Of Mooks & Monsters

Of Mooks and Monsters 137 Transitioning a Game with Brendan Nadeau

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2019 23:16

Game Master Brendan Nadeau rejoins the show this week to discuss how he recently changed systems in the middle of his campaign. Tim asks the questions, but Nadeau rocks the better part of the episode. Thanks for listening! If you like epic fantasy check out Tim's latest work, Demon Scroll. If you're more of a space opera-lover go read Storm Fleet. Keep gaming!

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Of Mooks and Monsters 136 Isa McLaren

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2019 21:03

This week on the podcast, please welcome our second guest cohost, Isa McLaren! We talk about Isa's history in RPGs Isa is an author so check out her book from Three Furies Press. Also, Tim's book, Demon Scroll is available now. Thanks for listening!

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Of Mooks and Monsters 135 Enter: Brendan Nadeau

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2019 19:08

We are back from summer break, or at least, Tim is. Extenuating circumstances are pushing back Rob's return. Enter: A new cohost, at least until Rob rejoins the show. Brendan Nadeau is a gamer and good friend of the podcast. Enjoy the official kickoff for Of Mooks and Monsters season 2! Don't forget to check out Tim's latest epic fantasy novel, Demon Scroll, now available on Amazon.com. Thanks for listening!

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Hiatus Announcements

Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2019 2:32

Of Mooks and Monsters is off for the summer. Alive After Reading returns in June.

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Of Mooks and Monsters 133 Pillar Games P2

Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2019 23:19

Dave Robison joins the show once again as we return to the Pillar Universe game. Thanks for listening!

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Of Mooks and Monsters Pillar Universe Game P1

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2019 21:52

This week, Rob and Tim are joined by the amazing Dave Robison of Archivos.digital to play a game set in Tim's Pillar Universe setting. Hop on board for a smuggling adventure! Check out Tim's books in this setting today. Thanks for listening!

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Of Mooks and Monsters 131 - Actions More than Words

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2019 19:54

Rob and Tim discuss ways to use action over dialogue in your games.

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Of Mooks and Monsters 130 Titan Wars 1 on 1

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2019 46:23

This week, Tim runs a session for Rob. It's scifi. It's mecha. It's good clean fun. Listen to us wing it!

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Of Mooks and Monsters 129 Fudging

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2019 7:05

This week, Tim talks about fudging dice and rules in your games. Thanks for listening!

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Of Mooks and Monsters 128 Building Characters

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2019 10:36

This episode of the podcast is Tim flying solo, talking characters and how to make them for your games and stories. Thanks for listening! Check out Tim's book, Storm Fleet, free on all platforms today.

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Of Mooks and Monsters 127 Narration

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2019 19:49

This week, Tim takes the wheel and Rob helps by bailing water from this mixed metaphor. We're talking the meat and potatoes of running a game: Narration. How do you do it, and what do you actually do? Listen to find out! And thanks, as always, for listening. You can follow us on Twitter. Rob is @stagehat Tim is @TNiederriter Get Tim's free novel, Storm Fleet, wherever books are sold. Talk to you next week, folks!

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Of Mooks and Monsters 126 Good Complexity

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2019 21:13

This week, Rob and Tim talk the good side of having complex pieces, whether rules, setting, or story, in your game. Thanks for listening!

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Of Mooks and Monsters 125 Social Rules

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2019 24:34

This week, Rob and Tim discuss establishing social rules in your science fiction, fantasy, and other game settings. Which fork is used when dining on elf? Thanks for listening!

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Of Mooks and Monsters 124 Just Doing It

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2019 21:15

This week, Tim and Rob talk about how to dive straight into your games, not quite winging it necessarily, but GMing creativity-first. Thanks for listening!

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Of Mooks and Monsters 123 Hosting Your Game

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2019 20:16

This week on the podcast, Rob and Tim discuss the physical spaces and places you can host your game, and how to get the most out of them. Thanks for listening!

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Of Mooks and Monsters 122 Layers

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2019 6:54

This week, Tim flies solo with a little essay about worldbuilding. Share and enjoy! Thanks for listening.

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Of Mooks and Monsters 121 - Inspiration from Real People

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2019 27:48

This week, Rob and Tim talk using characters from history and real life as inspiration for characters in games. Don't forget to email us at podcast@mentalcellarpublications.com if you have any suggestions, questions, or examples of you putting GM techniques to use in real games. Thanks for listening!

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Of Mooks and Monsters 120 - Tim's Game Report

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2019 5:33

This week, Tim's alone, and he brings a brief game report from a recent session of his real-life group. Thanks for listening!

