I apologize for these fucking meta posts, but this is the time of year I start thinking about making changes to The Gauntlet.
David Schirduan’s post from yesterday got me thinking about original written content. We have a little bit of that already under the sections titled How to Suck Less and Hall of Legends, but I think I want to eliminate some of these sections and just have a single section called ‘Writing’ or something like that. It would be even better if we had one or two people whose writing was regularly featured. Written reviews of games would be lovely, as would pieces on theory or design. I know a couple of you have blogs where you write things already (Andy Hauge comes to mind). I’m also cool with cross-posted content.
Thoughts?
You know what I’d like to see? A “Submit-First” Review page.
Rules: In order to see the review page, you must submit a review of your own. It encourages everyone to contribute to a collective review page.
Games can only have so many reviews before newcomers have to review different games.
User Story: “Man, I’m looking for a new game. What does The Gauntlet have to offer?” Sees rules. “I guess I’ll review Pathfinder; I know that one. Oh, pathfinder already has 5 reviews. I have to review something else…hmmm…I played Dread once, I’ll do that.” Writes 600 words about Dread, submits it. “And now I have access. Wow, there are 4 different reviews of Dungeon World, with different opinions and viewpoints. NEAT!
Potential Review Rules:
– No Negative Reviews: Reviews can point out flaws, or make suggestions, but reviews must emphasize the positive or interesting aspects of each game.
– Reviews must be between 500 and 1000 words.
– No profanity or bad stuff
If I had a little more time, I’d try to organize something like this.
You know what I’d like to see? A “Submit-First” Review page.
Rules: In order to see the review page, you must submit a review of your own. It encourages everyone to contribute to a collective review page.
Games can only have so many reviews before newcomers have to review different games.
User Story: “Man, I’m looking for a new game. What does The Gauntlet have to offer?” Sees rules. “I guess I’ll review Pathfinder; I know that one. Oh, pathfinder already has 5 reviews. I have to review something else…hmmm…I played Dread once, I’ll do that.” Writes 600 words about Dread, submits it. “And now I have access. Wow, there are 4 different reviews of Dungeon World, with different opinions and viewpoints. NEAT!
Potential Review Rules:
– No Negative Reviews: Reviews can point out flaws, or make suggestions, but reviews must emphasize the positive or interesting aspects of each game.
– Reviews must be between 500 and 1000 words.
– No profanity or bad stuff
If I had a little more time, I’d try to organize something like this.
expanding on the idea:
Games can only have 3 Previews and 3 Reviews.
Previews are from players who have read the book, and maybe engaged with the game a little bit.
Reviews are from players who have played at least one full session with the game (whatever that means)
expanding on the idea:
Games can only have 3 Previews and 3 Reviews.
Previews are from players who have read the book, and maybe engaged with the game a little bit.
Reviews are from players who have played at least one full session with the game (whatever that means)
David Schirduan That’s a great idea, but it is almost certainly not possible on G+’s current tools.
David Schirduan That’s a great idea, but it is almost certainly not possible on G+’s current tools.
I like it! Though tbh I hardly write on my blog these days. Really slacking off on that. But I’d totally throw some posted thoughts and such on that section–I feel like I’ve been doing a bit more of general G+ game design posting.
I like it! Though tbh I hardly write on my blog these days. Really slacking off on that. But I’d totally throw some posted thoughts and such on that section–I feel like I’ve been doing a bit more of general G+ game design posting.
My vision for The Gauntlet in 2016 looks more or less like this:
A huge number of games being run under our banner (comprised of various FtF games, OSR Tuesday, Dungeon World Wednesday, TGI Thursday, Saturday Morning Cartoons, Story Game Sunday, and Gauntlet UK Present);
A weekly original article by Person X being posted every Monday;
The Dungeon World mini-podcast releasing every Tuesday;
A weekly original article by Person Y being posted every Wednesday;
The main Gauntlet Podcast releasing every Friday.
Once or twice a month we release an episode of a spinoff podcast (say, for example, Gauntlet UK).
Once per month we offer a free PDF of original game content (such as a DW Adventure Starter, or a short form RPG) to community members only as a way of building up the group.
My vision for The Gauntlet in 2016 looks more or less like this:
A huge number of games being run under our banner (comprised of various FtF games, OSR Tuesday, Dungeon World Wednesday, TGI Thursday, Saturday Morning Cartoons, Story Game Sunday, and Gauntlet UK Present);
A weekly original article by Person X being posted every Monday;
The Dungeon World mini-podcast releasing every Tuesday;
A weekly original article by Person Y being posted every Wednesday;
The main Gauntlet Podcast releasing every Friday.
Once or twice a month we release an episode of a spinoff podcast (say, for example, Gauntlet UK).
Once per month we offer a free PDF of original game content (such as a DW Adventure Starter, or a short form RPG) to community members only as a way of building up the group.
Wondering about the possibility of a YouTube channel like Rollplay, for example. I’m happy to go on air once we’ve got a regular thing going.
