RPG Design Panelcast

Episode 348: Pass-Fail vs Open-Ended Play

Recorded at Metatopia Online 2021

Presented by Joan Moriarity, Darren Watts, Beth Rimmels.

Which is better, a game that concludes when somebody wins, or a game that concludes when the story is deemed to be complete? It's a trick question, obviously; both styles have their benefits and drawbacks, but what are those exactly? Why do certain kinds of players tend to gravitate toward one or the other? What can devotees of one type gain from playing the other, and how can we make it more enjoyable to cross that divide?

Episode 347: Reading Contract Boilerplate

Recorded at Metatopia 2021

Presented by Eric Whalen.

Lawyers secretly know that you do not read the big chunks of standardized text in your contract that have nothing to do with your obligations and how much you are getting paid / paying (called "boilerplate" text). Worse - many lawyers forget to read the boilerplate in their own contracts! Whether you love or hate these reader-unfriendly text walls, join the panelist as he reminds us to intellectually grapple with the important provisions everyone has likely agreed to, but may never have read or fully understood until now. Chatters will be encouraged to link their own boilerplate samples so that panelists may demonstrate how to dissect organic boilerplate specimen live.

Episode 346: RPGs Without Obvious Combat Mechanics

Recorded at Metatopia Online 2021

Presented by Moe Poplar, Michael Low, J Gurantz.

Now kids, stop fighting! RPGs are intensely emotionally engaging, deeply moving experiences - and they're fun! Much attention has been paid, recently, to their application in therapy, helping people navigate complex emotional change. This creates a question - how does the violence often built into the system - and setting - of an RPG affect players, and how can we create games where tension, drama, and struggle don't have to be wedded to destruction?

Episode 345: Making Trash Games for Love

Recorded at Metatopia Online 2021

Presented by presented by Jack Rosetree, Olivia Montoya, Taylor LaBresh.

Perfection is a toxic concept. The pressure to make our games elegant, innovative, replayable, marketable, pitchable, attractive, and trendy can be exhausting. Don't be afraid to make ugly, unmarketable, uncomfortable, or downright bad games. Making trash is liberating, exhilarating, and cathartic.   Full Slide Deck at https://tinyurl.com/htnw669s

Episode 344: International Co-Publishing Agreements

Recorded at Metatopia 2021

Presented by Jason Pitre, Rae Nedjadi and Sean Nittner with regrets from Jay Dragon.

 

Countless brilliant analog game designers are creating innovative games around the world. Unfortunately, creatives from many countries face harsh barriers in terms of crowdfunding access, banking regulations, shipping challenges, or other factors. That is why international co-publishing agreements have come on the scene. In this panel, Filipino Designer/Publisher Jamila Nedjadi joins North American publishing partners to discuss the different business models that have worked for them.

Episode 343: Printing and Shipping Where You Are

Recorded at Metatopia Online 2021

Presented by Jonathan Lavallee, Alastor Guzman, Moe Poplar.

Do You Want to Build a Snowman? Printing and Publishing Where You Are.  In this panel we'll be looking at the current state of printing and publishing RPGs from Canada, the US, Europe, and Mexico. Where are there new opportunities for small publishers to produce physical books without breaking the bank?

Episode 342: Details for the Devil

Recorded at Metatopia Online 2021

Presented by Richard Ruane, Pam Punzalan, Brian Yaksha, Zedeck Siew.

 

In METATOPIA 2020's "Devil in the Details" panel, we explored microsettings; settings that focus closely on a specific area, region, or location. This year, we'll discuss how microsettings challenge traditional assumptions about game mechanics, focusing on character creation, magic, technology, and GM procedures. How can the concrete specificity of microsettings open up other design opportunities beyond just the setting details?

Episode 341: Questions as Mechanics

Recorded at Metatopia Online 2021

Presented by Thomas Manuel, Logan Timmins, Rae Nedjadi, Aaron Lim, momatoes.

Asking and answering questions seems really simple but at the same time, it's a powerful tool in the game design process. Watch a group of storygame designers talk about the role of questions in their games and how they can help you get the best out of play at the table.

Episode 340: The Data is in, now what?

Recorded at Metatopia Online 2021

Presented by Tanya Pobuda, Sarah Stang, Erika Chung, Eric Lang.

We know where we stand - gaming, specifically analog gaming in this case, has a sexism and racism problem. We've proven that through our research. Now that we have the data to back up our lived experiences, what can we do to fix the problems?

Episode 339: Designing Rewarding Game Experiences

Recorded at Metatopia Online 2021

Presented by Beth Rimmels, Sen-Foong Lim, Gwendolyn Marshall.

As a GM or game designer, you can produce a rewarding or disappointing experience for players. Regardless of genre, game or goals, what your design focuses on and how it conveys that determines how it will be received. We'll discuss how to create satisfying experiences whether you're trying to scare players, create thought-provoking frustration, or make players feel like heroes

Episode 338: Keepsake Games

Recorded at Metatopia Online 2021

Presented by Jason Cox, Shing Yin Khor, Jeeyon Shim.

Keepsake Games, Art, Education and Equity. Keepsake games, which generate material objects as a result of play, are a fascinating tool for classroom use. What if the experience of educational games was visually shaped by the students? How would this affect their engagement and retention of content? How can a game like this thrive in the quantitative systems that dominate education?

Episode 337: The Aether and Beyond

Recorded at Metatopia Online 2021

Presented by Richard Ruane, Diogo Nogueira, Sarah Blunt, Daniel Wilson and Noora Rose.

