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Thinking Critically: A D&D Discussion

Thinking Critically: A D&D Discussion

By Danilo Vujevic

A discussion show with different guests each episode. We take a single concept or idea and discuss what that means within the D&D framework to help you get the most out your sessions, whatever side of the screen you sit on. Consider it an NPR-style, variety bucket of thought-provoking analysis and humorous anecdotes!
All music by Kevin MacLeod.
Art by Béi: https://www.beiworkshop.com/
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Thinking Critically: A D&D DiscussionNov 12, 2021

00:00
01:12:35
Translation

Translation

Welcome back! I'm joined by fellow Englishman Austin, a.k.a. AC Whikcom, to discuss how to translate concepts and ideas into your TTRPG settings. Austin takes us through how to take those errant thoughts you have at 3am and turn them into publishable content worldwide, with a spattering of anecdotes throughout. We also criticise the language bloat of D&D 5e, and conclude that having a million random, niche languages that only one creature speaks probably doesn't add much value!

  • 02:48 - From Brain to Page
  • 15:41 - A Creative Journey
  • 37:51 - The Language Problem
  • 49:21 - Self-Publishing
  • 53:56 - Genre Remixing

Buy Dead Surprise on Amazon!

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Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod

Podcast art by Lily from https://www.facebook.com/beiworkshop

Dec 22, 202301:02:36
Influence
Oct 06, 202357:55
Generations

Generations

Sep 08, 202301:19:47
Immersion

Immersion

We're back! And this time joined by Anya, a.k.a. La Lionne Cosplay, to discuss immersion in your TTRPGs. Anya shares her experience as a Pro-GM on ways to truly pull your players into the game, no matter the system or medium.

  • 04:29 - Remote vs. In Person
  • 12:41 - “Acting Is What You Do When You’re Not Saying Lines”
  • 21:09 - Filling the Space
  • 33:25 - Soft Edges
  • 50:47 - Toggling that Role Play Brain

Tale of the Manticore: https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/

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Dial-up modem 'Modron voice' sound from BBC Sound Effects: ⁠https://sound-effects.bbcrewind.co.uk/search?q=07070097

Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod

Podcast art by Lily from https://www.beiworkshop.com/

Aug 04, 202301:03:47
Production
Jun 23, 202301:09:19
Ravenloft

Ravenloft

John Gent, DM of our D&D one-shot from the RPGaming Faversham event, joins us to discuss everything and anything about his favourite Dungeons & Dragons setting.

  • 03:04 - History of Ravenloft
  • 21:42 - Responsive Bleakness
  • 33:53 - Delineating "Depression"
  • 42:43 - Integrating Ravenloft into your Campaign

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Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod

Podcast art by Lily from https://www.beiworkshop.com/

Jun 09, 202301:06:02
Experimentation

Experimentation

I'm once again joined by Philippa Mort who previously joined us on the Aesthetic⁠ episode back in season 2. This time it's to chat about confidence and taking risks when it comes to experimenting with new systems, characters, and homebrew. Philippa shares her experience in MÖRK BORG & Mausritter, and the best ways to incorporate design features you vibe with into existing campaigns.

  • 06:08 - Taking Risks
  • 25:00 - Stuck in a Rut
  • 31:07 - Retcon & Homebrew
  • 37:49 - The Design Intent of Systems

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Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod


Podcast art by Lily from https://www.beiworkshop.com/

May 19, 202301:04:26
Factions
May 05, 202301:24:47
Burnout

Burnout

We're back after a short, unscheduled break to discuss burnout with fan of the show and Warhammer sensei, Harry Cowdrey. Having both suffered from DM burnout in the past, as I'm sure most DMs have, we talk through what we can now identify as the early warning signs that it's about to set in. Prevention rather than cure is of course the solution though, so understanding why it's happening is critical. Thankfully, this episode contains several tricks for dealing with DM burnout. The other side of the coin is just as valid, though, so we round out the episode tackling the unique predicament of player burnout, and how that affects the game.

  • 03:07 - Red Flags of DM Burnout
  • 24:04 - Weight of Responsibility
  • 42:46 - Benefits & Bullets
  • 55:39 - Player Burnout

Find Harry on Twitter: https://twitter.com/harrycowdrey

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Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod

Podcast art by Lily from https://www.beiworkshop.com/

Apr 21, 202301:04:38
More Live

More Live

Charity Donation Page: https://justgiving.com/fundraising/sl-gameon23

Charity Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/thinkcritdnd

This episode was recorded live at the RPGaming Faversham event on 18th March 2023, organised by Boys from the Baltic Star. The first half was recorded with The Keeper of our Cult of Cthulhu TTRPG session moments before starting, while the second half catches us as we recover from the horrors we experienced.

  • 05:21 - Pre-game Intros and Explanations
  • 11:16 - Post-game Therapy

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Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
Transition Music: 'Digital City Lights Loop' from the Anime Attack Pack 01 by Aaron Richards Audio
Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod

Podcast art by Lily from https://www.beiworkshop.com/

Mar 24, 202329:35
Mystery

Mystery

*Minor Outer Wilds spoilers in this episode*

I'm joined by Michael K. Ross from The RPG Academy to talk how to design enthralling and fair mysteries, puzzles, and enigmas.

Action 12 Cinema Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/therpgacademy/action-12-cinema

12-Hour Charity Stream for Naomi House: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sl-gameon23

  • 04:24 - There’s Been a Murder!
  • 12:54 - Crafting Rewarding Mysteries
  • 29:53 - Implicit Trust and the Beauty of Experimentation
  • 45:35 - Building a Thematic Setting
  • 55:33 - Quickfire Tips

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Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod

Podcast art by Lily from https://www.beiworkshop.com/

Mar 10, 202301:11:21
Integrity

Integrity

CW: Slavery

I'm joined by Ben, Ewan, and Luke from the Boys from the Baltic Star Traveller stream to discuss some of the many different definitions of integrity in TTRPGs. Nothing is off the table as we share tips on building memorable heroes and villains with strong identities in logically consistent settings, along with the meta-topic of how to stay true to oneself in the competitive and ever changing content creation market. Apologies for the technical difficulties in this one, leaving us with just Ben!

  • 03:30 - Being Honest with the Game
  • 17:52 - The Nature of Evil & The Villainy Scale
  • 40:39 - Logical Internal Consistency
  • 52:19 - Staying True to Yourself

RPGaming Faversham 2023

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rpgaming-faversham-2023-tickets-472241295427

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References:

  • 'Fudging' episode of Thinking Critically

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Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod

Podcast art by Lily from https://www.beiworkshop.com/

Feb 24, 202301:04:33
Adventure

Adventure

“I found them all. I won."

Finally, I welcome George from our 'Dungeons, Dice, and Dudes' actual play podcast to discuss how to build adventures, and why it's important to define one. No matter if you're top-down or bottom-up, there always needs to be that call to adventure, a catalyst, and the form that takes can drastically alter the theme and direction of a campaign. Giving your players that Elden Ring moment is all about the "scale in detail"; having a wide enough pond to splash around in with just enough depth to make it worthwhile.

  • 03:48 - The 'Breath of the Wild' Moment
  • 14:40 - Call to Adventure
  • 25:47 - Worldbuilding
  • 40:49 - Character Motivations
  • 51:01 - Fighting DM Anxiety

Find George on Dungeons, Dice, and Dudes: https://linktr.ee/DDandD

Find Thinking Critically online:

References:

  • 'Conflict' episode of Thinking Critically with Rob (Ulysses)
  • 'Time' episode of Thinking Critically with Tim (Ulrik)
  • 'Macro' episode of Thinking Critically with Nathan (DM)
  • 'Happiness' episode of Thinking Critically with Simon (Owain)

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Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod

Podcast art by Lily from https://www.beiworkshop.com/

Feb 10, 202301:04:38
Worldbuilding

Worldbuilding

This episode I'm joined by Harlen Ogni, DM of previous guest Aaron's Games and prolific worldbuilder, with a staggering 250,000 words on World Anvil! Harlen joins me to to chat about our approaches to worldbuilding and what drives us to put pen to paper.

  • 02:52 - Catharsis
  • 13:22 - Letting Go of Your World
  • 31:34 - Environmental Storytelling
  • 46:03 - Of Gods and Kings

Find Harlen on Twitter: https://twitter.com/OgniHarlen

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Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod

Podcast art by Lily from https://www.beiworkshop.com/

Jan 27, 202358:53
OGL

OGL

The sky is falling! It's my pleasure to welcome back Matthew Perkins to discuss this months HOT TOPIC: the "leaked" snippets of the alleged OGL 1.1. Disclosure: this episode was recorded on 7th January, we are not lawyer or legal experts, and neither of us have any official affiliation with WotC or Hasbro, nor any familial connection to Christopher Perkins! Through that lens we take a satirical but earnest look at the alleged OGL 1.1, what it means for each of us and the future of the hobby, while trying to avoid the overwhelming doom and gloom.

