Dice Exploder

Clayton Notestine, expert on hexagons and RPGs, discusses the birth of RPGs, the advantages of hexes over squares, and the modularity of hex maps. The podcast covers leaving hexes empty for storytelling, hex flowers in RPGs, and the joy of drawing maps with hexagons.

Coming August 17th, 2023: DICE EXPLODER SEASON 2.(Here’s a transcript of this trailer.)That’s right, we are back next week with an all new season. It's 12 new episodes, 13 new co-hosts diving face first with me into the world of tabletop RPG design one mechanic at a time.This is gonna be a season that's a lot about flavor and vibes and how those things themselves are fundamentally mechanics in these games. We've also got a trio of episodes about different ways to depict travel, and of course a few deep dives into crunchy grindy bits of games.Our longest episode yet. Our shortest episode yet. Splorts!Tell your siblings and your niblings! Join our Discord if you can’t wait that long.See you soon. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit diceexploder.substack.com

Expert Ash Kreider and host Sam explore character creation picklists in PBTA games, discussing efficiency, gender representation, and small character details. They delve into the impact of pick lists on defining characters in games like Blades in the Dark and Dream Askew. The creative use of pick lists in PBTA games is highlighted, with examples from Under Hollow Hills and Queer Sir.

Game designer Ryan Khan discusses the mechanics of Whispers in The Wildsea, focusing on player agency, open-ended lore, and devil's bargains. The discussion explores game design elements from The Wildsea, Apocalypse World, and Blades in the Dark, emphasizing the importance of setting and narrative twists in tabletop RPGs.

Greg Soper, an expert on Divine Favor and Agon 2e mechanics, discusses family drama in character sheets, Greek Gods as bad parents, and the challenges of hacking Divine Favor. They explore themes in games like All Quiet No Peace and discuss setting elements from Dream Askew. The podcast offers insights into player agency and narrative freedom in RPGs.

Ema Acosta discusses gender dynamics in The Watch RPG, inducing emotions through technical language, balancing misery with hope, and the game mechanics of 'Change The World'. Topics include rail shooter RPGs, crying during gameplay, and the emotional depth experienced at the gaming table.

Victor Lane discusses mystery RPGs and Theorize move, delving into Three Clue Rule, structured vs emergent surprises, mechanical clues, and advice on running Brindlewood Bay. They touch on quantum villains, complexity, and the blend of writing, reading, and playing mystery stories. Games like Brindlewood Bay and GUMSHOE are highlighted, along with movies and TV shows like Knives Out and Murder She Wrote.

Experienced RPG player and game designer, Pam Punzalan, discusses Devil's Bargains in Blades in the Dark. Topics include rulebooks as guidelines, safety tools, favorite DBs, and retconning. They explore unique game mechanics, character depth, emotional choices, and devil's bargains impact on gameplay.

Game developer Michael Elliott discusses failure and conflict in RPGs, genre mechanics, spotlight passing, and simplifying game mechanics. They explore Composure in Antiquarian Adventures, pulp adventure stories, enhancing gameplay with tropes, and addressing racism in RPGs.

Join Ray Chou in a discussion on minimalism, genre mechanics, and the balance between randomness and fate in RPGs like Lasers & Feelings. Explore the fun of beer & pretzels gaming and the creative challenges of game design. Discover the essence of storytelling through diverse characters and engaging mechanics.