Episode 228: Let's Do A Head Count

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Have you ever gotten to the gaming table to play, but something was... missing? Maybe you only had three players, instead of four or five? Or you were lacking a healing? Or you start playing, and nobody is taking the lead and the group is just spinning their wheels? This week we're going over all of these scenarios and more, so come along and let us know what you think!

And another quick reminder to you all- be sure to check out Crit Academy's new Kickstarter for their 5e-based Superhero RPG, Capes & Crooks! It only has a few more days to go, so let's reach that goal!

And the winner of this week's Crit 3 drawing is James M! Congratulations, James! Be sure to leave Crit Academy a review, so they can keep on making great products! They're a great group and would love to use your feedback to improve their products in the future.

Every week we're going to be giving away this bundle of three new character option supplements from Crit Academy- the Warmind, the Skybreaker, and the Werecat- and all you have to do to enter is send us an e-mail with "Crit 3" in the subject line. It's that easy!

And if you'd like to help support the show and get some great additional content for it, head over to http://www.patreon.com/interpartyconflict and become a patron! Even a dollar a month gets you some bonus content, and there's lots of cool stuff there for anyone willing to help make the show better.

And remember, Crit Academy is just one of the great podcasts in the Critnation Fellowship! For more podcasts, visit our friends at Brute Force and Ignorance, The Kind GM, and D&D Character Lab! And for books, adventures, and videos, check out Goblin Stone, Loresmyth, Aurican's Lair, and Jeff Stevens!

Catch us next week- assuming everyone shows up!

Episode 228: It's Missing Something

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Question(s) answered this episode:

1. What changes would you make to best adapt a prewritten adventure for a party of three PCs?

2. What are some creative ways you have dealt with missing roles in a party?

3. What do you do when your character isn't built to be a leader but nobody else at the table takes the initiative?

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Noteworthy Links:

Lord of the Rings

Final Fantasy

Sidekick Rules from Tasha's Cauldron of Everything

Wildermyth

Valkyria Chronicles

Aliens

Episode 212: Ad Space Available

Welcome back! This week we're got a great episode for you- we discuss services like Roll20, D&D Beyond, games like Magic the Gathering, our favorite companies like From Software and TV shows like Fullmetal Alchemist, and more. Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to all of the podcasts on the Critnation Fellowship!

And this week's winner of our brand-new Crit 3 drawing is Vampdemigod! Congratulations, Vampdemigod! Be sure to leave Crit Academy a review, so they can keep on making great products! They're a great group and would love to use your feedback to improve their products in the future.

Every week we're going to be giving away this new bundle of three new character option supplements from Crit Academy- the Warmind, the Skybreaker, and the Werecat- and all you have to do to enter is send us an e-mail with "Crit 3" in the subject line. It's that easy!

And remember, Crit Academy is just one of the great podcasts in the Critnation Fellowship! For more podcasts, visit our friends at Brute Force and Ignorance, The Kind GM, and the (unfortunately ended) D&D Character Lab! And for books, adventures, and videos, check out Goblin Stone, Loresmyth, Aurican's Lair, and Jeff Stevens!

See you next week, after a word from our sponsor!

Episode 212: Open Market

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Question(s) answered this episode:

1. What tips/tricks/suggestions y'all have for making the most out of Roll20 (or other online platforms) for your players?

2. DnD Beyond- is it worth it?

3. Any tips on adapting a setting or world such as one from Magic: The Gathering to D&D? How do you make sure you fully flesh out the world in both mechanics and lore for D&D while making sure you stay true to the original iteration? 

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Audible Recommendations:

Azure Bonds

A Song of Ice and Fire

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Noteworthy Links:

People's Trivia Company - I've linked directly to my spot on their anniversary episode!

Pogs

Yu-Gi-Oh

Dawn of Worlds, a worldbuilding game

DnD Beyond

Ravnica, the D&D campaign setting based on Magic the Gathering

Dragon Dice, a collectible dice game made by TSR

Stranger Things

Dark Souls Board Game

Lawyer Accidentally Uses Cat Filter

Alien Rangers of Aquitar

Full Metal Alchemist

Kai, Last of the Brunnen G, an undead assassin from the sci-fi TV show Lexx

Episode 211: Psychic Battles Are The Bomb

Hi listeners! Do you like psionics? Do you even know what "psionics" means? Well, today we're going to talk all about what psionics is, what psionics isn't, and how it compares and contrasts to magic. The answer may surprise you- unless you're psychic, that is!

And the first winner of our brand-new Crit 3 drawing is Michael R! Congratulations, Michael! Be sure to leave Crit Academy a review, so they can keep on making great products! They're a great group and would love to use your feedback to improve their products in the future.