 

Cold, scary, empty, and filled with radiation, we all know the real void of outer space isn't a friendly place. But what opportunities do we get when we create settings in a different outer space, one we see in pulp novels, weird fiction, planetary romances, cosmic horror, and early tabletop games and supplements such as Spelljammer or Space 1999? What makes creating a space fantasy or weird space setting different from creating a classic fantasy or space opera? What themes can creators explore when we look at space in weird and fantastical ways?

Episode 336: Selling Globally in an Evechanging World

Recorded at Metatopia Online 2021

Presented by Jordan Russell.

What is DDP? What is VAT? How can I expand my business Globally? If these are questions you have asked yourself then this session is for you. Come grab some knowledge with Jordan Russell (from ShipBob) on how to expand your business into different markets around the world. Becoming a global business isn't as scary as it seems.

Episode 335: Distribution in 2021

Recorded at Metatopia Online 2021

Presented by Scott Morris and Michael Parker.

 

Are you a designer and want to know how your game gets distributed? Are you self publishing and want to know more about Distribution? Are you crazy enough to actually ask a Distributor anything? Join us as Scott Morris from GTS and Michael Parker from ACD discuss the U.S.'s 3-Tier system and answer questions.

Episode 334: Gaming as Experiential Learning

Recorded at Metatopia 2021

Presented by Gabby Swab, John Harris, Ian Mercer.

Role Playing as Experiential Learning: How Dungeons & Dragons Assists in Teaching Management Concepts"

In Fall 2020, students across three universities participated in building a character based on their Ideal Entrepreneur, Human Resources Manager, or Leader. Using the format from the popular Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game, the students' chosen character used their characteristics, skills, and knowledge to perform in three different course-related scenarios. Students were then asked to reflect on their character, their decisions, and the subsequent outcomes. In this forum, we discuss the activity and the management topics (e.g., decision making, individual differences, resources) it allowed us to teach using games as experiential learning techniques.

Episode 333: Creatively Limited

Recorded at Metatopia Online 2021

 

Presented by Sen-Foong Lim, Paul Stefko, Moe Poplar and Quinn Murphy. Jonathan Lavallee was unable to attend for medical reasons.

Analysis paralysis exists in creativity! When we put up limits and restrictions, we find new ways to solve problems and be creative. This panel will talk about what works for them when putting up walls around their creative process. 

Episode 332: Language Matters: Clear vs. Flavourful Terminology

Recorded at Metatopia Online 2021

Presented by Jonathan Lavallee, Sen-Foong Lim, Misha B.

It's always great and interesting to have cool terms for features in your game, but there are moments when that can get in the way of what you're trying to say. We'll be talking about the importance of, and balance between, clarity and flavor in your text.

Episode 331: Designing and Publishing with ADHD

Recorded at Metatopia Online 2021

Presented by Jay Dragon, Robert Donoghue, Rabbit Stoddard, Darla Burrow.

Game design and publishing are complex tasks at the best of times, and particularly so for those dealing with ADHD. Many creatives struggle with maintaining their attention and concentration on their design and publishing work. How do you track your accomplishments and keep track of what you need to do next? How do you manage multiple deadlines and juggling priorities? How can ADHD be harnessed to help you with your creative work? In this panel, four experienced designers will share their hard-won secrets

Episode 330: Design and Composition 101

Recorded at Metatopia Online 2020

Presented by Jack Parra, Melissa Gay.

This panel for art beginners discusses technique, both in a general sense and specifically for the kinds of products you're likely to encounter in the game biz.

Episode 329: Writing One-Page Games

Recorded at Metatopia Online 2020

Presented by Grant Howitt, Matt Jones, Alexi Sargeant, Jeeyon Shim, Jason Tocci.

Writing long games is hard, but so is writing short games. What advantages do one-page games afford us? What can't they do? What can they do better than longer games? We're going to find out.

Episode 328: Basic Copyright for Writers and Designers

Recorded at Metatopia Online 2020

Presented by Eric Whalen.

This panel is a brief discussion of the basics of copyright law (and some other aspects of intellectual property law) as they pertain to writers and game designers. Members of the panel include game designers, publishers, writers, and former attorneys who have dealt with these issues themselves

Episode 327: Grow your RPG Brand

Recorded at Metatopia Online 2020

Presented by Cat Tobin, Will Sobel, JR Blackwell, Christopher McGlothlin, Maz Hamilton.

You're an RPG designer now! That's great, but now how do you get your awesome game in front of players who will appreciate it? How do you position yourself for future projects? Basically, how do you get your name on a game to mean something? Our panelists grapple with this sticky problem!

Episode 326: How to Pitch Yourself Confidently

Recorded at Metatopia Online 2020

Presented by Emily Escovar, Anne Ratchat.

You've got a great game and you're looking to sell it, or maybe you're looking to get a position working for somebody else making games. How do you present yourself and your game in their best lights? Pitching's a necessary skill regardless of your role in the industry. Learn how to do it here!

Episode 325: Let Kids Break Your Game

Recorded at Metatopia Online 2020

Presented by Kathleen Mercury and Julie Ahern.

Any adult who's worked closely with kids as a teacher, caretaker, or mentor has a cache of stories about times they learned true humility at the hands of a child. This late night panel presents the argument that the youngest generation is our greatest asset. Join panelists as they break down (through real life, hilariously humiliating examples) how every aspect of games, from design to execution, is bettered for the presence and involvement of kids, and what we can do to make our spaces more welcoming to young people. 

Epsiode 324: Building Better Character Connections

Recorded at Metatopia Online 2020

Presented by Cat Tobin, Becky Annison, Sharang Biswas.

How to Design !More! !Drama! into your RPG! Some of the most satisfying role playing experiences come from the dramatic outcomes of emotional connections between player characters. We look at ways for tabletop and LARP writers to design for deeper character relationships and dynamics, to provide a structure for GMs to bring more of the good kind of drama to their RPGs