This week I give a brief introduction to the Storyteller RPG system by White Wolf. This is the system used for the World of Darkness games, including Vampire: the Masquerade , Werewolf: the Apocalypse , Changeling: the Dreaming , Mage: the Ascension , and Wraith: the Oblivion . This versatile system is easy to learn, easy to teach, and easy to run, and it’s one of my favorites. Check Out my NEW PODCAST - Lex Out Loud Get 10% off your next purchase at Metallic Dice Games . Interested in Beta Read...
Aug 08, 2022•1 hr 36 min•Season 16Ep. 293
Craig joins me again today to continue our discussion of his Mage chronicle. We talk more about the open-ended magic system of Mage and how, to a large degree, the biggest limitation is the players’ own imaginations. We also talk about Pathfinder’s Adventure Paths and how vignettes and preludes can add depth to the tabletop RPG experience. Check Out my NEW PODCAST - Lex Out Loud Get 10% off your next purchase at Metallic Dice Games . Interested in Beta Reading for my new novel, Critical Balance ...
Aug 01, 2022•1 hr 10 min•Season 16Ep. 292
Craig joins me to discuss his Mage chronicle he’s running. What is it like running a game where the player characters can do just about anything they can imagine? We also talk about the differences between more mechanics-focused games and more narrative-focused games. Check Out my NEW PODCAST - Lex Out Loud Get 10% off your next purchase at Metallic Dice Games . Interested in Beta Reading for my new novel, Critical Balance ? Find out more here . Get a free 30 day trial of Audible with my affilia...
Jul 25, 2022•1 hr 24 min•Season 16Ep. 291
I’m often asked if I’ve ever considered creating my own RPG system, and the answer is Yes! Today I talk about some of the features that my ideal RPG system would have. Check Out my NEW PODCAST - Lex Out Loud Get 10% off your next purchase at Metallic Dice Games . Interested in Beta Reading for my new novel, Critical Balance ? Find out more here . Get a free 30 day trial of Audible with my affiliate link. Call the Game Master's Journey voice mail: 951-GMJ-LEX1 (951-465-5391). If you’re a new list...
Jun 20, 2022•54 min•Season 16Ep. 290
I field some questions from listener-GM Matt Yancik on topics of game mastering: my GM philosophy, managing the table & players, and GMing compared to playing. I then talk a bit about the new Mage: the Ascension campaign I’m playing in and reminisce about my time with the old World of Darkness games Changeling: the Dreaming & Vampire: the Masquerade. Check Out my NEW PODCAST - Lex Out Loud Get 10% off your next purchase at Metallic Dice Games . Interested in Beta Reading for my new novel...
May 09, 2022•1 hr 28 min•Season 16Ep. 289
This week I resurrect the show to discuss how problem solving can be a refreshing alternative to combat in your RPG. Get 10% off your next purchase at Metallic Dice Games . Check Out Lex’s NEW PODCAST - Lex Out Loud Call the Game Master's Journey voice mail: 951-GMJ-LEX1 (951-465-5391). If you’re a new listener, and you’d like to go back to the beginning, here’s a link to Episode 1 . If you’re interested in worldbuilding and/or Lex’s D&D campaign setting of Primordia, check out the first wor...
Feb 14, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Season 16Ep. 288
In the final episode of Game Master’s Journey, Lex discusses campaign length and why he thinks modern TV shows give us an excellent guide to follow. Get 10% off your next purchase at Metallic Dice Games .
Dec 29, 2020•1 hr 7 min•Season 15Ep. 287
Lex explores the Star Trek Adventures RPG. Although this is a game with a lot of flaws, there are some cool ideas and innovations you can apply to any roleplaying game. Lex gives an overview of the merits & flaws of this game, and then he explores his favorite elements and how they could be used in other games.
