GM Intrusions - Your Numenera, The Strange & Cypher System podcast - Starwalker Studios

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GM Intrusions is the podcast devoted to Numenera, The Strange and other games using the Cypher System. This podcast provides insights to players and GMs as well as product reviews for Numenera, The Strange and other Cypher System games.

Lex Starwalker


    • Mar 22, 2015 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 3m AVG DURATION
    • 77 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from GM Intrusions - Your Numenera, The Strange & Cypher System podcast - Starwalker Studios

    GMI E78 The Obsidian Monolith 08 - The Adventures Continue

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2015 3:49


    The adventures continue in episode 08 of The Obsidian Monolith.

    GM Intrusions E77 - Game Master's Journey

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2015 31:20


    It’s the season 2 finale episode! I have some exciting announcements about the future of the show!

    game gm intrusions
    GMI E76 The Obsidian Monolith 07 - Connecting Adventures Together

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2015 39:00


    In this episode of The Obsidian Monolith, I discuss the second adventure of the campaign and show you how I used it to connect the first and third adventures together.

    GM Intrusions E74 - Being a Creative in the 21st Century with Ryan Chaddock

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2015 69:24


    Ryan Chaddock joins the show today to discuss his various Cypher System supplements. We’ll also talk about creating foci, writing a third party supplement, crowdfunding, and making a living as a creative.

    creative 21st century cypher system ryan chaddock gm intrusions
    GM Intrusions E73 - Interview with Matt Forbeck

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2014 50:26


    Matt Forbeck joins me on the show today to discuss the Shotguns and Sorcery Kickstarter. I also review the Numenera adventure The Sun Below City on the Edge by Dread Unicorn Games.

    GM Intrusions E72 - Interview with John W.S. Marvin

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2014 68:55


    John Marvin joins me on the show today to discuss his Numenera adventure The Sun Below - City on the Edge. We also discuss using fiction as inspiration for your game, getting the most out of GM Intrusions and much more.

    GM Intrusions E71 - Preludes to Adventure

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2014 51:36


    Today I’ll discuss the benefits of running preludes for your campaign. They’re more than worth the time you’ll invest in them! I also touch on why character balance is much more important than party balance in Cypher System games.

    GMI E70 The Obsidian Monolith AP Session 04 Part 2 - Madame Saydle's Wondrous Soup

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2014 69:52


    In this episode the PCs continue their search for Aneej, a young woman of Bonespir who has disappeared in the Westwood. Madame Saydle’s Wondrous Soup saves the day, and the PCs finally find themselves in the culova village. Hilarity ensues when Tianma becomes entangled within a culovan hammock.

    GM Intrusions E69 - Discovery Through Combat

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2014 52:41


    In this episode of GM Intrusions I’m going to put one of the core tenets of Numenera under the microscope.

    GMI E68 The Obsidian Monolith AP Session 04 Part 1 - The Man They Called Zain

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2014 76:11


    The PCs enjoy their new status as heroes of Bonespir. Some hilarity ensues at the festival thrown in their honor, however things take a more serious turn when a man from the village asks the PCs for their help. During the festival, Zain finds his true calling as a public speaker....

    GM Intrusions E67 - Selling the Cypher System

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2014 65:00


    This week I give my best sales pitch for the Cypher System and some thoughts on introducing new players, so if you’re wondering whether to buy in, this episode’s for you! I also cover a brand new Strange adversary, the Catastrophe Cloud in A&P.

    GM Intrusions E66 - Translation

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2014 57:00


    I have some new additions to the Starwalker Studios YouTube channel to tell you about, and there’s a new free glimmer for Numenera. In Under the Lens I’ll dig into translation in The Strange. Finally Agent Niehl returns with another Strange Encounters.

    GM Intrusions E65 - The Cypher System Rulebook

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2014 57:35


    I have some Cypher System announcements, including the imminent Cypher System Rulebook and The Strange Bestiary. I also have a review of The Strange Player’s Guide, and in A&P I’ll talk about a brand new Strange creature—the Spine Tingler.

    GMI E64 The Obsidian Monolith AP Session 03 Part 2 - Bugbusters

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2014 57:27


    This is the final episode of the first adventure. The PCs have a rematch with a slicer beetle and another encounter with the culovas.

    GMI E63 The Obsidian Monolith AP Session 03 Part 1 - The Order of Tianma

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 11, 2014 66:46


    In this episode the PCs finally reach the heart of the windmill.

