Episode 11 of Discern Realities is out today!

Episode 11 of Discern Realities is out today!

Episode 11 of Discern Realities is out today! This episode has a slightly altered format to bring you an extended AP segment. Enjoy!

Thanks for the Golden Geek Nomination! (00:19)

https://rpggeek.com/thread/1538957/10th-annual-golden-geek-awards-nominees-announced

Reminder About Magic Item Contest (01:13)

What Here is Not What it Appears to Be? (2:33)

Using Flags as a replacement for Bonds

http://walkingmind.evilhat.com/2015/09/07/from-bonds-to-flags/

What Here is Useful or Valuable to Me? (8:02)

Talebearer’s Map

What is About to Happen? (09:40)

Our ‘comic strip’ AP featuring the adventures of Ramshackle Crow.

http://discernrealities.libsyn.com/episode-11

84 thoughts on “Episode 11 of Discern Realities is out today!”

  1. I’m looking at my remaining mobile data to decide if I can justify spending 22 mb to listen tonight rather than tomorrow morning when I have wifi…

  2. I’m looking at my remaining mobile data to decide if I can justify spending 22 mb to listen tonight rather than tomorrow morning when I have wifi…

  7. I’m in the throws of compiling a system universal list of magic items so these are without custom moves, rather concepts that PCs can play around with, they often have a hidden danger to discover too.

    Spider Ring

    This simple silver ring with the depiction of a spider can produce a seemingly infinite amount of silk from its abdomen. This near transparent silken thread is stronger than wire and remarkably flexible. Unfortunately though it lacks the adhesive properties of an actual spider web but don’t let that dishearten you, this trinket will no doubt be invaluable for trip wires, fishing lines, maybe even a garrote or two. Given enough time you might even be able to knit yourself a very unique set of armour.

    When the user produces more than 10 feet of silk they will notice a tiny spider bite appear underneath their ring, harmless at first but who knows what will happen if they continue to harvest silk.

    Perfumer’s Confession

    When any liquid is poured into this small crystal flask it will magically neutralise it’s own scent and adopt the scent of the most dominant aroma in the vicinity. In turn when a single droplet of liquid is poured from the flask onto an object it will nullify the object’s smell and impose the harvested scent. Any more than a single drop will dramatically magnify the harvested scent beyond it’s original intensity.

    Be sure the flask is found with a potential problematic scent inside eg. The smell of a she-goblin in heat.

    Cyril’s Letter Opener – Dagger (Heavily inspired from Dungeon World Magical Items Minipack 1)

    Just an unglamorous simple copper dagger in most respects, but a cut made by the letter opener on any material will repair itself leaving no trace within a few minutes. It also happens to be remarkably sharp, unusual for a letter opener.

    This effect doesn’t work if the object in question has been severed in two. i.e. a sheet of paper cut in half will not mend but a sheet that has been almost entirely cut in half will. Share this with the player if you wish, otherwise let them find out the exciting way.

    Weightless Blanket

    A 6 by 5 foot rectangle of old stained material that must have been beyond beautiful in its day. This blanket is true to it’s name in that it weighs little more than than a feather but what makes it truly valued among travelers is that any object/s wrapped and concealed inside the blanket will become equally as weightless.

    If any of the object/s is visible or becomes visible they will instantly return to their true weight. Additionally when a player character first touches the blanket make a roll. The blanket will be either remarkably warm or cooling.

  8. I’m in the throws of compiling a system universal list of magic items so these are without custom moves, rather concepts that PCs can play around with, they often have a hidden danger to discover too.

    Spider Ring

    This simple silver ring with the depiction of a spider can produce a seemingly infinite amount of silk from its abdomen. This near transparent silken thread is stronger than wire and remarkably flexible. Unfortunately though it lacks the adhesive properties of an actual spider web but don’t let that dishearten you, this trinket will no doubt be invaluable for trip wires, fishing lines, maybe even a garrote or two. Given enough time you might even be able to knit yourself a very unique set of armour.

    When the user produces more than 10 feet of silk they will notice a tiny spider bite appear underneath their ring, harmless at first but who knows what will happen if they continue to harvest silk.