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Of Mooks and Monsters 119 Taking it Easy

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2019 26:29

This week, we ask the question: "How easy is to easy for players?" Tim gets advice again. Rob dispenses more wisdom. Thanks for listening!

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Of Mooks and Monsters 118 Keeping Games Fresh

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2019 23:23

This week, Rob and Tim discuss ways to reinvigorate your games. Thanks for listening!

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Of Mooks and Monsters 117 New Years Resolutions 2019

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2019 8:01

Welcome to 2019, gamers and game masters! In this episode, we discuss our plans and goals for the upcoming year. But resolutions sounds better. Thanks for listening!

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Of Mooks and Monsters 116 Rob's Gaming History

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2018 23:31

This week, we dive into Rob's history of gaming. Happy holidays! Don't forget Tim's new science fiction book. Thanks for listening.

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Of Mooks and Monsters 115 Tim Gets Advice

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2018 18:57

Tim gets advice from Rob about his upcoming Mutants and Masterminds game. Thanks for listening, everyone!

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Of Mooks and Monsters 114 Secret Histories

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2018 23:12

Rob and Tim talk adding secret histories to your games. Thanks for listening!

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Of Mooks and Monsters 113 Creating Creepiness

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2018 19:14

This week, Rob and Tim discuss adding a creepy atmosphere to your games. Thanks for listening!

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Of Mooks and Monsters 112 GM Origins

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2018 13:15

This week, Tim talks his history of getting into Game Mastering as a kid. Thanks for listening!

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Thankgiving Of Mooks and Monsters 2018

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2018 0:12

We are off this week! Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate it.

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Of Mooks and Monsters 111 - Scenario Design Timelines and Rules

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2018 16:54

This week on Of Mooks and Monsters we conclude our miniseries on scenario design with some odds and ends, bells and whistles. Thanks for listening. You can email us at podcast@mentalcellarpublications.com

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Of Mooks and Monsters 110 Secnario Design NPCs

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2018 21:16

This week on Of Mooks and Monsters, Rob and Tim approach building non-player characters in scenario design. Thanks for listening!

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Of Mooks and Monsters 109 - Scenario Design - Locations

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2018 19:33

This week, Of Mooks and Monsters, delves into another aspect of designing RPG scenarios. Location, Location, Location! How do you make places important and vital parts of your game that your players will remember? As always, thanks for listening. You can email the show at podcast@mentalcellarpublications.com You can follow us on Twitter. Rob is @StageHat and Tim is @TNiederriter See you on the internet.

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Of Mooks and Monsters 108 Scenario Design Plot

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2018 22:29

This week the Scenario Design series continues! Rob and Tim discuss how to devise your plot for an RPG. Thanks for listening!

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Of Mooks and Monsters 107 Scenario Design Ideas

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2018 25:00

This week on Of Mooks and Monsters Rob and Tim discuss the idea stage of scenario design. Let the brainstorms commence! Find Tim's books at Amazon.com. Need an Actor? Here is Rob's website. Thanks for listening!

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Of Mooks and Monsters 106 - Scenario Design Overview

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2018 11:21

Tim stands alone this week, bringing you an overview of our upcoming miniseries on the subject of designing your own game scenarios. Buckle up! You can find Rob on twitter @Stagehat. Find Tim on twitter @TNiederriter. Visit Rob's Page. Buy Tim's books. Rock on! Thanks for listening.

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Of Mooks and Monsters 105 Genre Mixing in Games

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2018 20:56

This week on Of Mooks and Monsters we talk about the best ways to mix and match different aspects of game genres in the same campaign or one shot. Tim is kind of a specialist on this subject in his fiction, but Rob gets in his shots too. Share and enjoy! You can find us on facebook! facebook.com/ofmooksandmonsters Read Tim's books at amazon.com. Court Mage is a great place to start! Looking for quality acting skills? Rob Ward's website is here for your perusal. Thanks for listening!

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Of Mooks and Monsters 104 - Revolving Door Campaigns

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2018 22:10

This week on the show, we discuss how to play a game where different players may show up one session than the next. Rob has been running a Call of Cthulhu game along these lines lately, so he's the expert this week. Enjoy, and thanks for listening!

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Of Mooks and Monsters Episode 103 - Handling Player Goals

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2018 20:31

This week on Of Mooks and Monsters we are talking how to manage what your players want in your games.