  • 06:41 - Ownership Troubles & The Squeeze
  • 20:20- Tinfoil Hat Retroactive Action
  • 31:13 - The Money Men
  • 40:02 - Critical RoGL
  • 50:08 - Sentimental Copyrights
  • 01:05:35 - Looking Forward

Find Matty P on:

Find Thinking Critically online: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk

Dungeons, Dice, & Dudes twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/ddndpod

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Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod

Jan 13, 202301:18:40
Spells

Spells

This mystical episode I'm joined by Jack Weighill of Dice Average RPG to discuss the minutia of the magical. The way WOTC have designed spells is an interesting insight into how they view D&D and how they suggest it should be played. Jack takes us through the best and worst spells, with some interesting surprises that you might not have thought of!

  • 02:32 - Viewing D&D Through the Lens of Spell Design
  • 08:10 - Why Healing is Wasteful
  • 21:58 - Avoid these Spells!
  • 29:13 - Subclass &Tier Considerations
  • 29:16 - DM Agency & OP Spells
  • 43:24 - Completely Busted Spells

Find Jack on:

Find Thinking Critically online: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk

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Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod

Dec 09, 202201:06:28
Variety
Nov 25, 202255:37
More Community

More Community

This very special episode I'm joined by Greg Tito and Shelly Mazzanoble, hosts and producers of the official Dungeons & Dragons podcast: Dragon Talk! They take us through how recording their podcast and writing their new book, Welcome to Dragon Talk, has shaped their D&D experience and shown them all the wonderful ways we interact as a community!

  • 03:16 - D&D Community Archetypes
  • 15:18 - Surprising Applications
  • 25:08 - Complex Systems
  • 32:39 - Lowering the Barrier to Entry
  • 47:38 - Online Communities

Find Greg and Shelly on:

Find Thinking Critically online: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk

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Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod

Nov 11, 202201:01:21
Branding

Branding

Part 3 in our Marketing for TTRPG Creators Series

Webinar sign up: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScjBv3TgGVtqTdIfU3az6Izhw-p0_QlIf_Z5fW2iYBIWEw7zw/viewform

Zack from Applewhite Games returns to the show to discuss the value of 'the person behind the logo' and how everything you do affects your reputation.

  • 03:08 - How Branding Differs from Marketing
  • 10:42 - The Silver Bullet of Good Branding
  • 18:53 - You the Brand Versus You the Person
  • 32:10 - Fear of Failure
  • 38:48 - The Logo Game
  • 46:48 - Etymology

Find Zack on:

Find Thinking Critically online: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk

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Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod

Oct 28, 202201:03:51
Process
Oct 14, 202201:00:27
Quality
Sep 30, 202201:02:00
Chaos
Sep 16, 202201:01:05
More Mistakes
Sep 02, 202201:02:36
Experimenting

Experimenting

This episode brings us Nick from the Hidden GMs Podcast to talk about experimentation in TTRPGs. We discuss the benefits of trying different systems and how they can positively impact how you run your current game. No matter what game you play, everything is dependant on the trust between the players and the GM. One way you can experiment in your D&D 5e game is by handing more control over to your players, be that via extensive character knowledge, in game, or collaborative worldbuilding outside of the game.

  • 03:04 - Trying New Systems
  • 15:32 - D&D 5e Experiments
  • 30:17 - Dynamic Campaigns
  • 49:41 - Playing with the Narrative

Find Nick on:

Find Thinking Critically online: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk

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Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod

Aug 19, 202201:06:34
Extinction

Extinction

Once again I welcome Lucas Zellers, a.k.a @SparkOtter, as we continue our theme from the Monster episode. We discuss a critical topic as Lucas takes us through his new project: Book of Extinction. The book gives game statistics and lore for D&D 5e, alongside real-world history for some of the world’s most famous extinct animals. The project comes at a critical time as earth’s sixth mass extinction accelerates, with more species likely to disappear in the next 20 years than in the last century alone according to the National Academy of Sciences. We discuss the possibility of society becoming numb to extinction, and how these natural events have inescapably shaped the Monster Manual.

  • 02:00 - Extinction: The Core of D&D
  • 08:39 - True Stories Behind Some of the Monster Manual's Extinct Creatures
  • 23:58 - Dino Discussion
  • 31:10 - Extinction-Level Events
  • 38:01 - Content Deprecation
  • 41:48 - TPE: Total Party Extinction

Find Lucas on:

Find Thinking Critically online: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk

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Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod

Aug 05, 202254:54
Writing

Writing

I'm once again joined by Bart Wynants (a.k.a. @critographer), this time to talk about how to write TTRPGs. As with many tasks, mind set and habit formation is of upmost importance for success. Bart suggests embodying different 'roles' when writing TTRPG content: The "Architect" for big picture, macro level structure. The "Builder" for content creation and putting meat on the bones. And finally, the "Interior Designer" for beautifying and improving the user experience. This compartmentalisation can help forward momentum by focusing on what's important at that time. A unique aspect of writing for TTRPGs is how you have to keep several different kinds of audience in mind: DMs, players, and viewers/consumers. Each type demands unique considerations and concessions - listen to the episode to find the tips you need approach this and find success!

