Download “The New Hotness & New Players”
Del and Chris answer a couple of listener questions, including how to deal with players that want to play the new hotness and how to introduce brand new players to the hobby! (52min)
Things you may be interested in:
Roll Player
Apocrypha
The Other Side
NPC CAST: YOUR PLACE FOR FACE TO FACE GAMES.
Download “Problem Players – DM Advice”
Del and Chris answer a listener question about how to deal with problem players in your RPG campaign! (55min)
Things you may be interested in:
The Other Side Kickstarter
The Last Garden Contest!
NPC CAST: YOUR PLACE FOR FACE TO FACE GAMES.
Download “Level Up Mail Bag”
The NPC Cast enters 2nd Edition, and fields questions from the NPC Universe! We’re also on YouTube now, over at One Thousand XP. Oh, and you can all finally level up! (53min)
To get the Star Wars: Edge of the Empire PDFs that Del was referring to, head here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/level-up-mail-7648658
NPC CAST: YOUR PLACE FOR FACE TO FACE GAMES.
Download “GM’s Checklist”
In this episode Del and Chris offer up a checklist for new and established GMs when preparing for their sessions! (65min)
Things you may be interested in:
Podbean code: igp7j86v
NPC CAST: YOUR PLACE FOR FACE TO FACE GAMES.
Download NPC Cast Episode 171 – We Can Do Better
Hello!
The episode is coming out a bit early this week. There are two reasons for that. The minor one is logistical: I’m flying out to Baltimore in a several hours and didn’t want to deal with the hassle of scheduling the post. The second reason is because this is a serious and important topic, and after finishing the editing I wanted to get it out as soon as I could.
This past week, there was a blog post which made the rounds that highlighted one woman’s history of discrimination, harassment, and sexual abuse in and around the gaming industry. We consider ourselves allies to anyone that wishes to participate in this amazing hobby. We want people to find safety and acceptance here, regardless of gender identity, sexual preference, race, physical limitations, or age. Just as we have found safety and acceptance within this community for the past 20 years.
Because of this, we felt compelled to speak out regarding these issues. We felt that it would be cowardly for us to not use the modest platform that we have built with you for the past 3 years to let folks know that there are people who care, and there are people who want to work with them in order to make a community that we can all be a part of.
We know this is a departure from our regular episodes, and we hope that you’ll forgive the inconvenience and allow us the opportunity to share our thoughts and honest feelings with you.
We’re not charging patrons for this episode, not because we think any of you in particular would object, but because we don’t feel right doing so. If this episode resonates with you, or you think it may resonate with somebody you know please share it. Thank you for your continued support. ❤
-Chris
Things you may be interested in:
Tabletop Gaming Has a White Male Terrorism Problem [trigger warning]
Sexism in Gaming – A response from Wyrd Miniatures regarding the above blog post.
NPC CAST: YOUR PLACE FOR FACE TO FACE GAMES.
Download NPC Cast Episode 170 – Unfun PCs
The NPC Cast discusses what you can do if you’re not having fun with your current character! (50min)
Things you may be interested in:
NPC CAST: YOUR PLACE FOR FACE TO FACE GAMES.
Download NPC Cast Episode 169 – Del’s GMtervention
Del has some issues in his campaign and we talk about some potential fixes for his problems! (56min)
Things you may be interested in:
NPC CAST: YOUR PLACE FOR FACE TO FACE GAMES.
Download NPC Cast Episode 168 – Planning a Game Night
PLEASE VOTE FOR US FOR THE GOLDEN GEEK AWARDS
The guys chat about the four things that you should consider when planning your game night! (56min)
Things you may be interested in:
NPC CAST: YOUR PLACE FOR FACE TO FACE GAMES.
Download NPC Cast Episode 165 – Unwritten Rules
Aaron and Chris talk about some of the Unwritten Rules in Role-Playing games and Board Games! (57min)
Things you may be interested in:
NPC CAST: YOUR PLACE FOR FACE TO FACE GAMES.
