Ray Otus is a tabletop gamer, artist, writer, and role-playing game designer. Plundergrounds is a zine devoted to Dungeon World adventures and content. And now it is also a podcast focused on inspiration, art, and games designed by independent creators.
My bookshelf on Goodreads The Colour of Magic Engine Summer Donovan's Brain The Year of Less - Audible The Game Players of Titan --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/plundergrounds/message
Theme song by Logan of the Sword Breaker podcast Elric --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/plundergrounds/message
Theme Song by Logan Howard Shadowdark KS - ENDS MAR 30, 2023 Index Card Sleeves - Soft (untested) and Hard Monster Football Tokens Coin Holders Kelsey's Minimalistic GM Kit ... and the Updated Version Whatnot Blood Bowl teams I painted Dice Shakers - Acorns and Small Dice and Smaller Dice Castle Gameskull Google Voice Number (a real telephone number) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Opening theme by Logan Howard (HE'S BACK!) Andrew Walter: Wolfbane, Hothouse David Johnston of Betelnut Games, The Pastel City Voltron, Primal (NOT Primeval), Stalker, Kraken Wakes, The Bull and the Spear Boris and Brom The Pink Phantom Chris Shorb's Into the Maze D23 News - Invasion of lava worms, cult of three armed priests and their slumbering overlord, silent bird folk, an angry tribe of undead fish-people, and a suspiciously friendly ogress. Test run 1. Also - issue 1 in PDF! Joshua Skelton Rufus graphic Online Oracle by Shawn Medero Bob the World Builder gives Gygax 75 some love --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Between Two Cairns Cairn by Yochai Gal Dungeon23 Monster Football Tokens VTT Token Maker --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Theme song by Logan Howard #Dungeon23, a creative challenge by Sean McCoy Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert Wolfbane by Frederick Pohl and C. M. Kornbluth --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
No notes this time. Sorry. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Opening Theme by Logan Howard Sean's blog https://seanmccoy.substack.com/p/dungeon23 Mazirian's Garden rehash http://maziriansgarden.blogspot.com/2022/12/megadungeon-2023.html --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Opening theme by Logan Howard Bookpilled YouTube Channel Whatnot The Magician, by Eggy Toast --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Opening theme by Logan Howard Zine Give-Away blog post 20. The Desert Moon of Karth, Joel Hines, 2021. [Discussed on Between Two Cairns.] Small moon sandbox for Mothership with a space-western feel. 21. Low Country Crawl, John Gregory, 2019. Southern Gothic (US) OSR goodness. 22. Mudwarren Alley, Jennifer "Moonpoison" & Evelyn Moreau, 2018. Collaborative OSR, copiously-illustrated dungeon. Fun, weird, and evocative. 23. Mothership (signed), Sean McCoy, 2018. Bought by me at Gen Con 2018 and signed by Sean on site. Popular horror-survival-SF RPG. This is the original zine edition. 24. Dead Planet, Fiona Maeve Geist, Donn Stroud, Sean McCoy, 2018. "A violent incursion into the land of the living for the MOTHERSHIP Sci-Fi Horror Roleplaying Game." 25. Cosmic Crawl, Evelyn Moreau, 2018. Lovecraftian astral goodness with EM's awesome illustrations. 26. Lighthouse at the End of the Universe, Ella Lim, 2021? Contemplative solo RPG about ... (the titel). 27. The Eternal Caverns of Urk (mini), Nate Treme, 2019. "A procedural science fantasy underground" with it's own system, Tunnel Goons. Caverns of Urk solo play 28. The Temple of the Blood Moth, Jacob Butcher, 2019. [Discussed on Between Two Cairns.] OSR goodness/weirdness. 29. Mutants of Ixx (trifolds), Karl Stjernberg, 2019? Gamma world style hack using Into the Odd mechanics. 