  • 01:59 - Building the Habit
  • 11:41 - Writing Reusable Adventures
  • 20:46 - How Writing for a Module Differs from Prep
  • 35:31 - Scripting an Actual Play
  • 51:19 - 'The First Draft is Crap'

Find Bart on:

Find Thinking Critically online: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk

References:

  • S01 E24 'Fudging' episode of Thinking Critically
  • S03 E18 'Kickstarter' episode of Thinking Critically

Patrons:

Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod

Jul 22, 202259:10
History

History

This episode I'm joined by Andrew & Vesna Gronosky from Shewstone Publishing, who leverage their extensive knowledge to discuss the implications of having a "history" in your TTRPG setting. The different lifespans of races can have a profound impact in their culture and what they consider important enough to record; what happened "a long time ago" to a human can be relatively "yesterday" to an elf. We can use these schisms to drive worldbuilding and roleplay opportunities. Fortunately for us, real life has volumes and volumes of inspiration, and most of the heavy lifting has already been done over the span of human history.

  • 02:40 - Building on What We Know
  • 09:42 - Cultural Differences
  • 17:19 - History is Relative
  • 23:03 - The Times They are a Changing
  • 45:06 - Conveying "Facts"
  • 49:20 - Making History

Find Andrew & Vesna via Shewstone Publishing on:

Find Thinking Critically online: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk

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Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod

Jul 08, 202258:38
Canon
Jun 24, 202201:00:19
Flavour

Flavour

This spicy episode I'm joined by Fruits from The Homebakery to talk all about flavouring our D&D campaigns. A large portion of the show is spent discussing the different classes and their subclass options, and how their baggage inherently affects the flavour of player characters. We then move on to introducing food and drink into your campaign, and how it's perhaps an often overlooked vehicle for enabling role play opportunities.

  • 01:38 - Pre-Baked Classes
  • 10:24 - Impact of Sub-Class on Backstory
  • 29:15 - Flavourful Campaigns
  • 34:33 - Fantasy Food & Drink
  • 42:00 - Flavouring your Role Play
  • 51:42 - Subversion

Find Fruits on:

Find Thinking Critically online: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk

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Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod

Jun 10, 202257:28
Motivation

Motivation

Once again I am joined by long time friends of the show and the inimitable hosts of Tabletop Journeys: Josh, Lewanika, and Glen. Their enthusiasm for TTRPGs is infectious and it's such a delight to provide a platform for their passion and talents. This episode about is what galvanises and moves us, as characters, players, and storytellers. It's interesting that PC motivation is not pre-baked in the building process, unlike backgrounds which are almost purely fluff and can sometimes have very little impact on gameplay. This has produced the idea of a "social contract" between players, the DM, and all their characters; an often implicit agreement that we're all in this together to build a great story, but achieving this can be harder than you might expect! The last two-thirds of the show are dedicated to us as human beings and why we love TTRPGs. The answer is as old as the hobby itself: there's no such high as collaborative worldbuilding with friends.

  • 05:39 - Character Motivation
  • 33:36 - What Keeps Us Coming Back
  • 46:06 - Motivated Storytellers

Find Tabletop Journeys on:

Find Thinking Critically online: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk and also now on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/thinkingcritically

References:

  • 'Space' and 'Items' episodes of Thinking Critically

Patrons:

Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod

May 27, 202201:06:42
New

New

Welcome back! Season 4 opens with a self-indulgent, naval gazing look at the new player experience through the eyes of one my players: Matt Street. Matt joined my homebrew campaign in session 0 way back at the beginning of 2019 with his Tortle sorcerer A'Therin Trolldoor. Since then, over six chapters we've lost two players, four PCs and several NPCs. Matt shares his experiences learning D&D 5e from the ground up, having had no TTRPG experience before; the things he wasn't expecting (rekindling childlike joy) and his most surprising takeaways! We talk through the various tips that both jaded DMs such as myself, and virgin players alike can use to aid that onboarding experience. For better and for worse, D&D still has a certain stigma surrounding it, and anything we can do to reduce those barriers and make people comfortable at the table is surely a good thing.