Download NPC Cast Episode 156 – How to be a Good Player
We offer some of our advice for how to be the type of player your GM would love to have at the table! (73min)
CHECK OUT THE BRACKET FOR THE 2015k CASTIES. FILL IT OUT. MAYBE WIN A PRIZE.
Things you may be interested in:
Pop Culture Playoffs – Aaron and Del’s other podcast!
NPC CAST: YOUR PLACE FOR FACE TO FACE GAMES.
Download NPC Cast Episode 150 – What We’ve Learned
EPISODE 150! Chris and Aaron look back at what they have learned about RPGs, Board Games, and themselves since the show has began! (60min)
Some things you may be interested in:
NPC CAST: YOUR PLACE FOR FACE TO FACE GAMES.
Download NPC Cast Episode 141 – Food and RPGs
In this episode we chat about the food we eat at the RPG table, and also food INSIDE of our RPGs! (63min)
Food We Eat: 03:31
Food Inside: 30:50
Some things you may be interested in:
NPC CAST: YOUR PLACE FOR FACE TO FACE GAMES.
Download NPC Cast Episode 130 – How to Teach Games
This episode, the guys chat about their process for teaching games! (66min)
Some things you may be interested in:
NPC CAST: YOUR PLACE FOR FACE TO FACE GAMES.
Download NPC Cast Episode 127 – Playing Games with Strangers
In this episode, the guys are joined by friend-pc Stephanie Straw, to talk about playing games with strangers! (67min)
Other things you may be interested in:
Meetup.com – A place to find events near you!
Epic Spell Wars of the Battle Wizards 2
NPC CAST: YOUR PLACE FOR FACE TO FACE GAMES.
Download NPC Cast Episode 84 – Del’s Don’ts.
In this episode, NPC Del reveals his don’ts when it comes to playing in tournaments! (54min)
Things you may be interested in:
Machi Koro – A light city-building “intro” game!
NPC CAST: YOUR PLACE FOR FACE TO FACE GAMES.
Download NPC Cast Episode 71 – Chris’ Don’ts.
In this episode, NPC Chris explains the 5 things he doesn’t do when running games! (61min)
Things you may be interested in:
THE GAUNTLET – A charity tournament on May 18th!
Dresden Lives – A Dresden Files LARP by Evil Hat!
Star Wars Age of Rebellion – The next installment of Fantasy Flight’s Star Wars RPG!
The Bundle of Holding – Bundles of inexpensive RPG PDFs!
NPC CAST: YOUR PLACE FOR FACE TO FACE GAMES.
Download NPC Cast Episode 67: Aaron’s Dont’s.
In this episode, NPC Aaron explains the things he thinks you should NEVER do when running a game! (57min)
Things you may be interested in:
Habitat- A physics-driven strategy video game!
Combat Description Cards for Storytellers and GMs – What it says, act quick!
NPC CAST: YOUR PLACE FOR FACE TO FACE GAMES.
Download NPC Cast Episode 63: Worker Placement.
In this episode, the guys answer a listener email and chat about Worker Placement board games! (63min)
Things you may be interested in:
Legendary: Paint the Town Red – An expansion for the co-op deckduilder Legendary!
Marvel Dice Masters – A Collectible Dice game!
Splendor – A card game about making jewelry!
NPC CAST: YOUR PLACE FOR FACE TO FACE GAMES.
L-R: Bok Lesta, Vic Vakarian, Ko Digga and Icantnam Donar
I run an Edge of the Empire game for our group. It’s a fantastic system.