    Perfumer’s Confession

    When any liquid is poured into this small crystal flask it will magically neutralise it’s own scent and adopt the scent of the most dominant aroma in the vicinity. In turn when a single droplet of liquid is poured from the flask onto an object it will nullify the object’s smell and impose the harvested scent. Any more than a single drop will dramatically magnify the harvested scent beyond it’s original intensity.

    Be sure the flask is found with a potential problematic scent inside eg. The smell of a she-goblin in heat.

    Cyril’s Letter Opener – Dagger (Heavily inspired from Dungeon World Magical Items Minipack 1)

    Just an unglamorous simple copper dagger in most respects, but a cut made by the letter opener on any material will repair itself leaving no trace within a few minutes. It also happens to be remarkably sharp, unusual for a letter opener.

    This effect doesn’t work if the object in question has been severed in two. i.e. a sheet of paper cut in half will not mend but a sheet that has been almost entirely cut in half will. Share this with the player if you wish, otherwise let them find out the exciting way.

    Weightless Blanket

    A 6 by 5 foot rectangle of old stained material that must have been beyond beautiful in its day. This blanket is true to it’s name in that it weighs little more than than a feather but what makes it truly valued among travelers is that any object/s wrapped and concealed inside the blanket will become equally as weightless.

    If any of the object/s is visible or becomes visible they will instantly return to their true weight. Additionally when a player character first touches the blanket make a roll. The blanket will be either remarkably warm or cooling.

  9. Mordecai – Skull in a bottle.

    How on earth a human skull managed to find itself inside a narrow necked glass bottle is sure to remain a mystery but one thing that is beyond all doubt is that this skull is very much alive and talking. Mordecai my be quite brisk at the moment but I’m sure deep down what he really is looking for is a friend or two. He may one day even become an ally.

    Suggestions for playing Mordecai:

    Hates and won’t answer questions especially personal ones (characters will loose favour with him if they try) but loves to be given tasks such as staying watch or distracting an NPC

    Is able to conjure warelight in his eye sockets and wail a deathly howl making him an effective torch/alarm system

    Is of a lawful-good disposition and will often ponder the dichotomy between law and ethics

    Is able to swim in water, very effectively in fact.

  10. Mordecai – Skull in a bottle.

    How on earth a human skull managed to find itself inside a narrow necked glass bottle is sure to remain a mystery but one thing that is beyond all doubt is that this skull is very much alive and talking. Mordecai my be quite brisk at the moment but I’m sure deep down what he really is looking for is a friend or two. He may one day even become an ally.

    Suggestions for playing Mordecai:

    Hates and won’t answer questions especially personal ones (characters will loose favour with him if they try) but loves to be given tasks such as staying watch or distracting an NPC

    Is able to conjure warelight in his eye sockets and wail a deathly howl making him an effective torch/alarm system

    Is of a lawful-good disposition and will often ponder the dichotomy between law and ethics

    Is able to swim in water, very effectively in fact.

  15. It would have been less interesting, to my thinking, if the rolls had gone well. I feel like it’s a good subject for a future cast, which is to let the game do it’s thing. Don’t interfere or force the story you want (or think you want). That’s one of the key reasons we do role-playing – the future of the story hinges on random things so that we are never bored/can never know exactly how things will go. Players are part of that random element too, not just the dice. You never know what a player will introduce and how it could change everything. Don’t over-ride the dice; don’t shut down player input. 

  16. It would have been less interesting, to my thinking, if the rolls had gone well. I feel like it’s a good subject for a future cast, which is to let the game do it’s thing. Don’t interfere or force the story you want (or think you want). That’s one of the key reasons we do role-playing – the future of the story hinges on random things so that we are never bored/can never know exactly how things will go. Players are part of that random element too, not just the dice. You never know what a player will introduce and how it could change everything. Don’t over-ride the dice; don’t shut down player input. 

