Episode 234: Official Module Edition

Hello again, everyone! This week we have another great episode for you- we're joined by Collins Blakely, host of Where Streams Come True, to talk about official D&D modules, chaotic players, Charisma checks, and more. So come along and give us a listen, and when you're done, go check out Collins' podcast too! I'm sure you'll find something you like.

And another reminder- in just two weeks on Tuesday, September 14th, we're going to be doing the drawing for a beautiful black-and-red leatherbound journal, handcrafted by the great people over at MaumeeRiverLeather.com! To enter the drawing, all you need to do is leave us a review on the platform of your choice, and send us a photo. It's coming up soon, so be sure to get that to us ASAP!

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!

Thanks for listening, and we'll see you again next week!

Episode 234: How Appropriate

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Question(s) answered this episode:

1. Of all of the official 5e modules, which stick out to you as best for adventurers of each level bracket (1-5, 6-11, 12+)?

2. When is it OK to wrangle in new players who enjoy playing but are very chaotic in their play-style (wanting to fight every peasant who looks at them wrong, or has very little forethought/compassion for others outside of the party)?

3. Charisma: Should the player's words matter or should you treat the stat like all the others?

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Noteworthy Links: 

Where Streams Come True, Collins' podcast where they randomly watch and review Disney+ properties

Studio 76

Rescuers Down Under

Yogsquest

Capri Sun commercials

List of Official D&D Modules

Orrery of the Wanderer

Meseeks Box, an artifact that summons a being to complete tasks for you

Lost Laboratory of Kwalish

Powered by the Apocalypse, a narrative-focused tabletop RPG

The Film Reroll

Saw, a series of horror films famous for its diabolical traps

Zelda Water Temple

10 Ways To Make Traps More Fun In Dungeons and Dragons from Crit Academy

Grimtooth's Traps

Tomb of Horrors

Dragonbait, a saurial paladin from the Azure Bonds novel

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

Episode 233: A Deity Did It

It's that time again! This week, we're talking about messing with the timeline, meeting gods face-to-face, giving players plot armor, and much, much more! Come along for the ride and be sure to share your thoughts in the comments below!

And another reminder- on Tuesday, September 14th, we're going to be doing the drawing for a beautiful black-and-red leatherbound journal, handcrafted by the great people over at MaumeeRiverLeather.com! To enter the drawing, all you need to do is leave us a review on the platform of your choice, and send us a photo. And next month, we'll be doing another drawing, and the month after that! So hurry up and enter!

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 time, and good luck with the drawing!

Episode 233: Gods in the Machine

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Question(s) answered this episode:

1. Have you ever encountered a deity in a game? As a presumably mortal GM, how do you go about depicting divine wisdom?

2. Plot armor for your players. Yay or nay?

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Noteworthy Links: 

Nowhere Men

Heroforge, a great website for designing and purchasing miniatures

Back to the Future 

Avengers Endgame

Dogma, a film by Kevin Smith

Dawn of Worlds

Watch Out For Fireballs!, one of many podcasts on the Duckfeed.tv network

Resident Evil 3

The DM Lair

Roguelikes

Episode 232: Leatherbound Edition

Hello everyone! This week we're talking about giving players more attunement slots, how to adjudicate agency-removal effects like domination, and memorable traps. It's a fun episode, and that's not all! This week we're also detailing our newest giveaway!

Over the next three months we're going to be giving away three handcrafted leather products from our good friends over at MaumeeRiverLeather.com! To enter, all you need to do is to write us a review on the platform of your choice, and send us a photo. The first drawing will take place on Tuesday, September 14th, so get in your entries soon! We will be giving away the following products, in order:

1. A beautiful leather journal

2. A box disguised as a journal

3. A leather book cover sized to fit any D&D book (No picture just yet, sorry!)

So send us your reviews, and be sure to tell us which of the three items you want to enter for! We're super excited to be able to give out these awesome products.

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 time, and good luck with the drawing!

Episode 232: Under Control

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Question(s) answered this episode:

1. Would allowing more magic item attunements be broken?

2. When a spell or effect compels a player to do something, should the DM tell them what they do (separate from the player's agency) or should they be free to interpret it as their character?

3. What makes a good trap to you? What's the best trap you've sprung on your players/had sprung on you?

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Noteworthy Links:

Maumee River Leather, the Indiana-based leather company responsible for setting up our awesome giveaway

Supernatural

Ocean's Twelve Thieves Cant scene

Episode 231: The Son of Episode 230

Welcome back! What do you do when none of the players are making a decision about where to go? This week we discuss that, and other option-based dilemmas, so come along and join us on the ride!

And as of this week, we've run out of entrants for our Crit 3 drawing. But don't worry- that means we can move on to another giveaway, which we'll be detailing next episode! So don't miss it!

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!

See you next week, and don't make me kick in the door!

Episode 231: Optional Paralysis

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Question(s) answered this episode:

1. Have you ever bought or considered buying a "special edition" of any source book, or do you feel that they generally aren't worth the additional cost?

2. Choice Paralysis. How do you get a set of players stuck on sorting out what to do to actually move some part of the ideas forward to actually play the game?

3. Do you prefer Active or Passive defense in combat?

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Noteworthy Links:

Magic the Gathering: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms

Gen Con

Olidammara's Dice

Key & Peele Skype Lag

Episode 230: Por que no los tres?

Hey everyone! This week we're back with another great episode, and this time, we've got a very special guest, our good friend Dave! He's with us to talk about a project he's working on- a tabletop RPG campaign that utilizes real-world languages to communicate. I think it's a fantastic idea, so come along with us to hear all about it- and share your thoughts below!

And this week's winner of our Crit 3 drawing is Patrick N! Congratulations, Patrick! 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!

A la semaine prochaine, si vous me comprenez!

Episode 230: Hello, Bonjour, Hola

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Question(s) answered this episode:

1. Have you ever taken part in a game where real-world foreign languages were a part of the setting?

2. Should sign language be usable for verbal components when casting spells?

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Noteworthy Links:

International Gaming & Languages Discord Server

WWE Legends Royal Rumble, the wrestling-based card game Dave and I played

World Wide Wrestling, a wrestling-based tabletop RPG

Star Trek Generations

Raising Gamers Facebook Group

Quina Quen, an enigmatic character from Final Fantasy IX

Dr. House

I don't remember what this was in response to but here's a short comic about Mr. Rogers meeting Thor

Red Green

Pirates of the Caribbean

Episode 229: Reality Takes a Holiday

Hello listeners! We're back, with another great episode this week. We're talking about breaking the fourth wall in a tabletop RPG (what it means, what it might look like in a game, etc.) and also we entertain the idea of paying to have a "professional gamer" at your table. This is a fun one you won't want to miss!

And a last-minute reminder: please be sure to check out Crit Academy's new Kickstarter for their 5e-based Superhero RPG, Capes & Crooks! It's getting down to the wire and they still haven't met their goal, so please check it out here! It only has a few more days to go, so let's reach that goal!

And this week's winner of our Crit 3 drawing is Zachary P! Congratulations, Zachary! 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!

See you next time, if the script says so!

Episode 229: Tear Down That Wall

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Question(s) answered this episode:

1. Breaking the fourth wall in an RPG. Whaaat? Is it possible? Would it work? How would you do it????

2. How much would you pay to have a Professional Gamer at your table?

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Noteworthy Links:

Monster in My Pocket

Breaking the Fourth Wall

Reality Takes a Holiday, the final episode of the TV show Eerie, Indiana, that revolves around a 4th-wall break

The French Mistake, an episode from the sixth season of Supernatural, that also revolves around a 4th-wall break

The Hunger Games

Moriarty, a character from Star Trek: The Next Generation

Metal Gear Solid

Doki Doki Literature Club, a psychological horror visual novel with a climax that revolves largely around 4th-wall breaks

Deadpool

Tay Zonday on Cameo

Al's Diner