Wondering about the possibility of a YouTube channel like Rollplay, for example. I’m happy to go on air once we’ve got a regular thing going.
Eadwin Tomlinson Expanding our number of venues is definitely on the menu. We just got the podcast on Google Music, and we’re waiting for approval to Stitcher. I’m going to set-up a Gauntlet-specific Youtube channel. We will eventually put the audio of the podcasts up there, but some games would be nice, as well. Daniel Lewis is incredibly skeptical about unedited Hangouts games, as he thinks it diminishes our brand, so to speak. Some very light editing on those videos might go a long way.
Eadwin Tomlinson Expanding our number of venues is definitely on the menu. We just got the podcast on Google Music, and we’re waiting for approval to Stitcher. I’m going to set-up a Gauntlet-specific Youtube channel. We will eventually put the audio of the podcasts up there, but some games would be nice, as well. Daniel Lewis is incredibly skeptical about unedited Hangouts games, as he thinks it diminishes our brand, so to speak. Some very light editing on those videos might go a long way.
Editing is a good idea – That’s how the pros do it… Happy to contribute once an approach has been worked out.
Editing is a good idea – That’s how the pros do it… Happy to contribute once an approach has been worked out.
Jason Cordova: A Tabletop-style edited-down session would be great, also in terms of duration, since it can be fatiguing for a newcomer to run up against a 2+ hour video.
Jason Cordova: A Tabletop-style edited-down session would be great, also in terms of duration, since it can be fatiguing for a newcomer to run up against a 2+ hour video.
Andy Hauge Eadwin Tomlinson The biggest hurdle to doing any kind of AP (audio or video) is no one on the podcast team wants to do the editing. Dan and Rich already spend a huge amount of time editing the podcast each week, and I spend a huge amount of time on all our content concerns.
Now, having said that, if someone wanted to step up to the plate and do some editing for some AP stuff, I would give them my full support, including sending them a box of fancy pears.
Andy Hauge Eadwin Tomlinson The biggest hurdle to doing any kind of AP (audio or video) is no one on the podcast team wants to do the editing. Dan and Rich already spend a huge amount of time editing the podcast each week, and I spend a huge amount of time on all our content concerns.
Now, having said that, if someone wanted to step up to the plate and do some editing for some AP stuff, I would give them my full support, including sending them a box of fancy pears.
I think that it would be tough to actually edit hangout games very smoothly. Something like tabletop works because they have multiple cameras that they can switch between to hide cuts. With the static hangouts feed, you’d see every cut you made and it would look terrible. If everyone somehow recorded their own video streams you could do it, but that’s also insane.
I think that it would be tough to actually edit hangout games very smoothly. Something like tabletop works because they have multiple cameras that they can switch between to hide cuts. With the static hangouts feed, you’d see every cut you made and it would look terrible. If everyone somehow recorded their own video streams you could do it, but that’s also insane.
Hm, with software like OBS, it could be done pretty straightforwardly. That’s just a heap of video to edit.
Hm, with software like OBS, it could be done pretty straightforwardly. That’s just a heap of video to edit.
Yeah, it’s definitely doable, but considering the amount of work vs. expected audience size, it doesn’t seem like a great use of our available man-hours.
Yeah, it’s definitely doable, but considering the amount of work vs. expected audience size, it doesn’t seem like a great use of our available man-hours.
Daniel Lewis And that’s the number one problem. It’s a chicken and egg thing.
Something Daniel Fowler suggested might be a cool thing to do for our DW mini-cast is just to AP a single scene of a game. It has a lot of appeal, because you could still show people how a game works, but there’s not as much editing to do. Of course, that’s no answer for people who are genuinely interested in the story being told, but that’s kind of weird anyway – just go watch TV or something.
Daniel Lewis And that’s the number one problem. It’s a chicken and egg thing.
Something Daniel Fowler suggested might be a cool thing to do for our DW mini-cast is just to AP a single scene of a game. It has a lot of appeal, because you could still show people how a game works, but there’s not as much editing to do. Of course, that’s no answer for people who are genuinely interested in the story being told, but that’s kind of weird anyway – just go watch TV or something.
I would also like to see a scene where a character fails a DR, has a goblin jump on his back and stick a knife to his neck, then fail a DD to struggle with it. maybe have another player fail to do something and have the first character roll last breath. I have seen a lot of stories where death just isn’t an option. and I do that too. when I roll high on a damage die I really feel bad and want to give the player some excuse to re roll it. I, and other DMs need to be more brutal/ trust the dice
I would also like to see a scene where a character fails a DR, has a goblin jump on his back and stick a knife to his neck, then fail a DD to struggle with it. maybe have another player fail to do something and have the first character roll last breath. I have seen a lot of stories where death just isn’t an option. and I do that too. when I roll high on a damage die I really feel bad and want to give the player some excuse to re roll it. I, and other DMs need to be more brutal/ trust the dice
Daniel Fowler DCC cured me of sentimental Gm-ing in OSR.
Daniel Fowler DCC cured me of sentimental Gm-ing in OSR.