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Natural Six

Action Surge Episode 40

Season 1, Ep. 40
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In this instalment of action surge, we reflect on an episode that - despite being our shortest episode yet - was jam packed with story, character and with everyone needing to think on their feet. 


We talked about how discussions away from the table can result in further discussions at it, and how these moments offer characters the chance to change and grow. Ben revealed parts of Raidion’s story that many of the characters had not yet been party to regarding the family he remembers and the darkest corners of his past. 

Next we moved on to balancing mechanical efficiency and character authenticity, reflecting on what it’s like to play at a table where people don’t want to tell the story in simplest ways - Aoife giving insight into Dolly’s discomfort with her newly acquired drum.


Then we moved on to the last half of the episode and the discovery of the way out of The Old Dark. Harry let us in on his thought process as he tried to balance creating atmosphere and handling seat-of-your-pants mechanics. We talked about responding to interesting ideas your players come up with, and trying to reward them for their ingenuity. It’s always about telling the story together.


After a brief video game discussion detour, we moved on to what happens next. Could an alliance between the kobolds and The Children of the Midnight Moon benefit both parties? Do the Newly Dead need to start building bridges, or is it enough to keep burning them down? We’ll have to find out next time…





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  • 59. Action Surge Episode 59

    52:55||Season 1, Ep. 59
    Well...we've had to turn to drinking. Or, in Ben's case, a full sugar Red Bull and two paracetamol.We kick things off by talking about the combat, and why both Ben and Raidion were convinced we'd finally found the dragons we'd been searching for. They hadn't, obviously, but in Ben's defence, we were told the White Stag would lead us to dragons...and there they were!Then we get on to that moment. It was a reunion none of us were expecting, and even Doug wasn't entirely sure what he was seeing. We talk about the life they might have experienced, the challenges they faced, and what it means when, all of a sudden, Kelnys turns up. A happy reunion? Well...that probably depends on how you look at it.Then we dive into the theories of it all! What does this world actually mean? How can it even exist? How is everything connected? We don't get many answers, only more questions, which seems to be becoming a running theme....and the best part? All of this only exists because, a few episodes ago, Doug made something up at the table. Funny how these things work out, isn't it?--Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/naturalsixJoin our Discord! https://discord.gg/HNV56DADnJFollow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/naturalsixFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natural_sixFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@natural.sixLove lore? Check out the Fandom: https://natural-six.fandom.comStay up to date: https://www.NaturalSix.net

  • 59. Ep. 59 The Dragon Rider

    03:11:21||Season 1, Ep. 59
    Help is always harder to ask for when it bears its teeth.Some things are easier to believe in from a distance, but when the world has little interest in offering answers gently, what should have been hope in the sky becomes a fight to survive beneath it. Sometimes the impossible arrives just in time, and when the past is no longer something remembered, but something standing right in front of you, it’s one thing to find that it’s survived without you, and another to discover it’s been carrying on in ways you never imagined. Yet futures can be lost almost as soon as they are named, and the sky has a way of taking back what it gives. ---Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/naturalsixJoin our Discord! https://discord.gg/HNV56DADnJFollow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/naturalsixFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natural_sixFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@natural.sixLove lore? Check out the Fandom: https://natural-six.fandom.comStay up to date: https://www.NaturalSix.net

  • 58. Action Surge Episode 58

    47:09||Season 1, Ep. 58
    Was that the shortest episode yet? Maybe, but we’ve still got plenty to talk about.Was this some of the darkest imagery yet? Yes, probably. But it was also the perfect place to end the episode. Harry gives us some insight into how he wrote and assigned these little vignettes, and how exposing it can be to share something like this at the table. It’s been a while since Harry has given this much story time, and he kept the Spoiler Chat channel in our Discord server working overtime.We talk about how TV and film influence Harry’s storytelling, especially in this episode. Was our money on the 1989 movie adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic The BFG being one of the inspirations? No. Were we surprised? Also no.Finally, we discuss some of the things Raidion has seen, and what they mean for him, how we’re so totally over messages on trees, and why hand waving is both beautiful and important, and totally ok to do.--Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/naturalsixJoin our Discord! https://discord.gg/HNV56DADnJFollow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/naturalsixFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natural_sixFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@natural.sixLove lore? Check out the Fandom: https://natural-six.fandom.comStay up to date: https://www.NaturalSix.net

  • 58. Ep. 58 The White Stag

    02:27:48||Season 1, Ep. 58
    Some things are easier to understand when carried side by side. An arm can be offered, a path can be shared, and an understanding that bonds don’t always need to be explained to be felt.The forest has its own ways of understanding too, and sometimes the greatest gift is simply being taught how to hear it when it answers. While some words can be carried through roots, others are left nestled among its branches, because the trees have always known that what grows apart doesn't have to grow alone. Yet it was never meant to be a place to remain, and even the strongest roots cannot stop a journey from moving forward, and when the path leads beyond the familiar, those willing to follow it may discover that knowing where you stand is not the same as knowing what lies beyond.After all, understanding the world around you is one thing, but seeing how much of the adventure still remains beyond your comprehension? That’s another thing entirely.---Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/naturalsixJoin our Discord! https://discord.gg/HNV56DADnJFollow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/naturalsixFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natural_sixFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@natural.sixLove lore? Check out the Fandom: https://natural-six.fandom.comStay up to date: https://www.NaturalSix.net

