Daydreaming about Dragons
by Judd Karlman
Welcome to Daydreaming about Dragons, in which I'll think out loud about the techniques that help make tabletop role-playing games fun for me and my friends. Thomas Manuel, creator on Yes, Indie'd Podcast, Rascal News, and the Indie RPG Newsletter, said, "It is like 15 minute episodes and in each episode he solves an RPG problem. I mean he literally solves it. Every time I'm like, okay, cool, that is done. I wish more people knew that answer so we could stop arguing about it."
Episodes
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Daydreaming about Dragons, Episode 104 - Spring Gaming
Reflecting on this week's gaming as winter turns to spring... Monday's Game Thursday's Game Reddit Advice Blog Posts Cairn Dolmenwood LINKS: Judd's Links | https://allmylinks.com/judd-karlman Daydreaming about Dragons Merch |...
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Daydreaming about Dragons, Episode 103 - Thinking about why I game at all.
LINKS: Judd's Links | https://allmylinks.com/judd-karlman Daydreaming about Dragons Merch | https://shopofjudd.threadless.com/collections/daydreaming-about-dragons |
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Daydreaming about Dragons, Episode 102: 2023 Gaming Recap and Environmental Puzzles with Scavengers Reign
LINKS: Judd's Links | https://allmylinks.com/judd-karlman Daydreaming about Dragons Merch | https://shopofjudd.threadless.com/collections/daydreaming-about-dragons | Classic Traveller is on sale on DrivethruRPG |...
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Daydreaming about Dragons: REPLY SHOW FACE
LINKS: Judd's Links | https://allmylinks.com/judd-karlman Daydreaming about Dragons Merch | https://shopofjudd.threadless.com/collections/daydreaming-about-dragons | Jeremy Toots at me on Mastodon | https://dice.camp/@takeonrules/111246904141892732 Take on Rules: What has me excited about…
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Daydreaming about Dragons Episode 101: TABLETOP TECHNIQUES - Chargen is play! | Inspiration Goat - Inspiration Day get's right to it.
LINKS: Judd's Links | https://allmylinks.com/judd-karlman Daydreaming about Dragons Merch | https://shopofjudd.threadless.com/collections/daydreaming-about-dragons | Classic Traveller is on sale on DrivethruRPG | https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/355200/Classic-Traveller-Facsimile-Edition...
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Daydreaming about Dragons, Episode 100
Links BLUE SKY EDITION The essence of it is... | https://bsky.app/profile/juddthelibrarian.bsky.social/post/3kazpu26qnz2l MASTADON EDITION The essence of it is... | https://dice.camp/@Judd/111184524983384548 Judd's Links | https://allmylinks.com/judd-karlman Daydreaming about Dragons Merch |...
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Daydreaming about Dragons Episode 99: TABLETOP TECHNIQUES - More about Questions at the Table | Inspiration Goat: Artists!
LINKS: Judd's Links | https://allmylinks.com/judd-karlman Daydreaming about Dragons Merch | https://shopofjudd.threadless.com/collections/daydreaming-about-dragons | Emiel Boven | https://www.patreon.com/emielboven/about Dyson Logos | https://www.patreon.com/dysonlogos/about Michael Prescott |...
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Daydreaming about Dragons Episode 98: TABLETOP TECHNIQUES - Patterns of Play / INSPIRATION GOAT - Vlad Taltos and Lore
LINKS: Judd's Links | https://allmylinks.com/judd-karlman Daydreaming about Dragons Merch | https://shopofjudd.threadless.com/collections/daydreaming-about-dragons | Dictionary of Mu | https://pakasthreadgames.bigcartel.com/product/the-dictionary-of-mu Actual Play on Twitch |...
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Daydreaming about Dragons Episode 97: TABLETOP TECHNIQUES - Scheduling / INSPIRATION GOAT - Deadhouse Gates, Warrens and Dragons
LINKS: Judd's Links | https://allmylinks.com/judd-karlman Daydreaming about Dragons Merch | https://shopofjudd.threadless.com/collections/daydreaming-about-dragons | Dictionary of Mu | https://pakasthreadgames.bigcartel.com/product/the-dictionary-of-mu Actual Play on Twitch |...
