As you know, I’ve been running my solo actual-play roleplaying podcast “Ronin Roleplaying” for the better part of two years now, and I am still having a lot of fun with the show. That said, I am one who likes to change things up, from time to time, which is why we changed games every two months in season 1, and every month in season 2.
Well, a part of me wants to change things yet again, but perhaps in a more drastic manner. A part of me wants to pick one game, and play it for a full year, with no changes!
The thing is, this could either go extremely well, or fall completely flat, especially if I got bored. Which means I would have to choose a game that I really enjoy, am well-versed in (or is easy enough to pick up quickly), and be engaging enough to keep people coming back. There are a lot of games that could fit that bill, but right off-hand, only one comes immediately to mind that strikes my fancy:
Dungeon World.
Okay, okay, I know… I said I wouldn’t feature DW on any of my shows, due to the malfeasance of one of the game’s developers. But it really is an intriguing fantasy roleplaying game, with an excellent take on the Powered by the Apocalypse engine, so it keeps making me want to give it a try.
That said, there are plenty of other TTRPGs I could play instead, especially from the PbtA family. “Ironsworn”, “Vagabonds of Dyfed”, “Fellowship”, and several others leap to mind immediately. Of course, I could also eschew the PbtA family of games, and choose something like “Dungeons & Dragons” (but more likely “Old School Essentials”), “Mõrk Borg”, “Worlds Without Number”, and the like.
If it isn’t already abundantly apparent, I’m leaning towards a fantasy game to be played, should I decide to do this. They are classics, and I really think would be a better choice than most other genres, at least initially.
Now then, this would also cause more than a few problems. First of all, this would turn my season scheduling right on its ear! Just when people get used to following a different game every month, we toss that out the window, in favor of yearly changes? That might work better for people who are looking for longer format actual-plays, but I’m not sure that’s where my listeners are at.
Next, the likelihood of my becoming bored and wanting to change games midway would be very high, knowing me. That would leave me with either suffering through grinding out a game I’m bored with, or tossing out the idea partly through the season, and that just won’t do.
That’s not how I roll.
Of course, then do we stay with hour-long episodes, or return to half-hour shows, as we had in season 1? While going back to shorter shows would make things easier on me, it would hurt the overall product, as I feel these hour-long shows really have made the podcast much better in season 2.
I could continue, but you get the idea.
Now then, there is a possible solution to this problem, which would allow me to experiment with extended campaigns in solo roleplaying, while not adversely affecting “Ronin Roleplaying”: Make a new podcast.
Yeah, I did just say that. No, I have not lost my mind, either. At least I don’t think I have, anyway!
Look, I like RR as it is right now. It gives me time to really enjoy the games I’m playing each month, but allows me the freedom to change games often, so I have more fun overall. These hour-long episodes, with monthly game changes really has improved the podcast for the better, and I don’t think it needs to change anytime soon. But there is still room for another podcast, one where I play a single TTRPG on an extended campaign. These could be hour-length shows, or just 30 minutes each, it really doesn’t matter.
The biggest problem I can see is getting the time to record and edit two different solo actual-play podcasts! But it isn’t like I have a life, so… Of course, what is the point of doing two different solo actual-plays? Isn’t that a bit much, in the end? Well, yes, of course it is! No one said this was a good idea, just that it was an idea, one that won’t keep popping up in my head.
In case you are wondering, yes I do have a bit of ADD, which might just be the root of the problem. Speaking of that, I just had another thought: What if this side project wasn’t a solo actual-play podcast? What if instead, it included 100% more Awesomeness?
What if My Lovely Bride™ joined me on this podcast?
I’m not saying that she’d be interested, I haven’t even broached the subject to her yet, but what if she were? What if we played the game as a duo of adventurers, using my many Oracles to take the place of the GameMaster, while we just roleplay off of each other?
The reason I brought this idea up is simply that a duo actual-play would be different enough from “Ronin Roleplaying” that the two wouldn’t clash on the schedule, being two, entirely unique shows. At the same time, I feel like this might be easy enough to produce for me, with both of us here in the same house, that I could manage all of these projects fairly well.
Unfortunately, the odds that Tenknife would be up for doing this are extremely low. At this point, I think she’s probably given up on tabletop roleplaying, which is a shame, because she’s a lot of fun to game with.
Anyway, these are just some thoughts I’ve had recently, all or none of which may actually come to fruition.
