Flail Forward is an RPG Design podcast by a group of amateurs. Some would describe it as a dumpster fire, but it's an entertaining dumpster fire.
House rules! You know you have them. You know some games don't work without them. Here are some of ours! Presumably. I wasn't on this one, and there are no show notes, so who knows what the hell this episode is actually about. A regular feature on Flail Forward by now.
Concepts > mechanics > numbers Start with basic concepts of what you want the game to be about. Mechanics then describe these concepts in a way that they can actually be used and interacted with. The numbers are the specific, fine details of exactly how the mechanics work. Most major problems happen at the conceptual level, or mechanics that don't work towards that concept, or not having a concept really at all. The numbers are basically the last thing you worry about, basic placeholders are fine, don't try to balance your game first pass, just get the concepts down solid and try to build basic mechanics that enact those concepts. Kavoir suggested we try to show this in practice and... well, we decided to make up a stupid game on the spot, and it actually didn't come out too bad as an idea. Go figure. Game about a podcast! Why? To gather together conspiracy theorists to form a cult!
Lenny Balsera joins us to talk about how games that seek to do more than 'fun'. What's that mean in this case? Listen and find out at the same time we do!
We discuss GM agency. Is there a correct amount? What does it mean for certain games to constrain it? How?
Tonight we talk about games we don't like but things about them we do like! ...Yeah it's gonna be neurotic. It does go better than last week, though, so we got that going for us. Of course you'd only know that if you listened to it. Which really, I don't think it's fair to subject yourself to that but maybe you feel guilty about something and want to punish yourself so I dunno, go ahead and listen if that's what you're into.
Tonight we talk about games we don't like but things about them we do like! ...Yeah it's gonna be neurotic. It does go better than last week, though, so we got that going for us. Of course you'd only know that if you listened to it. Which really, I don't think it's fair to subject yourself to that but maybe you feel guilty about something and want to punish yourself so I dunno, go ahead and listen if that's what you're into.
How meta does our meta currency talk get? Find out or don't because you can't because it's too meta to be understood within it's own delineated context, so there's no point to listening. Enjoy.
Short episode about pacing in ttrpgs! This is also a half episode because the recording bot, the back-up, and the back-up back-up all shit the bed in the same episode.
Cat's not here this week, so the blurb is short. Fred rejoined us for the first time in long while and it was cool! We chatted about how games pass around narrative. And a lot of other tangents. linktr.ee/flailforward
Tonight we talk about how games sometimes fail their players in a way that make the players feel dissatisfied. Is it the game itself? The mechanics? The GM's fault? Who's at fault? How do you prevent this? Who framed Roger Rabbit? Who stole the cookies from the cookie jar? Was it you? If not, then who? I think I lost track of what I was talking about, but that's normal here so whatever. Don't expect the episode itself to be any less meandering. Join our discord and talk about the ways we failed you with this episode: https://discord.gg/MAUshMJ
The game within the game! Wait, no, this is the game without the game. Or the game in between the game. Anyway, we're covering design focused around doing stuff in between sessions, from mechanical stuff like leveling up, to side role playing, you name it! Does it make sense to build this for everyone or is this a more niche concept? This and more on this episode of Flaaaaail foooorwaaaaarrrrrrddddd linktr.ee/flailforward
Tonight we talk about THE BIG THREE. Yes, that is what she said, don't think too hard on it though. Specifically though, the concept of the three big questions that Jared Sorensen thought RPGs should be able to answer, and why they're pretty good questions. Want to see us pick apart some basic concepts until everything's on fire? Well we do that every week, but we did it really good this time and brought lots of extra stuff to burn for the dumpster fire this time so sit back with a chair and get a nice tan from it! Never know, you may even find it useful, too! Linktr.ee/flailforward
"I repeat, we have normality. Anything you still can't cope with is therefore your own problem." Yep, we're talking about what's normal tonight. I know, I know, we're probably the group least aware of what the concept of normal even is, but we're doing it anyway so deal with it. Specifically though, we're covering normality in terms of establishing what is considered to be normal in a TTRPG, from mechanics to setting features, and how to convey this information to the players, and why you would even do this in the first place. So yeah, go ahead, listen to us rant about "normality" for about an hour and a half, because we TOTALLY know what that even is.
