Thinking Critically: A D&D Discussion

Thinking Critically: A D&D Discussion

By Danilo VujevicLeisureHobbies
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Thinking Critically: A D&D Discussion episodes

  • More Live

    Charity Donation Page: https://justgiving.com/fundraising/sl-gameon23

    Charity Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/thinkcritdnd

    This episode was recorded live at the RPGaming Faversham event on 18th March 2023, organised by Boys from the Baltic Star. The first half was recorded with The Keeper of our Cult of Cthulhu TTRPG session moments before starting, while the second half catches us as we recover from the horrors we experienced.

    • 05:21 - Pre-game Intros and Explanations
    • 11:16 - Post-game Therapy

      • Find Steve at:

      • Broadside Game Show: https://www.miltonhundred.com/broadside

        • Find Thinking Critically online:

        • Website: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk
        • Socials: @ThinkCritDnD
        • Dungeons, Dice, & Dudes: https://linktr.ee/DDandD

          • References:

          • Call of Cthulhu by Chaosium: https://www.chaosium.com/call-of-cthulhu-getting-started/
          • Dice & Destiny: https://diceanddestiny.co.uk/
          • Dead Light: https://www.chaosium.com/dead-light-and-other-dark-turns-pdf/
          • 'Integrity' episode of Thinking Critically: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk/integrity/
          • 'Experience' episode of Thinking Critically: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk/experience/

            • Patrons:

            • Tabletop Journeys @ttjourneys: https://ttjourneys.com/
            • Joe from The Fourth Leg @jcd0818: https://anchor.fm/james-h-anderson
            • Optional Rule @optionalrule: https://www.optionalrule.com/
            • Matthew Perkins @heyitsMattyP: https://www.matthewperkins.net/
            • Matt Street @mpstreet88: https://www.virtualtimehustle.com/

              • Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
              Transition Music: 'Digital City Lights Loop' from the Anime Attack Pack 01 by Aaron Richards Audio
              Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod

              Podcast art by Lily from https://www.beiworkshop.com/

              30 min
            • Mystery

              *Minor Outer Wilds spoilers in this episode*

              I'm joined by Michael K. Ross from The RPG Academy to talk how to design enthralling and fair mysteries, puzzles, and enigmas.

              Action 12 Cinema Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/therpgacademy/action-12-cinema

              12-Hour Charity Stream for Naomi House: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sl-gameon23

              • 04:24 - There’s Been a Murder!
              • 12:54 - Crafting Rewarding Mysteries
              • 29:53 - Implicit Trust and the Beauty of Experimentation
              • 45:35 - Building a Thematic Setting
              • 55:33 - Quickfire Tips

                • Find Michael on:

                • Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheRpgAcademy
                • Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/therpgacademy/action-12-cinema
                • Website: www.therpgacademy.com
                • AcadeCon: http://www.acadecon.com/

                  • Find Thinking Critically online:

                  • Website: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk
                  • Socials: @ThinkCritDnD
                  • Dungeons, Dice, & Dudes: https://linktr.ee/DDandD

                    • References:

                    • GUMSHOE: https://pelgranepress.com/2018/02/14/gumshoe/
                    • Brindlewood bay: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/410316/Brindlewood-Bay-Kickstarter-Edition

                      • Patrons:

                      • Tabletop Journeys @ttjourneys: https://ttjourneys.com/
                      • Joe from The Fourth Leg @jcd0818: https://anchor.fm/james-h-anderson
                      • Optional Rule @optionalrule: https://www.optionalrule.com/
                      • Matthew Perkins @heyitsMattyP: https://www.matthewperkins.net/
                      • Matt Street @mpstreet88: https://www.virtualtimehustle.com/

                        • Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod

                        Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
                        Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod

                        Podcast art by Lily from https://www.beiworkshop.com/

                        1 hr 12 min
                      • Integrity

                        CW: Slavery

                        I'm joined by Ben, Ewan, and Luke from the Boys from the Baltic Star Traveller stream to discuss some of the many different definitions of integrity in TTRPGs. Nothing is off the table as we share tips on building memorable heroes and villains with strong identities in logically consistent settings, along with the meta-topic of how to stay true to oneself in the competitive and ever changing content creation market. Apologies for the technical difficulties in this one, leaving us with just Ben!

