7th Level Bardcast is a podcast of shared narrative. Three fellow Tabletop gamers have come together to offer their insight into the knowledge they have gained from their gaming experience. Often this rises from the exploration into storytelling with a narrative angle and immersion into player outlook.
Mikel Smothermon, Jaryd Jacobs, Jason Hicks
Music:The Villain Unveiled by Brendan ChristieLink to our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/7thlevelbardcast
Link to our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/7thlevelbardcastRPG a Day Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/RPGaDAY/?ref=page_internalAutocratik Homepage:https://www.autocratik.com/?fbclid=IwAR33I7tf3YuTnFRhJiYXVAdhBw2c42r9nVBJ6TiMHYH8-9DVtnOem-MrTZI Cherry Metal by Arthur Vyncke | https://soundcloud.com/arthurvostMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unportedhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US
Link to our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/7thlevelbardcastRPG a Day Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/RPGaDAY/?ref=page_internalAutocratik Homepage:https://www.autocratik.com/?fbclid=IwAR33I7tf3YuTnFRhJiYXVAdhBw2c42r9nVBJ6TiMHYH8-9DVtnOem-MrTZI Cherry Metal by Arthur Vyncke | https://soundcloud.com/arthurvostMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unportedhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US
Link to our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/7thlevelbardcastRPG a Day Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/RPGaDAY/?ref=page_internalAutocratik Homepage:https://www.autocratik.com/?fbclid=IwAR33I7tf3YuTnFRhJiYXVAdhBw2c42r9nVBJ6TiMHYH8-9DVtnOem-MrTZI Cherry Metal by Arthur Vyncke | https://soundcloud.com/arthurvostMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unportedhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US
Link to our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/7thlevelbardcastRPG a Day Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/RPGaDAY/?ref=page_internalAutocratik Homepage:https://www.autocratik.com/?fbclid=IwAR33I7tf3YuTnFRhJiYXVAdhBw2c42r9nVBJ6TiMHYH8-9DVtnOem-MrTZI Cherry Metal by Arthur Vyncke | https://soundcloud.com/arthurvostMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unportedhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US
Link to our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/7thlevelbardcastRPG a Day Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/RPGaDAY/?ref=page_internalAutocratik Homepage:https://www.autocratik.com/?fbclid=IwAR33I7tf3YuTnFRhJiYXVAdhBw2c42r9nVBJ6TiMHYH8-9DVtnOem-MrTZI Cherry Metal by Arthur Vyncke | https://soundcloud.com/arthurvostMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unportedhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US
Sweet Elegance by Arthur Vyncke | https://soundcloud.com/arthurvostMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unportedhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US Link to our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/7thlevelbardcast
Music:The Villain Unveiled by Brendan ChristieLink to our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/7thlevelbardcast
Cherry Metal by Arthur Vyncke | https://soundcloud.com/arthurvostMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unportedhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US Link to our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/7thlevelbardcast
Music:The Villain Unveiled by Brendan ChristieLink to our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/7thlevelbardcast
Cherry Metal by Arthur Vyncke | https://soundcloud.com/arthurvostMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unportedhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US Link to our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/7thlevelbardcast
Battle Of The Creek by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.comMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comAttribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Link to our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/7thlevelbardcast
Cherry Metal by Arthur Vyncke | https://soundcloud.com/arthurvostMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unportedhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US Link to our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/7thlevelbardcast
Cherry Metal by Arthur Vyncke | https://soundcloud.com/arthurvostMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unportedhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US Link to our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/7thlevelbardcast
Sweet Elegance by Arthur Vyncke | https://soundcloud.com/arthurvostMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unportedhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US Link to our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/7thlevelbardcast
Battle Of The Creek by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.comMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comAttribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Link to our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/7thlevelbardcast
Cherry Metal by Arthur Vyncke | https://soundcloud.com/arthurvostMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unportedhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US Link to our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/7thlevelbardcast
Battle Of The Creek by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.comMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comAttribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Link to our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/7thlevelbardcast
On this episode Jaryd, Jason, and Mikel talk about how to create proper pacing in games. They explore the possibilities of using shared narrative to allow the players to become involved in the pacing as well. And they touch on the subject of pacing in combat.
Battle Of The Creek by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.comMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comAttribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Link to our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/7thlevelbardcast
Cherry Metal by Arthur Vyncke | https://soundcloud.com/arthurvostMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unportedhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US Link to our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/7thlevelbardcast
Battle Of The Creek by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.comMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comAttribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Link to our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/7thlevelbardcast
Cherry Metal by Arthur Vyncke | https://soundcloud.com/arthurvostMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unportedhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US Link to our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/7thlevelbardcast
Battle Of The Creek by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.comMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comAttribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Link to our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/7thlevelbardcast
Cherry Metal by Arthur Vyncke | https://soundcloud.com/arthurvostMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unportedhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US https://www.patreon.com/7thlevelbardcast
Battle Of The Creek by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.comMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comAttribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/https://www.patreon.com/7thlevelbardcast
Cherry Metal by Arthur Vyncke | https://soundcloud.com/arthurvostMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unportedhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US
Battle Of The Creek by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.comMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comAttribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Cherry Metal by Arthur Vyncke | https://soundcloud.com/arthurvostMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unportedhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US
Battle Of The Creek by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.comMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comAttribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Cherry Metal by Arthur Vyncke | https://soundcloud.com/arthurvostMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unportedhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US
This is the final episode of season 2. We will be ending early to spend some needed time with our families for the holidays. In this episode we discuss 3 games a piece that we will be running or playing in next year. We hope to do some reviews on these games as we familiarize ourselves with them. We also talk a bit about our plans for next season. Thank you for listening!!!
