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Dungeon Musings

Dungeon Musings

By Dungeon Musings

Idle thoughts on roleplaying games, and the folks what play them.

See more of me on the Dungeon Musings YouTube channel, available at fine internets everywhere.
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Lessons from the Night Below

Dungeon MusingsApr 27, 2020

00:00
01:09:23
The State of Play at the End of the Year

The State of Play at the End of the Year

In this episode, I talk about the games we have been playing over on the Dungeon Musings YouTube channel, including a terrific experience we had with Modiphius' new Achtung! Cthulhu 2d20, and some of the games that I plan to get to the table in the new year.
Dec 09, 202101:29:51
Lessons from Horror Video Games for Tabletop RPGs

Lessons from Horror Video Games for Tabletop RPGs

In this episode, I share my frustration with the Resident Evil 7 video game and discuss lessons that might be drawn from such video games that are applicable to TTRPGs.
Aug 31, 202153:21
The End of Summer Update

The End of Summer Update

In this episode, I discuss the games that we have been playing on the Dungeon Musings YouTube channel and some games in the pipeline.
Aug 27, 202102:31:35
Canon

Canon

In this episode, I discuss a history of nerd canon, from comics to Star Wars to Dungeons and Dragons, and share thoughts on Wizards of the Coast's new statement on D&D canon.
Jul 30, 202157:02
Falling In and Out of Love (with Games)

Falling In and Out of Love (with Games)

In this episode, I discuss some of the changes I have made to the line up of games on the Dungeon Musings YouTube channel, and my reasons for those changes.
Jul 07, 202158:51
The Musers' Marathon 2021

The Musers' Marathon 2021

In this episode, I provide an analysis of the planning, execution, and aftermath of this year's gaming marathon on the Dungeon Musings YouTube channel.
Jun 09, 202101:00:42
In Defense of the Unplanned Ongoing Campaign

In Defense of the Unplanned Ongoing Campaign

In this episode, I discuss the lessons that can be drawn from the early decades of the Marvel Comics Universe amd how they relate to ongoing RPG campaigns that have no planned ending.
Apr 12, 202101:05:20
Mailbag Questions!

Mailbag Questions!

In this episode, I dig into the mailbag and offer my answers to questions about player absences, metagaming, and other "table rules" issues.
Jan 13, 202101:06:53
One More For The Road

One More For The Road

In this episode, I discuss the stats I drew from my overview of the Dungeon Musings YouTube channel's games played, and lessons that I may draw from the past year.
Dec 23, 202001:15:38
Goodbye 2020

Goodbye 2020

In this episode, I discuss the games I have run this year, the games currently demanding my attention, and the games coming up in 2021.
Dec 16, 202001:53:01
The State of Play: October 2020

The State of Play: October 2020

In this episode, I discuss some of the ongoing campaigns we have on the Dungeon Musings YouTube channel and some of the one-shot adventures and sessions we have played. I also discuss some issues with adapting material from one RPG to another.
Oct 22, 202059:34
A Long Delayed Update

A Long Delayed Update

In this episode, I discuss many of the awesome games that we have played over the past two months, my thoughts on same, and discuss plans for upcoming shenanigans.
Sep 29, 202001:54:21
The State of Play: Summer 2020

The State of Play: Summer 2020

In this episode, I discuss the games I have been reading and running in the months of July and August 2020.
Sep 02, 202001:02:52
Beginnings, Change, Vision, and Threads

Beginnings, Change, Vision, and Threads

In this episode, I use the themes from the first four days of RPGaDay 2020 to consider my ongoing games, my recent one-shots, and games to consider for the near future.
Aug 05, 202001:14:50
The State of Quarantine Play

The State of Quarantine Play

In this episode, I give an update on the State of Play on the Dungeon Musings YouTube channel, and talk about the hybrid play that comes from combining modern sensibilities with an old school game, successfully.
Jul 17, 202045:14
Also Rans for the Gaming Marathon

Also Rans for the Gaming Marathon

In this episode, I discuss some of the games that came close to making the cut for this year's gaming marathon.
Jun 05, 202054:25
The Play is the Thing: Emergent Story, Narrative Structures, and Setting Lore/Trivia in TTRPGs

The Play is the Thing: Emergent Story, Narrative Structures, and Setting Lore/Trivia in TTRPGs

In this episode, I offer a state of play on all of my ongoing campaigns, as well as my recent gaming marathon running Sixmorevodka's post-apocalyptic RPG, Degenesis. In the course of this, I touch on the relationships between emergent story, narrative structures, and setting information (making a distinction between trivia and lore).
Jun 02, 202001:52:49
Back to the Barrowmaze