Dec 08, 2020•2 hr 20 min•Season 15Ep. 286
In this worldbuilding episode, Lex explores how to created a world your players are invested in and how to increase player interest in the setting. Lex discusses how to use player ideas and PC backstories in adventures. Finally, Lex talks about how to reflect different and diverse cultures in your world, and he provides a list of anthropological resources to give you some ideas.
Nov 17, 2020•1 hr 45 min•Season 15Ep. 285
Lex returns to Game Master's Journey to discuss worldbuilding. In the first of a two episode series, Lex talks about how to use cliches in your game. He then talks about how to approach worldbuilding for small-scale stories and conflicts.
Nov 04, 2020•1 hr 4 min•Season 15Ep. 284
In the season 14 finale episode, Lex revisits his discussion of degrees of failure, success at a cost and player agency. He also talks about some of his favorite aspects from some 5e settings (and a non-D&D setting) that you might want to use in your own homebrewed D&D setting.
Jul 29, 2020•1 hr 52 min•Season 14Ep. 283
Lex discusses reskinning or redesigning a class that doesn’t fit your campaign instead of removing it. Just as the classes available to play in a campaign set the tone & flavor for the campaign, so too can you achieve a specific goal through the PC races & subraces you allow (or don’t allow). Lex also talks about using material from previous editions in 5th edition and moving beyond simple binary pass/fail in your D&D game. Finally Lex talks about player agency and why player percept...
Jul 22, 2020•2 hr 6 min•Season 14Ep. 282
For many DMs the default assumption is that all the player character options in the Player’s Handbook should be allowed in their game. However, one of the best things you can do to improve the flavor & focus of your D&D campaign just might be to cut some of the PHB options out. This week Lex discusses some responses to episode 281 and further explores the topic of removing options from the PHB.
Jun 30, 2020•1 hr 50 min•Season 14Ep. 281
For many DMs the default assumption is that all the player character options in the Player’s Handbook should be allowed in their game. However, one of the best things you can do to improve the flavor & focus of your D&D campaign just might be to cut some of the PHB options out. Lex explores how removing some of the classes & subclasses from your D&D campaign might be just the thing to keep it from feeling like a “kitchen sink buffet” of disparate cultures, time periods and sub-ge...
Jun 26, 2020•1 hr 53 min•Season 14Ep. 280
Lex is joined by Brett & Phoebe, to recap a session of their D&D campaign, Blood of the Avatars. This week the PCs make a deal with a devil. This is a homebrewed campaign set in Lex’s D&D world, Primordia, that is currently using elements of the published campaign, Descent into Avernus .
Apr 27, 2020•1 hr•Season 14Ep. 279
Lex returns to his in-depth discussion of the Dungeon Master’s Guide . This week he discusses how to create a full monster stat black. You can use this process to complete a new monster that’s as complete as any monster in the Monster Manual . This builds on the framework established in episode 276 .
Apr 20, 2020•1 hr 47 min•Season 14Ep. 278
Lex is joined by two players from his D&D group, Phoebe & Craig, to recap two sessions of their campaign, Blood of the Avatars. This is a homebrewed campaign set in Lex’s D&D world, Primordia, that is currently using elements of the published campaign, Descent into Avernus .
Apr 15, 2020•1 hr 15 min•Season 14Ep. 277
Lex returns to his in-depth discussion of the Dungeon Master’s Guide . This week he discusses how to modify a monster and how to create quick monster stats. If you want to make a custom monster for your game, you might be able to make some minor modifications to an existing monster. Lex also shows how you can quickly create a monster of a given CR on-the-fly during play. Finally, this episode lays the groundwork for creating a completely new and unique monster from scratch. Anyone can do this, a...
Apr 09, 2020•1 hr 47 min•Season 14Ep. 276
Lex discusses Matt Mercer’s Heroic Chronicle system from Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount . This is a great system for fleshing out PC backstories and grounding them in the setting of your campaign. This system is especially fantastic for DMs using their own homebrewed campaign settings, but DMs using published settings will also find inspiration in the application of these ideas. Lex discusses how to take this system and adapt it for your campaign so you can better tie in the PCs to your setting ...
