GM Word of the Week

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Drum May 12, 2020

Show notes

There’s more to the drum than just keeping the beat. In fact, so much more that we had to really dig in to appreciate its full versatility. As humans, we respond to drums in a variety of ways, but we’re not the only ones and it’s not all about marching. So on this tour we examine some of the uses of the drum through history, and look at the latest science to see what drumming and tapping can do for us. Along the way we talk about some boys and what used to be one of the fastest communication methods around. All that and more, inside. Join us on Patreon to support the show by clicking the Yellow Banner at the top of our website at www.GMWordoftheWeek.com

Sword May 05, 2020

Show notes

In all the talk we’ve had about specific swords over the years, we’ve never really talked about swords as a group of things all by themselves. So, let’s fix that this week. In this episode we talk about the history of swords, how they developed, and which ones were really important. It’s an overview of the whole things from their primitive beginnings to what we know think of when we think about swords in fantasy and gaming. And even fantasy gaming. Along the way we discover something very important about swords and discussions of them, and maybe ghet some insight into why D&D doesn’t really bother explaining much about them. You can support us on Patreon if this is the sort of thing you enjoy, and we hope it is. Find it at: https://www.patreon.com/GMWordoftheWeek

Adaptation Apr 29, 2020

Show notes

Any time you experience some form of entertainment and want to bring it to your gaming table, you’re thinking about adaptation. Taking something from one form of media and moving it to another is no easy task. So, in this episode, we decided to take a look at the process of adaptation and examine some of its pitfalls and some of its triumphs. And you’d never know it to listen to it, but even this episode is an adaptation of something entirely other. So adapt yourselves to a slightly different episode than usual and give it a listen. And if you like what we do here, come visit us at https://www.gmwordoftheweek.com/ and follow the yellow banner at the top to join our Patreon.

Locks Apr 21, 2020

Show notes

Getting around on water has always been a bit tricky. It’s bad enough just working out how to sail on the wind, but, when you are part of a society that derives nearly all its worth from one particular river, you have a vested interest in sorting things out as quickly as possible. Which is what the ancient Egyptians and Chinese did. They dammed their rivers and sailed up and down them in the pursuit of trade as much as they could. Except for the bits they dammed. Which was a whole new trick they had to learn. So they invented locks. Your support keeps the show ad free. Join us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/GMWordoftheWeek

Mirror Apr 14, 2020

Show notes

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, what’s your story, after all? The magic mirror is a staple of fairy tales and fantasy fiction. The go to source when you need something mundane to spice up the place with a bit of magic. And it’s true, most mirrors you run into in Fantasy movies, books, and games, tend to be magical if they show up at all. But there’s more to mirrors than meets the eye, so lets set our gaze on them and see what we can learn with a bit of reflection in this episode of GM Word of the Week. Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/GMWordoftheWeek

Mason Apr 07, 2020

Show notes

When we were confronted by a video game with an in game system that seemed to make things harder rather than easier, we went looking for help. In so doing, we stumbled upon the path of the mason, a profession so old, some folks consider it to be the worlds second oldest profession. And it is very old indeed. Another of those “before people wrote things down” things where no one knows exactly how it started but the evidence for it being a long time ago is everywhere. So let us take you on a journey that starts in a zoo, goes to the coast of Ireland, and then swings by some pyramids you probably haven’t even heard of. it’s all fun and games. Keep the show ad free by joining us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/GMWordoftheWeek

Scroll Mar 31, 2020

Show notes

We’re all wound up about scrolls in this episode and most of it is Gary’s fault. See, back in the bad ol’ days of Advanced Dungeons and Dragons, Gygax went on a bit about how to make magical scrolls, and we thought, “Hang on. that all seems a bit much. What’s all the fuss about?” So we went and had a look. As it turns out, Gary was mostly a lot wrong about things related to scrolls, magical or not, and how to make them. Good thing it’s only a game and there’s nothing to get excited about. Right? Right??!! For transcripts and bonus episodes, join our patrons on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/GMWordoftheWeek

Abacus Mar 24, 2020

Show notes

Accounting for accountants, we find ourselves a-counting. Thankfully, it’s not a math heavy episode, otherwise we’d have to count ourselves out. But this is a bit of the story about how counting came to be, and how it took us a long time to get to the point where we could count anything we wanted. Because it wasn’t easy at first and, for many of us, it isn’t easy now either, but there is a device that might make the whole thing go more smoothly if only we still valued its use: The abacus. There’s no accounting for taste, but if yours aligns with ours, why not join our patrons on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GMWordoftheWeek

Tall Tale, Pt. 2 Mar 17, 2020

Show notes

Last week, we talked about real people who became the subject of tall tales and folklore. This week, we talk about made up people who started out as folklore. Except many of them didn’t. At best, they were made up as new stories based on folklore. At worst, they were just made up entirely. And this tends to annoy some folklorists who sometimes refer to these sorts of things as fakelore. To find out what makes it so annoying, and hear some great stories along the way, warm up your headphones and give the show a listen. This episode is sponsored by the good folks at Patreon, who’ve chosen to be our Patrons. Won’t you join them? https://www.patreon.com/GMWordoftheWeek

Tall Tale, Pt. 1 Mar 10, 2020

Show notes

There’s something about Tall Tales that really capture the imagination. Whether they’re about real people or not, they tell amazing, unbelievable stories meant to entertain and educate us. But there is a down side to tall tales as well. And in part one of a two part series, we’ll look at some of the real mean and women behind the stories we hear and how the tales both help and hurt. So let’s gather around the camp fire and listen as we discuss the likes of Danial Boone and Molly Pitcher and what we can and can’t learn from tall tales. Join us on Patreon for early episode, transcripts, live chats and more at https://www.patreon.com/GMWordoftheWeek.

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