The Arcane Alienist

In this episode I talk about the utility and ubiquitousness of the humble six-sided die. Plus a recap of my home groups first session of Horror on the Hill where they encounter the People of the Cave. We also have calls from Joe of the Highsightless and Mirke of Mirke the Meek. Also a shout out to Daniel at Bandit's Keep and this video at Tenkar's Tavern. Check out the ⁠Cerebrevore crew&#3...

Happy Fathers Day and Happy (belated) Juneteenth! In this episode I have a recap of my ongoing OSR campaign using Swords & Wizardry Complete with a dash of OSE thrown in for good measure. Also, check out the Cerebrevore crew's recent review of the new Masters of the Universe movie. Send me a message! ​Email me at arcane.alienist@gmail.com ​Leave a voicemail at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Speakpipe⁠

In this episode, we have an unboxing and short review of Delve , a supplement for Shadowdark and 5E by YouTube legend Bob World Builder . Also, I give a long overdue response to a call from Jason of Nerd's RPG Variety Cast. Send me a message! ​Email me at arcane.alienist@gmail.com ​Leave a voicemail at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Speakpipe⁠

Here's a special episode in honor of both Veterans Day and Native American Heritage Month, where I create a version of the iconic G. I. Joe character Spirit Iron-Knife using Modern War from Zozer Games.

it's OSR October! What better way to observe it than to dive into my latest Swords & Wizardry game session. Send me a message! ​Email me at arcane.alienist@gmail.com ​Leave a voicemail at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Speakpipe⁠

The latest D&D with Drama Kids - the party slogs through the swamp in search of an evil priest, but find lizardfolk, hydras, dragons, and even a couple of lost elves. I also have some calls regarding the last episode from podcasters Joe Richter of Hindsightless and the Pink Phantom of Phantom Thoughts . Send me a message! ​Email me at arcane.alienist@gmail.com ​Leave a voicemail at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

In this episode I just have some reflections on how people increasingly thinks of themselves as a collection of identity markers, not unlike the traits on a character sheet in an RPG. Send me a message! ​Email me at arcane.alienist@gmail.com ​Leave a voicemail at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Speakpipe⁠

It's #RPGaDay2025 Each August, we take some time each day to reflect about the positives of the hobby. This year, I am combining several prompts at a time to create some adventure scenarios. Here's what I have for the days 21-31. Thanks to ⁠⁠Autocratik ⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Casting Shadows⁠⁠ for always putting this together for the RPG community. Give a listen to these other creators who have also been partici...

It's #RPGaDay2025 Each August, we take some time each day to reflect about the positives of the hobby. This year, I am combining several prompts at a time to create some adventure scenarios. Here's what I have for the days 11-20. Thanks to ⁠Autocratik ⁠ and ⁠Casting Shadows⁠ for always putting this together for the RPG community. Send me a message! ​Email me at arcane.alienist@gmail.com ​L...

It's #RPGaDay2025 Each August, we take some time each day to reflect about the positives of the hobby. This year, I am combining several prompts at a time to create some adventure scenarios. Here's what I have for the first 10 days. Thanks to Autocratik and Casting Shadows for always putting this together for the RPG community. Send me a message! ​Email me at arcane.alienist@gmail.com ​Leave a voi...

Wait... Part 2? This is a crossover episode where Karl Rodriguez and I discuss some of the classic modules from the TSR era of D&D. You can find Part 1 of the conversation at The GMologist Presents. Send me a message! ​Email me at arcane.alienist@gmail.com ​Leave a voicemail at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Speakpipe⁠

In this episode we have calls from Evil Jeff ( Minions & Musings) and Mike the Meek with comments about Sigmund Freud and alignment. I also give an update on my "D&D with Drama Kids" campaign and pose a question: What is on your charater's playlist? Check out my review of Superman with Jason on the latest Nerd's RPG Variety Cast . And here's the book Mirke mentions ab...

