Roleplaying

The Roleplaying tag identifies content focusing on ideas and observations about roleplaying games. These articles often overlap with RPG Design, but Roleplaying is more general.

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John Parker

The Don't Split the Podcast Network is a network of RPG-focused podcasts (currently 7) produced by veteran podcasters Rudy Basso and James Introcaso. The production quality is some of the highest in the game podcast universe and the variety of content is expansive. The show formats and content span the interests of most gamers. The content is mostly focused on D&D 5th Edition, but other systems are featured and much of the DM advice will improve your experience in most systems. My interests in the network podcasts are limited to the news, design, and DM content, having followed all since their inception. However, I am unfamiliar with the actual play shows. (I currently only have time to listen to actual plays for which I write content). The current shows are listed here:

John Parker

In November, I started offering services to the RPG design and development community, particularly the community content creators that publish on the OneBookShelf (OBS) platform. I have had the pleasure of contributing to several projects that have been or are in progress to be posted on the OBS RPG publishing sites DMsGuild (D&D 5E only) and DriveThruRPG (anything RPG). The content there can be available for free, “pay what you want”, or for a fee.

To date, my completed contributions have been primarily as editor and/or proofreader but writing and design projects are in progress. Here is an example of the types of projects: Orpheus Mission Reports Volume 1. I am involved in several other projects and will highlight them as they are published.

John Parker

Calculated Risks: An Eberron Adventure is an actual play podcast set in the world of Eberron using D&D 5th Edition. Starring R P Davis, Alina Popescu, Mike Suteu, and featuring Dungeon Master Travis Legge. Watch LIVE on Twitch Fridays 10 am CST. Twitch.tv/plasticageplays

I am pleased to be writing the promotional copy for Calculated Risks: An Eberron Adventure. For Season 1, I have written an introduction to the adventure and characters and a season-level synopsis. These are complete and episodic promotional content for Season 2 is in progress (e.g., “previously on”, synopsis, and full summary).

Setup

As mentioned in 2017 Preview – Gaming Goals, I have taken a very high level approach to goals related to how many games, what type of games, etc. that will hit my table this year. This is fortunate because I would have already headed down a path that probably is contrary to anything I would have imagined just 2 months ago.

About 18 months ago, I started looking hard at Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition (D&D 5E). An old friend who was the primary DM in my wife’s college D&D group was also looking at it, but we didn’t think we would be able to get any momentum toward playing. We are all just too busy and the old gang lives at different corners of the Denver area (Lori and I and another couple are actually “remote”), so getting together is always an ordeal. We also looked at Roll20 and Fantasy Grounds as possible tools to facilitate being able to play.

Can we pull it together to play D&D?

John Parker

In the exploration into RPG systems and supplements, I will be looking for what is new compared to what is tried and true. RPGs are evolving and expanding at least as quickly as boardgames. This notebook will document some of that exploration.

Objective

Explore RPG design "ideas" and post any research and insights regarding: