Eidolon Playtest is two different actual-play RPG campaigns, releasing every Monday on alternating weeks! The goal of this podcast is to playtest EIDOLON: Become Your Best Self, an RPG inspired by Persona and Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, created by Luke Varner and Molly Rhinebeck! EIDOLON POP is a story of a group of college students uncovering the secret, surreal past of their professor, while EIDOLON ROCK is a story of a gang of low-level Las Vegas criminals who stumble up on a drug that grants you superpowers. Check out our Patreon at patreon.com/eidolonplaytest for early episodes, GM notes, behind-the-scenes game design episodes, and early access to the gamebook!
The Eidolon Playtest podcast is an absolute delight for fans of tabletop role-playing games and the franchises that inspired it, such as JoJo's Bizarre Adventure and Persona. From the very beginning, the game captivates its listeners with an engaging storyline that only gets better over time. The players are a joy to listen to, bringing their unique personalities and creating a fun and dynamic group dynamic. It is evident that they care about each other and have a genuine connection, which translates into their interactions within the game.
One of the best aspects of this podcast is how it creates complex and interesting scenarios for the characters to navigate through. The game master does an excellent job of crafting challenges that push the characters to their limits, while also allowing them opportunities for growth and self-expression. The logic of myth and tall tales permeate throughout the game, resulting in outlandish actions that reveal universal and personal truths. This aspect truly captures the essence of franchises like JoJo's Bizarre Adventure and Persona, where weird rules and ever-growing lore create a playground of challenge and self-expression.
Another highlight of The Eidolon Playtest podcast is the use of music references by the game master through his characters. These references add a layer of nostalgia and humor to the game, making it even more enjoyable for fans of rock music. Whether intentional or not, these song title references bring a smile to your face as you connect them with their respective scenes or character moments.
As with any podcast, there may be some aspects that don't resonate with everyone. For some listeners, it might be challenging to keep up with all the intricacies of the game's mechanics or lore if they are not familiar with tabletop role-playing games or franchises like JoJo's Bizarre Adventure or Persona. However, this minor drawback should not deter anyone from giving this podcast a try since it delivers on so many other fronts.
In conclusion, The Eidolon Playtest podcast is a must-listen for fans of actual play podcasts, tabletop role-playing games, and franchises like JoJo's Bizarre Adventure and Persona. The podcast offers a fantastic blend of quality storytelling, hilarious moments, and bizarre fights that will keep you entertained from start to finish. It's like hanging out with a group of friends who share your love for these franchises and are never afraid to throw in jokes and memes to keep things light-hearted. If you're looking for an engaging and fun podcast experience, definitely give The Eidolon Playtest podcast a try.
Welcome, one and all, to THE YEAR OF THREADSPINNER, starting off with THE MONTH OF THREADSPINNER. We will be releasing new design sessions and new game drafts every week this month as we grind away at getting the game ready to start playtesting this spring!This week, wae talk through our ideas for how the combat system should be modified from Eidolon, and revisit equipment to further codify the ideas we've talked about with it previously. We also wrote up a whole to-do list so that we can stop forgetting about what we said we should be working on!
Ace Wizards Arroai the Pragmatic and Ner'evine Livolias hit a creative stumbling block in their quest to renovate the tower of Xalatan the Triumphant. If they wish to reinvigorate their artistic passions, they must seek inspiration from visiting travelers!CREDITS:Max Knightley as Arroai the PragmaticIris Christianson as Ner'evine LivoliasCrystal Zaslavchik as Grand Duchess SelleneLuke Varner as TedMUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEYEDITED BY MAX KNIGHTLEY AND CRYSTAL ZASLAVCHIKCONTENT WARNING: This episode contains explosion and gunfire noises.This episode is possible thanks to all $10 and up Patreon subscribers! If you're listening to the 5-minute preview of this episode, then you can listen to the full episode by subscribing today!Status of The Great Tower of Xalatan:1F: Smallfolk Apartments; Front Desk; Ted's Booth2F: Tallfolk Apartments; Biohazard Zone; Healing Fountain; Item Shop; Crafting Lab3F: Goblin Barracks; Meat Pit; "Veggie Pit"; Political Graffiti4F: Arcade Machines; Limp Bizkit; Throne; Portal?5F: Healing Waterfall; Trunk of the World Tree Yggdrasil; Mushroom Village6F: Healing Pond; Enchanted Grove; Crown of the World Tree Yggdrasil7F: Sungrates?Exterior: Vines; CrystalStatus of The Town of Lake Town:Population: 13,004Key Industries: Soy; Horse + Phoenix RanchingFormer Key Industries: Orichalcum Refining; TypewritersPlans: Send ghouls to woods; Purify air with springNew Businesses: Unicorn Hotel; Old Typewriter Factory for lease
In the liminal period of the New Year, Oxley and D.G. both resolve to become their best selves. Kierra continues her quest to ruin the lives of her friends, but can she bring herself to hurt Andy?