Inspired by the chapter on alignment in the S&W Book o Options, I present a comparison of Michael Moorcock's cosmic balance and Freud's theory of personality. Also, I have calls from Daniel ( Bandit's Keep) , Joe ( Hindsightless) , and Mirke ( Mirke the Meek) . Here are the other books mentioned in this episode The Antidote by Oliver Burkeman The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris A Liberated Mind...

This episode as some actual "alienist" content as I compare the way psychologists use theory and to make decisions in psychotherapy to the way a GM uses understanding of game design to make rulings at the table. I also have calls from Jason ( Nerd's RPG Variety Cas t), Karl ( The GMologist Presents ) and Mirke ( Mirke the Meek) . Take a look at Mirke's stuff on itch.io ! Send me a message! ​Email...

In this episode I discuss using embracing the emergent stories that come from just playing the game and seeing where it takes you. This is partially inspired by recent discussions by Che Webster and Anthony Boyd about the nature of roleplaying games and characters as protagonists on the past few episodes of Roleplay Rescue. Give them a listen! Also, we have a new episode of Cerebrevore out now, wh...

My quick review of Black Powder and Brimstone by Benjamin Tobitt. I also, this episode's cover art is the map to my Black Sword Hack have solo game, as suggested by a call from the GMologist . I made it using Inkarnate . Send me a message! Email me at arcane.alienist@gmail.com Leave a voicemail at ⁠⁠⁠⁠Speakpipe⁠

It's the conclusion of my first solo adventure with Black Sword Hack. Dolen and his "niece" Thorn confront the twisted mortician Fedro and uncover his plans for an undead army. But is he the real master or just a minion of Chaos? I also have a call from our good friend Riley, host of the excellent Diagetic Advancement podcast. Be sure to give it a listen! Special music for this episo...

Part 4 of my solo adventure with Black Sword Hack. Dolen speaks to s suspicious fellow at the Morticians' Guild and seeks help from a former adversary. Special music for this episode curtesy of Bleupanda at ⁠⁠⁠Pond5⁠⁠⁠ . Send me a messag! Email me at arcane.alienist@gmail.com Leave a voicemail at ⁠⁠Speakpipe

Part 3 of my solo adventure with Black Sword Hack. Dolen enters the city slums in search of a wayward nobleman and answers about his brother's death. Special music for this episode curtesy of Bleupanda at ⁠⁠Pond5⁠⁠ . Send me a message! Email me at arcane.alienist@gmail.com Leave a voicemail at ⁠Speakpipe

The second installment of solo play featuring Dolen of Ulber, as he says farewell to his brother and reflects on his origins and how he came to be a courier in the service of House Fulluando. Special music for this episode curtesy of Bleupanda at ⁠Pond5⁠ . Thanks to Mirke the Meek for his call in this eposiode. Make sure you listen to his podcast. Other great podcasts referenced in this episode we...

After character generation and word-building, it's finally time for solo play with Black Sword Hack . Meet Dolen, once a barbarian thrall, now an agent of a powerful merchant house, as he prepares to deal with a personal tragedy. Special music for this episode curtesy of Bleupanda at Pond5 . Be sure to catch the latest episode of Cerebrevore , where Arlen and Karl join me to discuss Star Wars. Lea...

In this episode, we compete our basic worldbuilding with cities, signs of the apocalypse, and a prompt to get the first adventure under way. Leave a comment, or reach out to me directly! You can email me (arcane.alienist@gmail.com) or leave a voice message through my http://www.speakpipe.com/ArcaneAlienist" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Speakpipe account .

In this episode we get one step closer to solo play with Black Sword Hack as I fill in the major factions of the campaign setting and put them on the map using the tools from the rulebook.

Meet my randomly generated Black Sword Hack character. He's not your average piece of Frazetta beefcake. Check out an example of BSH solo play at the Kill Ten Rats RPG YouTube channel.

Here's a relatively quick overview of Black Sword Hack, the sword & sorcery game that ponders the question: "What is best in life?" You can purchase the complete "Ultimate Chaos Edition" or get the free SRD for the game at The Merry Mushmen website.