Back to the Barrowmaze

In this episode, I discuss my reason for leaving behind the Scarlet Heroes rules for the Barrowmaze, and provide an update on the State of Play of our AD&D 2e games (including a discussion of how I adapted some Pathfinder RPG content to my AD&D 2e campaign).
May 05, 202047:52
The Reverse Honeymoon

The Reverse Honeymoon

In this episode, I forgo talking about gaming to discuss my recent experience with moving, and the reverse honeymoon that I experienced as a result, and propose a strategy for recognizing and managing that phenomenon.
Apr 30, 202010:60
Lessons from the Night Below

Lessons from the Night Below

In this episode, I answer a viewer's question from the Dungeon Musings YouTube channel, about the lessons I have learned from running the Night Below campaign with AD&D 2nd edition.
Apr 27, 202001:09:23
Bookkeeping and Emergent Play in RPGs

Bookkeeping and Emergent Play in RPGs

In this episode, I discuss the topic of bookkeeping in emergent play or sandbox games and provide a state of play with respect to my AD&D 2e and Astonishing Swordsmen and Sorcerers of Hyperborea campaigns.
Apr 26, 202001:08:01
Breaking the Ludonarrative Dissonance Impass by Sacrificing Babies

Breaking the Ludonarrative Dissonance Impass by Sacrificing Babies

In this episode, I discuss strategies to circumvent ludonarrative dissonance by making compromises in each of the dissonant parts. I also talk about some future games I would like to run, once the current crisis is over.
Apr 22, 202059:12
Dungeons and Dragons and Degenesis

Dungeons and Dragons and Degenesis

In this episode, I give an update on the state of play on the Dungeon Musings YouTube channel, including the two AD&D 2nd edition games we have on the go, and discuss my recent obsession with Six More Vodka's mind-blowing Degenesis RPG.
Apr 20, 202001:10:24
History as a Consequence of Mechanics in Modern and Old School Games

History as a Consequence of Mechanics in Modern and Old School Games

In this episode, I discuss how the mechanics of different games, particularly the pace with which a character recovers resources, has a consequence on the time that passes in the game, and how that impacts the story developing therein.
Mar 31, 202001:14:48
Play in the Time of Pandemic

Play in the Time of Pandemic

In this episode, I discuss some recent games I have run, including AD&D 2nd edition, Astonishing Swordsmen and Sorcerers of Hyperborea, Masks: A New Generation, Kult: Divinity Lost, and City of Mist. I also discuss gaming strategies for the housebound.
Mar 19, 202001:17:40
Teen Heroes and Tactical Crunch

Teen Heroes and Tactical Crunch

In this episode of the podcast, I focus on the games I have been running and those soon to come.
Mar 11, 202040:06
Storytelling in a Sandbox with Setting

Storytelling in a Sandbox with Setting

In this episode, I discuss strategies for using setting elements in a sandbox RPG campaign to reinforce a wider story. I also get caught up with this week's games in my State of Play segment.
Mar 03, 202001:04:31
A Little Bitta Love

A Little Bitta Love

The last few episodes of this podcast have been a bit more negative than normal, so here is my discussion of some of the RPGs that I am or will be running that have me VERY excited. :)
Feb 26, 202027:46
The Function of Level in Non-Combat Scenes

The Function of Level in Non-Combat Scenes

In this episode, I discuss the consequences of linking all aspects of game play in tabletop RPGs to character level.
Feb 25, 202001:14:49
Mechanical Support: Adapting Rules to Suit the Fiction

Mechanical Support: Adapting Rules to Suit the Fiction

In this episode, I discuss my recent experiences with using homebrew rules to support a specific type of play experience, and how that approach might be applied in other games. I also provide a debrief of our recent Zweihander experience.
Feb 19, 202001:07:08
The October Faction RPG

The October Faction RPG

In this episode, I discuss my approach to designing an RPG one-shot based on Netflix's October Faction tv series, and how I came up with a custom set of rules for the session tailored to the sensibilities of the show.
Feb 11, 202058:09
Strategies for Campaign Management

Strategies for Campaign Management

In this episode, I discuss the strategies I use to manage my ongoing campaigns and provide an update on the state of play on the Dungeon Musings YouTube channel.
Feb 10, 202057:36
Considering Adventure Design

Considering Adventure Design

In this episode, I discuss the topic of adventure design and how it relates to choice of game. I also give an example of adventure design, using the upcoming October Faction one-shot I will be running as an example. Warning: SPOILERS for October Faction (the series) and my one shot are in segments 3 and 4, so skip those if you want to avoid spoilers.
Jan 30, 202001:20:22
War Stories

