Gnomecast 220 – Virtual vs. In-Person

by | Sep 10, 2025 |

https://polygamero.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/GC_221_in_person-v-virtual-final.mp3 Join Ang along with Josh and Jared as they talk about the pros and cons of playing virtually online versus playing in person face-to-face. Listen to them talk about what they love about both ways of playing!...

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A notebook lays open on a table with a pen resting on one of the pages.

Post Game Debrief

by | Aug 29, 2025 | ,

Last month, I started a new way to manage the information for my campaigns, and I have been excited about it. Excited enough, that I started doing something that in my 40 years of gaming I have not really done before, that is to have a post-session debrief. It happened by accident, the first time,...

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Gnomecast 218 – Revisiting Niche Protection

by | Aug 13, 2025 |

https://polygamero.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/CG_218-Niche-protection_final.mp3 Join Ang along with Jared and JT as they revisit a topic they discussed way back in episode 80: Niche Protection! When is it important to make sure that each PC has a specialty that is theirs alone? When can you...

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Travis Willingham, Matt Mercer, Chris Perkins, Jeremy Crowford, and Marisha Ray on stage at the Critical Role Direct with Chris and Jeremy in the same oversized double headed monster black turtle neck as all five of them are making fun of CEOs who wear black shirt outfits to their presentations at conventions

The TTRPG Shift?

by | Aug 8, 2025 | , , ,

You ever just realize everything about something you love changed when you weren’t paying attention? It’s happened to me twice when it comes to tabletop Roleplaying Games. In 2014 Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition released to the public and took the ttrpg space by storm. It was a throwback,...

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Handwavium

by | Aug 6, 2025 | ,

Handwavium is a neat concept in fiction that can be applied to tabletop RPGs. It can be used as a McGuffin for a goal. It can be used as a solution for an esoteric problem at hand. It can be used as part of a riddle or clue. It can even be used to give a person, location, setting, or event some...

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Moms that Game

by | Aug 4, 2025 | ,

Not too long ago, I was in an online roleplaying community hangout where I was the only woman and the conversation turned to the types of the people that play roleplaying games. The prevalence of men vs. women in the hobby came up and one guy commented sadly that his wife used to be a gamer but...

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Gnomecast 217 – GM Burnout

by | Jul 30, 2025 |

https://polygamero.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/GC_217_GM-Burnout-final.mp3 Join Ang along with Chris and special guest Carl Lehmann as they talk about GM Burnout. How it happens, what to do when you’re in the middle of it and how to prevent it. LINKS: Symphony Entertainment...

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An Apple Mac Book on a table with notebook and phone.

Manage Your Information

by | Jul 28, 2025 | ,

Over the past few months, I had been in a bit of a gaming slump. Of my two groups, neither group was gaming well, and I was starting to get those detached feelings that typically come from when I am not getting emotionally fed from my games. This was not my game or game group’s fault. A lot...

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Your PCs Are Superman: What Big Blue Can Teach Us About Level 20 Characters

by | Jul 25, 2025 | ,

When your PCs reach the upper echelons of power, there is a fundamental shift in the kind of story you’re telling. So yes, if you want to send your PCs into dungeons, hunting for loot, or solving crimes, the characters are too powerful. The math does break. There aren’t any challenges. But that’s because at level 20, the question is no longer “will they succeed.” The question is “How will they succeed?” And also maybe a little, “Will they be able to live with themselves after?”

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Starting a Fresh Group

by | Jul 11, 2025 | ,

When forming a new group to play RPGs with, there are quite a few considerations to take into account. So many, in fact, that I don’t think I can hit them all. I’m also certain I can’t even think of them all. However, I have a list below that covers the major areas. Also, this...

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Scrabble tiles on a corkboard background spelling out the words "Time For Change"

Change with the Change

by | Jun 27, 2025 | ,

During your tenure GMing, your life is going to force you to change your GMing style several times. There are style changes, such as learning to run games a certain way. I am not talking about that; you can always change your style willingly, and honestly, it’s good to do so. I am talking...

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