  • 04:28 - New Player Experience
  • 15:09 - Digital or Physical for Onboarding
  • 30:09 - Tips for New Players
  • 36:16 - Voices and Apprehension
  • 47:18 - Tales of the Unexpected
  • 56:35 - D&D: A Unique Experience

Find Matt on:

Find Thinking Critically online: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk

References:

  • 'Ability' episode of Thinking Critically
  • 'Experience' episode of Thinking Critically

Patrons:

Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod

May 13, 202201:04:21
Mythology

Mythology

For the season final I'm joined by Ramji, DM of The 4th Culture, an Asia-based TTRPG show which focuses on global voices and set in an Asian-influence homebrew world. We discuss global mythology and it's impact on TTRPGs, such as it's inherent euro-centricity and how this has affected published settings and games around the world. At it's core, D&D is collaborative storytelling, so it's more similar to folklore and myths than you might originally think! We go on to discuss tips for creating homebrew mythology, such as leveraging different systems and approaches to world building, along the way sharing our own anecdotes and cultural experiences.

  • 02:51 - The Difficulty of Mythology in D&D
  • 13:47 - Digging a Little Deeper
  • 24:29 - Building In-Game Myths
  • 37:02 - Telling Stories Through Maps
  • 42:29 - Telling Stories Through Language
  • 56:44 - Linked by Humanity

Find Ramji on:

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Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod

Apr 15, 202201:06:18
Community

Community

This episode features Hope of the eponymous HopeForTTRPGs who shares with me how to build and maintain an active and safe community. She goes through some personal pitfalls and anecdotes of that growth, and the unique challenges it possesses. One thing to remember during it all is to look after, care for, and improve yourself, as nothing is worth getting burned out for. This episode also features me personifying the "grumpy old man shakes fist at [thing]" meme... several times! C O N T E N T

  • 01:35 - A New Hope: Growth and Sustainability
  • 12:52 - Discordance
  • 17:02 - How to Build a Community
  • 43:35 - Social Networks
  • 48:58 - Homebrewing Compelling Communities
  • 56:35 - Staying True to Yourself

Find Hope on:

Find Thinking Critically on:

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Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod

Apr 08, 202201:03:56
Dynamics

Dynamics

Once again I'm joined by Ian a.k.a TheFoolishSwarmi, this time to talk about the different kind of dynamics in D&D. Most of the episode is focused on the discussion of how D&D is inherently a human experience, and how realising this and efforts to make the game more humane can drastically improve the experience for all at the table, in a safe way. TTRPGs operate in a shared space, and just as every table is unique, every group of players is it's own organism.

Thank you to everyone who donated to my charity stream, together we made over £600!

  • 02:32 - How Group Dynamics Affects the Game
  • 25:16 - The Whole is Greater than the Sum of it's Parts
  • 38:06 - Party Dynamics and Social Intelligence
  • 49:18 - Building an Effective Character

Find Ian on:

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Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod

Apr 01, 202201:02:25
Assemble

Assemble

This episode stars Michael Kesavan, a.k.a. Dead Aussie Gamer, to talk about assembling the best game. Turns out, diversity and versatility are key, both in-universe and out of game. The types of players you have, and the characters they share, creates a unique social biome where we seek acceptance. DAG also takes us through some tips on starting a campaign, and why the negative perception of "starting in a tavern" is misguided.

  • 3:02 - What if I Told You we were Putting a Team Together?
  • 13:07 - The Social Biome
  • 23:50 - Scheduling: The IRL BBEG
  • 31:18 - Bringing People Together
  • 42:42 - Everything is Connected
  • 56:16 - Be Yourself

Find the Dead Aussie Gamer on:

Charity Stream:

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Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod

Mar 25, 202201:04:51
Continuity

Continuity

This episode I host Jarrod Jahoda and Matt Morris of Mid-Level Adventurers to talk all about maintaining continuity in your TTRPGs. We share many tips DMs can use to maintain internal consistency within their campaigns, as to ensure that verisimilitude and to support your players in suspending their disbelief. However, "no plan survives contact with the enemy" and as such, DMs must find ways to encourage and develop the impact and influence of the party on the world. From a players perspective, we ask the question of how do you develop a rich character who's job is being in mortal danger?

  • 07:05 - [Internal] Consistency is King
  • 17:22 - Influence of the Party
  • 24:21 - Pre-building Campaign Continuity
  • 32:30 - Maintaining Characters in Mortal Danger
  • 45:54 - Continuity Errors
  • 55:22 - The Multiverse

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  • 'Lore' episode of Thinking Critically

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Mar 18, 202201:09:26
Storytelling

Storytelling

Minor Spider-Man: No Way Home spoilers in this episode!

