Each year we celebrate Autocratik’s #RPGaDay, where we spend a month celebrating RPGs, discussing what we love and what we love about them. Here are the responses of the TRF crew. Be sure to tweet, blog, or post your own with the #RPGaDay!

For August 13, what makes a successful campaign?
Aser – A successful campaign comes from a good story that works for the players and the characters they’ve created. The simple things are always simple: the simple things, hard. 😛
John D. – The right game system, a good hook, a solid start with a strong plan for adventures down the road yet ability to follow the path the players take, and a committed yet flexible group. For us shorter campaigns or story arcs work best, with the possibility of returning to some of our characters again.
Jonn P.  – Probably my work life bleeding in here, but running a successful campaign has quite a few similarities with managing a successful project. The initiation phase or session zero, can make or breaks the campaign. These days, I dedicate few minute to the discussion of the issue during session zero that I would have spent multiple sessions trying to resolve back when I made my first attempts at to GM.
Landan – Cooperation amongst players and GM.
Megan – Buy in from everyone. When players or the GM stop being invested it becomes hard for everyone to stay motivated and involved.
Mike G. – A cohesive group and GM who are willing to focus on challenges and fun rather than rules.
Patrick – When everyone is invested in the characters and the adventure. It may not always be sunshine and roses but there is genuine care about the campaign.
Phil – Willingness to endure – it is hard to meet week after week for a long campaign that lasts months. I guess it comes down to the GM who has to work around players being there or not, making dumb choices, building useless characters, etc. Tough job!

Each year we celebrate Autocratik’s #RPGaDay, where we spend a month celebrating RPGs, discussing what we love and what we love about them. Here are the responses of the TRF crew. Be sure to tweet, blog, or post your own with the #RPGaDay!

For August 10, what is the largest in-game surprise you have experienced?

Aser – Listen to our Wicker Man episode. I’d never seen the movie, which should be obvious from the results.
John D. – Hmm… Maybe the whole group surviving our first Only War session? Oh, successfully summoning Azathoth was definitely unexpected!
Jonn P. – The sudden appearance of a deck of many things :/
Landan – DECK OF MANY THINGS
Megan – I think it tends to be when I kill of characters in games. I have to agree with Phil, Nigel’s death was super shocking for me. Also several deaths in Pathfinder, like Merrick’s.
Mike G. – Wait, the Emperor was a [sorta] good guy (Living Arcanis)?!?
Patrick – I had a GM that liked plot twists more than M. Knight Shyamalan. My biggest surprise was when there was no twist, just a straight forward job.
Phil – Nigel exit stage right? Losing two characters in one session of Scary on the Choo Choo when we were doing so well AND had a tommygun? One of them to another PC during a fight with the actual bad guys?? A PC who was sane when he shot his comrade???

Each year we celebrate Autocratik’s #RPGaDay, where we spend a month celebrating RPGs, discussing what we love and what we love about them. Here are the responses of the TRF crew. Be sure to tweet, blog, or post your own with the #RPGaDay!

For August 9, beyond the game, what’s involved in an ideal session?

Aser – I think the biggest thing that contributes to the success of a session is a real sense of comradeship between the people around the table. The shared experience of an RPG session is something built by the built through the collective efforts of all involved to elevate this simple act of a handful of people talking into a true adventure.
John D. – Laughter, friends, some personal ‘what’s up lately’ banter, planning the next session and at least one Simpsons reference.
Jonn P. – My ideal session would start with finding the right people. Interesting and responsible people provide an environment that is focused on creativity and having fun.
Landan – General chatting over some serious and not so serious stuff.
Megan – I love food around the table, though we don’t eat when recording TRF. But talking and catching up with friends is always the best.
Mike G. – A good meal, a chance to decompress after a week of work, and of course alcohol (especially during Fiasco!)
Patrick – I like to cook when I host games at my home. I feel that rather than just snacking the whole time a good meal and a few drinks can really bring folks into a game.
Phil – Lots of banter, good people.