilation](https://dnd.wizards.com/products/tabletop-games/rpg-products/tomb-annihilation)

### Disease as another resource drainer (5:30)

You now have to spend another X amount of resources to solve this/keep this in check.

### Disease as a timer (10:20)

There is a cure, but the disease will break out in X amount of time. Get the cure or die.

### Disease as an adventure hook (12:10)

You have caught a disease and need to find the blue flower of Flowerinium to get well. The town of Plantsville is plague by the illness of Suddenus-Diamus-No-Plotus and the party need to save the day.

### Disease as a railroading tool (14:22)

“You can’t go to Uncharted-ville, the city is riddled with a plague”.

[Subtle railroading](https://dwarves.podiant.co/e/3686b9a8d8a11c/)

### Illness that changes the character (17:12)

Your experience as an ill person forces you to reflect upon your personality.

[How Uri plays consistent characters](https://dwarves.podiant.co/How-Uri-Plays-Consistent-Chars/)

### Diseases that change you forever (20:08)

You now have a low Constitution score and a persistent caught. You now have Lycanthropy. You are now a half-fungus humanoid.

[Player motivations](https://dwarves.podiant.co/e/365abc29b5e3c2/)

### Tips on using diseases (26:22)

Have a balance. If you take something (left hand), give something (drama potential)

Escalate the situation slowly

Examples of diseases from the [Pathfinder SRD](

https://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering/afflictions/diseases/), and from [reality](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lists_of_diseases).

### What ARE diseases, in your world? (29:06)

[Warhammer Fantasy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warhammer_Fantasy_Roleplay)

[Ars Magica](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica)

### Non-physical afflictions (31:40)

[Non-combat conflicts](https://dwarves.podiant.co/e/369746eafbd670/)

### Taking the load off (35:30)

Eran: [Thornwatch](https://store.penny-arcade.com/products/thornwatch-eyrewood-adventures)

Uri: [Fate universe](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Franchise/Nasuverse).

-----

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

[We have a Patreon page](https://www.patreon.com/dwarfcast), in case you'd like to support us in a monetary fashion.

[Our Facebook group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/dwarfpodcast)

(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)

### What’s good about diseases?

In the real world, nothing. But in the fictional world, they’re good for several reasons.

Long term injuries force a new perspective on the character, who now needs to overcome a difficulty. It's also an unusual type of “damage”, that’s rarely used.

### Levels of afflictions (3:48)

Three levels of afflictions: Until the end of the scene, until the end of the adventure, until you take care of it (if possible)

[Tomb of Annihilation](https://dnd.wizards.com/products/tabletop-games/rpg-products/tomb-annihilation)

### Disease as another resource drainer (5:30)

You now have to spend another X amount of resources to solve this/keep this in check.

### Disease as a timer (10:20)

There is a cure, but the disease will break out in X amount of time. Get the cure or die.

### Disease as an adventure hook (12:10)

You have caught a disease and need to find the blue flower of Flowerinium to get well. The town of Plantsville is plague by the illness of Suddenus-Diamus-No-Plotus and the party need to save the day.

### Disease as a railroading tool (14:22)

“You can’t go to Uncharted-ville, the city is riddled with a plague”.

[Subtle railroading](https://dwarves.podiant.co/e/3686b9a8d8a11c/)

### Illness that changes the character (17:12)

Your experience as an ill person forces you to reflect upon your personality.

[How Uri plays consistent characters](https://dwarves.podiant.co/How-Uri-Plays-Consistent-Chars/)

### Diseases that change you forever (20:08)

You now have a low Constitution score and a persistent caught. You now have Lycanthropy. You are now a half-fungus humanoid.

[Player motivations](https://dwarves.podiant.co/e/365abc29b5e3c2/)

### Tips on using diseases (26:22)

Have a balance. If you take something (left hand), give something (drama potential)

Escalate the situation slowly

Examples of diseases from the [Pathfinder SRD](

https://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering/afflictions/diseases/), and from [reality](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lists_of_diseases).

### What ARE diseases, in your world? (29:06)

[Warhammer Fantasy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warhammer_Fantasy_Roleplay)

[Ars Magica](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica)

### Non-physical afflictions (31:40)

[Non-combat conflicts](https://dwarves.podiant.co/e/369746eafbd670/)

### Taking the load off (35:30)

Eran: [Thornwatch](https://store.penny-arcade.com/products/thornwatch-eyrewood-adventures)

Uri: [Fate universe](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Franchise/Nasuverse).

-----

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

[We have a Patreon page](https://www.patreon.com/dwarfcast), in case you'd like to support us in a monetary fashion.

[Our Facebook group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/dwarfpodcast)

(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)