Out of Initiative

Merely NPCs
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  • GAMES
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Hey! We're two sisters (by marriage) who are obsessed with the art of storytelling. Join us as we talk about what makes a good story both in fiction generally and in tabletop RPGs.

  1. 09/18/2023

    OOI Episode 30 - Overcoming Writer's Block

    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.

    50 min

  2. 09/01/2023

    OOI Episode 29 - Factions with Tabletop Journeys

    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

    57 min

  3. 08/18/2023

    OOI Episode 28 - Theater of the Mind vs Maps

    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.

    47 min

  4. 03/21/2023

    OOI Episode 27 - Empowering Players to Run a Game (so you can take a break)

    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).

    40 min

  5. 01/12/2023

    Episode 26 - Write This, Wing That Part 2

    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.

    32 min

  6. 12/10/2022

    Episode 25 - Write This, Wing That Part 1

    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.

    23 min

  7. 10/01/2022

    Episode 24 - Love & Lore with Legends & Lattes Author Travis Baldree Part 2

    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

    40 min

  8. 09/16/2022

    Episode 23 - Love & Lore with Legends & Lattes Author Travis Baldree

    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

    27 min
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About

Hey! We're two sisters (by marriage) who are obsessed with the art of storytelling. Join us as we talk about what makes a good story both in fiction generally and in tabletop RPGs.

Information

  • Creator
    Merely NPCs
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2023
  • Episodes
    30
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Merely NPCs
  • Show Website
    Out of Initiative