The GROGNARD Files

In this episode Dirk and Blythy give their account of UK Games Expo 2026 and talk to Laurence Phillips about his new game, Il Fantasma del Giallo. The post UK Games Expo 2026 Report (with Laurence Phillips) first appeared on The GROGNARD Files .

In this episode, we return to the world of RPG zines and speak to John Power of Wyrd Science magazine.

In this episode, we talk about The Pirates of Drinax , the epic sandbox campaign created by Gareth Hanrahan , developed and published by Mongoose Publishing . Matthew Sprange from Mongoose talks about the project and Traveller in general. Judge Blythy reflects on running the campaign with some recommendations and highlights. Nevermind the Dice Rolls is a fantastic zine that you can get from Patreo...

In this episode, we are in Manchester Central Library talking to GROGSQUAD member Tomas Rawlings. He has a long history of working in video games, but he also has many interesting thoughts on role-playing games and he’s currently writing a book about the evolution of Warhammer 40k. In our discussions we talk about how developments within Games Workshop shaped the nature of chaos and its popularity...

In this episode, Kalum from the Rolistes Podcast is in the zoom of role-playing rambling to talk about French speaking RPGs. He has spoken about Nephilim elsewhere and he tells us more in this episode. He’s also Kickstarting his game The Magic of Inventorying which will be familiar to attendees of virtual GROGMEET. Blythy and Dirk review their year in role-playing and give out GROGGIE awards. Caro...

Chaosium is celebrating 50 years since the company was founded by Greg Stafford. Their games have always been at the core of what we play, so it was great to have more time with returning guest, Rick Meints. Rick is the president of Chaosium, perhaps more importantly, he is the Head of the Department of Nostalgia, the custodian to the extensive, if chaotic, archive of the company. He started as a...

Do you need a companion as you wash up after a big day of festivities? Here you go. What do YOU do with your left overs? Here at the GROGNARD files, we don’t like them going to waste. We like to splice them together to create a treat for Patreons. Given it is the season to be jolly, we are giving this edition Dirk’s Dossier in the main feed for you to enjoy. You’re welcome. In here Judge Blythy ta...

In this episode Dirk talks to Magnus Seter about Outside the Box, How Sweden Conquered The World of Role-Playing Games . Learn the fascinating story of how RPGs reached Sweden and were transformed by the play culture. Thanks to Fandrake, the publisher of Outside the Box, we have books to giveaway. Share this episode and make a comment below to be in with a chance of being drawn from the hat (finis...

September and October have been replete with gaming sessions. Can you have too much of a good thing? That’s the question we ask this episode. Dirk is joined in the Zoom of Role-Playing Rambling by Graham Bottley from Arion Games , which is celebrating 20 years publishing games and supplements. It has had the licence for Advanced Fighting Fantasy, Mealstrum and more, so continues to publish vintage...

This time we return to the topic of Dungeon Crawl Classics (DCC) with Judge Blythy, our resident zealot. Appendix G, our never-ending list of influences, expands with the wonderful Swords Series from Fritz Leiber nominated by Dave Paterson. We talk about our preparation for a busy September of gaming. Paul Fricker has released Gatsby and The Great Race for 7th Edition Call of Cthulhu. Please suppo...

It was 10 years ago today, that we first came out to play! In this episode we jump every shark in sight by reflecting on the past ten years of the podcast. We invited listeners to ask us anything, as long as it was looking back over the past 10 years, so we could lean back in our armchairs and reflect on what we have done. Also, joining the fun is @dailydwarf , who looks back on Small Ads and lett...

In this GROGPOD, Judge Blythy talks about his initiation into the cult of DCC. We look at what makes it work. Goodman Games , the publisher of DCC, is hosting DCC Day on 19th July 2025. We are joined by Brendan LaSalle who talks about DCC and his futuristic variant, XCrawl Classics where you can have a spectator sport in the dungeon. Next time we will look at some more settings. You can support th...

In this episode, we continue our examination of magic in Role-Playing Games with a look at Ars Magica with Science Fiction author Adrian Tchaikovsky . He talks to us about the setting, the rules and the way that magic works in the game. We haven’t had chance to play it yet, so Dirk and Blythy meet in the Lass O Gowrie pub in Manchester and discuss the difficulties of ‘fitting it all in’. We have b...

