This episode continues ongoing discussions on theory and technique for roleplaying games. It has a series of calls from Jason of the Nerds RPG Variety Cast to connect us back to July of this year before the month-long gap introduced by RPGaDAY and other commitments (such as tight editing and writing deadlines for RPG stuff). Join us as we go all the way back through the last few episodes of this season: Sandboxes, Layers of Play (featuring Che Webster), and a practical example of applying these ideas to a popular game some folks play.
This episode extends the conversation more fully into immersion as a topic for discussion and exploration.
This episode has quite a title, doesn’t it? It’s not hyperbole, but you may have to check out Umbramancer’s series on YouTube for the complete picture from a D&D perspective. With luck, and your kindness, the parts in this episode will make sense.
SEGMENTS:
[1] an exploratory conversation about lethality as a feature versus story as a feature. Eloy Cintron, known on YouTube as Umbramancer, shares his practical application of all of my theory talk to D&D as we explore the metric by which he assessed my ideas on Layers of and Approaches to Play: Dungeon Crawl Mode vs Story Mode in Dungeons & Dragons.
[2] Calls for greater context from Jason Connerley and Che Webster
NEXT EPISODE: It is time to talk about a lot of the varied “immersions”
Remember!
#RPGaDay2023 is on its way. Check the Autocratik blog by David Chapman or my Casting Shadows blog for all the details! Also, check out this fantastic warm-up contest by Nerd’s RPG Variety Cast as we wait for August to arrive!
This episode is filled to the brim with words. With luck, and your kindness, those words will make sense.
SEGMENTS:
[1] The episode begins with the promised reply to Che Webster’s epic call-in from the previous episode (Exploring the Experience of Play). To hear that message in its entirety, please refer to that episode. It’s right at the beginning so you won’t have to search for it; just press play and relax. In this episode, a short and directly relevant section of his call is presented for context but that wee snippet o’ Che pales in comparison to the full expression of his ideas. Don’t cheat yourself. Go back and revel in the full message. The context of the tiny morsel of Che in this episode reveals the semantic nuance of Frames that were obvious to Che but not to me, and the understanding of switching costs in cognition when “multitasking” or alternating between two tasks – an idea upon which we are in full agreement: at least for certain tasks.
[2] We then move into what might be the meat or might be the side dish of this meal, practical examples of using understanding of layers to inform how we play.
[3] The last main segment of the episode is a recap of ideas I have expressed about a lexicon of useful terms, jargon, and techniques for roleplaying games.
Promotional Blurb: This classic study still provides one of the most acute descriptions available of an often misunderstood subculture: that of fantasy role playing games like Dungeons & Dragons. Gary Alan Fine immerses himself in several different gaming systems, offering insightful details on the nature of the games and the patterns of interaction among players—as well as their reasons for playing.
[7] All for One: Regime Diabolique (Triple Ace Games, Musketeers face Supernatural Threats and Intrigue, Ubiquity) Actual Play Playlist
Solo Player Episode: Margot; An invisible experience of immersion
The next episode will feature Eloy Cintron, known on YouTube as Umbramancer, who shares his practical application of all of this theory talk to D&D as we explore the metric by which he assessed my ideas on Layers of and Approaches to Play: Dungeon Crawl Mode vs Story Mode in Dungeons & Dragons.
Remember!
#RPGaDay2023 is on its way. Check the Autocratik blog by David Chapman or my Casting Shadows blog for all the details! Also, check out this fantastic warm-up contest by Nerd’s RPG Variety Cast as we wait for August to arrive!
This is another one of Runeslinger’s Reflections from the Road episodes, now replete and complete with rain and hydroplaning!
No Callers were hurt or drowned in the making of this episode. Thanks to Spencer/FreeThrall and Jason for their messages! Visit Keep off the Borderlands and the Nerd’s RPG Variety Cast for more of those fine gentlemen. References to Roleplay Rescue abound in this episode. Seek it out to learn why! You can interact on these and other gaming topics by sending a voice message via SpeakPipe or sending me a recording via e-mail or Discord. Contact me by e-mail at runescastshadows at gmail dot com
#RPGaDay2023 is on its way. Check the Autocratik blog by David Chapman or my Casting Shadows blog for all the details! Also, check out this fantastic warm-up contest by Nerd’s RPG Variety Cast as we wait for August to arrive!
With listener calls to spice things up, this reflection from the road by Runeslinger delves into the seemingly forgotten history of why RPGs refer to sandbox play, how that is not on a spectrum with Railroading, and shows how Grimaud’s Crowbar teams up with Chekhov’s Gun, as the kilometers fly by~
Guest voices appearing in this episode were Jason Connerly of the Nerds RPG Variety Cast, and Joe Richter of the Hindsightless podcast. Reference was made to Che Webster’s Roleplay Rescue podcast and Jason Hobbs’ Random Screed podcast.
You can interact on these and other gaming topics by sending a voice message via SpeakPipe or contact me by e-mail at runescastshadows at gmail dot com
Blame both Jasons, Connerley and Hobbs, for the different topics about the range of possible play experiences covered in this new season’s first reflection from the road.
You can interact on these and other gaming topics by sending a voice message via SpeakPipe or contact me by e-mail at runescastshadows at gmail dot com
Casting Shadows Podcast 