by Sam Dunnewold
A show about tabletop RPG design. Each episode we bring you a single mechanic and break it down as deep as we possibly can. Co-hosted by Sam Dunnewold and a rotating roster of designers. <br /><br /><a href="diceexploder.com">diceexploder.com</a>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
4/27/2023
Email Addresses
1 available
Phone Numbers
0 available
April 21, 2025
<p>Transcripts available at diceexploder.com</p><p>Safety in RPGs and larp is a huge topic, one I’ve wanted to cover on Dice Exploder for a long time, but one I’ve avoided it because it feels hard to approach inside the “pick one mechanic” format of this show. Even more than most mechanics I cover on Dice Exploder, I feel like most safety mechanics are in conversation with each other in both logistical ways—how they compliment each other—but also in the philosophy behind their existence in the first place, how including these mechanics at the table is ideally a statement about how we’d like to treat each other both at the table and away from it. So today we’re gonna name that underlying philosophy and call that our mechanic: “players are more important than the game” is something I hear in conversations around safety all the time, and that’s this episode.</p><p>To break it down, I’m joined by Sarah Lynne Bowman. She studies all this professionally, and she has so much to say and to share about how safety tools work in theory and in practice, how no tool can ever guarantee your safety (even if we should still definitely use them), and how building good communities around our games is at least as important to safer play as any individual tool.</p><p>Finally, content warning in this episode for mention of sexual assault and emotional abuse in rpg communities. We don’t get deep into any specifics, but they come up.</p><p><strong>Further Reading</strong></p><p><a href="https://leavingmundania.com/2015/08/04/your-larps-only-as-safe-as-its-safety-culture/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Your Larp’s Only As Safe As It’s Play Culture</a> by Troels Ken Pedersen</p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/7D5FWFJZGFfOCrINJYP3CZ?si=o8ROMnF5SyKkwMgoJIATow" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Dice Exploder on accessibility in game design</a></p><p><a href="https://nordiclarp.org/2016/09/09/creating-culture-trust-safety-calibration-larp-mechanics/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Creating a Culture of Trust through Safety and Calibration Larp Mechanics</a> by Maury Brown</p><p><a href="https://trepo.tuni.fi/handle/10024/136330" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Larp Design</a>, the book</p><p><strong>Bibliography from Sarah Lynne Bowman</strong></p><p>Koljonen, Johanna. 2019. “Opt-out and Playstyle Calibration Mechanics.” In Larp Design: Creating Role-play Experiences, edited by Johanna Koljonen, Jaakko Stenros, Anne Serup Grove, Aina D. Skjønsfjell and Elin Nilsen, 235-237. Copenhagen, Denmark: Landsforeningen Bifrost. 3 pages.</p><p>Koljonen, Johanna. 2020. “Larp Safety Design Fundamentals.” JARPS: Japanese Journal of Analog Role-Playing Game Studies 1: Emotional and Psychological Safety in TRPGs and Larp (September 21): 3e-19e.</p><p>Hugaas, Kjell Hedgard. 2024. “Bleed and Identity: A Conceptual Model of Bleed and How Bleed-Out from Role-Playing Games Can Affect a Player’s Sense of Self.” International Journal of Role-Playing 15 (June): 9-35. <a href="https://doi.org/10.33063/ijrp.vi15.323" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.33063/ijrp.vi15.323</a></p><p>Bowman, Sarah Lynne. 2015. “Bleed: The Spillover Between Player and Character.” Nordiclarp.org, March 2.</p><p>Bowman, Sarah Bowman. 2022. “Safety in Role-playing Games I: Introduction -- Sarah Lynne Bowman.” Transformative Play Initiative, February 4.</p><p>Bowman, Sarah Bowman. 2022. “Safety in Role playing Games II: Before the Game -- Sarah Lynne Bowman.” Transformative Play Initiative, February 4.</p><p>Bowman, Sarah Bowman. 2022. “Safety in Role playing Games Part III: During the Game -- Sarah Lynne Bowman.” Transformative Play Initiative, February 4.</p><p>Bowman, Sarah Bowman. 2022. “Safety in Role playing Games Part IV: After the Game --- Sarah Lynne Bowman.” Transformative Play Initiative, February 4.</p><p>Bowman, Sarah Bowman. 2022. “Safety in Role playing Games Part V: Cultivating Safer Communities -- Sarah Lynne Bowman.” Transformative Play Initiative, February 4.</p><p><strong>Socials</strong></p><p>Sam on <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/diceexploder.com" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bluesky</a> and <a href="https://sdunnewold.itch.io/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">itch</a></p><p>The Dice Exploder blog is at <a href="http://www.diceexploder.com/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">diceexploder.com</a></p><p>Our logo was designed by <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/sporgory.bsky.social" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">sporgory</a>, our ad music is Lilypads by Travis Tessmer, and our theme song is <a href="https://soundcloud.com/purelygrey/sunset-bridge" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sunset Bridge</a> by Purely Grey.</p><p>Join the <a href="https://discord.gg/PhJStRPQDa" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Dice Exploder Discord</a> to talk about the show!</p><p>Dice Exploder on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/c/DiceExploder" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Patreon</a><br /></p>
April 15, 2025
