Roleplay Geeks Podcast

Taking a break from out game publishing series while we play test and prep for the next episode in that series, we look at our upcoming Cthulhu game and discuss game choices from our previous campaign and what, if anything, we would do differently.

We have moved on to the second step of our roleplaying game development, selecting the game setting.  We have three settings to select from, a western, a space setting, and a UFO setting from the 1940s.  We also have John on with us in this episode to help guide us on the next leg of our journey, the rules engine!

In this episode, the Geeks tackle game development as they start the journey to design, develop, and publish their very own roleplaying game.  In this kick-off episode, they talk about he 10,000 foot view of game development and charter a course into the unknown!

We went on an unexpected hiatus about six months ago.  Burnout, other projects, an attack by a ninja robot, and bad meat kept us on the sidelines but now we are back.  We start back up with just Jim and Frank, but we have other episodes schedule with the rest of the gang and look back to having all five of us on at the same time in the near future!  In this episode Frank struggles to find just the right ruleset and we discuss the top 10 most anticipated games coming out in 2022.

The geeks look at the rest game mechanic and how it can be used to advance the story and create opportunities for side quest.  Also, Jim's gnome is offered up as a breastplate.

How do you lure players into an adventure?  You use the right bait and put it on a hook.  That or you use a net.  

Summer is the perfect time to get yourself outdoors and enjoy the weather!  The Geeks decided to do just that and were not able to record this week so instead, we take you back to some of the moments that keep us coming back to the recording booth each week to do this.  Well, except for this past week ;)

Balancing an encounter is an art.  Making each encounter hard enough to challenge the players but not too hard so you don't discourage them.  Then there's the purpose of the encounter, to either liven up play or progress the story.  Regardless, finding a method that works for both the players and the story takes time.  This week the geeks discuss strategies and recount failures when tackling this important part of tabletop roleplaying.

The Geeks looks at how rule changes and playtesting impact the games we love.

If you play long enough and often enough you are bound to have burnout at some point.  What's a gamer to do when their favorite pastime isn't fun anymore?  In this episode the the Token Hippie, the West Virginia Treat, and the Other Steve provide a few suggestions to get you out of your funk.

The Geeks discuss the right way to metagame in this week's episode!

The Geeks discuss how to craft and use NPCs effectively and come up with some interesting ideas along the way.Also, Jingle Bells by Steven's Cat.

This week we look at Owl Bear Rodeo which is not to be confused with Albert (with a French accent) Rodeo. 

The Geeks create some pretty wild characters as they start a wild west adventure!

The Geeks take a run at the Western Roleplaying Scene and come away wanting more!

The Geeks explore the sucky side of wizards.

The Geeks do a deep dive on clerics and layout both the pros and the Kahns of playing this contentious D&D class.

Blades in the Dark is a roleplaying game unlike any other the Geeks have played.  This week we were neck deep in combat and boy was it different than our typical fare.  Let's talk about this new approach to combat and roleplaying as we dive deeper down the rabbits hole that is Blades in the Dark!

The Geeks look at space combat in roleplaying games for both tactical play and theater of the mind.

A new big budget Dungeon and Dragons film is on the way and everyone is hopeful, yet wary of what to expect.  The Geeks get together to discuss what we know about it, what we would like it to be, and reflect on fantasy movies in general in this episode of Roleplay Geeks.

The Geeks dive headlong into Blades in the Dark, a roleplaying game unlike anything they have ever tried.  It should be a wild, wild ride!

Frank has the unenviable task of taking us through a completely new, completely unfamiliar gaming system. May (the) G/god(s) have mercy on his soul...Blades in the Dark is a storytelling-driven gaming system that will have the Geeks questioning more than whether or not goats and ghosts can co-exist in a world where Frank won't let us play vampires, we can't be monster whalers, and we can't wrap our heads around the pronunciation of 'hull'.Join us for a shallow dive into the kiddie pool as we learn the basics of Blades in the Dark.

Ever wonder what's around the next corner? We have. In this episode the Geeks talk about exploration in our games as both players and game masters. Stick around for some more music from the Midnight Sun Chronicles, some information on the dungeons and dragons movie, and other interesting things in the world of table top gaming.

