RPG Reanimators

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...

Episode Notes In this episode, we bicker about how to handle realism and verisimilitude vs. explosive pulpiness when we run RPGs, and how this can vary depending on system, scenario, and players. (Spoiler: Communication is still key) Consultations are free-form topic discussions based on our own GM experiences, preferences, and gaming philosophies. We hope some of this gibbering can be helpful to...

Episode Notes In this episode, we hack apart another game system, Cthork Borg, with its mad scientist creator Richard Kelly. Cthork Borg is a low-prep cosmic horror RPG set in the gloomy jazz age. As it's name suggests, it's an aberrant mutation from the Mork Borg core ruleset with some interesting changes by Richard that help it feel fresh, wriggling, and fun for GMs and players looking to try so...

Episode Notes In this second Choice Cuts episode, we dissect and reanimate 3 short one-shot scenarios and a card game(?) back-to-back in the following order: Lex shares Lights Out, by Joe Trier (starts ~1:19) Holly shares Spilsbury #9485 by Adam Gauntlett (starts ~10:22) Alex shares The Mummy of Pemberly Grange by Allan Carey & Nic Holland (starts ~25:38) And Nathan shares Wreck this Deck, whi...

Episode Notes In this episode, we provide our non-expert opinions on using props and handouts in TTRPGs, including both physical and digital versions for in-person or online games. Consultations are more 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 u...

Episode Notes In this episode, we dissect and reanimate the Delta Green scenario Presence written by Shane Ivey. We give our tips and advice from having read, ran, and played this scenario both as a multi-session investigation, as well as an explosive one-shot! Also, here is the player-friendly map we referenced. You can find the scenario at: https://shop.arcdream.com/products/delta-green-presence...

This week, the RPG Reanimators discuss the dreadful game of Bedlam Hall, an RPG where you regrettably play the staff of a manor somewhere between Downton Abbey, the Addams Family, and Lemony Snickett. This in an Aberration where we focus a full system, rather than just a scenario. Unfortunately, Bedlam Hall was written by David Kizzia and published with Monkeyfun Studios. If you would want to make...

Kingdoms - Consultation with Sophia Tinney In this episode, we consult on the Kingdoms system with the author, Sophia Tinney! Sophia discusses the origin of the system, provides some guidance for game masters, and chats about the upcoming game Fever Dream Nexus. We reference our playthough of Kingdoms a fair bit in this episode, and you can find all 4 episodes (plus a session 0) on our It's Alive!...

In this episode, we consult on a spreading case of Flash Cthulhu quick one-shot scenarios for Call of Cthulhu with Michael of MJRRPG. Michael shares his arcane knowledge of writing and running short (~1 hour) horror scenarios, and then the rest of the Reanimators discuss the scenario Sell Yourself , which was recently featured in our It's Alive! AP series on YouTube You can also check out more of...

In this episode, we dissect and reanimate the Pulp Call of Cthulhu scenario Field of Screams with the author Al Smith! The scenario is available at the following link: PDF: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/378340/field-of-screams If you'd like to join our Discord: ⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/R8Q6aeyVk8⁠⁠⁠ All music and sound effects are sourced under attribution free creative commons licensin...

In this episode, we dissect and reanimate the Delta Green scenario Convergence written by John Tynes and available from Arc Dream Publishing (links below). Holly, Alex, and Nathan run through their combined experiences running this scenario to share their tips and advice while Lex stares at the pretty lights in the sky. We're also sharing some resources we've made and found via our Reanima...

In this episode, we dissect and reanimate the Delta Green scenario Music from a Darkened Room written by Dennis Detwiller and available as part of the Night at the Opera collection from Arc Dream Publishing (links below). Lex walks through his tips and advice from his "by the book" and reanimated runs of the scenario, and is also sharing the resources used in the last run via this google...

In this episode, the Reanimators and special guest Intern Tyler Hudak dissect and reanimate the Alien RPG scenario Chariot of the Gods, written by Andrew E. C. Gaska and available as part of the Alien RPG Starter Set from Free League Publishing. Now with remastered audio! Physical: https://freeleaguepublishing.com/shop/alien-rpg-2/starter-set/ Standalone PDF: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/produc...

In this episode, we continue our unofficial series on Gateway Scenarios by dissecting and reanimating the Call of Cthulhu scenario The Necropolis written by Leigh Carr and available via the following links as part of the Gateways to Terror collection from Chaosium. Featuring a special guest Jimmy the Intern (RIP...), and now with remastered audio! Physical: ⁠ https://www.chaosium.com/gateways-to-t...

Now with remastered audio! In this episode, we dissect and reanimate the Call of Cthulhu scenario The Dead Boarder written by Todd Gardiner with Mike Mason and available via the following links as part of the Gateways to Terror collection from Chaosium: Physical: https://www.chaosium.com/gateways-to-terror/ PDF: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/293105/gateways-to-terror Reanimation starts a...

In this episode we consult on a serious case of considering Gateway Scenarios to introduce new players to the TTRPG hobby and more experienced players to new systems. We cover some of our favorite examples from across systems as well as what factors we look for when trying to identify new possible gateway scenarios. Now with remastered audio! Consultations are more free-form topic discussions base...

Listen to a live recording of our panel at Chaosium Con 2024 where we discuss obstacles and ideas to help bring classic 1920s-30s Call of Cthulhu scenarios into modern settings, and Reanimate the classic Call of Cthulhu scenario The Haunting by Sandy Petersen as a case example! We've tried to boost the audio for participant questions as much as possible, but they are a bit quiet. *This also se...

Join us again in the Break Room as we decompress from playing and running games from Chaosium Con 2024 and discuss all the awesome people we had the chance to connect with! Now with remastered audio! These Break Room discussions are meant to be very casual, and a slight break from our ususal TTRPG-related content so that we can seem more human in order to better blend in among the populace... We o...

In this episode, we discuss dissection and reanimation of the 1980s Call of Cthulhu analog horror scenario scenario Signal to Noise, written by Colin Richards. Now with remastered audio! You can find it on drivethruRPG at the following link: https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/442567/signal-to-noise-a-1980s-analog-horror-scenario Reanimation starts around 38:55 You can check out more of Co...

In this episode, we consult on a serious case of critically reading scenarios with an eye for running them at the table. We discuss some red flags we've noticed over the years, some things we tend to look for, and generally discuss how and why we pick the scenarios that we do. Now with remastered audio! All music and sound effects are sourced under attribution free creative commons licensing.

In this episode, we confront our first Aberration - attempting to dissect and understand an entire ttrpg system rather than just a scenario. We discuss our thoughts and experiences with the tragic horror of the Ten Candles Roleplaying game, written by Stephen Dewey, and published by Cavalry Games. If you'd like to learn more about the system and consider purchasing it, you can find the physical an...