  17. Ray Otus The segment is really, really tightly edited. What you guys didn’t see is the approximately 15-20 minutes of David LaFreniere and I agonizing over what was happening, and figuring out how to proceed. I probably could have gone less hard on the miss results, but I think what happened was perfectly within the bounds of the fiction. And you’re right: at the end of the day, the mechanics are taking our story to a place neither of us foresaw. It’s kind of exciting to think what might happen next!

  18. Ray Otus The segment is really, really tightly edited. What you guys didn’t see is the approximately 15-20 minutes of David LaFreniere and I agonizing over what was happening, and figuring out how to proceed. I probably could have gone less hard on the miss results, but I think what happened was perfectly within the bounds of the fiction. And you’re right: at the end of the day, the mechanics are taking our story to a place neither of us foresaw. It’s kind of exciting to think what might happen next!

  19. Original audio recorded for the whole episode is over 45 minutes long. I had to take a break to convert Urbina to a PC… And cry a little over the loss of Ramshackle. It was fantastic though. Play the game, don’t cheat the game, it’s so much better that way. My play by post players had a similar lesson just last night in fact (I may have used some hard moves to great effect) but spoilers, that could be content for future “what happened here recently” segments.

  20. Original audio recorded for the whole episode is over 45 minutes long. I had to take a break to convert Urbina to a PC… And cry a little over the loss of Ramshackle. It was fantastic though. Play the game, don’t cheat the game, it’s so much better that way. My play by post players had a similar lesson just last night in fact (I may have used some hard moves to great effect) but spoilers, that could be content for future “what happened here recently” segments.

  25. David LaFreniere I really feel for you man. No one wants to go out like that. Still, I can’t forgive you for putting dearest Urbina in that position.

  26. David LaFreniere I really feel for you man. No one wants to go out like that. Still, I can’t forgive you for putting dearest Urbina in that position.

  27. Really? Urbina lacked both loyalty and ingenuity. 🙂 She should have either jumped the snake from the get go or used Ramshackle as a distraction while she stole the egg!

  28. Really? Urbina lacked both loyalty and ingenuity. 🙂 She should have either jumped the snake from the get go or used Ramshackle as a distraction while she stole the egg!

  33. Jason Cordova What can I say, Fillion was rather smitten with her in our game. Yes, he had to killed her, but it was done with a much tenderness as possible. To think that she may end up as the second course for demon-snake is a tragic end for a lady of such good breeding.

    Great cast btw. I was on the tube home from work listening to it and got a few strange looks when I face-palmed myself after those repeatedly bad rolls!

  34. Jason Cordova What can I say, Fillion was rather smitten with her in our game. Yes, he had to killed her, but it was done with a much tenderness as possible. To think that she may end up as the second course for demon-snake is a tragic end for a lady of such good breeding.

    Great cast btw. I was on the tube home from work listening to it and got a few strange looks when I face-palmed myself after those repeatedly bad rolls!

  37. Oh my god. Poor Ramshackle. I was so sad and listening to David LaFreniere and Jason Cordova ‘s voices after Urbina died had me just as emotional as they were. God Damn Star Snakes in a God Damn Star Temple.

  38. Oh my god. Poor Ramshackle. I was so sad and listening to David LaFreniere and Jason Cordova ‘s voices after Urbina died had me just as emotional as they were. God Damn Star Snakes in a God Damn Star Temple.

  43. Timothy Bennett Ha! Elua would never let you. Also, the events of this AP take place centuries before the Company. Who knows if that snake is even around anymore.

  44. Timothy Bennett Ha! Elua would never let you. Also, the events of this AP take place centuries before the Company. Who knows if that snake is even around anymore.

  47. Magic Item Entry:

    The Auditor’s Necklace:

    This leather choker is clasped in front with an coin-sized ivory disk, carved with the sigil of the goddess of trade.

    If anyone lies to you while you wear the necklace, the disk turns cold against your skin.

    If you lie while wearing the necklace, the goddess rejects you and the necklace is inert unless you atone.

  48. Magic Item Entry:

    The Auditor’s Necklace:

    This leather choker is clasped in front with an coin-sized ivory disk, carved with the sigil of the goddess of trade.

    If anyone lies to you while you wear the necklace, the disk turns cold against your skin.