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Reply Show REACTION
LINK Judd's GM Profile at StartPlaying.com | https://startplaying.games/gm/judd Daydreaming about Dragons Merch | https://shopofjudd.threadless.com/collections/daydreaming-about-dragons | Judd on Mastodon | https://dice.camp/@Judd Dictionary of Mu |...
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Daydreaming about Dragons, Episode 96 TABLETOP TECHNIQUE - Questions & Settings | INSPIRATION GOAT - Slow Horses by Mick Herron
LINK Judd's GM Profile at StartPlaying.com | https://startplaying.games/gm/judd 6 Cities | https://githyankidiaspora.com/2022/08/26/getting-into-into-the-odd-6-cities/ Mick Herron | https://www.mickherron.com/ Daydreaming about Dragons Merch |...
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Daydreaming about Dragons, Episode 95 TABLETOP TECHNIQUE - An array of Consequences | INSPIRATION GOAT - The Border Keeper and Second Spear by Kerstin Hall
LINK Judd's GM Profile at StartPlaying.com | https://startplaying.games/gm/judd Context, Cool Shit and Consequences: A Brainstorming Worksheet for GM's | https://githyankidiaspora.com/2022/03/09/context-cool-shit-consequences-structure-for-dms-notes/ Kerstin Hall | http://www.kerstinhall.com/...
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Reply Show Captured!
LINKS Storn's Youtube Channel | https://www.youtube.com/@StornCook Storn's Threadless Shop | https://stornart.threadless.com/ Reddit Thread, Captured by Strahd | https://www.reddit.com/r/DnD/comments/zbig18/comment/iys2kgi/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3 Daydreaming about Dragons…
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Daydreaming about Dragons, Episode 94 TABLETOP TECHNIQUE - Players who react to the consequences of their character's violence | INSPIRATION GOAT - Andor and Research
Links If you'd like to pay-to-play with me as the GM, here's my GM profile on Start Playing | https://startplaying.games/gm/judd Into the Odd AP | https://githyankidiaspora.com/2022/11/25/into-the-odd-delve-6-under-st-mugrundens-abbey/ One Page Dungeon - The Mad Abbot's Lair by Mark Murphy |...
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Daydreaming about Dragons, Episode 93 TABLETOP TECHNIQUE - Using the old D&D trope, YOU ALL MEET IN A TAVERN | INSPIRATION GOAT - The Scar by China Miéville
Links Paint the Scene | https://www.gauntlet-rpg.com/blog/paint-the-scene If you'd like to pay-to-play with me as the GM, here's my GM profile on Start Playing | https://startplaying.games/gm/judd Daydreaming about Dragons Merch |...
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Reply Show N.P.C.
LINKS The Indie RPG Newsletter | https://ttrpg.substack.com/ Hex Flower Faction Fun | https://discourse.rpgcauldron.com/t/hex-flower-faction-fun/1017 I was wrong, this wasn't a blog post but a forum post on the Cauldron. Episode 92 Conversation on Mastodon |...
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Daydreaming about Dragons, Episode 92 TABLETOP TECHNIQUE - Making NPC's / INSPIRATION GOAT - Rings of Power, playing games in established worlds
Links Mastadon Curious | https://mastodon.art/@Curator/109330938776710411 NPC Conversation on Mastadon | https://mastodon.gamedev.place/@kastark/109330573412587660 Science Fiction Soldiers 1 | https://githyankidiaspora.com/2021/02/09/ive-seen-things-you-people-wouldnt-believe/ Science Fiction...
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Daydreaming about Dragons, Episode 91 TABLETOP TECHNIQUE - Problems Not Solutions / INSPIRATION GOAT - True Detective Season 2 and Chasing the Beauty
Links If you'd like to pay-to-play with me as the GM, here's my GM profile on Start Playing | https://startplaying.games/gm/judd Daydreaming about Dragons Merch | https://shopofjudd.threadless.com/collections/daydreaming-about-dragons | Inspiration Goat's Twitter |...
