When the creativity is flowing, everything is shiny and exciting. But when it comes screeching to a halt as writer's block kicks in, it can be hard to find the motivation to keep creating. In this episode of Out of Initiative, Sarah and Morgan talk about the different ways writer's block presents to them and how they overcome it.
Bring your TTRPG sessions to life with factions! In this episode of Out of Initiative, Sarah and Morgan chat with Tabletop Journeys' Lewanika, Josh and Glen about their upcoming Kickstarter that will bring nine new factions to GMs as well as help parties create their own factions to influence the leave a mark on the world they build together. Tabletop Journeys on YouTubeTabletop Journeys website
In this episode of Out of Initiative, we explore the age-old debate of theater of the mind versus making battle maps. As longtime players ourselves, we’ve experienced the pros and cons of each approach, and we're excited to explore this topic in-depth. Join us as we discuss how these two styles of gameplay enhance or detract from the overall dungeon-crawling experience, and the various creative strategies that can be employed to get the most out of both.
We love running our TTRPG games as much as the next GM but it's critical we take breaks from session prep and running games to be a player. Plus, you'll get some always helpful perspective of being back in the player seat while a member of your group takes the big omnipresent seat at the head of the table. But before you can get to playing, you'll need to help get your player-turned-GM set up for success. In this episode, Sarah and Morgan discuss how they recommend starting a conversation to bring a player into the GM seat, what resources and experiences you might want to give them and what Sarah wishes Morgan would have given her before their current campaign (live and learn on this one, Morgan).
Part 2 of our series on running a TTRPG session! Running a TTRPG might look like improv and while it does sometimes lean on improv elements, there's much more to GMing than making things up on the fly. You'll need to combine session prep and quick thinking to make the perfect formula for your games. In this episode, Sarah and Morgan discuss what they bring to the table each session, what they prep and what they make up in the moment.
Running a TTRPG might look like improv and while it does sometimes lean on improv elements, there's much more to GMing than making things up on the fly. You'll need to combine session prep and quick thinking to make the perfect formula for your games. In this episode, Sarah and Morgan discuss how pre-written modules can be an important starting place for new game masters and how we can learn from them to decide what we should write and what we can wing.
The intersection of D&D and Hallmark movies exists and it's a great place to be. In this episode, Sarah and Morgan chat with Legends & Lattes author and audiobook narrator Travis Baldree to dive into cozy fantasy, coffee shops and found family. This episode contains some spoilers for the book Legends & Lattes. Travis Baldree's Website Travis' Twitter
The intersection of D&D and Hallmark movies exists and it's a great place to be. In this episode, Sarah and Morgan chat with Legends & Lattes author and audiobook narrator Travis Baldree to dive into cozy fantasy, coffee shops and found family. Travis Baldree's Website Travis' Twitter
For as much as we can enjoy shiny new things, the old adage of "out with the old, in with the new" doesn't exactly capture the stress around change. From learning new rules to the fear of getting those rules wrong, the One D&D announcement has a lot of DMs re-examining 5th Edition D&D and making plans for the future (or like, determinedly not). In this episode, Sarah and Morgan discuss sections of the One D&D unearthed arcana and talk about if or how they plan to implement changes at their tables, house rules they'll be implementing immediately and the things they're most excited about with this new edition. Rivers of Ink 2022
Custom magic items and subclasses are more than en vogue for GMs like Logan, they're a way to build story and give players the freedom to not feel obligated to fit a niche. In this episode, Sarah and Morgan chat with Logan the GM about building and tuning custom magic items, getting inspiration from anime and how Vogueing and the drag scene inspired a bardic subclass that's serving more than just vicious mockery.
Whether it's for character building or to fill the void left by an unplanned session, using the concept of a bottle episode can serve your story well. From combats thrown in to buy time to situations and prompts that help players build out their character's arc, this is a tool every storyteller should have in their arsenal. In this episode, Sarah and Morgan discuss what bottle episodes mean for writers and GMs as well as examples of how to implement this tool in your next session.
If there's a bit of ourselves in every TTRPG character we make, then intense moments of loss, love and everything in between can get kind of... personal. In this episode, Sarah and Morgan talk with Intimacy Choreographer Ashley Love on building boundaries and safer spaces at your TTRPG table and how that will help you tell an immersive story you and your party will love. Ashley Love's Website Ashley's Instagram Ashley's TikTok Staging Sex by Chelsea Pace
You don’t have to wait for the next Spelljammer book to find a good multiverse adventure. In fact, you don’t even need to step away from your computer. In this episode, Sarah and Morgan talk to Josh, Lewanika and Glen of Tabletop Journeys as they dive into TTJ's most recent release, The Traveler's Guide to the Multiverse. Tabletop Journeys on YouTube Tabletop Journeys website Traveler's Guide to the Multiverse Tabletop Journeys Twitter
Sarah and Morgan are back for Out of Initiative season 2, talking about session zero. Everyone wants to skip to the good part but session zero is an opportunity to establish boundaries and consent with your players and a critical moment to manage expectations to ensure everyone has fun at the table.
In the first season finale of Out of Initiative, Sarah and Morgan invite this season's guests for a round of trivia and hypothetical rulings. Nonsense ensues in this game show-themed episode.
Structuring a campaign that leaves room for player choices is a challenge on its own. Adding in creating stories that are compelling enough to keep the players and GM engaged can seem like a daunting task. In this episode, Sarah and Morgan discuss story structure, adding rewards and consequences for character actions as well as opening lines of communication when actions might have very dire outcomes.
It's time to slip into something a little more... character-forward. In this special in-person episode, Sarah and Morgan discuss tips for building believable characters and how to embody those characters for roleplaying at the table. Costume optional.
Making a few changes in how you engage with D&D can enhance your experience and make the game more fun for everyone involved. In this episode, Sarah and Morgan talk about tips to help be a better player in any TTRPG game.
Love is in the air! Building relationships with other player characters and NPCs can add exciting depth to your TTRPG games. In this episode, Sarah and Morgan share their experiences with romance in D&D and offer tips on how to add some love to your table (with express consent, of course).
Endings are tough. Writing and planning for endings is even harder. In this episode, Sarah and Morgan discuss closing out stories in D&D and in fiction and the unique challenges that come with each kind of ending.