podcast

The End of DSPN

General / Don’t Split the Podcast Network, Geekspective, podcast, Table Top Babble / 0 comments

July 9, 2020

Check out Burn Bryte, an original science fantasy TTRPG I helped create for Roll20!

Today brings with it some bittersweet news for me. Don’t Split the Podcast Network is dissolving on December 31, 2020.

Don’t worry! All your favorite DSPN shows will still stick around. It’s only the network that’s ending. All shows will keep their same feeds, but some might have a new website. Each show will have its own information about where it is headed in the coming months. Check in with them!

The dissolving of DSPN is super amicable! We’re all friends, but Rudy and I have just got too much on our plates to keep it going. We love every show on DSPN and will keep listening after we’re gone. If you haven’t checked out the amazing shows on our network, please, please do. Every single one is worthy of your ears and support.

Rudy and I want to thank all the DSPN shows, contributors, and listeners who have been with us. These last four years have been incredible, and we’re looking forward to the future.

On a personal note from me, I’m going to buckle down and really focus on tabletop roleplaying game design. I’ve loved tinkering with TTRPGs since I was a kid. Getting to do so professionally has been a super lucky and fun career change for me, and I’d like to dedicate more time to it. Podcasting and running a network was starting to feel more and more like a chore, so it wasn’t fair to the shows or the audience to keep the network going while our hearts weren’t 100% in it.

Which brings me to the biggest change that goes hand-in-hand with the dissolution of DSPN. I will be stepping down as the showrunner and host of Table Top Babble after episode 200. Creating, hosting, and producing this show has been such an amazing honor, but the listeners deserve a host who is really dedicated to making an amazing show. As my own interests pull me more and more in the direction of game design, I wanted the show to have hosts who are really passionate about talking to amazing people in the TTRPG community. That’s where Geekspective comes in.

The Geekspective podcast network will own Table Top Babble from episode 201 on, where Amber will become the new showrunner along with support from two co-hosts, Kenny and Crossways GM. More info on show structure soon to come, but I’m excited to become a listener and hear all the ways they revamp and pump up the show. The people at Geekspective are amazing friends who really love and know TTRPGs, so I’m sure they will carry on and vastly improve the legacy of Table Top Babble.

Just because you won’t hear my voice on Table Top Babble every week does not mean I’m leaving TTRPGs. This blog will still be rolling, and I plan to put out bigger and better projects than ever before. I’ll still be on Twitter and happy to be a guest on any stream, podcast, YouTube show, or other platform that will have me.

Please sign-up for my BRAND NEW mailing list to get updates about what I’m working on.

To all my listeners and the people who support DSPN, thank you so, so much. You have truly made the last seven years podcasting so very special, and I hope that I get to roll some dice with each and every one of you. Keep rolling doing amazing things, and I cannot wait to listen to the Geekspective version of the show with you.

If you like what you’re reading please consider supporting me on Patreon, supporting me on Ko-fi, follow me on Twitter, like World Builder Blog on Facebook, find my products on the DMs Guild, tell your friends about the blog, and/or leave me a comment and let me know you think. Thanks!

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Getting Started Podcasting

Brass Tacks / podcast / 1 comment

July 25, 2019

You can order The Demonplague, my level 1 – 20 fifth edition adventure, right now!

I get a lot of questions about how to get started podcasting, so I thought I would put together a bit of a guide in the post.

Step 1. What’s Your Idea, Name, and Logo?

If you’re reading this post, odds are you already have an idea for a podcast! What about a name? Do a little research to see if others have similar podcast ideas and names before you get rolling! There’s a lot out there. If another show has the same name (or a YouTube show or Twitch stream or other medium) then pick something else unique. Your brand recognition is better with a unique name, and you avoid any legal troubles. If your concept is similar to another show, listen to a few episodes of the similar podcast and think about how you can make yours unique. (For instance, if you’re an RPG actual play podcast, what separates you from the hundreds of others?)

You’re also going to need a logo (and one that looks good as a square with the dimensions of 3000 x 3000 pixels) before you launch your podcast.

Step 2. Get Recording Equipment and Software

There are lots of great recording guides out there, but my advice is start small. You could easily shell out a lot of cash only to realize podcasting takes A LOT OF TIME and decide not to pursue it. That said, I’m putting out two options here: a cheap start and an expensive start. You can mix and match elements from these to get the results you want.

Cheap Start

If you’re starting cheap, buy yourself a quality USB microphone (like the Blue Snowball, which always seems to be on sale or the more expensive Blue Yeti). You can record and edit your audio in a simple, free program like Audacity or GarageBand if you’re recording locally. If you’re recording with people remotely, you can record calls through Skype or Zoom (or using Audio Hijack) and also record your own audio tracks separately through free programs. If you can get one track of audio per guest, that’s ideal for editing, but ALWAYS RECORD A BACKUP MASTER.

