Natural 1 is a homebrew Dungeons and Dragons campaign from Dungeon Master Beau Christian Williams. It takes place in the world of Rasmorae, a world where magic is strictly enforced by the Mage Nation of Uslyium.
Or adventurers meet on a ship, when a massive hole tears open in the sky and glimpses of different words can be seen behind the massive Solar that emerges and flies off. Shortly after this experience, the ship is attacked from underneath and destroyed. A group of people wash up on the shores of the pirate island of Akupara.
Cast
DM – Beau Christian Williams
Sen – James Aaron Oh
Rhea – Kelly Olszewski
Natrix – Lauren Russo
Mehem – Aaron Acosta
Maya – Aubri McCoy
We are shaking things up a little bit here on Quests and Chaos for the new year in 2021. We will continue to be remote until we are able to be safe from Covid-19. This realistically means we are waiting for cast and crew to get vaccinated. We will make exceptions for board games, but only in special circumstances with minimal participants. Our goal is to come back to the studio as soon as we safely can.
Now, on to the big news with Inspiration, Patreon, and Bits.
We are changing our Patreon tiers to 4 different tiers.
$5 – Guild Member
Rewards – In addition to the listing in the break video, you will get to award 1 card of your choice from the Deck of Inspiration to one stream of your choice. PDF of the Deck of Inspiration 1-4.
Membership into The Guild of the Five Ees. This perk is changing a bit as we go through the realities of life and time. We will attempt to hold open chats on discord once a month for anyone who wants to hang out with us.
$2 – Apprentice
Rewards – our eternal gratitude. Access to the Patron only Discord channels. Character in the Arena of the Five Ees. Access to PDFs we create.
$5 – Patron Rewards – Listing in the Break Video. Access to the Patron only Discord channels. Character in the Arena of the Five Ees. Access to PDFs we create.
$10 – Inspired Patron Rewards – Listing in the break video. Access to the Patron only Discord channels. Character in the Arena of the Five Ees. Access to PDFs we create.
Access to PDFs we create. You get to award 1 card of your choice per month to any stream(s). PDF of the deck of Inspiration 1-4, and 5-9.
$25 – Inspiration Middle Management Rewards -Listing in the break video. Access to the Patron only Discord channels. Character in the Arena of the Five Ees. Access to PDFs we create.
You get to award 3 cards of your choice per month to any stream(s).
$50 – Inspiration Leader Rewards – Listing in the break Video. You get to award 6 cards of your choice per month to any stream(s).
Bits Mechanic We will continue to use the same Bits for inspiration mechanic we currently use. The players may redeem 1 inspiration coin to add a d6 to any d20 roll. They can also redeem two inspiration coins to draw two cards from the Deck of Inspiration and choose one of them to keep for the session.
At the end of the session, any unused inspiration tokens will be added to the BOI. Any unused cards will be converted into 2 inspiration coins to go into the BOI.
THE ARENA OF THE FIVE EES
We need to change up our running campaigns for the Patrons, but want to offer something fun. Each month we will invite our patrons to build us a character using our unlimited DNDBeyond account. That character will then get played by a cast member in an arena battle!
We are in post on our episode this week. We interviewed Ando Wilde of Hybr Games, creator of Soviet Kitchen Unleashed and Houston, we Have a Dolphin.
Check out all the great products at https://nordgamesllc.com and use code “chaotic20” for 20% off your order!
Birds of Paradice has Arizona themed dice for sale right now as well as Bird themed dice preparing for a kickstarter. Use code “chaotic” for 15% off your order at birdsofparadice.com
LonelyYeti donated funds to do Cthulhu starter set giveways on The Great Dane Society. We gave away one physical copy to ldbrat1 and will do another giveaway on Youtube. Be sure to watch all the way to the end. We will do a pdf giveaway next week on twitch as well.
The team finds Kaito after following a tip and making it out of the city. In the radiated outskirts the crew finds an oasis they believe is harboring their mark. After making it through a trap-ridden entrance they are greeted on the other side by Kaito and the occupants. In this walled garden they will come understand the isolation and also the plans of its inhabitants. They will have to choose whether or not they side with the status quo or fight to bring about a change and clear their own names in the process.