Every week we're going to be giving away this new bundle of three new character option supplements from Crit Academy- the Warmind, the Skybreaker, and the Werecat- and all you have to do to enter is send us an e-mail with "Crit 3" in the subject line. It's that easy!

And remember, Crit Academy is just one of the great podcasts in the Critnation Fellowship! For more podcasts, visit our friends at Brute Force and Ignorance, The Kind GM, and the (unfortunately ended) D&D Character Lab! And for books, adventures, and videos, check out Goblin Stone, Loresmyth, Aurican's Lair, and Jeff Stevens!

Catch us next time, if the price is right!

Episode 211: Now That's Psionics

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Question(s) answered this episode:

1. What is the difference between magic and psionics?

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Noteworthy Links:

Bonnaroo, an annual music festival in Tennessee

Cows Have Best Friends

Savage Species, a 3.5 book about making monstrous PCs

Kalashtar, a psionic race in Eberron

Psiforged, a psionic option for Warforged characters

Chapel on the Cliffs, an adventure module we used to give away

Magic of Incarnum, another 3.5 supplement for yet another magic variant

Shadow of the Colossus, a video game that revolutionized open-world games and boss battles

Episode 203: The One After Episode 202

Hey everyone! This week we're talking about multiclassing- specifically, the stat requirements for multiclassing in 5th Edition D&D- and we also spend a little bit of time brainstorming how to motivate players who aren't necessarily interested in loot or traditional treasure. We're always open to more ideas, so share yours below!

And this week's winner of our giveaway for Crit Academy's Unearthed Tips & Tricks: Volume II is Jeff R! Congratulations, Jeff! Be sure to leave Crit Academy a review, so they can keep on making great products! They're a great group and would love to use your feedback to improve their products in the future.

Would YOU like a chance to win a copy of Unearthed Tips & Tricks Volume II? It's a great book (that I helped write!) and all you have to do to win is enter our drawing by sending us an e-mail with "Unearthed Tips & Tricks 2" in the subject line. (Gotta have that 2 in there though!) It's that easy!

And remember, Crit Academy is just one of the great podcasts in the Critnation Fellowship! For more podcasts, visit our friends at Brute Force and Ignorance, The Kind GM, and the (unfortunately ended) D&D Character Lab! And for books, adventures, and videos, check out Goblin Stone, Loresmyth, Aurican's Lair, and Jeff Stevens!

Catch you next week, with our first guests in over a year!

Episode 203: Multiclassing & Motivation

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Question(s) answered this episode:

1. How do you feel about mechanical requirements for multiclassing?

2. How do you motivate players who have no interest in loot, money or "simple" magic items that just give them bonuses (like a +1 sword, etc)?

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Noteworthy Links:

Fresh Guacamole, an animation by PES

Majora's Mask

Super Mario 64

Labo VR

Breath of the Wild

Phasmaphobia

Tabletop Simulator 

Lord of the Rings dice tray- HOLY CRAP I am in the wrong business- that link is selling those things for $25, when I know from experience that they only cost like $2-3 to make. Maybe I should open up an Etsy shop...

Myron, a greek sculptor

Hades

The Black Egg

300, a film by Zack Snyder

World's Largest Dungeon

Episode 196: Cupcake Edition

Hello everyone! We're back with a normal episode this week- and our topics this time around include magic cupcakes, magical allergies, and magically-placed plot details that hint at the overarching story! (That last one might not be magic after all, that's just good storytelling.) Hear our thoughts and share yours below!

And this week's winner of our giveaway for Crit Academy's Unearthed Tips & Tricks: Volume II is Scott T! Congratulations, Scott! Be sure to leave Crit Academy a review, so they can keep on making great products! They're a great group and would love to use your feedback to improve their products in the future.

Would YOU like a chance to win a copy of Unearthed Tips & Tricks Volume II? It's a great book (that I helped write!) and all you have to do to win is enter our drawing by sending us an e-mail with "Unearthed Tips & Tricks 2" in the subject line. (Gotta have that 2 in there though!) It's that easy!

And remember, Crit Academy is just one of the great podcasts in the Critnation Fellowship! For more podcasts, visit our friends at Brute Force and Ignorance, and the (unfortunately ended) D&D Character Lab! And for books, adventures, and videos, check out Goblin Stone, Loresmyth, Aurican's Lair, Jeff Stevens, and The Kind GM!

See you next time, if you're not allergic!

