Getting Kids into Games Recorded at Breakout Con 2017 Presented by Daniel Kwan , Rachel Kahn , Sean Munro and moderator Pieter van Hiel We love role-playing games! Regardless of the game system, the storytelling, dice rolling, teamwork, and creative thinking involved in all tabletop RPGs have had a profound impact on our lives. But how do you introduce families and children to the imagination, storytelling, empowerment, and cooperation involved in gaming? Find out how to lay the groundwork for f...
May 06, 2017•52 min•Ep. 133
Being a Great Player Recorded at Breakout Con 2017 Presented by Emily Griggs , Jason Pitre, Moyra Turkington and Chris Chung , moderated by Corey Reid . A great GM can only craft an amazing tabletop RPG experience with the help of great players. A discussion of how to be one of those players, improving the at-table experience for both yourself and everyone else. Includes discussions on roleplaying technique, communal storytelling, and how experienced players can help welcome new players into the...
Apr 29, 2017•54 min•Ep. 134
Game to Game: Converting Between Systems Recorded at Metatopia 2015 Presented by John Adamus and Paul Stefko If you play more than one RPG, you will eventually want to use material from one system in another. Or maybe your favorite game has been updated to a new awesome edition, but you want to keep using your old books too. What should you keep in mind when converting RPG rules and adventures from one game to another? How much (or how little) work do you need to do? You can subscribe to us here...
Apr 23, 2017•39 min•Ep. 135
Playing and Designing at the Intersections: Creating Good Allyship Recorded at Metatopia 2015 Presented by Kat Jones , Krista White , Elsa S. Henry & K.N. Granger . This roundtable will focus on how to design and run games from an intersectional feminist standpoint. We will discuss different ways a game can be intersectional including: mechanics, characters, artwork, and more. Drawing on concrete examples from panelists about their own design process, as well as games that have influenced th...
Apr 02, 2017•46 min•Ep. 136
Art for your Game without Breaking the Bank Recorded at Metatopia 2015 Presented by Jack Parra , John Carimando , Scott Bowmanchester and Brennan Reece . Getting high-quality art is key to making a product look professional. How do publishers do it without breaking the bank? Our panel makes with the tips and tricks. You can subscribe to us here! RSS Feed iTunes Episode 108: Affordable Art [ 57:43 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (785)...
Mar 19, 2017•58 min•Ep. 137
Working with Artists 101 Recorded at Metatopia 2015 Presented by Brennan Taylor , Fred Hicks & John Carimando How do you find and contact artists to work with you on a project? How much can you expect to spend? How can you avoid pissing your artist off? Find out from the veterans! You can subscribe to us here! RSS Feed iTunes Episode 107: Working with Artists [ 55:49 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1528)...
Feb 06, 2017•56 min•Ep. 138
Special Episode 1 In this special episode of the RPG Design Panelcast, we discuss a few administrative bits concerning the podcasts, including issues of sound quality. I also take a chance to shamelessly plug one of my games which is currently kickstarting ( http://tinyurl.com/SigKS ) You can subscribe to us here! RSS Feed iTunes Special Episode 1 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (677)...
Jan 24, 2017•5 min
Making your First Game Recorded at Metatopia 2015 Presented by Mark Richardson, John Adamus & Jason Walters. So, you’ve decided to make your first game. How exciting! Discuss what pitfalls to avoid and what strategies can speed you toward success with designers also making their first game. Note that Mark’s first game is Headspace, currently available at Indie Press Revolution ! John’s first game, Noir World, is coming to kickstarter soon! You can subscribe to us here! RSS Feed iTunes Episod...
Jan 22, 2017•1 hr•Ep. 140
Cultural Mechanics Recorded at Metatopia 2015 Presented by Jason Pitre, Julia Ellingboe , and Mark Diaz Truman . Games are part of our cultures, and the rules we create reflect our own backgrounds. In this roundtable, we explore how mechanics can reflect and/or interrogate culture. How can mechanics explore other people’s experiences? What assumptions do we bring to the game-design table? You can subscribe to us here! RSS Feed iTunes Episode 105: Cultural Mechanics Play Now | Play in Popup | Dow...
Jan 14, 2017•52 min•Season 1Ep. 141
Cyber Infiltration Hotsheet: Prepping to GM a Cyberheist Recorded at Metatopia 2015 Presented by Shane Harsch , Tim Rodriguez & Mark Richardson . What a cyberpunk GM should consider when prepping a cyberheist to keep the drama at least nominally grounded in reality (watch Mr. Robot before attending) This is a follow up to Episode 50, the panel on Hacking in RPGs. You can subscribe to us here! RSS Feed iTunes Episode 104: Cyberheist Hotsheet [ 43:38 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (831)...
