Roleplay Rescue

What if roleplaying games are not about telling stories?Is there another way to approach these games?And what happens if we stop treating the game like it's a movie?This one is about expressing where I am in my own quest for improved roleplaying game experiences for my players. As the GM, this episode discusses where I am coming from and helps to explain some of the choices that I am making.Big thanks to Wiebe, Bob, and Jason for the call-ins!Game on!Roleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:roleplayrescue@pm.meBlogroleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueLogo and artwork by MJ Hiblen:https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This one's a conversation with Joe, the host of the Dekahedron podcast where he talks about his love of the tabletop RPG hobby. On his show Joe talks about a range of stuff from OSR gameplay ideas through to newer (?) games like Fudge and Dungeon World.Joe's renowned for his honesty in RPG reviews and it's that which triggered an invitation to the show. He recently did a couple of episodes reviewing Fudge (1995) and so I invited him on to explore it a little more.Big thanks to Joe for taking the time to talk Fudge. I know I enjoyed it and I hope you did to!Game on!Links to stuff in the episode:Dekahedron Podcast: www.dekahedron.comDekahedron on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIenKcZZRol5yCPO46iaAUJgq-Ju5bMiThe Anchorite APA: sites.google.com/view/anchorite/homeFudge Website: https://fudgerpg.com/Fudge 1995 Rules PDF (free):FUDGE 1995 Edition (PDF Bookmarked) 1.0orhttps://fudgerpg.com/goodies/fudge-files/download/3-core/54-fudge-1995-pdf-bookmarked.htmlRoleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:roleplayrescue@pm.meBlogroleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueLogo and artwork by MJ Hiblen:https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens if we drop the script and the expectation that this is going to be a thought-provoking analysis of some aspect of roleplaying?What happens if we lean into improvisation and see where things end up going?What if I just riff off the call-ins and other seemingly-random thoughts that pop into my head?Wouldn't that just be a descent into the raw and unedited mess of the GM's Journal?Or would it be me becoming unshackled?Big thanks to Jason Wiebe and Carl D for the call-ins!Game on!Roleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:roleplayrescue@pm.meBlogroleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueLogo and artwork by MJ Hiblen:https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens if we lean back into the roots of our hobby - which for me is largely the 1980s - and realise that the kind of roleplaying we enjoy the most is in fact the Old-School variety?But instead of landing back in the realm of Dungeons & Dragons, what if we find the kind of system that emphasises the roleplay is actually found in the emergence of a game designed to encourage just that: roleplay?In 1985, Steve Jackson Games published the combat system from their forthcoming roleplaying game system and they named it, “Man-to-Man”. A year later in 1986, they published the full game system as it then existed. It's name was GURPS - the Generic Universal Role-Playing System. 40 years later, GURPS is still around… and so is that earlier incarnation. And it turns out that it's a far more accessible and playable role-playing system than I ever imagined.Thanks to Steve Jackson Games for continuing to keep GURPS Third Edition in print:Amazon POD: amazon.co.uk/GURPS-Basic-Set-Third-Revised/dp/1556348266/Warehouse23 PDF: warehouse23.com/products/gurps-basic-set-third-edition-revisedBig thanks to Spencer and Evil Jeff for calling in with their experiences and thoughts!Game on!Roleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:roleplayrescue@pm.meBlogroleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueLogo and artwork by MJ Hiblen:https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If roleplaying games are really about roleplay then how come so much of our time at the table is spent doing all sorts of other things that aren't roleplay?Is there a way in which we can craft our play experience to put the roleplay back into the roleplaying game while still remaining a collaborative game?There comes a time when many a roleplaying gamer realises that they are unsatisfied with the way in which the game is being played. I've been in this place for longer than I can remember, and I have attempted to resolve this in many unsatisfactory ways. No one else's game rules have ever quite worked for me – although there are a couple of sets that get close – but more fundamentally it turns out that the problem has been methodological. As I start the fifteenth season of Roleplay Rescue, I want to focus on how to get more of what I want: roleplay with friends in an imaginative Otherworld.Big thanks to Spencer and Barry for taking the time to record their messages!Roleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:roleplayrescue@pm.meBlogroleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueLogo and artwork by MJ Hiblen:https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode emerged from a Zoom call I shared with today's guest which he was gracious enough to allow me to record and share. The episode is as simple as that: a recorded chat in which we catch up and then start to talk about Dungeoneer, also known as the Advanced Fighting Fantasy RPG from 1989.My conversation is with Simon Williams, a British artist and illustrator as well as being the creator of the Legend of The Bones podcast, a hybrid Solo Old School Dungeons and Dragons actual play and dark fantasy audio drama. Simon opens the conversation with a bold claim - the one you heard at the top of the show - and we explore the idea of using the Fighting Fantasy rules for developing our own Otherworld-immersed games.Big thanks to Simon for coming on the show and letting me share it largely unedited. I hope you find his enthusiasm as infectious as I did.Game on!Legend of the Bones podcast: Legend of the Bones Podcast — Apple Podcasts OR https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/legend-of-the-bones/id1622036301Legend of the Bones | Podcast on Spotify OR https://open.spotify.com/show/2HIuUxGzBtQLdGgPWRwjkg?si=0e438637d0854b09&nd=1&dlsi=57a5f90b55a148d1Legend of the Bones website: Legend of the Bones OR https://legendofthebones.blogspot.com/Roleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:roleplayrescue@pm.meBlogroleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueRoleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/Logo and artwork by MJ Hiblen:https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode emerged from a Zoom call I shared with today's guest which he was gracious enough to allow me to record and share. The episode is as simple as that: a recorded chat in which we catch up and then start to talk about a question I raised: what would you do if you had a new player to add to your existing roleplaying group?My conversation is with Johnn Four, the founder of RoleplayingTips.com which began as a GM tips newsletter back in the late 1990s. Johnn is perhaps best known for the 5 Room Dungeon, even though throughout the years, Johnn has published a GM advice column in Dragon Magazine, several books about