The team finds Kaito and his cargo in an isolated fortified former reactor hosted by the Emperor. In this serene environment outside the city, they believe to be a sanctuary but find out it is a staging area for an assault.
TUESDAY, JUNE 2 – 7:00PM
Ep 76 – The Devil’s in the Details
With the bombshell dropped that not only is Remy’s lost love still alive, they have a child together. The ramifications were felt throughout the group, with Remy questioning his role in the coming fight against Mammon. Ruckus again, waiting patiently for his revenge.
Mosshelm Flynn, the high priest of Asmodeus in Baldur’s gate met with the Foxy Irregulars, and provided some details about what is asked of them as part of the deal between Dendar and Asmodeus. They are to infiltrate the Von Keene estate in the upper city and kill them. Luck will have it, the High Priests from Waterdeep are also here. Which make it more deadly, but also more rewarding.
As the Foxy Irregulars pass through Baldur’s Gate into the upper city, they have to find the disguises to blend in with high society. (Which are totally going to get wrecked at the estate.)
SATURDAY, JUNE – 6:00PM
Episode 43 – Explosives and Bicycles
The Great Danes dealt with the aftermath of Ho Fang stealing the scrolls they need. That mostly meant Emma and Joan getting drunk and finding explosives while the rest of the team made a deal with the devil they know to turn power in Shanghai over to Madame Lin by killing Ho Fang. At the hotel, they were visited by the mysterious Carl Stanford who left some unfortunate gifts for Emma and Joan. Gifts that soon tried to kill them. This led to more hotel damage (grenade stains just do not come out..) and Donal being sucked into some nether dimension away from the party.
What happened to Donal? Where is he, and is he OK? Will the plan to kill Ho Fang actually work? Are the Danes ready for an assault on a heavily armed fortress? I’m sure everything’s fine…
Amy Puzia and Thomas Koch host The Untitled Quests and Chaos Podcast, discussing news and information about Tabletop RPGs, Board Games, and Kickstarters.
Join us on Monday, May 25 for the first ever Carbon 2185 Mitten. We will be giving away a hardcover copy of the Carbon 2185 Core Rulebook from Dragon Turtle Games.
For anyone interested in starting their own Carbon 2185 game, the Quick Start Guide is available from the Dragon Turtle Games website by signing up for their newsletter. Tune in Monday for a special code to get a discount.
The underground events in Tokyo that have been made public recently have driven VR App makers into a frenzy in an attempt to create a similar app experience for users. “Join the Virtual Kumate from the comforts of your flat!” Different iterations of Virtual Kumates are popping up all over the marketplace and for a skilled VR developer – its a way to make a quick buck. A quick buck is something Urbz needs in his new city, and developing for VR is right up his alley. For most VR users, it’s either a fun experience, an escape from their mundane existence, or an addictive itch they need to scratch – but before you send your app into the market, it needs to be beta tested. Finding willing test subjects is hard, so maybe paying a local gang to get you some unwilling ones is easier. After all, until it’s properly tested you have no idea if the app is safe.
In a new city Urbz is looking to make some Wonlongs. So he falls back on his area of expertise, VR App making. Dev work is hard, finding test subjects, harder. Good thing people in this city are largely forlorn. He’ll put an ad out for beta testers, and wait to see who shows up.
Join Warren, Thomas, Tiana, Aaron, and special guests Jared and Diana from TheDATNetwork!
TUESDAY, MAY 26 | 7:00PM
Ep 75 – The Past, The Present, The Future?
Last week the Foxy Irregulars met with Harbor master Erl Nammaron and found just the right bureaucratic way to get the Chimera transferred to Barden Thorne. Without knowing where to go, they spent a great deal of time planning their next move. They finally left the ship, to make their way to the Dock Master Harbor House.
They were immediately hounded by Tim Messenger looking for salacious headlines for his publication, the Baldur’s Mouth newspaper. (Really, no one got it?)
They were motioned over to alley in the Bloomridge district by Dagon Swiftbow, a member of the Cult of Asmodeus. He set a meeting between the Foxy Irregulars and High Priest Mosshelm Flynn at the Smilin’ Boar Tavern. With a few hours to kill, they made their way to Sorcerers Sundries, a magic shop that has ingredients, spell components, and peculiar gnome employee. They made several purchases, a trade, and headed to the Smilin’ Boar. They did not notice anyone following them, as they wound their way through the streets to make sure they were not followed.
