EPISODE SUMMARY

James is joined by Taylor Moore in a discussion about the formation of the Kickstarter workers union and how one organize a union, the appeal of audio as an art form, the relationship between the actual play performer and editor, as well as a peak into the behind the scenes of Worlds Beyond Number. In the worldbuilding half of the episode, they create a saint in a pheromone based hive mind society.

SHOW NOTES

⁠Taylor Moore is the founder and creative director of Fortunate Horse. He is also the producer and primary sound designer and composer for Worlds Beyond Number.

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The Ultimate RPG Podcast is a production of the One Shot Podcast Network, with permission from Adams Media. The podcast is hosted by James D'Amato and is edited by Shaghik Mané. Music for the podcast is Venturing, by Reveille, courtesy of ⁠⁠⁠⁠Soundstripe⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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EPISODE SUMMARY

James is joined by Sharang Biswas in a discussion about what defines a game designer, teaching game design, as well as the role and influence of sexuality in his games. In the worldbuilding half of the episode, James and Sharang created a healing institution founded by ghosts, a faction of militant vegan dragon riders, and their worst enemies — the cheese makers.

SHOW NOTES

Sharang Biswas is a designer and writer of tabletop role-playing games and interactive media, a writer of speculative fiction, an adjunct professor of game studies at NYU Game Center, and a freelance games journalist. Biswas has won multiple awards for his game writing work as both a solo designer and a collaborator.

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⁠⁠⁠Check Out the Ultimate RPG Line of Books and Products!⁠⁠⁠

-----------------------------------------

The Ultimate RPG Podcast is a production of the One Shot Podcast Network, with permission from Adams Media. The podcast is hosted by James D'Amato and is edited by Shaghik Mané. Music for the podcast is Venturing, by Reveille, courtesy of ⁠⁠⁠Soundstripe⁠⁠⁠.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EPISODE SUMMARY

James is joined by Gannon Reedy in a discussion about time constraints in actual play, especially when it comes to combat. They also talk about visualizing actual play as the GM, how Gutter became a horror podcast and Gannon's approach to making horror actually scary. In the worldbuilding half of the episode, they create an inscrutable god whose whims are impossible to predict, let alone please.

SHOW NOTES

Gannon Reedy is a visual artist and one fourth of Gutter, a horror comedy podcast. He was also the GM of Neoscum.

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⁠⁠Check Out the Ultimate RPG Line of Books and Products!⁠⁠

-----------------------------------------

The Ultimate RPG Podcast is a production of the One Shot Podcast Network, with permission from Adams Media. The podcast is hosted by James D'Amato and is edited by Shaghik Mané. Music for the podcast is Venturing, by Reveille, courtesy of ⁠⁠Soundstripe⁠⁠.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EPISODE SUMMARY

James is joined by Aram Vartian in a discussion about setting professional standards for yourself, the future of TTRPG publishing, the power of collaboration and how it has influenced his work. They also talked about Aram's upcoming projects including Dragon Age: In Darkness Eternal. In the worldbuilding half of the episode, James and Aram create an outer space human civilization with moral AI gods, the discovery of magic, and how it changed everything.

SHOW NOTES

Aram Vartian is a photographer, designer, writer, and long time podcast producer. Aram co-founded Dead Ghost Productions co-produces Kill Every Monster. Watch the trailer for his upcoming show Dragon Age In Darkness Eternal here.

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⁠Check Out the Ultimate RPG Line of Books and Products!⁠

-----------------------------------------

The Ultimate RPG Podcast is a production of the One Shot Podcast Network, with permission from Adams Media. The podcast is hosted by James D'Amato and is edited by Shaghik Mané. Music for the podcast is Venturing, by Reveille, courtesy of ⁠Soundstripe⁠.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EPISODE SUMMARY

James is joined by Dr. Emily Friedman in a discussion about the unique challenges of studying actual play, "the ambitious middle," the overreliance on digitization as preservation, as well as the responsibility of reviewing actual play and its obstacles. In the worldbuilding half of the episode, James and Dr. Friedman create a punk world that answers the question "What if Rococo got covered in ash?"

SHOW NOTES

Dr. Emily Friedman is a scholar, critic, and a tenured associate professor of English. She is also a leader in the study of TTRPG Actual Play and is currently writing her next book "How Stories are Played: How Actual Play Performances Reimagine Creative Ownership, Authenticity, and Genre."

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Check Out the Ultimate RPG Line of Books and Products!