how to improve your GMing, and continues to write on the topic of running better games. Big thanks to Johnn for allowing me to share this largely unedited conversation!Game on!Role Playing Tips for Tabletop Game Masters: roleplayingtips.com/ OR https://www.roleplayingtips.com/Roleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:roleplayrescue@pm.meBlogroleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueRoleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/Logo and artwork by MJ Hiblen:https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Back at the beginning of 2025, I decided that I wanted to double-down on my mastery of GURPS as the roleplaying game system that I actually consistently enjoy. Alongside that I decided that I wanted to take on the challenge of developing my own science-fiction space-based game. This would involve creating a sector of space and working out the basis for different approaches to SF play within it. With a month of anxious dithering behind me, I found inspiration while sitting with the face-to-face group prior to continuing our current Cthulhu investigation: one of the players expressed, not for the first time, a desire to play something SF. Given my realisation that I have transitioned towards a more improvisational style at the table, I determined that it would be fun to create a framework within which we might play.This episode is drawn from the play notes that I made one Sunday in February 2025, which were then posted on the Roleplay Rescue blog at roleplayrescue.com. Why share them here? Well, firstly they turned out to be a truly enlightening series of notes for me as a potential science-fiction GM, unlocking many of the doors to playing SF that I had experienced being closed tight ever since my earliest experiences with Traveller in the late 1970s and early 1980s.Big thanks to Carl D and Brian for taking the time to record some messages.Game on!New Frontiers Map:https://roleplayrescue.com/2025/02/06/new-frontiers-part-v/Roleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:roleplayrescue@pm.meBlogroleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueRoleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/Logo and artwork by MJ Hiblen:https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This one's filled with the voices echoing out the of Abyss - in other words, it's a call-in episode. These all stacked up from the 4th December 2024 into 2025, so there's plenty of good comments, questions, and ideas to hear.I love to hear from you because it encourages me. Without your voices - the listener's feedback - it would feel a very empty and dark abyss to be shouting into. Big thanks in advance to Jon, Simon, Wiebe, Matt, Karl R, Michael, Andrew, and Carl D for taking the time to record me a message. Game on!Roleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:roleplayrescue@proton.meBlogroleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueRoleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/Logo and artwork by MJ Hiblen:https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if prep didn't have to feel like work? What if there were ways in which we could be more playful with our prep? Would that transform the way in which we feel about being the GM?Following a call-in from listener Jon M, who was responding to some comments in GMJ #270, I was inspired to comment on the topic of making prep less like work and more playful. Big thanks to Jon for the call-in!Game on!Roleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:roleplayrescue@proton.meBlogroleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueRoleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/Logo and artwork by MJ Hiblen:https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the year turns from 2024 into 2025, I decided to invite Grail Knight Patron and regular caller Jason Wiebe to come and have a chat on air. The topic was broadly, “Becoming a Game Master” and based on the notion that Wiebe has been struggling his way to the GM's chair over many years and finally feels he has a handle on what it all entails. For my part, I was curious to find out what he had to say.Jason is a long-time listener and Patron to Roleplay Rescue. Hailing from Montreal, Canada, he's someone I've played with a fair bit over the past year or so and we've become solid friends. We hopped on to Zoom just prior to playing a game in Fellmyr and I simply pressed “Record”. Jason agreed to share the resulting conversation uncut. Here's hoping it's as interesting and enlightening for you as it was for me - we certainly exchanged a few emerging ideas that I didn't expect. As it turns out, Wiebe had a whole list of ideas about being a great GM.Thanks to Wiebe for coming on the show!Game on!Roleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:roleplayrescue@proton.meBlogroleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueRoleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/Logo and artwork by MJ Hiblen:https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is a pitch for building a tiny roleplay habit using 30-minute sessions and one-on-one play with the rules behind the GM's screen. The idea, taken from solo play, is to gather more often for shorter periods. In busy lives, dropping online to play for 30 minutes is much easier to schedule. This is viable because RPGs work best on the accumulation of play over many sessions. One-on-one places the player's focus on just their own character's perspective. If we blend this with the desire for Otherworld-immersion, we can marry the character and player perspective in a powerful manner. Rules opacity is also easier for the GM to handle because there is only one PC sheet.Big thanks to Frank T for running this Tiny Roleplay experiment and allowing me to share the session recordings.Game on!Roleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:roleplayrescue@proton.meBlogroleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueRoleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/Logo and artwork by MJ Hiblen:https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The most important game mechanism is, of course, the Game Master of a roleplaying game. Roleplaying games are all about making choices as-if you are your character and then seeing what happens as a consequence. This week the Angry GM gave me a long-overdue kick up the butt when I read an article on his blog. This episode is a response to that kick up the butt. Big thanks to the Angry GM for his book and blog - I hope he won't mind the extensive quotation from them. Thanks to Frank T for calling in! Game on!The Angry GM's article: A Campaign Manager's Guide to Selfishness | The Angry GMOR https://theangrygm.com/a-campaign-managers-guide-to-selfishness/The Angry GM's book in his Shop:https://angry.games/shop/ols/products/game-angry-how-to-rpg-the-angry-wayRoleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:roleplayrescue@proton.meBlogroleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueRoleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/Logo and artwork by MJ Hiblen:https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens if we lean in hard to the Roleplay in roleplaying game? What if we take away the elements which distract from the enjoyment of being in-character, as-character, in a fantastic