Expensive Start

For a more expensive start buy a microphone that has an XLR connection. This avoids the condenser USB mics use and gets you better sound quality. I use the Rode Procaster, but there are many amazing options out there that will fit your specific needs. You’ll also need an audio interface to plug your mic into your computer. I use the Focusrite Scarlett Solo, but your needs might be different especially if you have more than one microphone.

For recording and editing software I recommend using Adobe Audition. You’ll pay a monthly fee, but if you’ve already got the Adobe Creative Suite, you have this powerful software. It has a steeper learning curve than the cheaper programs, so give yourself some time to figure it out and watch plenty of YouTube tutorials.

If you’re recording guests remotely, you can pay for a monthly site called Zencastr that makes things easy on them. Zencastr gathers each individual’s audio locally then uploads it to the site at the end of your audio session, creating beautiful and synced individual tracks. While the program is good and works almost always, still record a back up. My recommendation is to turn off Zencastr’s built-in VoIP and chat through Skype or Zoom to record a master through those programs. If you do this, have your guests (and yourself) check Zencastr’s setting each time you record to make sure you’re recording through the proper microphones.

Step 3. Record a Session 0

To get your podcast feed started, you need at least one episode ready to rock. My recommendation is to record a super short episode 0 where you explain what your podcast is all about. If you can, record in a room with carpets and lots of soft surface covering the walls (like canvas paintings or hanging decorative blankets or the clothes of a walk-in closet). If a studio is available, even better!

You may also want to do a practice session for your podcast, especially if you are planning on having guests record in other locations. You can make this part of your episode 0 just to get a feel for how the recording software works. Even if you don’t use the guest’s audio in the final version of your episode 0, it will be good for you to understand how everything sounds and works. If the guest is actually a regular on the podcast, you can make sure their recording setup sounds the best it possible can as well.

Step 4. Edit Session 0

Use your editing software to edit your session 0. You should edit your podcast however you like, but I recommend cutting out pauses, removing “uhs” and “ums” where you can, and adding a little royalty free or original music you own as an intro and outro at the very least. You can usually purchase some decent tracks from Pond5 for very little money. They also have some free options.

When you’re done editing, export your podcast. I usually go as small as possible with my export settings, because the sound quality difference between huge and small files is usually very tiny, especially if your podcast is just a few people talking about cool stuff. Give your podcast a final listen once exported to be sure you’re happy with it.

Step 5. Find a Place to Host Your Podcast

There are lots of sites that host podcasts. Most DSPN shows use Spreaker, but you can use SoundCloud, Blurbrry, Megaphone, Podbean, and more. Many have paid and free plans that you should read carefully. If you podcast long enough, you’ll likely want or have to upgrade to a paid plan, but to start you may be able to get away with a free account. Create an account, upload your podcast particulars, and create an RSS feed! You can always switch your hosting platform with a little work at a future date.

Step 6. Track Numbers

If you don’t care about your podcast listener numbers, you can skip this step, but at some point in time, most of us want accurate numbers so we can know how many people are listening to the show. In general podcast hosting platforms don’t get as nitty-gritty as advertisers like with unique download numbers. DSPN is set up with a free service called Podtrac that takes measurements for us. Our sponsors are always happy with those numbers. Instructions on how to use your RSS feed to track numbers through Podtrac can be found on the site. If you can set this measurement up for your podcast before you launch, do it. That way you can measure from the start.

Step 7. Set Up Feeds

Once your podcast RSS feed is ready to, submit it to Apple Podcasts using iTunes Connect, publish your podcasts on Google Play, put them on Stitcher, and submit your podcast to Spotify. It usually takes a few days for these feeds to get approved, which is another reason why an episode 0 is a good idea before your first full episode. You should also embed your podcast on a website if you’re planning on hosting it there as well as the normal hosting platform. Share your RSS feed wherever you post, so listeners can submit the feed to the podcatcher of their choice.

Step 8. Promote

When your feeds are setup, promote your podcast! Create Twitter, Facebook, and other social media accounts and get blasting. Shout it out on message boards, and encourage listeners to spread the word. Ask people to rate and review your show on iTunes (and maybe even have contests or gimmicks to encourage people to do so).

Step 9. Repeat Regularly

Once you are set up, now start cranking out those episodes. You won’t need to set up feeds each time, but steps 3, 4, 5, and 8 should happen on a regular basis be it weekly, monthly, or some other schedule. A regular schedule keeps listeners engaged, so keep it up!

This blog post is on a topic selected by my Patreon donors. Thank you for your support!

If you like what you’re reading please consider supporting me on Patreon, supporting me on Ko-fi, follow me on Twitter, like World Builder Blog on Facebook, check out my podcasts, find my products on the DMs Guild, tell your friends about the blog, and/or leave me a comment and let me know you think. Thanks!

