Episodes
Saturday Aug 31, 2019
Episode 221 - The Joy of Honobono
Saturday Aug 31, 2019
Saturday Aug 31, 2019
Recorded at Metatopia 2018
Presented by presented by Rach Shelkey, Jacqueline Bryk.
Honobono games. Heartwarming games. Pastoral games. Roleplaying games that focus on finding excitement in mundane situations and reinforcing positive emotion spaces go by several different labels. How do you design for uplifting gameplay? What impact do these games have on players? Our panelists will explore RPGs and mechanics that help players explore those warm fuzzy feelings.
Saturday Aug 24, 2019
Episode 220 - Stage Gate Development
Saturday Aug 24, 2019
Saturday Aug 24, 2019
Recorded at Metatopia 2018
Presented by Randy Lubin.
A Stage Gate Approach to Game Development: A stage gate approach involves developing multiple ideas in parallel, starting with one sentence pitches. Each round of the design process advances to a higher fidelity pitch, rule set, or playtest and each round you cull a subset of the potential games. It's a highly effective method for generating a breadth of ideas, overcoming design anxiety, and developing with confidence
Saturday Aug 17, 2019
Episode 219 - DrivethruRPG
Saturday Aug 17, 2019
Saturday Aug 17, 2019
Recorded at Metatopia 2018
Presented by Christopher Tang
"Getting Started With DriveThruRPG". Let's talk about how to interact with DriveThruRPG, some of the nitty gritty process but also the general principles to bear in mind and some of the things many people do not know like the details of the OGL, basic copyright law, the availability of Community Content programs, etc. Also taking audience questions liberally since I expect there will be those. We will also cover some of the ways the site has changed in the last year (mostly GDPR changes).
Saturday Aug 10, 2019
Episode 218 - Marketing 201
Saturday Aug 10, 2019
Saturday Aug 10, 2019
Recorded at Metatopia 2018
Presented by Juliet Meyer, Raymond Bruels
Marketing 201: Creating Content around Your Brand/Product. You've got a brand/product and you've got all the social media channels and a website. Great. Now what? Learn how to create consistent content for your brand/product that will resonate with your audience. This class covers Twitch streaming, social post scheduling/generation, as well as some ideas for rich media creation, and how to go about creating content for your brand/product using tools you already have! Bring your phone to this seminar
Saturday Aug 03, 2019
Episode 217 - Marketing 101
Saturday Aug 03, 2019
Saturday Aug 03, 2019
Recorded at Metatopia 2018
Presented by Juliet Meyer, Raymond Bruels
Marketing 101: Creating a Basic Marketing Plan. This is a basic course in marketing your brand and/or your product and helping you know the difference between the two in terms of tone and voice. Which social media platform is best for you? How should you measure success? Do I need a website/Facebook/Instagram/Telegram Channel/Sub-Reddit and what are those things? What are the different ways to market? What is my target demographic? How can you build an audience for your brand/product?
Saturday Jul 27, 2019
Episode 216 - Appoaching Allyship from an Intersectional Perspective
Saturday Jul 27, 2019
Saturday Jul 27, 2019
Recorded at Metatopia 2018
Presented by Julia Ellingboe and Brand Robins.
Approaching Allyship from a Genuinely Intersectional Perspective. There's no formal roadmap to being a "good" ally. It's easy to scratch the surface and stop moving, because you've challenged your own paradigm. That's not enough. Let's brainstorm tools and tactics for guiding allies towards functional engagement.
Saturday Jul 20, 2019
Episode 215 - Truth, Survival, and Empowerment in Darker Narratives
Saturday Jul 20, 2019
Saturday Jul 20, 2019
Recorded at Metatopia 2018
Presented by Mabel Harper, Avonelle Wing, Misha Bushyager, and Eli Eaton.
A discussion about why some people, specifically members of minority groups, might feel drawn to darker games and survival narratives, and how fiction of this nature both describes reality and can also provide answers, empowerment, and revolutionary verve in a world that is hostile to racial, sexual, ethnic, and gender minorities
Saturday Jul 13, 2019
Episode 214 - Kickstarter in 2019
Saturday Jul 13, 2019
Saturday Jul 13, 2019
Recorded at Metatopia 2018
Presented by Chandler Copenhaver, Steve Segedy and Christopher Batarlis.
Kickstarter today is a different animal than it was a year or five years ago. Let's talk about the things you need to know if you're launching a campaign next year.