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Of Mooks and Monsters 102 - Low Prep Games

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2018 24:54

This week on Of Mooks and Monsters we're talking games on the borderline between RPGs and Improv. Games like Fiasco, Wild West Town, In A Wicked Age, and others provide players with huge creative and collaborative potential in addition to being a blast. We talk pros and cons and discuss a few key games we've both played. Also, if you want to check out a twitch stream of Tim playing some of these games check out these games on this channel hosted by Jim Ryan, for lots of great RPG action. Thanks for listening!

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Of Mooks and Monsters 101 - Introducing New PCs Mid-Game

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2018 20:59

This week on Of Mooks and Monsters we discuss how to introduce new Player Characters to your RPGs, whether to replace fallen ones or to give new players a way into your sessions. Thanks for listening! You can email the show at podcast@mentalcellarpublications.com

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Of Mooks and Monsters 100 - Why We Run Games

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2018 20:52

This week on episode 100, Of Mooks and Monsters talks the reasons we GM. Thanks for listening! Here's to many more shows!

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Of Mooks and Monsters Special - Seth Skorkowsky

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2018 32:44

This week we bring you an interview with phenomenal youtuber, author, and game master, Seth Skorkowsky! Rob is off this week, but next week... episode 100! Thanks for listening!

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Of Mooks and Monsters Special Guest - Jim Ryan

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2018 27:27

This week on Of Mooks and Monsters Tim talks with special guest Jim Ryan about streaming RPGs on twitch, Savage Worlds, and the Cypher system! Thanks for listening!

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Of Mooks and Monsters Special - Dave Robison and Archivos for RPGs

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2018 29:30

Dave Robison joins me for a special episode talking about characters and worlds and relationships using his Archivos app. Thanks for listening. Check out Archivos here. Read my books on Amazon.com Share and enjoy!

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Of Mooks and Monsters Episode 99 - Players on Defense

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2018 28:29

What happens when players aren't foraging into new territory or crawling through a dungeon full of monsters? One possibility is they could be holding a pass against an army of goblins or some other form of defensive conflict. Your able hosts, Rob Ward and Tim Niederriter, dive into this topic with examples and discussion of how best to run such scenarios. There are lots of possibilities! Leave us feedback at podcast@mentalcellarpublications.com Also, Tim has a new book out! If you're interested in stories of fantasy and magic check out Spells of the Curtain: Court Mage today! Thanks for listening! Share and enjoy!

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Of Mooks and Monsters Episode 98 – Loose GMs

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2018 22:36

This week’s episode is all about the foibles of winging too much of the games you’re running. Rob and I talk all over this issue and offer a few solutions. Thanks for listening! Don’t forget, I write fiction in addition to podcasting! You can find my latest work on Amazon.com to read on Kindle. If you’re a fantasy fan, allow me to recommend my book, Court Mage, available August 1st.

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Of Mooks and Monsters Episode 97 – The Quest for Peace

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2018 24:04

We’re back discussing how to start a campaign from an unstable or downbeat situation and have players aspire to something greater, either for their characters, or the game world, or both. Thanks for listening. Don’t forget, you can email us any thoughts you have on the show at podcast@mentalcellarpublications.com We love to hear from people!

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Of Mooks and Monsters 96 – Speeding Up Character Creation

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2018 26:54

This week, Rob and I discuss how to speed up the character creation process for your games using examples from a recent Call of Cthulhu session Rob is running. Thanks for listening! You can email the show at podcast@mentalcellarpublications.com if you have any questions or possible show topics for us. Don’t be shy!

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Of Mooks and Monsters Episode 95 – Lessons from Disney Weenies

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 4, 2018 23:29

This week on Of Mooks and Monsters we discuss how to use landmarks and other forms of in-world compasses in your games, as inspired by Disney “Weenies.”

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OMM Episode 94 – Character Voices

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2018 19:06

This week, Rob and I talk character voices of all kinds. Rob takes the forefront on this one. Thanks for listening!

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Of Mooks and Monsters Episode 93 – A Tired GM

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2018 28:07

How does a game master run when they lack optimal energy? That’s the subject of this week’s podcast. From both Rob and me, thanks for listening.

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Of Mooks and Monsters 92 – The Element of Surprise

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2018 22:03

This week on Of Mooks and Monsters, Rob and I discuss how (and when) to surprise your players. Thanks for listening! Don’t forget, you can join our facebook page to be notified of news and community about the show there as things develop.

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Of Mooks and Monsters Episode 91 – Taking Your Party Places

Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2018 23:56

How do you introduce your players to new settings in your game? Rob and I discuss that subject in today’s episode. Look up Of Mooks and Monsters on youtube if you prefer to listen there. As always, thanks for listening!

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