The GROGNARD Files

Download Episode In this episode we review the games that we have played in 2020 – there were so many! During the discussion we cover our experiences of playing Lyonesse, Savage Worlds, Mutant Year Zero and many more. You can see the report on all the games we played by following this link. Dave Morris joins us in the Room of Role-Playing Rambling and discusses White Dwarf and other projects he’s...

Download Episode The last GROGPOD of 2020 features a classic British Old School RPG, Dragon Warriors. You can find out more about Dave Morris at his blog and his Patreon . Daily Dwarf has a blog too . Dave Paterson is about to launch a new podcast Frankenstein’s RPG and he’s a regular on Orlanth Rex’s Gaming Vexes . Dragon Warriors is available at Drive Thru RPG (print on demand) as is Casket of F...

Download Episode This is a bonus episode featuring a ‘Library Use’ segment that we recorded which looks in detail at issue 52 of Dragon Magazine (published in August 1981). The publication was around the same time as the launch of the Moldvay edition of Basic D&D. We discuss an article where the new edition is discussed in comparison with the Holmes edition. We also review some of the other co...

Download Episode This is the second part of the Dungeons and Dragons Episode. Lew Pulsipher returns to talk more about his contributions to White Dwarf, his strategy game Britannia and his contributions to EN World. Daily Dwarf revisits Holmes Basic D&D and tries to revive the magic. Cris Watkins from Bonhomie Games shares his First, Last and Everything. Blythy and Dirk have a ‘cover off’ look...

Download Episode GROGMEET2020, the fifth annual meet-up of the GROGSQUAD, had to be held online to avoid pathogens. It didn’t stop us having a fantastic weekend which included a Pub Quiz, a Mausritter Tournament Dungeon, and an eclectic mix of games over four time-slots: seventy sessions in total. To end the event we recorded this live panel in the Zoom of Role-Playing rambling (with an audience o...

Download Episode We knew we’d get there eventually. This episode is dedicated to Basic Dungeons and Dragons. Our guest is Lew Pulsipher who was a regular contributor to the Golden Era of White Dwarf. He talks about his formative years in role-playing. He is still contributing to EN World and has a Video channel all about Games Design. Blythy and I talk about finding players and how he fell in love...

Download Episode Welcome to the end of the world! In the latest episode we look at the FGU RPG Aftermath! , a game that is still supported by useful online resources. I ran a one-shot for GrimCon but working out the rules was a challenge. Thankfully Doc Cowie is on hand to help me through the twists and turns. Also mentioned is Improvised Radio Theatre with Dice . There’s a First, Last and Everyth...

Download Episode Blimey, we’ve been doing this bobbins for five years! Good grief! In this episode, we go back to the beginning to look at RuneQuest with Jason Durall, as well as other highlights from his career in role-playing. Blythy and I face the randomly selected Thunder Phase suggested by Patreons. First, last and everything is presented by Bud RPG Reviews. I make a reference to Full Fathom...

Download Episode Know o prince … the GROGNARD files produces another epic (take your time …). We’ve been playing Conan: Adventures in an Age Undreamed of, by Modiphius and having great fun emulating the Hyborian world of Robert E Howard. Jason Durall is an enthusiastic player as well as designer and he gives a great interview talking of his formative years in the hobby and how he approached the Co...

Download Episode Loz Whitaker from The Design Mechanism returns to face The GamesMaster’s screen. He talks about The Eternal Champion, Strontium Dog and Mythras. We have been enjoying a Hawkmoon series of adventures using Mythras using elements of Chaosium’s Hawkmoon and the Mongoose version. Doc ‘Con’ Cowie shares his First, Last and Everything. In a new section, we look at vintage magazines Diff...

Lyonesse RPG Download Episode Welcome to a new GROGPOD about a new game that we are very excited about. Lyonesse, Fantasy Role-Playing based on the novels by Jack Vance has been released by The Design Mechanism. We are joined by Lawrence Whitaker who tells us about the project and his formative years in role-playing. Daily Dwarf looks at some of the other literary worlds that were brought to life...

An introduction to the GROGNARD files RPG podcast Download Episode Hello, my name is Dirk the Dice and this is the GROGNARD files podcast. If you are new here, then this is the place to begin as it provides a quick overview of what to expect from the GROGPOD. It’s probably best to start at the beginning, but time is precious, so this introduction provides some recommendations to help you make your...