                        • 03:30 - Being Honest with the Game
                        • 17:52 - The Nature of Evil & The Villainy Scale
                        • 40:39 - Logical Internal Consistency
                        • 52:19 - Staying True to Yourself

                          • RPGaming Faversham 2023

                          https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rpgaming-faversham-2023-tickets-472241295427

                          Find The Boys on:

                          • Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/boysfromthebalticstar
                          • Twitter: https://twitter.com/BoysBaltic
                          • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@boysfromthebalticstar1656

                            • Find Thinking Critically online:

                            • Website: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk
                            • Socials: @ThinkCritDnD
                            • Dungeons, Dice, & Dudes: https://linktr.ee/DDandD

                              • References:

                              • 'Fudging' episode of Thinking Critically

                                • Patrons:

                                • Tabletop Journeys @ttjourneys: https://ttjourneys.com/
                                • Joe from The Fourth Leg @jcd0818: https://anchor.fm/james-h-anderson
                                • Optional Rule @optionalrule: https://www.optionalrule.com/
                                • Matthew Perkins @heyitsMattyP: https://www.matthewperkins.net/
                                • Matt Street @mpstreet88: https://www.virtualtimehustle.com/

                                  • Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod

                                  Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
                                  Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod

                                  Podcast art by Lily from https://www.beiworkshop.com/

                                  1 hr 5 min
                                • Adventure

                                  “I found them all. I won."

                                  Finally, I welcome George from our 'Dungeons, Dice, and Dudes' actual play podcast to discuss how to build adventures, and why it's important to define one. No matter if you're top-down or bottom-up, there always needs to be that call to adventure, a catalyst, and the form that takes can drastically alter the theme and direction of a campaign. Giving your players that Elden Ring moment is all about the "scale in detail"; having a wide enough pond to splash around in with just enough depth to make it worthwhile.

                                  • 03:48 - The 'Breath of the Wild' Moment
                                  • 14:40 - Call to Adventure
                                  • 25:47 - Worldbuilding
                                  • 40:49 - Character Motivations
                                  • 51:01 - Fighting DM Anxiety

                                    • Find George on Dungeons, Dice, and Dudes: https://linktr.ee/DDandD

                                    Find Thinking Critically online:

                                    • Website: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk
                                    • Socials: @ThinkCritDnD

                                      • References:

                                      • 'Conflict' episode of Thinking Critically with Rob (Ulysses)
                                      • 'Time' episode of Thinking Critically with Tim (Ulrik)
                                      • 'Macro' episode of Thinking Critically with Nathan (DM)
                                      • 'Happiness' episode of Thinking Critically with Simon (Owain)

                                        • Patrons:

                                        • Tabletop Journeys @ttjourneys: https://ttjourneys.com/
                                        • Joe from The Fourth Leg @jcd0818: https://anchor.fm/james-h-anderson
                                        • Optional Rule @optionalrule: https://www.optionalrule.com/
                                        • Matthew Perkins @heyitsMattyP: https://www.matthewperkins.net/
                                        • Matt Street @mpstreet88: https://www.virtualtimehustle.com/

                                          • Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod

                                          Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
                                          Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod

                                          Podcast art by Lily from https://www.beiworkshop.com/

                                          1 hr 5 min
                                        • Worldbuilding

                                          This episode I'm joined by Harlen Ogni, DM of previous guest Aaron's Games and prolific worldbuilder, with a staggering 250,000 words on World Anvil! Harlen joins me to to chat about our approaches to worldbuilding and what drives us to put pen to paper.

                                          • 02:52 - Catharsis
                                          • 13:22 - Letting Go of Your World
                                          • 31:34 - Environmental Storytelling
                                          • 46:03 - Of Gods and Kings

                                            • Find Harlen on Twitter: https://twitter.com/OgniHarlen

                                            Find Thinking Critically online:

                                            • Website: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk
                                            • Socials: @ThinkCritDnD
                                            • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThinkCritDnD
                                            • Dungeons, Dice, & Dudes: https://linktr.ee/DDandD

                                              • References:

                                              • World Anvil worldbuilding tools
                                              • 'Chaos' episode of Thinking Critically

                                                • Patrons:

                                                • Joe from The Fourth Leg @jcd0818: https://anchor.fm/james-h-anderson
                                                • Optional Rule @optionalrule: https://www.optionalrule.com/
                                                • Matthew Perkins @mperkinsDM: https://www.matthewperkins.net/
                                                • Matt Street @mpstreet88: https://www.virtualtimehustle.com/

                                                  • Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod

                                                  Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
                                                  Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod

                                                  Podcast art by Lily from https://www.beiworkshop.com/

                                                  59 min
                                                • OGL

                                                  The sky is falling! It's my pleasure to welcome back Matthew Perkins to discuss this months HOT TOPIC: the "leaked" snippets of the alleged OGL 1.1. Disclosure: this episode was recorded on 7th January, we are not lawyer or legal experts, and neither of us have any official affiliation with WotC or Hasbro, nor any familial connection to Christopher Perkins! Through that lens we take a satirical but earnest look at the alleged OGL 1.1, what it means for each of us and the future of the hobby, while trying to avoid the overwhelming doom and gloom.

