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

The Table Dragon

Planning A Campaign

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

Running Horror Games

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

Encouraging Role Play

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

Illimat

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

The Problem Player

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

Running Your First Game

Dragon*Con's Official Tabletop Podcast - We created this 'cast primarily to answer various questions that have been posed at panels and in hallways where the time to really explore and answer them wasn't available.  The majority of the focus is on tabletop roleplaying games, but we plan to hit board games and tabletop minis games here and there along the way as well. New episodes quarterly, or whenever we're able (life, right?). Have a question or topic for us to kick around? Let us know!

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The Table Dragon

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