We have some evidence that listeners may prefer the normal show format to the interview format. We’re thinking of having future designer guests come on as co-hosts of the normal format show, but make the work they’re doing a feature of the opening segment and main topic. This will make more sense when you hear the episode releasing on Friday, but I’d like to get some feedback on it now.
We have some evidence that listeners may prefer the normal show format to the interview format.
We have some evidence that listeners may prefer the normal show format to the interview format.
“Giving me life” with guests could be pretty interesting actually…
“Giving me life” with guests could be pretty interesting actually…
I like the both, but yeah, over the long haul I would miss the non-interview format if it didn’t show up once in a while.
I like the both, but yeah, over the long haul I would miss the non-interview format if it didn’t show up once in a while.
In the past I always advocated keeping our regular format shows on a two week schedule so we built up enough games played to fill the opening segment, but now that Richard Rogers has joined us full time and Jason Cordova plays roughly 25 games per week, that’s probably less of an issue.
In the past I always advocated keeping our regular format shows on a two week schedule so we built up enough games played to fill the opening segment, but now that Richard Rogers has joined us full time and Jason Cordova plays roughly 25 games per week, that’s probably less of an issue.
While the interviews are fun, I prefer the normal format where it’s a few people with informed opinions speaking about a topic. Interviews are great for introducing you to new people and new things, but I do enjoy the digging into topics and discussing them with a variety of viewpoints, or as a way to introduce a little known aspect.
While the interviews are fun, I prefer the normal format where it’s a few people with informed opinions speaking about a topic. Interviews are great for introducing you to new people and new things, but I do enjoy the digging into topics and discussing them with a variety of viewpoints, or as a way to introduce a little known aspect.
I would prefer the regular format, maybe with an interviewish segment for the guest. But it really depends on what you want to get from the guest.
If the main topic is fitting for the interests and work of the invited it should be informative as well. And you’d get an impression of how the guest is like. An interview of cause works better for getting information about something specific and puts more of a focus on the interviewee.
I would prefer the regular format, maybe with an interviewish segment for the guest. But it really depends on what you want to get from the guest.
If the main topic is fitting for the interests and work of the invited it should be informative as well. And you’d get an impression of how the guest is like. An interview of cause works better for getting information about something specific and puts more of a focus on the interviewee.
Some of the other podcasts I listen to, mostly non-gaming related, alternate, usually weekly, between a purely interview format, which on occasion means a shorter session, and their regular topic based format. I have grown to like that approach. There are only so many hours in a day and I feel as a listener it gives me the most choice in prioritizing which shows I want to direct my attention.
Some of the other podcasts I listen to, mostly non-gaming related, alternate, usually weekly, between a purely interview format, which on occasion means a shorter session, and their regular topic based format. I have grown to like that approach. There are only so many hours in a day and I feel as a listener it gives me the most choice in prioritizing which shows I want to direct my attention.
I really enjoy the interviews but would more so If i knew all of the interviewed designers but learning about them is great too. I threw money at the Lovecraftesque kickstarter after listening here about it.
I really enjoy the interviews but would more so If i knew all of the interviewed designers but learning about them is great too. I threw money at the Lovecraftesque kickstarter after listening here about it.
Hi guys, I think the interviews are great and I’ve enjoyed every one of them, but I can’t help but feel that someone’s changed the menu at my favourite restaurant. There’s a reason why I come back to the Gauntlet each Friday and it would be a shame if the recipe for your ‘special sauce’ was altered too much.
Hi guys, I think the interviews are great and I’ve enjoyed every one of them, but I can’t help but feel that someone’s changed the menu at my favourite restaurant. There’s a reason why I come back to the Gauntlet each Friday and it would be a shame if the recipe for your ‘special sauce’ was altered too much.
Maybe a hybrid where you have a shorter main topic but hold all other segments the same with the addition of a few interview-specific questions.