  • 57. Action Surge Episode 57

    01:05:52||Season 1, Ep. 57
    See it through, you coward.First of all, we have to give Doug his flowers. Not just for this episode, but for this whole arc so far. He has done an incredible job, and once we finish talking about Ben's ridiculous spending habits, we finally get the chance to do just that. We explore the pain Kelnys experienced, the anger that came with it, and how grief manifests in different people. We might expect that rage from Raidion, even from Elowen, but the idea of Kelnys losing his cool? That's unnerving. It's also incredibly real.We also pick apart the idea of free will, or the lack of it, and how that applies to some of those around the table. Can they walk away? Technically, yes. But sometimes you simply know too much to turn your back on it. Finally, we talk about making choices, and why both Ben and Raidion choosing not to join the others in the hut was probably the best decision he could have made. Would Raidion have made things worse? Well, we can't know for certain... but yes. The answer is yes. Would Elowen have helped him make it worse? The answer is also yes. --Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/naturalsixJoin our Discord! https://discord.gg/HNV56DADnJFollow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/naturalsixFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natural_sixFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@natural.sixLove lore? Check out the Fandom: https://natural-six.fandom.comStay up to date: https://www.NaturalSix.net

  • 57. Ep. 57 The Everfire

    03:22:37||Season 1, Ep. 57
    Some fires consume, while others transform, but the difference may not be found in the flame, but in what you’re willing to place within it.Time has a way of changing people, even if old grievances insist otherwise. Years may dull the edge, but they may not erase the wound that sharpened it, and some flames can still burn inward long after the first spark.Sometimes healing begins when the hurt is forgotten, but other times it begins when both sides are finally willing to set it down. Old names, fears, guilt, and anger may be offered to the fire, but the test is having the courage to let them burn.After all, fire is not only capable of destroying what was, but sometimes it can reveal what remains.---Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/naturalsixJoin our Discord! https://discord.gg/HNV56DADnJFollow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/naturalsixFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natural_sixFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@natural.sixLove lore? Check out the Fandom: https://natural-six.fandom.comStay up to date: https://www.NaturalSix.net

  • Action Surge | Witchspire one-shot

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    A party of wizards, what could possibly go wrong? In hindsight... quite a lot, actually. BUT, in this episode of Action Surge we break down what went right, including meeting possibly some of the most memorable NPCs we've ever had - Hamrog, we hardly knew ye. The party discuss the exciting dynamic changes of everyone playing the same class, and what it's like stepping into the shoes of another character for a one-shot. Also, Ben tries to talk about his Big Wand. A lot.And of course, we had the best time exploring the world of Witchspire, the upcoming game from Envar Studios! #Ad To learn more about Witchspire and to keep up to date with ‪Envar Games, visit: https://playwitchspire.com/Wishlist now on Stream: https://shorturl.at/JNUNs--Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/naturalsixJoin our Discord! https://discord.gg/HNV56DADnJFollow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/naturalsixFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natural_sixFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@natural.sixLove lore? Check out the Fandom: https://natural-six.fandom.comStay up to date: https://www.NaturalSix.net

  • 56. Action Surge Episode 56

    46:25||Season 1, Ep. 56
    This week saw the long-awaited return of some minis, and more gorgeous character-driven story moments for Kel. The group break all of that down, but also explore what it feels like for both DM and player when a particularly nasty status effect just won't let a PC do anything during combat. Also, how meta should players get when approaching battle strategy?We also chat about Raidion's solo moment, and how much agency players can have in one-on-one scenarios. It's good stuff!--Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/naturalsixJoin our Discord! https://discord.gg/HNV56DADnJFollow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/naturalsixFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natural_sixFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@natural.sixLove lore? Check out the Fandom: https://natural-six.fandom.comStay up to date: https://www.NaturalSix.net

  • 56. Ep. 56 Bone and Cloth

    02:48:35||Season 1, Ep. 56
    Not every path leads ahead. Some lead to what was left behind, unfinished, to choices made before you knew what they would cost.When the past takes shape, it can do more than strike. It can catch in your throat, lock you in place, and turn memories into a battlefield all of their own. Echoes of the past can hurt as much as the future in front of you, but not every battle belongs to the blade, because being a hero can be measured by more than the mark you leave behind.When something lost is returned to the world, every step forward can clear the darkness that has lingered for far too long. But after becoming whoever was needed to survive, it can be hard to tell which version of yourself is guiding, and which one is guarding.---Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/naturalsixJoin our Discord! https://discord.gg/HNV56DADnJFollow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/naturalsixFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natural_sixFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@natural.sixLove lore? Check out the Fandom: https://natural-six.fandom.comStay up to date: https://www.NaturalSix.net
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