Tabletop Tune Up

Running a game with a large table can feel like wrangling a small army—but it can also be hugely rewarding if you know how to manage the challenges. In this episode, Mark and Ben talk about the hurdles that come with oversized groups: scheduling nightmares, spotlight imbalance, scaling encounters, and keeping everyone engaged. From coaching player discipline to clever encounter design, we’ll share tips for keeping the game moving, making sure quieter voices don’t get lost, and balancing the chaos of extra characters. Plus, we’ll talk about the surprising benefits—like bigger stories, wild synergies, and the joy of bringing all your friends to the same table.

This week Mark and Ben talk about mass combat--those great battles that decide the fates of great powers and make great stories memorable. We'll discuss methods to keep your focus on the player characters as well as interesting intersections with war games that let players play out grand strategies at scale. Although mass combat encounters can be complex, you can make it easier by abstracting the action into manageable sub-encounters, boss fights, or even meta-currencies that let your players feel like they're playing an important role in the chaos of battle. Join us for a discussion of one of the most challenging and rewarding kinds of encounters you can bring your players.

Join us for our 50th episode! In this episode, Mark and Ben reflect on the lessons and highlights of the Tabletop Tune Up podcast, and look ahead to new topics and games to be covered in upcoming episodes. If you're a new listener, you'll get a sense of what our GMing podcast is about, and if you're a longtime listener, we hope you'll enjoy our reflections on some of the episodes we've created for you. Here's to another 50!

This week it's another RPG review of the Broken Compass and Outgunned games from Two Little Mice. If you're someone who left every great action movie thinking "I want to play that RPG!" then this game is probably for you. Broken Compass and its refined descendent, Outgunned, are cinematic action games that focus on fast-paced, cinematic action. The mechanics are simple, which means they're fast, and the less you try to "win" as opposed to playing out a great cinematic scene, the more fun you'll have. We had a lot of fun with this game and we recommend giving it a try.

In this episode of Tabletop Tune Up, Mark and Ben talk about player-crafted items. Crafting is a part of many RPGs, but it's not often discussed in relation to the party's advancement or storytelling. This week we discuss a number of factors to think about when considering what kinds of items your players might craft. We consider the inputs necessary (time and materials) and how that can generate great stories, and we also talk about how to strike a balance between items that are overpowered (and unbalancing for your game) or underpowered (and hence not worth players' putting in the work). Join us for a fascinating conversation about how crafting can make your game richer and more engaging for your players' craftspeople.

What makes a good player character backstory? This week we discuss the ways backstory can open up new story possibilities and begin character journeys through your campaign. Backstories are about balancing the need for hooks that bring characters into the narrative with mysteries that are left open for the GM to build on with new surprises in the length of the campaign. Join us for a helpful discussion of the art of the player character background!

In this episode, Mark and Ben talk about Traveller. Its a system whose origins lie in the fateful summer of 1977 when another huge science fiction release (Star Wars) ensured it would gain instant traction with people hungry to embrace the stars. After several iterations, today's line of books is published by Mongoose publishing with great art, lots of technical details, and a wide range of adventures and sourcebooks. So, join us for a review of the highs and the lows, and if you've got a group of science-fiction enthusiasts at your table, we might be able to help you figure out if you want to give Traveller a try.

This week we conclude our two-part interview with Bob Gerard, GM, player, Storyteller, Pinballer, and Star Wars fan. We talk about all those things and how they contribute to making you a better GM. Whether you're bringing Star Wars to life with the Hero's Journey or you're replenishing your creativity, Bob's got some great ideas to share with you. We hope you'll enjoy this concluding interview episode. If you haven't heard the first part, it's worth going back instead of picking up in the middle, and if you haven't checked out Bob's podcast, we recommend you give Short for a Stormtrooper a try.

In this interview episode, Mark and Ben welcome their friend Bob Gerard, a podcaster, Star Wars superfan, storyteller, learning expert, and of course, a fellow GM. We ask Bob about his early experiences with role playing games, his thoughts on storytelling, and what it's like to visit Tokyo for the latest Star Wars Celebration. Our conversation with Bob ranged all over and we had to cut it into two parts, so tune in for part 1 this week and check out Bob's podcast Short for a Stormtrooper to get some great Star Wars discussion and exciting interviews.

This week we interview our friend Brandon Holland, a fellow old school GM who shares with us his insights on the importance of box text, early RPG influences, and the emergent magic of shared storytelling with great players. Join us for a discussion at the GM's table where we're all still learning how to do this unique role well.