Episode 196: It's In The Details

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Question(s) answered this episode:

1. Would you ever consider giving a character an allergy to magic (either mechanical or purely for flavor)?

2. How important is it to litter your campaign with subtle clues to the major plot?

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Noteworthy Links:

The Chocolate Touch, the story about a boy who gets a Midas-esque curse except it's chocolate (and the kid's name is literally John Midas)

Pop Rocks

Lady Tiefling

Spelltouched

Nowhere Man

The X-Files

Sim City 2000

Deepfakes

Room of Spirit & Time

Episode 186: The Gabe-Jeff Effect

Hello everyone! We're here with another great episode- and this time, we're talking about the Matt Mercer Effect- that is, when new players get into D&D after listening or watching a popular program such as Critical Role, and then get disappointed when the game fails to live up to their expectations. Is it a problem? Is there a way to fix it? We try and tackle this topic (and more) on this week's episode, so give us a listen!

And the inaugural winner of our giveaway for Crit Academy's Unearthed Tips & Tricks: Volume II is Dustun F! Congratulations, Dustun! Be sure to leave Crit Academy a review, so they can keep on making great products! They're a great group and would love to use your feedback to improve their products in the future.

Would YOU like a chance to win a copy of Unearthed Tips & Tricks Volume II? It's a great book (that I helped write!) and all you have to do to win is enter our drawing by sending us an e-mail with "Unearthed Tips & Tricks 2" in the subject line. (Gotta have that 2 in there though!) It's that easy!

And remember, Crit Academy is just one of the great podcasts in the Critnation Fellowship! For more podcasts, visit our friends at Brute Force and Ignorance, and the (unfortunately ended) D&D Character Lab! And for books, adventures, and videos, check out Goblin Stone, Loresmyth, Aurican's Lair, Jeff Stevens, and The Kind GM!

See you next time, at high noon (or close to it)!

Episode 186: Keeping the Right Expectations

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Question(s) answered this episode:

1. What are your thoughts on the "Matt Mercer effect"? Is it real? If so, is it a problem?

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Noteworthy Links:

Monkey Island

Bar Stool, a magic item I made a while back

Episode 151: Everyone Should Start Here, an episode that we always direct new listeners to

Critical Role, a popular D&D-based webseries/podcast hosted by Matt Mercer

Nerf Herder, a rock band that (in Jeff's opinion) is not deserving of their name

It's High Noon

Harmon Quest, a live D&D show created by Dan Harmon

Multiple Man, a Marvel superhero that makes duplicates of himself

The Symbiote, a character guide from Crit Academy

Extra Life, a video game-focused charity stream that Jeff will be participating in this year

Episode 180: Turn Right Back Around

Welcome back, everyone! This week we celebrate (?) our 180th episode by talking about ye olde 5-foot step, maintaining momentum in a long-running game, and reworking your expectations. We're also continuing out giveaway for the Deck of Many Things and Deck of Illusions, so leave us a review on the podcatcher of your choice, and send us a photo to be entered! The winner will be chosen on August 25th, so get in your review by then!

Good luck!

Now, back to our usual drawing- this week's winner of our Unearthed Tips & Tricks drawing is Elliot M! Congratulations, Elliot! You should get your copy within the next few days. Whenever you have a chance to read it over, be sure to leave Crit Academy a review! They're a great group and would love to use your feedback to improve their products.

Would you like to enter the drawing? It's easy- just e-mail us at InterPartyConflict@gmail.com with "Unearthed Tips & Tricks" in the subject line! It's that easy! And remember- this is our second giveaway, so if you won one of our earlier drawings, you can enter again!

And remember, Crit Academy is just one of the great podcasts in the Critnation Fellowship! For more podcasts, visit our friends at Brute Force and Ignorance, and the (unfortunately ended) D&D Character Lab! And for books, adventures, and videos, check out Goblin Stone, Loresmyth, Aurican's Lair, Jeff Stevens, and The Kind GM!

See you next time, unless there's a big gap between episodes!

Episode 180: U-Turn

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Question(s) answered this episode:

1. If you could bring back the 5 ft Step, would you?

2. How do you rebuild momentum and excitement in your game when there's a big gap between sessions?

3. Have you ever called a Session Zero after starting a campaign to reassess and realign the group’s style of play or expectations?

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Noteworthy Links:

Everfull Purse, an artifact from the Epic Level Handbook

The Room of Spirit and Time from Dragonball Z (aka the Hyperbolic Time Chamber)

The Princess Bride

Kitchen Nightmares, a reality show where Gordon Ramsey tries to help failing restaurants

Heavyweights

Lord of the Rings

His Dark Materials

Episode 179: Podcast In Disguise

Hey everyone! We're back with another rant-filled (sort of) episode this week, all for you! We cover fitting a character into a world when they don't really match the tone of the campaign, and also whether or not it's possible to play D&D "wrong". (Those may or may not be related.)