    GMI E62 The Obsidian Monolith AP Session 02 Part 2 - Numenera Hunters

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2014 90:30


    This is the second part of the second session. We join the game in progress as the players divvy up the cyphers they’ve found in the destruction left by their encounter with the Yellow Swarm. The PCs encounter more hazards within the Windmill. It contains another challenging encounter complete with some GM Intrusions.

    GMI E61 The Obsidian Monolith AP Session 02 Part 1 - The Swarm from Hell

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2014 109:00


    This is the first part of the second session. At the end of the last session the PCs encountered some steel spiders. We wrap up that encounter and then the PCs face an even greater challenge within the Windmill.

    GMI E60 The Obsidian Monolith AP Session 01 Part 3 - Inside the Windmill

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2014 60:00


    This is the third part of the first session. In this episode the PCs recover from their encounter with the uber-deadly slicer beetles and begin exploring the Windmill.

    GMI E59 The Obsidian Monolith AP Session 01 Part 2 - The Windmill in the Woods

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2014 55:00


    This is the second part of the first session. In this episode the PCs leave the town of Bonespir and head into the Westwood. They have their first run-in with danger outside the Windmill and barely survive!

    GMI E58 The Obsidian Monolith AP Session 01 Part 1 - The Town of Bonespir

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2014 60:00


    Greetings Numenerian and welcome to Session 1 part 1 of The Obsidian Monolith Actual Play podcast. I’m your host, Lex Starwalker. I’ve explained how I’ve created the adventure, now we can see how it survives, or doesn’t survive, first contact with the players.

    GMI E57 The Obsidian Monolith 06 - The Windmill in the Woods

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2014 71:00


    Today I’ll describe some of the NPCs in Bonespir, and I’ll share the creation of the first adventure in the campaign—The Windmill in the Woods.

    GM Intrusions E56 - Season Finale

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2014 86:00


    In the finale episode of season one I’ll talk a bit about the past and future of the show. I’ll share with you how I ran my first 100% on-the-fly adventure for Numenera. If I can do it, you can too! Finally, I talk about trading damage for effect and Dissicaeli. This episode is dedicated to the listeners and Patrons of GM Intrusions. Thank you for a great year!

    GMI E55 The Obsidian Monolith 05 - The Town of Bonespir

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2014 53:23


    Today I’ll talk about the town of Bonespir, a small logging town on the edge of the Westwood in Navarene. This is where the campaign will begin, and will serve as a home base for the PCs.

    GM Intrusions E54 - Tactical Effort

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2014


    Today I’ll revisit the discussion on controlling how players spend their xp. I’m not just playing devil’s advocate, I’ve changed my mind. In Under the Lens I’ll dig into the tactics of when to spend effort on speed defense, and when not to.

    GM Intrusions E53 - Interview with Scott Bourgeois

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2014 63:00


    Scott Bourgeois joins me on the show today to discuss his ENnie award-winning podcast, The Signal. We’ll also talk about Numenera, The Strange and gaming in general.

    GM Intrusions E52 - Revealing Difficulties

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2014 61:00


    I’ll talk about when to tell players difficulty numbers, race as a Descriptor, and just how an Artificially Intelligent Nano who Fuses Flesh and Steel would work. Finally in Antagonists and Protagonists, I discuss the Valma.

    GM Intrusions E51 - Sir Arthour's Guide, When Worlds Collide, & Into the Violet Vale Reviews

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2014 93:33


    Today I’ll talk a little bit about a common issue with advancement in the Cypher System. I also review When Worlds Collide, the conversion guide for Numenera and The Strange; Sir Arthour’s Guide to the Numenera; and Into the Violet Vale, the Numenera adventure I ran at Gen Con.

    GM Intrusions E50 - Interview with Johnny Sharpe

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2014 52:40


    Johnny Sharpe joins me on the show today to discuss his experiences as a player and GM. You’ve seen him run Numenera for the DiceStormers on YouTube.

    gm sharpe numenera dicestormers gm intrusions
    GMI E49 The Obsidian Monolith 04 - Prepping and Running a Numenera Session

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2014 114:31


    I share how I prepare and run a Numenera session. I then discuss my goals and plans for the first adventure of The Obsidian Monolith campaign.

    GM Intrusions E48 - Experience the Cypher System

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2014 68:00


    I’ll start the episode off by giving some advice on the Cypher System for new players. I’ll also give a bit of advice to GMs when deciding whether or not to allow something not explicitly covered by the rules. In Under the Lens I’ll talk a bit about xp usage in Numenera and The Strange. I’ll also be talking about The Strange corebook in Starwalker Review.

    GM Intrusions E47 - Frantic GM Whose Improv is Ridiculous

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2014


    Jim Walls joins me on the show today. We’ll discuss Gen Con a little bit, and Jim tells us what it’s like to talk gamer talk with Monte Cook and Bruce Cordell. We talk a little bit about a particularly gruesome session I ran, and Jim tells us all about his #GetOutandGame initiative. We also discuss getting into games online and how stereotypical antagonists work great as protagonists.

    GM Intrusions E46 - The Future of Numenera Shines Bright as the Stars

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2014 85:30


    Darcy Ross returns to the show, and we discuss our experiences as GMs of the Cypher System at Gen Con and the amazing showing Numenera made at the ENies this year. I share some interesting teasers about the future of Numenera, including some information on the upcoming World Guide and what we can look forward to after that.

    GMI E45 The Obsidian Monolith 03 - Location, Location, Location

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2014 56:00


    The Obsidian Monolith is a supplemental podcast to GM Intrusions in which I will build a Numenera campaign from scratch.Today I talk about how I decided where to begin the campaign.

    GM Intrusions E44 - Quoth the Quotien, "Shut the Door!"

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2014


    I have some listener feedback for you in the Opening Segment, and I’ll give some ideas on running a solo campaign in Under the Lens. I’ll also have some more thoughts on making cypher acquisition more realistic in your game. Finally, in A&P I’ll cover the Quotien.

    GM Intrusions E43 - Fear My Frammer Hammer!

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2014 83:00


    I’ll talk a bit about my numerous Numenera games, and then I’ll discuss Gen Con and let you know about some Numenera games I’m running that you can still get in on. I’ll also give you a run-down of some of my favorite Cypher System communities online. I’ll talk about pricing cyphers and discuss how creature level in Numenera isn’t as simple as it seems. I’ll also review the Creature Deck for Numenera. I’ve got an update for you on the Yellow Swarm in A&P, and I’ll be covering the Neveri. Finally, Scott Robinson has some inspirations for The Strange.

    GMI E42 The Obsidian Monolith 02 - Laying the Foundation for Your Campaign

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2014 60:00


    Today I start laying the foundation for the campaign.

    GM Intrusions E41 - The Cypher Conundrum

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2014 85:00


    This week I’ll answer some listener questions and discuss my own Cypher System gaming. I have some recommendations for some good published adventures if you’re just starting out, and I’ll also talk a bit about using artifacts and identifying numenera items in Under the Lens. I’ve got a couple Kickstarters to share with you, and Scott Robinson’s Strange Encounters segment returns.

    GM Intrusions E40 - Death by Yellow Swarm

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2014 44:30


    I’ll start off with some updates on the podcast, and then I’ll talk a bit about type backgrounds and balancing encounters. I’ll cover the Yellow Swarm in A&P, and I have an inspiration to help you in your Numenera game.

    GMI E39 The Obsidian Monolith 01 - Preparing for an Adventure!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2014 52:22


    The Obsidian Monolith is a supplemental podcast to GM Intrusions in which I will build a Numenera campaign from scratch. Today’s topic is preparing for an adventure! I’ll share with you the things I think about when it’s time to create a new campaign.

    GM Intrusions E38 - You Bet Your Assets!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2014 55:00


    I’ve got some listener feedback to discuss today as well as a new Strange segment from Scott Robinson. I’ll talk a little about assets & time keeping in Numenera, and in A&P I’ll be talking about the Jurulisk.

    GM Intrusions E37 - Kicking Numenera in the Shins

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2014 101:00


    I’ll dig into the Cypher System some more and answer some listener questions. I’ll talk about the money system in Numenera and offer what is perhaps my first real criticism of the game. I’m also going to finally review the Numenera Character Options.

    GM Intrusions E36 - Digging Deep into the Cypher System & the Ninth World

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2014 107:00


    Group size, making the most of bad luck, the sun of the Ninth World, language & literacy, touch attacks, ability costs, calculating Edge costs, using abilities tied to a depleted stat pool, swarm rules, Might vs. Speed Defense, breaking down rules text.

    GM Intrusions E35 - Interview with Jon Wright

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2014 55:20


    Bruce Cordell joins the show to discuss The Strange and its imminent release.

    GM Intrusions E34 - Interview with Bruce Cordell

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2014 55:20


    Bruce Cordell joins the show to discuss The Strange and its imminent release.

    GM Intrusions E33 - Interview with Bryon Kershaw

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2014 78:00


    Bryon Kershaw joins me to discuss his experiences as a player and gamemaster of Numenera.

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