Roll For Topic
Roll For Topic
GM/DM discussions on topics related to running tabletop games. Each episode is a 30-45 minute conversation about one specific topic chosen by rolling 1d10 on a table of topics.
Roll for Topic's regular cohosts are Andy Rau and Chris Salzman. If you or your GM is interested in being a guest, drop us a line!
Roll for Topic's regular cohosts are Andy Rau and Chris Salzman. If you or your GM is interested in being a guest, drop us a line!
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jul 18, 2024 • 25min
Episode 146 – Running Minigames Within Your Games
Have you used a minigame within your RPG to handle a specific scene or sequence? Chris and Andy brainstorm a bit about a jousting minigame for Chris’ upcoming convention game, with discursions into game playtesting, Battletech, and the upcoming RfT Con 2024.
Jul 4, 2024 • 35min
Episode 145 – How to Prep for a Game When You Have No Time (with John Corey)
Guest host John Corey fills in for Chris this week, bringing his expertise in low-prep GMing! John and Andy discuss what they’ve been reading about the early days of the gaming hobby and then go on to talk about how you can move from high-prep GMing to lower-prep, improv-style GMing.
Jun 20, 2024 • 40min
Episode 144 – How Do You Handle Light Sources in Dungeons?
Do you meticulously track the light radius of each torch? Do you handwave it away? Something in between? Inspired by Andy’s recent trip to Mammoth Caves, Andy and Chris talk about the challenges and rewards of taking lighting seriously in your dungeon crawls.
Jun 6, 2024 • 45min
Episode 143 – How Do You Convey Setting Detail to Your Players?
Your setting is full of interesting history and fascinating detail. How do you convey that to your players at the table with boring or overwhelming them? Chris and Andy discuss, but not before they talk about what the movie Furiosa can teach us about good RPG action scenes. Show notes:
May 23, 2024 • 37min
Episode 142 – Our Mount Rushmore of Gaming
Andy and Chris talk for a while about books and then talk about their own personal Mt. Rushmore’s of RPG Creatives:
May 9, 2024 • 32min
Episode 141 – How Do You Help Players with the Rules?
Do any of your players struggle to grasp the rules of the game you’re all playing? How can GMs help them? Andy and Chris discuss, along with discursions into the weirdness of everyday life and Andy’s recent GMing for a group of sixth graders.
Apr 25, 2024 • 60min
Episode 140 – Live from the AADL Game Con 2024!
Andy and Chris were on a panel with Phil Cameron at the AADL Game Con! We talked about “How to GM like a pro”. Thanks to everyone who came out! It was a lovely time. The panel is also on youtube if you want to watch us talk instead of listen.
Apr 11, 2024 • 33min
Episode 139 – When do you invite players to help you build the world?
Andy and Chris talk about sharing the narrative at the game table. It gets surprisingly philosophical! Also, Andy and Chris will be at the 2024 AADL Game Con on Saturday April 13th! Come say hi!
Mar 28, 2024 • 34min
Episode 138 – How Do You Spotlight Characters?
What does it look like to shine the spotlight on a particular character in a TTRPG? In this episode, we talk through some player feedback about our last episode, then move on to this important GMing practice. Show notes:
Mar 14, 2024 • 37min
Episode 137 – What Famous Person Would You Like to Game With?
Andy and Chris ponder what famous figure, past or present, would be most fun to have at the gaming table! We also check in on Andy’s Band of Blades game and Chris’ progress through The Lord of the Rings.
