Bonus Experience

Rai Witter Cole, Monica Speca
  • 0.0 (0)
  • GAMES
  • EVERY TWO WEEKS
Bonus Experience Podcast

A deeper look at the play experience and the finer details of running and writing tabletop games.

  1. 02/10/2023

    BXP 6x12 - Monica and Rai Talk

    Hello Bonus Babies, Rai returns for a finale. We sort of talk about games, but mostly we just talk.  Here's some stuff we talk about:  Monica's computer Rai's life Music of the 90s Monica's book Onyx Path shop talk A better alternative to the "no fascists" rule Rai's son and the Progress Pride Flag Fabula Ultima Dungeon Meishi Gay Final Fantasy You can find even more nonsense in the extended cut. And here's some links for things referenced:  "Dragostea Din Tei" by O-Zone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnopHCL1Jk8 2018 Progress Pride Flag (Danial Quasar): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_flag_(LGBT)#/media/File:LGBTQ+_rainbow_flag_Quasar_%22Progress%22_variant.svg Fabula Ultima: https://www.needgames.it/fabula-ultima-en/ Delicious in Dungeon (Dungeon Meishi/Danjon Meishi): https://yenpress.com/series/delicious-in-dungeon Rai's social: Rai on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/raiasintended Thank you everyone for sticking with us. We love you.

    59 min

  2. 12/09/2023

    BXP 6x11 - Monica and Heather Consider Ways to Keep Players Playing

    Hello Bonus Babies, I am so sorry for the huge delay - when it rains it pours. But here we are with the penultimate episode of Season Six!  Today Monica gets together with Heather (her wife) to discuss one of their mutually shared core principles of game design: participation makes the game. If you remove players from play, you are denying them the chance to experience your game. We break down what this means as well as provide good and bad examples of designing for character creation, incapacitation, elimination, and replacement. We also discuss constructive self-entertainment vs. disruptive behavior and techniques for different designs and different styles of play.  In your patron cut you'll also hear:  The mystery of the brown fluff Live Morgana Updates Live Julia Updates Important links from the show:  Fabula Ultima: https://www.needgames.it/fabula-ultima-en/ "Bluebeard's Bride AP" on The Story Told RPG Podcast: https://thestorytold.libsyn.com/bluebeards-bride-ap Heather's socials: @Snoutopus on Twitter and Bluesky @plague-of-frog on Tumblr https://www.tumblr.com/plague-of-frog

    42 min

  3. 10/07/2023

    BXP 6x10 - Monica and Alex Break Down Setting Design Using Video Games

    Hello Bonus Babies, Today I'm joined by friend and colleague Alex Guerrero to discuss how video games utilize narrative and setting design to create a sense of wonder and mystery - and how you can bring that to the table in your own tabletop RPGs! We discuss: Good writing and pacing of lore Creating and fostering mystery while running games Supporting an action-RPG feel at the table Using techniques from GMless gaming Integrating social influence into games Building lore for your game using other games Also discussed in the extended cut: Monica's favorite GM slight-of-hand and the judicious handling of "yes, but" Behind the scenes in trying to close the show WARNING: SPOILERS FOR HONKAI STAR RAIL FROM 15:32 to 19:05. They're called out with a musical bumper so if you don't want the plot spoiled PLEASE SKIP AHEAD. We mention a lot of things we said we would link, so here are quite literally all of them: "Are You Satisfied?" by Marina and the Diamonds. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWywn51-B_I Ashikai https://www.youtube.com/@Ashikai (The lore analyst that Alex mentioned) Video games Genshin Impacthttps://genshin.hoyoverse.com/ Honkai: Star Railhttps://hsr.hoyoverse.com/ TTRPGs mentioned for Genshin-style play Exalted Essencehttps://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/427275/Exalted-Essence Godbound Free edition https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/185959/Godbound-A-Game-of-Divine-Heroes-Free-Edition Deluxe edition https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/185960/Godbound-A-Game-of-Divine-Heroes AGE System https://greenroninstore.com/collections/age-system Storypath System https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/431162/Storypath-Ultra-Preview-2023 Anima Primehttps://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/90234/Anima-Prime-RPG Other TTRPGs mentioned Microscope https://www.lamemage.com/microscope/ The Quiet Yearhttps://buriedwithoutceremony.com/the-quiet-year Spindlewheel https://www.teacabbage.com/spindlewheel Blades in the Darkhttps://evilhat.com/product/blades-in-the-dark/ Alex's links Twitter https://twitter.com/AFractalDragon Itch https://fractaldragon.itch.io/ Tumblr https://letourswordsdecide.tumblr.com/

