Craft great games for your group by using rules that work.
Every rule should engage. That's the episode. Playing D&D can feel like you're constantly getting buckets of rules tossed in your face, and you're trying to sort out which ones matter. Then there are rivers of homebrew. How could we possibly know what's good, and what's trash? With the question "Does it engage?", which is what our incredible guest Heavyarms is here to help with. He's created some of the most useful supplements we've ever touched, including The Armorer's Handbook and The Alchemy Almanac among others.
In The Strategy Stateroom, we look specifically at how to assess rules when considering them for your game. Within the three steps of Capture Inspiration, Consider Intent, and Watch for Red Flags we learn practical advice but also so much about game design from the perspective of a pro.
Then we go to The Heroes Stage where we learn more about Heavyarms. He talks about the problems in games that inspire his work, his process, and what might be coming down the pipe in some distant future. Find Heavyarms' work and thoughts:
Website: Heavyarms | Raise your Game
Twitter: heavyarms (@heavydoesntmiss) / Twitter
And as always, huge thanks to the support of all of our patrons for making this episode a reality.
Pseu Art, Blackthorne, FirstLaw, PeacockDreams, DM Thunderbum, Marley R., Garr the Pirate, Timewarp, DangerousMarmalade, Zach G., NoMaam, Michelle T., Felix R., Chris F., The Senate, Lucas D., Lyla G., The GM Tim, Nevermour, Thomas W., Ty N., Heavyarms, Erik R., Aldrost, Leprecan, Will H-P.