30. Cairn, Yochai Gal, 2021? An original, new school revolution adventure game. Cairn Capsule Review BONUS: Apocalypse World PROTOTYPES - four pocket mods handed to me by Vincent Baker at his house after a night of playing 3:16 in the year of our Lord 2007. The origins of PbtA! Emotional Damage Epic Moment by Kirk Osamayo --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Opening Theme by Logan Howard The Subterranean Malstrom, Alex T., 2022? System agnostic but kind of aimed at OSE. "Endless vile tunnel encounters for solo play and DMs." Wizard Funk 3, Robin Irwin et al, 2021. A miscellany of cool old school material and INTERVIEWS with important creators in the early days of the adventure game hobby. Dodeca, Peter Lattimore, 2022. A d12 based old school feeling rules set for "adventuring through grimdark worlds." The Drain, Ian Yusem, 2022? A full color, "funnel" for the Mothership SF RPG. Harrowings: The Exalted Hours, Various, 2020. Miscellaneous material for supporting games themed around the twilight and the coming dark. Old school vibes. Blues Theme, Johnny Chan and the New Dynasty 6 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Plundergrounds Theme, by Logan Howard Harrowings: From the Rhine (issue 1), Various, 2019. A collection of ice-age fantasy material suitable for most fantasy RPGs, but occasionally tuned to a version of D&D. Digital is free. Aetherjack's Almanac 1-6, Ian Woolley, 2020. Troika. Space-faring stuff. [Featured in episode 317.] The Cerulean Curtain, Mark Conway, 2021. Troika. A gladiatorial-theatrical sphere, complete with backgrounds. [Featured in episode 317.] The Viridian Scroll - zine giveaway post Zinevember Sponsor: Face Folio by Goblin's Henchman (covered on episode 339) Pure Adrenaline, by eddy. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Plundergrounds Theme, by Logan Howard Eat the Rich by Ambika Kirkland Not a Place of Honor, David Lombardo and Emanuel Melo. [Featured in episode 307.] The Viridian Scroll - zine giveaway post Zinevember Sponsor: Face Folio by Goblin's Henchman (covered on episode 339) Warzaw Express by the Pharaohs --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Plundergrounds Theme, by Logan Howard Courier, by Cody Barr Dethroners, by Jedediah Berry and Andrew McAlpine [Featured in episode 316] The Viridian Scroll - zine giveaway post The Pharaohs Theme, by the Pharaohs Zinevember Sponsor: Face Folio by Goblin's Henchman (covered on episode 339) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Opening theme by Logan Howard Delver Issue 1 by James Floyd Kelly Fresh From the Forge, L. L. Blumire, 2021. [Featured in episode 345.] Lowlife, Sam Sorenson, 2021. [Featured in episode 319.] The Viridian Scroll - zine giveaway post Mission Bucharest, the Pharaos Zinevember Sponsor: Face Folio by Goblin's Henchman (covered on episode 339) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Opening theme by Logan Howard Mouth Brood digital / physical Thousand Pound Canvas [Featured in episode 317] The Viridian Scroll - zine giveaway post Redaction, by Eggy Toast Zinevember Sponsor: Face Folio by Goblin's Henchman (covered on episode 339) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Opening theme by Logan Howard Strange World by Aaron M. Sturgill Forking Paths 2 by Nathan Harrison (covered on episode 319) Face Folio by Goblin's Henchman (covered on episode 339) Viridian Scroll - zine giveaway post The Magician, by Eggy Toast --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Opening Theme by Logan Howard Fronds of Benevolence by Andrew Walter Crossover Dragon by Comptroller --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Opening Theme by Logan Howard GOZR Adventure RPG by James West (includes page looks) Viridian Scroll - Project Grayskull, Monster Drawing Club Reptilian Civilization by 1st Contact --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Theme music by Logan Howard Between Two Cairns podcast Fresh from the Forge Heritage Minis My channels: www.rayotus.com The White by Rolemusic --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Opening theme by Logan Howard Daydreaming About Dragons Goblin's Henchmen The Redcaps Podcast Dragon Magazine Dungeon Magazine Closing music: Big Sky Spy Feedback options: tel:6197191931 or send a recording to rayotus@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Theme by Logan Howard Jason from Nerd's RPG Variety Cast Cody from No Save for You Little Free Libraries The Rainbow Abyss Gardens of the Moon (Malazan) Chronicles of Amber Embassytown Event Horizon Military Conflict (truncated) by Audiorezout --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Plundergrounds theme by Logan Howard Phil Tippett: Mad Dreams and Monsters Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan Resin Owlbears Dragonriders of the Styx Worm Men, Lava Men, Owlbears, Drawings Corrections and Additions: Go Motion Standard Tesselation Langauge Umerican Survival Guide by Reid San Filippo Malazan Book of the Fallen Gestalt Psychology Saxophone Guy by Eggy Toast --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Plundergrounds theme by Logan