* (0:24) Bringing everything together into a single ending. Remembering that the GM should get their say as well.
* (8:05) The collaborative building of a world with conflict. The natural concern for one’s own creation.
* (19:40) Differentiating the ending and epilogue of the game.
* (34:50) Knowing where to let go.
* (42:56) #SaveGamer…? Ask Brodeur. We’re not dealing with this one.
Hosts: Brodeur, Chad, Dan, Wayne
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* (0:30) Never humor Brodeur.
* (1:17) Jason Brick is launching a new flash fiction anthology, with several Fear the Boot hosts contributing. You can find the Kickstarter here.
* (4:23) The fine folks at Modiphius Entertainment feed Dan’s Enclave addiction, and he repays them by referring to Wasteland Warfare as Wasteland Warriors.
* (8:32) Discussing how to end a long campaign, as inspired by the end of our Skies of Glass actual play, along with an upcoming Masks campaign Wayne is preparing to wrap up.
* (10:18) An aside on projects we’ll be doing between major actual plays.
* (13:00) Hooray for even keeping a game alive until it ends!
* (15:06) Why the expectations around the end of the game create unique stress. Remembering it’s not just the GM’s ending.
* (18:22) Asking the players what they want from the ending without having them dictate the plot.
* (25:25) Writing the ending in session zero.
* (26:23) Getting back to the example ending from Skies of Glass.
* (36:33) Accepting player freedom in their choices and giving them some responsibility for their own satisfaction.
* (40:10) Respecting the difference between an individual character’s ending and the shared, group ending.
Hosts: Brodeur, Chad, Dan, Wayne
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* (0:24) Brodeur’s response to our critiques. Settling disputes in online games.
* (3:12) Minis are just cool to create and use.
* (6:32) A form of art and inspiration.
* (11:40) The value to visual thinkers and visual learners.
* (21:40) Estimating the percentage of groups that use minis.
* (27:29) Minis as commemorative art.
* (36:06) Three ways of consuming miniatures.
* (44:03) A link to Silver Scales, who did excellent mini-painting work for Wayne and Dan.
Hosts: Brodeur, Chad, Dan, Wayne
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* (0:29) Models, minis, figs, and toy soldiers. Brodeur proposes Frostgrave. Why Chad is wrong about the Enclave being fully defeated.
* (4:02) Minis in an RPG. Enriching or distracting? Brodeur’s blog post on the matter.
* (15:36) What miniatures bring to and take away from the typical roleplaying game. Distaste for collectibles and blind box purchases.
* (25:22) The added work surrounding minis. The need for more minis than you originally thought you’d need.
* (30:34) The separate hobby—and required skills—for building and painting minis.
* (36:55) The value in the mere presence of minis. Keeping things consistent.
Hosts: Brodeur, Chad, Dan, Wayne
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* (0:28) Brodeur’s site, Wayne’s site, and Fear the Boot’s Patreon.
* (3:49) Looking at an updated view of the effect COVID is having on tabletop gaming. Setting some parameters on the discussion.
* (8:47) The impact it’s had on our own games and gaming groups.
* (20:32) How COVID is affecting the podcast.
* (24:41) How COVID is affecting game creators, publishers, and retailers. Dan and Brodeur’s prior predictions for the con season.
* (30:50) An aside on miniature wargames and Gnarl versus Unicron.
* (34:28) The effect on manufacturing and distribution.
* (41:42) Will COVID have a positive, negative, or neutral effect on gaming?
* (53:04) The possible loss of talent from the industry.
Hosts: Brodeur, Chad, Dan
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* (0:30) Nagging Brodeur to do an episode of Game Notes. Brodeur’s own show.
* (7:21) Revisiting command structures in a game. Waiting to set roles until after you’ve had a chance to play your character.
* (14:28) Your character isn’t their job.
* (21:44) Not having a group structure at all, juxtaposed with the inevitability of interpersonal organization.
* (31:39) Micromanagers in leadership roles.
* (35:28) Putting some focus on whether non-command personnel are right for their roles.
* (48:33) Unplanned shifts in role that occur during the story.
Hosts: Brodeur, Chad, Dan, Wayne
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* (0:28) Developing a GMing style.
* (2:38) Defining “GMing style,” as it will be used in this show.
* (9:19) Laura, as a GM who is running her formative games.
* (12:10) Picking up helpful ideas from other GMs without losing your own style. Sticking with it.
* (18:43) Struggling with a sense of detachment from the game, due to the number of things a GM has to keep track of.
* (35:12) The influence of experienced GMs. Ignoring absolute advice, and how “Show, Don’t Tell” is political propaganda.
* (45:00) After running about 10 games, what has Laura found didn’t work?
Hosts: Chad, Dan, Laura
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* (0:28) How this topic may tie into the next campaign in our actual play.
* (7:47) The particular struggle over captain, as opposed to any other position on the bridge.
* (9:21) The attractive folly of choosing a reluctant leader.
* (17:00) The difference between trying to shoehorn in the wrong player versus the wrong character.
* (26:03) Getting the right player and the right character.
* (30:40) “A captain makes my participation pointless.”
* (31:08) What a good captain looks like. Servant leadership. The power of a title.
* (40:17) A trio of real-world examples. (That was supposed to be True Dungeon, not Real Dungeon.)
* (59:42) One body, many parts.
* (1:02:26) Letting people find their roles naturally, during the course of the game.
Hosts: Chad, Dan, Wayne
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* (0:28) Have a game! And an online calendar.
* (3:09) When one player asks for a very specific game.
* (9:08) Determining exactly what they want from this game. Yes, Chad, Green Squadron really does exist.
* (11:18) Does the rest of the group want to participate in this game?
* (12:40) An intentionally difficult example with Unicron. Restraining yourself as the subject-matter expert.
* (18:32) Asking the requester to give spotlight to the other players while limiting their own.
* (29:54) Now you have to sell it!
* (31:17) Switching back to Green Squadron, which presents a different set of problems and opportunities.
* (36:53) The value of a beloved but unremarkable character.
* (40:47) Not abusing meta-game knowledge.
* (50:13) Be prepared to concede as much as you’re asking for. Self-inflicted insignificance.
Hosts: Chad, Dan, Wayne
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* (0:24) Introducing Zylo and reintroducing Chris.
* (0:49) A brief history of Fear the Conline.
* (3:42) The dual novelty of running a con game and online game.
* (7:10) Position the screen below the camera.
* (9:02) Allowing for early communication between the GMs and players.
* (11:52) The promotional video Zylo made. Allowing time to setup the expected game-play tools.
* (19:07) The degree to which an online con feels like a regular con.
* (27:58) The length of game slots.
* (33:27) Issues with communication and coordination. Timezones.
* (42:10) Panels, seminars, and streaming events.
* (46:00) A roundup of final thoughts. Fear the Boot’s Discord server.
Hosts: Chris, Dale, Laura, Wayne, Zylo
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