world? The first move is to start caring more about the fantastic Otherworld. The second is to push for greater Rules Opacity.Thanks to Jason Wiebe for calling in once again. Game on!Roleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:roleplayrescue@proton.meBlogroleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueRoleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/Logo and artwork by MJ Hiblen:https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why do I spend so much of my time drifting from game to game, system to system, and between diverse imaginary worlds? Why do I find it hard to settle on a game and make it come alive? Am I doomed to roam for the remainder of my life never quite experiencing the games I want to enjoy?I've been adrift in the hobby for a long, long time. And then something clicked. That click was a simple question: What's it for? The answer is simple: the RPGs that I want to play are first and foremost vehicles for agency. But, as with all answers to the basic question, “What's it for?” there is a need to ask that question at the second level too: what's this particular game - the campaign I am currently cooking up - what's that for? And that is the question that I need to start asking when I build my next RPG experience for my players.Thanks to Jason Wiebe for calling in once again. Game on!Roleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:hello@rpgrescue.comBlogroleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueRoleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/Logo and artwork by MJ Hiblen:https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I love to hear from listeners and, while email and social media messages are great, the best moments are when people call in with a voice message. This episode collects four listener calls which I have been wanting to respond to for a few weeks, plus a bonus-length call-in from Patron Carl D. These date back over the period from the 7th September until the 19th October 2024 and cover thoughts on a few past episodes.Big thanks in advance to Patrons Jason Wiebe, Spencer aka Free Thrall, Jason Connerley, and Carl D aka "The Kid" for calling in! Thanks also to one of the earliest callers to Roleplay Rescue, Matt Jackson, back for a rare reprise. When you feel like you are shouting into the Void it's great to get some signal feedback.Game on!Roleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:hello@rpgrescue.comBlogroleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueRoleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/Logo and artwork by MJ Hiblen:https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris Casciano is a medieval fantasy illustrator and author from Syracuse, New York. He has illustrated for novels, tv shows, and numerous games such as Dungeons and Dragons, Pathfinder, and Game of Thrones. His personal art series, “The Iron Cast,” is a world of medieval knights and environments painted with a combination of realism, abstract shapes and textures. Chris has also written and illustrated his own Solo RPG novel, Escaping Tynebris: The Dungeons. Beyond being a professional creator, he also teaches Concept Art, Illustration and Digital Design at the high school level. Talking to him, I realised just how special this book is going to be, coming as it is from a well-spring of passion and love for all things medieval and fantastic. I hope you'll listen in and check it out.Escaping Tynebris Trailer:youtube.com/watch?v=Q5M34woIYCAKickstarter Prelaunch Page: kickstarter.com/projects/escapingtynebris/escaping-tynebris-the-dungeonsEscaping Tynebris Website:theironcast.com/escapingtynebrisThe Iron Cast Website:theironcast.com/Roleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:hello@rpgrescue.comBlogroleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueRoleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/Logo and artwork by MJ Hiblen:https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On April 2nd 2004, Pyramid Magazine published an article entitled, “Designer's Notes: GURPS Basic Set, Fourth Edition” by Sean Punch. Twenty years from that article in 2004, GURPS - the Generic Universal Role-Playing System - is still with us. Contrary to popular opinion, it's not a dead game. GURPS Fourth Edition might be out of fashion but it's truly a standard in the RPG community. Last episode, I spoke of my rediscovery of the spirit of the Third Edition through the pages of Roleplayer. A month on, I have arrived back with the Fourth Edition of GURPS. Having enjoyed a journey into the early 1990s GURPS community, I was also aware that GURPS received an overhaul in 2004. This episode is a reflection on the power of that RPG system: it's time to unleash this power and flexibility into my experience of play.Big thanks to Matt C and Jason W for the call-ins this episode!Thanks also to Steve Jackson Games for creating GURPS and keeping the game alive for nearly 40 years.Game on!GURPS Basic Set on Warehouse23: GURPS Basic Set: Characters and Campaigns | Warehouse 23ORwarehouse23.com/collections/gurps/products/gurps-basic-set-characters-and-campaignsGURPS Lite on Warehouse23:GURPS Lite (Fourth Edition) | Warehouse 23OR warehouse23.com/products/gurps-lite-fourth-editionGURPS Lite on DriveThruRPG:GURPS Lite (Fourth Edition) - Steve Jackson Games | GURPS Fourth Edition | GURPS Fourth Edition - Start Here! | DriveThruRPGORdrivethrurpg.com/en/product/236828/gurps-lite-fourth-editionRoleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:hello@rpgrescue.comBlogroleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueRoleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/Logo and artwork by MJ Hiblen:https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In February 1986, a free newsletter began to be posted out to customers from Steve Jackson Games: Roleplayer. Now available again from Warehouse 23, in the summer of 2024 I got curious to discover what insights this old newsletter might hold about the development of GURPS. What I found was a portal back to 1986 which began to inspire me towards play in directions both old and, strangely, new.Thanks to Jason Connerley who, by sending me GURPS Second Edition, unlocked this whole episode's content. Thanks to all the callers - Frank T, Jason C, Jon M, Jon C, and Wiebe - for adding the community's voice to this episode.Game on!Roleplayer on Warehouse23: GURPS Roleplayer Bundle | Warehouse 23ORhttps://warehouse23.com/products/gurps-roleplayer-bundleRoleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:hello@rpgrescue.comBlogroleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueRoleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/Logo and artwork by MJ Hiblen:https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a special bonus episode to celebrate the forthcoming Reaver Sword and Sorcery Roleplaying Game by Raven God Games. Because Reaver is on Kickstarter right now until 7th October 2024, I couldn't wait to share this conversation with the game's designer.Joe Salvador is a freelance cartographer, writer and game designer hailing from Ohio, USA who has been involved with role-playing games for more than 30 years. He is the writer and creator of Eldritch Tales: Lovecraftian White Box Roleplaying and Reaver RPG. He has produced material for many other RPG systems within the broadly OSR