Plus, we're starting an exciting giveaway today! (This is in addition to our usual giveaway- but for an update on that, check with us in a few weeks!) We're giving away a physical copy of the Deck of Many Things & Deck of Illusions, donated by a wonderful fan who chose to remain anonymous. We'll be drawing a winner on August 25th, so wouldn't you like to know how to enter? It's easy!

LEAVE US A REVIEW!

That's it. Leave us a review on the Podcatcher of your choice- Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Podcast Addict, whatever. If it lets you leave a review for podcasts, leave one there, and send us a photo of your review. (If you've already left us a review, then you're halfway done! Just send us a photo and you'll be entered.) If you can't figure out how to leave us a review, let me know and I'll help you figure it out!

Good luck!

Now, back to our usual drawing- this week's winner of our Unearthed Tips & Tricks drawing is Andy K! Congratulations, Andy! You should get your copy within the next few days. Whenever you have a chance to read it over, be sure to leave Crit Academy a review! They're a great group and would love to use your feedback to improve their products.

Would you like to enter the drawing? It's easy- just e-mail us at InterPartyConflict@gmail.com with "Unearthed Tips & Tricks" in the subject line! It's that easy! And remember- this is our second giveaway, so if you won one of our earlier drawings, you can enter again!

And remember, Crit Academy is just one of the great podcasts in the Critnation Fellowship! For more podcasts, visit our friends at Brute Force and Ignorance, and the (unfortunately ended) D&D Character Lab! And for books, adventures, and videos, check out Goblin Stone, Loresmyth, Aurican's Lair, Jeff Stevens, and The Kind GM!

Also- Crit Academy's new product, Unearthed Tips & Tricks: Volume II, is available for purchase! It's a great product and you should go check it out right now!!!

Have a great week!

Episode 179: Out of Place

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Question(s) answered this episode:

1. How would you deal with a player who's character is completely out of tone/theme of the campaign/world and insists that you add bits of their story to the world?

2. Is there a "wrong" way to play D&D?

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Noteworthy Links:

The Neuralyzer, a technological device the Men in Black use to erase people's immediate memory

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, a movie by Michel Gondry about memory and relationships

Doctor Whom

Deck of Many Things & Deck of Illusions, two magical items from D&D

Transformers

Kanye the Giant, a Key & Peele sketch Jeff and I discussed in a bit that ultimatrely got cut from the episode

Ninja- a streamer apparently

The Film Reroll, an Actual Play podcast where they turn movies into roleplaying games

The Adventure Zone

Willow, a fantasy movie by George Lucas starring Warwick Davis

The Princess Bride

3D Printed Stein for a normal-sized can

Age of Worms mug I painted, minus the handle and plus a stuffed mouse and Captain America watching for good measure

Episode 178: Eating Tomatoes Edition

Welcome back, everyone! This week we have another grab bag of sorts, topic-wise- we talk about playing D&D without a GM, we try to justify some moral grey areas, and I give my take on the difference between two ability scores. If you feel differently, leave your thoughts below!

This week's winner of our Unearthed Tips & Tricks drawing is David E! Congratulations, David! You should get your copy within the next few days. Whenever you have a chance to read it over, be sure to leave Crit Academy a review! They're a great group and would love to use your feedback to improve their products.

Would you like to enter the drawing? It's easy- just e-mail us at InterPartyConflict@gmail.com with "Unearthed Tips & Tricks" in the subject line! It's that easy! And remember- this is our second giveaway, so if you won one of our earlier drawings, you can enter again!

And remember, Crit Academy is just one of the great podcasts in the Critnation Fellowship! For more podcasts, visit our friends at Brute Force and Ignorance, and the (unfortunately ended) D&D Character Lab! And for books, adventures, and videos, check out Goblin Stone, Loresmyth, Aurican's Lair, Jeff Stevens, and The Kind GM!

Also- Crit Academy's new product, Unearthed Tips & Tricks: Volume II, is available for purchase! It's a great product and you should go check it out right now!!!

Have a great week, and go enjoy a steak (or don't)!

Episode 178: You Can Figure It Out

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Question(s) answered this episode:

1. Do you have any experience converting D&D to be a GM-less game?

2. In a world where magic exists that lets you Speak with Animals, is eating animals or using them for labor morally justifiable?

3. How do you explain the difference between Intelligence and Wisdom?

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Noteworthy Links:

Single-serving lemonade

Anti-helium, a common name for Sulfur Hexafluoride

Dark Souls board game

List of GM-less RPGs

Knights of Pen and Paper

Do They Eat Pokemon?