<p>Transcripts available at diceexploder.com</p><p>Last week, indie rpg YouTube essayist Aaron Voigt and I delved into Heart: the City Beneath, a surreal and maximalist dungeon crawler with lots to love. But when I ran the game, I had some trouble with it from a mechanic that by all accounts I should love: beats, little nuggets of story, little goals your character takes on that they advance by achieving. I’ve always found it strange I didn’t love beats in practice, and I today I wanted to break down how and why they left me overwhelmed and unsatisfied. I think there’s at least as much to learn from looking at what doesn’t work in games as what does, especially in games and other art that feels so close to exactly for you…</p><p><strong>Further Reading</strong></p><p><a href="https://rowanrookanddecard.com/product/heart-the-city-beneath-rpg/?v=0b3b97fa6688"><u>Heart: the City Beneath</u></a> by Rowan, Rook and Decard</p><p><a href="https://rowanrookanddecard.com/product-category/game-systems/resistance/spire/?v=0b3b97fa6688"><u>Spire: the City Must Fall</u></a> by Rowan, Rook and Decard</p><p><strong>Socials</strong></p><p>Aaron on <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/aavoigt.bsky.social"><u>Bluesky</u></a>, <a href="https://aaronsxl.itch.io/"><u>itch</u></a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@aavoigt"><u>YouTube</u></a>, and <a href="https://www.patreon.com/aavoigt"><u>Patreon</u></a></p><p>Sam on <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/diceexploder.com"><u>Bluesky</u></a> and <a href="https://sdunnewold.itch.io/"><u>itch</u></a></p><p>The Dice Exploder blog is at <a href="http://www.diceexploder.com"><u>diceexploder.com</u></a></p><p>Our logo was designed by <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/sporgory.bsky.social"><u>sporgory</u></a>, our ad music is Lilypads by Travis Tessmer, and our theme song is <a href="https://soundcloud.com/purelygrey/sunset-bridge"><u>Sunset Bridge</u></a> by Purely Grey.</p><p>Join the <a href="https://discord.gg/PhJStRPQDa"><u>Dice Exploder Discord</u></a> to talk about the show!</p><p>Support Dice Exploder on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/c/DiceExploder"><u>Patreon</u></a>!</p>
April 8, 2025
<p>Transcripts available at diceexploder.com</p><p>Heart: the City Beneath. It’s a surreal and bloody dungeon crawler full of so much to love… plus some bits that drive me up the wall. This week and next I’m devoting TWO episodes to it. Today, it’s everything I love about Heart as seen through the lens of zenith abilities: epic things that let players take control of the game and do something gigantic and fucking cool… before killing their character.</p><p>I’m joined by ardent Heart-lover Aaron Voigt, aka the guy who makes the indie rpg video essays on YouTube. We get into Heart’s spectacular setting, the act of handing story agency over to players, and the joys of playing to lose. Then come back next week for part two with more Heart and more Aaron!</p><p><strong>Ads</strong></p><p><a href="https://bit.ly/RNS-itch" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Rust Never Sleeps</a>, a solo blackjack mecha rpg</p><p><strong>Further Reading</strong></p><p><a href="https://rowanrookanddecard.com/product/heart-the-city-beneath-rpg/?v=0b3b97fa6688" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Heart: the City Beneath</a> by Rowan, Rook and Decard</p><p><a href="https://rowanrookanddecard.com/product-category/game-systems/resistance/spire/?v=0b3b97fa6688" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Spire: the City Must Fall</a> by Rowan, Rook and Decard</p><p><a href="https://friendsatthetable.net/category/Sangfielle" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Sanfielle</a> by Friends At The Table</p><p><a href="https://evilhat.com/product/agon/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Agon 2e</a> by Sean Nittner and John Harper</p><p><strong>Socials</strong></p><p>Aaron on <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/aavoigt.bsky.social" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Bluesky</a>, <a href="https://aaronsxl.itch.io/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">itch</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@aavoigt" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">YouTube</a>, and <a href="https://www.patreon.com/aavoigt" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Patreon</a></p><p>Sam on <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/diceexploder.com" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Bluesky</a> and <a href="https://sdunnewold.itch.io/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">itch</a></p><p>The Dice Exploder blog is at <a href="http://www.diceexploder.com" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">diceexploder.com</a></p><p>Our logo was designed by <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/sporgory.bsky.social" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">sporgory</a>, our ad music is Lilypads by Travis Tessmer, and our theme song is <a href="https://soundcloud.com/purelygrey/sunset-bridge" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Sunset Bridge</a> by Purely Grey.</p><p>Join the <a href="https://discord.gg/PhJStRPQDa" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Dice Exploder Discord</a> to talk about the show!</p><p>Support Dice Exploder on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/c/DiceExploder" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Patreon</a>!</p>
Thomas M
RTFM
Craig Shipman
Logan Timmins
Hannah Shaffer and Evan Rowland
Iko
Diogo Nogueira
Ross Payton
Many Sided Media
Unknown author
Jason Cordova, Alex Rybitski, J.D. Woodell
Barclay Travis
Jeff Stormer
Jason Cordova
The Weekly Scroll
Pod Engine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with any of the podcasts displayed on this platform. We operate independently as a podcast discovery and analytics service.
All podcast artwork, thumbnails, and content displayed on this page are the property of their respective owners and are protected by applicable copyright laws. This includes, but is not limited to, podcast cover art, episode artwork, show descriptions, episode titles, transcripts, audio snippets, and any other content originating from the podcast creators or their licensors.
We display this content under fair use principles and/or implied license for the purpose of podcast discovery, information, and commentary. We make no claim of ownership over any podcast content, artwork, or related materials shown on this platform. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
While we strive to ensure all content usage is properly authorized, if you are a rights holder and believe your content is being used inappropriately or without proper authorization, please contact us immediately at [email protected] for prompt review and appropriate action, which may include content removal or proper attribution.
By accessing and using this platform, you acknowledge and agree to respect all applicable copyright laws and intellectual property rights of content owners. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of the content displayed on this platform is strictly prohibited.