When they entered the Bloomridge district the change from the rest of Baldur’s gate was noticeable, as even the street signs were better designed and maintained. They passed two individuals patrolling the street as part of the Bloomridge Crew. A security organization set out to keep the neighborhood safe.
Uzo entered the Smilin’ Boar first, noticing a female Halfling tending the bar, another female halfling in leather armor, a Bloomridge Crew Arm Band, and a rapier at her side sitting in the corner. He took up the opposite corner, and paid a gold to the owner, to sit and stay a while.
That’s when Uzo noticed Remy standing on a bar stool, motioning for Uzo to buy him a drink. As Uzo pointed over, drawing the attention of several patrons, there was a clamorous banging as a metal tankard bounced off the ground. The halfling in the corner, standing in disbelief, whispered, “Slade?” As Remy turned to look, the shock on his face said it all, as he saw Winnifred for the first time since he became a pirate.
Join us as we find out what happens when Remy meets his lost love (whom he abandoned), and Asmodeus comes calling with an urgent timeline.
SATURDAY, MAY 30 – 6:00PM
Episode 43 – “That Skill is Called Boobs”
The Great Danes met Brass Brady and started to formulate a plan. But pleasing multiple factions and gaining their support proved difficult. They tried to make deals with as many groups as possible. Meanwhile, Alexandria had an awful dream about Sylvano, their lost companion. They thought they found the location of Ho Fang, but instead found a gruesome torture chamber that lead them to an even more gruesome murder scene. It appears that Ho Fang now has the all important scrolls that they need to defeat Nyarlathotep.
It looks like the GDS will be forced to take action against Ho Fang. They have 5 days left before they need to be on a Japanese destroyer. Will that be enough time to recover and translate the scrolls?
Ep 7 – This Week in Kickstarter
Ep 7 – This Week in Kickstarter.
Seriously, I think we will record this sometime this week.
Below, is the before picture, sort of set aside for virtual streaming.
Join us on Monday, May 18 for the Final Episode of this Carbon 2185 Arc. We will be giving away a hardcover copy of the Carbon 2185 Core Rulebook from Dragon Turtle Games. (It’s shipping to the US right now. We will ship out when it arrives.)
For anyone interested in starting their own Carbon 2185 game, the Quick Start Guide is available from the Dragon Turtle Games website by signing up for their newsletter. Tune in Monday for a special code to get more.
Finally, Thanks to Rav Starburner’s Gift Subscriptions, the Gale Force Nine Giveaway was triggered on the Great Dane Society. SkallaGrimr won a Creature and NPC Deck.
Thank you to everyone who watched and entered, and thank you to whoever used our affiliate link at nord Games to purchase a LOT of stuff. 🙂
Having successfully escaped the Kumate, and destroyed the underground live streamed phenomenon, the crew finds themselves in the protective custody of the Sagawa Sisters as they use Monium to search for clues on the location of Kaito & Urbz. They don’t know where they are headed or what they might find hidden in Monium’s memory.
The crew has escaped from the Kumate with their lives, and now must search Monium’s memory for clues on Kaito & Urbzs’ whereabouts.
TUESDAY, MAY 19 | 7:00PM
Ep 74 – The Real Balder’s Gate
The crew of the Irregular Phoenix received their pay and a couple days of downtime. With the help of Dallid and Bilbur, Jensen received a magical and bionic leg, allowing him full movement and new abilities. Loot from the Chimera was split between repair on the Chimera, the Phoenix, and the Foxy Irregulars. They eventually set sail, with a ship full of cookies and Emma attempting to commandeer the ship.
They encountered a few other ships, yet none of them attacked them. Things must be looking up as they head to Baldur’s Gate, the hive of scum and villainy.
The Foxy Irregulars have finally reached Baldur’s Gate, and revenge is back on the menu. Things can’t be that simple though, can they?
SATURDAY, MAY 23 – 6:00PM
Episode 42 – Demon or Not, that Cat’s a Jerk
The Great Danes lost one of their own (well most of him) and started hunting for Sylvano. They had three memorable encounters that brought them closer to gathering an army to fight Penhew on Gray Dragon Island. They got Taro to agree to help them, Madame Lin to help them (for a price..), and finally found Brass Brady, who is working on the same plan they are. Oh, they also pretty casually let a vengeance demon slaughter a fortune teller. Well, you can’t win them all, right?