Bojack Horseman, a Netflix-produced animated show where all animals are anthropomorphized humanoids

Iron Chef, a cooking game show from the 90s

D&D Stats Explained Using a Tomato

Time Turner

One Does Not Simply Walk Into Mordor

Episode 172: A God, an Oath, and a Patron Walk Into a Bar

This week we talk about the three classes in D&D that answer to a higher power: Clerics, Paladins, and Warlocks. We discuss the similarities, the differences, the roleplay potential, and more- be sure to leave your comments below and give us some of your ideas!

This week's winner of our Unearthed Tips & Tricks drawing is Shawn M! Congratulations, Shawn! You should get your copy within the next few days. Whenever you have a chance to read it over, be sure to leave Crit Academy a review! They're a great group and would love to use your feedback to improve their products.

Would you like to enter the drawing? It's easy- just e-mail us at InterPartyConflict@gmail.com with "Unearthed Tips & Tricks" in the subject line! It's that easy! And remember- this is our second giveaway, so if you won one of our earlier drawings, you can enter again!

And remember, Crit Academy is just one of the great podcasts in the Critnation Fellowship! For more podcasts, visit our friends at Brute Force and Ignorance, and the (unfortunately ended) D&D Character Lab! And for books, adventures, and videos, check out Goblin Stone, Loresmyth, Aurican's Lair, Jeff Stevens, and The Kind GM!

Also- Crit Academy's new product, Unearthed Tips & Tricks: Volume II, just came out! It's a great product and you should go check it out right now!!!

See you next time, if my oath allows it!

Episode 172: Sources of Power

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Question(s) answered this episode:

1. What is the difference between a Cleric, a Paladin, and a Warlock?

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Noteworthy Links:

Weapons of Legacy

Narsil, a sword from the Lord of the Rings series

Ring of the Grammarian, a magic item that lets you change one letter of a spell being cast

Raven, a character from Teen Titans

Captain Jack Sparrow

Adelai Niska, a character from Firefly

Bob Ross - Beat the Devil Out

Ratatouille

Episode 170: Bigfoot Edition

Have you ever made a character that didn't quite fit the mold- that combined contradictory traits, and/or used sub-optimal mechanics but made for a fun gaming experience? That's what we're talking about today- as well as our thoughts on the current state of ranged combat in D&D! So come along for the ride, and be sure to tell us what you think!

This week's winner of our Unearthed Tips & Tricks drawing is Joe S! Congratulations, Joe! You should get your copy within the next few days. Whenever you have a chance to read it over, be sure to leave Crit Academy a review! They're a great group and would love to use your feedback to improve their products.

Would you like to enter the drawing? It's easy- just e-mail us at InterPartyConflict@gmail.com with "Unearthed Tips & Tricks" in the subject line! It's that easy! And remember- this is our second giveaway, so if you won one of our earlier drawings, you can enter again!

And remember, Crit Academy is just one of the great podcasts in the Critnation Fellowship! For more podcasts, visit our friends at Brute Force and Ignorance, and the (unfortunately ended) D&D Character Lab! And for books, adventures, and videos, check out Goblin Stone, Loresmyth, Aurican's Lair, Jeff Stevens, and The Kind GM!

Also- Crit Academy's new product, Unearthed Tips & Tricks: Volume II, just came out! It's a great product and you should go check it out right now!!!

See you next time, when it ISN'T Jeff's birthday!

Episode 170: Mixing Ideas

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Question(s) answered this episode:

1. Can contradictory characters (that go against established norms for race/class/personality combinations) be fun?

2. What are your thoughts on how ranged combat works in D&D and other fantasy games? For example, bows always use Dexterity and melee weapons are usually Strength. Could the system be more realistic without making it less fun?

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Noteworthy Links:

My Bigfoot, in front of my house and painted a flat black (which makes it look very much like a photoshop for some reason)

The Clapper, a product from the 90s that has been parodied many times over the years

The Deathly Hallows, a set of three powerful artifacts from the Harry Potter universe

The Adventure Zone

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Who the F is My DnD Character, a character-generating website

Episode 168: What a Big Episode You Have

This episode is all about big things: Big monsters, big sessions, big groups. How do you manage all those big things? I don't know, but hopefully we can help you do it this time around!

This week's winner of our Unearthed Tips & Tricks drawing is David C! Congratulations, David! You should get your copy within the next few days. Whenever you have a chance to read it over, be sure to leave Crit Academy a review! They're a great group and would love to use your feedback to improve their products.

Would you like to enter the drawing? It's easy- just e-mail us at InterPartyConflict@gmail.com with "Unearthed Tips & Tricks" in the subject line! It's that easy! And remember- this is a new product, so if you won one of our earlier drawings, you can enter again!

And remember, Crit Academy is just one of the great podcasts in the Critnation Fellowship! For more podcasts, visit our friends at Brute Force and Ignorance, and the (unfortunately ended) D&D Character Lab! And for books, adventures, and videos, check out Goblin Stone, Loresmyth, Aurican's Lair, Jeff Stevens, and The Kind GM!