The Geeks look into the utility of maps and the different ways they are used to tell stories in our roleplaying games.

After several runs of Runequest, the Geeks feel like they can drop an initial review of the game. Spoiler, it's a mixed bag :)

It's time to discuss non combat encounters, what they are, types of non combat encounters and how they enhance your gameplay.

It's time for a new game and that game is Runequest! This week the Geeks make their characters and discuss the character creation process.

The Geeks explore the differences between your home and your "home base of operations" including castles, towns, space ships and planets. We then look at how using a home or base of operations can help bring your world alive with familiar places and NPCs. Jim is He-Man, Steven is Skeletor, Castle Greyskull is our home and we are the Masters of the Universe!

The guys are back from playing several sessions of OVA and we share our thoughts on this open-ended gaming system loaded with charm and possibilities.

John, Frank, and Jim chat about character sheets, roleplaying around the campfire, The Beastmaster, Dragon Slayer, and King Conan. It's a hodgepodge episode without the Steves. It's where chaos thrives.

We dive into the Open Versatile Anime Roleplaying System starting with Character Creation.

We take a look back and try to find some good in 2020 while looking forward to 2021 with new ideas and new plans.

We're done with Root, and we had fun with our woodland avatars. We take the experience apart, critique what we learned about the system, and try to decide if we enjoyed the setting or the system more than the gameplay.And there are some interesting tidbits of news and discovery before we start gnawing on our critter characters.Plus, we wrap up the Solstice origin story of Amanita Falstaff, from our Christmas episode, in this week's intro.

Here we are, Geeks! It's time to think about good will and togetherness and PRESENTS!And if there was ever a year we needed to look forward to that together time we can't possibly have, it's this year... Thanks, 2020.This week we've got last minute suggestions for the Geeks on your lists, the nerds in your gift exchanges, or stocking stuffers for the gamers in your house. You can almost feel the holiday spirit... almost.Plus, there's part 1 of a two-part holiday intro installment in the world of our favorite gnomish fire department.

Celebrities playing D&D, some cool accessories, living on the wrong side of the tracks, and playing with yourself...this episode has it all!

This week we cover many projects in the gaming industries including Frosthaven, XWing, Dune, popup miniature buildings, Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, and several other spooky things.

The Geeks look a the Root Roleplaying Game, starting with character creation.

The Geeks share some of their favorite gaming channels and podcast!

This week we explore effective combat tactics for roleplaying games.

This week each roleplay geek picks a new game for us to try out and then we vote on which one we should play next. Time to get out and vote!

Horror games, movies, inspiration and goldfish fighting parakeets, that and more on this week's episode.

What style of adventures do you like? Let's look at adventures by size from one shots to campaigns to see if we can discover the pros and cons and which ones we prefer.

Jimmy confesses to Stevicide, Frank references a classic Christmas movie, John wonders about the necessities of keeping track of what's what, and Steven... talks.Is keeping track of encumbrance necessary? How many bullets does a space marine fighting aliens need, anyway? Should gold really weigh as much as it does?

Where does the gaming talk wander when the Steves go missing? Tune in to find out!

We look to our literary roots to discover the source of game ideas and we still don't know why it is Stevo feels the need to kill everyone.

This week's show is about magic items; how they can make or break adventures, how they can be abused, and whether or not they're overused.

This week we explore how rich character backgrounds can elevate your games and story telling.

Players start fighting, somebody decides to ignore an adventure hook, a bad roll leads to an unexpected character's demise, what is a game master to do? This week we discuss various solutions to some of the problems that make games go sideways.

When do you roll for something to happen versus when do you just roleplay it. We have Chris back to weigh in along with the rest of the geeks to see if we can find the sweet spot between the two approaches.

We are well into the pandemic and each of us are dealing with it in different ways. One aspect of our life that has changed quite a bit is how we game. Staying social and keeping safe at the same time has required adjustments many other gamers have adopted. Lets look at the pros and cons of gaming in the virtual world vs the material world.

How do you run an adventure when your options are limited because you are in a prison? In this episodes we share our dos and don't of running a prison adventure and provide some resources to help you navigate one of the more difficult adventure settings out there.