Bonus Experience

Hello Bonus Babies, 

In today’s episode, Monica and Rai tackle a subject near and dear to our weird, little horny hearts: romance in games! 

Despite that particular framing, we discuss how emotional conflict is important, and being emotionally intimate and vulnerable with other characters in your games can improve the experience.

Then, we talk about Thirsty Sword Lesbians. Like, a lot. 

All this and more in the extended cut

Hello Bonus Babies,

Monica and Rai sat down in the “studio” with a bad case of the fuck-its so instead of talking irreverently about a design topic, we decided to talk about the month of June. 

…Not in the abstract, a lot happened to us this past month so we shoot the breeze about it. 

Also discussed: the beach trip we’re planning in November (that you’re not invited to), gentle ribbing of friend and colleague Neall Raemonn Price, and many ADHD traffic jams. 

No extended cut this week – this is basically a 40 minute cold open. 

Hello Bonus Babies, 

Today we sit down to discuss how preparing for games and adventuring writing can make you better at writing fiction. We talk plot points and beats, enjoying being surprised by outcomes, and using a similar structure to plan your story. 

This is a Rai heavy episode, so buckle up. 

Also discussed in the extended cut: several minutes of Rai making mouth sounds (someone’s into that, right?), fire emblem on main, Pennsyltucky, how is municipal softball not gay? and … let’s go girls

Hello Bonus Babies!

Monica and Rai picked up Gun&Slinger – a game for two players and a facilitator about playing a sentient, magical gun and its wielder in a strange, magic-torn world. It is extremely our shit. 

You can purchase it here

Bonus shenanigans as always in the extended cut 

Emergency editing (thank you thank you thank you) by Terry Robinson of Mage the Podcast. Check it out here 

Hello Bonus Babies, 

Monica and Rai sit down this week to discuss a critical feature of any game: conflict. What does this entail? Why is it so necessary? Does it have to be violent? We answer all these questions and more. 

Also discussed in the extended cut: The Omni Dice Bag, Con Laundry, Bein’ Stunky, and Airdropping Lewds Directly to Your Brain. 

Hello Bonus Babies,

Hello Bonus Babies,

Welcome to our first BXP Reads, a new thing we’re doing for Season 4. In today’s episode we read and review The Man and the Stag by Beau Jagr Sheldon. It’s a two-player. card-based storytelling game with some beautiful themes. 

The extended cut contains our usual chaos as Monica and Rai attempt to be professionals who know what they’re doing. 

If you’d like to buy the game, click here

Hello Bonus Babies,

Welcome to our first BXP Reads, a new thing we’re doing for Season 4. In today’s episode we read and review The Man and the Stag by Beau Jagr Sheldon. It’s a two-player. card-based storytelling game with some beautiful themes. 

The extended cut contains our usual chaos as Monica and Rai attempt to be professionals who know what they’re doing. 

If you’d like to buy the game, click here

Hello Bonus Babies,

We’ve touched on this topic a little bit before but today we really wanted to delve into the subject: Exalted is a game dripping with queer themes. Monica and Rai bring their knowledge as literature people to the table to break down why Exalted is queer as hell (and you should play it). The discussion is chaotic and informative, as always. 

Also discussed in the extended cut: a few vocal warmups, cats and dogs living together, the depressing path to herd immunity and 80% more sound crimes than usual.