Sword Breaker

Follow Sword Breaker
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

Sword Breaker is a podcast about the Dungeon World role playing game and playing in fantasy settings by the creators of the Sword Breaker zine. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

Logan Howard


    • Apr 7, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 13m AVG DURATION
    • 57 EPISODES


    Search for episodes from Sword Breaker with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from Sword Breaker

    Episode 57 - Weird Fantasy

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2023 15:09


    Weird Fantasy is a subgenre of speculative fiction that emerged in the mid-twentieth century, often featuring elements of horror, science fiction, and fantasy. It was a popular genre in pulp magazines and comic books during the 1940s and 1950s, and was known for its dark and surreal themes, unusual characters, and bizarre settings. Weird Fantasy stories often explored the limits of human understanding and the consequences of pushing the boundaries of science and magic. Some of the most notable authors associated with this genre include H.P. Lovecraft, Ray Bradbury, and Clark Ashton Smith. Today, the legacy of Weird Fantasy can be seen in a wide range of media, from horror movies and video games to avant-garde literature and graphic novels. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sword-breaker/support

    Episode 56 - Gonzo Fantasy

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2023 15:09


    Thanks to Yochai Gal for the suggestion. This one is about Mix-it-up fantasy where everything goes! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    Episode 55 - Portal Fantasy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2023 11:41


    This episode was suggested by Chris Shorb many moons ago. I just dove back in and used my normal segments to make it less intimidating. Hope you'll enjoy! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    Episode 54 - Dark and Grimdark Fantasy

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2021 10:26


    This episode I'll explore the confusion created by the terms Dark Fantasy and Grimdark Fantasy and then provide 8 variations that illustrate the kind of settings inspired by the terms. Call-in from Jason Connerly of the Nerd's RPG Variety Cast. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    Episode 53 - Reptile Folk

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2021 8:38


    Chris Shorb asked for Reptile Folk. Here they are! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    Episode 52 - Monster Parts

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2021 8:11


    Another great suggestion from Goblin's Henchman! If the world were full of monsters with weird powers and crazy anatomy, surely there would be people who found a use for all these wild resources! Call-in from Chris Shorb suggesting more subgenres to cover! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    Episode 51 - Broken Magic Items

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2021 12:21


    This was a great suggestion from Goblin's Henchman! Listen to a couple more submissions for my Crazy Chimera Carousel followed by a list of magic items that don't exactly do what was expected! Goblin’s Henchman: https://goblinshenchman.wordpress.com/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNp4qwKOoWWqDY9LuD74mpw Collin Green of Spikepit: https://anchor.fm/spikepit https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrBiIGnQtLfBfYm89BLhAFA Ray Otus: http://rayotus.com/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    goblin henchman magic items spikepit broken magic
    Episode 50 - Chimeras

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2021 16:26


    Welcome aboard the Crazy Chimera Carousel! Enjoy the ride! Mentioned or called in: Jason Connerley - Nerd's RPG Variety Cast Joe Richter - Hindsightless Goblin's Henchman Spencer "Free Thrall" - Keep Off the Borderlands Brian Holland - Session Zero and Greg Gelder --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    Episode 49 - Sword and Sorcery

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2021 13:21


    Fritz Leiber coined the term. I'll be talking about what the genre does in games and providing 8 examples of Sword and Sorcery settings. Call-in from Brian Holland from the Session Zero Youtube channel! Last chance to turn in your Chimeras for the 50th episode! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    Episode 48 - High Fantasy

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2021 16:10


    This is a bit of a longer episode. I wanted to cover some ideas about genre, terminology, and labels before continuing my series! I hope you'll have some fun with my 8 examples of High Fantasy settings! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    Episode 47 - Low Fantasy

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2021 12:54


    Joe Richter of the Hindsightless podcast inspires another episode! This time it's all about Low Fantasy. This is the second episode in a series in which I'm exploring the sub-genres under the "Fantasy" umbrella. I hope my 8 variations will demonstrate that Low Fantasy doesn't mean No Fantasy! Other call-ins from Goblin's Henchman of the Blog and Podcast of the same name! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    blog fantasy goblin henchman low fantasy hindsightless
    Episode 46 - Epic Fantasy