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Daydreaming about Dragons, Episode 90 Tabletop Techniques: Taking Delight and Inspiration Goat: Steven Universe, the Purple Puma, Tiger Millionaire and Character Histories
Links Haiku Character Histories | https://githyankidiaspora.com/2022/01/01/haiku-character-history/ If you'd like to pay-to-play with me as the GM, here's my GM profile on Start Playing | https://startplaying.games/gm/judd Daydreaming about Dragons Merch |...
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Daydreaming about Dragons, Episode 89. What to do with post-great-game energy. / Inspiration Goat brings us Our Flag Means Death
Links 1 - Into the Forest, Trophy Gold: Roots of Old Kalduhr | https://githyankidiaspora.com/2022/04/15/1-into-the-forest-trophy-gold-the-roots-of-old-kalduhr/ Context, Cool Shit and Consequences: structure for GM's notes |...
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Daydreaming about Dragons Episode 88, Tabletop Technique: Considering the Murder-Hobo / Inspiration Goat: Closed Caption in Dune
Links Curse of Strahd at my table| https://githyankidiaspora.com/tag/curse-of-strahd/ Daydreaming about Dragons Merch | https://shopofjudd.threadless.com/collections/daydreaming-about-dragons | Inspiration Goat's Twitter | https://twitter.com/InspirationGoat | Dictionary of Mu |...
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Episode 87 Tabletop Techniques: When should the DM make stuff up and when is it okay to ask the players to make stuff up/ Inspiration Goat: Peacemaker and the earnestness of comedy's straight man...
In which I talk about a situation concerning armor in the Thursday Night D&D game and Peacemaker and earnest characters. Links Who is the Thursday Night D&D Party? | https://githyankidiaspora.com/2021/10/25/thursday-night-dd-crews-characters/ Daydreaming about Dragons Merch |...
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Bonus Episode: 2021 Light Reflection and Gratitude
Links Actual Play's Twitch Channel | https://www.twitch.tv/actualplay | Actual Play's Youtube Archive | https://www.youtube.com/c/ActualPlay | Daydreaming about Dragons Merch | https://shopofjudd.threadless.com/collections/daydreaming-about-dragons | Inspiration Goat's Twitter |...
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Reply Show Winter's Night
In which I reply to several call-in's emails and DM's concerning world-building, end-of-game reflections, goblin-chess and moving a timeline forward to get to the exciting stuff in a setting. In the Wake of the Sorcerer-Kings |...
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Episode 86 Pitching Games and Inspiration Goat brings us Pictures of Pistols
In which I talk about pitching games to friends and how a picture of a pistol inspired thinking about firearms in our science fiction and fantasy. Links Actual Play's Twitch Channel | https://www.twitch.tv/actualplay | Actual Play's Youtube Archive | https://www.youtube.com/c/ActualPlay | Wanna…
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Episode 85 Tabletop Technique: When the villain and character play chess | Inspiration Goat Pariah by Anthony Ryan, and questioning creative decisions
In which we discuss what is really at stake when characters play against an antagonist in a game of strategy and look at Pariah by Anthony Ryan, thinking about how to tell our friends that we aren't wild about a creative decision at the table. Link Daydreaming about Dragons Merch |...
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Episode 84 Tabletop Techniques - One drop of weird at a time | Inspiration Goat: Dune and carpeted spaceships
In which I discuss a recent bit of strangeness in our Thursday night run of Curse of Strahd, wherein pterodactyls are now in the skies and we look at the recent release of Dune to think about details in our games. Curse of Strahd, Episode VII, New Wolves & Old Friends...
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Episode 83 Tabletop Techniques: Moving Beyond Genre Expectations / Inspiration Goat: Apocalypse World Playbooks
Apocalypse World https://lumpley.games/BURNEDOVER/ Baker Patreon https://www.patreon.com/lumpley Space Station blog post https://githyankidiaspora.wordpress.com/2021/03/03/preparing-for-moons-of-leviathan/ Magic Item Blog post...
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Episode 82, Season 2: Tabletop Techniques - First and Third Person Narration | Inspiraton Goat - Wildermyth
In which we discuss First and Third Person Narration at the table and Inspiration Goat brings us Wildermyth, a lovely turn-based RPG, kinda like Darkest Dungeons but not so dark and less jaded (maybe even...joyful). Black Dice Society Youtube Playlist |...
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E81S2 Tabletop Techniques: Lore people care about it / Inspiration Goat: Willow and the Dust of Broken Hearts
In which I am inspired by a tweet by Rob Donoghue (linked below) and talk about making lore relevant to the going's on in your game; Inspiration Goat throws out Willow and I talk about character pivots and the Dust of Broken Hearts... Rob's Tweet |...
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Reply Show Pollen
In which I speak with friends... Pugmire | https://www.realmsofpugmire.com/buy Incarnadine Press | http://ipressgames.com/about/ Daydreaming about Dragons Merch | https://shopofjudd.threadless.com/collections/daydreaming-about-dragons Inspiration Goat's Twitter |…
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E80S2 Structure for Improvisation / Inspiration Goat: Leaving Kansas by Emmy Allen
In which I discuss creating structure for easier improvisation and Inspiration Goat brings us Leaving Kansas by Emmy Allen from Knock, Issue #1. Knock Issue 2 Kickstarter | https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/896102915/knock-issue-two | The Sixth Ring, a Trophy podcast |...
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E79S2 Tabletop Techniques: Leadership and Empathy / Inspiration Goat: Almost Famous and Lester Bangs on Rock and Roll
In which I discuss leadership and empathy in collaborative endeavors and think about Lester Bangs in Almost Famous and what he has to say about Rock and Roll. Reddit Thread Mentioned |...
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E78S2 Too many or too few players / Gideon the Ninth and Humor
In which I consider some ideas on what to do when there are more people and less people than you had anticipated and think a bit more about Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir, Audiobook read by Moira Quirk. Daydreaming about Dragons Merch |...
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Episode 77 Thinking about Session 0 and The Murderbot Diaries
In which I think a bit about what I like to bring to Session 0 and Inspiration Goat rightfully demands discussion on the Murderbot Diaries. Rob Donoghue's tweet about backgrounds | https://twitter.com/rdonoghue/status/1389025610232647682 Blog Post about Backgrounds |...
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E76 S2 Getting info on the table and Mare of Easttown, hobbit shires and small town settings
In which I talk about keeping secrets and putting information on the table so the players can make interesting decisions and Inspiration Goat brings Mare of Easttown to the table, getting us to think about small town settings, hobbit shires and a bit about detectives as sorcerers. Sci-fi...
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E75 S2 Tabletop Techniques: B-Game / Inspiration Goat: Season 3, Star Trek Discovery
In which I discuss having an alternate game for when you don't have enough gamers to play your primary campaign and Inspiration Goat brings us Star Trek Discovery so that we can talk about plotlines and themes that might give us all kinds of feelings in a post-Covid world. Sci-fi Collection,...
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E74 S2 Table Techniques: Parable of the Floating Head / Inspiration Goat: Warrior
In which I remember a floating head in a LARP, thinking about what lessons it taught me and Inspiration Goat brings us the action-packed TV show, Warrior and what it can teach us about avoid mono-cultures in our world-building. Threadless Shop | https://shopofjudd.threadless.com/ Inspiration…
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Remembering Morgan
In which I mourn a member of our community and talk about e-hugs and getting to the table with online acquaintances you think are cool. Join us this Friday, 7:30pm PST on the Actual Play Twitch Channel. The blog post, Moons of Leviathan, about Morgan's Traveller Character...
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E73 S2 Tabletop Techniques: Language as Setting / IG: Insecure, Media and Art in your settings and fully fleshed out NPC's
Word choice in play as an element of world-building and what we can learn from Issa Rae's Insecure and bring to the table. Please support: Black Lives Matter Global Network | https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019 | Black Trans Covid-19 Community Response Grant |...
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Special Congrats Ravenloft Episode
In which I share the story of my first game set in Ravenloft and congratulate my friends. Please support: Black Lives Matter Global Network | https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019 | Black Trans Covid-19 Community Response Grant |…
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Reply Show Snowblanket
Responding to gaming stories sent in by daydreamers and friends. Please support: Black Lives Matter Global Network | https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019 | Black Trans Covid-19 Community Response Grant | https://blacktrans.org/campaigns/coronavirus-grant/ | Inspiration Goat's...
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E72S2 Table Technique: Genre, Tropes and Beyond / Inspiration Goat: What We Do in the Shadows and Lower Decks
How does gaming help us move beyond genres and tropes and thinking about humor in our scifi and fantasy with What We dD in the Shadows and Lower Decks. Please support: Black Lives Matter Global Network | https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019 | Black Trans Covid-19 Community...
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Reply Show Friendship is Magic
Responding to gaming stories sent in by daydreamers and friends. Please support: Black Lives Matter Global Network | https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019 | Black Trans Covid-19 Community Response Grant | https://blacktrans.org/campaigns/coronavirus-grant/ | Stygian Seas blog…
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Episode 71 - Favorite Gaming Experiences of the Past Decades (a strange episode for strange times)
A strange episode in which I ditch our usual structure and discuss my favorite gaming sessions of the past decades... Please support: Black Lives Matter Global Network | https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019 | Black Trans Covid-19 Community Response Grant |...
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Reply Show Two Zero
Responding to gaming stories sent in by daydreamers and friends. Please support: Black Lives Matter Global Network | https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019 | Black Trans Covid-19 Community Response Grant | https://blacktrans.org/campaigns/coronavirus-grant/ | Links Inspiration...
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Daydreaming about Dragons E70S2 - Table Technique: Making World History/Lore Relevant, Inspiration Goat: My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service
How to get everyone at the table caring about world lore and Inspiration Goat brings us My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service. Please support: Black Lives Matter Global Network | https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019 | Black Trans Covid-19 Community Response Grant |...
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E69S2 Daydreaming about Dragons - Table Techniques - What makes good players? / Inspiration Goat - The Sopranos
We often talk about skills for DMing and GMing but what makes for a good player? And with IG, The Sopranos... Inspiration Goat's Twitter | https://twitter.com/InspirationGoat | Daydreaming about Dragons youtube Playlist | https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcnZ3uO0pp0rzRsfN_ObyhOdgaoeMs0TQ...
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E68S2 Table Techniques: Consequences, Context and Cool Shit Inspiration Goat: Into the Lair of the Sun God
My GMing Mantra at the table (Consequences, Context and Cool Shit) and IG brings us some metal. Hold the Line: a guide to defending democracy | holdthelineguide.com/ Links Inspiration Goat's Twitter | https://twitter.com/InspirationGoat | Daydreaming about Dragons youtube Playlist |...
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Episode 67, Season 2: Table Techniques - Adventures leaving marks on characters | Inspiration Goat: Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 5, Episode 2, Darmok
Thinking about how adventures change characters through scars, tattoos or whatever and IG brings us a classic episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation... Links Inspiration Goat's Twitter | https://twitter.com/InspirationGoat | Daydreaming about Dragons youtube Playlist |...
About this show
Welcome to Daydreaming about Dragons, in which I'll think out loud about the techniques that help make tabletop role-playing games fun for me and my friends. Thomas Manuel, creator on Yes, Indie'd Podcast, Rascal News, and the Indie RPG Newsletter, said, "It is like 15 minute episodes and in each episode he solves an RPG problem. I mean he literally solves it. Every time I'm like, okay, cool, that is done. I wish more people knew that answer so we could stop arguing about it."
Hosted by
Judd Karlman