Bonus Experience

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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!

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 […]

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!

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]