Ep.22: Technology
Modern Mythology Ep. 22 — Technology takes a reflective look at how changing technologies have shaped tabletop role-playing games over time. From physical tools at the table to digital spaces that bring groups together across distance, we talk about what stuck, what faded, and why.
Along the way, we explore how randomness, connectivity, and new creative tools altered player expectations and game culture. The discussion moves through technology adoption, miniatures, bringing technology to the table, and the question of what the “big jump” was. We also talk about RNG, online gaming, getting the party together, virtual tabletops (VTTs), streaming, and artificial intelligence and LLMs—then close by considering where technology helps the most, and where it’s best to step back. Throughout we ponder the pros and cons and implicit tradeoffs that always arise in the course of adopting technology into our lives.
For more on the discussion of System and Style check out our written articles and Scott’s additional thoughts on specific systems on our YouTube channel.
Topics discussed:
00:00:00 A Looming Threat
00:02:00 Jump right in
00:08:30 Technology adoption
00:13:45 Miniatures
00:19:15 Bringing technology to the table
00:25:15 What was the big technological jump?
00:36:40 RNG
00:40:44 Online gaming
00:55:20 Getting the party together
01:05:00 Virtual Tabletop (VTT)
01:13:45 Streaming
01:17:35 Artificial Intelligence and LLMs
01:31:30 Technological Sweet Spot
