S5E28 - From the Vault: The Story of Tannic
Topics discussed
Introduction and welcome to the bonus episode
Debate over the term 'forest crawl' vs 'point crawl'
Overview of the Tannic module and its themes
Origins: Pine Barrens, tannins, and the brown water motif
System choices: Cairn, OSE, and the writing timeline
Discussion on system-agnostic design and vibe
The Midsummer Festival and character-driven scenarios
Sincerity, meta-humor, and the value of earnestness
Longing, alienation, and queer sensibilities in design
Designing for decision-making and deteriorating situations
Personal anecdotes: Valen, night shifts, and horror of failure
Evolution of body horror and Goblin Punch references
The oubliette room and the fate of the prince
Character age, coming of age, and historical context
Research process: reading history for flavor and tables
Representation, Boston marriages, and normalizing diversity
Gaming conventions and the reality of playing RPGs
Future plans for Orstruck and Karen Store
The author's truth and the human experience in adventures
Outro, links, and credits
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