category. He publishes under the banner of Raven God Games and he joins us today to talk about Reaver: Sword & Sorcery Roleplaying Game, on Kickstarter until October 7th 2024.Big thanks to Joe Salvador for coming on the show and also to Jason, from the Nerd's RPG Variety Cast, for connecting us.Reaver Kickstarter: Reaver: Sword & Sorcery Role-Playing Game by Joseph Salvador — KickstarterORkickstarter.com/projects/ravengodgames/reaver-sword-and-sorcery-role-playing-game/ Raven God Games: Raven God GamesORravengodgames.blogspot.com/Roleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:hello@rpgrescue.comBlogroleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueRoleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/Logo and artwork by MJ Hiblen:https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest, Arlen Walker, is the host of Live From Pellam's Wasteland which you can find both as a podcast and on YouTube in video form. In this, the last of my holiday chats with gaming friends, Arlen raises the question of how to deal with dragons in our roleplaying campaigns.Big thanks up front to Arlen for coming on to the show. As ever, it was a fascinating conversation which I hope you'll find as interesting as I did.Game on!Pellam's Wasteland Plays Solo Podcast:Pellam's Wasteland Plays Solo • A podcast on Spotify for PodcastersORpodcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pellamswastelandplayssoloLive From Pellam's Wasteland YouTube Channel:Live from Pellam's Wasteland: Back & Showing Off Elephants! (youtube.com)ORyoutube.com/@LivefromPellamsWastelandRoleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:hello@rpgrescue.comBlogroleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueRoleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/Logo and artwork by MJ Hiblin:https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's chat is with Menion, aka Rob, the creator and host of Confessions of a Wee Tim'rous Bushi, a podcast that hails from Japan. This one follows on from Rob's call-in at the top of the show as we pick up his points in response to Episode 3 and wrestle together to make sense of the elusive intangibility of the fantasy Otherworld.Big thank you in advance to Rob for hopping online (back in August) and sharing this delightful and insightful chat. I hope that you'll find our discussion helpful and interesting.Game on!Confessions of a Wee Tim'rous Bushi:Confessions of a Wee Tim'rous Bushi | Podcast on SpotifyORopen.spotify.com/show/0NF1sMhWGIllBFS2u2w14GRoleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:hello@rpgrescue.comBlogroleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueRoleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/Logo and artwork by MJ Hiblin:https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason Connerley is the voice behind the Nerd's RPG Variety Cast podcast and a regular caller to several shows, including this one. We've gamed a few times over the years and always seem to enjoy ourselves. As I began the summer break, I was grateful for Jason being willing to have a chat about something he was curious about… and it ended up that he interviewed me.Big thanks up front to Jason for taking the time to record this conversation about some practical questions for face-to-face gaming. We even went on to record a second bit about how I have fallen out of love with D&D… but I'll leave that for him to share on his show.Game on!Nerds RPG Variety Cast:Nerd's RPG Variety Cast • A podcast on Spotify for PodcastersORhttps://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason376Roleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:hello@rpgrescue.comBlogroleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueRoleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/Logo and artwork by MJ Hiblin:https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, Jon McNally has been a listener and Patron for some time now and regularly calls in. His thoughts and questions are always provocative for me in a positive manner, inviting reflection and deeper consideration. The call at the top of the show is the one message that I held off on including in Episode 3 and wanted to tackle in a separate show. So, here we are… and what could be better than to invite Jon onto the show to discuss it?Big thanks to Jon for agreeing to talk this one over and I hope you will find it as useful as I did.Game on!Roleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:hello@rpgrescue.comBlogroleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueRoleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/Logo and artwork by MJ Hiblin:https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hailing from Portsmouth, Virginia, Christopher R. Rice is constantly writing, tinkering with, and running GURPS. A frequent writer for Steve Jackson Games, if he's not writing for GURPS, he's blogging about it. His site “Ravens N' Pennies” is well-stocked with more GURPS goodies than you could shake a stick at.This one's about GURPS Meta-Tech, his most recent book, but it's about so much more. Even for those not into the GURPS system, there's much to ponder and I hope you'll listen in nonetheless. Christopher is a great evangelist for GURPS but he's also a strong voice for creative, exciting game play. Big thanks up front to Christopher for coming on the show!Game on!Ravens 'n' Pennies Blog:Ravens N' Pennies - Caw! Caw! Look, it's a blog! About gaming and writing and...and stuff! (ravensnpennies.com)ORhttps://www.ravensnpennies.com/Christopher's Ravenpenny Patreon:Christopher R. Rice | Creating Role-Playing Games and Fiction | PatreonORhttps://www.patreon.com/ravenpennyMeta-Tech on Warehouse23:GURPS Meta-Tech | Warehouse 23ORhttps://warehouse23.com/collections/new/products/gurps-meta-tech-pdfMeta-Tech on Amazon:GURPS Meta-Tech: Amazon.co.uk: Rice, Christopher R.: 9781639990566: BooksORhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/GURPS-Meta-Tech-Christopher-R-Rice/dp/1639990569Roleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:hello@rpgrescue.comBlogroleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueRoleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/Logo and artwork by MJ Hiblin:https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello Rescuers!This episode is subtitled, "Tactical combat, wargaming, and RPGs". Although inspired by Snapshot, the thoughts are broader than any one particular set of rules.Opening with a quotation from Jamison's, "Gamemastering", this episode shares some thoughts about the place of wargaming in the roleplayer's arsenal. The words of Brian Jamison tell us to be wary of such folk, but I am in disagreement.Big thank you to Jason, John, Simon, and Wiebe for contributing to the show with their calls!And thank you to you for tuning in and making this show a part of your hobby. I hope you find it useful.Game on!Roleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:hello@rpgrescue.comBlogroleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueRoleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/Logo and artwork by MJ Hiblin:https://www.patreon.com/MJHiblenART/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode brings us back to the most important question in rediscovering our hobby: How do we best recapture the spirit of play and of deep engagement with these