David, Author at Fandible Actual Play Podcast

The Dice of Despair

I am, in general, not a superstitious person. I donâ€™t mind black cats, broken mirrors (beyond the obvious â€œwell shit I have to pay for thatâ€) and I donâ€™t believe that cracks that I walk on have anything to do with my motherâ€™s chiropractic health. I believe firmly that science and reasonable deduction can explain anything, from the strangest occurrence to the weirdest of situations. With this in mind, I would like to posit the following: I have been cursed, but I may have found a way to rid myself of this otherworldly affliction.

Genre Savvy Characters Must Die

May 20, 2015 David 2 Comments

Is the genre savvy character a useful plot device, or just a tool? When does the character outlive their usefulness and become more of a liability to good story telling than anything else?

Technology and Mythology – Monsters of the Future

April 15, 2015 David 4 Comments

The constant advance of technology has long led storytellers to dream up the consequences of humanity’s folly, usually in the form of tech causing our downfall. But what does this march forward do to the nightmares that already exist? Ponder the plight of the monster in a cyperpunk-dystopian-hellscape where the definition of “monster” may become unclear.

How to Perfect Your Gaming Mixtape

March 11, 2015 David 5 Comments

Running an RPG session requires managing multiple aspects of a story, including the ephemeral “atmosphere” of the game. Atmosphere can be managed by anything from visual cues, such as miniatures or character drawings, to food and drink that might enhance the feeling of the setting. But one of the most useful methods for introducing and maintaining a game’s atmosphere, is the introduction of music. Here are three tips to keep in mind when introducing music into your game.

The Creative Gamer’s Dilemma: When Tabletop Isn’t Enough

February 4, 2015 David 2 Comments

tabletop roleplaying offers a wide variety of avenues for creativity. Character backgrounds are an exercise in story construction, actual gaming a method of improvisational acting, game mastering a means of planning, and reacting to dice rolls is an experiment in anger management and grief counseling. These are tangible benefits of skills one can develop by engaging in tabletop gaming. But like all good things, there are limits to its benefits.

You’re Probably Wondering What I’m Doing With All This Plutonium – Creating the Perfect Player

November 26, 2014 David 4 Comments

Ever since I was asked to join Fandible I can remember a nagging question in the back of my mind: Are only five people capable of creating and sustaining the kind of quality entertainment that we seek to offer and that you, the listener, deserve?

You’ve Got To Let Them Fly – GM Advice for Creating Enemies

September 17, 2014 David 2 Comments

When your player creates a combat monster PC, what’s a GM to do? Turn the lethality of the game up to 11? Or sit back and watch the player kick some ass as the dice see fit? David gives advice to GMs looking for the right response to specialized characters.

Lovecraft: The Thrill of Nightmares and the Power of Dreamers.

August 20, 2014 David 0 Comments

To celebrate H.P. Lovecraft’s birthday, David looks at the influential horror writer’s fascination with dreams and how they can power creativity, and wonders what he might think of modern gamers mining his mythos for plot hooks.

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