Jan 08, 2017•44 min•Season 1Ep. 142
Superhero Games Across the Multiverse Recorded at Metatopia 2015 Presented by Dave Chalker , Cam Banks , Darren Watts & Christopher Badell Superheroes are more popular than ever in the movies and on TV, and there are more games about superheroes than there’s ever been. What makes a superhero game a superhero game? How do you make your superhero game distinct? What are the most important aspects of a superhero game to make it feel heroic? You can subscribe to us here! RSS Feed iTunes Episode ...
Dec 08, 2016•56 min•Ep. 143
A Designer’s Guide to Podcasts Recorded at Metatopia 2015 Presented by James D’Amato, Alex Roberts & Kat Kuhl. A Designer’s Guide to Podcasts” presented by . Getting your ideas in front of people can be one of the most difficult and unpleasant parts of game design. So people love design, but hate talking about what they are doing. Thankfully there is a community of people who are dedicated to talking about games in public spaces, they are called podcasters. Topics will include: Proper etique...
Dec 02, 2016•56 min•Ep. 144
Promoting Your Game Through Podcasting and Other Media Recorded at Metatopia 2015 Presented by Chris Perrin , Tara Clapper, Chris Bell & Mario Dongu. Gaming has a rich, vibrant media that really enjoys advocating for new games and new game designers. However, it can be hard for game designers to find gamer media outlets and even harder to know what to say. This panel will look at ways game designers can find gaming media and promote themselves, presented by the This Just In… crew. You can su...
Nov 25, 2016•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 145
Structuring Game Texts Recorded at Metatopia 2015 Presented by Jason Pitre, Robert Bohl , Jay Treat and Cat Tobin . You’ve designed your game, you’ve playtested it, and you’ve decided you want to publish it as a text (either for free download or sale). How do you structure that text so that it will draw readers in and make the game easy to understand the first time, and easy to use as a reference later? You can subscribe to us here! RSS Feed iTunes Episode 100: Structuring Game Texts Play Now | ...
Nov 12, 2016•55 min•Ep. 146
Why do you Hate your Readers and Players? Recorded at Metatopia 2015 Presented by John Adamus When writing a game or project, it’s important that the language be clear and enjoyable, not just showing off how smart the author is. Learn techniques to keep your project readable and enjoyable. You can subscribe to us here! RSS Feed iTunes Episode 99: Why do you Hate your Readers? [ 56:27 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (889)...
Nov 03, 2016•56 min•Ep. 147
Ten (More) Ways To Make Your Rulebook Awesome Recorded at Metatopia 2015 Presented by Joshua Yearsley . Your rulebook is the heart of your game, so why not give it the love it deserves? In this seminar, you’ll learn ten best practices for improving the structure, style, and clarity of your rulebook. Did you come last year? These tips and tricks will be all new! Got any burning questions about rules craft? Get answers from a professional rulebook editor. Link to the full presentation here! You ca...
Oct 21, 2016•44 min•Ep. 148
What an Editor can do for you Recorded at Metatopia 2015 Presented by John Adamus Editors are here to help. It’s their job. They’re tasked with making your project better. So why not use one? Get answers to what they do and how they can benefit you. Trust us, everyone needs one. Really You can subscribe to us here! RSS Feed iTunes Episode 97: What an Editor Does Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (847)...
Oct 10, 2016•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 149
GenCon Playtesting Panel Recorded at Gencon 2016 Presented by Jason Pitre, Emily Care Boss , and Mark Richardson Playtesting RPGs is a difficult process. In this panel, sponsored by the Indie Game Developer Network, we will teach you how to effectively test games as a designer and as a player. Learn about types of playtests, the best kind of playtesters, and how to offer constructive feedback. You can subscribe to us here! RSS Feed iTunes Episode 96: GenCon Playtesting Panel [ 48:47 ] Play Now |...
Sep 29, 2016•49 min•Ep. 150
Gearheads: Clever RPG Mechanics Recorded at Gencon 2016 Presented by Jason Pitre, and Emily Care Boss Roleplaying game design is a hotbed of innovation, and this panel is a place to talk about some of the latest and greatest mechanics for games. We will talk about fronts, countdown clocks, gm-less play, advantage, and other mechanics to sink your teeth into. Links and Games! Romance Trilogy, including Breaking the Ice, Shooting the Moon, and Under my Skin, by Emily Care Boss ( http://www.blackgr...
Sep 18, 2016•59 min•Ep. 151
Different Voices: Diverse RPGs Recorded at Gencon 2016 Presented by Jason Pitre, and Shoshanna Kessock Roleplaying games offer a fantastic window into the lives of others, and let us see the world through different eyes. This panel, sponsored by the Indie Game Developer Network, will discuss some of these games that bring diverse voices and creators to the forefront. You can subscribe to us here! RSS Feed iTunes Episode 94: Diverse Voices Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (679)...
