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My Attempt at a Shadowrun Podcast

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Insomniac

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« on: <09-21-16/1154:44> »
I'm hoping that those assembled here might be willing to help an aspiring podcaster out.  I recently tried my hand at podcasting and I am looking for feedback, both on the content and presentation...

If you have the time to spare (the whole thing is roughly 30 minutes long), I would like to hear some honest replies.  The general theme of the podcast thus far is from a GMing perspective, as I haven't really found a podcast that aims to help GMs develop their game.

I appreciate anything the community can provide.  :)

https://1nsomniac.wordpress.com/2016/09/13/data-haven-podcast-episode-001-inspiration/

Insomniac
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GMFunkytown

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« Reply #1 on: <09-23-16/1309:07> »
Quote
...as I haven't really found a podcast that aims to help GMs develop their game.

It's funny that you say that. My perspective has always been that everything has TOO MUCH of a GM-leaning slant. I have always felt, with my stuff that I create, that I need to focus more on the players. I could totally be wrong, though. Perspective is a funny thing.

I'll give it a listen when I get some time and let you know what I think.

Insomniac

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« Reply #2 on: <09-23-16/1346:58> »
Hmmm... well, if you are able to give it a listen and I'm treading on heavily trodden ground, by all means let me know.  No sense being another voice in a chorus...  :)

So which podcasts do you recommend?  Maybe there's one I've missed... ;)
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The Tekwych

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« Reply #3 on: <09-24-16/0159:11> »
Are you in iTunes yet?

Insomniac

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« Reply #4 on: <09-26-16/0831:42> »
Not yet.  I'm still pretty new to this whole thing and trying to figure all of this out.  Is there a good hosting service that does iTunes integration efficiently?
The shadows never sleep, so why should I?
My site:  The Data Haven

Lorebane24

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« Reply #5 on: <09-27-16/0425:35> »
I'd love to help you out if I can.

I wouldn't say that I agree that another GM-centric podcast would be a problem.  In addition to several podcasts I've heard in the past having plenty to offer players, I don't think the GM focus was the actual problem that they had.  Rather, they tend to offer advice and discuss topics that are just woefully basic, or aimed at new players/GMs.  I figure that someone who is going to sit down and listen to a shadowrun podcast is, more often than not, going to be someone who has at least a little experience with the game under their belt.  I mean it's a great game, but it's name recognition isn't such that someone looking to try out an RPG for the first time is going to say "think I'll start with this Shadowrun thingy," as they might with, for example, Dungeons and Dragons.

So what we DON'T need is another podcast that rehashes what you can already find in the supplement books, like the basics of building a run, or how to properly build up your street samurai.  We don't need another explanation on the different categories of cyberware and what the basic suite of chrome.  I would be far more interested in something that looks at new ways for experienced players to look at something.  A podcast that might visit different ways to interpret the world of Shadowrun (because every GM interprets a little differently.  I had a GM once who had us going into a factory that was harvesting rectal glands from devil rats to flavor yogurt, which you would never see in my game).  Maybe take a look at how to make effective, but less traditional characters.  Discuss what makes a Johnson or a meet memorable for the players instead of just the basic anatomy of the adventure.

Most important, I think, is to avoid talking in broad strokes and avoid trying to give every option a fair shake.  Way too many podcasts do this.  They will tell you how what to do to build a melee focused samurai or a melee focused adept, but they won't tell you how the samurai tends to outshine the adept in most circumstances (except for evasion), except to maybe offer a small nod to the fact that samurai are more frontloaded in their power, with adepts catching up as they gain karma.  Even then, they will neglect to recognize exactly how much karma and adept really needs.  They will tell you how to build a technomancer, when what might be more useful would be to flat out tell your listeners"TMs suck right now, here is why, and here are some of the more popular house rules for fixing them."

I think it would also be interesting to hear more about the lore of the setting, ESPECIALLY those that are underepresented in other media.  Given the scant nature, you might even be able to make a killer episode that involves (with a disclaimer) heavy speculation on a place.  How about an episode that is equal parts lore and world-building?  One that talks players through how you have built up and detailed currently poorly-fleshed out city or region, your logic in the choices you make, the research you can do on it, and how these tactics can be applied to their own game?  I could give you an example of an old home game I had where my players and I worked together to flesh out our own version of 7076 Istanbul.

EDIT:  I should add that this is just my general take on podcasts for rpgs.  Sadly, I am unable to listen to your podcast until next week because China's goddam firewall stops the link that plays it from working.
« Last Edit: <09-27-16/2145:41> by Lorebane24 »
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GMFunkytown

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« Reply #6 on: <09-30-16/0907:17> »
Hmmm... well, if you are able to give it a listen and I'm treading on heavily trodden ground, by all means let me know.  No sense being another voice in a chorus...  :)

So which podcasts do you recommend?  Maybe there's one I've missed... ;)

Don't get the wrong impression! I wasn't trying to imply that you shouldn't do what you're doing. I was just making a random comment about how my perspective was a little different. You keep doing you! The important thing is to enjoy what you're doing. Podcasting is a hobby, after all.

Regretfully, I still haven't gotten a chance to listen yet. Got really busy and just happened upon this post again as I was posting something else. I'm downloading now, though, and I'll listen later while working.