Dennis Detwiller Interview

Episode 97 – Dennis Detwiller Interview
(a.k.a. Everyone Walking Around In Parkas )

Top guestage again dear listeners, the lads chat to RPG writer and artist Dennis Detwiller who you will no doubt recognise from Ennie-award winning Delta Green, Magic the Gathering, GODLIKE and much more – including Arc Dream’s latest Kickstarter (at time of writing) Wrestlenomicon. The guys talk about the changes in writing and publishing games, classic RPGs, improvements in the industry and making a quality product, plus games stores and digital art and much more.

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Dragonmeet 2015 – Too Much Cthulhu?

Episode 21 – Dragonmeet 2015
(a.k.a Too Much Cthulhu)

Dragonmeet took place in London Village last weekend, with over 1000 delegates, many of whom packed the seminar room to hear us discuss whether there was too much Cthulhu in gaming. As a live recording the sound is somewhat woeful, but hopefully you’ll enjoy some lively debate and laughs along the way.

You can help up recoup our train fare by becoming a Patreon if you wish, but we’ve already been, so it doesn’t matter if you don’t want to.

Find out about our fellow panellists and podcasters at Jackson Elias, they’re quite nice chaps for Cthulhu cultists and they’ve got some great content too!

18:00 – What Jackson Elias Would Do?

Two of the UKs finest podcast crews go head to head in this panel. Imagine the worlds most polite rap battle with less dancing and more tentacles. The Smart Party and The Good Friends of Jackson Elias lock horns over the perennial question: why so much Cthulhu in gaming, and is it for good or ill? Raise a glass with us as we toast the very best and worst in RPGdom.

Gamer Bling – Money You Don’t Have

Episode 20 – Gamer Bling
(a.k.a Spending money you don’t have on things you don’t need)

The festive season is already upon us (almost) and we’re already writing our shopping lists for Santa and generous relatives who don’t understand the hobby. Also, Dragonmeet approaches with even greater alacrity. What should gamers get other people to buy them? What’s the latest accessory sweeping the geeky nation? Find out inside, and give us your suggestions!

Much better than tipping your bin man, why not throw some loose change in the Patreon account and we’ll spend it wisely on new recording equipment, or black jack and gin. There’s just no telling which.

If you’re within shouting distance of London Village this weekend, why not pop along to Dragonmeet convention as alongside our fellow podcasters at  Jackson Elias, we’re doing a live podcast from the event!

18:00 – What Jackson Elias Would Do?

Two of the UKs finest podcast crews go head to head in this panel. Imagine the worlds most polite rap battle with less dancing and more tentacles. The Smart Party and The Good Friends of Jackson Elias lock horns over the perennial question: why so much Cthulhu in gaming, and is it for good or ill? Raise a glass with us as we toast the very best and worst in RPGdom.

Front-load Your Characters

So I’ve been playing a lot of small press games on and off and reflecting on how to “write” a scenario for some of these – especially when it differs in many ways from your more traditional method of gaming or writing. Games such as Hot War or Dead of Night require very little in the way of story for a good game, all they really need are some strong characters with motivations and a good starting point – maybe with a few more “bangs” to keep the story moving when a scene goes stale. This sort of tactic can work well for a traditional game too, but whatever style of game you’re running it relies on good players and there’s no accounting for that…

Pros & Cons: Call of Cthulhu

Every now and again I’ll be reviewing a role playing game from the viewpoint of Convention suitability. This is the first, the granddaddy of Con gaming, Call of Cthulhu.

 

This game should be rubbish. It’s got nothing going or it at all really. The system is barely functional, the background is too scholarly, and the PCs are pretty much useless in any conflict. Also, it’s expected that you die, or go mad if you’re lucky, in most games. Except, except, except…