Maybe a hybrid where you have a shorter main topic but hold all other segments the same with the addition of a few interview-specific questions.
I’ve only listened to interviews (with Grant and Emily) so far. They were great! You guys are good interviewers, it would be a shame to ditch that.
I’ve only listened to interviews (with Grant and Emily) so far. They were great! You guys are good interviewers, it would be a shame to ditch that.
Joshua Fox I don’t know if it would be ‘ditching’ the interview format as much as it would be weaving it into the normal format, which has a much greater emphasis on the experience of playing games, and the personalities of the various co-hosts. So, for the upcoming episode, we had Rob Bohl and Paul Czege on to co-host, and even though the focus of the episode wasn’t their specific work, we still managed to learn a lot about what they were up to, as well as their approach to games and game design. To the extent the listeners prefer the normal episodes, it might be the best way of getting a designer’s message out.
That said, yeah, I really enjoy doing the interviews. I think there is a hybrid thing waiting to happen (as David LaFreniere suggests).
Joshua Fox I don’t know if it would be ‘ditching’ the interview format as much as it would be weaving it into the normal format, which has a much greater emphasis on the experience of playing games, and the personalities of the various co-hosts. So, for the upcoming episode, we had Rob Bohl and Paul Czege on to co-host, and even though the focus of the episode wasn’t their specific work, we still managed to learn a lot about what they were up to, as well as their approach to games and game design. To the extent the listeners prefer the normal episodes, it might be the best way of getting a designer’s message out.
That said, yeah, I really enjoy doing the interviews. I think there is a hybrid thing waiting to happen (as David LaFreniere suggests).
I think what you’re seeing is that there are two separate audiences. You’ve found an audience that’s interested in you and Dan and conversations about all the games you’re playing. They’re passionate about it. That’s what they want. Then there’s an external audience that you haven’t tapped much that thinks of RPGs as a hobby of design and is interested in conversations with designers. Years ago this other audience was avid consumers of Theory from the Closet, Have Games Will Travel, Sons of Kryos, and Ryan Macklin’s Master Plan podcast, among others, when the episodes were interviews with designers. Now they’re still hungry for interviews, but mostly no one’s doing them, or are only doing “pimp my Kickstarter” interviews. So there’s this other audience you could bring in, but the trick is doing it without alienating your core audience.
I think what you’re seeing is that there are two separate audiences. You’ve found an audience that’s interested in you and Dan and conversations about all the games you’re playing. They’re passionate about it. That’s what they want. Then there’s an external audience that you haven’t tapped much that thinks of RPGs as a hobby of design and is interested in conversations with designers. Years ago this other audience was avid consumers of Theory from the Closet, Have Games Will Travel, Sons of Kryos, and Ryan Macklin’s Master Plan podcast, among others, when the episodes were interviews with designers. Now they’re still hungry for interviews, but mostly no one’s doing them, or are only doing “pimp my Kickstarter” interviews. So there’s this other audience you could bring in, but the trick is doing it without alienating your core audience.
I think the “pimp my Kickstarter”-interview might be one of the reasons why I am not as interested in some interviews as I might be under other circumstances. Especially if I allready am rather saturated with the kickstarter in question.
Edit: To clarify not only on the Gauntlet but over the wide range of rpg podcasts I listen to.
I think the “pimp my Kickstarter”-interview might be one of the reasons why I am not as interested in some interviews as I might be under other circumstances. Especially if I allready am rather saturated with the kickstarter in question.
Edit: To clarify not only on the Gauntlet but over the wide range of rpg podcasts I listen to.
Paul Czege Philipp Neitzel I think you’re right about the ‘Pimp My KS’ interviews. I, personally, was very passionate about Lovecraftesque, which is why I wanted to have Josh and Becky on for that, but, generally speaking, we have tried to avoid it.
