Changeling the Podcast

Dive into the enchanting world of Lycians and Chimera, exploring their rich lore and gameplay intricacies. Reflect on the bittersweet conclusion to the Player's Guide journey as the hosts critique gameplay mechanics and crafting challenges. Discover the emotional depth of companions and the importance of player agency in character development. The discussion touches on future community engagement and the vibrant creativity sparked by the game, leaving listeners excited for what might come next.

What do you get when you cross the infinity of the Dreaming's possibilities with eight billion humans? Questions about how many of them are changelings, that's what. This week, we're applying the art/science of demography to the fae, throwing numbers and proportions and calculations around like so much spaghetti, so that we can see what sticks. You may ask, why does this matter—but how many and what kinds of changeling are running around the setting for your game will impact its feel. And not just the fae themselves: a local expression of the game's themes and moods depends upon Dreamers, Autumn People, and even just those mundane humans we talked about last time. So take note, Storytellers! We hope that after listening, you too will be able to graph a demo, Dreaming-style. The spreadsheet to which Josh refers to throughout the episode, with some proposed numbers based on the population of various divisions of Concordia, can be found at: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1rv_S2aGs1VtfeCvhyOoq_iZ10w9Eag2ERlo-UONllcY. We also refer to two episodes from our sibling show, Mage: the Podcast, on the subject of games with high numbers of mages and low numbers of mages, and how adjusting those numbers creates a different play experience. Pooka may have been using Chronos when talking about these, as it appears only the former has actually been released thus far. Nevertheless, check it out at: https://magethepodcast.com/running-and-playing-low-mage-count-games/. Our own bureaux of statistics: Discord: https://discord.me/ctp Email: podcast@changelingthepodcast.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082973960699 Mastodon: https://dice.camp/@ChangelingPod Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/changelingthepodcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChangelingThePodcast your hosts Josh Hillerup (any pronoun) bribes fae of the Kingdom of Northern Ice into filling out the census form with maple syrup dross. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) traverses the Kingdom of Apples in a balloon-ship, dropping leaflets about the benefits of mixed-use zoning. A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals, and you know it. —Agent K in Men in Black

Changelings, lest we forget, are part human. Spending time in a meatsack isn't always Glamourous or exhilarating (though it can be both), but it's an inherent part of their experience that can be interesting both in and of itself, and as a contrast to the escapist fantasies that the Dreaming is built on. Yet players and Storytellers often gloss over those aspects of the characters that populate their games. So! We're here this week to try and redeem mortal life in Changeling a bit, giving due consideration to some of the more human elements that might come up at the table. Day jobs and homework, customer service interactions and strangers on the street, Dreamers and Kinain and Autumn People alike... there are many possibilities that you can explore. Naturally, we won't be covering them all, but maybe some of the tidbits here will help you craft a game experience that feels a little more real and useful for when you step away from the table at last. Our perfectly mundane contact information: Discord: https://discord.me/ctp Email: podcast@changelingthepodcast.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082973960699 Mastodon: https://dice.camp/@ChangelingPod Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/changelingthepodcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChangelingThePodcast your hosts Josh Hillerup (any pronoun) is fourth on the leaderboard for messing with Autumn People in the halls of Canadian government. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) might not be Kinain, but plays one on TV. And you may find yourself living in a shotgun shack And you may find yourself in another part of the world And you may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile And you may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful wife And you may ask yourself, "Well... how did I get here?" —Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime"

In this installment, the hosts dive deep into the intricate world-building and kiths from the Changeling universe. They tackle how ancient civilizations, like the Sumerians, shape magical folklore while critiquing cultural representation in gaming. The discussion highlights the complexities of integrating rich narratives, especially regarding African folklore and colonial histories. With humor and insight, they navigate themes of authenticity and inclusivity, urging for better storytelling that honors diverse cultures.

Dive into the whimsical world of romance within tabletop RPGs! Explore the delicate balance between love and conflict, with insights on societal norms shaping interactions. Discover the significance of consent and communication in navigating complex relationships. From enchanting matchmaking adventures to the unique archetypes of love, the discussion highlights how past experiences can influence gameplay. Safety tools are also emphasized to ensure a respectful and enjoyable atmosphere for all players.