    40 min

  4. 27/06/2023

    BXP 6x09 - Monica and D Evaluate Rules Exceptions

    Hello Bonus Babies! D is back in the studio with me today to deliver on our promise to discuss exceptions-based rules design. We talk about Exalted: Essence an awful lot, but also talk about Malifaux, Chronicles of Darkness, and some upcoming games. We talk about good examples of how to build strong exceptions and an equal number of bad ones, and point out games that don't do this at all. Also discussed in the extended cut: Live, custom made, spooky beeps Even more on ASMR The weirdness of TikTok Anticipating a LARP Expectations for advances The intricacies of royalties and "the Bigolas Dickolas Moment" Find D's Choice of Games novel here: https://www.choiceofgames.com/seventh-sea-a-pirates-pact/

    42 min

  5. 12/06/2023

    BXP 6x08 Monica and Hiromi Demystify Accessibility

    Hello Bonus Babies, Today Monica sits down with friend and colleague Hiromi Cota to discuss how you can improve the accessibility of your tabletop RPG. We talk about making things accessible to folks with physical issues, but mental ones as well. We also talk about math a lot. In the patron cut: More coping strategies for ADHD Monica's style guide opinions Being ready to teach dice pools You can find Hiromi and their work here: https://hiromicota.com/ https://www.tumblr.com/hiromicota

    41 min

  6. 29/05/2023

    BXP 06x07 - Monica and the Scoundrels Discuss Content Creation

    Hello Bonus Babies, Today Monica is joined by the hosts of the Malifaux podcast, Steampowered Scoundrels, to have a lively discussion about being small content creators in a niche field, being the microest of micro celebrities, having relationships with tabletop game designers, and a lot, and I really mean a lot, of talk about Malifaux. Don't worry I also bring up Exalted at least once. Also discussed: bad times at work and the Condescension Special; the authenticity of background noise and where to get the good misophonia; the story of Trixibelle's lemon; war criminals, annoying women, and problematic content in long-term properties. Content warning that we touch on, but do not deeply discuss, some pretty messed up shit that our favorite games have included. You can find the Scoundrels here: https://steampoweredscoundrels.podbean.com/ The episode featuring yours truly here: https://steampoweredscoundrels.podbean.com/e/steam-powered-scoundrels-episode-22-ships-and-giggles/ More information on Malifaux here: https://www.wyrd-games.net/malifaux Place to find the Scoundrels: Discord: https://discord.gg/KnFbYPdBn9%20 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@steampoweredscoundrels YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArtefactorsUnion Good Things Happen Charity Event: https://fb.me/e/13rS4sbY1 and https://ko-fi.com/goodthingshappenmalifaux

    41 min

  7. 19/05/2023

    BXP 06x06 - MTP Crossover 2: Design Directives Mechanics Workshop

    Hello Bonus Babies, THere's another crossover with Mage: The Podcast. This time Danielle Lauzon joins us as we discuss the concept of design directives in games. Enjoy the energy a third party brings to these MTP/BXP crossovers. You can find Mage the Podcast here. Additional silliness in the extended cut.

    53 min

  8. 01/05/2023

    BXP 06x05 - Monica and Elliott Dissect Character Sheets

    Hello Bonus Babies, Today Monica is joined by Exalted developer, Elliott Freeman, to break down their favorite (and least favorite) characters sheets: what works, what doesn't, what they like to see, and so on. Favorites include Agon and Blades in the Dark, and the least favorites include some real stinkers. You can find Mr Gone's work here and here Also discussed in the extended cut: Sleep and work schedules More details about Blades in the Dark Play aids as character sheets

    38 min
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About

A deeper look at the play experience and the finer details of running and writing tabletop games.

Information

  • Creator
    Rai Witter Cole, Monica Speca
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2023
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2019
  • Show Website
    Bonus Experience

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