System Mastery

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Two guys and occasional guests review old roleplaying games.

System Mastery Entertainment


    • Jun 11, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 14m AVG DURATION
    • 437 EPISODES

    4.6 from 211 ratings Listeners of System Mastery that love the show mention: old rpgs, roleplaying games, great mix of humor, old games, tabletop rpgs, mastery, it's actually, role playing games, well deserved, fond, print, display, cheese, profanity, crappy, illinois, they're funny, violence, systems, jon.


    Ivy Insights

    The System Mastery podcast is a delightful and humorous exploration of old, usually bad tabletop RPGs. Hosted by Jon and Jef, this show offers a unique blend of reviews and humor that keeps listeners entertained for hours. Whether you're a die-hard RPG fan or just looking for a good laugh, System Mastery has something for everyone.

    One of the best aspects of this podcast is the hosts' ability to condense all the necessary information about a game into one funny hour. They provide insightful critiques on game design, pointing out errors and highlighting both the good and bad aspects of each RPG. Their witty banter and comedic timing make listening to System Mastery an absolute joy.

    Furthermore, Jon and Jef have developed great rapport over the years, which is evident in their back-and-forth style. They play off each other's jokes and observations seamlessly, creating a dynamic that keeps listeners engaged throughout each episode. Their gaming insights are also valuable, offering both novice and experienced designers new perspectives on TTRPG creation.

    While there are many positives to System Mastery, some may find that the hosts occasionally go on tangents or run gags for too long. Additionally, their humor may not appeal to everyone as it can be irreverent or immature at times. However, these aspects do add an element of fun and unpredictability to the show, which may be appreciated by some listeners.

    In conclusion, System Mastery is a must-listen podcast for fans of tabletop RPGs who enjoy a healthy dose of humor with their reviews. Jon and Jef's witty banter, insightful critiques, and ability to condense complex information into an entertaining hour make this podcast an absolute gem. Whether you're looking to expand your knowledge of RPGs or simply want a good laugh, System Mastery delivers in spades.



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    Latest episodes from System Mastery

    304 - Runequest (1984)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2025 73:27


    This is one of the venerable old giants of the fantasy gaming industry. Avalon Hill producing Chaosium's Runequest. Couldn't be more classic. But how does it read 40 years later? Let's all find out together. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    303 - Superhero 2044

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2025 72:26


    By all account, this is the first ever superhero RPG, but don't let that fool you, it contains virtually nothing you'd recognize as a superhero game. In fact, it's wild what it contains. You'll see. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    302 - Capers

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2025 76:10


    Okay the rumors that we like every supers game are scurrilous, devious, and increasingly accurate. This is Capers, and it's a supers game set in a slightly less socially shitty 1920s, which is a neat thing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    301 - The Arcanum

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2025 66:31


    Hi folks, let's start up another 300 of these, what do you say? This one is about The Arcanum, an early 80s game that sure seems similar for some reasons (the same reasons they always do? Probably!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    300 - Palladium Fantasy

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2025 99:44


    Well that certainly was 300 times we did a thing, I tell you what! Let's take a little victory lap by cracking open a cask we've been saving for a special occasion, a feisty little 1983 vintage called Palladium Fantasy that definitely isn't just dust and vinegar by this point, right? Right? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    299 - Bleeding Heart

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2025 61:15


    We're hard at work on our giant pile of weird old box sets, and that means it's time for Bleeding Heart, a game that Jon assures me is loosely based on something called the Corman Poe film era of the mid-sixties, and he's a total horror nerd so I gotta go with him on this one. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    bleeding heart corman poe
    298 - Wild West

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2025 73:13


    I really hope you're enjoying this string of very old games, we're doing our best to get back into them quickly (ever since I found one of my old box sets fully eaten by bugs and had to fumigate). In this case, it's a game about real old timey cowboys! Like Boot Hill but not TSR! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    297 - Star Trek The Roleplaying Game

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2025 69:37


    Can we review an 80s Star Trek game without our pacemakers exploding? What if FASA made it? We're looking at the Star Trek RPG from roughly 1983, which means (if you're counting) that it's based on the original series, the animated series, and the first three films. Is it okay or does it have to go home and copy 10 pages out of the K section of the dictionary? Let's find out! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    296 - Lewd Dungeon Adventures

