Bonus Experience

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A deeper look at the play experience and the finer details of running and writing tabletop games.

Rai Witter Cole, Monica Speca

Buffalo, NY


    • Mar 2, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 41m AVG DURATION
    • 101 EPISODES

    5 from 22 ratings Listeners of Bonus Experience that love the show mention: games, smart, fun, real, good, listening, love, die mad.



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    Latest episodes from Bonus Experience

    BXP Season 6 Update

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2023 3:08


    BXP is BACK for Season Six. We have some very important updates to the show as well as some super cool episodes coming up. Give it a listen. If you stayed a patron through the off-season, Monica shouts out your name.

    BXP 05×12 – Character Development (feat. Terry Robinson)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2022 42:02


    This is the final episode of Season Five. Terry joins Monica again with the second half of their very long conversation about experiences with gaming and new people.  Today we talk about character development in RPGs: what that means, what people want when they say they're into it, and how games do and don't support character growth over time. It's a very interesting discussion and a perfect send-off for our fifth season. 

    BXP 05×11 – Mage, Exalted, and D&D (feat. Terry Robinson)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2022 41:52


    Terry (of Mage: the Podcast) joins Monica to talk about the wild experience of teaching Mage to new people and Monica commiserates about her experiences with teaching Exalted to beginners. We discuss the interesting cultural baggage that comes with most folks pop understanding of the hobby and what it's like to show folks new games.

    exalted mage terry robinson
    BXP 05×10-Games Without Randomizers feat. Chazz

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2022 69:56


    Here's the long-awaited new episode. Chazz of Pain in the Dice, OPPCast and Systematic Understanding of Everything joins Monica to discuss games without randomizers. No cards. No dice. No coin flips - just a variety of narrative resolutions. We break down what we like about these games and what makes them work and (most importantly) what's worth stealing for your own homebrew. 

    BXP 05×09-So, You're Playing D&D for the First Time…

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2022 41:29


    Monica overheard a conversation about someone being nervous to play D&D for the first time and their worries about how to be a good player, so here's today's episode. Rai and Monica hang out to discuss what sort of things are good to keep in mind when you're a player for the first time - no matter what game you're playing. 

    rai playing d
    BXP 05×08-Does System Matter?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2022 43:24


    Today Rai and Monica sit down to discuss a favorite internet discourse topic: does system matter? Can you just enjoy any game, regardless of system? Do you even NEED to be a game designer?  You'll just have to listen to the whole thing if you want the answer. 

    BXP 05×07-DEEP DIVE: Streamlining Systems

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2022 62:17


    While Rai sorts out a few life things, D joins us again for another deep dive. Today, Monica and Danielle discuss streamlining game systems - whether you're doing that on your own for fun or whether it's a professional job. We talk about the meaning, goals, and methods of streamlining and give some examples of systems we'd fix and systems we wouldn't. 

    BXP 05×06-The BXP Memorial Day Picnic

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2022 65:27


    We've really been going through it this year, so when we sat down to record our most recent episode we decided it would be fun and relaxing to just hang out instead.  Here's nearly an hour of Monica and Rai talking about... everything and nothing. 

    BXP 05×05-The Bigger They Are, the Harder They Bargain

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2022 44:22


    In today's episode, Monica and Rai sit down to discuss the concept of the hard bargain - a social refusal mechanic that can improve any game. We talk about what they are, how to use them, and how to implement them in your homebrew or professional design. 

    BXP 05×04-DEEP DIVE: Core Systems Loop

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2022 87:38


    D joins Monica for another Deep Dive! We discuss the concept of a "core system" loop, aka what central concepts make a game's system tick. We go in-depth into the mechanics of a handful of our favorite games to demonstrate. 

    BXP 05×03-BXP Talks D&D 4e (feat. David Castro)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2022 47:38


    In today's episode, Monica is joined by David Castro of Ink Stained Studios to talk D&D 4e: the good parts, the bad parts, its history, and its impact on current design.

    david castro
    BXP 05×02-Forever GM or Game Ambassador?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2022 53:29


    Today Monica and Rai tackle the thorny subject of always being stuck in the GM seat. Is that a good thing? A bad one? Neither? We discuss the ups and downs of being the game facilitator and how to feel less anxious about stepping into the role yourself. 

    BXP 05×01-A Lukewarm Defense of Perception Checks

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2022 39:49


    Today we're talking about Perception checks - that old chestnut. Are they bad? Are they good? Should we throw them away entirely? What's even the point of having them? Monica and Rai break down their thoughts on the topic. 

    BXP 05×00 – IT’S SEASON FIVE, BABEYYY

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2022 34:59


    Did you miss us? Don't worry, we're "on" again for the next six months. Drink it up while you can. Tell your friends. Tell your spouse. Tell your kids. Tell your parents.  ...on second thought maybe not those last two. 

