Get in the Trunk

Legion of Myth exists to spotlight tabletop RPGs, ideas, and play styles that gamers may never have seen - or may have forgotten - broadening horizons across the hobby.  The unofficial home of Palladium Books! | USAF Veteran RPG Die Gest  Our mission is to expose tabletop gamers to the breadth of role-playing games beyond the usual suspects - (either by showcasing systems we know well from long experience or by discovering new ones alongside our viewers) - through live read-throughs and candid commentary that reveal how each game actually plays at the table. Game Master Insight Our mission is to expose game masters and players of every experience level to diverse ideas, philosophies, and methods of play through focused, no-nonsense conversations, so viewers can decide what fits their style and sharpen how they run and enjoy tabletop RPGs. Links youtube.com - Youtube channel rumble.com - Rumble channel legionofmyth.tv - Legion of Myth website discord.gg - Discord server ko-fi.com - Ko-fi page

Dark Dice is the horror actual-play Dungeons & Dragons podcast that uses immersive soundscapes and intense editing to create added layers of immersion. Each season, travelers embark on a journey into the dark corners of a world brimming with dragons, monsters, and dark gods. They will never be the same again. Campaigns Domain of the Nameless God A rescue team ventures into the Dead Pines to find the missing children of Ilmater's Hope. Instead, a shapeshifting monster known as “The Silent One” infiltrates the party, impersonating those it kills. Can the team find the missing children before they are sacrificed in a dark ritual, or will the world be consumed by the sinister Nameless God? Shores of the Silver Thrum Eight strangers board a cargo ship bound for the Northrealm. Divergent quests, monsters, and cursed cargo quickly become the least of their worries as they reach the Sunken Bulwark and prepare for the ominous Ritual of Last Light at the infamous Sunken Temple… As waters rise, and foul weather approaches, they find themselves irresistibly drawn toward the source of a terrible sound. Fear the strangers in your midst. Never play games with fate. Links darkdice.com - Official website youtube.com - Youtube playlist spotify.com - Spotify feed patreon.com - Patreon page

You have found a D&D group, your characters are ready and the players are hyped for the start of the game. However there is a thought that keeps cropping up in the back of your head: “What if they take the story in a direction I don’t feel comfortable with?” Tabletop roleplaying games are built on imagination and improvisation. Therefore setting boundaries might feel wrong or tricky. Perhaps you or someone else has a phobia of spiders, or some situations might make you uncomfortable. This is where safety tools come to play. Before you start thinking that these are borderline “censorship” methods - they are communication shortcuts that ensure everyone in your group is having fun, even if the story gets dark or brutal. What are safety tools? Think of safety tools as subtle “safe words” in a stunt show or a timeout in sports. It doesn’t mean that the show can’t go on, instead it allows for the participants to pause, edit or skip certain bits of content that might not be something everyone is comfortable with. It avoids the need for that awkward, long speech about themes and decisions while making some people feel uncomfortable with either expressing their creativity or feeling targeted in another way. When everyone at your group knows where the “emergency brake” lever is, players usually feel more comfortable with intense roleplay situations, as everyone feels more in control of the direction the story is going. /images/general-media/1778077472_okHsoUPF.gifIf the game goes in a direction that everyone is comfortable with - rewind. The big three Lines and Veils This is a list that is collaboratively created during Session Zero. Everyone agrees upon setting limitations regarding various topics and when to let the story progress in a “skip cutscene” manner. Lines: Hard boundaries. If a “line” is drawn at harming animals, these situations do not occur in your games. Veils: A soft boundary - this is more of a “fade to black” moment, where the story overlooks specific details and situations, but still acknowledges their existence. The X-card If a situation makes you uncomfortable, signaling (either with a physical card with an X on it, or writing it in the chat) the X-card means that whatever is going on is skipped or retconned. The game continues but avoids the specific direction it is currently headed. This is a no questions asked situation. You don’t have to explain why this situation bothers you, a healthy group will respect your choice and preference and move on. Open door policy In a situation, where you do not feel comfortable, you are permitted to simply get up and leave the table to either “take five” or stay away until the current situation is resolved. Or if the theme is simply overwhelming, you can excuse yourself for the rest of the session. It is important that the group agrees beforehand to respect the open door approach and will not judge the person choosing to opt out. “This will ruin the mood!” As a DM (or a player), you might fear that using safety tools will break the immersion. In reality, the opposite is true - players knowing that they and their preferences are respected will keep everyone on the same page. When a group has no discussed boundaries beforehand, players are likely to simply “shut down” during specific situations and simply disconnect either mentally or digitally from the game at hand. Since the story involves everyone in the group, everyone should feel like they want to be part of it. Knowing beforehand which themes and topics may be an issue for your players will help everyone in the group focus more on the game, and less on worrying or playing the “guessing game”, wondering whether the topic at hand is appropriate for everyone. How to react when a tool is used If you are the DM and someone uses the X-card or reminds of a “line”, here is a professional way to handle it: Stop. Pause the narration or situation immediately. Acknowledge. Say “Thanks for letting me know.” Don’t ask “Why” or try to downplay the situation. Respect the player and their decision Adjust. Change the scene. Feel free to “rewind” the scene and take it in a different direction. Instead of spiders in the room, there are goblins, wolves, mimics, dragons (okay lets not overdo it…), or nothing at all. Check-in. A quick “Everyone good?” to check whether the situation has been resolved. And continue the game. Why do we promote using safety tools? When meeting new people for the first time, you don’t have years of history to know what their triggers or boundaries are. And circling back to the “guessing game” - you shouldn’t be expected to know these. Instead clear communication will help your group in the long run. Using safety tools should be seen as a strong green flag. It tells others that you are a thoughtful player or a DM, who cares about the people behind the characters. You will turn the group of strangers into trusted players much faster. Be a brave player Great tabletop gaming stories are ones where players take risks, are vulnerable, come up with stupid plans (that somehow work) and defeat villains. Safety tools will guide your game in a direction where you don’t step on anyone’s toes and lets you focus on the game at hand. Ready to get into a game? Post your player profile on Groupfinder, or find a group where you can gather other like-minded, respectful, players.  If you know of a DM, who is looking to level up their group management - then share this article with them and help make the tabletop community a better and more enjoyable place for everyone.