Author: Tom Watkin

Posted on

An Unexpected Lesson from Running Call of Cthulhu

As an avid tabletop RPG enthusiast I’ve enjoyed running various campaigns and oneshots over the years. Of course, there are always lessons to be learned from most sessions. However, one recent experience with my Call of Cthulhu campaign taught me more about teamwork and leadership than I ever expected.

The Game Begins

About a year ago our group, a tight-knit collection of friends, decided to embark on a Call of Cthulhu campaign. The game, known for its intense and often disturbing horror themes, seemed like an exciting challenge. something significantly different to the sprawling multi-year Dungeons & Dragons campaign I had been running. As the Game Master (GM), I was responsible for weaving a narrative that would keep everyone engaged and on the edge of their seats.

Initially, everything went smoothly. We had some incredible characters, backstories, and a dark, mysterious plot that promised endless thrills. I was excited to run “A Time to Harvest” a campaign designed for those new to Call of Cthulhu. Everything was set. However, what I didn’t anticipate was how the horror themes would affect each player differently.

A Surprising Revelation

While the campaign was moving along we had some amazing roleplaying, unsettling moments and that gradual decline of the characters that the game invokes. To my mind the campaign was going exactly as it was meant to. One morning, mid-campaign, one of our players messaged me privately. They confessed that the horror elements were not sitting well with them and that they were struggling to enjoy the sessions. This revelation came as a massive surprise. In my enthusiasm to create an immersive experience, I had overlooked the importance of checking in with my players to ensure everyone was comfortable with the content. this was particularly important given the horror themes explored in the game.

A Moment of Reevaluation

After the initial shock subsided I contacted the other players. This moment forced us as a group to reevaluate why we were playing. We realized that the core of our enjoyment came from playing together as a team, not necessarily from the specific themes of the game. It was very cleat that our primary goal was to have fun, build stories, and spend quality time together.

With this new understanding, we collectively decided to shift our campaign to something more suitable for everyone. The decision was unanimous and surprisingly easy to make. The group’s willingness to adapt and support each other made the outcome even sweeter. We transitioned to a different narrative, ensuring that all members were comfortable and engaged.

The Power of Regular Check-ins

Reflecting on this experience, I recognized a critical mistake I had made both as a leader and GM: I hadn’t conducted regular check-ins with my players. In the rush to progress the story, I neglected to pause and ask how everyone was feeling about the themes and direction of the game. This oversight highlighted the importance of regular feedback and communication, not just in gaming but in any team setting. I had written about this very subject in the past, but failed spectacularly to heed my own advice.

Lessons for Leadership

The parallels between running a roleplaying campaign and leading a team in the workforce are striking. In both scenarios, regular check-ins are crucial for maintaining a healthy, productive, and positive environment. This is something I do weekly with my direct team in my role of General Manager. Having a regular opportunity to catch up with your team and understand their needs is crucial. You can celebrate wins, discuss strategy and any issues in a timely manner. So it seems odd that I missed doing it at the gaming table. Here are a few key takeaways from my Call of Cthulhu experience:

  1. Prioritize Communication: Just as I should have checked in with my players, leaders should regularly communicate with their team members. This helps to identify any discomforts, misunderstandings, or issues early on.
  2. Adaptability is Key: Being willing to change course for the benefit of the group is essential. In our game, shifting the campaign’s theme ensured continued enjoyment. In the workplace, adapting strategies based on feedback can lead to higher employee satisfaction, engagement and productivity.
  3. Focus on Common Goals: Our group’s enjoyment stemmed from our camaraderie. Similarly, in a professional setting, understanding and focusing on shared goals can unify a team and drive collective success.
  4. Create a Safe Space for Feedback: Encouraging open and honest feedback without fear of reprisal is crucial. It allows team members to express their concerns and contribute to a more inclusive and supportive environment.

Final thoughts

This experience running a Call of Cthulhu campaign was a hard lesson in the importance of regular check-ins and adaptability in leadership. If we hadn’t adapted as a team, the group may not have survived! Whether you’re leading a group of adventurers through a fictional world or managing a team in the real world, the principles remain the same. Prioritize communication, be adaptable, focus on shared goals, and create a safe space for feedback. By doing so, you can ensure that everyone is comfortable, engaged, and working towards common success.