GM: IrisLeviathans: Maxie, LukePilots: Zoe, LexiEpisode Count: 6The year is 2254. The Terran Alliance has ruled space unchallenged for the last 30 years. The Outer Sphere's resistance lies scattered across the Sol System, their military thoroughly annihilated, their adherents quietly forming small communities where they can.But the Outer Sphere preserved one, small hope before they were crushed: a hidden station housing the last two surviving Leviathans. These giant, sentient mecha lie in hibernation, hoping their Eidolon Drives will once again be awakened by worthy pilots.The Terran Alliance has spent these 3 decades hunting these lost weapons down, knowing that if they were to ever rise again, even Earth itself would no longer be safe.
One final podcast for 2025, to ring in The Month of Threadspinner!On this episode, we get serious about how quickly the deadline to a playable first draft of the game is getting, and get cracking on getting this bad boy ready for primetime. We start by working out the details of The Hero, one of the first playbooks—sorry, patterns—we came up with for this game, and in so doing identify the blank spots we still need to fill in.And because there's still a lot of blank spots, we also resolve to (try to) put up a new Design Session every single week in January to get this thing over the finish line!
Iris, Mike, and Crystal discuss a film that has been repeatedly referenced on Eidolon Playlist: Don Bluth and Gary Goldman's 2000 animated science fiction cult classic Titan A.E.!
D.G.'s personal life falls apart on New Year's Eve, the busiest night of the year for Thr33 Laws. Kierra attempts to bust the bar's union, while Oxley plays hockey to clear his mind of his relationship anxieties.
Molly, Zoe and Iris get together to talk about one of the bands of all time: My Chemical Romance. Get ready for shocking betrayals, an unlikely alliance, Zoe's special knife, and brief digression where Iris' friends explain Fall Out Boy to her.Edited by Iris
Kierra and Oxley try to make their new relationship work, despite the pressures of the Christmas season. Andy consults Kierra for gender advice, and D.G. struggles to protect her daughter while staying ahead of the law.
Kierra and Natalie each suffer a terrible misfortune that diminishes their spirits. To cheer them up, Oxley and D.G. take them to Sarah's Hanukkah celebration, where everybody learns what it truly means to be in a relationship.
Mitt Broccoli hosts a Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day concert in the park, counter-programmed by Natalie Arugula's concert. Kierra and Oxley must decide where their true loyalties lie, while D.G. discovers the inadequacies of the Parks Department.
A physical version of EIDOLON is available now through Indie Press Revolution!D.G. organizes a Cyber Monday event for Thr33 Laws, the bar and hockey rink she manages. Kierra plays live music and Oxley cheers for the local hockey team, but their evening turns unexpectedly political after Andy meets his hero.
D.G. organizes a Cyber Monday event for Thr33 Laws, the bar and hockey rink she manages. Kierra plays live music and Oxley cheers for the local hockey team, but their evening turns unexpectedly political after Andy meets his hero.
A physical version of EIDOLON is available now through Indie Press Revolution!Kierra Tight hosts a Thanksgiving dinner, hoping to impress Sarah Grape, the woman who raised her. Sarah brings a surprise that will change everything for Kierra's best friend D.G., while their mooching neighbor Oxley might have finally bit off more than he can chew.
It's been a busy autumn for both Luke and Molly, but they've finally found some time to sit down and do some more Threadspinnin'! This month, they talk about some of the ideas they've been working on off-mic, and also get into more depth on the "Threading Ritual," which is what we're calling session 0 in this game because it's fun to make every aspect of Threadspinner as extra as possible!
The cast of Eidolon FLASHBACK reunite one last time to—why did I phrase it that way? We all hang out all the time. Whatever, anyway, the point is we got together to talk about a bunch of old-ass songs!YouTube link to the playlistEdited by Iris
A physical version of EIDOLON is available now through Indie Press Revolution!"Penny Lane is in my ear, and in my eyes..." CREDITS: Mike Painter as Rudy SmithIris Christianson as Ylva Blom Luke Varner as Abigail Rhodan Max Knightley as The GM MUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEY EDITED BY LUKE VARNERCONTENT WARNING: This episode contains body horror, dismemberment, cannibalism, and other various forms of violence.Buy our book!Support us on Patreon!Join the Discord!