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2025 69:51


    Finally someone bought that game that advertises on Facebook, and it was us. It's a fantasy adventure game with some sex-themed rules, but honestly I don't want to spoil anything here because it's a tiny wee little game that could never possibly satisfy any REAL gamer. Damn it, still with the jokes. It's a sex RPG and we read it. That's for sure. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    295 - Insurgent

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2025 53:49


    A very quick little modern game designed to be played solo or with a small group but no GM, in which you rebel against something. What do you rebel against? Whattaya got? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    294 - OGL Ancients

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2025 80:52


    It's what it says! Though it's adding a lot of stuff to the venerable old combat engine of 3.X OGL, it's an OGL game where you play as primarily Greeks and Egyptians from antiquity (you can get a Scythian or someone from Thessaly in if you want, it's just not a great plan). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    293 - Alas Vegas

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2025 88:07


    This is a little recent for our usual stuff, but Jon was really interested after the Fastlane review to keep looking at games that utilize classic casino games as RPG randomizers, and this one's a doozy! Combining Blackjack and Tarot stuff, no less! Right in Jon's very wheelhouse. The game is neat too! There's a ton in here, it's definitely one of those big rocks that rolled down a Kickstarter success story and accumulated content as it went, so we made some calls on what to focus on that we'll explain within. At the end of the day, this is pretty dang neat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    292 - Unbidden

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2024 79:44


    Back to basics, some game you probably never heard of that we didn't like. That's the basic essence of the show, right? It has to come up sometimes. I'm talking about the show here because honestly I can't think of much to say about this sort of generic "There are secrets in the world that you can't learn about without going crazy" type game that isn't already in the episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    291 - Fastlane

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2024 87:40


    Oh buddy you better believe we love it when the game has a weird alternative randomizing mechanic, and this thing is all about roulette. Yes, it straight up tells you at the start that you can use a digital one or even a dice based approximation, but for max results, you should get a roulette wheel. What else? Well, it's a generic system besides the ruleset, so we go all in on that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    290 - Icarus

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2024 62:36


    As we bring Sweater Weather to a close we are faced with the realization that we accidentally double-themed this month, since both of these games are explorations of civilizations over time, and in fact would make a pretty good double feature game night played together. Weird! Anyway, this is a little box set where you make a dice tower. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    289 - The Quiet Year

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2024 68:36


    Hey folks, welcome to Sweater Weather. We're going to keep things light and distracting here for the next few months, sweater weather or not, so don't worry about heavy topics. If you're looking for a getaway, we got you. Also, this book is about impending change and possible doom. So. You know, we'll figure it out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    288 - Rats!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2024 76:07


    So these aren't really furries, but hey, I think this was just called Hairy Ween, right? Like that sounds more like a dick joke anyway. Anyhow, this book is all about playing as vile, disgusting, brilliant little rats trying to retake the world from the foul humans that don't deserve it. It's a mixed bag! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    287 - Mutants in the Now

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2024 84:44


    Blessed Ween everyone! This year we're focusing on animal inside of us all with a Furry Ween! Or a Hairy Ween! I dunno, whatever, we just wanted to read Mutants in the Now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    286 - Orkworld (Crunch)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2024 86:15


    Oh, oh no. We thought all the worst stuff was going to be in the fluff and descriptive section. We were wrong. If you're a fan of angry Jef and Jon, well, you probably already noticed the 84 minute runtime of the episode and got your hopes up, correctly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    285 - Orkworld (Fluff)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2024 77:31


    Well, this might be divisive, if we hadn't spent years discussing how we feel about ol' John Wick and his famously terrible advice. But what about his games? Well, let's look at Orkworld, a game about Orcs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    284 - Time Master

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2024 72:15


    Travel through time at the behest of a futuristic society at the end of time? Sounds familiar! But before you break out the Wyld Stallyns shirt, let me burst your bubble by saying this actually has a weird war game at its weird core. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    283 - Eden

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2024 60:45


    Hi everyone! You'll never guess that now the other one of us has COVID. This stupid planet and country. Anyway, this game is about people learning lessons in a primordial garden from the animals that live there. Cool, right? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    282 - Spectaculars

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2024 79:45


    Part of wallowing in weird old stuff unfortunately is that it's hard to keep abreast of what's going on in the last decade or so of gaming, but Jef still pretty much orders any superhero thing if he sees it on sale, and that's what happened here! This time it paid off even, as Spectaculars turned out to be in a form factor neither of us expected but both of us enjoyed, so let us tell you all about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    281 - Modern Knights

