Tag Archives: roleplaying

Managing Player Expectations



Some game sessions land differently than others, whether you tried to tell a horror story and your players felt it wasn’t fun, or your “big reveal” catches players off-guard, seen as a gaff rather than a brilliant twist. Oftentimes, the emotional impact, enjoyment, and interaction with a game can be a matter of mismanaged expectations – the story you told was different from what the players wanted or expected. This week, Sara & Rob discuss managing player expectations, and how it can greatly affect the enjoyment of your game.

 

Listen to us live, every Wednesday night at 7pm EST, at http://www.mixlr.com/storyteller-conclave.

Find us on Twitter (@st_conclave) – Instagram (st_conclave)
Support the show by joining our Patreon : https://www.patreon.com/StorytellerConclave

Please join us on Discord, to submit questions for the show, chat with Rob, Sara, and other Storytellers, and read over the detailed show-notes for more information and links to stuff we may not have been able to detail during the show! Discord : https://t.co/7H8p1lGYqG

Or find our older episodes at Https://Storytellerconclave.com

Podchaser - Storyteller Conclave


System Spotlight : Alien RPG



A universe of body horror and corporate brinkmanship, where synthetic people play god while space truckers and marines serve host to newborn ghoulish creatures. It’s a harsh and unforgiving universe and you are nothing if not expendable. This month’s spotlight puts us in the terror-filled existence of Free League Publishing’s Alien TTRPG. In space, nobody can hear you scream!

 

Listen to us live, every Wednesday night at 7pm EST, at http://www.mixlr.com/storyteller-conclave.

Find us on Twitter (@st_conclave) – Instagram (st_conclave)
Support the show by joining our Patreon : https://www.patreon.com/StorytellerConclave

Please join us on Discord, to submit questions for the show, chat with Rob, Sara, and other Storytellers, and read over the detailed show-notes for more information and links to stuff we may not have been able to detail during the show! Discord : https://t.co/7H8p1lGYqG

Or find our older episodes at Https://Storytellerconclave.com

Podchaser - Storyteller Conclave


Villainous Movements



Why is the BBEG always waiting in his mountain lair, his hand perched on the button, waiting for the heroes to arrive? And what is up with the monologue? Is this really necessary? Sara and Rob review villainy further and discuss the merits and flaws of villains waiting for heroes.

Listen to us live, every Wednesday night at 7pm EST, at http://www.mixlr.com/storyteller-conclave.

Find us on Twitter (@st_conclave) – Instagram (st_conclave)
Support the show by joining our Patreon : https://www.patreon.com/StorytellerConclave

Please join us on Discord, to submit questions for the show, chat with Rob, Sara, and other Storytellers, and read over the detailed show-notes for more information and links to stuff we may not have been able to detail during the show! Discord : https://t.co/7H8p1lGYqG

Or find our older episodes at Https://Storytellerconclave.com

Podchaser - Storyteller Conclave


Building a Better Villain



Not all villains are inherently evil for the reason of evil. It’s possible to have them misunderstood, confused, and or caught between loyalty and honor. And the best ones often feel almost heroic about their cause, at least in their own eyes. This week Sara and Rob will discuss how to build a better villain.

Listen to us live, every Wednesday night at 7pm EST, at http://www.mixlr.com/storyteller-conclave.

Find us on Twitter (@st_conclave) – Instagram (st_conclave)
Support the show by joining our Patreon : https://www.patreon.com/StorytellerConclave

Please join us on Discord, to submit questions for the show, chat with Rob, Sara, and other Storytellers, and read over the detailed show-notes for more information and links to stuff we may not have been able to detail during the show! Discord : https://t.co/7H8p1lGYqG

Or find our older episodes at Https://Storytellerconclave.com

Podchaser - Storyteller Conclave


“Lawful Stupid” – Playing Alignments Correctly



Maybe you have a player asking to play an “evil” character. Maybe your “chaotic neutral” is “chaotic lunatic” or your group’s paladin is the ubiquitous “lawful stupid.” Alignments can be good indicators of a character’s moral compass, but are often terrible guides for HOW to roleplay them. This week, Sara & Rob look at some common misconceptions about alignments, character motivations, and roleplay.

Listen to us live, every Wednesday night at 7pm EST, at http://www.mixlr.com/storyteller-conclave.

Find us on Twitter (@st_conclave) – Instagram (st_conclave)
Support the show by joining our Patreon : https://www.patreon.com/StorytellerConclave

Please join us on Discord, to submit questions for the show, chat with Rob, Sara, and other Storytellers, and read over the detailed show-notes for more information and links to stuff we may not have been able to detail during the show! Discord : https://t.co/7H8p1lGYqG

Or find our older episodes at Https://Storytellerconclave.com

Podchaser - Storyteller Conclave


System Spotlight : Call of Cthulhu



Call of Cthulhu is a horror fiction RPG based on H. P. Lovecraft’s story of the same name and the associated Cthulhu Mythos. The game is published by Chaosium; first released in 1981 and is currently in its seventh edition. This month’s system spot light steps into the dark, mysterious and quite horrifying world of Cthulhu!

