RPG Reanimators

Episode Notes Listen to an almost-live recording of our Chaosium Con 2026 panel where we discuss some of the key themes related to cosmic horror, how Mythos staples might be freshened up into novel antagonists for players, how GMs can consider adapting their own creatures from existing media, how there's a John Carpenter movie for every example, how GMs can go about creating their own horrific ent...

Episode Notes In this episode, we conclude our dissection review and reanimation advice for Impossible Landscapes by hearing from some other GMs - found wandering the mists of Carcosa - so that they can share some additional perspectives and recommendations. Needless to say, each of these discussions will span the entirety of the campaign, so there are spoilers abound. In order, we interview: Tom...

Episode Notes In this episode, we continue our dissection review and reanimation advice for the campaign Impossible Landscapes written by Dennis Detwiller for Delta Green by diving into the fourth chapter End of the World of the End , which covers the finale of this epic campaign. We briefly summarize the chapter, discuss it's strengths and weaknesses as written, and then, since we aren't really f...

Episode Notes In this episode, we continue our dissection review and reanimation advice for the campaign Impossible Landscapes written by Dennis Detwiller for Delta Green by diving into the third chapter Like a Map Made of Skin , as well as an Exeunt that is... kind of essential for this chapter, so not really an exeunt? We briefly summarize the chapter, discuss it's strengths and weaknesses as wr...

Episode Notes In this episode, we continue our dissection review and reanimation advice for the campaign Impossible Landscapes written by Dennis Detwiller for Delta Green by diving into the second chapter A Volume of Secret Faces , as well as more Exuents that Agents are likely to encounter. We briefly summarize the chapter, discuss it's strengths and weaknesses as written, and then go through a r...

Episode Notes In this episode, we continue our dissection review and reanimation advice for the campaign Impossible Landscapes written by Dennis Detwiller for Delta Green by diving into the first chapter The Night Floors , as well as the first Exuent Agents are likely to encounter. We briefly summarize the chapter, discuss it's strengths and weaknesses as written, and then go through a rough order...

Episode Notes This episode marks the beginning of our dissection review and reanimation advice for the campaign Impossible Landscapes written by Dennis Detwiller for Delta Green. In this episode, we briefly summarize the campaign, discuss elements we like and dislike as written, address how difficult we think this campaign is for GMs to run, cover our personal philosophies on how we run this campa...

Episode Notes For our Season 2 premiere, the Reanimators meet with Jason Cordova to discuss the analog horror TTRPG Public Access! We discuss the inspiration and design elements poured into the game, get some advice for new GMs and players looking to try this system - and the Carved from Brindlewood engine out, and bond over childhood trauma and 80s/90s nostalgia! Links: The upcoming Public Access...

Episode Notes In this episode, we discuss our thoughts and experiences with designing and running Green Boxes in the Delta Green TTRPG. We discuss the core elements of what we believe constitute a Green Box, ideas to shake things up beyond the typical storage container, thoughts on ways to make them feel more alive and engaging, and share some of our favorite (and least favorite) items to include...

Episode Notes This week, half of the Reanimators stitch our brains together to cover chases in tabletop RPGs! We compare rulesets from a variety of TTRPG systems, discuss what elements of chases we want to emphasize for players, along with some issues we've had in the past, and give our unsolicited advice for GMs who are looking for ways to make their group's next chase thrilling and tense™. Links...

Episode Notes In this episode, we dissect and reanimate the Call of Cthulhu scenario Deliver Us from Evil written by Keeper Doc and Alex Guillotte. We've had the pleasure of playing and running in multiple versions of this scenario (soon to be published as APs on our YouTube channel ) and work with KeeperDoc to give a variety of insights for great moments to highlight, as well as some potentially...

Episode Notes Join us for a chat with Marie Enger where we discuss a variety of topics including their RPGs Death to the Wizard Kings , Casket Land , old cartoons, pottery, the horrors of Missouri, cosmic horror art creation for works like Where Black Stars Rise , as well as Marie's suspected ability to predict the future! Links: You can find Marie online via their website (which also has links to...

Episode Notes In this episode, we study an aberration that is half roleplaying game, half card game, half improv routine, and half love letter to the late David Lynch (that math checks out according to our non-Euclidean algebra). Something is Wrong Here by Kira Magrann is an extremely interesting and unique system that we haven't seen anything like before or since. We discuss some of our experienc...

