Episode 4: Fluency Play

September 13, 2010

Guest: Jason Godesky - author of The Fifth World and his podcast Storyjammers

Fluency Play

Pedagogy of Play - Fluency play - games that teach you the rules and allows you to introduce new players to games!

Games you can use Fluency Play with

Use fluency play every time you play

  • Helps build escalation and warm up
  • Use during character creation
  • Use it at cons to teach new players

The Fifth World

  • Pseudo Utopian Post Apocalyptic game
  • Uses Fluency play throughout the game
  • Roleplaying Poems from Scandinavia 
  • Rules within the poem

 

Comment on this Episode




Discussion

Pete Figtree
Sept. 13, 2010, 9:13 p.m.

Great show! I am a teacher trying to game the high school classroom, and the learning curve of many rpgs is THE main barrier for deeper in-class play. This concept of fluency play just might be the answer. I need to learn more. Thanks for the show.

PF

ruthlessdiastemagames.wordpress.com

Sean Nittner
Sept. 14, 2010, 12:55 p.m.

Awesome show Jenn and Jason. It was pretty close to my heart as this has been something I'm really excited about as well. I hadn't heard the term Fluency Play before but agree it's much easier to say.

FWIW, here are the Mouse Guard training wheels I built: http://seannittner.livejournal.com/74233.html

Willem
Sept. 14, 2010, 4:48 p.m.

What a great show, Jenn and Jason! I'm glad "fluency play", as an idea, is getting out there. I'm looking forward to more designers taking a crack at designing step by step, effortless play.

Darth Krzysztof
Nov. 16, 2010, 12:05 p.m.

This idea has been on my mind, too. I'm glad to have a name I can attach to it now.

The new "red box" Starter Set for D&D 4E is laid out in this fashion, teaching the rules bit by bit as you read a solo Choose Your Own Adventure-style scenario.

Sven
April 14, 2011, 11:37 a.m.

Great episode! I totally agree that most RPGs are tough nuts to crack for most people. We old RPG beans tend to forget...

replicas bolsos
July 14, 2011, 2:11 a.m.

Awesome show!