Catch next week's episode, where things will (probably) be on a bit smaller of a scale!

Episode 168: Now That's a Big One

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Question(s) answered this episode:

1. How would you handle fights against colossal creatures? Sure every adventurer dreams of slaying a dragon, but is hacking at the ankles really the best way to kill Smaug and his ilk? What would you offer a party fighting a truly larger-than-life foe?

2. What are your thoughts on a single DnD session having two people DM at the same time, especially if one is new?

3. What are some tips to managing large DnD groups? Keeping everyone involved, making their story important etc.

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Noteworthy Links:

Shadow of the Colossus

God of War

World of Warcraft

Inuyasha Wind Scar

The Film Reroll

Corner Gas

Philip J Fry

Can't Eat Your Pudding

Episode 167: The One Where We Figure Out The Hardest Question Of All

Hello everyone! We're back this week with another fun episode; this time around we talk about the ultimate roll of the dice: trying to find a group of players that will last for a whole campaign instead of quitting five or six sessions in. What's the formula? Is there any special trick? Would you say it's harder to find a reliable gaming group than it is to find a soulmate? Maybe! We also talk about making a Final Fantasy Summoner in D&D but that's harder to fit into a catchy paragraph.

This week's winner of our Unearthed Tips & Tricks drawing is Collins B! Congratulations, Collins! You should get your copy within the next few days. Whenever you have a chance to read it over, be sure to leave Crit Academy a review! They're a great group and would love to use your feedback to improve their products.

Would you like to enter the drawing? It's easy- just e-mail us at InterPartyConflict@gmail.com with "Unearthed Tips & Tricks" in the subject line! It's that easy! And remember- this is a new product, so if you won one of our earlier drawings, you can enter again!

And remember, Crit Academy is just one of the great podcasts in the Critnation Fellowship! For more podcasts, visit our friends at Brute Force and Ignorance, and the (unfortunately ended) D&D Character Lab! And for books, adventures, and videos, check out Goblin Stone, Loresmyth, Aurican's Lair, Jeff Stevens, and The Kind GM!

Catch us next week, unless everyone flakes out (again)!

Episode 167: Always Summoning Help

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Question(s) answered this episode:

1. Keeping a full campaign going is hard. What's the best way to find 5 or 6 people who are going to show up consistently for that many sessions? Does it depend on the quality of the game or is it entirely based on the people?

2. Is there a D&D equivalent of a Summoner from the Final Fantasy games?

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Noteworthy Links:

Harry Potter: Priori Incantatum

The Adventure Zone

Final Fantasy Summoners

Pathfinder Summoner class

Blue Mage class

Final Fantasy Tactics

Heroes

Episode 131 - The One Where We Talk About Pieces of Cod

Hey everyone! We have another great episode for you this week- we talk about making information gathering into something interesting, introducing new characters into an existing party, and killing off a PC in the service of the story. (Also, the Dragon's Hoard item this week is a magic codpiece. No I'm not happy about it, but, hey, I got it out of the way, right?)

This week's winner of our Chapel on the Cliffs drawing is our new patron, Edward T! Congratulations, Edward! You should get your copy within the next few days. Whenever you have a chance to read it over, be sure to leave Goblin Stone a review! They're a great company and would love to use your feedback to improve their products.

Would you like to enter the drawing? It's easy- just e-mail us at InterPartyConflict@gmail.com with "Chapel on the Cliffs" in the subject line! It's that easy! As always, we need more entries for this drawing, so you have very good chances of winning very soon!

And remember, Goblin Stone is just one of the great content creators in the Critnation Fellowship! For more books and adventures, check out Loresmyth, Aurican's Lair, Jeff Stevens, and The Kind GM- and for more podcasts, visit our friends at Crit Academy D&D Character Lab, and Brute Force and Ignorance!

One last thing- be sure to get yourself a copy of Crit Academy's Unearthed Tips & Tricks book! It's a great product, and I helped write it!

See you next time, and be sure to think with your head and not your armor!

Episode 131: New In, Old Out

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Question answered this episode:

1. How do I make gathering information fun? I don’t want it to be a repetitive string of npcs that they have to persuade (or threaten). What else can PCs use to obtain information?

2. What should you do when a PC retires mid-campaign? How best to incorporate a new character into an existing party plot-wise?