Mar 31, 2020•1 hr 7 min•Season 14Ep. 275
Lex discusses how he would approach running an adventure for PCs who are significantly higher level than the adventure assumes. He also gives his thoughts on dealing with a problem player who’s out to ruin the fun for everyone else at the table. Finally, Lex ponders how he’d handle a character who gets advantage on perception checks using smell and disadvantage on perception checks using sight.
Mar 24, 2020•1 hr 18 min•Season 14Ep. 274
The PCs battle the forces of Arkhan the Cruel. We are using elements of the published adventure, Descent Into Avernus , so there will be spoilers for that adventure.
Dec 30, 2019•2 hr 41 min•Season 14Ep. 273
The PCs travel to Arkhan’s Tower in search of the blood of Tiamat. We are using elements of the published adventure, Descent Into Avernus , so there will be spoilers for that adventure.
Dec 23, 2019•2 hr 21 min•Season 14Ep. 272
This session begins with a recap of the campaign so far. We will be using elements from the published adventure, Descent Into Avernus, so there will be spoilers for that adventure. The PCs have returned to the village of Dianara’s Rest just in time for all hell to break loose!
Dec 16, 2019•2 hr 17 min•Season 14Ep. 271
Lex & Brett return to their in-depth discussion of the Dungeon Master’s Guide. This week they continue their exploration of combat options. Today’s topics include hitting cover, cleaving through creatures, lingering injuries, massive damage and morale.
Dec 09, 2019•49 min•Season 14Ep. 270
Lex & Brett return to their in-depth discussion of the Dungeon Master’s Guide . This week is all about combat options! First, they cover initiative variants, including initiative score, side initiative and speed factor. Next they go through some additional options for actions in combat—climb onto a bigger creature, disarm, mark, overrun, shove aside and tumble.
Nov 25, 2019•1 hr 3 min•Season 14Ep. 269
This session begins after the PCs have had a month of downtime in the city of Elandria. The players discuss their downtime activities, and the characters compare notes of what they’ve learned in their various research. The PCs turn their attention to solving the mystery of the fate of Willim the Wondrous, a human sorcerer and lover of the dryad Anna who disappeared 50 years ago.
Nov 11, 2019•2 hr 14 min•Season 14Ep. 268
Lerissa meets with her mother, Amanda Victoria, and learns more about her erinyes father. Later, Fir joins Lerissa, Amanda and Dahlia at the spa and more surprising revelations unfold.
Nov 07, 2019•1 hr 46 min•Season 14Ep. 267
Lex & Brett return to their in-depth discussion of the Dungeon Master’s Guide . They begin with the optional rules of fear and horror. Then they explore some healing and rest variants. They briefly discuss adding firearms, explosives and/or alien technology to your D&D game. Finally they discuss the three different variants of the plot points optional rule. They’re especially fans of the “gods must be crazy variant” and are really looking forward to trying that in a campaign!...
Oct 21, 2019•1 hr 18 min•Season 14Ep. 266
Lex & Brett return to their in-depth discussion of the Dungeon Master’s Guide . This week’s topics include hero points, honor and sanity. They might have also stumbled on a compelling alternative to alignment if you’re looking for a different way to play with morality in your D&D game. Finally, they revisit skill variants from episode 264 , giving some examples of when they might be just the thing to use....
Oct 07, 2019•1 hr 9 min•Season 14Ep. 265
Lex & Brett return to their in-depth discussion of the Dungeon Master’s Guide for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition. This week they begin exploring Chapter 9: Dungeon Master’s Workshop. They begin with some general guidelines for considering optional and variant rules for your game. Then the ability option of using proficiency dice. Next up are some skill variants, including ability check proficiency, background proficiency and personality trait proficiency....
Sep 30, 2019•1 hr 8 min•Season 14Ep. 264
