The Lazy RPG Podcast - D&D and RPG News and GM Prep from Sly Flourish Stranger Things Thoughts – Lazy RPG Talk Show
Jan 5, 2026
Discover the latest in RPG news, including a tribute to Tim Kask and James Haeck's new role at Wizards of the Coast. Dive into the emotional depth and D&D references in the Stranger Things finale, where nostalgia meets player satisfaction. Explore the challenges of puzzles in RPGs, from preparation woes to player engagement. Lastly, get practical tips on prepping cities and taking notes during games to enhance your RPG experience!
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Avoid Puzzles For Puzzles’ Sake
- Avoid designing puzzles for puzzle's sake because they are hard to prep and easy to break at the table.
- Ask whether the puzzle serves the world, who made it, who maintains it, and if spells or player options bypass it.
Goonies Shows Puzzle Worldbuilding Issues
- Mike Shea uses the movie Goonies to illustrate in-world illogic of puzzles like the bone piano and sealed caverns.
- He questions who would build such traps and why they would persist without maintenance.
Start From World, Not From A Puzzle
- Starting with "this is a puzzle" presupposes an unnatural element in the scene and creates explanation problems.
- Build situations from in-world reasons first, and let puzzle-like challenges emerge naturally.
