Best Darren Ruckle Podcasts (2025)

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Between Campaigns 20:22

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4M ago20:22

20:22

Send us a text The final session is over. The story has ended. Now what? This episode explores the most overlooked part of running games: the space between campaigns. Whether your last arc ended with a standing ovation or a quiet fadeout, the moments that follow deserve just as much care as the ones that came before. We talk about how to close a ca…

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Rescuing a Dying Campaign 22:45

4M ago22:45

22:45

Send us a text You can feel it in your gut: the energy’s gone. The table’s quieter. The scenes are slower. The spark that once carried your campaign is fading — and no one wants to say it out loud. This episode is about what to do next. We explore how to recognize the early signs of a drifting campaign, why players disengage even when the plot is s…

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One-on-One Scenes Without Losing the Table 23:09

4M ago23:09

23:09

Send us a text Every GM runs into it eventually — a solo scene in a group game. One player steps forward, the spotlight narrows, and suddenly everyone else is waiting, watching, or quietly checking out. Handled poorly, one-on-one scenes break momentum and divide the table. But handled well? They can deliver some of the most powerful, personal, unfo…

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How to Start a Campaign Players Will Never Forget 22:32

5M ago22:32

22:32

Send us a text You’ve done the Session Zero. You’ve built the world. The players are ready. Now what? In this episode, we break down how to start your campaign with intention, energy, and tone that actually lands. We’ll talk about the first ten minutes of play — what they must do, what to avoid, and how to structure your opener to build momentum in…

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Session Zero The Most Important Session You’ll Ever Run 25:15

5M ago25:15

25:15

Send us a text Before your players roll a single die, there’s a decision that shapes everything: what kind of game are we playing? In this episode, we break down how to run a Session Zero that actually matters. Not just safety tools and scheduling — but alignment, tone, trust, and party cohesion. We’ll cover how to avoid mismatched expectations, ho…