Episode Notes In this episode, we dissect the scenario Ladybug Ladybug, Fly Away Home written for Call of Cthulhu and discuss ways to reanimate it as CoC or Delta Green! Reanimation starts around 1:01:49 Links: You can find the scenario in this collection: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/191250/the-things-we-leave-behind-an-anthology-of-modern-day-call-of-cthulhu-scenarios Seth Skorkowsky'...

Episode Notes We are organizing an upcoming online TTRPG convention tentatively named Reanimated RPG Con!! We're set to unleash this monstrosity the weekend of November 14-16, with a variety of free games, panels, and workshops. GM signups are from October 1-10, then player sign-ups will be on October 20-30. The event will be hosted on our RPG Reanimators Discord server, so be sure to join if you'...

Episode Notes In this episode, Alex and Nathan meet with Paul Fricker as a consulting expert to discuss the core essences of what makes a Call of Cthulhu scenario, as well as explore the limits of scenarios for the TTRPG system. You can find Paul Fricker's website here: https://paulfricker.substack.com/ Or chat more with us on our Discord server: https://discord.gg/R8Q6aeyVk8 If this episode was h...

Episode Notes In this episode, we consult with Leslie "XPLovecat" Horn as a resident expert on scenario editing and review to help us understand some ways to help turn that splatter of words on a page into a properly monstrous scenario. We also discuss ways that scenario authors may find or summon their own editors, as well as the proper pronunciation of "Vaesen", which Nathan...

Episode Notes In this episode, we consult on some good player habits and practices which we always like to see from our side of the GM screen. Consultations are free-form topic discussions based on our own GM experiences, preferences, and gaming philosophies. We hope some of this gibbering madness can be helpful to other GMs dealing with, or considering using, these issues at their table (or at le...

Episode Notes Listen to a live recording of our nearly sold-out panel at Chaosium Con 2025 where we discuss sources of inspiration for new Call of Cthulhu scenarios in underused decades between the traditional 20s-30s settings and modern day! We cover different ideas and themes for mythos horror scenarios in the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and early 2000s. You can also tell this is a live record...

Episode Notes In this episode, we meet with horror author Hailey Piper to discuss queer horror as a genre and how we might apply some of her expertise from novel writing to emphasize queer themes, characters, and narratives in horror TTRPGs. We also discuss lots of queer media recommendations and TTRPG systems, as well as a mildly concerning amount of Shrek - possibly due to some cross-contaminati...

Episode Notes In this episode, the Reanimators have some cross-contamination with Beth of the David Behaviour book review podcast to branch outside of the RPG space to interview horror author Todd Keisling to see if there are any lessons we can learn from novel writing that could be applied for writing or running horror TTRPG scenarios. We cover a range of topics, including creating characters, mo...

Episode Notes In this episode, we ask our consulting expert Fiona of the What am I Rolling? podcast (and many other podcasts) about a variety of topics, including techniques to help teach new RPGs to players new and old, some best-practice methods to promote accessibility and using safety tools in RPGs, as well as improv techniques which can help players and GMs. You can find a link to Fiona's awe...

Episode Notes In this episode, we dissect and reanimate The Code written by Christopher Lackey with Lynne Hardy for Call of Cthulhu 7e, and available as part of the Mansions of Madness vol. 1 collection from Chaosium (links below). We're also joined by special guest Jon Hook from the Modern Mythos podcast! Jon has been a huge fan of this scenario for some time, and shares his plans to transplant t...

Episode Notes In this episode, we dissect and reanimate the Call of Cthulhu scenario UNLAND written by Scott Dorward, with the author himself! We dissect the creepy amusement park rides and talk about Silent Hill 2 more than a bit, while Scott shares how he runs this scenario very differently than written, as the scenario that made it to print became quite different than he'd originally envisioned...

Episode Notes In this episode, we meet with Good Friend Matt Sanderson to talk about his favorite Call of Cthulhu scenario The Burning Stars , written by David Conyers for Call of Cthulhu 6th edition. I describe this as "the most Call of Cthulhu-y-est scenario I have ever played" and for the first time, I'll recommend to anyone who has not already read or played this scenario to carefull...