What information does Brady have, and can they bring the many disparate parties of this alliance together to fight Penhew? Will they agree to kill the dangerous Ho Fang to gain Madame Lin’s support? Are things in Shanghai finally starting to look up?
Ep 7 – This Week in Kickstarter
Due to some long work hours, this episode will focus solely on The WiK. We have not yet recorded it, but we know what we are going to talk about. So, this is probably coming later in the week.
Finally, on Call of Cthulhu, after gifting 10 subs, JMatthews85 won the PDF version of The Grand Grimoire. Since he pushed us over the line, we let him choose a PDF from the Chaosium Site for his giveaway.
Be sure to you get your own Nord Games products and use code “chaos” at checkout for 20% off.
Thank you to everyone who watched and entered.
Also last week, we started to put these newsletters on the website. Thank you RickO for your suggestion n Question of the Week!
Question of the Week!
What do you think of our Announcements? Are they too long? Do we get too distracted and start bantering? We do. Is that bad? Should we cut the announcements out of the podcast?
Reunited with Monium the gang was thrust into a deadly game they didn’t sign up to play. The groups popularity is rising in not-so-underground circles. This type of popularity makes it more difficult for a band of fugitive terrorists to hideout and lay low.
As they work their way through the remaining obstacles looking for Kaito & Urbz, the gang has a choice to make – shelter in place, or take the risks that come along with exposure.
Reunited with Monium underground, the team must fight their way through a murderous game with several obstacles. Above ground the gang’s success is making them famous… or infamous.
TUESDAY, MAY 12 | 7:00PM
Ep 73 – Balder’s Gate
Last week, Remy and Andraste defeated an Annis Hag and her Banderhobb servant. They returned to the town of Saltmarsh that evening for a long rest. In the morning the Irregular Phoenix limped into port and barely made it to the beach. The crew was relieved to be on shore, and Bunny collapsed onto Ruckus, after operating the bilge pump for hours. The crew headed to the tavern for a much needed rest and the Irregulars made their plans to leave in the morning for Balder’s Gate.
After traversing the Sword Coast, the Foxy Irregulars find themselves in the city of Balder’s Gate. What will happen when the Cult of Asmodeus comes calling?
THURSDAY, MAY 14TH | 7:00PM
Exhaulted Vales – Ep 2 – Race to the Surface
Last week we met a group of guards working for the Blue Coat Supply Company as they escorted a young woman named Effany and her archaeological find to the city of Lusan, City of a Thousand Oracles. A half-elf was acting strange, gripping his amulet when all of a sudden a giant stone sword fell from the sky, rending the boat in two and sending the guards into the cold water below.
They were rescued by Mechanist Iskor Malinberg and a young woman named Bryony Dawn. They fought of a young Kraken, and manage to live to tell the tale. With the door to the underwater entrance closed, they started their trek through the underground tunnels, hopefully leading up to the city above.
Desperate to reach the surface, the adventurers continue in the caverns and tunnels. Find out what natural and unnatural forces lay before them.
Tune into Quizzes of the Coast on Total Party Chill at 6pm pst and then come on over with Devon afterwards on QNC’s Exalted Vales.
Shanghai continues to be a mystery to the Great Dane Society. They struggled to unravel the interweaving allegiances and factions.
After a near fatal battle (which included inadvertent radiation poisoning) on Penhew’s yacht, and some information gathering at the Shanghai Museum, the Danes made their way to the oldest temple in Shanghai to perform a ritual that they weren’t even sure would do anything.
Oh, but it did.
They succeeded in transferring the radiation poisoning to Penhew, and garnering his ire. He broke Sylvano’s neck, and sent stone lions chasing them through the streets of Shanghai. After a riotous chase, it seems like they have arrived back at the hotel safely.
Have they though? And what impact will dying (and remembering the feeling) have on poor Sylvano? Will Madame Lin be a friend or a frenemy? And how will Agent Rogers respond to Sylvano’s report? Find out this Saturday!