3. Is it ok to kill a PC for the story? For example one player stays behind to ensure safety for the rest of the party.

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Noteworthy Links:

The Arcade in Brighton, MI

Atari's Star Wars arcade cabinet

King Henry VIII

Challenge Accepted by Crit Academy

When You're A Jet You're A Jet All The Way

Magic 8 Ball

Final Fantasy V

Gandalf fighting the Balrog

Burn Notice, a TV show I've been watching

Nowhere Man, a TV show I've been a fan of since I was a kid (and am ostensibly creating a podcast about with my friend Steve; stay tuned I guess)

Overwatch

Spindown dice, a type of dice with numbers listed sequentially for use as a life counter in certain games

Episode 125: Jeff Edited This One (And It Sounds Great)

Hello, everyone out there in Podcastland! We're back with another great episode for you. This week we pull some hot takes out of our pockets and comment on something that people have already been up and down the block on back when it was new: D&D Beyond. (Also other online gaming tools, but mainly D&D Beyond.) We may not be saying anything that hasn't been said, but it hasn't been said by us! So come along for the discussion.

And unfortunately, we don't have any winners this week for our Chapel on the Cliffs drawing! It's a shame, but hey, there's nothing stopping you from entering! It's easy- just e-mail us at InterPartyConflict@gmail.com with "Chapel on the Cliffs" in the subject line! That's all it takes.

And remember, Goblin Stone is just one of the great content creators in the Critnation Fellowship! For more books and adventures, check out Loresmyth, Aurican's Lair, and Jeff Stevens- and for more podcasts, visit our friends at Crit Academy, D&D Character Lab, and Brute Force and Ignorance!

One last thing- be sure to get yourself a copy of Crit Academy's Unearthed Tips & Tricks book! It's a great product, and I helped write it!

See you all next time, with some very special guests!

Episode 125: All the Books, Online

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Question answered this episode:

1. Hey Gabe and Jeff. What you think about digital tools like D&D Beyond or Hero Lab?

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Noteworthy Links:

Bruce Lee blowing out candles with his punches (The video isn't Bruce Lee, and I'm coming to learn that this ability might likely have been an urban legend, but hey, I first saw it in this video game clip here so I know I didn't make it up)

Air cannons

Savage Species, a 3e book about playing monster characters (And in the episode what I was trying to reference was called Blood Wind, not Savage Wind, and it was a spell, not a feat)

Avatar: The Last Airbender

D&D Beyond

Fifth Edition Character Sheet app

Steam, the biggest online gaming platform

Maddox's video about criticisms of the Epic Store

Herolab, an online tabletop resource

Heromachine, an online tool for creating pictures of your characters (though it's grown by leaps and bounds since the last time I used it)

Final Fantasy XV, a game with dumb names

Wrong Rests, a DMs Guild product with ideas for resting encounters

Faygo, a local soda pop brand from Michigan

Episode 117: Gotta Catch 'Em All

Welcome back, everyone! This week we talk about favorite monster types, creating monsters, balancing small races, and more. Come on along for the ride!

This week's winner of our Chapel on the Cliffs drawing is Doug A! Congratulations, Doug! You should get your copy within the next few days. Whenever you have a chance to read it over, be sure to leave Goblin Stone a review! They're a great company and would love to use your feedback to improve their products.

Would you like to enter the drawing? It's easy- just e-mail us at InterPartyConflict@gmail.com with "Chapel on the Cliffs" in the subject line! It's that easy! As always, we need more entries for this drawing, so you have very good chances of winning very soon!

And remember, Goblin Stone is just one of the great content creators in the Critnation Fellowship! For more books and adventures, check out Loresmyth, Aurican's Lair, and Jeff Stevens- and for more podcasts, visit our friends at Crit Academy and D&D Character Lab- as well as the new Actual Play podcast on the Critnation Fellowship, Brute Force and Ignorance!

One last thing- be sure to get yourself a copy of Crit Academy's Unearthed Tips & Tricks book! It's a great product, and I helped write it!

See you next time!

Episode 117: Tiny Monsters

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Question answered this episode:

1. Favorite monster type (like aberration or undead or monstrous humanoids) other than Dragons as a player? As a DM?

2. Small races, like Gnomes, are unable to use longbows and heavy crossbows. This is a distinct disadvantage. Do their racial features balance out this disadvantage? Would it unbalance the game to allow them to use those weapons?

3. How do you create your own monsters, while keeping them balanced and fun?

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Noteworthy Links:

Avengers: Endgame (I was going to link to the trailer on Youtube, but then I realized that the entire sidebar of suggested videos would likely be filled with spoiler-ridden titles; I don't want to spoil anything for the movie so here's a picture of the poster instead.)