This episode, we discuss visual appeal in RPGs. What games we think demonstrate strong visual appeal, and which we think missed the mark somehow. Usual banter ensues. https://linktr.ee/FlailForward
Tonight we delve into the mysteries of generating narrative through mechanics... TWO! Because we've covered this before. But that was a long, long time ago, in a gal...a... nooo not going to get sued, you thought we would, but no, we're just going to bypass that. No, we're taking another look at it after a few years of experience and development of our skills, and I think we laid it out much more cleanly this time around! And didn't even get sued doing it. Though I almost did. But I didn't. SO THERE. https://linktr.ee/FlailForward
We talk about small games and how we look at their frame works. Our links are here! https://linktr.ee/FlailForward
We talk about how RPGs have affected and inform world views.
https://linktr.ee/FlailForward Kavoir and Mark were busy tonight, and even Sabrina wasn't around. This leaves Rob and Catreece to their own devices for three hours straight. Rob didn't even realize there was a topic we wandered so far off from it. So the question isn't "Is anyone surprised?" because you all knew this was going to happen. The question is "Why did you think leaving us alone was a good idea in the first place?" - asking the real questions that really matter.
Tonight on Flail Foward, we discuss the tools GMs have to work with, what kinds of things to include and design for in your game to make sure that the GM has the tools they need to portray the game experience they want and their players crave. We explicitly do not make any mention of tools of torture, such as whips or chains, because this is only the night show, not the late night show, so you'll have to find your game mistress bondage gear elsewhere, sorry!
Something About How Games Do Stuff by Flail Forward
Tonight we talk about agency, and how much is too much of a good thing. You know, when you flick a bad guy's nose and they explode leaving a crater half the size of a small country, and you're like "oh yeaaah, maybe I shouldn't have done that. " Yeah, that does sometimes make for interesting stories, though often the ones you don't mean to, so maybe we should cut off our characters before they hit the blow up the world button. But WHERE!? Where do we pull back? Where do we draw that line? Is it a chalk outline? Do we need to bring you in for questioning? These and other potentially but probably not important questions this episode on Flail Forward!
https://linktr.ee/FlailForward We talk about Recovery! What better way to recover from being nearly beaten to death than with an ice cold lemonade and a lawn chair built from the bones of your enemies? Except you probably don't have either of those. It's fine though, we talk about other ways to recover, from combat, from stress, from other things and how it relates to RPG design, the themes of your game, and other such things! BTW, the fact that we have lemonade and you don't probably counts as emotional stress, so check your game rules to see how you recover from this.
Tonight Kavoir and Catreece talk about... metaphysics in games, also flogging yourself with a fish, you naughty, naughty whatever you are. But the important part is how the fish as a concept interacts with the game rules and the setting, which is that using a red herring only inflicts illusory damage, as you will soon find out. This is the most you'll hear Kavoir talk, so buckle up. https://linktr.ee/FlailForward
This is Bonus Banter episode because there's not really a design topic. Kavoir interrogates Rob about Ashes of the Magi. Rob gets to try to nail down his thoughts a bit better. Our audience jumped in with good questions. Good time was had by all.
We talk about the limits of the audience in design? How far can you push them? Why would you want to? Are there any limits at all? Who knows. Not us, that's for sure. As always, find all the show notes and links to content on our discord server: https://discord.gg/MAUshMJ And the rest of our stuff: https://linktr.ee/FlailForward
Today we speak of things. Dark things. Insidious things. Things that should never be spoken, never be heard. But you will hear them, whatever they are, at least if you listen to this episode. What are these things? I dunno, we didn't reaaaally have a proper topic and I have a memory that envies goldfish, so I forget, but there was probably something interesting in there. It's a Rob and Cat episode because of availability was limited. Two people who love the sounds of their own voices. Let's see what happens. https://linktr.ee/FlailForward
Help me to help you - because that's this week's topic! How do our games guide and train players to be more capable of having fun at the game, how to better interact with their friends around the table, how to hide a body under the floorboards and seal it properly so no one notices the smell, and other useful information that everyone should really know. You know, best practices and how to pick friends who will help you hide a body, that kind of stuff! https://linktr.ee/FlailForward
Come one, come all, to the greatest show on earth! And when you're done with that, you can come to our show afterward where we look at logical design patterns, what they are, how they can be put to use, how they can be subverted, and other fun things to do with them that there are currently no treaties which have been ratified against the use thereof! https://linktr.ee/FlailForward
Tonight on Flail Forward, we TURN EVIL! Well, alright, some of us already were, but it's fine, don't worry about it. The rest of us talk about the concept of evil in RPGs, from "evil races" to "good vs evil" to what evil even means as a concept, or how it affects games by existing or not. Now all you need to do is listen to the episode and don't mind any of those subtle mind control waves we've mixed into the background white noise, because we're Totally Not Evil™️ so obviously wouldn't do that. Find us on the internet: Catreece - tinyurl.com/SAORSA Johnathon - https://www.mongreltabletopgames.com/ Mark - twitter.com/praxisarcanum Rob - ashesofthemagi.com twitter.com/ashesofthemagi Kavoir - Advances past the rest of us in the first 5 minutes.