Howard of Sword Breaker Maxfield Parrish Jack Kirby 1976 Tolkien Calendar by The Brothers Hildebrandt Loco Banana by the Vivisectors --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Opening theme by Logan Howard of Sword Breaker Call-ins from Jason of the Nerd's RPG Variety Podcast Spikepit Runeslinger of Casting Shadows Psychobilly The Cramps, The Meteors, Dai Kaiju, Khrangbin, Vivisectors, HoliznaCC0, Mystery Mammal, Nova's The Crusher ("Do the Hammerlock") Outland (1981), not Outlander! Twin Peaks Nicole Williamson's rendition of The Hobbit The Wind in the Willows stop-motion Nostalgia, life stories, coherence Heraclitus said "No man ever steps in the same river twice. For it's not the same river and he's not the same man." Glory Days by the Boss Mike Wyatt - Against the 70s The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand Hong Kong toys - inspirations for Rust Monster, Owlbear, etc. 3-D Owlbear When We Were Wizards podcast - rise and fall of EGG Toy Soldiers blog on Dragonriders of Styx Blog post on HD > hp Taika Watiti, What We Do in the Shadows, Jojo Rabbit Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammet (influenced Yojimbo, Fistful of Dollars) Thor Wake the Mangog by Lee/Kirby, Simonson Dragonriders of Styx Demons Phil Tippet Mad Dreams and Monsters Rayotus.com Closing music is Moth Man by Apache Tomcat --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Plundergrounds opening theme by Logan Howard of Sword Breaker Back Face Folio by Goblin's Henchman Call-ins from: Jason of the Nerd's RPG Variety Cast Runeslinger, aka , of Casting Shadows Joe of Hindsightless Closing is Vodka and Beer by the Vivisectors --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Plundergrounds opening theme by Logan Howard of Sword Breaker I wax nostalgic about stories and fables (Mother West Wind, Jack and the Giant Killer, Beowulf, Gilgamesh), board and card games (Carrier Strike, Payday, Auto Dealer, Masterpiece, Mastermind, Rook, Dutch Blitz, Risk, Inventors, Stop Thief), reading (The Hobbit, A Wizard of Earthsea, Dragonriders of Pern, Heinlein's juvenile works, Choose Your Own Adventure, The Science Fiction Book Club), 1977 (Star Wars, The Hobbit cartoon, Atari 2600, Steely Dan, Space Mountain, Roots, the blizzard, the energy crisis), 1978 (D&D Holmes Basic, Advanced D&D, Melee and Wizard, Ogre, another blizzard!, Pete Rose's 3,000th hit, WKRP, Bob Crane's murder, the Jonestown massacre, The Star Wars Holiday Special, Alladin's Castle, Omni magazine), 1919 (the TI-99/4a, moving houses, Voyager and Pioneer 11, Three Mile Island, Disco Demolition, Star Trek the Motion Picture, the Iran Hostage Crisis, Jimmy Carter attacked by a swamp rabbit, and Traveller). Closing music is Cemetery Dance by the Vivisectors --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Plundergrounds opening theme by Logan Howard of Sword Breaker Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson Science Fiction Book Review Podcast Ten Very Big Books Podcast (Malazan specific) The Discord Conversation The Chronicles of Amber Agartta City of Runes, Season 1 Shadowdark (recently updated), Old School Essentials, The Black Hack Closing: Leopard Girl by The Vivisectors --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Opening theme by Logan Howard of Sword Breaker Call-in from Aron Clark of On the Tabletop Call-ins from Jason of the Nerd's RPG Variety Cast Warlock! and Troika! Nope (movie, 2022), Space 1999 Monthly podcast prompt (downloadable mp3): Rufus Asks - Favorite Fantasy Fight? Call-in from Joe Richter of Hindsightless Gardens of the Moon: Book One of The Malazan Book of the Fallen Ramble: We by Yevgeny Zamyatin, The Fantasy Trip, Lovecraft (The White Ape or Facts Concerning the Late Arthur Jermyn and his Family, Misspent Youth, Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles (Way in the Middle of the Air), MAR Barker, author of Empire of the Petal Throne, a nazi -- I never said it but I meant to mention his War of Wizards, Ben Riggs Slaying the Dragon (sales figures), Game Wizards, When We Were Wizards podcast with Adam Turner and Paul Stormberg, is Oriental a bad word? Into the Odd by Chris McDowall, Vaults of Vaarn by Leo Hunt, Bones Deep by David Schirduan Closing music is Silky by Alex Figueira --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Opening theme by Logan Howard of Sword Breaker Call-in from Jason of the Nerd's RPG Variety Cast Call-in from Chris Shorb Call-in from Joe