games? This episode reflects on a shift in my experience of gaming and talks about what I have been learning as I focused on running two Fellmyr games - that is two groups of players using the same world - on a regular basis over the past six months. I also share some messages I've received from listeners which express gratitude for Roleplay Rescue and everything that this community stands for.Big thank you to Jon, Matt, Riley, Thorsten, and Peter Laws for contributing to the show! I would not be sitting here recording if not for your inspiration.Game on!Roleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:hello@rpgrescue.comBlogroleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueRoleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello Rescuers! We're back! Sort of.As I said a few weeks ago, I am changing the pace of Roleplay Rescue from a regular podcast to being a, well, irregular podcast - in other words, although this is the first episode of the resurrected show, it may be some time (or not) before I record another.But this episode couldn't wait. I thought about holding it back but, frankly, it was such a great conversation that I couldn't in good conscience hold it back.Today, I am honoured to welcome W. Michael Tenery III, author of the Imagine Role Playing (role-playing.com), to our show. Michael's game is something I discovered back around 2000 and have longed to play ever since.It's a game I've dabbled with but never dived into… until now. During the interregnum betwixt series, I've found myself back reading and solo playing Imagine and, well, it's a game I want to talk about more.Big thank you to Michael for coming on the show - it was a truly inspiring conversation and I have been deeply affected by it. I cannot thank you enough for the ideas that you've sparked. I hope it sparks something for others too.Game on!Links:Imagine Roleplaying: https://role-playing.com/Random Encounter Show, "How Has This Hidden Gem Stayed Hidden?!": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nn1Epv09Yx8Roleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:hello@rpgrescue.comBlogroleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueRoleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here's the short version: I'm going to take a break - once again - from podcasting. When I do return, whether it's in a couple of weeks, two months, or a year, I'm going to take the approach of recording when I have something I'm interested in saying. No more weekly or bi-weekly schedule, just grabbing the mic whenever ideas are worth developing. And so this is the End. It's also the beginning of something new.Big thanks to Jon for the call-in which inspired the episode.Tiny Prep, the book: roleplayingtips.com/gm-books/tiny-prep/Game on!Roleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:hello@rpgrescue.comBlogroleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueRoleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the last in a series of four conversations I've enjoyed with various guests over the tail end of 2023 and into January 2024.Joaquin Lippincott is the founder of RPGMatch, an application where you can register and meet other TTRPG players who like to play like you do. Following the call-in and my not-entirely positive feedback about the app in Episode 6, Seeking Face to Face, Joaquin reached out and we agreed to have a bit of a chat.Thanks to Joaquin for coming on the show! I hope you enjoy the chat as much as I did.Game on!RPGMatch is at www.rpgmatch.org/Roleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:hello@rpgrescue.comBlogroleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueRoleplay Rescue's Solo Tales:https://shows.acast.com/roleplay-rescues-solo-talesNottingham Roleplaying Games (RPGs) Meetup Group:https://www.meetup.com/nottingham-roleplaying-games-rpgs-meetup-group/Roleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It has been a month since I last hopped on the mic and spoke. This episode is a GM Intrusion into the flow of the season to do two things: First, I wanted to share and respond to a few call-in messages I've received through January and February.Second, I thought I would update you on a couple of areas in my own hobby and thought - we just played a second face-to-face session at The Dice Cup, the School Club has shifted to playing Dungeon Fantasy RPG too, and I've even taken part as a player in an experimental modern-day game designed to seek deeper Otherworld-immersion. It's been the busiest period of actual gaming that I've experienced in years.Thank you to all the callers - Frank, Simon, Dan, Jon, Evil Jeff, and Andrew - for inspiring and supporting the show! Thanks to the callers on the GM's Journal weekly too - you keep me fired up!Game on!Roleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:hello@rpgrescue.comBlogroleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueRoleplay Rescue's Solo Tales:https://shows.acast.com/roleplay-rescues-solo-talesNottingham Roleplaying Games (RPGs) Meetup Group:https://www.meetup.com/nottingham-roleplaying-games-rpgs-meetup-group/Roleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the third in a series of four conversations I've enjoyed with various friends and new acquaintances within the Roleplay Rescue community over the tail end of 2023 and into January 2024. My guest today is Bob from the SAFCO podcast. Bob Loftin is co-host of SAFCOcast, a podcast about the Traveller roleplaying game and its derivatives. SAFCO stands for Super Adventure Friends Co., the tongue-in-cheek name the members of Bob's group decided to give the company their characters formed for their Classic Traveller campaign, “Into The Void”. Bob keeps a log of the games on his blog, Concrete Lunch Gaming, and the chaps' adventures have kept me entertained since I first came across them in 2019. I last spoke to Bob at length for Season 11, Episode 9 but he is a Patron of the show and this time Bob has an interesting challenge to propose.Thanks to Bob for coming on the show! I hope you enjoy the chat as much as I did.SAFCOcast: SAFCOcast.com – a Traveller RPG Podcast – a podcast about the Traveller RPG and its derivativesORhttps://www.safcocast.com/Game on!Roleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:hello@rpgrescue.comBloghttps://www.safcocast.com/:roleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueRoleplay Rescue's Solo Tales:https://shows.acast.com/roleplay-rescues-solo-talesNottingham Roleplaying Games (RPGs) Meetup Group:https://www.meetup.com/nottingham-roleplaying-games-rpgs-meetup-group/Roleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the second in a series of four conversations I've enjoyed with various friends and new acquaintances within the Roleplay Rescue community over the tail end of 2023 and into January 2024. My guest today is Mr_Sandman, aka Andrew from Long Island. Andrew is a long-time GURPS GM and the mind behind his blog, In The Sandbox, which contains lots of great advice for aspiring and new GURPS GMs. I particularly enjoyed his post entitled, “My Tips for GMs New to GURPS” from May 2023. Last time I looked, that post was pinned to the top of the blog.Andrew has been an encouragement to me as an aspiring GURPS GM and I think this conversation clinched the deal on persuading me to go all-out and attack the game with gusto. It's no coincidence