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2021 14:43


    The first of several planned episodes on the various sub-genres of fantasy. This one tackles Epic Fantasy and uses the 8 variations as examples of the genre. Call-ins from Jason of the Nerd's RPG Variety Cast and Brian Holland of the Session Zero Youtube Channel! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    Episode 45 - Towers

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2021 7:10


    This episode will be about towers thanks to a suggestion from Ray Otus! There is also an invitation to join in the fun creating new monsters for the Crazy Chimera Carousel! Enjoy! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    towers ray otus
    Episode 44 - Magic Shoes

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2021 12:49


    Thanks to Joe Richter of the excellent Hindsightless podcast for the idea for this one! Lowly shoes are much more powerful than we often remember. There's a call-in from Goblin's Henchman from the podcast of the same name! Check out his fantastic blog to find out more about the items he mentioned and a whole lot more! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    Episode 43 - Magic Bags

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2021 9:57


    Whatcha got in the bag? Magic bags have appeared in folklore and myth for ages because all of us can relate to the mysterious experience of reaching around for unseen things! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    Episode 42 - Death Knights

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2021 11:31


    The monster I always turned to when I opened my Fiend Folio was the Death Knight. I was obsessed with knights. These evil, anti-paladins seemed like the ideal foes! Thanks to Ray Otus for my new full-color logo! Check out all his awesome stuff at rayotus.com! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    death knight death knights ray otus fiend folio
    Episode 41 - Forests

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2021 8:15


    The great forests are places of personal trial. They rarely release the same soul that wandered in. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    Episode 40 - Hirelings

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2021 9:15


    Hirelings can be great for carrying stuff and using as fodder. While it's never a good idea for a hireling to upstage the player characters, they can still be an interesting part of an adventure! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    Episode 39 - Traps

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2021 10:44


    A great trap can freak out your players AND give information about the setting that helps establish themes and offers hints to the players at the same time! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    Episode 38 - Villains

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2021 13:01


    What's the difference between a common monster and a villain? Listen to this episode for my take... --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    Episode 37 - Armor

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2021 9:12


    What do you use for protection? I always loved those shiny suits of plate armor! For a good dungeon crawl though...maybe something better for swimming or climbing eh? Here's another short episode with a few thoughts and 8 variations! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    Episode 36 - Goblins

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2020 7:45


    Nasty little humanoids with a thirst for blood and treasure! Here's a short episode that gets quickly to the variations! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    Episode 35 - Swords

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2020 10:07


    Who doesn't love a magic sword? --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    Episode 34 - Maps

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2020 6:57


    Maps are such an interesting part of role playing because they can make a huge difference in the way the world is understood by the players. Call in and tell me about the maps in your games! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    Episode 33 - Shops

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2020 11:34


    Who wants to go to the mall in the middle of a fantasy adventure? Can shops enhance the setting? --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    Episode 32 - Monks

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2020 13:34


    Are they obnoxious genre breaking characters or legitimate fantasy heroes? Chris Shorb asked me for this one and I hope he finds and enjoys it! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    Episode 31 - Thieves

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2019 10:30


    What are your favorite thief archetypes? Ever had that player in your group who wanted to play a thief because...jerk? --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    Episode 30 - Orcs

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2019 7:19


    Orcs! Nuff said! Call-in from Jason of the Nerd's RPG Variety Cast --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    Episode 29 - Magic Items

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2019 12:28


    What about those magic items found early in a character's career? Can we do better than a +1 weapon? Call-ins from: Jason from Nerd's RPG Variety Podcast Spencer (Free Thrall) from Keep Off the Borderlands Joe (The Blind Rat) from Hindsightless Evil Jeff from Minions and Musings Lieren from Updates from the Middle of Nowhere Colin Green from Spikepit T. J. Drennon from Malodorous Miasma Meltdown and Occult Orifice Outrage --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    Episode 28 - Post Apocalypse

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2019 12:36


    Thanks to Jason Connerley for the suggestion! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    Episode 27 - Dreams

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2019 19:12


    What can we do with dreams in our games? --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    Episode 26 - Cities

