The Forever GMs Podcast – Improvisation (S1 E9)

How comfortable are you when your players force you completely off-script? This week, Doc & Liv invite **Karen Twelves**, author of *Improv for Gamers*, onto the show to discuss how improvisation can strengthen both GMing and playing. From quieting your inner critic to knowing when to prepare and when to leave space for discovery, the group breaks down why improv is less about being funny or making everything up and more about listening, collaborating, and confidently building on the ideas at the table. And for players who aren’t ready to perform in character? That’s okay too. ## Episode Topics - Using improv skills at the TTRPG table - Building confidence and quieting your inner critic - Balancing preparation with improvisation - Active listening and collaborative storytelling - Helping new or shy players engage without forcing performance ## Game Spotlight This week, we discussed **Fiasco** by Jason Morningstar – a GM-less collaborative storytelling game about people with big ambitions and terrible judgment! With shared narrative control, no traditional encounter design, and plenty of opportunities for things to spiral wildly out of control, **Fiasco** is a great way to practice building on other players’ ideas and embracing the unexpected. Check out Fiasco from Bully Pulpit Games ## Peer Review This week, we explore whether practicing improv can actually make us more creative, more comfortable with uncertainty, and maybe even feel a little better while doing it! - **Improv Experience Promotes Divergent Thinking, Uncertainty Tolerance, and Affective Well-Being** by Felsman et al. (2020) examines how participating in improv exercises affects creative thinking, comfort with uncertainty, and positive feelings. The study found improvements in divergent thinking, uncertainty tolerance, and affective well-being following improv exercises compared with other social interactions. ## Find Us and Our Guests **Karen Twelves** is an editor, educator, linguist, improviser, and author of *Improv for Gamers*, a collection of exercises designed to help GMs and players practice skills like collaboration, timing, sharing the spotlight, character work, and creative risk-taking. Follow the Forever GMs on social media on BlueSky (@theforevergms.bsky.social) and TikTok (@theforevergms) for updates on the show and let us know what topics we should cover in the future! Want to hear more from this episode? Join our Patreon at $3 per month for our after show, Table That!