Download Episode Welcome to the post apocalypse with Pookie from Reviews from R’lyeh. We talk about how RPGs taught us everything we need to know about the apocalypse. Old Scouse Role Player shares his first, last and everything. Please support what we do on Patreon .

MERP Part 2 with Liz Danforth Download Episode Welcome to the second part of the MERP episode. I recommend Menion (AKA Rob’s) podcast ; we speak to Liz Danforth – why not support her on Patreon? Thanks to Per Broden for his excellent First, Last and Everything, the an ad for our good friends at The Good Friends …. and we roll some crits on our new Patreons.

Download Episode Popular demand has insisted that we look at MERP from Iron Crown (1984). In this first part we come to terms with Tolkien and our relationship to Middle Earth. Thanks to Liz Danforth , Daily Dwarf , Graham Kinniburgh, and Steve Ray for their help in putting this Episode together. Support us on Patreon

Download Episode What makes Pulp “pulp” we ask ourselves in this episode. It features the interview with Paul Fricker that we recorded at GROGMEET19. He’s one of the hosts of The Good Friends of Jackson Ellias , who we joined in the E.N.World Hall of Fame, thanks to the generous votes from the GROGSQUAD. There’s also a First, Last and Everything from Lee Williams and much more.

Download Episode It’s the end of the world as we know it, but we feel fine, because we’ve been gaming, a lot. We review the year in gaming over a pint with Clint, the pub dog. Jamie Thomson is back looking over his career in Fighting Fantasy , The Way of the Tiger game books, The Fabled Lands and The Dark Lord Series (to the sound of a very noisy computer fan). Check out EN World and vote for your...

Live Action RPG (with Jamie Thomson) Download Episode INTRO: We are still recovering from a successful GROGMEET19. I picked up some new games along the way, including Pendragon and the new Eberron supplement for D&D (thanks to the coverage that they received on The Smart Party). OPEN BOX (with Jamie Thomson): Features editor for White Dwarf between 1981-84, author of Fighting Fantasy books, th...

Only those who seek death, or sell it Download Episode INTRO: It’s the first anniversary of Greg Stafford’s passing and to recognise the event, we are celebrating one of his greatest, collaborative creations: Thieves’ World. There’s a quick potted history featured here, if you want to see the supplement for yourself, I’ve made a short unboxing film. OPEN BOX: Eddy has managed to track down a copy...

Numenera RPG Download Episode The GROGNARD files is back with the latest episode which looks in-depth at Numenera RPG based on the Cypher System which was the first new-fangled game that we played when we returned to the hobby. There’s a great First, Last and Everything from Kaye Elling (make sure you follow the progress of her Judge Death model on Twitter). Also included is an update on the lates...

Blake’s 7 Actual Play Download Episode As an extra to Episode 30, here’s the rest of the Actual Play. It also features a ‘Games Master Prepares’ segment about using The Five Room Dungeon.

Download Episode INTRO: This time we are looking at Blake’s 7 and its influence on our gaming. GROGGLEBOX: Eddy joins us in a noisy Port Street Beer House in Manchester to discuss ‘Project Avalon’ ACTUAL PLAY: Thanks to Andrew Cousins of lending me his copy of the rules to play. Blythy as Avon, Doc Con Cowie as Blake, Andrew Cousins as Vila, The Welsh Wizard Michael Hobbs as Jenner, and Mark Kitch...

Episode 29 (Part 2) White Dwarf the RPG Years Download Episode In this episode we discover the seven ages of White Dwarf with @DailyDwarf and the First Last and everything from Nick Edwards. We also bang on a bit about the Patreon which has got some new goals.

Mike Brunton: a tribute Download Episode Mike Brunton, our special guest for Episode 29, suddenly passed away on 18th July 2019. This is the interview in full, released as a celebration of his gaming career. It also features Paul Cockburn adding a tribute to his old friend and colleague.

It’s taken us 50 podcasts to dedicate an episode to White Dwarf. It was the centre of our RPG lives when we were teenagers. In this episode Mike Brunton tells us how he got into RPGs and worked with TSR UK and Imagine magazine. Next time he will be relating his experiences as editor of White Dwarf and working for Games Workshop. Neil Hopkins provides his First, Last and Everything. He created solo...