Listen to us live, every Wednesday night at 7pm EST, at http://www.mixlr.com/storyteller-conclave.

Find us on Twitter (@st_conclave) – Instagram (st_conclave)
Support the show by joining our Patreon : https://www.patreon.com/StorytellerConclave

Please join us on Discord, to submit questions for the show, chat with Rob, Sara, and other Storytellers, and read over the detailed show-notes for more information and links to stuff we may not have been able to detail during the show! Discord : https://t.co/7H8p1lGYqG

Or find our older episodes at Https://Storytellerconclave.com

Podchaser - Storyteller Conclave


The “Hero Contrivance”



There are always monsters on the loose, princesses taken, and galactic wars coming to a planet near you. And for some reason, it’s always YOUR team’s job to solve it. This week Rob and Sara talk about “Hero Contrivance” and the in’s and outs of how to deal with it as a storyteller.

Listen to us live, every Wednesday night at 7pm EST, at http://www.mixlr.com/storyteller-conclave.

Find us on Twitter (@st_conclave) – Instagram (st_conclave)
Support the show by joining our Patreon : https://www.patreon.com/StorytellerConclave

Please join us on Discord, to submit questions for the show, chat with Rob, Sara, and other Storytellers, and read over the detailed show-notes for more information and links to stuff we may not have been able to detail during the show! Discord : https://t.co/7H8p1lGYqG

Or find our older episodes at Https://Storytellerconclave.com

Podchaser - Storyteller Conclave


Character Concepts 101



You’re excited to play in a new game. All your friends are there, the storyteller is good, and it’s a setting you will enjoy, except you just stare into oblivion wondering who or what you could be. Sara and Rob help take some of the stress off of you and give you some methods for finding your Character Concept!

 

Listen to us live, every Wednesday night at 7pm EST, at http://www.mixlr.com/storyteller-conclave.

Find us on Twitter (@st_conclave) – Instagram (st_conclave)
Support the show by joining our Patreon : https://www.patreon.com/StorytellerConclave

Please join us on Discord, to submit questions for the show, chat with Rob, Sara, and other Storytellers, and read over the detailed show-notes for more information and links to stuff we may not have been able to detail during the show! Discord : https://t.co/7H8p1lGYqG

Or find our older episodes at Https://Storytellerconclave.com

Podchaser - Storyteller Conclave


Death and Consequences



Death is the end of a story, in most cases. Unless it’s a direct mechanic in a story it can feel like “the end” for players as well. When you present a different option, other than death, to a critical or dramatic moment it gives the player the option to keep the story going. But is this a trick or does it cheapen the experience or make the challenges feel less threatening? Tonight, Rob and Sara will be discussing what “consequences” can do to change the threat of death and bring about more exciting and dramatic shifts in stories and why it might make the game better.

Listen to us live, every Wednesday night at 7pm EST, at http://www.mixlr.com/storyteller-conclave.

Find us on Twitter (@st_conclave) – Instagram (st_conclave)
Support the show by joining our Patreon : https://www.patreon.com/StorytellerConclave

Please join us on Discord, to submit questions for the show, chat with Rob, Sara, and other Storytellers, and read over the detailed show-notes for more information and links to stuff we may not have been able to detail during the show! Discord : https://t.co/7H8p1lGYqG

Or find our older episodes at Https://Storytellerconclave.com

Podchaser - Storyteller Conclave


Why Tone Matters



Most TTRPG’s come with a setting and framework like fantasy, sci fi or pulp. But tend to be lighter on how the game should feel when it comes to the players and their interactions to that world. Those are often an unwritten contract between players and the storyteller, all too often undecided till well into the game. This can be confusing and upsetting if people don’t mix on how the game should go. We use terms like “Murder hobo’s” and “magical friendships” as ways to describe the feel of the party and its interaction with the world. Tonight, Rob and Sara shift away from the systems, mechanics, and storytelling elements and get to the heart of the story experience as they discuss the Feel in RPGs.

 

Listen to us live, every Wednesday night at 7pm EST, at http://www.mixlr.com/storyteller-conclave.

Find us on Twitter (@st_conclave) – Instagram (st_conclave)
Support the show by joining our Patreon : https://www.patreon.com/StorytellerConclave

Please join us on Discord, to submit questions for the show, chat with Rob, Sara, and other Storytellers, and read over the detailed show-notes for more information and links to stuff we may not have been able to detail during the show! Discord : https://t.co/7H8p1lGYqG

Or find our older episodes at Https://Storytellerconclave.com

Podchaser - Storyteller Conclave