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2024 75:03


    Pssst, hey buddy, wanna buy a superhero game from 2002 that was pretty clearly written prior to 1999? How? Oh, let us explain. It's Modern Knights! At least we know that much. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    280 - Thirsty Sword Lesbians

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2024 87:14


    Hey who likes lesbians what have swords and powerful yearnings related to the other sword-bearing lesbians they encounter on their wild adventures? You I bet! Let's review this game for the end of Pride Month, because we were in a hurry and this one has a big old gay word right there in the title. Nothing's gayer than swords! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    279 - Iron Kingdoms

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2024 83:48


    This one is close to home, we both sorta like this game, used to play the wargame, and wish it all was still good. But times change. But hey, what do we think of this game now? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    278 - The Skeletons

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2024 73:01


    Is it too late to call this a theme month? Because it turned out to be a theme month. Cool minimalist projects by designers we like. Weird! The Skeletons is a thoughtful game about playing as skeletons guarding a tomb, by Jason Morningstar. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    277 - For The Queen (feat. Alex Roberts)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2024 67:35


    Who says we can't do cool modern design reviews? Or interview the cool working designers of today that make them? Whoever said that, lemme at 'em! Today we're discussing For The Queen, a game we both enjoy enough to also want get Alex Roberts (already our expert dog correspondent if you're in the Patreon) to join us to talk about her awesome game and the new edition of it that will be out the same day as this episode! (that's synergy) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    276 - Muse

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2024 75:54


    Who would have thought this weird little collaborative storytelling shared narrative exercise game could be so divisive? We discuss Muse, a game that uses cards and tokens and lots of paper to help you and your group tell a story and definitely not make everyone hate each other, at all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    275 - Aria: Canticle of the Monomyth (Part 2)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2024 73:38


    Fine, we finished it. This was truly just an awful thing to keep reading through, I think it's been a while since we've both been this angry. Anyway, if you come support us on Patreon to hear the bonus content, we couldn't be assed to make Aria characters. They suck. So we made characters in the game LIFTS instead, which doesn't suck. This is your update on that topic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    274 - Tower 22

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2024 75:22


    Yeah yeah, we hit pause on Aria, we just couldn't deal with that noise anymore. Instead, it's time to dive into the ever-generous well of dumb OGL titles, with this bizarre 2002 Fantasy Strike classic, in which the authors really really want you to know about beach lifeguards and how important and cool and... military they are. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    tower ogl fantasy strike
    273 - Aria: Canticle of the Monomyth

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2024 59:26


    Show update first, everything's been a bit late because of travel and the deadly scary norovirus, which isn't pretty. Sorry about that. Show news on this episode? The sound a shudder that indicates a man has seen too much, written down, thank you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    272 - City of Heroes Playtest

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2024 80:56


    Gather up, all you various tankers, scrapper, controllers, uhhh... that healer one... I'm just kidding I loved this game. It's City of Heroes, sort of! Insofar as it's a Unisystem take on the popular superhero MMO. Some of one. This is just an old playtest doc. We talk about why and what and all the rest today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    271 - Active Exploits

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2024 78:57


    This was a tough read. Active Exploits is more of a toolkit than a game, but despite basically having every possible tool any kit could ever have, especially for a diceless engine, we still just aren't seeing how the numbers line up. But hey, who knows, right? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    270 - Marvel Super Heroes Adventure Game

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2024 76:07


    I think... I think this is all of them? If you count the review of the Multiverse pre-test (we've skimmed the final version, it's pretty close), then yeah, this is the last of the Marvel licensed RPGs we hadn't covered yet. Saga edition, with the card deck and one of the two diceless systems. Is it cool? Will it Marvel? Do we have to start tracking down DC games now? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    269 - Strike!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2024 86:12


    This one is a little near and dear to us, we've used it to run Blimpleggers content in the past! Strike! is an RPG that sort of combines the very abstracted narrative structure of a FATE style game with the tactical grid combat of a 4e D&D style game, and for the most part, it works. Let's talk about how! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    268 - Crime Scene Police Investigation

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2024 63:02


    Starting the year off the right way, with a shovelware-style OGL game about playing as real cops. Real boring cops. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    267 - Mörk Borg

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2023 68:54


    Whoa, the art and layout in this thing is cool! What about the rest of it? Is it also cool? Can love bloom on the retroclone-style battlefield? Well, let's read it and find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    266 - Cozy Town