Returning guest Stephen Brotherstone, co-author of the Scarred for Life series of books and shows, joins us in the zoom of Role Playing Rambling to examine the witchcraft and horrors that haunted our childhood years. You can see Ste as his show is on the road during 2025 and the latest volume of the series is now available. Highly recommended as it is packed with gaming nostalgia content. Also in...

Magic in RPGs is a continuing obsession for Dirk the Dice and Blythy in this latest episode of the podcast. We talk about Advanced Dungeons and Dragons (AD&D) and Powers and Perils (Pee & Pee) and marvel at how we played in the early 2000s, when we didn’t know any better and were more willing to freeform and ‘make stuff up’. Also in this episode, we are pleased that GROGSQUADer China Miévi...

It’s a kind of magic, in RPGs. This time we are joined by Stu Horvath, podcaster ( Vintage RPG Podcast ) and writer, who talks about his book Monsters, Aliens and Holes in the Ground , which takes us decade by decade through the history of RPGs. He also contributes to our discussion about magic in RPGs. What would we like to play, stay on our shelves or give away? Virtual GROGMEET is available to...

This time we are talking about GROGMEET our annual Role Playing Games meet up in Manchester. We were joined by game designer, publisher and entrepreneur Paul Baldowski who talks about Dangerous Journeys, PBMs and his game Sanction. Blythy shares his experiences and how we played Gatsby and The Great Race by Paul Fricker. If you want to find out more about Dice on the Borderlands you can find it at...

Join us in the Room of Role-Playing Rambling as we investigate the highs and lows of role-playing in 2024. Thanks for supporting us. Why not consider tipping a couple of coins in the beret over at Patreon. The post 2024: A Year in RPGs Ep. 77 first appeared on The GROGNARD Files .

This GROGPOD features a special recording of an interview with writer Ben Aaronovitch, the creator of The Rivers of London series of books . An RPG has been developed by the team at Chaosium. Ben talks about the project, his formative years in gaming and gives insight into his creative process. The interview was recorded live as part of GROGMEETish which took place in November. It features additio...

Following Part 1, we are now ready to open the spurious envelopes on our 1984 experiences. We also issue a challenge to listeners to help us discover new enthusiasms. At Daily Dwarf returns with an overview of what was happening in the pages of White Dwarf. Please pass on The GROGNARD files to your RPG friends and consider supporting us at Patreon. The post 1984: A Year in RPGs Ep75 Pt2 first appe...

Welcome to the zoom of role-playing rambling where we are looking backwards to look forwards. This time we are transporting you back to the heady days of 1984. We are joined by the fabulous Bob Fischer who shares the highlights from his 1984 diaries. Judge Blythy, our resident rules lawyer, joins Dirk to determine the RPG Highlights of 1984, but get distracted (see part 2) Make sure you check out...

En garde! Yes, this time we are investigating the worlds of 17th Century Europe and asking, “is this the true mode of all fantasy role-playing high-adventure?” We are joined by Graham Kinniburgh, who tells us about his Oscar night triumph with An Irish Goodbye and what it was like being at The Battle of the Bastards. He is adding The Three Musketeers to Appendix G. In the Zoom of Role-Playing ramb...

Welcome to the third and final part of our Monsters in Role Playing Games (RPGs) episode. This time we are joined in the Room of Role Playing rambling by Tomas Harenstam from Free League. He talks about his formative years in Swedish role playing and how to create a great Bestiary. Dirk and Blythy answer listener Monster questions before having a chat about When we were Wizards . Support the Patre...

We continue to explore the worlds of monsters in role-playing games (RPGs). In this episode, we are joined by James Holloway, from the Monster Man podcast . He adds a new entry into the ever expanding Appendix G. Judge Blythy and Dirk talk about the famous monsters of Hollywood and beyond and consider what we can learn from them. The end music is Concrete by Omari, from Phunk Media Please support...

This time we are looking at bestiaries from our book shelves. We talk about: Numenera, Forbidden Lands, Call of Cthulhu, Dragon Warriors, 13th Age, Vaesen, This was at the request of GROGSQUADer China Miéville who Dirk talked to at an RPG Symposium earlier this year. Next time, J ames Holloway, Monster Man joins us, because monsters are great. Support the podcast on Patreon. The post Monsters in R...