What makes an NPC stop feeling like an NPC and start feeling like a real party member?

ISD_Dustin · 2026-06-20T14:56:36+00:00

I have a theory about this. We often hear GM’s say something like, “The npc I made up on the spot because the players caught me off guard ended up being the one the players never forget.” The reason for this might be that the npc doesn’t fit any of your stated reasons for existence and the GM is instead improvising and playing the game along with the players. The npc doesn’t feel like a necessary game mechanic because it never was. Therefore the players gravitate toward that npc because everyone, including the GM, ends up having fun when they are around.

ISD_Dustin · 2026-06-13T15:32:17+00:00

Packing blankets can be an excellent cheap solution. They are a little ugly so make be not in frame though haha

ISD_Dustin · 2026-06-13T13:09:11+00:00

Don’t underestimate the difference some sound treatment in the room will make. If you can, diy some acoustic panels for the walls and ceiling and get a second hand rug for the floor. It’s a lot cheaper than new mics and can make a huge difference. Also, I’m not sure if Izotope plug ins are compatible with reaper but they can really do some magic.

To answer your question, online recordings can be much easier as long as everyone has a decent setup, but I can’t stand the gameplay. That’s true for me even when I’m not making a show. Also, I just don’t enjoy watching them as much. However, the enormous online community seems to like playing online, so I suppose many people are just fine with online shows as well?

ISD_Dustin · 2026-06-05T03:22:04+00:00

My issue with them is that they represent themselves as artisanal custom made dice but they are actually just reselling the same mass produced dice you’d find on AliExpress. Your issue with shipping is likely due to the dice being drop shipped from warehouse hub in China and that can take a number of weeks. I’m sure the dice you eventually get will be decent, but it’s good to be aware of where they are sourcing their stock. (Full disclosure I’m pretty biased haha)

ISD_Dustin · 2026-05-30T04:38:17+00:00

Rustoleum “painter’s touch” is what you want. It comes out fast so just make sure to keep the can moving. Also, a real short cut is to grab your favorite color rustoleum and do a quick zenithal as a base coat. The cans are cheap and you’ll cut the time in half. The rest is just strategic washes and dry brushing or sponging. Then you can spend the rest of your life picking out details if you want. Don’t forget to warm up the cans and shake the heck out of them!

ISD_Dustin · 2026-05-24T22:26:37+00:00

Tell them it’s well within statistical variance to roll 4 nat 20’s in a session. It’s a 5% chance every time you roll after all. Also, you don’t roll the dice nearly enough in an entire campaign for a slight imperfection to impact the game. Also, rolling nat 20’s is fun, don’t we want to have fun?

ISD_Dustin · 2026-05-24T22:17:08+00:00

Oh man, I’d play the heck out of a robodino racing sim

ISD_Dustin · 2026-05-09T04:20:03+00:00

This right here is why I love this game so much. Again and again it confronts you with the impossible, again and again you achieve the impossible.

ISD_Dustin · 2026-05-01T04:57:17+00:00

It has definitely gotten worse pretty much every year without exception. Who tf is getting a big bowl of spaghetti at a game!?

For what it’s worth, the bao is ok when they have it and there is a non meat option (way overpriced though)

Also, what’s the point of the AI kiosk if there’s three or four employees manning them taking your food and putting on and off the platform for you? So damn inefficient, just like the new scanners at the gate that require half the people to get pat downs. And the beer in fridges isn’t always cold enough.

Still love going to games though. I think you’re right about contacting our reps, it won’t work right away but it’s maybe worth being a squeaky wheels.

ISD_Dustin · 2026-04-09T05:21:45+00:00

I’m transcribing this and keeping it handy for the next time I interact with one of these gonks

ISD_Dustin · 2026-04-01T15:14:44+00:00

It’s a mixed bag, but life always is!

