BXP 06×06 – MTP Crossover 2: Design Directives Mechanics Workshop

Here’s another crossover with Mage: The Podcast. This time Danielle Lauzon joins us as we discuss the concept of design directives in games.

BXP 06×05 – Monica and Elliott Dissect Character Sheets

Today Monica is joined by Exalted developer, Elliott Freeman, to break down their favorite (and least favorite) characters sheets: what works, what doesn’t, what they like to see, and so on.

BXP 06 x 04 – Monica and MJ Examine Competitive Game Design

Monica is joined by freelance author and designer, MJ Monleon, to discuss the ins, outs, and pitfalls of designing a competitive game. We focus mostly on traditional games like tabletop RPGs and card or board games and then wander off into the weeds of some of our favorite video games. 

BXP 06×03 – Mage the Podcast Crossover – Mechanics Workshop: Magick Merits

Monica joins Terry on Mage the Podcast to workshop the design concept of individual magic(k) merits, as well as temporary merits and experience rewards in Mage 20th.

BXP 06×02 – Jax Teaches Monica All About Larp

Today Monica invites her friend, Jacqueline Bryk, to join her and discuss something she considers a blank spot in her traditional game literacy: LARP. We discuss what makes a LARP, and general LARP design principles as Jax gives a detailed 101 crash course. We also kick around designing our own together, for a bit.

BXP 06×01 Monica and D Analyze Resource Management

In today’s episode D and Monica sit down to get into the ins and outs of designing good resource management games. We talk about what you need to consider as a designer and break down how you can avoid common pitfalls. We also cite a handful of excellent games you can try that use their resources extremely well.

BXP Season 6 Update

BXP is BACK for Season Six. We have some very important updates to the show as well as some super cool episodes coming up. Give it a listen. If you stayed a patron through the off-season, Monica shouts out your name.

BXP 05×12 – Character Development (feat. Terry Robinson)

This is the final episode of Season Five. Terry joins Monica again with the second half of their very long conversation about experiences with gaming and new people. 

Today we talk about character development in RPGs: what that means, what people want when they say they’re into it, and how games do and don’t support character growth over time. It’s a very interesting discussion and a perfect send-off for our fifth season. 

BXP 05×11 – Mage, Exalted, and D&D (feat. Terry Robinson)

Terry (of Mage: the Podcast) joins Monica to talk about the wild experience of teaching Mage to new people and Monica commiserates about her experiences with teaching Exalted to beginners. We discuss the interesting cultural baggage that comes with most folks pop understanding of the hobby and what it’s like to show folks new games.

BXP 05×10-Games Without Randomizers feat. Chazz

Here’s the long-awaited new episode. Chazz of Pain in the Dice, OPPCast and Systematic Understanding of Everything joins Monica to discuss games without randomizers. No cards. No dice. No coin flips – just a variety of narrative resolutions. We break down what we like about these games and what makes them work and (most importantly) what’s worth stealing for your own homebrew.