The first time I came across phases of play in a Role Playing game was Mouseguard. It’s a game based on a comic book series about mice who adventure to help the mouse territories…it’s besides the point. The comics are great. If you want to know more, check it out here. It’s also based on an older...
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http://misdirectedmark.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/GC_170_Session0Redux_Final.mp3 Session 0. We’re doing it again. Why? Because it’s important. Why is it important? Because it helps groups understand who the characters they’re playing are, why the characters are doing what they’re doing, places...
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I’m not a trained actor. I’ve never taken an acting class. I don’t even really have any talent for acting. But I love playing characters, and one of my favorite things as a GM is playing all the different NPCs that the players interact with. For instance, there are these intelligent Kobolds I use...
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http://misdirectedmark.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/GC_169_Plotseeds_Final.mp3 Not every seed that’s planted in the ground grows, which is why you need to get some fertile soil, space your seeds in the soil properly, water them as needed, and monitor those seeds as they begin to sprout and grow....
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A short chat about using oneshots for worldbuilding!
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http://misdirectedmark.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/GC_167_Partiesliketheonesyoudanceat-Mixdown-1.mp3 We’re talking about parties. Not adventuring parties. Masquerades, balls, shindigs, gatherings, formal dances, ragers, raves, and festivals. Chris and Jared want to help you drop that...
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http://misdirectedmark.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/GC_166_QuantamOgre_V01_CS_Final.mp3 It’s here. It’s there. It’s every bleeping where. Quantum Ogre. Quantum Ogre. Welcome to episode 166 of the Gnomecast where we talk about the thing that’s everywhere. The Quantum...
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A decade-ish ago, I wrote an article entitled “The Nine Forms of the Five Room Dungeon”. The premise was simple: using specific rules of construction, there are only nine topologies to which a five room dungeon can conform. Ie: there are only nine five room dungeons (IF you follow those rules)....
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S.O.M.O. (so•mo) | noun: Scared of Missing Out. A version of Fear of Missing Out that replaces the first word for a synonym so that the author of the blog article can maintain his alliterative title. I have a problem with my campaign prep, but if you have the same problem, there might be hope for...
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http://misdirectedmark.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/GC_165_SchedulingDifficulties_Final.mp3 On today’s Gnomecast we talk problems with scheduling. To cover that we have Ang, along with Tomas and Phil to talk about the true BBEG of ttrpgs. Time to break out the +4...
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