War Stories

In this episode, I discuss a flashback technique I use in my RPG campaigns and provide an assessment of the state of play of my ongoing campaigns.
Jan 20, 202041:30
Hello 2020

Hello 2020

In this episode, I discuss the games run, and lessons learned, in 2019.
Jan 13, 202001:11:59
The Holistic Game

The Holistic Game

In this episode, I discuss how the game mechanics of tabletop RPGs determine the overall experience of ongoing campaigns.
Dec 06, 201901:53:17
Overview and Review of the One Ring RPG

Overview and Review of the One Ring RPG

In this episode, I share some recent experiences I had with Cubicle7's terrific The One Ring RPG and provide my thoughts on same.
Nov 18, 201956:47
The Value of Muscle Confusion in the DM Brain

The Value of Muscle Confusion in the DM Brain

In this episode, I discuss some lessons I feel I drew from my first successful effort at running a Story-focused or Narrative-focused game, in this case Son of Oak Game Studios' awesome City of Mist RPG.
Oct 20, 201944:37
What have you been up to Kev? What do you have planned?

What have you been up to Kev? What do you have planned?

In this episode, I discuss the games I have run in the past month and what I have planned for the final quarter of 2019.
Oct 07, 201941:13
Campaign Corner: Starfinder - Against the Aeon Throne

Campaign Corner: Starfinder - Against the Aeon Throne

In this episode, I chat about my ongoing campaign running Paizo Publishing's awesome science fantasy RPG, Starfinder
Sep 11, 201947:21
Story Choices and Framing Your Heroes

Story Choices and Framing Your Heroes

In this episode, I discuss how choices in setting/story can have a structural effect on character ethics, and how that relates to RPG campaigns.
Aug 27, 201957:30
Campaign Corner 2: Pathfinder 2nd Edition - Back in the Barrowmaze

Campaign Corner 2: Pathfinder 2nd Edition - Back in the Barrowmaze

In this episode, I discuss the approach I am taking on my second effort at running a Pathfinder 2nd Edition campaign set in Greg Gillespie's awesome megadungeon adventure, Barrowmaze Complete.
Aug 09, 201901:05:42
Managing the Guests in Your Garden

Managing the Guests in Your Garden

In this episode, I take some call-ins and then share some thoughts on negative online interactions and strategies for dealing with same.
Jul 30, 201936:09
Death in RPGs: Explicit and Implicit Rules and Assumptions

Death in RPGs: Explicit and Implicit Rules and Assumptions

In this episode, I tackle the issue of Player Character mortality in RPGs, how campaign design affects the impact of PC death, and how systems can influence how death is presented in the games.
Jul 18, 201901:11:13
Games in Play, Games on Deck, and Games on the Bedside Table

Games in Play, Games on Deck, and Games on the Bedside Table

In this episode, I talk about the slate of games I am currently running, some of the games coming soon to the Dungeon Musings YouTube channel, and my love for the ugly stepchild that is the Mechwarrior 3rd edition RPG (aka the Classic Battletech RPG).
Jul 13, 201901:39:03
Campaign Corner 1: Astonishing Swordsmen and Sorcerers of Hyperborea - Beneath the Boneyard

Campaign Corner 1: Astonishing Swordsmen and Sorcerers of Hyperborea - Beneath the Boneyard

In this episode, I discuss one of my current ongoing campaigns, Beneath the Boneyard, which is played using a heavily houseruled version of Astonishing Swordsmen and Sorcerers of Hyperborea to play a Gothic Mystery Pathfinder adventure.
Jun 16, 201948:36
The Roadrunner Rules

The Roadrunner Rules

In this episode, I discuss the lessons that can be learned from Chuck Jones' Roadrunner Rules and how they can be applied to RPG campaign design, using one example from my own list of "to do" games.
Jun 15, 201941:09
The Promise of Old School Play and the Virtue of Simplicity

The Promise of Old School Play and the Virtue of Simplicity

In this episode, I talk about some of the lessons learned from the past year's exploration of the OSR movement and how they have impacted on my plans for the next six months of gaming.
May 26, 201901:31:47
Finding Your Voice as a Dungeon Master

Finding Your Voice as a Dungeon Master

In this episode, I talk about the importance of running games in a manner that is authentic to your personality and preferences.
May 10, 201925:52
Write for the Session, Not the Campaign: Lessons from DC's Doom Patrol

Write for the Session, Not the Campaign: Lessons from DC's Doom Patrol

In this short episode, I share some lessons I feel can be drawn from the new Doom Patrol TV series, currently on DC's streaming service.
May 05, 201918:47