Down in a Heap

A call from Jason and continuing the Compleat Adventurer deep dive with the Gladiator and Harlequin.

Part 2 of the Deep Dive continues with a look at the Beastmaster & Buccaneer. Also calls from Daniel and Keith and a special big thank-you! to Jason of Nerd’s RPG Variety Cast who has announced the upcoming end of the show.

I begin a deep dive into an RPG supplement from Bard Games in 1983: The Compleat Adventurer. Plus a call from Spencer regarding my review of Cairn and Jason with a call on post apocalyptic gaming.

Review of the post apocalyptic, “postdiluvian” RPG, The Big Wet, by Sam Sorensen. Physical copies available at Exalted Funeral (along with pdf), or pdf only at Sam’s Itch page.

A couple ideas were popping in my head this morning. Sacrificing a level as meta currency, and magical healing at a cost. Just throwing spaghetti at the wall…

I dig into the Cairn RPG by Yochai Gal per the request of AaronNPC. Get a free pdf of the game at cairnrpg.com or Drivethru RPG. Questions, comments, requests to bigbalboni “at” gmail.

The Anchor-pocolypse finally has arrived in June. Jason from Nerd’s RPG Variety Cast calls to ask my podcasting fate. And new caller Riley from Diogetic Advancement recommends the game, Swyvers, now live on Kickstarter.

I blabber a bit about how the fiction I want my games to emulate is much more grounded, small scope & slow burn than most. I’m weird…🤪 Plus some conversations with Spencer from Keep Off the Borderlands and Daniel from Bandit’s Keep.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Calls from BJ of Arcane Alienist, Jason of Nerd’s RPG Variety Cast, Michael from Mirke the Meek, and Daniel from Bandit’s Keep about my Into the B/oX smash up. Five years of podcasting - thanks everyone! 👍

Ideas for PCs restricted in weapon choice by class using weapons outside those lists in classic D&D. Inspired by conversations on recent episodes of Nerd’s RPG Variety Cast. Plus, last day chance to back Mythic Bastionland KS: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bastionland/mythic-bastionland-rpg-before-into-the-odd

I run through a small low-level skirmish between a party and group of Hobgoblins to see how a mash-up of B/X and Into the Odd might be different from straight B/X. Plus calls from Jason and Aaronnpc. Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃

Jason from Nerd’s RPG Variety Cast calls in to describe how three old games dealt with the Rock’em Sock’em Robots effect. Plus some talk about my bitchin’ Camaro and the great ‘91 Halloween Blizzard.

I take a look at the Halloween themed Issue 3 of Gary’s Appendix by Jeff Jones of the RPG Ramblings podcast and do a little wrap up of OSR October 2023. Happy Halloween!🎃

I noodle about a mash-up of B/X with combat inspired by Chris McDowall’s game Into the Odd. Will two great flavors create a new taste sensation ala Reese’s, or would it be like topping your Count Chocula with sauerkraut?

I take a look at the supplement, A Guide to Thieves’ Guilds by Todd Leback of Third Kingdom Games. It’s part of his Filling in the Blanks Populated Hexcrawl Series. Available at Drivethru RPG. Also a call from Jason from Nerd’s RPG Variety Cast.

A cold has dropped my voice an octave, so please forgive my froggy delivery. Today I look through Gary’s Appendix Issue 2 from Jeff Jones at RPG Ramblings Publishing. Check it out at DrivethruRPG.

Calls and conversation from John Large of Red Dice Diaries, Rich Fraser of Cockatrice Nuggets, and Jason Connerly from Nerd’s RPG Variety Cast. Thanks guys! Wanna get in the fun? Email me a voice file to bigbalboni at gmail dot com.

Spicing up the vanilla fighter is a common house rule in OSR games. Here’s one method (Fighting Tricks) from Dice Roll Zine #3 by Steve Cook of Hog Town Games.

It’s been a while, but already that time of year again: OSR October! I blabber about how it came about, what’s happening, what I have planned, and has gamer wanderlust always existed? Plus I drink a blue cheese flavored soda...

There’s a new KS for Gary’s Appendix issue 3 from Jeffery Jones. And calls from Evil Jeff, Joe, Pink Phantom, Taylor, Jason, and Darkfluid prompt me to a deep dive into procedural treasure placement in B/X (among other topics). It’s a bonanza!

I take a look at the zine, Gary’s Appendix by RPG Ramblings Publishing available in pdf/print direct at rpgramblings.com or pdf at DrivethruRPG.com plus calls from Jason & Daniel about bugs, traps, treasure, and granularity. A new caller (Joe from Dekahedron podcast) takes issue with my use of “lazy design”. What do I mean by that, and is combat part of a game’s “story”? Leave a voice message at b...

Originally meant to be a call-in show, with updates on playing FTF for the 1st time since 2020 morphs into a screed against giant bugs. But through venting, perhaps wisdom, and a place for the bugs is found? Still have the calls too! from Rob (Menion) of Confessions of a Wee Timrous Bushi; Jason from Nerd’s RPG Variety Cast, and The Pink Phantom from Phantom Thoughts.

Calls from Jason of Nerd’s RPG Variety Cast prompts discussion about Knave 2e, mass battle systems, Advantage/Disadvantage, Thieves, and a strong recommendation for the movie, The Last Valley. Released in 1971, Directed by James Clavell, starring Michael Caine and Omar Sharif. Set during the 30 Years War. A breathe of fresh air if (like me) you’re tired of “EPIC “ CGI nonsense.

Hey. It’s been a while. Talk about what I’ve been up to and thoughts about the Knave 2e Kickstarter (9 days left to go if you want to back it) as well as about the Shadowdark & S&W KS...and why I haven’t seen the D&D movie.

I go over my method for providing starting PCs with campaign Lore & Rumors. Plus calls from Jason, Joe, and Daniel. “Whumming” by Goblin’s Henchman and another song from Chaos Warband.