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Tabletop Voices

General / D&D, D&D fifth edition, D&D Next, D&D5e, DnD, dungeons and dragons, Encounter Roleplay, Hadeel al-Massari, Kat Kuhl, podcast, Rich Lescouflair, Tabletop Voices, Teos Abadia, Twitch, world building, worldbuilding, YouTube / 0 comments

October 11, 2018

Hey guess what? You can preorder The Demonplague, my level 1 – 20 fifth edition adventure, right now! The prices are about to go up, so preorder now to get the best deal.

I am pleased to announce that I am four episodes into Tabletop Voices on the Encounter Roleplay Twitch and YouTube channels. My guests so far have included: Teos Abadia, Rich Lescouflair, Hadeel al-Massari, and Kat Kuhl!

As of today, the show is also available as a podcast. Episode 1 is up now and new episodes will release every week. The Google Play, Stitcher, and iTunes feeds are here. If you’re eager, you can also grab the RSS feed! Please subscribe, rate, and review!

I’ve embedded the videos of all the interviews below. Enjoy!

If you like what you’re reading please follow me on Twitter, like World Builder Blog on Facebook, check out my podcasts, find my products on the DMs Guild, tell your friends about the blog, and/or leave me a comment and let me know you think. Thanks!

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New Year’s Resolutions for RPG Players

Inspiration / Adventurers League, D&D, D&D fifth edition, D&D Next, D&D5e, DMs Guild Adepts, DnD, dungeons and dragons, holiday, Jeremy Crawford, Kobold Press, Mike Shea, New Year's Resolution, Orion Acaba, podcast, Regency Encounters, Rudy Basso, Ruty Rutenberg, Satine Phoenix, Sly Flourish, Tim Mottishaw, world building, worldbuilding / 0 comments

December 28, 2017

Photo provided by Wikimedia Commons

As another year comes to a close, so too does another chapter of World Builder Blog. As far as years go, this was a big one for me personally. The site got a makeover thanks to Ryan Hennessy, Rudy Basso and I launched a new podcast network, I joined the ranks of the DMs Guild Adepts, I contributed to the Kobold Press Creature Codex, I wrote a best-selling adventure for the D&D Adventurers League, and I contributed to several other projects! I also have several major announcements coming in 2018 that I cannot WAIT to share (but I am still under NDA for most).

What I can tell you about 2018 is….

I’ve been invited to DM some D&D games in a castle in France with Regency Encounters! You can checkout this amazing experience at dndinacastle.com and join DMs Jeremy Crawford, Orion Acaba, Satine Phoenix, Ruty Rutenberg, Tim Mottishaw, and myself on this incredible journey.
In mid-January a level 1-20 fifth edition D&D adventure path Johnn Four I wrote in 2016 will be available through Kickstarter.
Keep your eyes here on World Builder Blog for more exciting announcements. These first two are just the tip of the iceberg. There’s lots of awesome podcasts and games I’ve contributed to that I can’t wait to talk about.

As we enter a new year, many of us make a resolution to better ourselves in some way. I was inspired by Mike Shea of Sly Flourish’s latest article, where he writes a letter to new DMs, to write a list of gaming resolutions for DMs new and old to get a fresh start in the new year. Pick one or pick all to make your 2018 awesome!

Bring New People into Gaming. Maybe you have friends who have always been interested in the game, but you never found a good time to teach them. Maybe someone special knows how important this hobby is to you and is willing to give a one shot a try. Maybe you know some young folk who are finally ready for their first game. Whatever the case, make some time to give someone an introduction to this amazing world and help the hobby grow.
Support Creators You Love. It goes without saying that you shouldn’t pirate the work of creators, but it also helps to support those you love by buying their products and supporting their Patreons if you can. If you can’t, that’s ok! There’s so many other ways to support. Share your love of the creator on social media or even better share it with someone you know personally. Help grow that creator’s audience or give some words of encouragement! It means more than you know.
Play in a New Place with New People. Enrich your own gaming life by playing in new places with new people. Head to a convention, a game store, or find a group from a forum (like Roll20’s Find A Game feature). You’ll learn new ways of playing the game and make new friends. What could be better than that?
Change Up Your Routine. Change up your normal gaming routine. Do you always GM? Let someone else take a stab and you step into the player role for a session or more to get a fresh perspective and avoid burn out. Have you never run a game? 2018 is your year! Run a one shot for some friends you trust to experience the thrill, challenge, and megafun of being a GM! Do you and your friends always play the same RPG? Try something new, even if it’s just for a session. All of these situations teach you new skills and deepen your usual experience with the game.
Make Something New. Make something new for your game, even if it’s small! Could be a new creature, item, house rule, or adventure! Make art, podcasts, or stream a game on Twitch. You don’t need to have a blog or publish your stuff on a website like the DMs Guild (though you could), but share your creation with someone and watch it in action at your game table.
Play More. It can be hard to play RPGs, especially if you’re an adult with a job, family, and other commitments. Make time to play more games with the people you love in 2018. Don’t let it be the final thing, because gaming is spending time with people you love. Do it more. Your life will be better for it.

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