System Shop

In this bonus episode, Violet discusses the games she ran and played at Con-Pulsion 2026…. Which she in-con-veniently forgets to name during the recording. Whoops! ***** Timestamps ***** Panels & speakers - 02:55 Unravel - 06:01 Unravel… again! - 13:57 Spoilers for the Unravel quickstart scenario - 15:39 to 16:53 More mechanical discussion of Unravel - 17:39 Freya’s extremely subjective opinio...

In this foolish episode, we…. Wait, what is it we do here again? I… I can’t remember… we’ve got a long road ahead of us if we’re going to make sense of all this. (Seriously. It turns out we can’t even begin to answer this question without talking about the nature of storytelling, improv, kayfabe, the role of GM, the purpose of rules, being instructed to *break* those rules, what it means to “play”...

In this tradition-setting bonus episode, Freya debriefs about the mechanics and tabletop experiences of seven games she played, two she ran, and one she designed (!) at Contingency 2026, the UK’s premier seasonally skewed seaside TTRPG convention. As always, a massive thank you to all the GMs and players who make this con a highlight of my year ~ Timestamps Immediate digression about competitive t...

In this ravenous episode, Violet is joined by returning guest Roz Leahy as we* talk about hunger mechanics. Don’t get confused with cozy campfire cooking: we’re discussing the tension and drama of * not* getting the sustenance you need. Everyone’s gotta eat in real life, but what does it mean for our storytelling? How do you make ingestion interesting? Should there be benefits to “staying hungry”?...

In this genre-defining episode, Violet and Freya are joined by fiancée of the show Imogen Gingell to talk about bringing a beloved videogame genre to the tabletop. How can you faithfully capture the themes while adapting mechanics to a new medium? How do you make each little guy mechanically unique and full of personality, without losing track of your travelling zoo? We explore how different games...

In this conclusive episode, we round off our discussion of mapmaking. How can random map generation both add and remove meaning in a world? Is verisimilitude in tension with playability? Do spaces need to generate conflicts? Violet re-orients her priorities. Freya turns on the worm. Roz breaks the annual silence.  Violet goes loopy. Freya goes flat-out. Roz throws shade on the dark.  Violet’s idea...

In this trailblazing episode, we have our first ever guest and our first ever two-parter! We’re joined by Roz Leahy, game designer and editor, to talk all about maps. Who makes the map, and when? How is the act of mapmaking at the table reflected within the fiction? And when can a “bad” map be better than a “good” one? Freya invents Bawdy&D. Roz lays her cartography on the table. Violet joins...

In this tailor-made episode, we discuss the advantages and challenges of using and writing pre-generated character sheets. Is there a sweet spot of player choice? And what are the risks of telling players exactly who they are and how they should feel? Freya watches for waspmen. Violet horseshoes around. Freya posits a post-it plan. Violet digs up a classic Indie game. As a bonus, we also have a th...

In this all-out episode, we discuss dual wielding and various other kinds of multiplicative modes of attack. How can frequency-focused fighting styles make different characters feel different? And how can you balance attack and defense mechanics so that “just attack more” isn’t the only answer? Violet trades a strike in the hand for two in the bush. Freya studies the studs. Violet decides Drizzt i...

In this unconventionally conventional episode, Violet talks about a recent event in Edinburgh. Violet has to hand it to handouts. Freya learns about a Thing or two. Violet takes the wrong notes. Freya is unexpectedly out-gayed. Thank you to everyone who emailed into our mailbag - If you too have a question, idea, or interesting game you’d like to share with us, email systemshoppodcast@gmail.com Ti...

In this level-appropriate episode, we discuss encounter design through the lens of totally objective ratings of enemies’ power levels. Yes, we do mention Dragonball Z - but somehow entirely refrain from any “over 9000” jokes. Violet shares tips on tipping points. Freya mopes about mopping up. Violet hates on Fate. Freya insists she liked D&D 4e all along. Thank you to everyone who emailed into...

In this first ever bonus episode, Freya reflects on the games she played at Contingency 2025 - a TTRPG convention on the wintry Norfolk coast. We discuss a pair of very yellow games, ruminate upon “A+B” dice mechanics, and analyse the comedy-to-therapy spectrum.  Timestamps CBR+PNK - 2:02 Yellow King RPG (sort of) - 9:16 Confectioners vs Cromwell (using GM’s own system) - 16:56 Never Stop Explodin...

In this camaraderie-ridden episode, we’re talking about mechanics for helping other characters in joint efforts. We discuss how teamwork can double the risks, double the rewards, and hopefully say something about the nature of your characters’ relationships in the process. Violet uses "Stanford prison experiment" as a verb. Freya farms friends. Violet turns over an old leaf. Freya tears an...

Just a brief update on the podcast, which is going on a brief hiatus due to various personal issues. Our intro music is  "Magic Escape Room" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In this nominally spooky episode, we’re talking about DEATH. Who decides when a hero falls - is it the whims of the dice, the demands of the narrative, or a knife-edge entente between the two? Violet calculates the exact value of her friends’ lives. Freya uses a stake to take a break. Violet brings a gun to a dice fight. Freya gets knocked down, but gets back up again. Our thanks to the listeners...

How do you figure out who’s on first? And how do you balance the excitement of surprise against the satisfaction of a perfectly executed plan? Violet advocates for inaction. Freya trusts in the heart of the cards. Violet reaches into her bag of tricks. Freya turns into a lighthouse. Games discussed in this episode: D&D Tunnels & Trolls Traveler Phoenix: Dawn Command*  Deadlands / Savage Wo...

Welcome to the very first* episode of System Shop, the podcast where we deep dive into RPG design, one subsystem at a time. Today, we’re talking about inventory systems: what’s the point of tracking all your bits and bobs, and can it actually be fun? Violet can’t wait to talk about Ryuutama, and wants everyone to know it. Freya can’t stop talking about counting missiles (ancient and modern). Viole...