Sep 09, 2016•49 min•Ep. 152
Heartwrenchers: Emotional RPGs Recorded at Gencon 2016 Presented by Jason Pitre, Shoshanna Kessock and Emily Care Boss The very best roleplaying games will tug on the heart strings during play. Whether the games make you feel love, grief or rage, they make for a memorable play experience. We will discuss these emotion-rich games, and what makes them tick like a broken heart. Apologies for poor sound quality on this recording. Before you go, we would like to ask you to fill in the RPG Design Pane...
Sep 01, 2016•1 hr•Ep. 153
Introduction to RPG Publishing Recorded at Gencon 2016 Presented by Jason Pitre, Shoshanna Kessock and Caleb Stokes Want to publish a roleplaying game? This panel, sponsored by the Indie Game Developer Network, is here to get started, avoiding the hidden pitfalls. Learn about Kickstarter, budgeting, distribution, printing, and the other black arts of publishing. Before you go, we would like to ask you to fill in the RPG Design Panelcast Listener Survey ! This will help us learn more about what y...
Aug 20, 2016•54 min•Ep. 154
Introduction to RPG Design Recorded at Gencon 2016 Presented by Jason Pitre, Dustin Depenning , Emily Care Boss , Shoshanna Kessock You can design games, and we want to help. This panel, sponsored by the Indie Game Developer Network, is here to get you started by sharing resources and best practices. Want to find out the basic of game design? We are here to help show you the way. Before you go, we would like to ask you to fill in the RPG Design Panelcast Listener Survey ! This will help us learn...
Aug 15, 2016•58 min•Ep. 155
Fictional Cartography Recorded at Metatopia 2015 Presented by Mark Richardson & Kenneth Hite Presented by Mark Richardson & Kenneth Hite. A discussion of map making for use in games. From tools to methodology and creative process. Learn what goes in to bringing life to the maps at the center of our gaming tables! You can subscribe to us here! RSS Feed iTunes Episode 90: Fictional Cartography Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (764)...
Aug 11, 2016•54 min•Ep. 156
Game Mechanics as Social Engineering & Social Engineering as Game Design Recorded at Metatopia 2015 Presented by Jason Morningstar & John Stavropoulos . Can a game’s mechanics influence player behavior? Evidence – from XP-grubbing to sophisticated and subtle systems for using player agency to adjust real-world habits – suggests it can. Join Jason Morningstar and John Stavropoulos for a stimulating and perhaps surprising discussion on this topic. Bring your own examples to share! You can ...
Jul 30, 2016•54 min•Ep. 157
Gaming the Future: Putting the Science Fiction in SF RPGs Recorded at Metatopia 2015 Presented by Joshua A.C. Newman , Dev Purkayastha, Laura Simpson & Rachel Walton . Science Fiction, as a genre, has always been about social change and the pressures that change exerts on those caught in that change. That vertiginous change in perspective is designed to give us insight into the human condition as we experience it now. Our panel will talk about the techniques we use to focus RPG play on the i...
Jul 24, 2016•58 min•Ep. 158
Sanity Points Recorded at Metatopia 2015 Presented by Elsa S. Henry , Will Hindmarch , Kelly Osborne & Craig Page . The worst thing that can happen to you in a horror game is either that you die, or that you lose your mind. In games that focus on a world “gone mad”, how do we support real people living with mental illness through our game development? This panel will focus on revisiting systems like sanity points, and discuss how to address breaks with reality and surviving the very worst th...
Jul 17, 2016•57 min•Ep. 159
GMing Outside Your Comfort Zone Recorded at Metatopia 2015 Presented by Cheyenne Wall-Grimes , Sarah Richardson and Elsa S. Henry We all have games that we love to play and GM, but what happens when you break out of your normal type of game and venture into unknown territory? How do you deal with a new group of players who are into something very different than what you normally run? Whether it’s in a campaign setting or running con games, we’ll go over some of the things to expect, avoid and ho...
Jul 10, 2016•55 min•Ep. 160
Recycle! Using Material From Other Games Ethically and Effectively Recorded at Metatopia 2015 Presented by Justin Jacobson , Cam Banks , Jeff Tidball & Andre La Roche. At one time or another, every designer gains inspiration from existing works. Whether it’s snagging a single mechanic or repurposing an entire game with one crucial tweak. What are some tricks for finding that inspiration and using it in interesting ways? What are the ethical and legal considerations when using material? When ...
Jul 01, 2016•55 min•Ep. 161
Patterns and Shapes in Larp Design Recorded at Metatopia 2015 Presented by J Li and Jason Morningstar From spatial layout to information management, this workshop lays out some of the architectural and psychological principles behind LARP design as craft. What’s the difference between a three person conversation and a four person conversation? What does time pressure do to plot? How do you change the outcome of a game by placing chairs? Join us in exploring the fascinating complexity of building...
Jun 24, 2016•52 min•Season 1Ep. 162