This evening we have an epic battle over what information a game designer is to provide to GMs and players about the setting, in an all-out brawl TO THE DEATH! ...Verbally! Or something. Also, Shadowrun comes up a bit because of how good it is at prompting its setting. But yeah, what information, ways to present it to the players, and some of the ways we do it, all on this episode of Flail Forward! Find us on the internet: Catreece - tinyurl.com/SAORSA Mark - twitter.com/praxisarcanum Rob - twitter.com/ashesofthemagi Kavoir - Sets up settings to set settings.
The gang talks about creatively lifting technology from other media sources and implementing it in TTRPGs.
We talk about different types of conflict in RPGs, not just combat. Catreece - tinyurl.com/SAORSA Mark - twitter.com/praxisarcanum Rob - ashesofthemagi.com twitter.com/ashesofthemagi Kavoir - Manifests conflict in games in order to study the results.
The gang invites two audience members, Sabrina and Cam to join the after show, and we talk about variants and side bars, etc.
The gang talks about framing in table top games. Find us on the internet: Catreece - tinyurl.com/SAORSA Mark - twitter.com/praxisarcanum Rob - ashesofthemagi.com twitter.com/ashesofthemagi Kavoir - Warms his tiny mechanical hands by the light of rad-glow.
We tackle the topic of Death in RPGs Find us on the internet: Catreece - tinyurl.com/SAORSA Mark - twitter.com/praxisarcanum Rob - ashesofthemagi.com twitter.com/ashesofthemagi Kavoir - Warms his tiny mechanical hands by the light of rad-glow. Monty - That place where things are.
The gang discusses how we attach to character and how that can be done in general. At the end we take advantage of the the discord stage feature to bring an audience member in to the conversation.
We do a sex talk. World building? Mechanics? Lines and Veils? Yep, we talk about it. Rob tries not to use D&D as an example of what not to do, but fails, because it fundamentally falls short of what players want out of this. (Shocking, we know) If you have any questions, comments, or free-floating hostility, find us: On discord: discord.gg/Hz7zFwq On Twitter: twitter.com/FlailForward Facebook & Instagram @flailforward Your talkers were: Catreece - tinyurl.com/SAORSA Mark - twitter.com/praxisarcanum Rob - ashesofthemagi.com twitter.com/ashesofthemagi Kavoir - Has surprisingly little to say on the topic for being an emotional vampire.
Why are we building our games? What specific problems are we addressing that we feel other games don't address to our satisfaction? A deep dive on the origins of our game(s). If you have any questions, comments, or free-floating hostility, you can email us at: flailforwardpodcast@gmail.com (though we barely check this better to go to the below) Or tweet us on Twitter: twitter.com/FlailForward discord: discord.gg/Hz7zFwq Facebook & Instagram @flailforward Catreece - tinyurl.com/SAORSA Rob - ashesofthemagi.com twitter.com/ashesofthemagi Kavoir - Is the problem other games are trying to solve. Mark - twitter.com/praxisarcanum
We talk about Growth Scaling in RPGs! What is it? Is it even needed? How does it manifest in other games? What's a good starting point? Are the better or worse ways to include it. If you have any questions, comments, or free-floating hostility, you can email us at: flailforwardpodcast@gmail.com (though we barely check this better to go to the below) Or tweet us on Twitter: twitter.com/FlailForward discord: discord.gg/Hz7zFwq Facebook & Instagram @flailforward Catreece - tinyurl.com/SAORSA Johnathon - twitter.com/mongrelgames Rob - ashesofthemagi.com twitter.com/ashesofthemagi Kavoir - And occult presence only witnessed by the few who have touched the starless night. Monty - Elder Moose
Anne Goodall joins the crew to talk about her master's thesis, available here: https://ruor.uottawa.ca/handle/10393/41779 We talk about social inclusion as facilitated by RPGs, gaming while incarcerated, and a lot more. It's not exactly our usual content, but you might find some interesting and inspiring ideas within! If you have any questions, comments, or free-floating hostility, you can email us at: flailforwardpodcast@gmail.com (though we barely check this better to go to the below) Or tweet us on Twitter: twitter.com/FlailForward discord: discord.gg/Hz7zFwq Facebook & Instagram @flailforward Catreece - tinyurl.com/SAORSA Mark - twitter.com/praxisarcanum Johnathon - twitter.com/mongrelgames Rob - ashesofthemagi.com twitter.com/ashesofthemagi Kavoir - Revealed himself as an emotional vampire, which raises more questions than it answers.
