Tales From The Hydian Way

We go back to the list of RPG plots and gain ideas for you and us to use. From a fish out of water, to diplomacy, and racing in between we have ideas on engaging plots and some nifty places to find ideas. Things we talk about in the show: Big list of RPG Plots … Continue reading "261 – The Three Plot Tale"

We talk about story hooks and trying to set the ones you as a GM want, while still being okay with the changes your players will inadvertently want. Growing beyond the plots we have and maturing into the stories of the whole table. Things we talked about on the show Gridded Easel Pads West Marches … Continue reading "260 – Setting The Hook Tale"

Rissa was posed a question about how to get players to run blockades, we both have ideas and advice on how to make the seemingly impossible into challenges your players won’t balk to see. Things we talked about in this episode: Terminal Velocity Arquitens Light Cruiser A Little White Armor Lie You can find us … Continue reading "259 – A Blockade Run Tale"

For Heroes Act 2 Ben needed advice on how to do an important characters voice without doing an accent. Rissa has experience with making new voices and showing off different personalities for characters. The advice given becomes useful for differentiating characters for all. Things we talked about in this episode: Daria You can find us … Continue reading "258 – A Tale of Two NPCs"

Ben had a question for Rissa, how do you guide the players without taking their agency away from them? How do you get the players to choose to do something that will be cool, but they have no idea how to get there? Rissa has some ideas and Ben has a thought or two as … Continue reading "257 – The Shepard’s Tale"

In part 2 of our Android review we talk careers, the construction of the book, the favor economy, and hacking. We loved the setup and found that it sparked each of our imaginations in making us want to explore the universe more. Things we talked about in the show: Predators Shadow of the Beanstalk Night … Continue reading "256 – The Android Tale"

A little while back Shadow of the Beanstalk launched from FFG, we decided to do a review episode about it and even brought in noted cyberpunkfile David Pickering. We talk about the lore and why the setting and mechanics lead to interesting choices to be made and how adventured hooks drip from the book. Things … Continue reading "255 – The Beanstalk Tale"

Players grow and some want to move from the Edge of the Empire style of scum and villainy and a shade of grey for every action to something more obvious of good and bad. We have ideas on how to suggest this to your players and a few ways to nudge them into the rebellion. … Continue reading "254 – The Edge to Age Tale"

Ben’s Thursday night campaign is coming to an end, but he’s unsure how he should do it. Rissa has several helpful ideas on how to bring it in for an end in a satisfying fashion. Things talked about in this episode: Star Wars Sheets Allies and Adversaries Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom You can find us … Continue reading "253 – The End of Thursday Tale"

After a session or two when your players are having no luck with the dice it can be so disheartening, and which can lead to player resentment. We talk about how to deal with failure after failure in a story and how to make it more interesting and fun for the player. Things talked about … Continue reading "252 – The Failing Up Tale"

We get talking about the Destiny pool and how to keep it in play and moving between sides. From using it as a GM intrusion to an adventure to upgrading rolls and so many places in between You can find us on TwitterShow updates are @TheHydianWayBen is @DeuteriumIceRissa is @KookyKitt Help us out financially for … Continue reading "251 – The Tale of Destiny"

We have David and Leslie on to talk about our methods of preparation, what we find needed, and how to encourage a new GM into running a second campaign. Things we talked about in the episode: Fiasco Dice for Brains Force Majeure Dark Heresy Realms of Terrinoth NPC deck Android NPC deck Star Wars Allies … Continue reading "250 – The GM Experience"

Playing in the Old Republic Era has no stats behind it, nor does the Sequel Era. We have ideas on how to still use the system to tell amazing tales and not worry about the mechanics behind everything. Things talked about in this episode: Knights of the Old Republic 2 Saw Gerrera Steela Gerrera Star … Continue reading "249 – The Period Tale"

Translating the inspiration for a campaign into what the players hear and see is hard. We have a few ideas on how to take that comncept that evoked your desire to run the adventure into what your players are having a blast in doing. Things described in this podcast: Rissa’s Stream Kelly’s Heroes Seven Samurai … Continue reading "248 – The Composition Tale"

An episode of Heroes makes Ben wonder about different ways of presenting encounters to the players. Rissa and Ben have some ideas on how to make sure that the players weapons aren’t always the first thing grabbed for. Things discussed in this episode: Heroes Season 2 Mask of the Pirate Queen Act 1 Episode 2 … Continue reading "247 – The Rumble Tale"

Recounting a few missteps in our own history we have a few ideas on how to make the pets of a player matter to the game and to the players in ways that aren’t always obvious. References for the show: Force Majeure Podcast Lassie You can find us on TwitterShow updates are @TheHydianWayBen is @DeuteriumIceRissa … Continue reading "246 – The Player Pet Tale"

We said it was going to be a series, and we’re starting it. Threat is a tricky thing to use since it’s very easy to undervalue it, we have ideas on how to make it more vibrant and how to not try to steal the success of a roll with threat. Things Discussed in this … Continue reading "245 – The Growing Threat Tale"

We start our discussion about the extra mechanics in the FFG narrative system with advantage, as we start talking about the scale of what makes one advantage a small boost versus making three or four amazing and how to scale mechanically and narratively between. Things discussed in this episode: BC rain forest Supernatural Tomb Raider … Continue reading "244 – The New Advantage Tale"

We talk about methods of how you as a player and a GM can move a disagreement at the table between characters and players along to some form of resolution, with a few examples from our own tables. Things we talked about on the show D&D Alignment Chart Enemy Mine Tabletop Simulator You can find … Continue reading "243 – The Indecisive Tale"

Surprises can be an amazing thing, and we have a few ideas on how to turn a cliff hanger into something that the players will never expect. From fantastic settings to NPCs that will haunt your players long after they’re put back in the box, we have ideas. Things talked about in this episode: Baby … Continue reading "242- The Unexpected Tale"