Posted on

Create an Outstanding Gaming Group Using “The Culture Code”

My usual mode of operation in this blog is to see how we can use games to improve our leadership skills. However, today I wanted to turn that on its head. What can we learn from the world of work that we can apply to make our games better? When we are at the table, the group’s dynamic can make or break the experience. I’ve recently read Daniel Coyle’s book, The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups and I think as gamers there is a lot to takeaway. This book looks into the principles that make groups work effectively. While the books audience is meant for leaders in business I believe it offers insights that can transform any gaming group into a fun, inclusive, well-oiled machine. Here’s a few ways you can apply the concepts from The Culture Code to create a high-performing and fun gaming group.

Build Safety: Creating a Comfortable Environment

According to Coyle, the first pillar of a successful group is building safety. In a gaming context, this translates to creating an environment where all players feel comfortable and secure. Of course, its important to remember that safety isn’t just physical but emotional as well.

  • Encourage Open Communication: Make sure everyone feels their voice is heard. Each player’s input should be valued. Encourage feedback and be receptive to it.
  • Foster Inclusivity: Ensure your group is welcoming to all players, regardless of skill level or background. A diverse group can bring fresh perspectives and ideas, enriching the gaming experience.
  • Set Clear Expectations: Clarify the group’s goals, rules, and etiquette. When everyone knows what to expect, it reduces anxiety and builds trust.

Having safety tools at the table, like the X-card, is a great way to make people feel safe. An x-card is simply a card with an x on that sits within easy reach of all the players. If at any time a player feels uncomfortable they pick up the card and that scene will stop. The Dungeon Master will then move the game away from that topic.

For more information on safety tools you can have at the table see this awesome post from dramadice.com.

Share Vulnerability: Building Trust Through Honesty

Coyle emphasizes that sharing vulnerability is crucial for building trust within a group. This doesn’t mean exposing deep personal secrets but rather being honest about mistakes and uncertainties.

  • Admit Mistakes: As a game master or leader, show that it’s okay to make mistakes. If you miss a rule or make an error in judgment, acknowledge it openly. This encourages others to do the same, fostering a supportive environment.
  • Ask for Help: Demonstrate that it’s okay to seek assistance. Whether you’re stuck on a puzzle or need advice on character development, asking for help can strengthen group bonds.
  • Embrace Feedback: Encourage constructive criticism and be willing to act on it. This not only improves the game but also shows that you value the group’s input.

When playing with my regular group, I don’t always know the rules. I’m okay with admitting this and the players jump in and assist. This has definitely strengthened the trust amongst us. It also helps prevent any feelings of them and us forming between the games master and the players.

Establish Purpose: Creating a Shared Vision

A high-performing group needs a shared sense of purpose. This involves not just playing the game but understanding and buying into a common goal or vision.

  • Define the Group’s Mission: What does your gaming group aim to achieve? It could be as simple as having fun, or as complex as mastering a particular game. Clearly define this mission and remind the group regularly.
  • Celebrate Milestones: Recognize and celebrate achievements, whether it’s completing a challenging quest or reaching a new level of teamwork. Celebrations reinforce the group’s purpose and motivate members.
  • Create Traditions: Develop rituals or traditions that strengthen group identity. This could be a regular game night, a pre-game ritual, or special events for holidays or milestones.

This is something that we could do more of in my regular group. I would say our shared vision is to have fun gaming together. While this vision is not something we have articulated often we recently found that two players were not enjoying the horror themes of a particular campaign. Circling back to our purpose of having fun gaming together, we have pivoted the game were playing and moved to a campaign where we can all have fun.

Applying the Culture Code to your group can bring more cohesion and ultimately more fun

Applying The Culture Code to Gaming

How might these principles look in a Dungeons & Dragons group aiming to enhance its culture:

  1. Build Safety: The Dungeon Master (DM) creates a welcoming environment by encouraging all players to share their character backstories and contribute to the narrative. Rules and expectations are clearly laid out, ensuring everyone feels secure in their role. they also have an X-card prominently displayed in the center of the table and clearly explain its use.
  2. Share Vulnerability: The DM admits when they’ve forgotten a rule and asks the group for input. Players are encouraged to share their ideas and help each other, fostering a collaborative atmosphere.
  3. Establish Purpose: The group agrees on a campaign goal, such as exploring a vast new world or defeating a formidable enemy. Regular sessions are held to maintain momentum, and achievements are celebrated, keeping everyone motivated and aligned with the shared vision.

