Speculate

Brandon, Iori, Mike and Valerie talk about ways that they've brought skills and lessons from playing and running TTRPGs over to their writing, from using and talking about touchstones to a question about writing and GMing voice that provokes minor existential crises for Brandon and Mike. Featuring Brandon O'Brien, Iori Kusano, Michael R. Underwood, and Valerie Valdes. Check out our Court of Blades...

Brandon, Iori, Mike, and Valerie talk about ways that they've brought skills and lessons from playing and running TTRPGs over to their writing, from specific mechanics to developing characters. Featuring Brandon O'Brien, Iori Kusano, Michael R. Underwood, and Valerie Valdes. Check out our Court of Blades series “Valloward” at https://bit.ly/3yh6Bxh (now an Official Selection for the 2023 New Jerse...

Brandon leads Valerie and Mike in a one-shot of Fight With Spirit, where the Newcastle Neons take on the Dockside Demons in a team e-sport ala capture the flag plus mechs. Meli and Sam clash with their rivals Hanna and Ryan in the decisive moments of the quarter-finals. Starring Valerie Valdes, Michael R. Underwood, and Brandon O'Brien facilitating.nderwood, "Check out our Court of Blades series “...

Brandon leads Valerie and Mike in a one-shot of Fight With Spirit, where the Newcastle Neons take on the Dockside Demons in a team e-sport ala capture the flag plus mechs. Meli and Sam try to lead the Neons to victory against a powerful Demons offense. Starring Valerie Valdes, Michael R. Underwood, and Brandon O'Brien facilitating.nderwood, " Check out our Court of Blades series “Valloward” at htt...

Brandon leads Valerie and Mike in a one-shot of Fight With Spirit, where the Newcastle Neons take on the Dockside Demons in a team e-sport ala capture the flag plus mechs. The group decides on details for the Neons and creates the main characters and their rivals. Starring Valerie Valdes, Michael R. Underwood, and Brandon O'Brien facilitating.nderwood, " Check out our Court of Blades series “Vallo...

The Strange Friends assemble to discuss just over three years of playing TTRPGs together on stream and off. In this episode, they discuss rpgs as theater, favorite moments and characters, and answer audience questions! Featuring Iori Kusano, Valerie Valdes, Brandon O'Brien, and Michael R. Underwood. Check out our Court of Blades series “Valloward” at https://bit.ly/3yh6Bxh (now an Official Selecti...

The Strange Friends assemble to discuss just over three years of playing TTRPGs together on stream and off. In this episode, they discuss Jeoi's amazing characters and performances, plus crossovers between writing and RPG skills. Featuring Iori Kusano, Valerie Valdes, Brandon O'Brien, and Michael R. Underwood. Check out our Court of Blades series “Valloward” at https://bit.ly/3yh6Bxh (now an Offic...

The Strange Friends assemble to discuss just over three years of playing TTRPGs together on stream and off. In this episode, they discuss GMing styles and game prep! Featuring Iori Kusano, Valerie Valdes, Brandon O'Brien, and Michael R. Underwood. Check out our Court of Blades series “Valloward” at https://bit.ly/3yh6Bxh (now an Official Selection for the 2023 Minnesota Web Fest!) and watch any of...

Mike facilitates a session of the worldbuilding game In This World by Ben Robbins, using the Early Access edition of the game. Brandon pitches a world where there is One True Card Game, and owning cards from that game is a marker of social status. Mike pitches a world where the players of the biggest, most popular game don't know their objectives, and audiences play their own mini-games to provide...

Mike facilitates a session of the worldbuilding game In This World by Ben Robbins, using the Early Access edition of the game. Iori pitches a world where citizens are compelled to watch games ala Jury Duty. This session contains content notes for references to gambling and societal coercion. Featuring Iori Kusano, Brandon O'Brien, and Michael R. Underwood. Back the campaign for In This World at ht...

This episode carries content notes for violent threats, guns, gunfire, confined spaces, and abuse of governmental power. The thieves infiltrate the Project Lazarus black site, and come face to face with the architect of their misfortune. A Family of Blades is a game by A.C. Luke. Find out more at - https://ac-luke.itch.io/family-of-blades Check out our Court of Blades series “Valloward” at https:/...

This episode carries content notes for discussion of guns, violence, and abuse of governmental power. The thieves receive a surprising welcome. A friend of a friend provides a breadcrumb trail and leads to a surprising reunion. The thieves launch their plan to clear their name and get payback. A Family of Blades is a game by A.C. Luke. Find out more at - https://ac-luke.itch.io/family-of-blades Ch...

This episode carries content notes for air travel, discussion of violence, abuse of governmental power, and guns. The four thieves re-assemble in Miami to investigate the scene of the crime. Tiny schemes, Odds communes, and Lucy asks about the accommodations. A Family of Blades is a game by A.C. Luke. Find out more at - https://ac-luke.itch.io/family-of-blades Check out our Court of Blades series...