Ep 6 – Exalted Vales Creator Interview Renaud Bartens
This week, Thomas and Amy discuss a number of interesting kickstarters, board games, RPGs, accessories, and one that is WAY too early to be on Kickstarter.
The QNC update is about some free stuff, we just got, and how we plan on using them.
We then interview Renaud Bartens, the creator of the Exalted Vales and Part of Ink Plot, the company behind the campaign.
Thanks to an anonymous donor (some people call them Voldemort), we have already finished the Tavern Upkeep for May.
This gives us all a little breathing room to make sure we can get through this quarantine. We have members of our community who’s livelihoods are impacted by the virus and shutdown. Thank you for being with us, and hopefully we can provide a bit of relief from the stress of the day.
Thank you, Voldemort. And thank you to everyone who donated in April to push us over our Tavern Upkeep goal!
This Week on Quests and Chaos
MONDAY, MAY 4 | 7:00PM
Ep 10 – The Running Man
After infiltrating the hideout of the Kagemi Boys, the group has successfully made it below ground to the nerve center of gang operations. They helped a Kagemi Boys Reclaimer escape death at the hands of one of the gangs creations, and in turn were given information that would help them find Monium. That information led them deep down into the gang’s operations center. They were able to sneak for a short period of time, but eventually were discovered and tripped the venue alarm. Now they are caught between the entire Kagemi Boys hideout and a door.
Trapped several levels below ground, in a gang hideout, searching for their friend – the team is backed into a corner and forced to play a game they weren’t prepared for.
TUESDAY, MAY 4 (5) | 7:00PM
Ep 72 – Let’s Get it On
The Foxy Irregulars have spent the day relaxing in Saltmarsh, discovering their new powers. Uzo and Ruckus spent the day with as many animals as they could and explored the “Haunted” House to the south. Remy and Andraste answered the question of “will they, won’t they” with not right now. Exposed out in the woods, the two of them have just heard a thump and a twig crack from the forest.
Join us as forest creatures investigate the two invaders, and see what happens when half the party dies.
THURSDAY, MAY 7 | 7:00PM
Exhaulted Vales: Gates of Lusan
Join us for a special 2-shot featuring Devon from Total Party Chill, Amy, James, and Hollywood Actor, Matthew Bridges!
Lusan, the city of a Thousand Oracles, is undoubtedly the most famous city of the mysterious Exalted Vales. You were hired a week ago by Efanny, a young archeologist on her way to Lusan where she is meeting her mentor for an important exhibit. Efanny happens to be Emma’s cousin. Her mentor’s guild is paying for the journey and you will earn ten gold coins when you arrive in Lusan. Your task is to keep a very important antique amulet from their collection safe. You have been sailing for seven days in a convoy of four ships. The journey has been uneventful and your ship’s captain is confident that you will reach your destination safe and sound in a day or two.
Tune into Quizzes of the Coast on Total Party Chill at 6pm pst and then come on over with Devon afterwards!
Who could have guessed that the headdress of eyes was actually Sir Aubrey Penhew, evil leader of the Carlyle Foundation? He used the headdress to have the Danes lead him right to some of his major opposition, and take them out. It also appears that Joan lost the power of the staves. They got leads on the location of Jack Brady, and found out that they are not the only people very interested in Brady’s location. Emma met Madame Lin, and Donal and Alexandria snuck on board Penhew’s boat where they found a portal to some mysterious island.
Donal and Alexandria are cornered on the Dark Mistress, as her evil crew returns, Emma has caught the eye of Madame Lin, but (as her fortune asked) is she the king or the quarry? Silvano and Joan have plans to find a place of power in Shanghai to try to use a ritual to attack Penhew. Will any of it work?
These are crazy times, and it is more meaningful than ever to spend a little time with friends playing games. Luckily there are a number of resources available (some of them even free!) to share games with friends across the world. In this post, I am going to give a quick overview of four options for you to get playing. There are others, but these four are the most popular and have the most game options.
First off, having voice chat is super useful. We use a Discord server with a main lobby, and then gamerooms (numbered) where the players in each game can go to have a game-specific voice chat (nice for kibbitzing and rules explanation/questions). Some of these services have voice (and even video) chat options built-in, but we have found Discord to be the most effective.
