Free Daily Podcast Summary
The Whispering GM: Daily Summaries Delivered
by CWR
Reviews, Rants, and Old School Gaming
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 5 days ago58 min
Emergent Play and Hooking your Players
-- Description --An emergent narrative game can be beautiful - with players choosing their own motivations, with the characters planning and executing their own ambition, and with the dice deciding the outcomes. But an emergent table is a cultivated experience: one not everyone has figured out how to manage - and not one in which everyone has been able to play!What is the problem blocking a table from an emergent game style - and what can you do to fix it?Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: (https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/)Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: (https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast)...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: (https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn) -- Show Notes --00:00 - Intro01:05 - The Problem of Engagement02:20 - What is "Emergent Play"?06:53 - Leveraging Player Motivation - not Player Character Motiviation08:58 - Crafting Player Hooks13:47 - Ongoing Engagement17:54 - Counterpoint: Why Play an Adventure Game if you Don't Want to Adventure?20:05 - Pitfalls to Avoid30:35 - Immediate Engagement: Starting Your Campaign38:12 - In Conclusion38:53 - Benediction: Streets of Lima56:09 - Outro57:14 - Theme-- Links --* Nobleshield on X: (https://x.com/Nobleshield/status/2076759240283435166)* Don't Fudge the Dice (In Defense of the Screen): - YouTube: (https://youtu.be/vSyPOM-qw3E?si=BUCTfOlvra0-dZOR) - Spotify: (https://open.spotify.com/episode/5ulS8YKmSqQFjrT3KWEgaR)* Purple Druid (Wargame Culture): - Substack: (https://substack.com/@wargameculture) - YouTube: (https://www.youtube.com/@WargameCulture)* Best Diablo: (https://www.gog.com/en/game/diablo)* Treasure Planet: (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133240/)
- Jun 27, 202641 min
Lairs, Dungeons, and Mega-Dungeons
-- Description --How large is a dungeon in Dungeons & Dragons? How large should it be? And - when referencing old-school dungeon-delving play: at what point does the dungeon become a Mega-Dungeon?Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: (https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/)Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: (https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast)...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: (https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn) -- Show Notes --00:00 - Intro00:46 - Theme01:09 - What is a "Dungeon" and how big should it be?08:22 - How Big should a Mega-Dungeon be? 12:36 - The Role of "Maintaining Freshness"15:59 - What is the Difference between Dungeon and Mega-Dungeon?17:40 - But you mentioned Lairs.22:47 - What do You think?24:14 - Benediction: Aug Goes to Peru28:31 - First Days: Preventive Medicine35:22 - Outro40:08 - Theme-- Links --* Stonehell: (https://www.lulu.com/search?contributor=Michael+Curtis)* Greyhawk Ruins: (https://rpggeek.com/rpgitem/49110/greyhawk-ruins)* Castle Zagyg: (https://trolllord.com/product/castles-crusades-castle-zagyg-yggsburgh-classic-reprint/)* Tegel Manor: (https://www.froggodgames.com/products/36357)
- May 30, 202622 min
Paid Game Mastering
-- Description --Paid Game Mastering: brilliant? Foolish? Or just ... odd: a peculiarity of our times.Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: (https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/)Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: (https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast)...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: (https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn) -- Show Notes --00:00 - Intro00:20 - Theme00:46 - I Don’t Hate It, but I Also Don’t Get It07:55 - Concerns I would Have if Paying for a GM16:24 - How about YOUR experiences?17:15 - Personal Update and Benediction20:48 - Outro
- Mar 7, 202620 min
Bags of Holding
-- Description --The Bag of Holding: a classic staple of D&D, a common article sought after by parties on far-afield parties, and a short circuit around one of the core elements of the game: management of inventory and encumbrance. But is it actually a bad item - or have we, as referees, simply been including it wrong?Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: (https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/)Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: (https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast)...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: (https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn) -- Show Notes --00:00 - Intro00:12 - Theme00:40 - What is the Bag of Holding - and where did it come from?03:35 - Why a player would want one07:27 - What's wrong with the Bag of Holding?11:55 - But where does the Bag of Holding belong in the game?17:30 - Benediction and Theme
- Jan 31, 202628 min