Kierra Tight hosts a Thanksgiving dinner, hoping to impress Sarah Grape, the woman who raised her. Sarah brings a surprise that will change everything for Kierra's best friend D.G., while their mooching neighbor Oxley might have finally bit off more than he can chew.
Buy the EIDOLON 2E book here!Join our Discord!"Penny Lane is in my ear, and in my eyes..."CREDITS:Mike Painter as Rudy SmithIris Christianson as Ylva BlomLuke Varner as Abigail RhodanMax Knightley as The GMMUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEYEDITED BY LUKE VARNERCONTENT WARNING: This episode contains body horror, dismemberment, cannibalism, and other various forms of violence.
A physical version of EIDOLON is available now through Indie Press Revolution!"Some people say a man is made outta mud A poor man's made outta muscle and blood" CREDITS: Iris Christianson as Ylva Blom Mike Painter as Rudy Smith Luke Varner as Abigail Rhodan Max Knightley as The GM MUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEY EDITED BY CRYSTAL ZASLAVCHIK CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains suffocation and poisoning.Buy our book!Support us on Patreon!Join the Discord!
A physical version of EIDOLON is available now through Indie Press Revolution![Instrumental]CREDITS:Luke Varner as Abigail RhodanMike Painter as Rudy SmithIris Christianson as Ylva BlomMax Knightley as The GMMUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEYEDITED BY LUKE VARNERCONTENT WARNING: This episode contains knife and gun violence, including against an infant.Buy our book!Support us on Patreon!Join the Discord!
A physical version of EIDOLON is available now through Indie Press Revolution!"Some people say a man is made outta mud; a poor man's made outta muscle and blood"CREDITS:Iris Christianson as Ylva BlomMike Painter as Rudy SmithLuke Varner as Abigail RhodanMax Knightley as The GMMUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEYEDITED BY CRYSTAL ZASLAVCHIKCONTENT WARNING: This episode contains suffocation and poisoning.
[Instrumental]CREDITS:Luke Varner as Abigail RhodanIris Christianson as Ylva BlomMike Painter as Rudy SmithMax Knightley as The GMMUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEYEDITED BY LUKE VARNERCONTENT WARNING: This episode contains knife and gun violence, including against an infant.
A physical version of EIDOLON is available now through Indie Press Revolution!"But I shot a man in Reno just to watch him dieWhen I hear that whistle blowing, I hang my head and cry"CREDITS:Iris Christianson as Ylva BlomMike Painter as Rudy SmithLuke Varner as Abigail RhodanMax Knightley as The GMMUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEYEDITED BY CRYSTAL ZASLAVCHIKCONTENT WARNING: This episode contains gun and knife violence.Buy our book!Support us on Patreon!Join the Discord!
A physical version of EIDOLON is available now through Indie Press Revolution!"But I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die... When I hear that whistle blowing, I hang my head and cry..."CREDITS:Iris Christianson as Ylva BlomMike Painter as Rudy SmithLuke Varner as Abigail RhodanMax Knightley as The GMMUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEYEDITED BY CRYSTAL ZASLAVCHIKCONTENT WARNING: This episode contains gun and knife violence.
A physical version of EIDOLON is available now through Indie Press Revolution!"Sometimes I get the feelin' she's watchin' over me, and other times I feel like I should go. When through it all, the rise and fall, the bodies in the streetsl, and when you're gone, we want you all to know we'll carry on!We'll carry on!"CREDITS:Lexi Waltner as Jacqueline "Jack" SparksIris Christianson as Hope PatrolMolly Rhinebeck as HereafterZoe Tunnell as The GMMUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEYEDITED BY LUKE VARNERBuy our book!Support us on Patreon!Join the Discord!
Zoe is super busy this month, so we've had to delay the MCR Playlist! Luckily, our friend Morgan from the excellent Cartoon Buffoons podcast was willing to come on and talk about music with us!Stay tuned to the end to hear a special announcement about the Next Great Miniseries From Eidolon Playtest!YouTube link to the playlist
"Sometimes I get the feelin' she's watchin' over me, and other times I feel like I should go. When through it all, the rise and fall, the bodies in the streetsl, and when you're gone, we want you all to know we'll carry on!We'll carry on!"CREDITS:Lexi Waltner as Jacqueline "Jack" SparksIris Christianson as Hope PatrolMolly Rhinebeck as HereafterZoe Tunnell as The GMMUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEYEDITED BY LUKE VARNER
A physical version EIDOLON is available now through Indie Press Revolution!"Would you be the savior of the broken, the beaten and the damned?"CREDITS:Lexi Waltner as Jacqueline "Jack" SparksMolly Rhinebeck as HereafterIris Christianson as Hope PatrolZoe Tunnell as The GMMUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEYEDITED BY LUKE VARNERBuy our book!Support us on Patreon!Join the Discord!