Richter of Hindightless Call-in from Cody Mazza of the No Save for You! podcast The Clerics Wear Ringmail podcast Burning Wheel Geiger Counter by Jonathan Walton Warpstar!, Warlock!'s spacey cousin Closing music is 37 ohmperios by Rolemusic Big thanks to my Campaigners! My links --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Opening Theme by Logan Howard Warlock! by Fire Ruby Designs Ray Otus Closing music is Dance til You Die by HolizinaCC0 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Before Fire by James Feore Index Card RPG (ICRPG) by Runehammer Games rayotus.com Producers A-L Aljoscha Beyer Aron Clark Asbjørn Flø Beckett at Weird Realms Brian Oldfield Brian T Bullard Christopher Thompson D.C. David Dorward Dennis Gaens Diederik van Arkel FelTK Gherhartd Sildoenfein James Knight James West Jeffrey Jones Jessalynn JoaquÃn Aguirrezabalaga John Taber Joshua Skelton Kyle Hodnett Leckie Leonard Maradan Love Dahlgren --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Opening theme by Logan Howard, accompanied by Rufus! Call-in: Cody Mazza, No Save For You Call-in: Menion, Confessions of a Wee Timorous Bushi Call-in: Daniel Norton, Bandit's Keep Follow up to podcast on skill checks: March 11 Skill Rolls in Classic D&D Quick graph showing d20, 3d6 and d100 skill tests compared to 2-in-6 chance, Viridian Scroll "Modern Traditional Initiative" Index Card RPG Master Edition by Modiphius Entertainment "Classic Traditional Initiative" Sequence as given in Old School Essentials Comment from Philotomy's Musings Orchestrating turns in detail Housekeeping and Producer Roll Call Plundergrounds Patreon rayotus.com Closing music NPC Theme by Holzina --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Opening Theme by Logan Howard What is a Zettelkasten? Obsidian Control Panel Layout in the OSR Choose Your Own Adventure Fighting Fantasy Interactive Fiction Jaquaying the Dungeon Retro copies The Dark Tower "Dungeon" "Link Distance" "Room" / Page / Numbered Location Blogs on Tape Should We Start Numbering Hallways On Our Maps? - Audio Should We Start Numbering Hallways On Our Maps? - Post See my work End Music is Hard Mode by HoliznaCC0 rayotus.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Opening Theme by Logan Howard Cody from No Save For You BJ of Arcane Alienist Goblin's Henchman Diagesis Archipelago Itras By Plundergrounds Patreon Closing Music is Demomiculator by Hobotek --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Opening theme by Logan Howard Duvelman Dice Get a copy of The Gygax 75 Challenge Affinity products Life After People Just Use Bears / Everything Is a Bear Maze Rats Torchbearer 30 Minute Dungeons Two Week Megadungeon Blogs on Tape Midjourney AI Cowspiders and Dropbears Desiccated Temple of Locha Me Out music is Benthic by Mystery Mammal --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Opening theme by Logan Howard Get a copy of The Gygax 75 Challenge World of Dungeons by John Harper Sorcerer & Sword by Ron Edwards Dictionary of Mu by Judd Karlman Perilous Wilds / Freebooters on the Frontier Hex Kit by Cone of Negative Energy Thomas No's Strange Hex Tiles SageDaMage's Wasted Potential zine My Gygax 75 work: week 1, week 2 Closing Music is Friendly Fire by Mystery Mammal --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Opening theme by Logan Howard Andrew Walter's Ferverax and the Valley of Gleam Joe from Hindsightless! Wayne Peacock talks DCC (he also makes zines!) Get a copy of The Gygax 75 Challenge Jump into the Cauldron, or just look at week 1 of the Gygax 75 Challenge entries (my week 1 work is there or you can see it on my Patreon) Closing Music is Life on Laserdisc by Mystery Mammal --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Opening theme by Logan Howard Andrew Walter Cockatrice Nuggets Goblin's Henchmen Blorb Principles - original post by Sandra Snan Blorb Principles - recap by technoskald F**k You Design - original post Rules with Gaps - a response to F**k You Design Cairn by Yochai Gal The Super Hack by Simon Burley Maze Rats by Ben Milton Closing Music is Innuendo 64 by Mystery Mammal Tired of hearing crappy audio? Anyone want to help me with my mic issues? Contact me ... my gmail is just my name all run together, no caps. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Opening theme by Logan Howard Niklas Luhmann Zotero Zettelkasten, Archive Typora Obsidian Notion Closing Music is Dog on a Rocket by Mystery Mammal --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Opening theme by Logan Howard Gygax 75 mentioned on Questing Beast Call in from Chris Schorb about digital vs. physical media Call in from Rich Fraser of Cockatrice Nuggets about organizing digital media Software: Calibre, Name Mangler Goblin's Henchman recommends Blake's Seven, check out his Face Folio! Cody of No Save for You on the magic of dice Judd Karlman's creative rubric and Daydreaming about Dragons Full Light, Full Steam by Josh Roby Reading: The Godwhale by TJ Bass and Dracula in "real time" - sign up by May 3rd Sound clips from Voltron and Land of the Lost Writing (rewriting) Plundergrounds the Collected Edition (here are the individual DW zines) Closing Music is Dog on a Rocket by Mystery Mammal --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Opening theme by Logan Howard Dr. Strange: .... multiverse ... something ... madness something something Dr. Who: The Keys of Marinus Read Dracula in "real time" - sign up by May 3rd Closing Music is Dog on a Rocket by Mystery Mammal --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Opening theme by Logan Howard Call-ins from Dennis, Jason Rogue Scroll and Swords without Master by Epidiah Ravachol (See also Dread and Wolfspell) Talrand, Sky Summoner and the Master of Waves VTT Token Maker and Owlbear Rodeo Read Dracula in "real time" - sign up by May 3rd Lots of rambling without links: First Men in the Moon, The Shining, Dracula, the Parker series by Richard Stark (pen name for Donald Westlake), Sortilege and fortune telling, Bible tales, teaching a board game class, Mancala, OSE, Canterbury Tales, "Eternal Atlanteans", The Chronicles of Amber ... Closing Music is Industrial Fights & Magic by Mystery Mammal --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Opening theme by Logan Howard Three Dice to Rule them All Places to buy more (!) dice: d20Collective, Kraken Dice, Roll4Initiative Mastodon Perl Results from Alex Schroeder's nutty and awesome Hex Describe Perl generator! (link to generator at bottom, it takes a bit of time to run) Magic the Gathering Cubes: What is a Cube?, What is a Battle Box?, The Pauper Cube, a Budget Battle Box (costs about $35 all-in), Winston Draft, Grid Draft Read Dracula in "real time" - sign up by May 3rd Closing Music is Industrial Fights & Magic by Mystery Mammal --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Opening theme by Logan Howard Lowlife by Sam Sorenson Forking Paths Hunters in the Snow by Peter Bruegel the Elder Harlot's Progress/Rake's Progress by William Hogarth The Fall of Icarus (also by Bruegel!) Closing Music is The Situationists... by Fucked Up Beats --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Opening theme by Logan Howard Blood Heist by Leo Hunt and Lewis Garvey The original Kickstarter From Spear Witch (US) From Rook's Press (UK) Music to heist by Vaults of Vaarn (digital) Closing Music is Videogames with Your Brother by Mystery Mammal --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Opening theme by Logan Howard Kriegsmesser by Gregor Vuga ($8 digital) Aetherjack's Almanac by Ian Woolley ($24 .... ?!) The Cerulean Curtain by Mark Conway ($5 digital) Thousand Pound Canvas by Mark Conway ($3 digital) Closing Music is Unauthorized Forms of Space Propulsion by Mystery Mammal --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Opening Theme by Logan Howard Dethroners from Phantom Mill Games Closing Music is Frisky Business by Mystery Mammal --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Opening Theme by Logan Howard of Swordbreaker Chaosium's Cities book Escape from Skullcano Island, Levi Combs, Planet X Games Black Oak Workshop The Adventurer's Almanac, Michael Curtis ShadowDark, Kelsey Dionne Cursed Scroll Zine The Hideous Halls of Mugdulblub The rest of this week, the zine-a-day challenge? Call ins from Jason of the Nerd's RPG Variety Cast and Colin Green of Spikepit Closing music is Good Grief by Mystery Mammal --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Opening music by Logan Howard Dragonlance, the Board Game Dave Arneson Fight in the Skies Secrets of Blackmoor Wizard Funk 3 End music by Mystery Mammal --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message
Theme by Logan Howard of Swordbreaker Tales from the Smoking Wyrm Lou Zocchi En Garde! Steve Winter The Chop House Ultimate Dinosaur Fighting End Music by Mystery Mammal --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/plundergrounds/message