So, the four gaming options I am detailing are (in particular order): Tabletop Simulator (pay, software, available on Steam), Yucata.de (free, web-based), Tabletopia (free/pay (for premium games), web-based or on Steam), and Boardgamearena (free/pay (for premium games), web-based). Each has strong points, and each has things they could do better. Let’s break it down.
TABLETOP SIMULATOR
Tabletop Simulator is a steam game that allows you to play an almost unlimited catalog of boardgames (and even RPGs! Heck, there is even an implementation of Warhammer 40K.) with a virtual reality-style table showing all the game pieces. It retails for $19.99 on Steam, but you can often find it at a rather substantial discount. It offers voice chat through Steam directly, as well as easy matchmaking. Each game is a module, which the host downloads through the Steam Workshop. There are many licensed games that cost money, and countless unlicensed games that are free. You can find almost any game on there, but it can be hard to find specific games. However, the major drawback to Tabletop Simulator is that the game does not have the rules coded in. That is to say, you have all the bits to the game, but the rules are totally up to the players. It is very easy to play cards that are not legal or put things in the wrong place. So, if you know the game well, Tabletop Simulator can be a good choice, but if you don’t, it can be rough.
YUCATA.DE
Yucata.de is a free German site (free membership required) that offers more than 150 different games to play. The visuals are the least impressive of any of the options, but they get the job done. Each game is licensed by the publisher, using the actual graphics from the game. The game implements all the rules of each game and offers some rules information. It’s still useful to have someone who knows the rules and can guide the game. One big drawback to Yucata is that it is made for play by email, so you can just sit in the game and wait for others to take their turns, or you can go do something else and come back to it. Yucata is a great service (especially for the price) and has tons of great games, but it can be a little obtuse, especially getting started.
Tabletopia
Tabletopia is very similar to Tabletop Simulator. There is either a web-based version or a game version (available on Steam for free). The free version allows you to play up to two games simultaneously, with paid versions (the web version is a monthly fee, the game version offers a downloadable content model.) having more options and premium games available. The interface is slick, and you can take advantage of Steam for matchmaking and voice chat. However, once again, it is a sandbox, and no rules are implemented. So you really need someone who knows the game and can explain it well. One cool thing about Tabletopia is that many designers release beta versions of games here. So you can find new Kickstarters or designs by your favorite designer there.
Boardgamearena.com
Finally, Boardgamearena.com is a web-based service offering fully licensed implementations of over 170 games. It also offers features like groups (so you and your friends can easily find each other), competitions, and hilarious statistics like who took the longest time during their turns (for premium members). It is the cheapest of the premium memberships at $2/mo, and only one person has to be a premium member to host a game. The implementations of the games are sharp, and some use a new 3d engine that looks great. It has a nice library of games but definitely skews a little older. One bonus is that the rules of the game are always available in the game, and the game manages the rules, showing you where a tile can be legally played for example (not that we ever gets rules wrong..)
So, four options to get your virtual game night going. If you try any out, let us know how it goes in the cardboard & chaos Discord room. We might be planning a Quests & Chaos game night soon, as well.
Quests and Chaos is a Digital streaming channel, featuring Dungeons and Dragons, Call of Cthuhlu, Carbon 2185 and Board Games of all types. We stream 4 days a week on twitch, with additional content created just for Youtube. You can see all of our back episodes and content at https://Youtube.com/QuestsChaos We started the channel is 2018 after being inspired by Felicia Day and her journey with Geek and Sundry and Critical Role growth as a media company.
Over the last year of streaming, we noticed a number of behaviors we want to address in order to create a positive experience for our players at the table and our viewers.
We’ve implemented many of our streaming rules to our home games and found that we are getting much more out of our games. The first step in changing anything, is knowing what to change.
So without Further Ado, here are the 10 tips for making a your gaming table a more enjoyable place to play.
1) Be engaged The story is unfolding around you, and there might be important information to discover. Even when your character is not involved, it’s important to be engaged in what’s happening. If you look bored, the audience can see it.
In your home game if you’re bored and on your phone, the other players and DM can see it and feel it. Give others the same level of attention you want during your role play time.
Note taking helps to remember things. Sometimes you actually do need to know the name of the bard in that one town at that one bar. A notebook is a great addition to your play area but please be aware of your posture. If you bury your head in your notebook all we see is the top of your head. Even in your home game, if you are only taking notes your not participating.