Maxie and Luke both got the true ending in Silksong and wanted an excuse to talk about it! It's got a bunch of thematic and aesthetic resonance with Threadspinner, so that sounds like a good enough reason for a grab bag episode to me!Also, Crystal is here, cuz why not?We spoil the entirety of Silksong in this podcast, so consider yourself warned!
We've done a lot to flesh out the broad concepts of Threadspinner and laid the foundations for the new mapmaking systems that are going to most heavily distinguish the game from Eidolon mechanically. What we haven't done is give a hard think to the basic verbs that player characters can use to act upon the world. That's what we've sat down to focus on this month!
A physical version EIDOLON is available now through Indie Press Revolution!"Would you be the savior of the broken, the beaten and the damned?"CREDITS:Lexi Waltner as Jacqueline "Jack" SparksMolly Rhinebeck as HereafterIris Christianson as Hope PatrolZoe Tunnell as The GMMUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEYEDITED BY LUKE VARNER
"You are never coming home, never coming home, never coming home, never coming home."CREDITS:Iris Christianson as Hope PatrolLexi Waltner as Jackqueline "Jack" SparksMolly Rhinebeck as HereafterZoe Tunnell as The GMMUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEYEDITED BY LUKE VARNERCONTENT WARNING: This episode contains several descriptions of people eating rotten food.
"You are never coming home, never coming home, never coming home, never coming home."CREDITS:Iris Christianson as Hope PatrolLexi Waltner as Jackqueline "Jack" SparksMolly Rhinebeck as HereafterZoe Tunnell as The GMMUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEYEDITED BY LUKE VARNERCONTENT WARNING: This episode contains several descriptions of people eating rotten food.
"Сердце, тебе не хочется покоя,Сердце, как хорошо на свете жить.Сердце, как хорошо, что ты такое!"CREDITS:Iris Christianson as Ylva BlomMike Painter as Rudy SmithLuke Varner as Abigail RhodanMax Knightley as The GMMUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEYEDITED BY CRYSTAL ZASLAVCHIKCONTENT WARNING: This episode contains gun violence and death by fire.Buy our book!Support us on Patreon!Join the Discord!
Eidolon ISLAND #4 contains background audio that several listeners have requested isolated versions of, so here they are! I recommend listening to Eidolon ISLAND #4 before listening to this, as it contains spoilers!
Сердце, тебе не хочется покоя,Сердце, как хорошо на свете жить.Сердце, как хорошо, что ты такое!CREDITS:Iris Christianson as Ylva BlomMike Painter as Rudy SmithLuke Varner as Abigail RhodanMax Knightley as The GMMUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEYEDITED BY CRYSTAL ZASLAVCHIKCONTENT WARNING: This episode contains gun violence and death by fire.
"The kind of dirty where the water never cleans off the clothes."CREDITS:Molly Rhinebeck as HereafterIris Christianson as Hope PatrolLexi Waltner as Jacqueline "Jack" SparksZoe Tunnell as The GMMUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEYEDITED BY LUKE VARNERCONTENT WARNING: This episode contains gun violence and body horror.Buy our book!Support us on Patreon!Join the Discord!
Ty isn't on any of the currently-releasing miniseries, so Crystal gave him free reign to pick this month's Playlist theme. His choice? WIZARD JAMS.What are Wizard Jams? Hell if I know dude!YouTube link to playlist
"The kind of dirty where the water never cleans off the clothes."CREDITS:Molly Rhinebeck as HereafterIris Christianson as Hope PatrolLexi Waltner as Jacqueline "Jack" SparksZoe Tunnell as The GMMUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEYEDITED BY LUKE VARNERCONTENT WARNING: This episode contains gun violence and body horror.
"All your hugs and kisses, and your money too."CREDITS:Iris Christianson as Ylva BlomLuke Varner as Abigail RhodanMike Painter as Rudy SmithMax Knightley as The GMMUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEYEDITED BY LUKE VARNERBuy our book!Support us on Patreon!Join the Discord!
