Meet our Mid-Level Dungeon Manager, and learn about our plan to tour the D&D 5e character sheet, one number at a time.

Roll Factory is a podcast for new and returning players. And if you’ve ever looked at a character sheet and thought “what the hell do all these numbers mean?” it might be for you, too.

In each bite-sized episode, we’ll zoom in on a single feature of the Dungeons and Dragons fifth edition character sheet. I’ll explain what each number means, and how it’s used in the game. Then, a guest will show us how it works, by playing a short scenario featuring that particular roll.

You can listen to the episode that covers the feature you have questions about, or subscribe for a guided tour of the entire sheet. Along the way, you’ll meet some of the players and characters who’ve made gathering around the table a lifelong joy, and who’ve inspired me as a player and a DM.

My approach to running a roleplaying game is pretty simple: I work to create a safe, comfortable, collaborative environment, where players can express themselves, and we can have fun spinning a fantastic tale together. Players tell me what they want to do, I figure out how difficult it should be to accomplish that goal, and what feature on the character sheet will help - or hinder - their chances. Then they roll the dice, and the result determines if they succeed.

The chance of failure heightens the drama by adding stakes to the choices the players make. The dice determine the outcome, but they also encourage creativity. If a plan falls apart, the player and the party have to figure out what to do next, and I get to decide how the attempt changes the situation they find themselves in.

The rules are there to give structure to the narrative, not dictate how it unfolds. I want my players to know how the rules work, so we know when to apply them, and when to bend them if it makes the story more engaging. And if there’s a difference between the standard rule and a house rule I like, I’ll make sure to explain them both. If that sounds like your kind of game, I hope you’ll keep listening.

To join the campaign, search and subscribe to Roll Factory wherever you get podcasts. Send your questions, concerns, corrections, disputations, guest suggestions, and pseudonymous hexes by email to [email protected], or tag the show in a post: we’re on social at RPGRollFactory and our website is https://rpgrollfactory.com.

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The music in this episode is by Arcane Anthems.  https://www.patreon.com/arcaneanthems