Save for Half is a podcast about Old School Games and the modern role playing games inspired by them. Join DM Mike, DM Liz, and DM Corbett as they discuss and review all the RPGs that made the 70s and 80s great, as well as their modern descendants and supplements.
Welcome to the Bunker, Wastelanders! This time your hosts with the mosts Boom Mike and Doc Benny talk with the Post-Apocalyptic author Lee Beard on her Young Adult book Radio Nowhere; a viral apocalypse that was written well before Covid. We talk about the PA genre, her sequel and third book in the works, and […]
Behold! We review a book, and it's…a thing. Your Fab Foursome delve into this informative and controversial book of essays discussing various aspects of Dungeons and Dragons from 1974 to 2024—and beyond? Sit back, grab a cold one and join the SfH Book Club's first (and possibly last!) meeting! No authors were harmed in the […]
It's time to look back at the nightmare that the year 2000 brought us. No, not Y2K; the inevitable war between the US and the USSR in Europe! Don't remember that? Neither do we! Which is why “Bam Shane” from the Shane Plays podcast is here to help us understand that terrible time in Poland […]
Yes! Our favorite Australian Game Designer is in the house! Pauli Kidd the author of several Dungeons & Dragons novels such as White Plume Mountain, Descent into the Depths of the Earth, and Queen of the Demonweb Pits joins your halflings to discuss what she's been up to over the past few years. We discuss […]
This episode we celebrate 2025 by looking back…to 1979? That's right, author, game designer, and all around excellent person Pauli Kidd has released her first setting and megadungeon for those wishing a taste of Old School goodness. We discuss the location, the wilderness encounter areas, and the interesting NPCs….and kill them. Not really, but it […]
It's a new dawn….of the dead? This time the Dyspeptic Duo of Boom Mike and Doc Benny talk the second movie smackdown of the show; Romero's Dawn of the Dead (1978) versus Zack Snyder's Dawn of the Dead (2004)! Thrills, chills, shuttle buses and pies thrown at zombies abound in this episode of Found in […]
What's this? Not just another retro-clone, the White Box Cyclopedia takes an innovative path that moves the White Box to new heights of simplicity and adventure! Coming to a Kickstarter near you, the Fab 4 Halflings talk with the author James Spahn about his ideas, his development of the game, and most importantly…why are there […]
If you're stuck on Band Aid brand, cuz Band Aid's stuck on you…then you'll enjoy this episode of Found in the Ruins! Boom Mike and Doc Benny are joined again by Doc Jared for some discussions on medical treatment in the Post-Apoc, both how it's portrayed and ‘reality' for what it's worth. Come for the […]
Living up to our “modern games inspired by them” tag line, we're covering a relatively new kid on the block (???) of the RPG scene, the Shadowdark game by Kelsey Dionne. This award winning RPG took Kickstarter by storm and marries Old School mindsets with New School mechanics to reach a level that even DM […]
Ever watch a bad Horror movie and say to yourself, “If I'd been there I'd have totally owned that monster!” Well, this month's RPG is for you! Your Fab Four Halflings dive into a 1990 game that answers the question “Who knew Weekly World News was a monster source?” Sit back, relax, pop a cold […]
That's right, it's that decade where we loved to end the world, the 1980s! Specifically, it is 1985, the year that saw the first book in The Guardians series by Richard Austin published, helpfully named The Guardians.
As with most adventures, this RPG starts at a rock concert. While you wait, you chat with a fellow rocker dude in his tricked-out van with a wizard painted on it. Then, adventure ensues! Want to know more? Well, listen to your Fab Four Halflings as they delve into James Spahn's latest FRPG creation, Wizard […]
Let's talk about something safe…Cannibalism! Like it or not, it comes up in virtually every Post-Apocalyptic tale you can imagine. Beyond the inevitable questions of “would you or wouldn't you”, how do these tales treat the ramifications of engaging in this cultural taboo? What games deal with it, and how? Is there a such thing […]
It's August, and you know what that means…or should mean; it's North Texas RPG Con wrap-up info time! But just so you don't get too bored listening to con events, we're also interviewing Stephen Miller of Battlefield Press! We talk the Gaslight Victorian Fantasy RPG, its soon to be revised edition on BackerKit, and answer […]
It's the first Smackdown episode of Found in the Ruins! In this corner is Night of the Living Dead, 1968 edition. In the other corner is Night of the Living Dead, 1990 edition. Who will win? Who will lose? Are both great? Neither? Only this podcast (and maybe Shane Plays) can answer the question! Come […]
Here we have an Advanced Dungeons & Dragons product that's Licensed to Pulp! Yes, it's Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser's city of Lankhmar, the home base of the two ne'er-do-wells from author Fritz Lieber's fantasy stories of the mid-20th century. Is it a location worthwhile for adventuring? Are there mysteries, foes, and most of all […]
Remember…in Space, no one can hear you roll a D20! Your Fab Foursome gather once again to delve into the jungle of D20 products to cover a book that promises all the future you can stand. Does it live up to the hype? Is it useful? Or is it just an excuse to provide more […]