    If you lie while wearing the necklace, the goddess rejects you and the necklace is inert unless you atone.

  49. Magic Item Entry: Dread Flute

    A flute carved into an ancient bone, covered in ruins. The music it makes cannot be heard by the living. When played near a corpse, roll +CHA…

    10+ The corpse rises, as if strings were lifting up its limbs, and your playing controls it like a marionette. It can move and perform simple actions as long as you continue to play.

    7-9 The corpse rises and attempts to move but it is unnatural and unwieldy and can’t do anything specific.

    6- The dead find the music you play horrible and act accordingly.

  50. Magic Item Entry: Dread Flute

    A flute carved into an ancient bone, covered in ruins. The music it makes cannot be heard by the living. When played near a corpse, roll +CHA…

    10+ The corpse rises, as if strings were lifting up its limbs, and your playing controls it like a marionette. It can move and perform simple actions as long as you continue to play.

    7-9 The corpse rises and attempts to move but it is unnatural and unwieldy and can’t do anything specific.

    6- The dead find the music you play horrible and act accordingly.

  51. I just listened to all of the podcast episodes in two days and have really been enjoying it. I am a friend of David LaFreniere and currently one of his players in his perilous wilds game. This is the first time I have ever really played a game like this, and I am really enjoying it and plan on getting on some of the lists for The Gauntlet’s games.

    Keep up the good work with the podcast. I do have a question I hope you guys might cover in a podcast. As a new player when assigning my stats for my character I did not really understand what I was doing and did not realize it would be the small numbers that would be the modifiers to the roll and other such things (David can tell you he had to correct us on quite a bit). David told me what stats were the most important for my character and even told me CHA would be important in his games, so I shouldn’t use it as a throwaway stat (which I foolishly did anyway). Anyway since what I thought was the most important was the big number I instantly assigned them as what David had told me would be the most important stats to my character, which isn’t too bad but knowing what I know now I would go back and change some of them, but my biggest question is what are the big numbers used for?

  52. I just listened to all of the podcast episodes in two days and have really been enjoying it. I am a friend of David LaFreniere and currently one of his players in his perilous wilds game. This is the first time I have ever really played a game like this, and I am really enjoying it and plan on getting on some of the lists for The Gauntlet’s games.

    Keep up the good work with the podcast. I do have a question I hope you guys might cover in a podcast. As a new player when assigning my stats for my character I did not really understand what I was doing and did not realize it would be the small numbers that would be the modifiers to the roll and other such things (David can tell you he had to correct us on quite a bit). David told me what stats were the most important for my character and even told me CHA would be important in his games, so I shouldn’t use it as a throwaway stat (which I foolishly did anyway). Anyway since what I thought was the most important was the big number I instantly assigned them as what David had told me would be the most important stats to my character, which isn’t too bad but knowing what I know now I would go back and change some of them, but my biggest question is what are the big numbers used for?

  53. Ok I can clear that up for you man. Excited to see you on the Gauntlet by the way! Big numbers determine when the small numbers change. We haven’t gone over how leveling up works yet, and when you level up, you will increase one of the large numbers by 1. This will affect the small numbers at certain thresholds. For example, say you have a stat base at 12. It will give you a roll modifier score of 0, but when you level up and increase it to 13, your modifier score goes to +1. If you look at your stats, you will likely notice the pattern of where the base stats turn into the next tier modifier. I feel embarrassed that I didn’t explain this up front, I got too caught up in the new rules of perilous wilds. Hope that clears it up!

  54. Ok I can clear that up for you man. Excited to see you on the Gauntlet by the way! Big numbers determine when the small numbers change. We haven’t gone over how leveling up works yet, and when you level up, you will increase one of the large numbers by 1. This will affect the small numbers at certain thresholds. For example, say you have a stat base at 12. It will give you a roll modifier score of 0, but when you level up and increase it to 13, your modifier score goes to +1. If you look at your stats, you will likely notice the pattern of where the base stats turn into the next tier modifier. I feel embarrassed that I didn’t explain this up front, I got too caught up in the new rules of perilous wilds. Hope that clears it up!

