Mickey Barfield The Polyhedral Knight

D&D is Dead?

Leisure EN ↓ 9 episodes

Each episode of our podcast compares D&D with another RPG. Our goal is not to criticize but to objectively evaluate each game's strengths and weaknesses. We believe in the power of informed decisions, so we leave the final judgment to the listener. Our discussions will cover character creation, basic mechanics, combat, complexity, setting, and campaign longevity. Hosted by Roleplaying game creator Mickey Barfield (The Polyhedral Knights), creator of Spy, Pathogen Unclassified, Wicked Pacts, Dark Times, Pirates of a Shattered World, Wasteland Sagas and Renegade City.

Author

Mickey Barfield The Polyhedral Knight

Episodes

Episode 9: NPCs More than What they Can Be 20.04.2026 27:14

Mickey and Ali discuss other ways to explore NPCs, including a few non-traditional approaches. Please excuse the audio issues we had in this episode. If you want to support this and Mickey's game production check us out on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/mickeybarfieldtpk The Polyhedral Knights website is https://www.thepolyhedralknights.com/ Or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thepol...

Episode 8 Scum and Villainy 12.04.2026 32:38

Mickey and Ali discuss the Sci Fi RPG Scum and Villainy. If you want to support this and Mickey's game production check us out on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/mickeybarfieldtpk The Polyhedral Knights website is https://www.thepolyhedralknights.com/ Or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thepolyhedralknights

Episode 7 13th Age 25.03.2026 33:55

In this episode, Mickey and Ali discuss 13th Age and what makes this such a standout game that deserves more spotlight. If you want to support this and Mickey's game production check us out on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/mickeybarfieldtpk The Polyhedral Knights website is https://www.thepolyhedralknights.com/ Or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thepolyhedralknights

Episode 6 Blades in the Dark 02.12.2025 30:00

In this episode, Mickey and Ali discuss Blades in the Dark and show how different it is from the most popular fantasy RPG out there. If you want to support this and Mickey's game production check us out on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/mickeybarfieldtpk The Polyhedral Knights website is https://www.thepolyhedralknights.com/ Or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thepolyhedralknights

Episode 5 Dungeon Crawl Classics 18.11.2025 36:55

In this episode, Mickey and Ali discuss Dungeon Crawl Classics, AKA DCC. Please show love to the people at Goodman Games https://goodman-games.com/ For more of what Mickey Barfield has produced, check out The Polyhedral Knights for all the games written for that company. https://www.thepolyhedralknights.com/ If you want to support this and Mickey's game production check us out on Patreon h...

Episode 4 Pendragon 01.05.2025 32:24

In this episode Mickey and Ali discuss the game of Pendragon, published by Chaosium. For more information of The Polyhedral Knights check us out at If you want to support this and Mickey's game production check us out on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/mickeybarfieldtpk The Polyhedral Knights website is https://www.thepolyhedralknights.com/ Or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thepolyh...

Episode 3 Dragonbane 14.04.2025 39:56

In this episode, Mickey and Ali discuss Dragonbane and how it compares to D&D. We discuss the pitch, character creation, combat, magic, setting, and the longevity of the campaign play. If you want to support this and Mickey's game production check us out on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/mickeybarfieldtpk The Polyhedral Knights website is https://www.thepolyhedralknights.com/ Or Face...

Episode 2 Sword Chronicles 12.03.2025 40:35

In this episode, Mickey and Ali discuss the game Sword Chronicles and how it stacks up against D&D. We go over the pitch, character creation, combat, magic, the setting, and the longevity of the campaign play. If you want to support this and Mickey's game production check us out on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/mickeybarfieldtpk The Polyhedral Knights website is https://www.thepolyh...

Episode 1 Swords of the Serpentine 25.02.2025 45:18

In this first episode of many, Mickey and Ali discuss the game Swords of the Serpentine and how it stacks up against D&D. We go over the pitch, character creation, combat, magic, the setting, and the longevity of the campaign play. If you want to support this and Mickey's game production check us out on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/mickeybarfieldtpk The Polyhedral Knights website i...