Dive into the captivating blend of science fiction and changeling narratives. The hosts explore how sci-fi themes enrich fantasy storytelling, from technological dilemmas to ethical quandaries found in shows like 'Black Mirror.' They discuss genre intersections, drawing inspiration from classics like 'The Matrix,' and highlight innovative storytelling opportunities in futuristic settings. Listen as they merge cybernetics with changelings, transforming gameplay and character dynamics. This thrilling exploration promises to inspire your next game!

The discussion kicks off with an exploration of politics and society among the Kithain, diving deep into themes of governance and community engagement. Unique character creations, like Red Robin Hood, highlight the vibrant storytelling potential. The hosts tackle the complexities of different factions and the evolving political landscape within Concordia, drawing parallels to real-world systems. They also critique the representation of disability in character narratives, promoting nuanced portrayals. The balance between structured mechanics and freeform gameplay adds another layer of intrigue to their analysis.

Charles Siegel, a passionate video game expert, joins to unpack how video games inspire tabletop RPGs. They explore beloved titles like American McGee's Alice, Braid, and Final Fantasy, highlighting their gothic aesthetics and narrative depth. The conversation dives into character evolution, societal themes in Persona, and the whimsical mechanics of games like Psychonauts and Untitled Goose Game. Siegel emphasizes the intersection of video gaming and tabletop storytelling, revealing how both mediums inform and enrich one another.

For many years, the Changeling community has longed for a better take on the hsien of East Asia. In our previous episode on their introductory 2e supplement, Land of Eight Million Dreams, we discussed at length how these fae were portrayed in... not the greatest fashion, and it's a characterization that the 20th Anniversary didn't really fix. But! The latest release from Hsienfan on the Storytellers' Vault, In the Realm of Gods and Dreams, breathes new life into what was a sometimes confusing, often cringey group of changelings, and manages to re-write many of the assumptions about the game along the way, both systems and setting. We had the opportunity to sit down with the author and walk through the book in its entirety. The open dev process used for its creation means that you may have seen glimmers and drafts along the way; now we have a 300+ page chomker in all its glory to digest. lf you've been eagerly looking for some thorough information about its contents, well, here goes... (Hsienfan's appearance on our show is also dedicated to his wife, Coco Vanille, without whose publishing prep and prowess this book would not exist. Forgetting to mention this in the outro is purely on Pooka, who is terrible at reading everything in emails, and missed this request. Many thanks from us as well to Coco for helping make this tome a reality!) You can pick up the book at the Storytellers' Vault by visiting https://www.storytellersvault.com/product/492660?affiliate_id=3063731, and here are some other internet places to check out on the side: The RPG.net forum thread to ask author questions: https://forum.rpg.net/index.php?threads/in-the-realm-of-gods-and-dreams-q-a-on-asian-urban-fantasy.922068/ Reddit Q&A: https://www.reddit.com/r/WhiteWolfRPG/comments/1f115so/in_the_realm_of_gods_and_dreams_qa_hsien_nostalgia/ Our episode on Land of Eight Million Dreams, for reference: https://changelingthepodcast.com/podcast/episode-54-land-of-eight-million-dreams/ And as usual, you can bother us via: Discord: https://discord.me/ctp Email: podcast@changelingthepodcast.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082973960699 Mastodon: https://dice.camp/@ChangelingPod Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/changelingthepodcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChangelingThePodcast your hosts Josh Hillerup (any pronoun) has waiting been waiting too many years already for the film Moderate Trouble in Sensible Canada. Pooka G (any pronoun/they) journeyed into the West and all they got was this lousy T-shirt. Half of the poetry of life would be gone, if we did not feel that life was either a dream, or a voyage with transient travelers. —Lin Yutang, The Importance of Living

Dive into the enchanting world of the Fair Folk with insights on their role in the game. Discover the visual upgrades and challenges in the second edition of a beloved role-playing book. Engage with the rich lore surrounding Raksha and the game mechanics that keep players hooked. Explore the intricacies of character creation, including the concept of unshaped versus shaped beings. The discussion touches on abstract timelines, combat mechanics, and the deeper themes of humanity, all while maintaining a light-hearted tone.