This episode carries content notes for discussion of violence, kidnapping by law enforcement, and extralegal detainment. Brandon leads The Strange Friends in a one-shot of A Family of Blades by A.C. Luke. A quartet of criminals reunites to investigate the mysterious death of their former handler. Pick up A Family of Blades at - https://ac-luke.itch.io/family-of-blades Check out our Court of Blades...

ICYMI, our Court of Blades series Valloward has been announced as an Early Selection for the 2023 New Jersey Web Fest, a prominent film/media festival for web series (from fiction podcasts and short films to actual play shows like ours!). We're very proud of the world we've been doing in the series, and it's wonderful to have that work recognized by the NWJF judges. To celebrate, we're releasing t...

Mike talks about three generations of official Star Wars RPGs as well as four other RPGS that aren't officially Star Wars RPGs but are absolutely great for telling Star Wars stories. Games mentioned: WEG Star Wars (1987, 1992, 1996, 2018 anniversary edition) -- Greg Costikyan Star Wars RPG (WotC) – 2000, 2002 -- Bill Slavicsek, Andy Collins, J.D. Wiker Star Wars Saga Edition (2007) - Owen K.C. Ste...

This episode carries content notes for livestock, animal products, death, necromancy, resource exploitation, capitalism, over-work, bone, decay, magical infestation, and discussion of the COVID-19 pandemic Guests Marianne Kirby (@therotund) and AJ Hackwith (@AJHackwith) join Mike for a game of A Land Once Magic to create a world that is coarse and candle-lit, hallowed and haunted. Starring Ma...

This episode carries content notes for livestock, animal products, death, necromancy, resource exploitation, capitalism, over-work, bone, decay, and magical infestation Guests Marianne Kirby (@therotund) and AJ Hackwith (@AJHackwith) join Mike for a game of A Land Once Magic to create a world that is coarse and candle-lit, hallowed and haunted. Starring Marianne Kirby and AJ Hackwith, with Mike Un...

This episode carries content notes for livestock, animal products, death, necromancy, resource exploitation, capitalism, over-work, bone, decay, and magical infestation Guests Marianne Kirby (@therotund) and AJ Hackwith (@AJHackwith) join Mike for a game of A Land Once Magic to create a world that is coarse and candle-lit, hallowed and haunted. Starring Marianne Kirby and AJ Hackwith, with Mike Un...

This episode carries content notes for teleportation, dangerous driving, heights, and falling. Mike leads The Strange Friends through a special Speculate! one-shot of Mikey Hamm's interdimensional teen caper rpg SLUGBLASTER! Greedy Zzkaska's has the best pizza in the multiverse, so when this trio of teens discover that superstar Dorus Kal is throwing a blowout party this Saturday night and has swo...

This episode carries content notes for teleportation and sonic attacks. A daring trio of teens races to be the first to deliver the multiverse's favorite pizza. But first they'll have to contend with gigantic crabs, hover-chariots, and hyper hydras! Starring Brandon O'Brien, Iori Kusano, and Valerie Valdes, with Mike Underwood as the Slugmaster. Slugblaster is an rpg by Mikey Hamm. Find out more a...

This week we're bringing you a preview of a special recording where the cast of Fractal Spire was joined by Girl by Moonlight designer Andrew Gillis to discuss their game and Speculate's actual play series using Girl by Moonlight's In a Maze of Dreams playset. Listen to or watch the entire conversation by becoming a subscriber at a subscriber at patreon.com/speculate. You'll also get lots of...

This episode carries content notes for disorientation, obsession, and involuntary teleportation. The thieves find themselves on a strange city block with a lighthouse at its center, and discover the truth of their patron's desires and the secret of the missing star. The Strange Friends play a special Speculate! one-shot of Colin Cummings' Carly Rae Jepsen-themed heist rpg BOY PROBLEMS. https:...

This episode carries content notes for high-speed transit, vomiting, and spoiled food/beverages The crew meets another artist whose dreams are held in the grasp of Whitney Rider and complete their heist. But the end of the heist is not the end of the story. The Strange Friends play a special Speculate! one-shot of Colin Cummings' Carly Rae Jepsen-themed heist rpg BOY PROBLEMS. https://boyproblems....

This episode carries a content note for high-speed transit/rapid travel. Several months after the pop sensation's mysterious disappearance, a Carly Rae super-fan assembles a strange team of thieves to recover the legendary vault of 100 unreleased CRJ tracks. The Strange Friends play a special Speculate! one-shot of Colin Cummings' Carly Rae Jepsen-themed heist rpg BOY PROBLEMS. https://boyproblems...