Hey Dice Droppers!
Episode six of Dice Drop: Evolution launched on Friday, and I am back again to talk about my thoughts on the episode. If you have not listened to our latest episode, you can check it out in the “Episodes” tab at the top of the page or on your favorite podcast directory.
Risky Business
I am going to go ahead and say this: This is in my top 3 episodes we have recorded so far. Not only because this is an action-packed episode, but because of the comedy and the drama and how much is revealed in the episode. I said in the DM Notes for episode four, this is where you see the team come together, which is true. But this also shows how deep the bond has grown for our heroes in such a short amount of time.
Seriously, at this point, the team has been together for less than a day.
Also as players, you see Allie, Elena and Kyle come together as a team and start to figure out the puzzles that I place before them as they work their way toward Hood’s location and face the challenges – or lack thereof – throughout Astoria Cyber Technologies. I will say, I loved the amount of theories that the players came up with while recording this episode and the next. As the dungeon master, I cannot tell them whether their theories are correct yet, but they will certainly find out in time.
I will say this, exclusive to this post, some of their theories were correct and a few of them were way off base :wink:.
Also, this episode was me playing catch up with myself. Due to life happening, I was not nearly prepared for the previous episode. I knew a little bit of what I wanted to happen, but not how or what was going to happen. I wasn’t nearly as prepared as I usually am and basically hobbled together ideas as they came.
Now, dungeon masters out there, I need you to listen, and listen well. This. Right there. What just happened? It’s okay.
Being a dungeon master is a job in-and-of itself. Especially if you find yourself in the middle of a lengthy campaign. You are going about your week and suddenly game night sneaks up on you. You have nothing prepared. What happens?
Well, that will be the topic for Wednesday’s post: DM Burnout. Be sure to check it out.
So, what happens in the aftermath of burnout? You may be asking yourself? What happens when you run a session with a burnt-out DM? You play it off the next week. You get back in the saddle, accept what has happened as canon, and work with what you have. And your players will give you plenty to work with even if you are burnt out and flying by the seat of your pants.
That is what Episode 6 and 7 were for me. I was playing catch-up with myself.
One of the problems that I came across. I set them up for a heavily guarded fortress of a building, and they got to their destination with very little problem. They rescued Shade, who was supposedly pinned down in a closet, with no guard resistance.
How do you explain this?
Villain Exposition.
And the players gave me plenty to work with, particularly Remi. But all of this I will tackle more next week after you guys properly meet Jeanette Astoria.
Also, there is one flub of my own that I caught when I was editing this episode: The restraints for Hood. Early in the episode, when the team could see Hood on the camera, I said he had metal restraints. When they found Hood, I said they were leather.
There is only one thing I can say. I do not think you are ready for it. “Oops.”
So guys, what did you think of this week’s episode “Risky Business”? What was your favorite parts. Did you notice any of my continuity errors that I missed? Call me out in the comments section down below.
Thank you for reading and listening to the podcast. And, as always, stay safe.
Your Dungeon Master,
James