    BXP 04×12 – The Joys of Chargen

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2021 47:50


    We discuss Rai's harrowing mouth experiences, what we're GONNA talk about next time, and that feel when a snake beats you in the gubernatorial race for Elysium. 

    BXP 04×11 – Teeth are the Naughty Bones

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2021 26:01


    We discuss Rai's harrowing mouth experiences, what we're GONNA talk about next time, and that feel when a snake beats you in the gubernatorial race for Elysium. 

    BXP 04×10 – Build a Better One-Shot

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2021 28:58


    In today's episode we discuss the art of the one-shot, including: games that are suited for short play, how to MAKE a game suited for short play, and how one gets ideas for short games anyway. 

    BXP 04×09 – BXP Reads: Dragonhearts

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2021 42:51


    In today's episode Monica and Rai review Dragonhearts, a Firebrands hack about playing shapeshifting dragons who fight and kiss. It's extremely our shit.

    BXP 04×08 – Rules for Smoochin

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2021 37:41


    In today's episode, Monica and Rai tackle a subject near and dear to our weird, little horny hearts: romance in games!  Despite that particular framing, we discuss how emotional conflict is important, and being emotionally intimate and vulnerable with other characters in your games can improve the experience.

    BXP 04×07 – June, In Review

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2021 37:41


    In this introductory episode, Monica and Rai give a hearty shout out and thank you to all our Patrons and run down what's new for the upcoming season 4 of BXP.

    BXP 4×06 – Game Writing is Fiction Writing

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2021 40:18


    In this introductory episode, Monica and Rai give a hearty shout out and thank you to all our Patrons and run down what's new for the upcoming season 4 of BXP.

    BXP 4×05 – BXP Reads: Gun&Slinger

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2021 39:33


    In this introductory episode, Monica and Rai give a hearty shout out and thank you to all our Patrons and run down what's new for the upcoming season 4 of BXP.

    BXP 4×04 – Games Need Conflict

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2021 41:24


    In this introductory episode, Monica and Rai give a hearty shout out and thank you to all our Patrons and run down what's new for the upcoming season 4 of BXP.

    BXP 4×03 – D & BXP’s Deep Dive: Let’s Talk Small Press

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2021 69:09


    In this introductory episode, Monica and Rai give a hearty shout out and thank you to all our Patrons and run down what's new for the upcoming season 4 of BXP.

    BXP 4×02 – BXP Reads: The Man and The Stag

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2021 36:56


    In this introductory episode, Monica and Rai give a hearty shout out and thank you to all our Patrons and run down what's new for the upcoming season 4 of BXP.

    BXP 4×01 – Exalted is Gay

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2021 66:42


    In this introductory episode, Monica and Rai give a hearty shout out and thank you to all our Patrons and run down what's new for the upcoming season 4 of BXP.

    BXP 4×00 – It’s Season Four, My Dudes

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2021 38:47


    In this introductory episode, Monica and Rai give a hearty shout out and thank you to all our Patrons and run down what's new for the upcoming season 4 of BXP.

    BXP 3×19 – The Scion: Dragon Kickstarter Episode

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2021 47:05


    Friend of the show Danielle Lauzon returns as a Synthetic Rai Replacement. Together we talk about what to name your game - because a strong title is a reader's first impression!

    BXP 3×18 – Danielle & Monica’s Deep Dive: Power Creep

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2021 45:54


    Friend of the show Danielle Lauzon returns as a Synthetic Rai Replacement. Together we talk about what to name your game - because a strong title is a reader's first impression!

    friend deep dive power creep
    BXP 3×17 That’s my Aesthetic

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2020 51:06


    Friend of the show Danielle Lauzon returns as a Synthetic Rai Replacement. Together we talk about what to name your game - because a strong title is a reader's first impression!

    BXP 3×16 Cash 4 Games – the Industry and Payment

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2020 54:59


    Friend of the show Danielle Lauzon returns as a Synthetic Rai Replacement. Together we talk about what to name your game - because a strong title is a reader's first impression!

    BXP 3×15 – The Catchup

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2020 46:17


    Friend of the show Danielle Lauzon returns as a Synthetic Rai Replacement. Together we talk about what to name your game - because a strong title is a reader's first impression!

    BXP 3×14 – Danielle & Monica’s Deep Dive: Let’s Talk Book Layout and Organization

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2020 69:52


    Friend of the show Danielle Lauzon returns as a Synthetic Rai Replacement. Together we talk about what to name your game - because a strong title is a reader's first impression!