Mikel is joined by Jaryd to discuss the topic of Initiative. They talk about the many styles of initiative that appear in different system and how each of them have their own value. They also explain why each of them prefers or dislikes the different aspects of initiative in each system.
Creating and maintaining player engagement requires quite a bit of finesse from the GM. The GM will use many tools to promote player engagement, one of the tools in tension. Tension relays the portentous feeling to the players of something impending. Excitement and anticipation drive players to engage with the story in order to discover what lies in wait for them.
Mikel and Jason discuss the positive and negative aspects of multiclassing (mostly in D&D 5e). They take a look how to use multiclassing in a way that it promotes a narrative explanation of gaining a different class.
Suspense in the narrative can be both positive and negative, exciting or apprehensive. The drivers in the scenes of a session will determine what reaction will result. These drivers are controlled by both the players and the GM. On this episode Jaryd, Jason, and Mikel discuss how to address the drivers of suspense in gameplay.
Jason is joined by Mikel to discuss that topic of stress relief at the gamin table. They talk about the different types of stress relief that players look for when they come to the table and how to spot them. They also talk over how to provide gaming aspects at the table in order to help them relieve their stress.
Atmosphere provides players with the needed material to lose themselves in the game in order to create immersion and engagement. Atmosphere is largely the responsibility of the GM, though the GM might invite the players to help in its development. Typically, atmosphere and the GM's story are closely bonded.
Mikel talks with his guest Scott about what to do when a campaign goes in an unexpected direction. They discuss when it is okay to bring a story back on track and when it is best to just let the players take control. They talk about the techniques each of them use to improvise solution.
Style and tone give rise to the feel of the campaign. Though the feel can be affected by many elements, style and tone provide the origin. Style provides the structure a campaign will abide by. While tone provides the emotional landscape the campaign will take place in.
Jason talks with Jarvis about the concept of using GM tools to encourage and discourage behavior that they as GM's wish to see or not see at the table. They lay out the behaviors that are most troublesome, or most desired, from their players, and the techniques that they each use to help their players understand how to stop or continue their behavior.
We split the life of a game into different segments, and we have defined them on our podcast many times. The names for each of the segments is about the only thing we each agree on. Each of us has a different definition of what they consist of, how they are used and to what degree. The degree of which we use each segment combines to create our own unique styles of running a game.
Hosts Jason and Mikel are joined by two guests from other shows to discuss gaming mediums. Josh from Late and Legends, a D&D actual play podcast, and Izzi from Nat 30's, a D&D actual play Twitch channel. Together the four of them take a look at how each of them came into their respective mediums, and what they enjoy about reaching an audience.
Players have a story they are trying to tell for their character; it is the job of the GM to help them tell that story. Players provide the GMs with insight into their characters' motivations through backstory and narrative play. GMs can use this insight to facilitate the means for players to tell their characters' stories.
Catalyst by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.comMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comAttribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
NPCs have a life of their own, but a PC sees only a very limited part of that life. Tracking the life of an NPC gives the PCs a more complete insight into a NPC when they encounter them. It is up to the GM to determine how much of that life is prepared and how much is improvised. However, having NPC motivations, drives, goals, quicks, backstories, and backgrounds makes creating NPC arcs a great deal easier.
Jason and Jaryd are joined by Robbie from Could've Been Heroes, an actual play podcast in the land of Faritall, run in the Whim the Grim system. Robbie gives a breakdown of his game Whim the Grim, as well as how it fits into his podcast. Jason and Jaryd provide Robbie with some questions to help him delve into some of his design techniques as well.
Mikel and Jason talk with Josh Hatherley, from Late and Legends, about Major and Minor Arcs. Major and Minor arcs are the glue that hold a campaign together. Both the GMs and the PCs can have major and minor arcs that play out during a campaign. Additionally each of these arcs can influence the other to change the outcome.
Jason and Mikel talk with Sam Bowman about Sun and Bronze, a Bronze age Dungeons and Dragons 5e supplement that Sam is currently contributing to. Jason and Mikel pick Sam's brain on some of his design techniques and discuss some of the aspects of the supplement.
Jason questions Jarvis on homebrews. Jarvis gives his definition of what he thinks constitutes a homebrew and explains his process in using them in his games. Jarvis also discusses what is important to him when looking for balance in homebrews.
Catalyst by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.comMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comAttribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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