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2023 59:39


    Welcome to a charming little community where the townsfolk are all made up and the real world doesn't matter. It's Cozy Town, a game that we figured could not have a better title to fit the Sweater Weather time here at the show. Make a whole adorable village, populate it and plan their year of events and charming happenings. It's cute, basically. Super cute. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    265 - Monster Care Squad

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2023 95:06


    Oh boy it's time for Sweater Weather! You know, our now two year running thing where we review specifically non or low-combat games, helping folks learn that there's more out there than the traditional "sword goes into orc" model (you'd be amazed at what people on the forefront are putting into orcs these days), and we're starting this year with Monster Care Squad, a neat game about rescuing wounded monsters in a world that's evolved past some of the worst instincts of humankind. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    264 - Monsterhearts

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2023 77:02


    Okay, I do have a few more books with Witch in the title, and yes the urge to do Strike Witches was fairly strong, but we've been wanting a good excuse to talk Monsterhearts for a while anyway and there's a witch skin in there so you know, you get what you get. It's the first edition of one of the biggest PBTA games, in which your high school gets all monster-fied and everyone's out to mess with everyone else! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    263 - Witch: Fated Souls

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2023 85:34


    It's witches aplenty this ween, and that means more than just crooked triangle hats, as we see here in a multicultural witch festival including witchy types from all over the world. The game is a little bit White Wolf and a little bit rock and roll, relatively recent, and we're covering the 1st edition (my understanding is that a second also exists). How powerful are these witches? Let's find out! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    262 - Witch Hunt

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2023 71:09


    What's that upon the roof I hear? Could it be the pitter-patter of seasonally appropriate witch feet 'pon my shingles? Why, 'tis! Blessed Ween to each and every! This year, it's Ween 3: Season of the Witch, and yes I know this isn't the third Ween, thank you very much. We're starting our witchy run of RPGs with Witch Hunt, a game about Salem in 1692, so you know it's gonna just be super tasteful, right? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    261 - octaNe

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2023 72:09


    Let's examine a post-apocalyptic game with a penchant for low-budget outre 90s cinema styles, and a fairly simple core mechanic to boot. It's octaNe, and it's pretty interesting, even if I personally never wanna read about Six String Samurai ever again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    260 - Star Wars Saga Edition

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2023 76:44


    And I said GO! If you're wondering if we liked this game, We liked this game, It's mostly fine, But it could use some work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    259 - Starfaring

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2023 67:43


    Sold to us as the first ever sci-fi RPG (a claim we have learned is dubious), Starfaring is basically Tunnels & Trolls, but with some Star Trek jokes and moving the racism largely from the spell titles to the art. It's still Ken St. Andre, it's still like maybe half a game, and it's still sort of important just because of the era (1977!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    258 = Bullwinkle & Rocky Party RPG

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2023 69:43


    Allow us to introducing our game... It's finally here, the box set that sat on my shelf for four years while we waiting for GenCon to be a thing we were willing to do again, and it's still not a live recording, because GenCon was a thing but they forgot to give us a room wired for recordings. What's in this thing? How do you play it? How will our heroes get out of this one? Find out in today's episode of System Mastery OOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRR a different funny title you came up with because I already did that gag in the recorded intro. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    257 - Mythic Roleplaying

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2023 74:52


    Apparently what we have here is often considered to be the first stab at a DM-less RPG system! It's from 2003, and boy is it unusual. How does it handle GM-less play, or many of the other things it's stated to handle (such as being an overlay over your current RPG!)? Well, that's what we're here to find out, isn't it? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    256 - Silvervine

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2023 86:28


    This one is interesting! It seems to be a compilation of two books, but is largely a single game about steampunk furry anime fantasy guys that also have airships and cool guns. The character builds can actually be pretty dang satisfying, but does it make any sense? Let's find out! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    255 - Horror Rules

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2023 75:16


    It's rules, for horror. From the DTRPG files, we've read a 2003 horror game with some neat ideas, some snarky stuff, and a slow burning lingering sense that there's a lot of Christianity stuff in here (in retrospect, the fact that it's from Crucifiction Games might have been a big hint). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    254 - Savage Worlds Rifts

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2023 77:52


    And now to take a look at Savage Worlds with a game world overlay. We love Rifts anyway around here, and want to see it in all the formats. What do you think of the model for reviewing sandbox games that sell campaign settings? Should we keep doing it this way in the future? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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