Gaming Radio


I've never just sat back and not participated in a game. I'm always either a player or, more likely, the gamemaster. It just wouldn't be fun to sit around while everyone else got in on the gaming, right?

So why have I found myself spending a disturbing amount of time listening to live-play roleplaying podcasts of games I have literally no stake in?

I have no idea. And yet I can't stop myself.

Whenever I'm doodling up another map for the next game, or just jotting down some salient plot points for possible games, I find myself more and more turning to game session podcasts (my current favorites being those at www.gamershavenpodcast.com) for background noise. What I can't figure out is why, exactly, listening to total strangers play their chosen games is entertaining to me.

I mean, the majority of them are what you would expect; a lot of laughing, goofing around, the lovely sound of dice rolling, and some colorful profanity. Sounds not unfamiliar to anyone who gathers around a table to toss polyhedrals and quest about as gnomes. And yet I find myself pausing and rewinding to listen to "good" parts and share a chuckle or two with my invisible hosts or even pick up an unusual idea I might be able to bastardize for my own games.

In fact, I've so enjoyed my time listening to these recorded gaming sessions that I've decided that, if my players agree, we might try recording our own sessions. Why? Well because there are some tangible rewards to doing it!


No more he said/she said. Now, when a dispute as to what had happened in a previous session arises I can simply play back the relevant portion of that session and end the debate before it gets too ugly.


Remember, for many gaming nerds, this is standard equipment.



Note taking made super easy. Hand-written notes are always going to be vital, but everyone makes mistakes. Suddenly, you aren't certain you correctly jotted down a vital clue with just hours to go before the game. You can't ask your players as it would be a massive spoiler and could hurt their enjoyment of the game. Also, you're the GM, clearly they know you to be infallible.

So now, just hurry and fast forward to the bits where you're uncertain and hear in your own voice what actually happened. After all, if you can't believe yourself, who can you believe?


"The PCs survived the pit trap. Next time, spikes. And acid."



Also, you can insert Wilhelm screams in whenever a character dies.






What about you? Have any of you ever tried listening to a play session podcast? Found it interesting? Boring as watching paint dry? Or have you ever recorded your own play sessions, and if so, what were the benefits and drawbacks?

Comments

  1. Michael FrakerAugust 04, 2011

    I love doing this too. It'll usually come in waves; I'll listen to a bunch for a couple of weeks while I'm at work then stop for a couple of weeks then come back to them. One of the best I've found is the gutter skypes (http://www.anim5.com/IDDFOS/TGS/index.html); I'll also really enjoy the games of Role Playing Public Radio (http://actualplay.roleplayingpublicradio.com/). And, finally another source I check often is RPG podcasts, filtered for actual plays (http://rpgpodcasts.com/podcasts/main_view/actualplay).

    ReplyDelete
  2. Nakia PopeAugust 04, 2011

    I've tried and tried to listen to actual play podcasts, but just can't get into them.  Maybe you have the right of it, though -- as background for when I'm working on other projects.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I listen to Gamers Haven often, and Vigilance Press whenever they do an actual play. 

    I'm not sure why I do it either, and yet like yourself I can't seem to help myself. 

    I blame Skynet. 

    ReplyDelete
  4. Joe NelsonAugust 05, 2011

    Ooh, lots of links for me to enjoy! Thanks, this saves me search time and provides me with enough material to last for months.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Joe NelsonAugust 05, 2011

    It might work, it might not. None of my players much enjoy listening to a whole one, though they'll enjoy snippets here and there. I think it's sort of an acquired taste.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Joe NelsonAugust 05, 2011

    Skynet...hmm, seems reasonable. It would explain so much!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Mark KellyAugust 14, 2011

    Wow... I never knew these things existed, really!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Jimmy RaynorAugust 18, 2011

    My native language is not english, but I understand it pretty well. And.. to be honest.. I am addicted to different streams/podcasts as well. No idea why. I guess I like the role of an observer, gets me more experience this way, I can laugh at the jokes and analyse the play.

    ___






    call
    Nepal

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thanks for commenting at Rule of the Dice.

Greatest Hits

Top 4 Bands That Write Songs Based on Their D&D Campaign

10 More Zombie Survival Intro Scenarios

Sodor Stories: Thomas the Tank Engine RPG (Powered by FATE Accelerated)

10 Zombie Survival Intro Scenarios

The 5 Most Despicable Things Ever Done by Player Characters

How to Make Super Heroes That Suck

Love, Sex & Dice