that Fellmyr has become powered by GURPS through the Dungeon Fantasy Roleplaying Game.Thanks to Andrew for coming on the show! I hope you enjoy the chat as much as I did.Mr_Sandman's Blog, "In The Sandbox":https://ajmanitt.wordpress.com/Game on!Please note that, while I have been releasing episodes weekly into the New Year, we will return to a bi-weekly format going forward.Roleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:hello@rpgrescue.comBlog:roleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueRoleplay Rescue's Solo Tales:https://shows.acast.com/roleplay-rescues-solo-talesNottingham Roleplaying Games (RPGs) Meetup Group:https://www.meetup.com/nottingham-roleplaying-games-rpgs-meetup-group/Roleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I got back to running a game face-to-face. More than that, it looks like this newly formed group of gamers wants to meet again in February. I don't want to jinx it, but I'm so entirely made up about this event that I thought I'd share a few quick thoughts as an episode.Thanks right up front to all the new players in that session who absolutely made my day - James, Phil, Isa, Onur, and Adam. It was an absolute pleasure to make your acquaintance.Fellmyr Map via After Five Years – Roleplay Rescue's Blog:https://roleplayrescue.com/2023/11/28/after-five-years/Game on!Roleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:hello@rpgrescue.comBlog:roleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueRoleplay Rescue's Solo Tales:https://shows.acast.com/roleplay-rescues-solo-talesNottingham Roleplaying Games (RPGs) Meetup Group:https://www.meetup.com/nottingham-roleplaying-games-rpgs-meetup-group/Roleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the first in a series of four new conversations I've enjoyed with various friends and new acquaintances within the Roleplay Rescue community over the tail end of 2023 and into January 2024. My guest today is Daniel Jones of the Primaeval Fantasy YouTube and podcast channels, plus the Eudaimonic Geekery blog. I ask him to outline the nature of what he means by the term, “Primaeval Fantasy” as a sub-genre of fantasy world making.Daniel is the originator of the term Otherworld-immersion and a proponent of the idea that changing the methodology of our roleplaying games is the key to changing the experience we have at the table. For those who don't know him, Daniel is a published author and game designer. If you want to hear our earlier conversations about Otherworld-immersion, please check out Season 6, Episode 10; Season 9, Episode 14; Season 10, Episode 19, Season 11 Episode 22, and Season 12, Episode 21.Big thanks in advance to Daniel for coming back to Roleplay Rescue for this raw, unedited conversation between two gamers. As ever, it was an illuminating and fascinating conversation. I hope you find something of interest in here too.Game on!Awakenings and Evolutions with Crispy on Primaeval Fantasy YouTube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTae19wN9HkPrimæval Fantasy • A podcast on Anchor:https://anchor.fm/primeval-fantasyFRPG Thoughts | Good Daemon Geekery (danielionson.wixsite.com)https://danielionson.wixsite.com/good-daemonRoleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:hello@rpgrescue.comBlog:roleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueRoleplay Rescue's Solo Tales:https://shows.acast.com/roleplay-rescues-solo-talesNottingham Roleplaying Games (RPGs) Meetup Group:https://www.meetup.com/nottingham-roleplaying-games-rpgs-meetup-group/Roleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the New Year for 2024 arrives, where am I at with table top roleplaying games? What are my plans for the year ahead and what lessons am I carrying forward? Happy New Year! Welcome to 2024 and I wish you all the very best for the 50th anniversay of the publication of Dungeons & Dragons - that funny old boxed set that sparked this whole roleplaying games phenomenon in 1974!This episode is - predictably enough - all about me, my hobby, and my thoughts as I begin the 53rd year of my life. I talk about Fellmyr, the School D&D Club, the Saturday Night Roleplay group, respond to calls about face-to-face gaming, and generally share some hopes for the year ahead.Thank you to all the callers this week - to Simon, Frank, Jason, Sam, Bob, and Andrew. Your comments and feedback are deeply appreciated.Check out On Mentors and Peers in RPG Learning; with Che Webster by Casting Shadows: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/runeslinger/episodes/On-Mentors-and-Peers-in-RPG-Learning-with-Che-Webster-e2cesqvGame on!Roleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:hello@rpgrescue.comBlog:roleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueRoleplay Rescue's Solo Tales:https://shows.acast.com/roleplay-rescues-solo-talesNottingham Roleplaying Games (RPGs) Meetup Group:https://www.meetup.com/nottingham-roleplaying-games-rpgs-meetup-group/Roleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I've sat on the conversation that you're about to hear for far too long. Back in late September, I hopped online for a conversation with Augury Ignored - the voice behind the Augury Ignored blog. Thomas - for that is his actual name - reached out across Mastodon and we hopped online to chat. It was a first time conversation between gaming strangers but it was a hugely influential chat for me. Without this conversation, I don't think Roleplay Rescue Season 13 would have started.Big thanks to Thomas for coming on the show. I hope you enjoy it too.Game on!Augury Ignored Blog:https://auguryignored.wordpress.com/homeRoleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:hello@rpgrescue.comBlog:roleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueRoleplay Rescue's Solo Tales:https://shows.acast.com/roleplay-rescues-solo-talesNottingham Roleplaying Games (RPGs) Meetup Group:https://www.meetup.com/nottingham-roleplaying-games-rpgs-meetup-group/Roleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The barriers to finding face-to-face community are many. But this was the very problem I began the whole podcast to resolve and, weirdly, find myself right back where I began. I want to face this challenge full on and see what actions I can take. This is pretty personal but I hope you'll find it useful nonetheless.Thank you to all the callers this week - to Infinity Devil for helping inspire the episode, and to Jamie, Jason and Jon.Nottingham Roleplaying Games (RPGs) Meetup Group: https://www.meetup.com/nottingham-roleplaying-games-rpgs-meetup-group/Game on!Roleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:hello@rpgrescue.comBlog:roleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueRoleplay Rescue's Solo Tales:https://shows.acast.com/roleplay-rescues-solo-talesNottingham Roleplaying Games (RPGs) Meetup Group:https://www.meetup.com/nottingham-roleplaying-games-rpgs-meetup-group/Roleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the 28th November 2018, the eight minute and 14 second episode zero of Roleplay Rescue was aired. Now, as we reach the 5th anniversary of that fateful episode, I'm wondering… has it been worth it? What have I learned? And is it mission accomplished?I mean… has anyone's roleplaying been rescued?Big thanks to the callers today - Jason, Hobbs, Spencer, Jean-Francois, Carl, Matt, and Jon.Please consider