Taking 20 Podcast

Ep 237 - Short vs Long Campaigns

Running long campaigns requires a different focus than running short adventures or one shots.  Each has their own challenges but trying to run one the same way you run the other will lead to burnout or a disastrous disconnected adventure.  In this episode I discuss the difference between these two types of adventures and how GMs must change their tactics to maximize their chance to run a successful game.

 

#pf2e #Pathfinder #gmtips #dmtips #dnd #campaigns

Resources:

Roll 4 Initiative - Digital or Physical? Best Ways to Take Notes in D&D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bJepWSFoxg

Roll 4 Initiative - GM Diary - Note Taking

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZIMf4r_PM8

Roll 4 Initiative - Note-Taking Tips for TTRPG Players

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhocTIb58hM

Ep 236 - Scheduling

Sometimes the hardest monster to defeat in RPGs is the calendar.  It’s hard to schedule games when the real world gets in the way.  In this episode I give you some tips and some decisions you can make ahead of time to make it more likely that you’ll get to the gaming table

 

#pf2e #Pathfinder #gmtips #dmtips #dnd #scheduling

 

Resources:

Reddit post from 2018 from /u/iamnotasloth:  https://www.reddit.com/r/rpg/comments/b1h1f2/how_to_fit_rpgs_into_your_schedule_as_an_adult/

 

Morris’ Unofficial Tabletop RPG Talk, episode #273

https://morrus.podbean.com/e/273-the-lostigistics-of-organizing-an-rpg-game/

Ep 235 - The Why of Villains

Villains can be simple and driven by basic desires like power or money but I believe villains are better when they have understandable motivations and backstory.  In this episode I talk about some examples of villains and why they became what they are.

 

#pf2e #Pathfinder #gmtips #dmtips #dnd #villains

Ep 234 - Player vs Character Abilities

Our characters are good at certain things:  probably stabbing stuff, identifying magic items, discerning which berries are safe to eat and which ones will make you obliterate your large intestine.  Meanwhile our players are probably good at making characters, wiping out a bowl of popcorn and making fart jokes.  In this episode I encourage DMs to remember the difference between players and characters and not to punish characters for a player’s shortcomings.

 

#pf2e #Pathfinder #gmtips #dmtips #dnd

Ep 233 - Review of PF2e Player Core 2

The Pathfinder 2e Player Core 2 book released August 1st.  There’s a lot of information  contained within these 322 pages but, is the information useful?  Should you go out and buy it?  Tune in to find out.

 

#pf2e #Pathfinder #gmtips #PlayerCore2

 

Resources:

The Rules Lawyer:  https://www.youtube.com/@TheRulesLawyerRPG

Bad Luck Gamer:  https://www.youtube.com/@theebadluckgamer 

Ep 232 - Continuing Adventures

How can you continue an adventure after the printed material ends?  The players want to keep going but you’re out of adventure to give them.  The story has to end, right?  Not so fast, my friend.  In this episode we talk about tips and tricks to continue the story out to the horizon.

 

#pf2e #dnd #dmtips #gmtips #aftertheend

 

Resources:

Dragon of Icespire Peak - https://marketplace.dndbeyond.com/adventures/SRC-00041

Ep 231 - Premade Adventures

There are similarities between delivering a performance at a theater and running a game whether online or in person.  In this episode I’ll tell you what lessons I learned on and behind the stage that can be applied to your tabletop game.

 

#pf2e #dnd #dmtips #gmtips #AdventurePrep

Ep 230 - DM Tips from the Theater

There are similarities between delivering a performance at a theater and running a game whether online or in person.  In this episode I’ll tell you what lessons I learned on and behind the stage that can be applied to your tabletop game.

 

#pf2e #dnd #dmtips #gmtips

 

Resources:

Episode 187 - Imposter Syndrome - https://taking20.podbean.com/e/ep-187-short-imposter-syndrome/

Episode 26 - Basics of Improv - https://taking20.podbean.com/e/ep-26-basics-of-improv-and-how-it-helps-you-be-a-better-gm-and-player/

Ep 229 - Wandering Monsters

Wandering monsters have been around since the very earliest days of D&D.  Their usage has waxed and waned through the years as the editions have come out but they still could have a strong purpose in your game as long as you use them correctly.

 

#dnd #5e #pf2e #dmtips #gmtips #WanderingMonsters

 

Resources:

Wandering Monsters Suck:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNgn3rxLPP0

Ep 228 - Back to Basics - Player Ideas

We GMs have to generate a lot about the world from the grand multiverse and pantheons of gods to what Typhon the baker looks like and their foibles.  Sometimes players will have great ideas about their character, the world they live in and maybe even larger topics like names of towns and nations.  In this episode I encourage my DMs to listen to player ideas about the game and how it’s played and incorporate them whenever possible.

 

#dnd #5e #pf2e #dmtips #gmtips #RPGplayers