I'm joined by Sam Bradley from Starter Set Studios to talk all how to tell, or be told, a good story. We dissect a couple of common storytelling tools such as 'show, don't tell', and how these translate to running a TTRPG. The implementation of these tools varies system to system, table to table, and requires additional overhead on the GM. I put Sam on spot by asking him exactly who's responsible, and how much so, for creating a good story. Our discussion could be considered a hot take! And once more we discuss the "knowledge divide" between GM and players and how, if you're not careful, this can negatively impact the experience.

  • 03:36 - The Art of Leading
  • 09:39 - Who's Responsible for the Story?
  • 21:10 - Storytelling versus Worldbuilding
  • 30:09 - Communicating Through Filters
  • 37:05 - Serving the Story
  • 44:32 - How Players Can Help
  • 52:39 - Railroading Successfully

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Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
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Mar 11, 202201:08:26
Consequences

Consequences

This episode I'm joined by Rev from The CritShow, the Powered by the Apocalypse podcast, to talk about the consequences of our actions. We agree that any consequence, positive or negative, must fit the the scale and scope of the inciting activity. This can be achieved by a sliding scale; it doesn't always have to be The Worst Possible Outcome for any given misstep. An element of PbtA games is how the GM can work with the players to build that shared narrative, something explicitly missing from D&D 5e. But with this collaborative approach to consequences, a larger degree of trust is required to ensure both the GM and the players are effectively working together for the benefit of the table. Of course, actions don't stop in-game, and there must also be considerations made for IRL actions, for better and for worse. Rev & I discuss some tools and tactics for dealing with potential misaligned and misguided players.

  • 00:58 - Consequential Collaboration Slide
  • 11:02 - Well if it Isn't the Consequences...
  • 36:05 - Of My Own Actions
  • 46:05 - To Err is Human

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Mar 04, 202201:00:37
Kickstarter

Kickstarter

Once again I'm joined by professional marketer and crowdfund-whisperer Zack Applewhite, of Applewhite Games, who shares his expertise in producing successful Kickstarters.

  • 01:34 - Reframing Crowdfunding
  • 12:29 - How To Get Started
  • 20:22 - Pricing & Collaboration
  • 32:55 - Promoting an Idea
  • 39:26 - Spend Money to Make Money, and Other Contrived Platitudes
  • 51:37 - Goals and how to Stretch Them
  • 59:32 - Quickfire Tips!

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Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
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Feb 25, 202201:07:34
Motion

Motion

This full house episode I'm joined by the cast of The Fourth Leg podcast: Joe, Hunter, & Kelci. And we talk all about motion, momentum, and movement in your TTRPGs. One way you can keep the game moving as both a GM and player, is to engage with those "B" and "C" plots, which often come in the form of backstories. That being said, don't be afraid from abstaining from action, as this can still result in character growth. Often it's considered a GMs worst nightmare, when the characters do nothing, but there are always consequences, which are great springboards for storylines and development. One more classic GM tool is, perhaps counterintuitively, just telling the players The Important Thing. It's easy as a GM to want to hold all the cards, but often this is overkill and just being transparent with the players can really get the ball rolling!

  • 02:50 - Moving Player Characters
  • 25:21 - Collaborative Storytelling
  • 32:27 - Analysis Paralysis: A Charcuterie Solution
  • 46:04 - Leveraging Other Disciplines
  • 52:57 - The Power of the GM

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Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
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Feb 18, 202201:08:17
Alignment

Alignment

Once more I'm joined by Scott, a.k.a. Optional Rule! This time we discuss the hot topic of alignment in Dungeons & Dragons. Scott takes us through the history of alignment, and how it impacted and shaped the earliest editions of the game - I'm willing to bet you never knew how the cold war affects your player character! Despite all the (arguably justified) negativity around alignment, it still provides value in the utility of a consistent experience, the same reason USB is so ubiquitous! However, with all things involving humans, there is always the risk of misalignment (pun intended). Often there is the implicit ideal that the player characters are "heroes", that is to say, "good". How this impacts the design of 5e and the DM/Player interaction is a subtle but noticeable effect of alignment.

  • 01:15 - History of Alignment
  • 16:40 - Scorched Earth Solution
  • 21:34 - Does Alignment Stifle Role Play?
  • 30:04 - The Alignment Police
  • 43:46 - Reconciling the Heroic Trope

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  • 'Agency' episode of Thinking Critically

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Feb 11, 202201:00:22
Music

Music

This melodic episode I'm joined by Stuart, a.k.a. Thisisbardcore, to talk about music and ambience in your TTRPG games. We break down the three primary ways games can be played and how they change what options are available to you as a GM, such as forced diegetic sounds courtesy of your local FLGS! I discuss my failed attempted at merging K-Pop and D&D, along with my several wasted hour curating now-redundant playlists. Stuart explains the trials and tribulations of being a modern day bard; when a PC is a little too good a reflection of the player.