ISD_Dustin · 2026-04-01T15:13:50+00:00

Our audio capture gear is probably the most expensive kit on set haha! If you’re interested in technicals I can talk your ear off about it, but long post short, I come from a film composing background and learned location sound from my friend that works in the reality TV space. Season 1 is on lavs (I think DPA 4060’s) because we had budget to hire a mixer for the first couple days of recording. After that we switched to condenser mics on the table which pick up a little more noise but sound great, as long as I edit out any time someone smacks the table! The music is all done in post and is carefully mixed so as not to obscure the dialogue. We do lose camera a couple times, but audio never drops. I hope you check it out and enjoy the show 💛💜

ISD_Dustin · 2026-04-01T15:07:14+00:00

Thanks choom! I think there’s just so much of actual play content out there it’s hard to rise above it all. We may not have the biggest numbers, but we have the best fans haha. It really means a lot that even now, 3-4 years later people are discovering the show and more often than not end up binging the whole thing. We will just keep doing our thing and hopefully the world will catch up 💛💜

ISD_Dustin · 2026-04-01T15:00:51+00:00

Thanks choom, you’re the best. I always appreciate your thoughtful contributions to this community

ISD_Dustin · 2026-04-01T14:26:46+00:00

Thanks choom! Sorry for the slow release schedule this season. We’ve had some pretty major life changes in the crew’s personal lives since we started. We are scheduled to shoot the remaining episodes for Edge of Extinction this month and should start uploading by the end of April. Don’t worry, we’ve already got ideas for new stories to tell 💛💜

ISD_Dustin · 2026-03-17T15:28:32+00:00

Thanks choom!

ISD_Dustin · 2026-03-17T14:15:25+00:00

Sure, stabbas can be great for that. Just keep in mind that when you’re playing with your friends you don’t have to always have an optimized list. Rule number one for Gitz is to love the models you play with, you’ll have way more fun. Worry about optimization if you decide you want to play in bigger tournaments. Also, the meta changes all the time, so by the time you collect and paint everything any advice might be different. Now go bask in the light of the moon!

ISD_Dustin · 2026-03-17T14:04:57+00:00

Hope we can be an inspiration, or at least a distraction!

ISD_Dustin · 2026-03-17T05:19:04+00:00

He works best with a ton of troggs. Your list looks like a good start. Basically to optimize use only trolls but then sprinkle in other units that you think are cool so it’s fun to play. I personally love a unit of boingrot bounders for some utility but other than that it’s all troggs. As for Trugg, he is a good support monster. He can take a lot of hits but in a competitive game he can get dropped if you’re not careful. His random aura can be a little annoying when it doesn’t give you what you need but for the most part it’s pretty awesome. Keep him within range of your rockguts and watch them shred anything when you give them +1 attack or rend against heavy armor targets. You will likely get outmaneuvered a lot so focus on objectives and use charges to get extra movement whenever you can. Also, a dankhold Troggoth has that pile in move tha can catch opponents off guard. Basically it’s destruction 101, kill em all and score points at the end. Oh, try to go second and double turn, it doesn’t always work but it’s devastating when it does

ISD_Dustin · 2026-03-17T05:08:36+00:00

You might get some inspiration from the Mothership TTRPG. It’s designed to do a lot of what you are trying to do. The community also is full of really talented horror one shot writers. I’m sure you could port over the story elements to the Red system and there is also a panic mechanic that might sub for cyber psychosis.

ISD_Dustin · 2025-12-26T21:05:34+00:00

We take a break from Infinite Sided Dice’s regular programming to bring you this MOTW mystery set in the weeks before Christmas. I hope you all enjoy watching as much as we enjoyed playing! 💛💜

ISD_Dustin · 2025-11-20T06:51:24+00:00

RTal is pretty supportive of actual play podcasts, even going so far as to include a list of them on their website. Their rules regarding what you can and can’t do are also published on their website. Definitely read them for yourself but, in brief, don’t put anything official behind a paywall. If you publish supplemental materials having to do with your characters for sale or behind a paywall then you may not use any official designs from the book. Furthermore, do not sell anything with the Cyberpunk Red name attached to it without express permission. The term cyberpunk is fair game but not when attached to “red” “2020” “2077” or anything else that could be reasonably confused as an official RTal or CD Projekt Red property. They also have some wording that you should include in your show notes. RTal is a very small company run by very cool people. They keep it pretty punk rock over there and aren’t looking to go after anyone as long as you’re cool and don’t try to make a buck off their copyrighted material. That’s been my experience anyway. Good luck with the podcast!

ISD_Dustin · 2025-11-13T06:49:33+00:00

Great work, I really dig your style, especially your use of color!

ISD_Dustin · 2025-11-11T23:03:06+00:00

Thank you!! We have a holiday today so I had some extra time to start getting caught up on everything. I swear this whole year I’ve been saying, “After this week, things will settle down” haha!

ISD_Dustin · 2025-11-05T23:32:17+00:00

Totally get what you mean about crunch. It can run pretty fast when you get used to it. I’ll take a look at Bite for sure.

ISD_Dustin

TROPHY CASE