Saturday Jul 06, 2019
Episode 213 - Eat, Drink, and be Merry
Saturday Jul 06, 2019
Saturday Jul 06, 2019
Recorded at Metatopia 2018
Presented by Kristen Roberts and Jennifer Gutterman
Eat, Drink & Be Merry: Developing Cultural Touchstones for Immersive World Building". Building dynamic worlds for your game is not just about swords, guns and magic. Much of what gives our world it's depth and richness is rooted in environment and evolving cultural traditions. Using examples like native cuisines, holidays, and slang terminology, this workshop will focus on how to develop setting-specific cultural touchstones that are relatable for your audience without being derivative or anachronistic. Incorporating these details into your game design not only creates a more immersive environment for your players, but also helps to build community and bring people together in real life. Join our workshop, bring your setting concepts, and learn about how to add and emphasize these important socio-cultural concepts in your world building and game design
Saturday Jun 29, 2019
Episode 212 - How to be an Ally
Saturday Jun 29, 2019
Saturday Jun 29, 2019
Recorded at BreakoutCon 2019
Presented by Anne Ratchat, Misha Bushyager, James Mendez Hodes, Eli Eaton & Jonaya Kemper with moderation by Jason Pitre
Knowing how to support people is always difficult. When considering different backgrounds and identities, good intentions can backfire. This panel will introduce what to consider when being an ally and some ways to assist in a productive manner.
EDITOR's NOTE: The audio recorder stopped recording 2/3rds of the way into this panel, but the content here is still quite valuable. Enjoy!
Saturday Jun 22, 2019
Episode 211 - Diversity at the Table
Saturday Jun 22, 2019
Saturday Jun 22, 2019
Recorded at Breakout 2019
Presented by Daniel Kwan, Agatha Cheng, Amar, Kienna S. and James Mendez Hodes with moderation by Daniel Kwan.
How do we make our games and tables more inclusive? How do we make our stories more interesting and diverse? Join the Asians Represent! podcast crew as they discuss and answer these questions.
Saturday Jun 15, 2019
Episode 210 - What's Off Limits for Games?
Saturday Jun 15, 2019
Saturday Jun 15, 2019
Recorded at Breakout 2019
Presented by Nicole Winchester, Mo Turkington, Misha Bushyager, Sharang Biswas & Jonaya Kemper with moderation by Jason Pitre
Different individuals, communities, countries, and cultures have different ideas about what LARPs and roleplaying games should and should not address, and as gaming communities interact on and offline these ideas often come into conflict. What is acceptable in a game, and who gets to make that decision? How do we have productive and compassionate conversations about these issues? Are there things that games are not equipped to address, or are we limiting games by limiting their subjects?
Saturday Jun 08, 2019
Episode 209 - Let Go of the Reins
Saturday Jun 08, 2019
Saturday Jun 08, 2019
Recorded at BreakoutCon 2019
Presented by Tracy Gibbons, James D'Amato, Bianca Zelda, Daniel Kwan with moderation by Victoria Rogers
You don't need to prep for hours to run a fun game that everyone will enjoy. GMing doesn't have to be a daunting experience. This panel will talk about ways to let go of the reins and give everyone at the table a chance to collaborate and create the story together.
Saturday Jun 01, 2019
Episode 208 - GM Masterclass
Saturday Jun 01, 2019
Saturday Jun 01, 2019
Recorded at BreakoutCon 2019
Presented by Chris Spivey, Robin Laws, James Mendez Hodes, with moderation by Corey Reid
Bring your thorniest GMing problems to our doughty panel, in a Q & A event focused on practical solutions to dilemmas both classic and new
Saturday May 25, 2019
Episode 207 - Online Games
Saturday May 25, 2019
Saturday May 25, 2019
Recorded at BreakoutCon 2019
Presented by Stephanie Bryant, Harlan Guthrie, Jo Fallak with moderation by Jennifer Adcock
An overview and discussion of virtual tabletops for playing tabletop games online, remotely as well as with an at-table device. Features to expect, different playstyles, etc.
Saturday May 18, 2019
Episode 206 - Running Convention Games
Saturday May 18, 2019
Saturday May 18, 2019
Recorded at Breakout 2019
Presented by Camdon Wright, Angela Murray and Chris Spivey, with moderation by Senda Linaugh
Let’s face it, some games are just better for cons than others! This panel of experts will discuss what makes a game a good pick for a con. What kind of mechanics work best? What kind of stories? How do you stay on time? How do you invest your players quickly in your game? All this and your questions!
Saturday May 11, 2019
Episode 205 - Larp 101
Saturday May 11, 2019
Saturday May 11, 2019
Recorded at BreakoutCon 2019
Presented by Anne Ratchet Nicole Winchester, Moyra Turkington and Jonaya Kemper
Have you always wanted to play LARPs at Breakout or out in the ‘real world’? Or are you wary of LARP and want your questions answered about this embodied form of play? Come on by to learn more about the different kinds of LARP, how to decide if a LARP is for you, how to tell if a LARP is safer space and more! We’ll also discuss our experiences with LARP as creators and players, offer examples of LARP from ‘black-box’ indie larps to rustic boffer campaigns to elaborate ‘blockbuster’ adventures, and talk about some LARPs you can play (or buy) at Breakout!