OSR Tourists
-- Description --Tourists in the OSR ecosystem: who are they, why are they here, and is it really appropriate to use the term "Tourist" as an insult?Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: (https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/)Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: (https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast)...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: (https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn) -- Show Notes --00:00 - Intro00:20 - Theme00:43 - Defining OSR and RPG Tourism02:57 - Who is Not a Tourist05:50 - Are Tourists a Bad Thing?10:36 - The real threat: Transplants12:44 - A Call for Transparency13:42 - Call In: Riley of Diagetic Advancement on Moldvayan Revisionism 16:00 - ... Filling the Gaps in our Knowledge17:54 - ... Keeping the Game Going18:54 - ... Relative Digestibility19:18 - ... Leaking In20:26 - Call In: Hobbs, Himself! On Bronze Age gaming20:50 - ... Blood & Bronze25:24 - Benediction27:00 - Outro and Theme-- Links --Diagetic Advancement: (https://open.spotify.com/show/35GgOCNa3LyucnrDdw0sbv)Jason "Dulcet Tones" Hobbs: - Twitch: (https://m.twitch.tv/hobbs665/home) - Hobbs & Friends: (https://hobbsnfriends.com/) - Random Screed: (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/random-screed/id1328949901)Blood and Bronze: (https://bloodandbronze.com/)
- Jan 14, 202624 min
Moldvayan Revisionism
-- Description --Moldvayan Revisionism: one of the most damaging poxes and plagues of the modern OSR!But not really. ;-)In this episode, I speak to the propensity of B/X to fungate outwards into other games, how it can impact your experience and social media, and weigh whether or not it's a negative force on the hobby.Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: (https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/)Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: (https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast)...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: (https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn) -- Show Notes --00:00 - Intro00:12 - Theme00:35 - What is Moldvayan Revisionism?05:03 - Revisionism vs. Plugging Holes09:22 - Where did it Come From? Where can it be found?16:32 - Is Moldvayan Revisionism actually a bad thing?20:06 - No Call-Ins This Episode :-(22:23 - Benediction and Outro-- Links --* Ray Otus - Plundergrounds (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/plundergrounds/id1436755110)* Gary on Prime Requisite: (https://www.enworld.org/threads/q-a-with-gary-gygax.22566/page-814#post-3776101)
- Dec 31, 202530 min
Lessons on God in Gaming
-- Description --DragonRaid was an attempt to connect with RPG enthusiasts and to use that connection to educate and increase their faith. What did it do right? What did it do wrong? What can we do - as Christian gamers - to ensure our tables are authentic both to the game, itself, and to our identities in Christ?Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn-- Show Notes --00:00 - Theme00:22 - Mirke the Meek - DragonRaid?!?02:35 - What is DragonRaid?07:27 - Does (or Did) DragonRaid Succeed or Fail?16:50 - Will I be playing DragonRaid? (Spoiler: No.)20:52 - Does Losing Diminish God?26:19 - Gratitude and Direction29:33 - Benediction and Theme-- Links --* Mirke the Meek Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3C2sM7eSEd6uZoyXlLc0Yo Itch.IO: https://mirkethemeek.itch.io/* Ode to '74: https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/2023/10/ode-to-74.html* Chubby Funster, Cognitive Load: https://youtu.be/M7h0VaWM3fM
- Dec 10, 202528 min
Salted Gaming - Flipping and Turning, No. 5
-- Description --Product Review: Flipping & Turning Magazine, No 5: Nautical gaming for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, 1st Edition, or other OSR-compatible system, in the age of (or spirit of the age of) sail.Like what you're hearing? Visit the blog: https://clericswearringmail.blogspot.com/Want to get in on the conversation, yourself? Send in a voicemail on SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/WhisperingGMPodcast...or join the conversation on Spotify for Podcasters: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-whispering-gm/message...or come hang out with all of us on Discord: https://discord.gg/kQnrK4YCCn-- Show Notes --00:00 - Intro00:23 - Theme00:45 - Art and Authorship04:44 - New Rules12:01 - Articles and Coupons15:49 - Adventure Scenarios20:39 - Availability and Apology27:27 - Benediction & Outro-- Links --Smoldering Dung Games Website: https://www.smolderingdunggames.com/Amazon Back Catalog: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CY2GH54B?binding=paperback&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbkGrogTalk Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/grogtalkGrogCon Podcast Official: https://www.grogcon.com/podcast/GrogTalk Discord: https://discord.gg/AfXtmjnPulsipher Games: https://www.pulsipher.net/
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