Our strength has always been the fact we are a community oriented toward actual play. We don’t dwell on social issues and gaming (very important, but it’s just not the conversation we’re interested in having), and we discuss design in the most practical of contexts (i.e. “does this mechanic work?”). Ultimately, I am a player of games, not a designer of games, and my concerns are just a little different, I think.
A relevant aside: If one were to take a crack at designing games, playing loads and loads of them is a terrific substitute for RPG design theory.
One thing that is difficult to avoid in this discussion is the fact Dan and I found Monday’s recording with Rob & Paul more enjoyable than we would have if we had just done an interview. We both agreed it was fun because it was like we were sitting around discussing things as friends. And the amount of personal pleasure Dan and I get out of the process is a REALLY important factor here…
Paul Czege Philipp Neitzel I think you’re right about the ‘Pimp My KS’ interviews. I, personally, was very passionate about Lovecraftesque, which is why I wanted to have Josh and Becky on for that, but, generally speaking, we have tried to avoid it.
Our strength has always been the fact we are a community oriented toward actual play. We don’t dwell on social issues and gaming (very important, but it’s just not the conversation we’re interested in having), and we discuss design in the most practical of contexts (i.e. “does this mechanic work?”). Ultimately, I am a player of games, not a designer of games, and my concerns are just a little different, I think.
A relevant aside: If one were to take a crack at designing games, playing loads and loads of them is a terrific substitute for RPG design theory.
One thing that is difficult to avoid in this discussion is the fact Dan and I found Monday’s recording with Rob & Paul more enjoyable than we would have if we had just done an interview. We both agreed it was fun because it was like we were sitting around discussing things as friends. And the amount of personal pleasure Dan and I get out of the process is a REALLY important factor here…
The podcast discussion as friends honestly grew out of what happens at Jax and after most session: we end the game, and most of us talk about our feelings on it afterwards, and do a post mortum on the system and rules.
The podcast discussion as friends honestly grew out of what happens at Jax and after most session: we end the game, and most of us talk about our feelings on it afterwards, and do a post mortum on the system and rules.
Jason Cordova If you are very passionate about the game yourself that shows in the interview and makes it more interesting again. And I can’t blame you for hyping Lovecraftesque.
Jason Cordova If you are very passionate about the game yourself that shows in the interview and makes it more interesting again. And I can’t blame you for hyping Lovecraftesque.
I’d also say that your interviews – including your excellent contributing to the Lovecraftesque hype machine – incorporate quite a bit of nuts-and-bolts game design discussion around the origins of and rationale for system design choices, as well as “oh that thing you said is like this other game”. Both of those add a lot of value, and I don’t think it is just about a sales pitch for the interviewee’s stuff. Even though in practice your interviews do make me want to go out and buy their stuff.
I’d also say that your interviews – including your excellent contributing to the Lovecraftesque hype machine – incorporate quite a bit of nuts-and-bolts game design discussion around the origins of and rationale for system design choices, as well as “oh that thing you said is like this other game”. Both of those add a lot of value, and I don’t think it is just about a sales pitch for the interviewee’s stuff. Even though in practice your interviews do make me want to go out and buy their stuff.
So long as the interview episode doesn’t turn into something terrible along the lines of “excuuuuuse ME , princess!”
So long as the interview episode doesn’t turn into something terrible along the lines of “excuuuuuse ME , princess!”
Whilst checkboxes can go to hell, I don’t think I’ve laughed as loudly with any podcast ever as I did with Grant.
Whilst checkboxes can go to hell, I don’t think I’ve laughed as loudly with any podcast ever as I did with Grant.
I personally enjoy both formats for different reasons. I can see the divide though. Reminds me you likely can’t please all the people all the time 🙂
I personally enjoy both formats for different reasons. I can see the divide though. Reminds me you likely can’t please all the people all the time 🙂
What you should keep doing with interviews I think is having multiple hosts there to ask the guest questions. That brings it closer to the regular format.
What you should keep doing with interviews I think is having multiple hosts there to ask the guest questions. That brings it closer to the regular format.