Narrative Control

Hi, and welcome to Narrative Control. This week Justin is back and as usual we're giving our own spin on a much beloved topic. We're talking with me about hacking systems. Everything from porting games into different settings to combining our favorite mechanics. Liner Notes [0:28] Introduction to the show. Hacking systems. [0:50] The show is a bit long. Let me know if it is too long. Email us: narrativecontrol@gmail.com [1:42] RPGPodcasts.com bumper [1:58] What we mean by hacking systems. [2:36] Justin's current game. A hodgepodge of games: [2:52] Cadwallon - Setting and Dice pools [3:28] Wushu mechanics - Detailed bad ass combats on the fly. [3:52] Fate - Stunts [4:04] Shadows of Yesterday - Experience Keys for experience and character flags. [5:00] How has this been accepted by the players? Pros and Cons [6:17] Is this play testing a new game? [7:08] Sean's accidental hack of Prime Time Adventures with Exalted. [7:39] Removing screen presence to allow equal importance for con games [7:53] Allowing

Hi, welcome to Narrative Control.  This episode is part two of Burning Las Vegas, the city creation process for the alpha test of the Dresden Files RPG. We run through the locations we created in Las Vegas, the personalities we put there and how we intend to use these in our games. Plus, there's a little insight into Sean's vampire aversion. Listen and laugh. Hosts: Sean Nittner and Erik Woodbury Liner Notes [0:27] Intro to the Show - Burning Las Vegas, part 2[0:50] Promo for This Modern Death [1:44] Creating Locations - What this does for the game[2:16] Player contributions create investments immediately[2:54] Why Sean won't include vampires in his games[3:22] Dealing with gambling[3:39] Location #1 - The Strip - How much granularity do we need to define now?[5:16] Location #2 - Voodoo Lounge - A hang out and safe area for supernaturals. Changes we made in the real world.[6:22] Erik is a real pain in the donkey.[7:18] We're accepting donations to go to the Voodoo Lounge. Yeah, right! [7:40] Aspects: "Let yo

Hi, welcome to Narrative Control.  This episode is part one of Burning Las Vegas, the city creation process for the alpha test of the Dresden Files RPG. We introduce the Dresden Files and then step through our process of picking a city and giving it life. Next week, part two will wrap up with the locations and personalities we created. Hosts: Sean Nittner and Erik Woodbury Liner Notes [0:30] Mashing things up. A few changes. [0:33] New co-host Erik Woodbury [0:50] Brian Isikoff invited me to be a guest on Episode 38 of 2d6feet in a Random Direction [1:18] Burning Las Vegas. Alpha Play Test of the Dresden Files RPG. [2:15] RPGpodcasts.com Bumper [2:37] Introduction to the Dresden Files novels setting [3:58] Step One - Pick a City. How we chose Las Vegas. [4:53] Brainstorming cities [5:54] The issue of Primacy [6:19] Our difficulty settling on one city. Trying to avoid stereotypes [8:56] Step Two - The theme of the Las Vegas [9:38] Vegas is a crossroads for the world [10:08] Potential themes: "L

Hi, welcome to Narrative Control. This episode is on Living City, a technique of giving conrol of NPCs to the players and allowing them to bring more life to your world as well as turn the story in the directions they are exited about. Hosts: Sean Nittner and Justin Evans Liner Notes [0:38] Introduction – Living City [0:40] Source – John Wick's Play Dirty [1:28] Justin answers “What is Living City?”[3:00] How it's done. John Wick's example: NPCs given to player.[4:39] Pitfalls with antagonistic or knowledgeable NPCs?[5:30] Disseminating information through the players. [6:00] Sean's use of a similar techniques in his Mage: The Awakening game. [8:30] NPC Information: Name, Nature, Aspects and Motivation [9:47] Bread Crumbs. How changing information on the cards can throw players off balance.[11:15] The technique gives players who would normally be out of scene a chance to play. [11:29] How to make up NPCs on the fly: Sins and Virtues cards. [11:47] Show Notes vs. Schnotes battle returns [12:23] Back

Hi, Welcome to Narrative Control. This episode is on Backstory, a quick technique for GMs to use at the start of games to connect characters to each other and to the story Hosts: Sean Nittner and Justin Evans Liner Notes [0:28] Show Introduction – Backstory[0:48] Source: Brian Isikoff[1:40] Where we first learned about Backstory[2:58] This has been talked about before on 2d6 Feet in a Random Direction – Episode 8[3:44] Sean’s first experience with Backstory – Questions Brian asked me.[5:40] Backstory is part of the game itself.[6:45] How this helped resolve the “Leader” role[8:10] Used to fill a gaps in a long term game[8:36] Established player buy in[9:30] Does this give players Narrative Control?[9:45] What if players throw curve balls at you?[10:45] Method 1: Roll with it[12:20] Method 2: Establish the genre in advance, tailor response to fit the theme[13:54] Where could Backstory present problems in long term games?[15:21] Paul Tevis and Remi Treuer on limitations of endowments in role-playing[16:15] How

Hi, Welcome to Narrative Control.  This is our first episode.  It focuses on what the show will be about, a continuation of a conversation.  What conversation you ask? Stop reading and go listen to the show.Hosts: Sean Nittner and Justin EvansLiner Notes[0:28] Show introduction[0:36] Dedication to Kristin Sullivan (of This Modern Death)[0:58] Main Topic: What is this show about?[1:16] The But-one-Justin[1:50] Being a pretentious ass – Name dropping Ryan Macklin of the Master Plan Podcast[2:52] rpgpodcasts.com (Sean got the name wrong and called it .net, Tool!)[3:30] Sean: This show is about our gaming experiences and our reactions to those.[4:38] Justin: One big conversation about a hobby we all love[5:00] Inspiration from other podcasts[5:40] Who might be interested in Narrative Control[6:32] Can we expand on the “Agony and Ecstasy of games”[8:53] “Show Notes” vs. “Shnotes”[11:00] Who is Sean? Why is Sean?[12:38] Good Omens – A group of GMs that Justin and Sean are part of.[15:57] Who is Justin Evans?[18:15]