We have Vic Vakarian, the human captain from Thyferra, Icantnam Donar, a human slicer spacer, Ko Digga, a Rodian Bounty Hunter from Rodia, and Bok Lesta, a glit-biting Twi’lek pilot from Ryloth. Impossibly, this image actually sums up our group almost perfectly:
Most of the time, our games are action-packed and fit the Star Wars adventure mold – lots of blasters, running from things, derring-do and just general adventure. It goes something like this:
Recently, though, I had a session I was personally really displeased with how it went down. The crew was investigating what may or may not be a hidden Rebel base in the Vad system. They managed to find a Golan Space Platform that was in a stationary orbit between the gas giant Vad V and the sun, blocking it from outside detection.
They managed to cajole their way onto the platform, docked and began exploring/accomplishing their goals on the site, conducting an investigation into who might be selling glitterstim from under the Rebel’s noses.
This played directly into the strengths of Vic Vakarian, the team’s fast-talking and charismatic pilot, as well as Bok Lesta, whose obligation is to the Black Sun and has a background in the underworld. Even Icantnam got in on the action, slicing additional privileges onto their guests badges.
But then there was Ko Digga, the Bounty Hunter:
While previous sessions had a lot to do with his Obligation (Duty to his Bounty Hunting code, which is nearly the official religion on Rodia, a planet with a strong hunting culture), this session he didn’t have very much to offer. Because it was an investigation and infiltration adventure, he had nothing to shoot at (yet) and he didn’t have the particular set of non-combat skills that would be applicable in this situation.
During the game, I was caught up in the storytelling and getting everyone involved, answering their questions and digging deeper into the mysteries of the Vad V Space Station, and I didn’t realize until after the session that I had basically abandoned Ko.
THE TAKEAWAY
While you may be having fun, one of the responsibilities of the GM is to make sure that fun is spread evenly around. Nobody wants to play in the “Superman and his friends the dumb idiot background characters” game; they want to play as the Justice League, each one contributing. Take a moment every now and then to think about the last time you made an effort to involve each player. Make sure that the spotlight doesn’t fall on the player whose character is the most important right now, but make time for each character to shine. If you do, you’ll find that your players are more invested, and there’ll be less people with their eyes glazing over, not invested in the game and checking their phone.
NPC Cast Episode 31: Zone of Comfort.
In this episode the NPCs chat about when players should be coaxed out of their comfort zones! (61min)
Some things we discuss on this episode:
Mark Rosewater’s Twitter: The Twitter page for a former Roseanne writer. Also, the lead designer for some card game.
Artemis 2.0: A spaceship bridge simulator.
Warhammer Invasion: An LCG from Fantasy Flight Games!
Castle Dice: A dice-drafting game from Luke Peterschmidt.
NPC CAST: YOUR PLACE FOR FACE TO FACE GAMES.
NPC Cast Episode 28: Winning Friends.
In this episode NPC Chris and NPC Del delve a bit deeper into finding new players for your gaming group! Also: Chris gushes about the press and Del reveals his dirtiest secret. (49min)
Some things we discuss on this episode:
Star Wars – Edge of the Empire: The new Star Wars RPG by Fantasy Flight Games!
Warmachine Tactics: A video game Kickstarted by Privateer Press.
NPC CAST: YOUR PLACE FOR FACE TO FACE GAMES.
NPC Cast Episode 16: Hugging Adele.
In this episode the guys talk about Playgroup Dynamics! They also answer a listener email about running a mystery game! It’s NPC Aaron’s birthday!(62min)
Some things we discuss on this episode:
The Gumshoe System on RPG Geek – An RPG system specifically designed to deal with sleuthing.
Geek Social Fallacies – An interesting list of traits that certain game enthusiasts exhibit.
Robin’s Laws of Good Gamemastering – Recommended reading!!!
Rocket Dice – The Kickstarter is over, but the fun is just beginning.
Urbania on Board Game Geek – A board game designed by Simone Luciani
Torchbearer – A dungeon delving RPG with resource management. By the makers of Burning Wheel and Mouse Guard.
NPC CAST: YOUR PLACE FOR FACE TO FACE GAMES.
NPC CAST 