Down in a Heap

Calls about the last few gaming episodes from Joe of Hindsightless, Jason of Nerd’s RPG Variety Cast, and Daniel of Bandit’s Keep - mostly regarding Paladins & Rangers, but a dash of other topics too.

We take the bandages off the 1932 classic, the Mummy. It’s got it all: eternal love, exotic talented (and effective!) heroine, tyrannical director, curses, cats, dogs, a magic jacuzzi, and Boris Karloff in a fez! Plus a hidden gem that Jason dug up for intermission. Enjoy!

I ramble about the motivation conundrum for Paladins & Rangers in S&W and how they may differ significantly from other classes. Also, the restriction/benefit analysis. Plus a dash of initiative.

Jason of Nerd’s RPG Variety Cast again joins me for more classic monster movie talk. This time, it’s The Bride of Frankenstein from 1935. Enjoy!

Listening to Barry’s Shadow of the GM podcast episode S2:E17 has me thinking about PC advancement rates in classic D&D games. And what motivates the players?

I roll up a new PC for Whispered Tales of Gore after a near TPK, plus calls from Joe, Jason, Daniel, and Tim and a new Midderzine contest announcement.

I’m joined again by Jason from Nerd’s RPG Variety Cast as we discuss the 1931 classic, Frankenstein. Just two fans rambling about something they love. Plus pirate singing?!?

Calls about narrative meta currency, and magic swords; responses to Melancholy Monday: Covid & why we’re podcasting (sorry for the delays); the Boy Who Could Fly, session recap, and marmalade.

I ramble a bit about what I’ve been up to, gaming narrative currency, a magic weapon option, and a preview of the Back to BasiX compilation by Thom Wilson of Throwi Games

The anniversary of needing hospitalization for Covid has me feeling gloomy. But some listener calls help perk me up and I do a reading from the Referee section of Swords & Wizardry.

Calls about Kickstarter, Creativity, and Cartoons! And I add another tarnished nugget to my list of “gaming laws”. If you want to avoid Covid talk, skip in about 10 minutes.

Calls about cartoons, cereal, and more from Ray, Jason, Joe, Kevin, Taylor, Roy, Daniel, and Evil Jeff. Who is the big winner of the Midderzine from Glynn Seal of Monkeyblood Design?

I go through the setting doc for Middlemarch, my exploration S&W game set in Glynn Seal’s Midderlands. Plus calls from Daniel Norton and Goblin’s Henchman. Enjoy!

I procrastinated far too long, and wow!, 36 calls on this megalosaurus bonanza. Thanks everyone! And don’t forget: call me with something cartoon related by 8/6/21 for the next Midderzine giveaway.

Calls about henchmen and the “name that Henchman!” contest winner. Who just won an issue of the Midderzine by Monkeyblood Design? And how do you enter the next contest? Listen in...😉

June 24th was the 10-year anniversary from when creator Greg Gillespie started his Barrowmaze game. I give my top 5 features for Barrowmaze Complete and recount the after action reports from my Barrowmaze game in 2017-18.

A few calls from Roy of Chaoses Limb starts a chat on the mindset of players vs. referees as well as “letting the team down” in game. Playing low stats and having different agendas. Just let LeRoy Jenkins die...🤣

A response show of sorts to episodes by Colin Green of Spikepit, where he ponders whether or not a d20 is “swingy” and if that idea has been taken as collective wisdom. Plus calls from Ray Otus of Plundergrounds and Karl Rodriguez of GMologist.

Calls from Jason and Daniel about the S&W box set review; how it compares with OSE and my additional thoughts on what worked and missed opportunities.

A few calls from Daniel of The Bandit’s Keep podcast & YouTube plus some quick thoughts on issues I hear some discuss about Thieves in Classic D&D. Too pathetic? System too wonky? Retries? Thieves’ Tools?

Send in the clowns, the Redshirts, the cannon fodder...or maybe the peeps that will save your bacon. Calls from John of Red Dice Diaries help me examine this fun aspect of classic D&D.

I review the new Swords & Wizardry box set edition from Frog God Games, and also give a brief comp to the popular Old School Essentials box set by Necrotic Gnome.

Back from vacation with a bunch of calls from Jason, BJ, Daniel, John Large, Lieren, and Logan with a wide range of topics. Some might prompt something akin to insight from me; some of my rambling might be drivel. You decide😂

My brain is already half on vacation. A ramble about that and what I’m noodling about for game campaign material and themes.

A call from Colin Green of Spikepit about the intent of his statement that “it’s all just D&D” prompts me to attempt a rambling (and hopefully coherent) continuation of the conversation. Thanks Colin!