donating for Men's Health during Movember! Thanks to everyone who has already donated for their generosity!Webster's Movember Page: https://movember.com/m/15039659?mc=1Game on!Roleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:hello@rpgrescue.comBlog:roleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueRoleplay Rescue's Solo Tales:https://shows.acast.com/roleplay-rescues-solo-talesRoleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Draw a quick regional map on hexed paper. Grab the rules from an old roleplaying game. Sit down with some friends and begin to play.Is it really that simple to start a fantasy roleplaying campaign?Today, I want to share some of the things I've experienced and what these moments have taught me about being a fantasy RPG GM.Big thanks to the callers today - Andrew, Jason, Anthony aka Runeslinger, and Wiebe!Game on!Roleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:hello@rpgrescue.comBlog:roleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueRoleplay Rescue's Solo Tales:https://shows.acast.com/roleplay-rescues-solo-talesRoleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/Sound Effects and Background Music via Slip.stream:https://slip.stream/Thanks also to Tabletop Audio for the additional music and ambient sounds:Tabletop Audio - Ambiences and Music for Tabletop Role Playing GamesORhttps://tabletopaudio.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

YUMDM is the creator of the d12 Monthly ‘zine which started in mid-2021 and has grown from a humble 8-pages to - in September 2023 - 27 issues at a whopping 28-pages! Hailing from Australia, Russ has been roleplaying for 30+ years and allegedly played his first game as Tasslehoff in a Dragonlance module. He has been creating his own campaign world since 2019 and has seen it grow and develop in each new campaign he runs. Russ is an avid solo roleplayer having done so as far back as 1986. This conversation was one of those open chats that I have discovered I prefer to have with my guests - I hope you enjoy it!Big thank you, once again, to Russ - YUMDM - for coming and talking about D&D and zines!Game on!YUMDM blog:https://yumdm.com/YUMDM Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/yumdmRoleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:hello@rpgrescue.comBlog:roleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueRoleplay Rescue's Solo Tales:https://shows.acast.com/roleplay-rescues-solo-talesRoleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alex Macris is the lead designer for the Adventurer, Conqueror, King System, an old-school fantasy RPG designed to support campaign play. He's the founder of Autarch LLC, a game design studio from Durham in North Carolina, USA which publishes ACKS and several other titles. Alex is also an entrepreneur and the author of “Arbiter of Worlds”, a primer for Gamemasters - as well as having made a host of other achievements.Massive thank you to Alex for coming on the show. Thank you to Matthew for suggesting it.Game on!ACKS II Kickstarter:https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/autarch/adventurer-conqueror-king-system-imperial-imprint-acks-iiArbiter of Worlds book:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07P9JCLB1Arbiter of Worlds Substack:https://arbiterofworlds.substack.com/Arbiter of Worlds YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@AlexanderMacrisAutarch Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/AutarchRoleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:hello@rpgrescue.comBlog:roleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMastodon:https://ttrpg-hangout.social/@UbiquitousRatMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueRoleplay Rescue's Solo Tales:https://shows.acast.com/roleplay-rescues-solo-talesRoleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/Sound Effects and Background Music via Slip.stream:https://slip.stream/Thanks also to Tabletop Audio for the additional music and ambient sounds:Tabletop Audio - Ambiences and Music for Tabletop Role Playing GamesORhttps://tabletopaudio.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What's going on with the school Roleplay Club? Why would you even run such a thing? What are the best steps in getting started?Today, I want to take you through the story of the first two weeks of the School Club project and outline the progress, but also the pains, of getting myself back in front of teens gamers. I've even grabbed two short clips from the GM's Journal - recorded immediately after the students left on two consecutive sessions - to give you a sense of how the play has been going.Big thanks to all the callers today - Simon, Matt, Jean-Francois, Jamie and John!Game on!Roleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:hello@rpgrescue.comBlog:roleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social:https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMastodon:https://ttrpg-hangout.social/@UbiquitousRatMeWe:https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueRoleplay Rescue's Solo Tales:https://shows.acast.com/roleplay-rescues-solo-talesRoleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/Sound Effects and Background Music via Slip.stream:https://slip.stream/Thanks also to Tabletop Audio for the additional music and ambient sounds:Tabletop Audio - Ambiences and Music for Tabletop Role Playing GamesORhttps://tabletopaudio.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What do you do when you know you used to enjoy playing RPGs but the whole thing has, frankly, become a chore? How do you move forward when the reality is that you are anxious about GMing the next session and you have bailed more times than you run the game? This season is shifting to a bi-weekly format and I hope that listeners will understand. This season I'm going to work on presenting the experiments I'm testing in my own actually played RPG sessions. The goal is to track a route back to the table and, if all goes to plan - which, of course, is a big if - see about rediscovering the joy and confidence of being a GM. This episode is all about my expedition's direction at the start of a fresh leg in the journey.Big thanks to all the callers today - Andrew, Barry, Jason, Matt, Spencer, and Ubergrog!Game on!Roleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:hello@rpgrescue.comBlog:roleplayrescue.com Bluesky Social: https://bsky.app/profile/ubiquitousrat.bsky.socialMastodon:https://ttrpg-hangout.social/@UbiquitousRatMeWe: https://mewe.com/p/roleplayrescueRoleplay Rescue's Solo Tales:https://shows.acast.com/roleplay-rescues-solo-talesRoleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is the final one for this season - no, really - and it's my pleasure to bring you a conversation about a significant new book for the RPG scene.Justin Alexander is a freelance writer and the author of the grand repository of ideas that is The Alexandrian. This is an interview with Justin about his forthcoming book, released in November 2023, "So You Want To Be A Game Master". Big thanks up front to Justin for agreeing to come and talk about his new book - it truly was another joyous and interesting conversation. I hope you find it illuminating too!Game on!The Alexandrian Blog: https://thealexandrian.net/gamemastery-101The Alexandrian YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/TheAlexandrianJustin's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/justinalexander/postsPre-order the book via Amazon.co.uk: https://www.amazon.co.uk/You-Want-Game-Master-Adventure/dp/1645679152Roleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:hello@rpgrescue.comBlog:roleplayrescue.com Mastodon:https://ttrpg-hangout.social/@UbiquitousRatRoleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/Roleplay Rescue's Solo Tales:https://shows.acast.com/roleplay-rescues-solo-tales Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The last episode was supposed to be the final one for this season but, well, then I got a whole barrage of messages and call-ins from you, the listeners. It seems a shame not to share them in one last hurrah of community positivity and thoughtfulness. So… here we are.Big thank you, once again, to Frank, Brian, Anthony, Jason, John, Barry, Jean-Francois, Hobbs, and James for all of their call-ins!I'm not really sure if and when I'll be back for more episodes so… thank you for showing up and listening over the past 4 and a half years! Game on!Roleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:hello@rpgrescue.comBlog:roleplayrescue.com Mastodon:https://ttrpg-hangout.social/@UbiquitousRatRoleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/Roleplay Rescue's Solo Tales:https://shows.acast.com/roleplay-rescues-solo-tales Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is the final one for this season, another of the extended conversations I've shared with gaming friends over recent weeks. It was largely unplanned as I hopped online to talk and discuss some key ideas with my guest. Jason Connerley is the voice behind the Nerd's RPG Variety Cast podcast and a regular caller to several Anchorite shows, including this one. Jason started gaming around 1983 with the Dungeon! board game by David Megarry. His first RPGs were the Mentzer Red Box D&D Basic set and the original TSR Marvel Super Heroes RPG. We've gamed a few times over the years and always seem to enjoy ourselves. At a time of experiencing some disconnection and change, I was grateful for Jason being willing to not only talk, but let me record what was also a personal conversation.Big thanks up front to Jason and I hope you'll find the conversation a useful one.Nerd's RPG Variety Cast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason376Cerebrevore: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cerebrevoreGame on!Roleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:hello@rpgrescue.comBlog:roleplayrescue.com Mastodon:https://ttrpg-hangout.social/@UbiquitousRatRoleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/Roleplay Rescue's Solo Tales:https://shows.acast.com/roleplay-rescues-solo-tales Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This one's a chat about FKR - Free Kreigspiel Roleplaying - with someone I am only beginning to get to know but who has also been so generous with their time that I feel deeply appreciative of and in debt to. The episode is the penultimate one for this season, another of the extended conversations I've shared with gaming friends over recent weeks. It was largely unplanned and is really just that - hopping online to talk and discuss some key ideas with my guest. We did have a few moments of spotty online connectivity, so please forgive the vaguaries of British internet technology.Big thanks up front to Paul Jennings, my guest, and I hope you'll find the conversation an illuminating one. Game on!FKR Links:Paleolithic Voyages, Paul D Jennings | DriveThruRPG.com: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/409295/Palaeolithic-VoyagesPaleolithic Voyages, Paul D Jennings | Lulu.com: https://www.lulu.com/shop/paul-jennings-and-kitty-hiraeth/palaeolithic-voyages/paperback/product-kpmy8y.html?page=1&pageSize=4Revenant's Quill: https://www.revenant-quill.com/Dreaming Dragonslayer: https://dreamingdragonslayer.wordpress.com/Aboleth Overlords: https://aboleth-overlords.com/ FKR Collective Discord: https://discord.com/invite/aJjkg3sThuRoleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:hello@rpgrescue.comBlog:roleplayrescue.com Mastodon:https://ttrpg-hangout.social/@UbiquitousRatRoleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/Roleplay Rescue's Solo Tales:https://shows.acast.com/roleplay-rescues-solo-tales Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So, yes, I want to be a Game Master. And I want to become a good Game Master. I'm ready to learn and I'm willing to put myself into the space of running a game for my friends. Where do I start? This episode is being put together on Day One of my Apprenticeship as a GM. I'm sharing it partly so that I can externalise and understand where I am going - it helps to explain my rationale and direction. But I'm also sharing because I hope that it might inspire one or two others who've been sitting on that fence, fearing (like me) to become the GM they hope to be.Big thanks up front to the callers - Andrew and Jason - who added so much to the episode!Game on!Roleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:hello@rpgrescue.comBlog:roleplayrescue.com Mastodon:https://ttrpg-hangout.social/@UbiquitousRatRoleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/Roleplay Rescue's Solo Tales:https://shows.acast.com/roleplay-rescues-solo-tales Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is basically a call-in show with lots of messages interspersed with my thoughts in response. It's unscripted and probably a little rougher around the edges… but I would encourage you to stick around and listen because this collection of messages from the community has been some of the most insightful stuff in all my years of podcasting. Big thanks up front to the callers - Simon, Wiebe, Matt, Barry, Matthew, and Jason. I hope you enjoy it.Game on!Roleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:hello@rpgrescue.comBlog:roleplayrescue.com Mastodon:https://ttrpg-hangout.social/@UbiquitousRatRoleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/Roleplay Rescue's Solo Tales:https://shows.acast.com/roleplay-rescues-solo-tales Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does the phrase “Game Master” mean? It is simply a synonym for other labels we stick on the poor soul who organises and runs a traditional tabletop roleplaying game, or might it have deeper meaning? And if we wanted to master our craft, how would we begin?This episode is about the idea of mastery and the fear which arises whenever one speaks about attaining such status. Of the sense of inadequacy and foolishness which leads me to feel as though it is preposterous to suggest such an outrageous idea. How could I, this fumbling idiot who barely knows how to roll dice, ever suppose to call himself “Master of the Game”?Big thank you to the callers today - especially Spencer for his comments about agency - and also to Anthony, Evil Jeff, and Jason.Game on!Roleplay Rescue Details:Voice Message:speakpipe.com/roleplayrescuePatreon:patreon.com/rpgrescue Email:hello@rpgrescue.comBlog:roleplayrescue.com Mastodon:https://ttrpg-hangout.social/@UbiquitousRatRoleplay Rescue Theme by Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore:https://taleofthemanticore.podbean.com/Roleplay Rescue's Solo Tales:https://shows.acast.com/roleplay-rescues-solo-tales Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.