By incorporating the principles from The Culture Code, your gaming group can become more cohesive, resilient, and high-performing. The result is not just better gameplay, but a richer, more fulfilling experience for all members. In essence, applying these ideas to your group will take group cohesion and culture far beyond the game itself.

Posted on

Rust Monster Wisdom: Unique Leadership Lessons from D&D

In the rich world of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), monsters serve as more than mere obstacles for adventurers. They can embody interesting lessons for those of us willing to look more closely at their characteristics. One creature that I love including in my games is the rust monster. This seemingly unassuming foe has a unique ability that can teach us some valuable leadership lessons. Let’s explore how the rust monster can inform and inspire effective leadership.

What is a Rust Monster?

As alluded to above, a rust monster is a fictional creature from D&D, known for its ability to corrode and consume metal. It is typically depicted as an insect-like creature with a hard, chitinous exoskeleton, long segmented body, antennae, and a maw designed for crunching and consuming metal. When a rust monster touches metal with its antennae or mandibles, the metal rapidly rusts and deteriorates, posing a significant threat to adventurers’ weapons, armor, and other metal equipment.

Encountering a rust monster in D&D can be challenging for players, as it goes beyond simply attacking the foe. Instead it requires strategic thinking to protect their hard earned gear and defeat the creature without losing their equipment.

Embrace Unconventional Strategies

The rust monster isn’t a fearsome beast in the traditional sense. It doesn’t wield sharp claws, spit poison or breathe fire. Instead, it has a unique and highly disruptive ability: it corrodes metal. This ability can render even the most well-armed adventurer vulnerable, showcasing that strength doesn’t always come from power but from creativity and unconventional methods.

Leadership Lesson: Effective leaders often need to think outside the box. Unconventional strategies can lead to success in ways that brute force or traditional methods cannot. Embrace creative problem-solving and look for unique approaches to challenges.

It is also worth bearing in mind that there is no cookie cutter approach to leadership problems. Each issue involves unique people and situations. As such, embrace strategies that suit your specific situation. In turn, this can often mean looking at unconventional and creative answers.

What a rust monster is actually supposed to look like

Leverage Your Natural Strengths

Rust monsters are designed to do one thing exceptionally well—destroy metal. They don’t try to be something they’re not. By focusing on their natural abilities, they become formidable opponents despite their otherwise unthreatening appearance.

Leadership Lesson: Understand and leverage your strengths. Focus on what you and your team do best. By honing these natural talents and skills, you can maximize your effectiveness and impact, much like the rust monster.

I find this to be particularly true when leading a business. Opportunities will present themselves that fall beyond your teams core capabilities. To my mind this can be dangerous as you will end up struggling to deliver on your usual quality. Sticking to your strengths is a significant strategic decision.

Disarm Your Opponents

A rust monster’s primary threat is its ability to disarm opponents by destroying their metal weapons and armor. This tactic forces adventurers to rethink their approach and often leaves them scrambling to adapt.

Leadership Lesson: In leadership, disarming your opponents doesn’t mean undermining them but rather finding ways to neutralize challenges and obstacles. This involves proactively addressing concerns, resolving conflicts (internal and external), and identifying and removing barriers to your team’s success.

Consequently, a leader needs to have strong situational awareness. What are the competitors doing? How are your clients behaving? Do your team members have the right tools to be productive? A leader who is not seeking this information will be caught unawares, without the chance to protect and strengthen their team.

Create Strategic Disruption

A rust monster’s presence can cause significant disruption within a party of adventurers. Ultimately, forcing them to change their tactics and often leading to a more creative and strategic approach to overcoming obstacles.

Leadership Lesson: Strategic disruption can be a powerful tool in leadership. Sometimes, shaking up the status quo and challenging existing processes can lead to innovation and improvement. Be willing to disrupt complacency and encourage your team to think creatively and strategically.

A good example of this is when a leader asks why something is done the way it is. If the response is, “We’ve always done it this way,” it is time to investigate and consider disruption. Strategic disruption does not need to be overly dramatic. Instead fostering a culture of continuous improvement can make sure that disruption occurs on a smaller, often more manageable level, while yielding stronger results.

Final Thoughts on the Rust Monster

The rust monster, with its unique abilities and characteristics, offers a wealth of leadership lessons for those who look beyond its surface. By embracing some of the learnings from this humble creature, leaders can draw inspiration and up their own game. So, the next time you face a leadership challenge, remember the rust monster and maybe it will hold the solution.