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There is a big difference between what is fun and what is meaningful. In this episode, I look at what makes the story meaningful by exploring some examples and giving you some tools to use in your game. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit icastguidance.substack.com

As Game Masters and Dungeon Masters, we sometimes feel frustration that our workload is overlooked by our players or that they don’t have the same attention to detail that we do. If this has frustrated you, have a listen to this week’s I Cast Guidance for some new perspective. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit icastguidance.substack.com

Nathan had the idea that we should do a once a month segment where we analyze our game play in order to learn more about how we play new systems. ShadowDark is offering us an opportunity to look at some of the bigger differences in the way our players behave at the table given the danger and ruleset that we now have. In this discussion, we ask questions and look at a couple of tactical scenarios and their unlikely outcomes. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit icastguidance.substack.com

This is a topic I have been struggling with and I have to start looking inward to see what it is I am doing to cause this. Too often we blame our players (believe me, there are issues on that end of things too) but what can GMs do to create a better and more cohesive party at our gaming tables? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit icastguidance.substack.com

In this episode of I Cast Guidance, Todd and Nathan dig further into the nuances of OSR game crunch and PBTR style, rules-light to try and mine more thoughts on how both contribute to storytelling from gameplay. Jump in and have a listen. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit icastguidance.substack.com

The IChing was the earliest divination tool known to mankind. You essentially take 3 coins and flip them to generate a reading. You then consult a text that gives you the meaning. When we don’t understand things, we sometimes seek out the divine for answers. In our table top role playing games, the dice serve as this divine resource for the answers to how we move the story forward. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit icastguidance.substack.com

We are going to take this conversation further and the goal is to open the discussion around this new genre of storytelling from historical and design perspectives. Games and the storytelling space have merged. Chance operations and collaboration create a new, brilliant space to create fiction. Nathan and Todd open the discussion here and lay the groundwork for a deeper dive as we record future episodes. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit icastguidance.substack.com

PrinceCon is the oldest Dungeons and Dragons Con on the east coast and has a very unique way of handling one theme and storyline with 20 DM's and more than 100 players. It all funnels together.  Held at Princeton University since 1976, this unique gaming experience is something you should know about. Check out this show.  Todd Lambrix, Garret Brennan, Richard Frohman and Nathan Gilvey are regular content creators at Wither and Bloom Studios and avid players f TTRPGs. PrinceCon Resources: https://www.princecon.org/con/48/   Make sure to find us on YouTube and subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@WitherandBloomStudios Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/yPR9bq2xZW You can support us here: https://ko-fi.com/witherandbloomstudios and here: https://streamelements.com/witherandbloomstudios/tip This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit icastguidance.substack.com

Time travel can be a mess and bringing it into your game can make a disaster for the GM... however, manipulating time and how it unfolds can be intriguing and can add layers to your story. We talk about ways to do this and have some good conversation around time travel paradoxes.  Todd Lambrix, Garret Brennan, Richard Frohman and Nathan Gilvey are regular content creators at Wither and Bloom Studios and avid players of TTRPGs.   Make sure to find us on YouTube and subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@WitherandBloomStudios   Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/yPR9bq2xZW   You can support us here: https://ko-fi.com/witherandbloomstudios   and here: https://streamelements.com/witherandbloomstudios/tip This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit icastguidance.substack.com

In today's episode we are talking about the complexities of good villains. Our intention with this discussion is to get you thinking about ways you can build your own villains for your campaigns. Check this out! Todd Lambrix, Garret Brennan, Richard Frohman and Nathan Gilvey are regular content creators at Wither and Bloom Studios and avid players of TTRPGs.   Make sure to find us on YouTube and subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@WitherandBloomStudios   Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/yPR9bq2xZW   You can support us here: https://ko-fi.com/witherandbloomstudios   and here: https://streamelements.com/witherandbloomstudios/tip This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit icastguidance.substack.com

In this episode, we are looking at the various ways we use what we read and what we watch as inspiration for world building and character generation. We also talk a bit about the notions of active vs. passive consumption and what the benefits are to each. Check it out!   Todd Lambrix, Garret Brennan, Richard Frohman and Nathan Gilvey are regular content creators at Wither and Bloom Studios and avid players of TTRPGs.   Make sure to find us on YouTube and subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@WitherandBloomStudios Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/yPR9bq2xZW You can support us here: https://ko-fi.com/witherandbloomstudios and here: https://streamelements.com/witherandbloomstudios/tip This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit icastguidance.substack.com

Insert detailed description here When someone wants to get into a table top role playing game, they quickly realize that the time needed to really engage is not something they have. What happens then? Are there ways to bring low time commitment players into the fold and make it work?  Todd Lambrix, Garret Brennan, Richard Frohman and Nathan Gilvey are regular content creators at Wither and Bloom Studios and avid players of TTRPGs.   Make sure to find us on YouTube and subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@WitherandBloomStudios Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/yPR9bq2xZW You can support us here: https://ko-fi.com/witherandbloomstudios and here: https://streamelements.com/witherandbloomstudios/tip This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit icastguidance.substack.com

In this episode, we create scenarios to illustrate ways to make combat better, more layered and ultimately, more fun. We are also asking you to present to us your unresolved combat encounters. Comment on this and we will give feedback and advice on how to make yours better too.  Todd Lambrix, Garret Brennan, Richard Frohman and Nathan Gilvey are regular content creators at Wither and Bloom Studios and avid players of TTRPGs. Make sure to find us on YouTube and subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@WitherandBloomStudios Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/yPR9bq2xZW You can support us here: https://ko-fi.com/witherandbloomstudios and here: https://streamelements.com/witherandbloomstudios/tip This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit icastguidance.substack.com

We are talking about how the influx of new players into the TTRPG world come with expectations of a certain type of game based on what they've seen on Dimension 20 or Critical Role. Check it out.  Todd Lambrix, Garret Brennan, Richard Frohman and Nathan Gilvey are regular content creators at Wither and Bloom Studios and avid players of TTRPGs.   Make sure to find us on YouTube and subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@WitherandBloomStudios Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/yPR9bq2xZW You can support us here: https://ko-fi.com/witherandbloomstudios and here: https://streamelements.com/witherandbloomstudios/tip This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit icastguidance.substack.com

Today we are talking about what makes our homebrew brainstorming more productive. We go over what tools we use and how we formulate ideas for making worlds to host our games. Come check it out.  Todd Lambrix, Garret Brennan, Richard Frohman and Nathan Gilvey are regular content creators at Wither and Bloom Studios and avid players of TTRPGs. Make sure to find us on YouTube and subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@WitherandBloomStudios Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/yPR9bq2xZW You can support us here: https://ko-fi.com/witherandbloomstudios and here: https://streamelements.com/witherandbloomstudios/tip This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit icastguidance.substack.com