                                                  • 06:41 - Ownership Troubles & The Squeeze
                                                  • 20:20- Tinfoil Hat Retroactive Action
                                                  • 31:13 - The Money Men
                                                  • 40:02 - Critical RoGL
                                                  • 50:08 - Sentimental Copyrights
                                                  • 01:05:35 - Looking Forward

                                                    • Find Matty P on:

                                                    • Website: https://www.matthewperkins.net
                                                    • Twitter: https://twitter.com/heyitsMattyP
                                                    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyitsMattyP/
                                                    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heyitsMattyP/
                                                    • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heyitsMattyP
                                                    • TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heyitsmattyp
                                                    • Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/heyitsMattyP

                                                      • Find Thinking Critically online: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk

                                                      Dungeons, Dice, & Dudes twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/ddndpod

                                                      Citations & Further Reading:

                                                      • Gizmodo Article "Dungeons & Dragons’ New License Tightens Its Grip on Competition": https://gizmodo.com/dnd-wizards-of-the-coast-ogl-1-1-open-gaming-license-1849950634
                                                      • Treantmonk's Temple "The OGL 1.1 is not "benign" at all it appears: D&D 5e": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTDDNJN5SvM
                                                      • The Arcane Library "The OGL and Me: What Will Happen Now?": https://youtu.be/ewTIS3fHOK0
                                                      • 'Pressure' episode of Thinking Critically: 

                                                        • Patrons:

                                                        • Joe from The Fourth Leg @jcd0818: https://anchor.fm/james-h-anderson
                                                        • Optional Rule @optionalrule: https://www.optionalrule.com/
                                                        • Matthew Perkins @mperkinsDM: https://www.matthewperkins.net/
                                                        • Matt Street @mpstreet88: https://www.virtualtimehustle.com/

                                                          • Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod

                                                          Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
                                                          Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod

                                                          1 hr 19 min
                                                        • Spells

                                                          This mystical episode I'm joined by Jack Weighill of Dice Average RPG to discuss the minutia of the magical. The way WOTC have designed spells is an interesting insight into how they view D&D and how they suggest it should be played. Jack takes us through the best and worst spells, with some interesting surprises that you might not have thought of!

                                                          • 02:32 - Viewing D&D Through the Lens of Spell Design
                                                          • 08:10 - Why Healing is Wasteful
                                                          • 21:58 - Avoid these Spells!
                                                          • 29:13 - Subclass &Tier Considerations
                                                          • 29:16 - DM Agency & OP Spells
                                                          • 43:24 - Completely Busted Spells

                                                            • Find Jack on:

                                                            • Twitter: https://twitter.com/diceaveragejack
                                                            • Website: https://diceaveragerpg.carrd.co/
                                                            • GOLEM: https://www.dmsguild.com/product/414871/GOLEM--5e-Constructs-Reimagined?src=ThinkingCritically&affiliate_id=1352327
                                                            • d'Avenir's Pocketbook to Ravenloft: https://www.dmsguild.com/product/413389/dAvenirs-Pocketbook-to-Ravenloft?src=ThinkingCritically&affiliate_id=1352327
                                                            • Drizzt's Travelogue of Everything: https://www.dmsguild.com/product/399285/Drizzts-Travelogue-of-Everything-Volume-1-PDF?src=ThinkingCritically&affiliate_id=1352327

                                                              • Find Thinking Critically online: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk

                                                              Patrons:

                                                              • Joe from The Fourth Leg @jcd0818: https://anchor.fm/james-h-anderson
                                                              • Optional Rule @optionalrule: https://www.optionalrule.com/
                                                              • Matthew Perkins @mperkinsDM: https://www.matthewperkins.net/
                                                              • Matt Street @mpstreet88: https://www.virtualtimehustle.com/

                                                                • Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod

                                                                Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
                                                                Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod

                                                                1 hr 7 min
                                                              • Variety

                                                                This episode I'm joined by Ty Moore from Adventure Slang productions to talk about variety and diversity in TTRPGs. We discuss how having an open mind and trying different systems affects not only your approach to playing TTRPGSs, but also the lens through which you view them. 