Greetings, Comrades! Today we discuss that great adversary of yesterday and today, the Red Hordes of Communism. For good or ill, they are the bugaboos of apocalyptic fiction and films from The People of the Ruins by Shanks to the movie remake of Red Dawn. How did they arise? How have they changed over the […]
Welcome to the traditional sideshow where we drag Mike Badolato on air to chat about the North Texas RPG Con this June! Well, we tried to get Gary Oliver but he's a busy man, you know. We discuss hotel overflows, food trucks, a record number of official games on the schedule…and the pros and cons […]
The 1970s and 80s were a time of apocalyptic fears, and what better way to promote them than through cheap paperbacks? That's right, your favorite Wastelanders Boom Mike and Doc Benny discuss this time as reflected in the book Pulp Apocalypse; a collection of synopses and interviews brought to you by the Paperback Warrior and […]
A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away… Ok, 37 years ago and not so far away the Star Wars RPG was first published by West End Games. We consider the game itself, the idea of dice pools, and answer that age-old question of why are there no ladders to buy in the […]
What's this, you ask? It's a side project podcast that covers Post-Apocalyptic books, games, movies, and what not. Hosts Boom Mike and Doc Benny take this first episode to introduce themselves and tell you their interpretations of the Post-Apocalypse. What is it, what isn't it, and what will be covered in the future on this […]
Get ready True Believers for a first…a Prequel Save for Half! We'll be reviewing the West End Games Star Wars D6 RPG in episode 53, but first we invite the Curmudgeon in the Cellar himself Tim Kask on to talk about 1977's Star Wars and its impact on us and the RPG community. Yes, some […]
You've heard of Christmas in July? Well, welcome to Halloween in January! Your Fab-lings start the new year with a ‘Bleh!' with everyone's favorite vampire Strahd in the original AD&D module I6: Ravenloft by Tracy and Laura Hickman. Thrills, chills, and NPCs with Motives™ abound in this episode of Save For Half! No vampires were […]
It's December, which means it's time for the patented Save for Half year-end retrospective and email hot tub time machine! Well, DM Liz reads some emails anyway. Forgive our delay in getting to some of these emails, but we kept them in the same calendar year so that's got to count for something, right? Right? […]
What's this? Your Fab Four covering Gamma World again? Keep patient True Believers, because this isn't the Gamma World you remember from the late 1970s. This is the 1992 revamp of our favorite game of mutations and murderbots! New rules system, new mutations, and yet the same favorite mutant creatures you know and love. Is […]
A show literally months in the making! Your Fab Four Halflings sit down with Skeeter Green to discuss his RPG company Skeeter Green Productions, the Independent Publisher's Union (#notaunion), and of course…new classes? We discuss all these topics as well as Skeeter's Mixed Martial Arts activities in this Sideshow™ of Sideshows™! No PC classes were […]
What's this? A game of Bronze-Age fantasy that mixes ancient cultures from Sumeria to the Celts? A unique world steeped in legend named Glorantha? Guest host Game Master Ed to explain the actual play of this game? Madness! Yet your Fab 4 are here discussing one of the second wave RPGs that came out in […]
Get ready to gird your Oomph and Marbles, as the kids in the Halfling Clubhouse lead you on a delve into 70s and 80s kids' shows, both real and imaginary! This show we're looking at Dare-Luck Club, published by Lou Hoefer and Dandyline Games. Gangsters, aliens, and pirate treasure await you in this RPG for […]
Grab your sombreros and get ready for a hijacked episode of Save For Half. This episode DM Corbett has taken over and brought in everyone's favorite wacky sitcom next door neighbors, Luau Lou! What happened to the rest of the hosts, you may ask? We reply, you ask too many questions. Sit back and enjoy an interview with […]
Yes, we took the plunge so you don't have to! The Fab Four watched the D&D: HAT movie and give our opinions; the good, the bad, and the Satanic! That's right, Satan (AKA Mike Badolato) joins us to give his Infernal views on the film. Oh, and also talk about some convention in Dallas this […]
Normally we do up our character generation sessions as extras for the Patreon supporters, but this one was so much fun we decided to make a Sideshow out of it and release it to the entire community! Not only are all 4 Halflings here for the experience, but we are guided in the session by […]
Sometimes we cover games that are truly artifacts of their time. This is one of those! Killer by Steve Jackson Games might be considered by some a proto-LARP, others would see it as “Cops & Robbers” for adults, and most others as a serious ecurity risk? Falling pillow-safes, Dart guns (with a ‘D'!), and 30 […]
This episode the Save For Halflings are honored to interview Knights of the Dinner Table author Jolly Blackburn! Jolly doesn't do many interviews, so this is a rare opportunity to get the inside dope from the gifted storyteller who recently celebrated 300 consecutive issues of his seminal comic book. Plus things pretty quickly break down […]