Ace Wizards Arroai the Pragmatic and Nerev'ine Livolias, in their quest to restore the tower of Xalatan the Triumphant, must negotiate with the local mystical creatures to create a thriving dungeon ecosystem!CREDITS:Max Knightley as Arroai the PragmaticIris Christianson as Nerev'ine LivoliasZoe Tunnell as TermiteMike Painter as Sparklehoof Starlight, aka "Sparky" MUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEYEDITED BY MAX KNIGHTLEY AND CRYSTAL ZASLAVCHIK
"All your hugs and kisses, and your money too."CREDITS:Iris Christianson as Ylva BlomLuke Varner as Abigail RhodanMike Painter as Rudy SmithMax Knightley as The GMMUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEYEDITED BY LUKE VARNER
"He dreams of all the battles won, but fate had left its scars upon his face."CREDITS:Iris Christianson as Hope PatrolMolly Rhinebeck as HereafterLexi Waltner as Jacqueline "Jack" SparksZoe Tunnell as The GMMUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEYEDITED BY LUKE VARNERCONTENT WARNING: This episode contains gun violence, body horror, violence toward animals, and references to radiation poisoning.Buy our book!Support us on Patreon!Join the Discord!
"He dreams of all the battles won, but fate had left its scars upon his face."CREDITS:Iris Christianson as Hope PatrolMolly Rhinebeck as HereafterLexi Waltner as Jacqueline "Jack" SparksZoe Tunnell as The GMMUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEYEDITED BY LUKE VARNERCONTENT WARNING: This episode contains gun violence, body horror, violence toward animals, and references to radiation poisoning.
I'm heading home, all my homies at home plate Are waiting on me, so you know I gotta do something great CREDITS: Zoe Tunnell as Sally Blather Max Knightley as Governor Thou-Shalt-Not-Bear-False-Witness van Bosse Tyberius Wilson as Duke Shipmann Molly Rhinebeck as Frannie Pensdotter Crystal Zaslavchik as the GM MUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEY EDITED BY CRYSTAL ZASLAVCHIK CONTENT WARNINGS: This episode contains offscreen sex, descriptions of nonhuman genitals, competitive masturbation, drug and alcohol abuse, eating a living creature, death by fire, death by knife, drunk driving, and animal death.
Equipment is a pretty major element of traditional TTRPGs, and something we skipped with EIDOLON. What might equipment look like in a DftU game? Also, how should stats work in Threadspinner? What are the building blocks of a player character? Along the way we also talk a lot about Hollow Knight and Luke makes mortal enemies of everyone who likes classic Tolkein-inspired fantasy races.
I'm heading home, all my homies at home plateAre waiting on me, so you know I gotta do something greatCREDITS:Zoe Tunnell as Sally BlatherMax Knightley as Governor Thou-Shalt-Not-Bear-False-Witness van BosseTyberius Wilson as Duke ShipmannMolly Rhinebeck as Frannie PensdotterCrystal Zaslavchik as the GMMUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEYEDITED BY CRYSTAL ZASLAVCHIKCONTENT WARNINGS: This episode contains offscreen sex, descriptions of nonhuman genitals, competitive masturbation, drug and alcohol abuse, eating a living creature, death by fire, death by knife, drunk driving, and animal death.
The cast of Eidolon ISLAND comes together to discuss 13 songs from The Lonely Island, the band that inspired the campaign! In addition, we announce the two upcoming miniseries after Eidolon ISLAND! Eidolon Playlist is usually a Patreon-exclusive show, but we are releasing this episode for all listeners while we get the schedule back up to full-speed!You can listen to the playlist here!Buy our book!Support us on Patreon!Join the Discord!
The cast of Eidolon ISLAND comes together to discuss 13 songs from The Lonely Island, the band that inspired the campaign! In addition, we announce the two upcoming miniseries after Eidolon ISLAND! Eidolon Playlist is usually a Patreon-exclusive show, but we are releasing this episode for all listeners while we get the schedule back up to full-speed! You can listen to the playlist here!
All the smoke and debris led straight to the basement Yo, what the hell is that? CREDITS: Tyberius Wilson as Duke Shipmann Zoe Tunnell as Sally Blather Molly Rhinebeck as Frannie Pensdotter Max Knightley as Governor Thou-Shalt-Not-Bear-False-Witness van Bosse Crystal Zaslavchik as the GM MUSIC BY MAX KNIGHTLEY EDITED BY CRYSTAL ZASLAVCHIK
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