    BXP 3×13 – Danielle & Monica’s Deep Dive: Social Mechanics

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2020 59:05


    Friend of the show Danielle Lauzon returns as a Synthetic Rai Replacement. Together we talk about what to name your game - because a strong title is a reader's first impression!

    BXP 3×12 – Being Your Own Fan feat. Dixie Cochran

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2020 47:11


    Friend of the show Danielle Lauzon returns as a Synthetic Rai Replacement. Together we talk about what to name your game - because a strong title is a reader's first impression!

    The Systematic Understanding of Everything: Trackless Region Navigation – What Is Creation?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2020 44:30


    Hello Bonus Babies,  Monica and Rai are in deadline hell, and Margaret has disappeared again. Rather than leave you without an episode, here’s another Systematic Understanding of Everything episode for […]

    BXP 3×11 – What’s in a Name? feat. Danielle Lauzon

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2020 43:27


    Friend of the show Danielle Lauzon returns as a Synthetic Rai Replacement. Together we talk about what to name your game - because a strong title is a reader's first impression!

    The Systematic Understanding of Everything: Opening the Mind’s Gate – What Is Exalted?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2020 40:59


    Hello Bonus Babies,  While Rai’s computer is down for repairs, we’re providing you with a little filler – enjoy the first episode of the Systematic Understanding of Everything right here […]

    BXP 3×10 – The Calvinball Recap

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2020 35:04


    Hello Bonus Babies,  In today’s episode, Monica and Rai talk about the live streamed “Calvinball” game – a thought experiment hosted by Danielle Lauzon (friend of the show, Storypath and […]

    rai calvinball storypath
    BXP 3×09 – What’s a Traditional Game, Anyway?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2020 34:17


    Hello Bonus Babies,  Thanks to a really excellent discussion on our Discord, Rai and Monica sit down and discuss what the definition of “Traditional Game” actually is. Does it mean […]

    BXP 3×08 – The Onyx PathCon Discussion

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2020 55:36


    Hello Bonus Babies,  Today we bring you our discussion about the live Exalted Essence playtest that happened during Onyx Pathcon. Monica and Rai break down prepping to run a game […]

    BXP 3×07 – We Can’t Brain Today

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2020 56:53


    Hello Bonus Babies,  This is the first of our unscripted hangout episodes, so enjoy us all over the place. Today’s topic is how to keep your brain going when you […]

    BXP 3×06 – Mechanics Are Inevitable

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2020 45:56


    In today’s episode, Monica and Rai break down how all games have rules, and mechanics are just another tool in the game designer’s toolbox. We highlight some good examples and […]

    BXP 3×05 – Fellas, is it Gay to Play RPGS? Games with Queer Themes

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2020 31:17


    In today’s episode we discuss traditional games with queer themes. We also helpfully define both what we mean by “traditional games” and “queer themes.” Rai gets to flex her literary […]

    BXP 3×04 – Character Death and Why It’s Not Great

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2020 42:42


    In today’s episode Monica and Rai tackle the topic of killing people — err… characters. Yeah. Characters. We talk about why you should and shouldn’t include character death in your […]

    BXP 3×03 – Bonus Inexperience: Dealing with Brand New People

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2020 41:31


    While running, writing, or designing games you will probably have to contend with a rather surprising challenge: new people. This episode dives into a how-to discussion when it comes to […]

    BXP 3×02 – BXP LIVE! Mediocre Twitter RPG Advice

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2020 64:42


    Here we are with a special, socially-distant, LIVE RECORDING of Bonus Experience! Monica and Rai threw it open to everyone who joined the Discord server, and the episode is infinitely […]

    BXP 3×01 – It’s Season Three Already?!

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2020 19:35


    Whoa, what?? It’s our third season?? What year is it?? …for real though, what year is it, we’ve had a hell of a winter. Monica and Rai catch us up […]

    BXP 2×20 – [Guest Episode] Designing Games for All Ages feat. Justin Alexander

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2020 43:31


    Here’s the last of our guest episodes: a discussion on designing games for all ages with Magical Kitties Save the Day designer, Justin Alexander. We discuss how surprisingly hard it can […]

    games designing ages justin alexander
    BXP 2×19 – [Guest Episode] Avoiding Orientalism in Martial Arts Games feat. mndz

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2020 44:39


    In today’s episode, Monica sits down with James Mendez Hodes (game designer, developer, friend of the show, and author of this excellent blog) to talk about avoiding orientalism and outright racist […]

    BXP 2×18 – [Live Episode] Design Goals feat. Danielle Lauzon

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2020 34:59


    Monica and Danielle Lauzon (Letters Edged in Black GM, Vampire: the Requiem line developer, Storypath systems developer) discuss making sure your game has goals.  What do characters do in your […]

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