  • 01:24 - The Vitality of Music
  • 07:37 - Applications of Sound
  • 18:51 - Ambience Versus Immersion
  • 29:16 - Genre Wars
  • 34:13 - The Dangers of Art Imitating Life
  • 39:27 - This Is Bardcore
  • 47:22 - Making it as a Creator

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Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
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Feb 04, 202201:01:10
Relationships

Relationships

This episode I'm joined by Hunter Royall from the "A Sundered World" podcast to talk about all the different relationship vectors in TTRPGs. The first being that between player and character, and how it's not always affection that's garnered - often resentment or animosity can take hold when the PC isn't effective or ends up different than what the player originally imagined. Hunter takes us through how having all the PCs related in-game affects the dynamic of a traditional adventuring party. We also encourage players to take advantage of all those unique and fantastic NPCs your GM has undoubtedly thrown at you when thinking about character creation and backstories, as this can be a fantastic way to add depth and investment to your character.

  • 05:13 - Working with your Character
  • 11:32 - GMs as Mentors
  • 24:45 - Related PCs
  • 35:12 - Leveraging Pre-Existing Relationships In-Game
  • 50:14 - How Player Relations Affect The Game

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  • 'Editing' episode of Thinking Critically

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Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
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Jan 28, 202201:02:60
Hooks

Hooks

This episode I'm joined by Mike from Games Played Badly, to chat about story hooks in your TTRPGs! Ultimately, hooks are the main way to keep players engaged, with the GM acting as a kind of circus master; organised chaos. Hooks can take many forms, from critical pieces of information reigniting interest, to fun and goofy NPCs that the players get attached to - there are many methods of putting the proverbial food on the plate. As much an art as it is a science, the fungineering of hooks is a delicate balance of maintaining verisimilitude while still being inherently contrived. Sometimes it's no fault of the game or the GM, players are human, and hooks are often necessary to just get the ball rolling. No one operates at 100% all of the time, and we often need a little nudge here and there. When in doubt, your biggest plot hook is your characters, so leverage the heck out of backstories, bonds, and ideals to really whet their appetites!

  • 2:09 - Bringing the Story to the Players
  • 13:24 - Pointing Players in the Right Direction
  • 38:33 - Tailoring Improvisation
  • 49:24 - Rebirth and Growth

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Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
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Jan 21, 202201:07:17
Horror

Horror

This episode I'm joined by the GM of the Negative Modifier podcast, Charley, to discuss horror in our TTRGPs. Horror is variable and subjective, and so has unique challenges when attempting to introduce it into your setting. The first being the age old problem of having to play with other people! As everyone is different, it's impossible to know what another player might find uncomfortable, and even with a Session Zero it's challenging to appreciate the sensitivities of others. Juggling these issues can make introducing horror a terrifying experience (both literally and as a pun). The key, as with many things in D&D, is foreshadowing. Not only does this neatly sidestep the cheapness of things like jump scares, it also clearly informs the players of the theme of a setting or scene. An additional, tertiary benefit, is that it builds in an atmosphere of unease; if you can get the players scared of literally nothing, then you're doing your job well. Ultimately, D&D is probably not the best placed for a horror TTRGP, as the hero fantasy can undermine any vulnerability you might be trying to convey.

  • 01:44 - The Different Types of Horror
  • 11:31 - Different Strokes
  • 28:02 - Self-Sustaining Emotion Machine
  • 35:32 - Marrying Horror with TTRPG Nuance
  • 49:43 - Baked In Horror Mechanics

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Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
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Jan 14, 202201:05:42
Items

Items

This episode features David Weinberger from the Shonen Flop podcast to talk all about introducing magical items into your Dungeons & Dragons campaign. It becomes apparent quickly that David and I run very different games when it comes to dishing out loot, which leads to some interesting discussions! Some DMs, myself included, can display a preciousness towards their campaign; a concern magic items will topple the delicately balanced spinning plates. Turns out, magic items are actually one small piece of a much larger puzzle, and can have as much or as little impact as you want. Should they cause the plates to wobble, well that's a perfect learning opportunity for the DM. An additional concern is the power creep and impact to CR magic items can have, but being aware of this and accommodating with the item and other design can allow you to have interesting and powerful items. We also discuss how items can be used to aid in designing puzzles, which is often tricky as it is! In the same vein, they can also be a vehicle for divine intervention - assisting the PCs to resolve tricky encounters.

