The Table Dragon

In which we talk about various approaches to planning coherent and successful rpg campaigns. - Modules and Railroading - The improv/spontaneous/"ideas-in-a-cloud" approach - Event-based approaches; the campaign "timeline" - Site/Setting-based approaches; here's what's going on - get involved where you like - Having PCs decisions make a real impact on the game and world - The Group Template, tailoring the campaign to the PCs, giving the characters a personal stake - Player/Character-based approaches - Recap

In which we talk about running horror games.  Our perspectives on what it takes to make a really good horror game, some useful tools and tips, and things to watch out for. - Horror Scenes vs Horror Campaigns - Laying the Groundwork / Player Buy-In - What *is* a "Horror Game"? - Be Up-Front, or Count on Players to Pick Up Your Cues - Table Atmosphere: Focus, Lighting, Ambience, Audio - The Uncanny vs. The "Powerful" - Just a Bit "Off" - Investigation & Mystery: More Questions Than Answers - To D&D or Not to D&D: That Is The Question (or, "Choose the Right System For Your Group") - Description: Technique, Tone, and Delivery - Recap

In which we talk about encouraging passive, unengaged, or otherwise minimal-effort gamers to get a little deeper into character, narrative, and roleplaying.  Plus the usual tangents and related bits. - The 'problem' and what it means - Passive players - Pushing the player's buttons - Setting the expectations - Giving cues, planting seeds - Using the alpha player - Don't be adversarial as a GM - Look for opportunities - Pay off the risk / make it worth it - Extension of self vs independent characters - Character evolution - In Sum

In which we talk to Keith Baker and Jenn Ellis of Twogether Studios about Illimat - the modern classic card game they dreamed up with the Decemberists. Editor's Note: Technical issues resulted in a somewhat garbled audio quality.  We attempted to troubleshoot this for some time, but time was short and we'd already rescheduled once so we decided to roll with it. - Collaboration with the Decemberists - The feel of the game - Mechanics and design

In which we discuss the various forms of "problematic" tabletop RPG players we've encountered, and how we've addressed those issues + some related tangents. - Is there really a problem? - Differing play styles / what people want out of the game / knowing your group - The Annoying Player - The Disruptive Player - The Checked-out/Inattentive Player - The Player Who Runs Away With The Game - The New Player - Adjusting the game / changing it up - Having a talk - Killing/Resurrecting the game - Doing something else

In which we kick around some tips for those new to running tabletop roleplaying games - i.e., "GMing" - and what to do when you're setting up your first session. - A game, and knowledge thereof - A Setting - Something To Do - The Preface and First Scene - Pacing - When things go wrong unexpectedly