Tavern Chat

Time to wrap up 2018 and look forward to 2019. A look at where we are and where we are going with all things Tavern related.

Tim Shorts calls in with his thoughts on artifacts and I use Avengers Infinity War as an example as to how to use use an artifact as a campaign plot device. Then i go off the rails and discuss why I think defeat shouldn't always mean PC death.

This morning we recorded another in a series of interviews with Designers & Makers in tabletop gaming. With this episode I hang with Jason Hobbs, of the Ennie nominated Hobbs & Friends of the OSR, Hex Talk and Random Screed podcasts. Jason and I have been friends for a while and it was great to catch up with him :)

In my experience, one of the most abused aspects of AD&D 1e was the Artifacts & Relics in the DMG. While the DMG was often treated like a Sear Catalogue among many players, the Artifacts & Relics section took that to 11 (Spinal Tap for the win) 

Intelligent Swords were both boon and bane in my early days of gaming.

Christmas is now in the rearview mirror and we're catching up on voicemails. JoeTheLayer and Laramie the Tavern Mensch call the show.

Its Christmas Day. Time to thank those that have added positively to your experience. No, I'm not referring to XP either ;)

My niece Pinky joins me on this episode of Tavern Chat to talk about some of the gifts she has received thus far (dice!) and somme of her plans for 2019. Hint: it includes Swords & Wizardry Light

Sadly, it doesn't stop. Since yesterday's episode, Stacy has now gone so far as to insinuate that violence maybe be used to achieve her goals (what those goals are exactly, aside from attacking Gary Con, Bill Webb and the OSR are ill defined. We've allowed her to be the only voice for too long. Its time to defend our hobby, our creators, our publishers, our conventions and our communities. Speak u...

The attempted boycott of Gary Con continues. The target is no longer one guest, or one convention - the whole of the OSR is under attack by Stacy Dellorfano. You can stand by and do nothing, or you can support the creators, conventions and communities that are part of the larger OSR.

Paizo is releasing a Starfinder Beginner Box. I love the format and its something we've seen in the hobby since D&D Basic. I want mores! https://paizo.com/products/btq01wrs? Starfinder-Beginner-Box

In this episode of the Designers & Makers series of interviews, I talk with Douglas Cole of Gaming Ballistic. We talk GURPS, OSR, Kickstarter, usable unarmed combat rules for OSR gaming, as well as Doug's current Kickstarter - Lost Hall of Tyr (2nd Edition) https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2101297466/lost-hall-of-tyr-2nd-edition-maps-and-print-run

Today I interviewed Zach Glazar (Frog God Games). No Hawk the Slayer question, because the man has never seen the movie. Sigh. Support The Tavern at https://www.patreon.com/tenkarstavern.

I received the new Call of Cthulhu Starter Set today. Its Tavern Chat's first unboxing and it's an awesome product. 24.95 for the box with free PDFs with purchase.

In this instalment of the Designers & Makers series of interviews, I talk with Carl Heyl of the Save or Die and The Crusader Podcast. Yes, we even talk Hawk the Slayer ;)

Someone pointed me to a blogpost from Stacy D of Contessa from 2016 and I found myself nodding my head in agreement. But then I was reminded of her current call to boycott Gary Con and I realized she lacked the conviction to follow her own words and stated rules. http://www.contessa.rocks/blog/founders-forum-the-future-of-contessa

On today's episode of the Tavern Chat Podcast, I talk sit down across the virtual table with Tom Knauss, best known for his work as a writer for Frog God Games. We talk RPGs, art, Hawk the Slayer and more ;)

Tim Shorts calls the podcast. Designers & Makers Networking Group kicks off on the Tenkar's Tavern Discord Server. Daredevil’s Deborah Ann Woll to headline a new D&D show for streaming. New drama, same drumbeat. Link to the Tenkar's Tavern Discord Server: https://discord.gg/fReGmuD

Yep, apparently I never actually watch Hawk the Slayer in its entirety until this morning. You can find it to stream on Amazon (3 bucks to rent / 10 to buy) Its a fun movie so long as you go into it accepting its limitations - low budget, poor acting, lame special effects, and a horrid script. Pass me the beer and popcorn please!

Today we kick off the Designers & Makers series of interviews (with about 40 interviews currently on the grid over the next three months). Michael "BadMike" Badolato has the notoriety of being our first guest in the series. BadMike is one of the main guys behind the NTRPG Con, works for Frog God Games and does his own business selling old school games on eBay. Join us as BadMike answers "Ths Five...

We'll be kicking off the Designers& Makers series of interviews in the next couple of days, but to prepare folks for what's in store, I asked myself (and answered) the five questions that will be asked of all. These are not the be all and end all of the questions, but simply a common baseline. Enjoy :)

Google has proven to be an unreliable custodian of personal data, with 52.5 million accounts' personal data exposed.

ENWorld is looking for nominations of the Best Podcasts of 2018. I rant a bit about the LotFP Referee Book and Far West, then look at the POD of the AD&D 2e rulebooks on DriveThruRPG.

Last night was the first annual Tavern meeting. We are on pace for an amazing 2019. ENWorld has posted the results of its most anticipated games of 2019 - any wonder the pic on the ENWorld splash page is number 10 on the list - but their own release.

Much like Hit Points, Experience Points do not have a direct relationship with the real world. Sometimes a game must be seen from the game's perspective.