  • 02:39 - How Items Affect Campaigns Differently
  • 09:35 - Item-Based Puzzle Design
  • 13:23 - Balance & Reuse
  • 24:26 - Considering Wealth as an "Item"
  • 29:41 - Rarity & Recycling
  • 46:24 - Mandatory Adventuring Gear
  • 51:14 - Roll Tables and Trinkets

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Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
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Jan 07, 202259:30
Business

Business

This episode I had the pleasure of hosting the founder of Paladin Roleplaying, Neil, to discuss running a TTRPG business. We talk about how the grassroots explosion has impacted the hobby, and what the future might now hold; will it go the same way as F2P, microtransaction-laden video games? Neil shares with several pearls of wisdom gained from running a business and four separate Kickstarters - we even have some world exclusive news about their next project! D&D fans, you had better listen! Finally, one aspect often undercooked in games is managing a business, despite the often mercantile nature of most settings. We workshop fun and interesting ways to bring this element into your games, one of which is cribbing from Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay where classes are known as careers, enabling rich RP opportunities!

Listeners can use the code THINKCRIT15 at paladinroleplaying.com for 15% off your whole cart! Huge thank you to Neil and all at Paladin.

  • 04:50 - The Changing Nature of TTRPGs
  • 16:16 - Starting a TTRPG Business
  • 26:27 - The Kickstarter Experience
  • 36:26 - Thinking Critically Exclusive!
  • 38:07 - Systems for Running Businesses

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This episode was not sponsored or supported in any way.

Dec 31, 202101:01:30
Education

Education

For this episode I'm joined by Sam Cheung, known online as the Educational DM, who takes us through his years of experience in the educational and pastoral applications of Dungeons & Dragons. We discuss the various ways players can learn through D&D, for students and new players alike. Although the obvious challenges are arithmetic and creativity, Sam and I investigate the deeper ways players can improve themselves while playing. Questioning why the Queen wants you to despatch those "bandits", that is to say, who is most likely to benefit from this task, can help players strengthen that vitally important ability to think critically. Likewise, finding space between the bombast to build those social relationships can be a useful training ground for many, allowing them a trustable arena to migrate out of their comfort zones. After everything, of course, the real treasure was the friends we made along the way!

  • 03:26 - Exploring Education Through D&D
  • 10:55 - How Design Promotes Learning
  • 39:51 - Building Trust
  • 45:44 - Educating New Players

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Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
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Dec 24, 202101:03:06
Mashups

Mashups

For this mixed up episode I'm joined by Jeff Greiner, the DM of potentially the longest running actual play podcast, The Tome Show. Jeff & I talk about mashups not only within our favourite TTRPG, but within the hobby at large, covering several methods for effectively smushing together your favourite features! Jeff takes us through the ways and means he's brought together often disparate published modules such as Descent into Avernus and Curse of Strahd. One simple but effective method is to sprinkle in some foreshadowing which, despite requiring some additional overhead, reduces that potential for genre whiplash. Talking off, varying theme and tone can keep your game interesting, as 20 sessions of a single vibe can easily be fatiguing for all involved. Which is a perfect segue into how different TTRPG systems inevitably affect the experience, thematically and otherwise; probably why a mashup of them has been difficult to achieve!

  • 04:35 - Combining Published Modules
  • 25:39 - Mashing Up Genres
  • 37:16 - Merging TTRPG Systems
  • 47:58 - Mesh Worldbuilding
  • 58:34 - It's a Monster Mash

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Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
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Dec 17, 202101:06:42
Adaptation

Adaptation

I am once again joined by Manny a.k.a. Growed Up Geek to talk about adaptation. One great way to kill two birds with one stone is by integrating player character backstories into published adventure modules; not only do you get to customise the module and make it unique, but the players feel embedded in the world and get to make it their own. As for DMing, there are two kinds of adaptation: Micro - that moment-to-moment, immediate response to player actions, and macro - adapting the world in response to the dynamic plot. For both, the DM is part charlatan, part conman, part magician, and the ratio between those three is hugely variable. It's a unique proposition! Manny and I also share our tips for allaying that newer DM fear of "what the heck am I meant to be doing?" Ultimately, don't put undue pressure on yourself, no one is expecting global level talent from any given DM. This is a street that goes both ways, as at the core of D&D is generally being a decent human. Many problems, both in-universe and at the table can be resolved with compassion and empathy.

  • 00:00:00 - Introduction
  • 00:02:33 - Adapting Modules
  • 00:18:05 - Tips for New DMs
  • 00:41:37 - Macro Adaptation - Incorporating Backstories
  • 00:54:33 - Making Space for Players
  • 01:04:07 - Outro and Patreon

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  • 'Emotion' episode of Thinking Critically

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Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
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Dec 10, 202101:07:08