                                                                • 02:22 - Diversity Aided Design
                                                                • 06:15 - Different Approaches to TTRPGs
                                                                • 15:02 - Nuovarden - Non-Medieval Fantasy
                                                                • 23:06 - Maintaining Diversity and Balance
                                                                • 31:09 - Avoiding Misalignment Under the Guise of Variety
                                                                • 42:14 - Game Design Through a Different Lens

                                                                  • Find Ty on:

                                                                  • Twitter: https://twitter.com/dungeonmisterty and https://twitter.com/AdventureSlang
                                                                  • Website: https://adventureslang.com/
                                                                  • Nuovarden: https://adventureslang.com/nuovarden-rpg
                                                                  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gaming/AdventureSlang

                                                                    • Find Thinking Critically online: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk

                                                                    Video Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH_BSgazjwyshzo1jazHeaQ

                                                                    Patrons:

                                                                    • Joe from The Fourth Leg @jcd0818: https://anchor.fm/james-h-anderson
                                                                    • Optional Rule @optionalrule: https://www.optionalrule.com/
                                                                    • Matthew Perkins @mperkinsDM: https://www.matthewperkins.net/
                                                                    • Matt Street @mpstreet88: https://www.virtualtimehustle.com/

                                                                      • Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod

                                                                      Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
                                                                      Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod

                                                                      56 min
                                                                    • More Community

                                                                      This very special episode I'm joined by Greg Tito and Shelly Mazzanoble, hosts and producers of the official Dungeons & Dragons podcast: Dragon Talk! They take us through how recording their podcast and writing their new book, Welcome to Dragon Talk, has shaped their D&D experience and shown them all the wonderful ways we interact as a community!

                                                                      • 03:16 - D&D Community Archetypes
                                                                      • 15:18 - Surprising Applications
                                                                      • 25:08 - Complex Systems
                                                                      • 32:39 - Lowering the Barrier to Entry
                                                                      • 47:38 - Online Communities

                                                                        • Find Greg and Shelly on:

                                                                        • Greg's Twitter: https://twitter.com/Gregtito
                                                                        • Shelly's Twitter: https://twitter.com/shellymoo
                                                                        • Dragon Talk podcast: https://dnd.wizards.com/podcasts/dragon-talk
                                                                        • Welcome to Dragon Talk book: https://uipress.uiowa.edu/books/welcome-dragon-talk

                                                                          • Find Thinking Critically online: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk

                                                                          References:

                                                                          • Lucas Zellers: https://scintilla.studio/
                                                                          • 'Monster' episode of Thinking Critically
                                                                          • 'Extinction' episode of Thinking Critically

                                                                            • Patrons:

                                                                            • Joe from The Fourth Leg @jcd0818: https://anchor.fm/james-h-anderson
                                                                            • Optional Rule @optionalrule: https://www.optionalrule.com/
                                                                            • Matthew Perkins @mperkinsDM: https://www.matthewperkins.net/
                                                                            • Matt Street @mpstreet88: https://www.virtualtimehustle.com/

                                                                              • Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod

                                                                              Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
                                                                              Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod

                                                                              1 hr 2 min
                                                                            • Branding

                                                                              Part 3 in our Marketing for TTRPG Creators Series

                                                                              Webinar sign up: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScjBv3TgGVtqTdIfU3az6Izhw-p0_QlIf_Z5fW2iYBIWEw7zw/viewform

                                                                              Zack from Applewhite Games returns to the show to discuss the value of 'the person behind the logo' and how everything you do affects your reputation.

                                                                              • 03:08 - How Branding Differs from Marketing
                                                                              • 10:42 - The Silver Bullet of Good Branding
                                                                              • 18:53 - You the Brand Versus You the Person
                                                                              • 32:10 - Fear of Failure
                                                                              • 38:48 - The Logo Game
                                                                              • 46:48 - Etymology

                                                                                • Find Zack on:

                                                                                • Twitter: https://twitter.com/ApplewhiteGames
                                                                                • Applewhite games: https://linktr.ee/ApplewhiteGames

                                                                                  • Find Thinking Critically online: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk

                                                                                  References:

                                                                                  • Part 1: 'Marketing' episode of Thinking Critically
                                                                                  • Part 2: 'Kickstarter' episode of Thinking Critically
                                                                                  • Hawkmir on Twitter

                                                                                    • Patrons:

                                                                                    • Joe from The Fourth Leg @jcd0818: https://anchor.fm/james-h-anderson
                                                                                    • Optional Rule @optionalrule: https://www.optionalrule.com/
                                                                                    • Matthew Perkins @mperkinsDM: https://www.matthewperkins.net/
                                                                                    • Matt Street @mpstreet88: https://www.virtualtimehustle.com/

                                                                                      • Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod

                                                                                      Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
                                                                                      Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod

                                                                                      1 hr 4 min

                                                                                    About Thinking Critically: A D&D Discussion

                                                                                    From the publisher's feed

                                                                                    A discussion show with different guests each episode. We take a single concept or idea and discuss what that means within the D&D framework to help you get the most out your sessions, whatever side of the screen you sit on. Consider it an NPR-style, variety bucket of thought-provoking analysis and humorous anecdotes!