  55. josh gary To add to what David said, Constitution (big number) also affects your hit points. Honestly, though, I think the big numbers exist mostly as a call back to Dungeons & Dragons. One of the really smart things the authors did, from a design standpoint, is include lots of stuff that makes DW look like Dungeons & Dragons.

  56. josh gary To add to what David said, Constitution (big number) also affects your hit points. Honestly, though, I think the big numbers exist mostly as a call back to Dungeons & Dragons. One of the really smart things the authors did, from a design standpoint, is include lots of stuff that makes DW look like Dungeons & Dragons.

  59. I’m still a bit torn about the DW/D&D similarity in this regard. I tend to think of the two games as being very similar thematically (with DW being a “boiled down” version of D&D’s theme and setting), but mechanically the games are very different.

    This makes the stats (their names, their ranges, the modifiers…) stand out a little to me as a mechanical similarity that isn’t particularly necessary. It isn’t BAD, and I’m not proposing an alternative, I just wonder how DW could have been if this aspect had been distanced from D&D in the way most other mechanics have been.

    That said, stats are so core and instantly recognisable that having them mimic D&D no doubt helps to make DW more accessible to players of other systems…

  60. I’m still a bit torn about the DW/D&D similarity in this regard. I tend to think of the two games as being very similar thematically (with DW being a “boiled down” version of D&D’s theme and setting), but mechanically the games are very different.

    This makes the stats (their names, their ranges, the modifiers…) stand out a little to me as a mechanical similarity that isn’t particularly necessary. It isn’t BAD, and I’m not proposing an alternative, I just wonder how DW could have been if this aspect had been distanced from D&D in the way most other mechanics have been.

    That said, stats are so core and instantly recognisable that having them mimic D&D no doubt helps to make DW more accessible to players of other systems…

  63. Beard of Befriending

    Even the most prestigious dwarven lord would admire this mighty beard.  It retains its luster and softness long after its owner passes away.  If you pull this beard off its deceased former owner and let it intertwine with your own beard, it will permanently bind with your face.  While you live the beard will act to preserve you both.  The beard acts as an animal companion as described in the Ranger’s playbook

  64. Beard of Befriending

    Even the most prestigious dwarven lord would admire this mighty beard.  It retains its luster and softness long after its owner passes away.  If you pull this beard off its deceased former owner and let it intertwine with your own beard, it will permanently bind with your face.  While you live the beard will act to preserve you both.  The beard acts as an animal companion as described in the Ranger’s playbook

  65. David LaFreniere, just so you know, a group of adventurers from the Company killed the animated skeletal remains of that snake. Justice served, albeit several centuries in the future. Jason Cordova

  66. David LaFreniere, just so you know, a group of adventurers from the Company killed the animated skeletal remains of that snake. Justice served, albeit several centuries in the future. Jason Cordova

  75. Timothy Bennett Haha, thanks. It’s all connected! Urbina is an NPC from an earlier Company adventure (although she was an ancient, tragic vampire then).

    Also, how does this sound? The Peerless Star is Carcosa. 

  76. Timothy Bennett Haha, thanks. It’s all connected! Urbina is an NPC from an earlier Company adventure (although she was an ancient, tragic vampire then).

    Also, how does this sound? The Peerless Star is Carcosa. 

  79. Apologies for the thread necromancy everyone, but we are putting together the Discern Realities Annual, and we want to put some of the magic item contest submissions in it. Luke Cox and Russell Williams, do you mind if we include your entries?

  80. Apologies for the thread necromancy everyone, but we are putting together the Discern Realities Annual, and we want to put some of the magic item contest submissions in it. Luke Cox and Russell Williams, do you mind if we include your entries?

  81. Jason Cordova​ you’re more than welcome to include my entries provided my name gets accredited to them – which I imagine you’ll be doing for everyone anyway 🙂

    All the best, I’ve been looking forward to this annual!

  82. Jason Cordova​ you’re more than welcome to include my entries provided my name gets accredited to them – which I imagine you’ll be doing for everyone anyway 🙂

    All the best, I’ve been looking forward to this annual!

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