-----------------------------------------

The Ultimate RPG Podcast is a production of the One Shot Podcast Network, with permission from Adams Media. The podcast is hosted by James D'Amato and is edited by Shaghik. Music for the podcast is Venturing, by Reveille, courtesy of Soundstripe.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EPISODE SUMMARY

James is joined by Sam Leigh in a discussion about their inspirations, what tarot can bring to TTRPGs, how they approach reviewing games, the future of their videos, and more. In the worldbuilding half of the episode, James and Sam create a horror corporation that hides its true actions behind friendly little mascots.

SHOW NOTES

Sam Leigh is an award-winning tabletop game designer and the owner of Blinking Birch Games. Other than designing their own games, Sam also writes and edits for other TTRPGs, records voice-overs, and creates videos on indie TTRPGs.

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Check Out the Ultimate RPG Line of Books and Products!

-----------------------------------------

The Ultimate RPG Podcast is a production of the One Shot Podcast Network, with permission from Adams Media. The podcast is hosted by James D'Amato and is edited by Shaghik. Music for the podcast is Venturing, by Reveille, courtesy of Soundstripe.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EPISODE SUMMARY

James is joined by Kienna Shaw in a discussion about the draw of solo and duet TTRPGs for them and whether the inability to be present for solo games changes how they design their games. Kienna also discusses their strengths and weaknesses as a designer and the biggest difference working on videogames vs TTRPGs has been, in their experience. In the worldbuilding half of the episode, James and Kienna create an abandoned prison turned abandoned circus turned horror game setting.

SHOW NOTES

Kienna Shaw is a game writer and narrative designer for TTRPGs and video games. They are also one of the co-curators of the award winning TTRPG Safety Toolkit. You can also find Blood on my Name, the game Kienna is currently crowdfunding, here.

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Check Out the Ultimate RPG Line of Books and Products!

-----------------------------------------

The Ultimate RPG Podcast is a production of the One Shot Podcast Network, with permission from Adams Media. The podcast is hosted by James D'Amato and is edited by Shaghik. Music for the podcast is Venturing, by Reveille, courtesy of Soundstripe.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EPISODE SUMMARY

James is joined by Jeff Stormer in a discussion about Jeff's evolving sense of what "Party of One" is, the evolving perceptions of what actual play should be, and the possible negative side effects of that. They also talk about what WebFests mean to Jeff as an artist. In the second half of the episode they create a superhero with reality warping powers and a moral code made of steel.

SHOW NOTES

Jeff Stormer is an award-winning podcaster, author, marketing content writer, and game designer. You can buy his book, The Ultimate Fantasy Character Creator, here.

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Check Out the Ultimate RPG Line of Books and Products!

-----------------------------------------

The Ultimate RPG Podcast is a production of the One Shot Podcast Network, with permission from Adams Media. The podcast is hosted by James D'Amato and is edited by Shaghik. Music for the podcast is Venturing, by Reveille, courtesy of Soundstripe.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EPISODE SUMMARY

James is joined by Viditya Voleti in a discussion about the benefits of leaving games unfinished and the decision making process behind prioritizing projects, choosing which games to publish, and how to price them. They also discuss the differences in designing a game when you're envisioning it as a physical vs digital product. In the second half of the episode, James and Viditya create a sunken cyberpunk city in a post-climate-crisis dystopian world.

SHOW NOTES

Viditya Voleti is an award winning game designer, interactive artist, and educator. You can presave his upcoming worldbuilding game "A Land Once Magic" here.

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Check Out the Ultimate RPG Line of Books and Products!

-----------------------------------------

The Ultimate RPG Podcast is a production of the One Shot Podcast Network, with permission from Adams Media. The podcast is hosted by James D'Amato and is edited by Shaghik. Music for the podcast is Venturing, by Reveille, courtesy of Soundstripe.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EPISODE SUMMARY

James is joined by Sean Foer in a discussion around the magic of introducing children and other beginners to the boundless creativity of TTRPGs, common mistakes game designers make, and his upcoming adventure module for Perils and Princesses called "Secret of the Night Market." In the second half of the episode, James and Sean create a sci-fi murder mystery!

SHOW NOTES

Sean Foer is a professional Game Master, consultant, and Tiktok creator, as well as a game designer and editor. You can book a game with him here.

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Check Out the Ultimate RPG Line of Books and Products!

-----------------------------------------

The Ultimate RPG Podcast is a production of the One Shot Podcast Network, with permission from Adams Media. The podcast is hosted by James D'Amato and is edited by Shaghik. Music for the podcast is Venturing, by Reveille, courtesy of Soundstripe.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices