Happy Jacks RPG Advice Show

hjrp2109 Your Hosts: Stu, Kimi, Adam In this Episode: Ben asks for some help with player memory retention. Curt writes in to promote Jackercon. Jason send in a GMing horror story with a twist.

hjrp2108 Your Hosts: Stu, Joey, Tappy In this Episode: Ben from Texas brings up the Sauron Dilemna. Christopher (Mystic Fedora?) says Stu’s right (and so is he). Joseph from the IE asks about scheduling and vetting. Ben from Texas (it’s a Ben from Texas doubleheader) writes in about customizing the game.

hjrp2107 Live from Orccon 2018 Thank you to the folks at Strategicon for allowing us to record our show live at Orccon 2018. For more information about these conventions, go to strategicon.net.

hjrp2106 Your Hosts: Stu, Gina, Adam, Stork In This Episode: David from Tampa writes in about social contracts and gaming. Marcus from Brazil found a game! And tells us about it. Jeff sends us a GM success story and a horror story. Kosta from Adelaide sends not one but two dramatically appropriate horror stories. We also go off on A LOT of tangents.

hjrp2105 Your Hosts: Stu, CADAve, Jason, Stork In this Episode: MRCJ writes in about chases, and we will disucss. Gottfried asks if RPG Dice Illegal in California?! Isaac from Texas needs help. Alervant sends a horror story. And Jason sends a horror story form bygone days.

HJRP2104 Your Hosts: Stu, Kimi, Jason, Tappy In this Episode: Marcus from Brazil can’t find an open seat at a Vampire tabletop game in Brazil. Heavy Metal Jess sends some love for our nostalgia. Brandon from Ontario writes in to report on his teenagers’ game and has a question. Joseph writes in with his take on your agency vs emotion discussion. Tayleron writes in asking about scheduling. Andreas from Sweden writes about falling damage and a player holding slavishly to their high concept in a FATE game. Zombie@Heart writes in with a GM and player win.

hjrp2103 Your Hosts: Stu, Kimi, Davy, Stork In this Episode: We discuss grokking a PC or NPC. Bobby from Belgium asks for some tips running a game over Skype. The Reverend Doctor Johnson sends a brief love note. Minnesota sends us a confession and horror story.  

hjrp2102 In this Episode: We discuss player agency and character emotions. James from New Jersey writes in about playing without a GM. Midas Karats from Adelaide Australia shares some stuff. Chris from Osaka sends us a missive about characters changing in unexpected ways.

HJRP2101 Your Hosts: Stu, Tappy, Gina, Joey In this Episode: In our continuing GMing tips, we discuss downtime roleplaying. Sam in Lakewood asks for some adventure building advice. Juho from Finland asks about letting players narrate successes. Don in Pittsburg asks about breaking in a new guy.

HJRP2020 Your hosts: Stu, JiB, Stork Show Notes! Steve from Atlanta asks why we tend toward certain game systems. Bud asks about the Traveller RPG timeline. Jonas writes in about running a game he’s reluctant to run.

hjrp2019 Your Hosts: Stu, Kimi, JiB, Stork In this Episode: Chris from Ontario sends us a note on describing scenery. Chris in Canada sends us a note on DnD falling damage. Eric from New Jersey has a GM Victory story. MN DieTosser sends us a question, some news and a horror story.    

hjpr2018 Your hosts: Stu, Ed and JiB In this Episode: GMing Tips: Rules? What Rules? Goluptious Geeks asks for form system selection advice. Axel from Germany writes in about some GM Lessons from the Mote of Sin. Sean from Seattle writes in with a confession? A triumph? He’s not really sure.

HJRP2017 Your Hosts: Stu, ProbieTim, Stork and Kimi In this Episode: GMing Tips: Improving Improv for GMs. Garrett asks about Making fulfilling filler. William from Minnesota writes in about player indecision. Dan sends a tale of Legend and Celebration. And ZombieHeart from So Cal writes in about Too Much player investment??

hjrp2016 In this Episode: GMing Topic: Building villains. Brendon from Ontario writes in about helping teenagers play better, and Clockwork Monk writes in about seven hours of superheroic shenanigans. This episode of Happy Jacks RPG Podcast is brought to you by listeners like you. If you would like to support the show, go to happyjacks.org/patreon.  

hjrp2015 Your Hosts: Stu, Stork and Scott Woodard. Check out the Savage Worlds Flash Gordon Kickstarter Scott mentioned. In this Episode: GMing Topic: Making scenes come alive. Eric from Kansas City asks, “Is magic a GM crutch?” Juho from Finlands writes in about players narrating after a contest resolution. And Drayle88 sends us a gaming horror story.

hjrp2014 updated Your Hosts: Stu, JiB, Kimi In this Episode: GMing Tips: Fleshing out NPCs. Ayslyn writes in about pacing a high-travel campaign. Tomi from Finland sends some thoughts on character abilities (and lack thereof) and how that affects a campaign. And Bill in Longmont Colorado sends a GURPS GMing success story.

HJRP2013 Your hosts: Stu, Stork, JiB, Kimi This episode is sponsored by Palladium Books, makers of RIFTS, TMNT, Dead Reign, and much more. Check them out at palladiumbooks.com. In this Episode: Steve from So Cal discusses red herrings Axel writes in with his take on Flashbacks. Luis suggests a quick time travel solution. And Leatherneck writes in with some military gaming stories.    

hjpr2012 Your host: Stu, Stork, Joey, Gina In this Episode: Chris from Ontario, Canada writes in about new editions Scot relays a player nightmare. Niklas from Stockholm sends us a story about dying three times. This episode of Happy Jacks is sponsored by Palladium Books. You can find them at PalladiumBooks.com.

HJRP2011 Your hosts: Gina, Stork, Kurt, Maire In this Episode: Isaac from Texas needs some GMing Help Kain Guru writes in about Over enthusiastic teens aka short attention spans and the impulse to be the first to shoot Axel writes in (to Stork) about social skill rolls and minmaxing. Sam relates a tale of GMing triumph Niklas from Stockholm relates a story of dying three times in one session.  

HJRP2010 Your hosts: Stu, Stork, JiB and PEG’s Scott Woodard In this Episode: Aviv writes in asking about ways to “unstick” yourself, GMing wise. Charas writes in about glossing over combat. Steve from Atlanta tells the tale of a PC killing another PC on purpose.    

hjrp2009 In this Episode:   Bennett from Pittsburg asks about starting games without combat. Zach in Chicago sends one way a PbtA game handles flashbacks. Iaquas sends us a gamer funk tip. Gene in Elk Grove writes in about Overriding PC Free Will Sir Guido asks “what should I have done?”

I had a chance to sit down briefly with Keith Baker while at Gencon. Here’s the interview. Thank you to Keith for taking time out of his day.

hjpr2008 Your hosts: Stu and Stork In this Episode: Julian from Paris writes about playing with time and narration. James from 1d4Cast Podcast sends us a quick breakdown of Mouseguard. Charas writes about transplanting favorite rules into other game systems. And Julie from Connecticut asks how to promote a game.  

HJRP2007 Your host: Stu, Stork, Gina In this Episode: Brian Writes in about Drama vs. Foolishness Reamus writes in with an urgent request for advice. Gene from Elk Grove writes in with a thank you. And Mike from Michigan sends us an update about a horror story.  

HJRP2006 Your Hosts: Kimi, Stork, JiB, Gina In this Episode: Jonas Larsson writes in about handling NPC drawbacks. Charas asks about player conflict. Dave from Chicago sends a long overdue Fuck You. Leatherneck sends us a Player confession (and GM nightmare).

HJRP2005 Your hosts: Stu, Patric, Michael and Stork In this Episode: Patrick and Michael talk LARP Steven in So Cal writes in about bookkeeping being fun?! Drayle 88 sends some questions and recounts his game. West sends us an update and treats us to a horror story.

HRP2004 Live from Gateway 2017

HJRP2003 Your hosts: Stu, Jim, Mike, Stork. In this Episode: Mike and Jim from Strategicon will talk about the upcoming game con. Stu will relate a bit about Gencon Clockwork Monk is looking for Superheroic conflict. Csaras from Poland writes in with some questions. Amar from Vancouver sends us a GM Confession.

HJRP2002 This episode of Happy Jacks RPG Podcast is sponsored by EasyRollerDice.com. Check out the Kickstarter for their innovative dice tray, including a staging area so only the dice you’re rolling are in the tray. You can find it at: www.easyrollerdice.com/tray Thank you to EasyRollerDice.com for their continued support! If you like the show, please consider supporting our sponsors. In this Episode: Stu, Bill and Dave77 report from Gencon50. Sgt Dan writes in with some idea on character/group creation. Ben from Texas asks for some advice when he chokes.

HJRP2001 Your hosts: Stu, Stork, Gina Eight years ago today, we released our first episode of Happy Jacks RPG Podcast. We didn’t realize this at the time of recording, but in celebration, I’ve included our original, crappy artwork for the show both here and attached to the .mp3 file. According to my FTP list, we’ve published 380 episodes (though it’s probably more like 375). We’d like to raise a glass to our listeners old and new. You’ve listened, you’ve critiqued, you’ve contributed and you’ve sat through more Human Centipede references than I can count. Thank you for your patronage, support and feedback. — Stu In this episode: Out of print GM asks: Running a villain game for kids? Mr Manowar writes in about our divisive hobby. Abacus from Missouri writes in about Hit point Fudging. And David from Florida sends us a GM success story.  

Eldemy04 GM: Stu Venable System: DnD5E Players: Bill, Tyler, Kimi, Bruce, Kris    

SWT04 GM: Bill Players: Elspeth, Stork, CADave, Tyler, Stu System: Mongoose Traveller, homebrewed for Star Wars.

HJRP1101 Your hosts: Stu, Stork, JiB and Jim Ryan. A big thank you to Jim Ryan for joining us for this episode. Show Notes! (can I just say, that I’m annoyed by the rigmarole that is creating show notes? Thank you) Sam writes in about creating PCs for convention games and one shots, and asks how to make them memorable and give them a chance at the spotlight. Chuck writes in with a question about a Viking game with a very complicated name. Apparently, it has a multiple action per turn rule, and we discuss ways the GM can fix the problem. Moonday ask how she can run pre-written modules/adventures without being railroady. Jonas writes in about his 4-year-old son, his attempts to get him to share the RPG hobby and his penchant for stormtroopers. And Jeff delights us with a creepy gaming horror story involving Neverwinter Nights.  

HJRP1012 – Growing the Hobby Your hosts: Stu, Tyler, JiB, Gina Show Notes! We discuss growing the hobby, and the party we (hobbyists) can play in that endeavor. Grant from Saving the Game writes in about another reason role-playing stops when combat starts. Jonas writes in to point out that Stu’s criticisms of DnD4e’s combat length might have to do with a huge playing group, rather than the system. Tom the Pedantic writes in to chime in on changing systems of a campaign mid-game. Michael from Minnesota writes in with a guygasm about Stan Rogers, and may create a game based on Barrett’s Privateers (a Stan Rogers tune). Ryan writes in with the opposite of a gaming nightmare, and Drayle88 gives us a pretty horrific gaming nightmare to close out the evening. Our next episode will be Saturday, August 31st, at 8:oopm, live from Gateway 2013. If our internet speed allows, we’ll stream it on Google Plus Hangout, which you’ll be able to view at happyjacks.org/live.

Season 04 Episode 11 Your hosts: Stu & Tappy Listener email and building a good villain (thanks to JiB for the topic suggestion, as well as our forum inhabitants for contributing to the discussion there). Featured song: The Two Magicians by the Merry Wives of Windsor, from their CD “Our Revels Now Begin.”

Season 04 Episode 06 Your hosts: Stu, Stork, Casey, Bruce.

Special Bulletin regarding WotC’s announcement about the Character Builder. To view the source, go to delicious.com/happyjacksrpg and find the 04-02a links.

Season 2, Episode 20a – a bonus listener email show. Your hosts: Stu, Stork and Kimi. Template for Pathfinder campaign web page for Google Sites. Fantasy Grounds & Rules Sets.

**Announcements** – BogFest this Saturday, 8pm at the Doubletree in Monrovia. – RPG Podcast Listener Survey at www.rpgpolls.com. – Would you attend a Happy Jack’s Game Day in So Calif? Email us.