Johnathan Tweet joins us to talk about the new Edition of the Everway RPG up on Kickstarter right now! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jessemcgatha/everway-roleplaying-game Check it out on the web here! https://www.everway.com/ Find us on the internet: Catreece - tinyurl.com/SAORSA Mark - twitter.com/praxisarcanum Rob - ashesofthemagi.com twitter.com/ashesofthemagi
Well, sometimes we're so good at our job that two people want to talk to us about how they do exploration. It's a real banger of an episode, don't miss it. Mitch Moore checks back in with the gang, and updates us on Ashes of the Deep! Find him here: https://twitter.com/bronze_torch Felix Isaacs shows up again to update us on Wildsea! Find him here: https://twitter.com/isaacs_felix If you have any questions, comments, or free-floating hostility, you can tweet us on Twitter: twitter.com/FlailForward email us at: flailforwardpodcast@gmail.com join our discord: discord.gg/Hz7zFwq Facebook & Instagram @flailforward Find us on the internet: Catreece - tinyurl.com/SAORSA Mark - twitter.com/praxisarcanum Rob - ashesofthemagi.com twitter.com/ashesofthemagi Kavoir - Really likes Wildsea and isn't afraid to tell you.
We have our very first guest host!! Lenny Balsera asks the crew a question that sets off almost two hours of back and forth. What question? Listen and find out! If you have any questions, comments, or free-floating hostility, you can email us at: flailforwardpodcast@gmail.com Or tweet us on Twitter: twitter.com/FlailForward discord: discord.gg/Hz7zFwq Facebook & Instagram @flailforward Find the hosts on the internet: Catreece - tinyurl.com/SAORSA Mark - twitter.com/praxisarcanum Kavoir - The ghost who talks. Monty - The Pyramid of Okra-Hotep Johonathon - twitter.com/mongrelgames Intro and Outro by The Sarto Klyn V. thesartoklynv.bandcamp.com/
Our first episode of the new year, and it's off to a warm start. Monty joins the crew, bringing in a fresher player's perspective to ground us when we get our heads way up our asses. Trust us, it happens. Find us on the internet: Catreece - tinyurl.com/SAORSA Mark - twitter.com/praxisarcanum Rob - ashesofthemagi.com twitter.com/ashesofthemagi Kavoir - Warms his tiny mechanical hands by the light of rad-glow. Monty - That place where things are.
What does it mean to be a fan of the players? We don't know but we sure act like we do. Rob joins late, so the stream doesn't start until halfway through. So the first half of this is bonus content that the stream doesn't have. Enjoy! If you have any questions, comments, or free-floating hostility, you can email us at: flailforwardpodcast@gmail.com Or tweet us on Twitter: twitter.com/FlailForward discord: discord.gg/Hz7zFwq Facebook & Instagram @flailforward Find us on the internet: Catreece - tinyurl.com/SAORSA Mark - twitter.com/praxisarcanum Rob - ashesofthemagi.com twitter.com/ashesofthemagi Kavoir - Cat stole his phylactery. In order to get it back he had to give opinions. He did.
We have a delightful talk to Fraser Simons about the game Yonder on Kickstarter right now: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/frasersimons/yonder-a-fantasy-tabletop-roleplaying-game Check it out for the next 48 hours, and then head over here to check out more cool stuff: https://samjokopublishing.com/ If you have any questions, comments, or free-floating hostility, you can tweet us on Twitter: twitter.com/FlailForward email us at: flailforwardpodcast@gmail.com join our discord: discord.gg/Hz7zFwq Facebook & Instagram @flailforward Find us on the internet: Catreece - tinyurl.com/SAORSA Mark - twitter.com/praxisarcanum Rob - ashesofthemagi.com twitter.com/ashesofthemagi Kavoir - Actually has things to say because this is a FitD style game with a more narrative skill system.
© 2020-2025 Ivy Podcast Discovery LLC
