Where does the game end and the story begin? Continuing Conversations is your weekly deep dive into the art of Science Fiction storytelling, narrative design, and the creative process—hosted by Michael Dismuke and Jim Johnson.
While our roots are firmly planted in the Star Trek Adventures RPG, our mission has expanded. We are exploring how Sci-Fi worlds are built, how characters are forged, and how stories are told across every medium. Whether you are a Gamemaster crafting a campaign, an aspiring novelist, or a fan of deep lore, we bring you the insights you need to fuel your imagination.
Produced by Studio Tembo, this show is dedicated to "Infinite Stories in Infinite Combinations." Whether you're rolling dice or writing chapters, let's continue the conversation.
https://linktr.ee/studiotembo
Science Fiction Writing, Narrative Design, Star Trek Adventures, Creative Writing, RPG Design, World Building, Sci-Fi Authors, Jim Johnson, Michael Dismuke, Studio Tembo, Speculative Fiction, Tabletop RPGs, Game Writing, Storytelling.
Episodes
Friday Jan 30, 2026
Friday Jan 30, 2026
Ever wondered how a video game writer handles the "Kobayashi Maru" of storytelling? Dan Martin (Writer, Star Trek: Resurgence) joins us to reveal how Telltale-style branching narratives are built and why Riker makes the perfect Captain.
In this episode of Continuing Conversations, Michael and Jim sit down with Dan Martin to discuss the challenges of writing for a beloved IP like Star Trek. Dan breaks down the "Ludo-narrative dissonance" in game design, shares stories from the Resurgence writer's room, and explains why Spock, Kirk, and McCoy are the ultimate model for video game choices.
[Key Topics]
00:00 - Intro: Writing for the 24th Century
04:15 - Why Riker should have been a Commodore hunting the Borg
08:30 - The secret to Spock’s voice: It’s an East Boston accent?
13:45 - How "Beany" tools manage thousands of script pages
23:10 - Ludo-Narrative Dissonance: When story fights gameplay
26:00 - AI in creative writing: Why Dan isn’t worried
[Links & Resources]
Dan Martin: DanMartinMedia.com
Michael Dismuke: MichaelDismuke.com
#StarTrek #StarTrekResurgence #GameDesign #NarrativeDesign #StarTrekAdventures #SciFiWriting
https://linktr.ee/studiotembo
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