Thinking Critically: A D&D Discussion

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

Find The Boys on:

• Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/boysfromthebalticstar
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/BoysBaltic
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@boysfromthebalticstar1656

Find Thinking Critically online:

• Website: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk
• Socials: @ThinkCritDnD
• Dungeons, Dice, & Dudes: https://linktr.ee/DDandD

References:

• 'Fudging' episode of Thinking Critically

Patrons:

• Tabletop Journeys @ttjourneys: https://ttjourneys.com/
• Joe from The Fourth Leg @jcd0818: https://anchor.fm/james-h-anderson
• Optional Rule @optionalrule: https://www.optionalrule.com/
• Matthew Perkins @heyitsMattyP: https://www.matthewperkins.net/
• Matt Street @mpstreet88: https://www.virtualtimehustle.com/

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/

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

Find Steve at:

• Broadside Game Show: https://www.miltonhundred.com/broadside

Find Thinking Critically online:

• Website: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk
• Socials: @ThinkCritDnD
• Dungeons, Dice, & Dudes: https://linktr.ee/DDandD

References:

• Call of Cthulhu by Chaosium: https://www.chaosium.com/call-of-cthulhu-getting-started/
• Dice & Destiny: https://diceanddestiny.co.uk/
• Dead Light: https://www.chaosium.com/dead-light-and-other-dark-turns-pdf/
• 'Integrity' episode of Thinking Critically: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk/integrity/
• 'Experience' episode of Thinking Critically: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk/experience/

Patrons:

• Tabletop Journeys @ttjourneys: https://ttjourneys.com/
• Joe from The Fourth Leg @jcd0818: https://anchor.fm/james-h-anderson
• Optional Rule @optionalrule: https://www.optionalrule.com/
• Matthew Perkins @heyitsMattyP: https://www.matthewperkins.net/
• Matt Street @mpstreet88: https://www.virtualtimehustle.com/

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/

For this inspirational episode I'm joined by Russel E Welch III, owner of Lingering Shadows Productions and Dungeon Master for their Spawn of Chaos actual-play series. Inspiration is about bringing something exemplary, be that from yourself or your character, and being able to promote harness that inspiration is of critical importance. But before we get to the philosophical, we first talk mechanical. We've found players often hoard their re-rolls, for various reasons. This is perhaps a hangover from video game tropes, or due to confusion as to about what it allows you to do and when. Bardic Inspiration, Inspiration, and the Lucky feat are all similar but different in a few very specific areas, and it's a minefield for new players when trying to parse exactly what they're allowed to do. The flip side of that is coaching players through that learning process can make Game Masters almost feel like proud parents - it's an inspiration feedback loop where the players provide for the GM and the GM provides for the players. Much inspiration comes from within, and finding a safe and comfortable place to not only be creative, but share the fruits of those efforts is a difficult but worthwhile journey. One you never truly finish.

• 05:36 - Hoard Mentality
• 10:37 - Overlooked Rules to TTRPG Boons
• 29:19 - Inspiring Players
• 44:37 - Inspiring Yourself

Find Russel (@R_E_W_III) on:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/R_E_W_III
• Spawn of Chaos: https://www.chaosawaits.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spawnofchaosdnd/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpawnofChaos
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/spawnofchaos
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thespawnofchaos?lang=en
• Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/spawnofchaosdnd

Find me on:

• Website: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThinkCritDnD
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinking_critically_dnd/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThinkingCriticallyDnD
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH_BSgazjwyshzo1jazHeaQ

References:

• 'Agency' episode of Thinking Critically
• 'Growth' episode of Thinking Critically

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

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!

Find Zack on:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ApplewhiteGames
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dndunlimited
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7r-XEWm-W-8AFML-LAaT_A/
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zackapplewhite
• Guilds of Eraegarth: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/applewhitegames/guilds-of-eraegarth-a-dandd5e-expansion-and-campaign?ref=discovery_newest

Find me on:

• Website: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThinkCritDnD
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinking_critically_dnd/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThinkingCriticallyDnD
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH_BSgazjwyshzo1jazHeaQ
• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thinkingcritically
• Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/thinkingcritically

References:

• 'Marketing' episode of Thinking Critically
• Jamey Stegmaier - Kickstarter Lessons Learned

Patrons:

• Robert Hartley @RobertHartleyGM: https://www.patreon.com/RobertHartleyGM
• Optional Rule @optionalrule: https://www.optionalrule.com/
• Matthew Perkins @mperkinsDM: https://www.matthewperkins.net/
• Matt Street @mpstreet88: https://www.virtualtimehustle.com/

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

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

Find The Fourth Leg on:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheFourthLeg
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2GyvpozdMbtiCI1XTtFYtX
• Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fourth-leg-a-tabletop-gaming-podcast/id1582881435
• Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy81YzA3Yzk3OC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==

Find me on:

• Website: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThinkCritDnD
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinking_critically_dnd/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThinkingCriticallyDnD
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH_BSgazjwyshzo1jazHeaQ
• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thinkingcritically
• Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/thinkingcritically

References:

• 'The Dungeon Coach' on YouTube
• The Legend of Jamie Roberts

Patrons:

• Optional Rule @optionalrule: https://www.optionalrule.com/
• Matthew Perkins @mperkinsDM: https://www.matthewperkins.net/
• Matt Street @mpstreet88: https://www.virtualtimehustle.com/

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