Saturday May 04, 2019
Episode 204 - Creating Engaging Characters
Saturday May 04, 2019
Saturday May 04, 2019
Recorded at BreakoutCon 2019
Presented by Emily Griggs, Camdon Wright, Sharang Biswas, & Cat Ramen
Most great stories start with great characters, and the stories told around a game table are no exception. A discussion about creating player characters that will engage everyone in the table, and help tell amazing stories that everyone will enjoy.
Panelists: Emily Griggs, Camdon Wright, Sharang Biswas, Cat Ramen
Moderator: Emily Griggs
Saturday Apr 27, 2019
Episode 203 - Designing Asian Themes in Board and Roleplaying Games
Saturday Apr 27, 2019
Saturday Apr 27, 2019
Recorded at BreakoutCon 2019
Presented by James Mendez Hodes, Sharang Biswas, Agatha Cheng. Moderated by Daniel Kwan Regrets from Banana Chan
Are you interested in how Asian cultures can inspire games and game design? Are you curious about Asian portrayal in games? Join us for a panel discussion about these topics as experienced Asian TTRPG, LARP, and board game designers discuss cultural and historical themes. We will talk through examples that we’ve seen, the differences between Asian American and overseas Asian perspectives, and the impact of thoughtful representation and why it matters.
Saturday Apr 20, 2019
Episode 202 - What Art can do for your Game
Saturday Apr 20, 2019
Saturday Apr 20, 2019
Recorded at BreakoutCon 2019
Presented by Shel Khan & Emily Griggs, with moderation by Jonathan Lavallee
A breakdown of how the art you include in your RPG book contributes to your RPG as a marketing technique, as education and information for your GM, and as permission and inspiration for players.
Saturday Apr 13, 2019
Episode 201 - Board Game Design Basics
Saturday Apr 13, 2019
Saturday Apr 13, 2019
Recorded at BreakoutCon 2019
Presented by Allysha Tulk, Nikki Valens, Shannon McDowell and moderated by Daryl Andrews
Common practices and workflow when designing games, including the basic expectations, and the basic assumptions of design work. Notes, playtesting, knowing your audience and art will all be discussed as we walk through what it is like to build a Boardgame.
Saturday Apr 06, 2019
Episode 200 - Publishing on a Tight Budget
Saturday Apr 06, 2019
Saturday Apr 06, 2019
Recorded at BreakoutCon 2019
Presented by Todd Crapper, Tim Rodriguez, Cheyenne Grimes with moderation by Bronwyn Friesen
Not everyone has access to thousands of dollars or the benefit of a successful Kickstarter under their belt. Many indie publishers start off with financial difficulties, including poverty, but are driven to create new and exciting games. This panel looks to provide some "tips and tricks" for creating games on a tight budget or with no funds at all.
Saturday Mar 30, 2019
Episode 199 - Horror Mechanics
Saturday Mar 30, 2019
Saturday Mar 30, 2019
Recorded at Metatopia 2018
Presented by Anne Ratchat, Kenneth Hite, Elsa Henry, Julia Ellingboe, Jabari Weathers.
Horror Mechanics (For More Than Just Horror)"In the genre of horror, game designers and writers have developed an arsenal of tools specifically to disempower the characters in their worlds. These mechanics are assumed one-trick ponies but can also serve as useful mechanics for empowering play as well when understood. The goal of this panel is to break down why specific horror mechanics work and how to use them effectively, regardless of genre.
Saturday Mar 23, 2019
Episode 198 - Choice Mechanics
Saturday Mar 23, 2019
Saturday Mar 23, 2019
Recorded at Metatopia 2018
Presented by Anne Ratchat, Rob Donoghue
In each game, players make choices starting character design/assignment. How does a designer balance creating meaningful decisions while balancing choice paralysis? How does the feel of the game change by increasing and decreasing choices available?
Saturday Mar 16, 2019
Episode 197 - You Need a Business Partner!
Saturday Mar 16, 2019
Saturday Mar 16, 2019
Recorded at Metatopia 2018
Presented by Nicole Perry, Peter Hayward.
When turning your board game idea into a board game company, the first step is sorting out the logistics. Unless you have a burning desire to deal with accountants, spreadsheets, corporate structures, and The Joy of Taxes, you need a business partner. Nicole Perry and Peter Hayward are business partners; listen to them discuss how they split tasks, make sure that everything is covered, and the unexpected benefits of working closely with a partner.