It's another end of year show, with emails and voice mails to answer. Many questions, many answers…and some even make sense! Take a listen and find out once and for all the answer to the burning question of, ‘Why did a big clown hit DM Liz'? No Podcasters were harmed in the making of this […]
When it comes to modern games inspired by the OSR, there is '70s Gonzo, and there's '70s GONZO. Welcome to GOZR, the Sci-Fi/Fantasy RPG where characters called Gooz learn about a world reshaped by catastrophe and sorcerous science. Danger, exploration, excitement abound; as well as the answer to the age-old question of all heroic types….”What […]
You all knew it was coming, sooner or later. Like a undead wraith itself, Vampire: The Masquerade rises from the grave (the 2nd edition anyway) for your Fab Four to review. We cover what's good, what's not-so-good, and what sucks (see what I did there?) in White Wolf's pre-eminent product in the RPG hobby. Get […]
Before the age of the OGL, there was a time undreamt of, the time of second generation FRPGS! Join us back in the late 1970s as we cover “The Fantasy Trip” by first Metagaming, then reprinted by Steve Jackson Games. Your fave Halflings consider this precursor to GURPS in all of its rules-light glory. Mana, […]
One of the biggest complaints about Original (little brown book) D&D is that it's difficult to understand because of layout and order. Not to mention it frequently refers to stuff in Chainmail—sold separately! Never fear, Greyharp has come to the rescue with this sorta-kinda-but-not-really retroclone of the original game. Layout corrections, rules organization, and actual […]
It's that time of year, what you've all been waiting for. That's right, we've got BadMike himself from North Texas RPG Con to discuss what we did this year at the best Old School con in the world! We laughed, we cried, we managed to avoid the dealer room! Plus, DM Corbett was there! No […]
What else need be said? Schemes, treachery, retconning entire seasons…it’s all here in this…erm…RPG (?) game about the hit TV show of the decade, Dallas. Who shot J.R.? Who didn’t shoot J.R.? And did anyone check his colon for gems? All these questions and more are answered on this episode of Save for Half! No […]
It’s finals time at the Halfling Hideaway, and we’d probably do well if we weren’t so busy fighting supernatural evil. Yes, it’s cool hijinks and eldritch horror combined in the Savage World supplement East Texas University by 12 to Midnight, Inc. As 3 of your 4 Halflings grew up in ETX, we have opinions. So […]
Yes, it’s the senses-blasting return of that (in)famous Halfling tradition…the Email Hot Tub Time Machine!™ Guest starring DM Cojo! Well, not exactly…but he has so many emails here you’d think he was in the room! No emails were harmed in the making of this sideshow, though quite a few were in the lost and found! […]
It’s happened to us all at one time or another. You get hired by a company, given survival training, then stuck in a freeze tube for 200 years. Then when you get out, you find you’ve misplaced your streaming accounts. It’s The Morrow Project, that venerable post-apocalypse RPG from the early 1980s; now in its […]
Friend of the Show Jon Peterson, noted author of the RPG industry and all around celebrity joins the Halflings to discuss his most recent work, “Game Wizards: The Epic Battle for Dungeons & Dragons”, by MIT Press. The book discusses the rise of TSR Hobbies in the 1970s until the ousting of Gary Gygax in […]
Don’t worry, this isn’t like those old TV shows where you get a “new” episode and it’s just the cast reminiscing and replaying clips from the previous year to fill out a show. This is all new, off the cuff attempts by your Halflings to remember what they’ve done in the past year! DM Mike […]
It’s not a Trek, nor Wars…it’s TSR’s 1982 Sci-Fi game Star Frontiers! Your Halflings delve into this box set of space opera goodies with enough counters to warm any wargamer’s (or DM Mike’s) heart. Laser pistols, bizarre creatures, and Sonic Devastators (TM) abound in this episode of Save For Half! No Dralasites were harmed in […]
Jinkies! It’s time to pile into the van with your fave talking creature and go solve groovy mysteries with your cool clique of friends in this RPG that pays homage to various cartoons of the 60s, 70s and 80s. The Halflings gather their Spooky Snacks(TM) and prepare to trap monsters, ghosts and pirates in an […]
It’s time to review an RPG on one of our favorite BBC Sci-Fi TV shows of the 1970s; Blakes7 by Terry Nation. A show gritty and dark for its time, it was notorious for anti-heroes, rebels losing to the evil empir…er…”Federation”, and bad SF/X. Does the game compare to the show? And what’s up with […]
What’s this? Your Fab Four Halflings are covering that venerable book of 1st edition RPG goodness? That’s right, this episode we dive into the foundational rules of that newfangled (for 1978) Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. What did we like? Hate? Actually use in our games? Tune in to find out…with maybe a controversy or two […]
It’s the future — with mutants! That’s right, the Fab Foursome are covering the game Mutant Future by Goblinoid Games, and it’s a world with more Gamma than you can shake a Death Machine at! Based on the Labyrinth Lord system, it’s got all the post-apocalypse goodies you’ve come to expect — mutations, gonzo creatures, […]
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