2) Let everyone contribute & be polite Be aware others might be waiting for you to finish, so try and bring others into the conversation. This is a shared story, and everyone should have their chance to contribute. Look for non-verbal clues from your fellow players looking for a way into a conversation. For those looking to add something, let others finish before, jumping in.
3) Do not interrupt.
Please do not interrupt other players or the DM. It’s important that the DM and the characters get their time to speak and finish their thoughts. In addition, it is hard for the audience to hear anything if there is cross talk. If you are not involved in the scene, please do not have side conversations.
In your home game there is no “audience” but there are still others at the table who want to hear what is going on.
4) Know where your character is. If your character is not in a scene, please do not interrupt. If you have a reason to enter into the scene then come up with a creative way to join that stays in character. It’s impolite to the other players and confusing for podcast listeners. If your character is doing something away from the other characters, you might not even be able to join another conversion.
5) Stay in Character Stay in character as much as possible, including describing actions in your character’s voice. This helps the audience (especially on the podcast version) keep track of who is who. A joke out of game is fine, as long as it’s not constantly pulling away from the story. If you are doing a voice, stay in that voice. The podcast audience has to keep track of four or five characters by voice alone. Don’t give them another 4 or 5 voices to keep track of.
In our home game it helps keep everyone at the table immersed in the experience. If we start joking out of game we never push our story forward.
6) Descriptions: Please describe what you are doing in narrative form. Instead of saying, “I cast firebolt”, say, “I conjure fiery energy in my hands and hurl a bolt of fire at the enemy.” When we get a few rounds in to combat, this can be reduced greatly. To “firebolt to the face!” or what have you.
It’s not necessary to act and describe how we see this world in a home game, but honestly that is why we play games to be someone else in an alternate world. Get creative.
How would we describe this for the podcast listeners?
7) Be prepared.
Come to the table with all of your materials. Please unpack before the stream and pack up after the stream. The microphones are sensitive. The audience cannot hear the DM when you are moving and packing dice and other items.
There are no microphones in our home game but time is limited. When players show up late and spend time looking for dice and pencils while the rest of us have been ready to play, it cuts down on everyone’s time at the table.
8) No food and potentially no drink. Slurping and chewing loudly is distracting. Again, those noises are very noticeable on stream and it interrupts the story. For a home game, this might be irritating to your fellow players. For a stream, it’s awful.
Off stream, I’ve had quite a few players handbooks and other items ruined by spilled food and drink. Eating junk food is just as much a part of the DnD experience as dice and maps but we have to remember to keep it clean.
9) Try not to cover the money maker. Hands in front of your face are really distracting for the audience. It can reduce the clarity of your voice. Audio is the most important thing to a stream.
Not as important in the home game but everyone should be able to hear what you are saying.
10) Enunciate and do not mumble.
In General, speak clearly and do not mumble. When creating a character, please consider their voice, and if they are to have any annoying affectations or flaws, it might turn off the audience.
This has been a point of conflict and we’ve had characters leave in order to keep the party balance. On stream you think about what is good for the game table and the viewers. At home we think about party balance and the cross over between what it means to be a good player and character.
SHOW SPECIFIC NOTES
We then get into some very specific streaming guidelines we have for Quests and Chaos. Evey one one loves bonus guidelines.
11) The show open and close are important.
Please let the DM get through all of the messaging. People and companies are kind enough to sponsor us. Let’s respect the messaging process and thank the sponsors who contribute.
12) You are on camera almost the entire stream.
Just be aware of that. Don’t chew your nails, pick your nose, or do other things you don’t want to the world to see.
13) We will take a break halfway through.
But if you need to use the bathroom, feel free to get up and move off camera. Just don’t make a big deal of it.
14) Wardrobe Please refrain from wearing copyright names and logos unless you have express written permission from the content creator for all forms of distribution. Please refrain from wearing tight patterns or stripes. The cameras have a hard time resolving these patterns.
15) Please be in your seat 10 min prior to the start of the show. We need to check audio and video framing before we begin.
Those are the 15 guidelines we have for streaming at Quests and Chaos. What rules or guidelines do you have at your gaming table?