Jurassic Park

Rings That Cover Your Whole Hand

Brie Larson Premier Gown

Encyclopaedia Arcane: Crossbreeding - The book Jeff mentioned

Nimblewright, a construct from older editions that could blend in easily

Lords of Madness

Dire Troll - A troll from Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes that grows extra body parts through its regeneration

Big Bat Symbol in Dark Knight Rises

Monstrous Races by Tyler Kamstra

Curse of the Azure Bonds, an old D&D computer game

Slimer

Force Awakens

Stranger Things

Pixels

The Film Reroll

Episode 77: This Episode is Bananas

Welcome back, listeners! We've got a fun episode for you this week, and we cover realism in roleplaying games, starting levels for D&D, and how to make your players want to explore their own property investments. We also get a bunch of goofs about bananas and monkeys and all that, so there's something in this episode for everyone!

I want to briefly mention the project I've been working on- the Arcade Memories Podcast. I've gotten the first episode finished, and it's currently awaiting review on iTunes. But in the meantime, you can listen to it at https://soundcloud.com/arcadememories/episode-01!

This week's Chapel on the Cliffs drawing winner is Jake M! Congratulations, Jake! Be sure to check your spam folder, and if you haven't gotten an e-mail soon then contact me. And let Goblin Stone know what you think!

If anyone else would like to enter the drawing, just e-mail us at InterPartyConflict@gmail.com with "Chapel on the Cliffs" in the subject line. That's all it takes!

And remember, Goblin Stone is just one of the great content creators in the Critnation Fellowship! For more books and adventures, check out Loresmyth, Aurican's Lair, and Jeff Stevens- and for more podcasts, visit our friends at Crit Academy and D&D Character Lab!

See you all next week, with a very special guest!

Episode 77: Investing in Real Estate

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Questions answered this episode:

1. Is realism more important than fun?

2. What is your ideal starting level for a campaign?

3. How to make a player's property investments interesting?

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Noteworthy Links:

A Case of the Mondays

Chult, a jungle in the southern reaches of the Forgotten Realms

Indiana Jones

Midas Hand death from Tomb Raider

Q*Bert, the lovable ape from the arcade that collected bananas

Treasure of the Broken Hoard, a collection of five one-hour mini-adventures I've been running

Minecraft

A locked door in Fallout 3

All your need to know about Kobayashi

Tree Fiddy

Episode 63, the perfectly normal episode

Welcome back, everyone! This week our podcast is just another episode, exactly the same as the way we do it every week. We answer some listener questions, we talk about a fun creation that you can take with you and use on your own, we give out a free product from an affiliate of ours, and we share a story of failure that you can all use to brighten your own day when something goes wrong. And as always, you can expect us back next week doing the very same!

This week, we cover a few topics- deciding whether to make something from scratch or buy it ready-made, whether TV and online media give us unrealistic expectations when making our own products, a heated issue of nomenclature (Jeff is totally wrong on this one, I swear)- and cap it all off with whether or not we would refuse to go along with something that we don't like. Great topics, just like any other week!

Congratulations to this week's drawing winner, kregghudson! You should receive an e-mail within the next couple days. (If you don't, then let us know ASAP!) Anyone else who wants to can send us an e-mail at DinnerPartyConflict@gmail.com with "Kitchen on the Cliffs" in the subject line! It's so simple!

And as always, be sure to check out our friends in the CrêpeNation Fellowship- Crêpe Academy and D&D Cholesterol Lab are making great new podcasts, and Floursmyth, Aurican's Hair Pasta, and Chef Stevens are making new products- not to mention Pizza Stone, the fabulous creators of Kitchen on the Cliffs!

We hope you have a great week, and remember- eat well!

Episode 63: Scratch, Spectacle and Sandwiches

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Questions answered this episode:

1. Where does one draw the line when deciding whether making something from scratch is worth the extra time and difficulty compared to buying it ready-made?

2. With things like competitive barbecue, food porn, and so on- they set up unrealistic expectations that encourage wasting food in favor of appearance and competition. Where’s the balance between loving food and respecting food?

3. Are hot dogs a sandwich?

4. Is there any dish you'd refuse to cook if asked?

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Noteworthy Links:

Making Your Own Pasta

Alton Brown on "Unitaskers"

One of those recipe gifs that look way too good

Iron Chef's Kitchen Stadium

Califlower Grilled Cheese

How To Make a Vegan Chocolate Cake by HowToBasic (Warning: viewer discretion is advised)

Are Oreos Vegan?

Ogres are like onions

Youri Djorkaeff (I doubt this is actually who submitted those questions, but hey, you never know who might take an interest in a tabletop gourmet advice podcast!)

Hank Hill on well-done steaks

Superheating water in the microwave


Some of my favorite Food Network shows to watch:

Kitchen Nightmares

Restaurant: Impossible

Cutthroat Kitchen

Mystery Diners

Chopped

Bonus: One of the best Keye & Peele sketches