This episode I'm joined by Nikki from Beholder to No One, the award winning TTRPG podcast featuring discussions and one-shots. Broadly this episode can be summed up as "how random elements affect gameplay", however as we quickly find out that's a much deeper and multifaceted discussion. For example, even character generation (standard array versus rolling) can dramatically affect the theming of a character and how you approach role play. It's often considered that to embrace randomness, one must relinquish control, but Nikki and I discuss how this isn't always the case in Dungeons & Dragons, and despite D20s ostensibly "dictating" everything, the DM still has control. We propose a number of interesting discussions, such how the game is in a constant tug-of-war with itself: player agency is undoubtedly critically important, but the outcomes of their decisions are inherently unknown. Furthermore, how can we collaborate on a compelling story when the dice sit primed and ready to undermine our actions?

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Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod