Up Your RPG - Helping you up your roleplaying game

Whether you’re just starting out with roleplaying, or looking to make a switch, picking the right TTRPG for you can be daunting. There are hundreds …

Problem solving is at the heart of any great tabletop roleplaying game, both for GMs and players. Coming up with a smart solutions on the spot is …

We really appreciate ridiculous humor in our TTRPG session. We also value the serious, and sometimes emotional, moments that come with character …

Sometimes we paint ourselves into corners. The randomness of dice rolls can permanently alter plot lines. Player decision can unintentionally break a …

We all have our own personality traits, quirks, and even biases. Whether we're aware of them or not, our past experiences play a role in how we, …

Did your players one-shot your carefully constructed big bad? Did they find a creative, but maddeningly simple solution to an obstacle? Did they …

Unless you're playing a module with a fairly straight-lined path, some narrative threads are likely to get dropped in any TTRPG campaign. Does that …

Many GMs feel they need to lead the table, manage the narrative, that the enjoyment of the players is on their shoulders. This GM-in-charge …

Moving from a traditional RPG table to a truly collaborative role playing experience is a journey. How do you know you're on the right path? There …

The biggest time-vacuum for any GM is pre-game preparation. Getting ready for a session can take hours, but how much time is too much? Is it ever OK …

In this episode, we'll tackle a topic many players and GMs really struggle with. We want to get as invested in our characters as we can, but how do we do that, knowing there's always a significant risk of the …

This episode is part two of our player autonomy mini-series. In this episode we'll ask the question, "When, if ever, is it OK to diminish player autonomy?" It's a common occurrence in TTRPGs, and many groups don't even …

This episode is the first of a two-part series on player autonomy. Today we're talking about out of game restrictions, specifically how players' creative choices can be limited before they even get to the table, and is …

In this episode, we're starting off season two with a core concept of our philosophy on Up Your RPG. We believe that role-playing games are a …

In this episode, How Up Your RPG, effects us. What are our personal takeaways after 11 episodes of this show, and how has creating this podcast impacted us, both as RPG players and as GMs?

In this episode, more metagaming. As an adventuring party, it's easy to fall into a pattern of decision-making based on skill numbers, rather than our characters' personal abilities. How can players move toward traits …

In this episode, a few of our personal favorite RP moments. Collectively, we've got decades of table top gaming experience. We're going recount some …

In this episode, character trait or trope, is your hook hokey? So, you've given your new character a certain pattern of speech, maybe an accent, or even a catch phrase. These can really help you jump into that …

In this episode, managing difficult moments. Last week we talked about how to create conflict among characters. Today, we'll discuss how to handle …

In this episode, creating narrative conflict. Arguably the most important element of any story is conflict. How do we, as players and GMs, develop authentic tension between players and NPCs, and even among players, …

In this episode, staying in character during combat. In most RPG systems combat mechanics tend to take us out of character, as our attention is draw towards tactics, and away from narrative. How can we remain more …

In this episode, getting into character. You've found an inspiration, created a backstory, and plugged in numbers that make sense. Now how, and when, do you take on the personality of this fictional person you've …

In this episode, we're dipping our toes into the deep pool of metagaming. It will certainly be a regular topic on this show, but to kick it off, …

In this episode, we're continuing to talk about character creation. Today we’re discuss building characters with weaknesses, and how flaws can help …

In this episode, we're talking about something that almost all players and GMs deal with some point, if not frequently... and that is finding inspiration for a character. It's a process that I personally really enjoy, …

In this episode building dynamic backstories, for both player characters and NPCs, that won't box you in allowing for growth throughout a campaign, and encourage improv and more dynamic decision making.