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2019 14:00


    Give your city a face and a heart! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    Episode 25 - Kaiju

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2019 16:13


    How do you drop some of that delicious Toho magic into your games? --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    Episode 24 - Airships

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2019 11:13


    They're one of the favorite ways to cross those big fantasy maps! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    Episode 23 - Bards

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2019 9:31


    Check out Ray Otus' Plundergrounds! We are both responding to a prompt from Jim Jones about Bards! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    Episode 22 - Wizards

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2019 14:40


    What can we borrow from the greats to make our own game wizards more interesting? Call ins from Joe Richter and Jim Yoder! Go to Jellysaw to see the 10 fantasy novels Ray Otus picked as foundational works of fantasy! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    wizards ray otus jim yoder
    Episode 21 - Adventuring Parties

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2019 11:14


    Lots of great call-ins! Ray Otus, Benjamin Hinnum, RFED, and Joe Richter. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    parties adventuring ray otus rfed
    Episode 20 - My 3 Top Monsters

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2019 7:03


    3 of my favorite monsters and 8 variations on goblins! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    Episode 19 - Halflings

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2019 12:38


    And now for the little people! Fun new Sword Breaker Theme mix from Lu Quade who has an Anchor podcast of his own called Songs from the Surface of the Earth --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    Episode 18 - Barbarians

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2019 7:10


    Conan! Thundarr! Fafhrd! Khal Drogo! Let's talk about BARBARIANS! YAAAAAAAHEEE! Call-in from Froth Sof of the Thought Eater blog and podcast! Bumper by Ray Otus! Find him on the Plundergrounds podcast and zine and the Jellysaw website! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    conan bumper barbarians khal drogo thundarr fafhrd ray otus plundergrounds thought eater
    Episode 17 - Something Borrowed...

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2019 11:50


    I was challenged by Ray Otus and I did not back down! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    Episode 16 - Roads

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2019 17:50


    Interview with Wayne Peacock of MOTiVE zine and Podcast! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    Episode 15 - Curses

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2019 10:50


    Chatter about curses and their role in games versus fiction. Call in from Stephen Karnes of Rocks and Roots! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    Episode 14 - Holy Relics

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2019 22:25


    A short exploration of Holy Relics and a lot of fun content from listeners! Ray Otus just dropped his 50th episode of Plundergrounds! Aaron Clark's Keep It Simple - Daily Reading Frothsof's Thought Eater Podcast Yochai Gal's One Shot World --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    ray otus holy relics plundergrounds
    Episode 13 - Government

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2019 7:53


    A short one on offering something other than the usual kings and queens. Mentioned: Follow Me and Die Random Screed No Save for You Plundergrounds Thought Eater --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    Episode 12 - Rangers

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2019 8:30


    This is a short episode about the Ranger Class. I had some great input from: Ray Otus: Colin Green: Rob C.: --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    Episode 11 - World Building

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2019 40:55


    Yochai Gal requested an episode about world building. Here it is! Interviews with: Yochai Gal Brian Holland Greg Soper Tam Ray Otus --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    Episode 10 - Dwarves

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2019 20:45


    This time I discuss the mighty Dwarf! How are they the same and different from their folkloric origins? Ray Otus offers up some super cool ideas from his Plundergrounds zine: https://www.patreon.com/rayotus/posts Another great resource for a strange new dwarf is the Wormskin zine: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/168614/Wormskin-Issue-1 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    dwarf dwarves ray otus plundergrounds
    Episode 9 - Equipment

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2019 7:43


    Equipment as world building --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    Episode 8 - Clerics

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2019 25:17


    Inspired by Brian Holland of Session Zero and Cody M. of the No Save For You podcast, I'll share my thoughts on clerics. I'm a big fan of the class and feel there are serious missed opportunities that we can tackle together! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    Episode 7 - Spell Books

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2019 15:26


    Let's talk about spell books! What are we missing? How can we make them more exciting? Great ideas from Steven Karnes - https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/9300/Rocks-and-Roots?term=rocks+and+roots --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sword-breaker/support

    Claim Sword Breaker

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel